Interdependent Study

We must figure out what liberation could look like so everyone can live the life they deserve. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the book Rehearsals for Living by Robyn Maynard and Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, which compiles letters written by the authors to each other analyzing the histories, lived experiences, and struggles of Black and Indigenous communities around the world and offering possi...

While there is a constant demand for civility in our society, we must understand the impact that civil disobedience can and should play in our fight for collective liberation. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the piece “The Limits of Civil Disobedience” by Keyvan Golsorkhi in Non-Profit Quarterly, which explores and analyzes the roles that civil and uncivil disobedience have played in our societ...

Understanding the perspectives of Black Americans on community safety, policing, and the criminal punishment system is paramount to the fight for abolition. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss a report from the Movement for Black Lives and GenForward called “Perspectives on Community Safety from Black America”, which shares and analyzes the results of their national survey measuring Black people’s...

The Left’s fight against the Right in 2024 (and beyond) is a battle that must be won. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss a piece from In These Times called “The Right is Prepared For This Moment. Are We?”, which features a conversation with Jamelle Bouie, Alex Han, Nancy MacLean, Tarso Luís Ramos, and Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò about the Left's role in fighting the Right in the context of the 2024 pres...

None of us are free until we are all free. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss a piece titled “When Abolitionists Say ‘Free Them All,’ We Mean Palestine Too” by Nadine Naber in Truthout, which argues that the fight for abolition and the fight for Palestinian liberation are one and the same and the clear connections that exist between the systems and structures of incarceration, anti-migrant violenc...

The ongoing fight against capitalism and white supremacism requires radical Black anarchism. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the book The Nation on No Map: Black Anarchism and Abolition by William C. Anderson, which explores state power, abolition, and ideological tensions within the struggle for Black liberation while centering the politics of radical Black anarchism and Black autonomy, and wh...

Racism, white supremacy, and anti-Blackness are baked into the fabric of this country. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the documentary “Stamped From The Beginning”, which is based on Ibram X. Kendi’s book by the same name and explores the history of racist ideas and myths in the United States, and what we learn and take away from this incredible film in our continued learning work and pursuit o...

Abolitionist organizing must include a focus on abolishing family policing as part of its work. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss a piece called “No More Family Policing” by Eleanor J. Bader in Inquest, which explores family policing in the context of our criminal punishment, education, and social services systems, and what we learn from this incredible piece in our continued learning work and fi...

The power, reach, and legacy of Israel's military industrial complex is immense. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the book The Palestine Laboratory: How Israel Exports the Technology of Occupation Around the World by Antony Loewenstein, which presents and explores a historical summary of how Israel has developed a world-class military industrial complex and weapons industry with equipment an...

We must build community resources, interventions, and support that do not rely on the carceral system. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss a resource guide by Shira Hassan and Interrupting Criminalization called “Painting the Ocean & the Sky”, which provides guidance to abolitionist activists, organizers, and leaders on best practices for building collective community-based, non-carceral respon...

It is important to understand the complexity of class and race and how they can interact in such a way that becomes a barrier to progress. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the piece “Black Class Matters” by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor in Hammer & Hope, which explores the intersections and implications of class and race for Black Americans in politics and life, and what we learn from this analysi...

The great migration in reverse theory is a compelling idea for Black Americans to consider. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the documentary South to Black Power, which follows author and op-ed journalist Charles M. Blow as he explores the great migration in reverse theory as a strategy for Black Americans to move south and gain greater political power, and what we take away from this compelling...

2023 is almost wrapped so it’s time for our last episode of the year! Listen as Aaron and Damien reflect on the past year of our podcast, and each share our top 5 moments from the show. Thank you for listening to Interdependent Study! We’ll see you in 2024! Follow us on social media and visit our website! ⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ,  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ,  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Our conversation about the many questions that abolitionist organizers need to answer in order to create the future we need continues. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss a ‘zine by Interrupting Criminalization called “Abolition & the State: Responses Vol. 1”, which engages abolitionists and scholars in sharing their reflections on the questions raised in Abolition & the State: A Discussion...

There are many questions that abolitionist organizers need to answer in order to create the future we need. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss a discussion tool by Interrupting Criminalization called “Abolition & the State”, which provides questions and activities for abolitionist organizers to use to explore the possibilities for moving beyond existing systems, structures, and frameworks, and...

Class struggle unionism can serve as a way to rebuild a powerful labor movement in this country. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the book Class Struggle Unionism by Joe Burns, which shares the history and characteristics of unionism and outlines ideas common to class struggle unionism and how these ideas can create a more militant, democratic, and fighting labor movement, and what we learn and...

The vision and legacy of Reconstruction in this country continues today. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the piece “How Black Americans Kept Reconstruction Alive” by Peniel E. Joseph in The Atlantic, which shares how Black Reconstructionists created and enacted a vision for a multiracial democracy that continues now through the work of abolitionist organizing and movements today, and what we le...

Abolitionist organizing work is taking place everywhere in this country. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the piece “Abolition Everywhere” by Meghan Krausch in Inquest, which explores some of the abolitionist organizing taking place in Republican-controlled states and regions across the country, particularly in the south, and what we learn and take away from the incredible lessons shared about t...

Abolitionist organizing for health justice is important and necessary work. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the piece “Beyond Do No Harm: Health Justice and Abolition” by Maria Thomas in The Forge, which outlines the mission and recent work of the Beyond Do No Harm Network and introduces their 13 principles for health care providers to interrupt criminalization, and what we learn and take away...

Simply put, when one of us wins, we all win. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the piece “Insecurity Is a Feature, Not a Bug, of Capitalism. But It Can Spark Resistance.” by CJ Polychroniou in Truthout, which features a conversation between CJ Polychroniou and Astra Taylor about the notion of capitalism as an insecurity-producing machine and Taylor’s new book (The Age of Insecurity: Coming Togeth...

It is an atrocity that Black women and girls have been the victims of police and state violence since the beginning of time. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the book #SayHerName: Black Women’s Stories of Police Violence and Public Silence by Kimberlé Crenshaw and the African American Policy Forum, which shares many of the stories of Black women who have been the target of police and state-sanct...

In its current form, it could be argued that the Supreme Court is a danger to democratic order. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss “The Supreme Court Shouldn’t Get The Last Word” by Braxton Brewington in Hammer & Hope, which is a thought piece that explores the current state of the Supreme Court, the dangers it presents to our society and our collective liberation, and what should be done to a...

There have been a myriad of victories and challenges in the organizing work for abolition over the years. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss two pieces from The Forge’s State of Abolition issue, including “After the Uprising: In DC and Beyond” by Makia Green and “What Time Is It on the Clock of Abolitionist Organizing?” by Andrea J. Ritchie, which analyze the current conditions, challenges, and vi...

The Stop Cop City movement continues to be important and necessary work in the fight against the unnecessary expansion of policing in Atlanta. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss “Cop City and the Silencing of Dissent” by US Representatives Cori Bush and Rashida Tlaib in The Nation, which highlights recent developments in the Stop Cop City movement and the work being done by Atlanta and Georgia off...

The legacy of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) as an organization is an incredible and worthwhile history for all of us to know and understand. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the SNCC Digital Gateway, a documentary website and digital archive about the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and the story of how SNCC fought for racial, economic, and political justice for...