Interdependent Study

In the pre-Roe v. Wade era, a group of women risked their lives to support other women in need of abortions and reproducive healthcare. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the documentary “The Janes”, which tells the story of a Chicago-based organization that provided safe, affordable, illegal abortions and counseling to approximately 11,000 women in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and what this ab...

Abortion and reproductive rights are fundamental human rights. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss various articles, including The Washington Post Editorial Board’s “The Supreme Court’s radical abortion ruling begins a dangerous new era” and Gwen Snyder’s “The Sinister Connection Between Abortion Rights, White Supremacy, and Covid” in Jezebel, and what this recent decision overturning Roe v. Wade m...

The Electoral College is a flawed and vulnerable institution that played a dangerous role in what took place at the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss an article by Kate Shaw in The Atlantic called “ The Other Cause of January 6th ”, and what we learn about the history and use of the Electoral College during our country’s elections and in the events leadin...

Our learning and unlearning work about the prison industrial complex continues. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the Chicago Prison Industrial Complex Teaching Collective’s “Prison Industrial Complex 101 Curriculum", which consists of a zine and workshop guide designed to engage and educate folks about the impact of the prison industrial complex on all of us and our society, and how we can use t...

Gun violence and the power and influence of the National Rifle Association (NRA) are troublesome and dangerous challenges facing our country. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the documentary “The Price of Freedom”, which examines the gun violence epidemic in America and the role that the NRA has played in this crisis, and what we learn about the history, evolution, and power of the NRA and the f...

There’s so much to learn from Frederick Douglass. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the documentary “Frederick Douglass: In Five Speeches”, which showcases the life, words, and legacy of one of the country’s most famous anti-slavery activists, and what we learn from Frederick Douglass’ story, speeches, and work that can inspire us and our continued efforts in pursuit of abolition, social justice,...

The importance of having safe, thriving, and transformative schools requires that we actively work to end the school-to-prison pipeline. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss an Urban Review: Issues and Ideas in Public Education journal article by Erica R. Meiners called “Ending the School-to-Prison Pipeline/Building Abolition Futures”, and what this scholarly work offers us as we continue to learn a...

Thirteen people were shot, ten of them killed at the grocery store in Buffalo, New York on Saturday, May 14, 2022 by an 18-year old avowed white supemacist. Eleven of those shot during this domestic terrorist attack were Black. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss an article by Keeanga Yamahtta-Taylor in The New Yorker called “American Racism and the Buffalo Shooting”, an article by Kathleen Belew i...

The calls to cancel student loan debt have been national news for years, and the work being done to demand the cancellation of student loan debt is only getting stronger. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss a number of media related to this topic, including “Who Really Benefits From Student-Loan Forgiveness?” by Jerusalem Demsas in The Atlantic, “It’s not too late for Biden to become an anti-racist...

Abolition feminism is guiding us towards the liberated future we all deserve. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the book Abolition. Feminism. Now. by Angela Y. Davis, Gina Dent, Erica R. Meiners, and Beth E. Richie, and what we learn from their work to trace and analyze the historical genealogies of abolition, feminism, and abolition feminism, key internationalist learnings, and everyday practice...

It is 2022 and lynching is finally a federal hate crime in the United States. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss media from NPR, USA Today, and Vox about the recent passing of the Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act, and reflect on the history of efforts to pass anti-lynching legislation, the impact of this law, and what this historic moment truly means for reckoning with our country’s history and our c...

Our learning about the abolition of the prison industrial complex and the work necessary for transformative change continues. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss Haymarket Books’ Abolishing Policing, Not Just the Police panel event featuring journalists and authors Maya Schenwar and Victoria Law, and moderated by abolitionist organizer Mariame Kaba. This incredible conversation highlights the need...

John Lewis, or “the boy from Troy” as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. nicknamed him, had a vision that “good trouble” could change the world. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the documentary “John Lewis: Good Trouble”, which chronicles the life, career, and legacy of the late U.S. Representative John Lewis, and what we learn from his story, personal reflections, and work that can inspire us in our c...

2021 saw the most anti-LGBT laws passed across the country ever, and 2022 is continuing that trend. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss a number of media related to this legislation, including “The Anti-LGBTQ+ Bills of 2022, Explained” by James Factora and the Legislative Tracker: Anti-Transgender Legislation by the Freedom For All Americans campaign, and why this misguided and shameful legislation...

The power and spirit of youth activism in this country is strong and inspiring. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the documentary “Homeroom”, which follows Oakland High School’s class of 2020 as they navigate their final year of high school, applying to colleges, and the COVID-19 pandemic, all while working to eliminate the school district’s police force and organize for racial and social justice...

The recently proposed “discomfort” legislation in Florida—as well as legislation in other states across the country—is troubling on so many levels. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss a number of articles related to this legislation, including “Florida seeks to block uncomfortable themes in schools. Its history is full of them.” featured in The Washington Post and “Florida could shield whites from...

There have been many attempts at police reforms in this country, but these reforms have not been enough to keep us all safe. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss an article by Ernest Owens in Rolling Stone called “After Amir Locke, Is Police Reform Even the Solution?”, and what we need to do to change the course of the conversation on police violence and the prison industrial complex in this country...

The authors of Abolition. Feminism. Now. use the phrase “slow work in urgent times” to remind us that we must continue our collective movement and organizing work to address our most pressing challenges and get us to the place where we want to be. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss Haymarket Books’ Abolition. Feminism. Now. panel event featuring authors Angela Y. Davis, Gina Dent, Erica R. Meiners...

As we progress forward in our learning and movement work, it’s important to be grounded in the lessons of our ancestors and comrades who came before us. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the piece “What’s Next for Defund?” from In These Times magazine—a conversation between five organizers and police abolitionists reflecting on the movement work and successes of recent years and discussing where...

The wealth gap and socioeconomic imbalances in this country are significant social justice issues. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the documentary “Class Divide”, which explores the effects of hyper-gentrification and socioeconomic disparities on one neighborhood in Manhattan, and what this case study of the widening class divide in our country means in our continued work for collective liberat...

The most pressing challenges in our society will require radical solutions and shedding individualism. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the book Remake the World: Essays, Reflections, Rebellions by Astra Taylor, and what her insights on humanity, democracy, politics, economic justice, higher education, technology, and more mean for envisioning a better and more justice society, as well as for ou...

It’s our 50th episode, y’all! Listen as Aaron and Damien reflect on the first 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 2022!  Follow us on social media and visit our website! Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , Website , Leave us a message , Merch store

The truth about fake news is that it is dangerous and has a real impact on real people. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the documentary “After Truth: Disinformation and the Cost of Fake News”, which examines the rise in the phenomenon of fake news in this country, and the ongoing threat that disinformation and conspiracy theories pose to all of us and the work of social justice and collective l...

Naming the origins of the current attacks on critical race theory as white supremacist, as well as the ways in which white supremacy shows up in our society, is paramount in our antiracism and social justice work. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss an article by Ibram X. Kendi in The Atlantic called “The Mantra of White Supremacy”, which outlines the power of white supremacy and white supremacist...

Patriarchy shapes the expectations of men, gender norms, and our society in ways that make dismantling it an imperative for our collective liberation. Listen as Aaron and Damien revisit The Will to Change: Men, Masculinity, and Love by bell hooks, and discuss additional reflections from this book on how patriarchy impacts all of us and what we individually and collectively need to do to embrace ch...