Pullback

Should we be taxing Scrooge McDuck wealth? Can we? We talk with friend of the pod Fariya Mohiuddin , a Senior Program Officer with the International Budget Partnership's Tax Equity Program, and our favourite tax justice researcher and activist. Topics include: what does a wealth tax really look like; why we need an asset registry; how we could implement these items; what a world with more equitabl...

Politics seem more divided than ever. Can we save democracy through persuasion? On today’s episode we were joined by activist Robert Miller to talk about Anand Giridharadas’ latest book, The Persuaders. Our discussion covered all kinds of topics, including whether political polarisation is really a new problem, how a person might get swept up in conspiracies and cults (such as the Moonies, QAnon,...

We know the world is getting hotter. Is spraying sulphate into the atmosphere a solution? On today’s episode we talk all about geoengineering with Green Majority Radio’s Lauren Latour and Stefan Hostetter and David Camfield, academic and author of Future on Fire: Capitalism and the Politics of Climate Change. We learned that geoengineering doesn’t always have to mean seeding clouds over countries,...

Can euthanasia ever be just in an unjust society? On today’s episode we talked to disabilities justice expert Megan Linton about Canada’s Medical Assistance in Dying program: how it works, its limitations, and where expansions may take it. Megan is the host of Invisible Institutions, a documentary podcast exploring the past and present of institutions for people labelled with intellectual and deve...

When the internet started to take off, it was supposed to democratize information. Now everything’s owned by a handful of mega-corporations. Can Web 3 decentralize the internet? Do you have to learn what a Blockchain is? We talk to Paris Marx of the Tech Won’t Save Us podcast about Web 3.0, which some are saying will lead to a more secure, private, and decentralized internet. But others see it as...

So, there’s no ethical consumption under capitalism. Does that mean there’s no value to movements like slow fashion, eating local, and Fairtrade? This is the first episode of our new spin on the power we have as individuals. We’ll explore big new ideas and ask: is this a real solution or a distraction? To introduce our new format, we look back on the question that animated the first 101 episodes o...

Kristen and Kyla are joined by head of Harbinger Media Network Andre Goulet, Ethical Parenting guest Sarah Mistak, and Invisible Institutions' Megan Linton on their annual year end quiz panel show. We revisit events of the past year, and the winner of the quiz gets a special donation to their organization of choice. Leave us a voicemail! https://podinbox.com/pullback Website: https://www.pullback....

Encore! Look for pod favourite episodes being re-released outside of the regularly scheduled show. This episode originally aired in December 2019. In this episode, Kristen and Kyla ruin Christmas — but, you know, in a fun and practical way. This episode covers online shopping, artificial versus real Christmas trees, and solutions to reduce waste at Christmas. Kyla and Kristen also gift each other...

Kyla and Kristen discuss the ins and outs of water. Topics: what is water, history of water, water footprint, where is all the water going, municipal water treatment, how to make water (with explosions), wetlands, water shortages and advisories, privitization, the bottled water industry, what can be done. Book recommendation: 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act by Bob Joseph Check out...

Encore! Look for pod favourite episodes being re-released outside of the regularly scheduled show. This episode originally aired in October of 2021. How do you choose an organization to donate to, and how do you recognize a good charity from a bad one? What's the difference between non-profits, foundations, and charities? How do you know your money is being well used? Is effective altruism a solut...

Kyla and Kristen are joined by Marissa Marx, the senior director of partnerships and programs with the Dressember foundation to discuss human trafficking*. Marissa is responsible for spearheading the Dressember Network, developing Dressember’s programs, and collaborating with ethical brand partners. Prior to joining Dressember, Marissa received her Masters in Human Rights and International Relatio...

Harbinger Society Presents presents a terrifying excerpt from our October 30th I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST TELETHON. This episode you'll hear Scott Schmidt in Medicine Hat and Jeremy Appel in Calgary welcome Kino Lefter's Evan MacDonald and Bridget Sterling in Edmonton to The Forgotten Corner to hate-watch Danielle Smith's unhinged victory speech. Then Dogwood comms director and Harbinger board membe...

Harbinger Society Presents presents a terrifying excerpt from our October 30th I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST TELETHON. This episode you'll hear Replay's Shama Rangwala and Desmond Cole talk pop culture, racial capitalism and the unmatched excellence of Toronto's water quality, then The Alberta Advantage advocate for gamers rights in a provocative and competitive survivor round of Left For Dead. Harbing...

Harbinger Society Presents presents a terrifying excerpt from our October 30th I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST TELETHON. this episode you'll hear Darts & Letters Gordon Katic and Jay Cockburn sit down with Press Progress' Mitchell Thompson to review spooky PSAs. Then Gabrielle Brassard-Lecours, Alexis Ross, Fanny Tan and Sam Harper celebrate the first birthday of Quebec solidarity journalism cooperative...

Harbinger Society Presents presents a terrifying excerpt from our October 30th I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST TELETHON. This episode you'll hear Dru Oja Jay talk about The Breach Media's journalism for transformation, and you'll hear Community University Television station manager Sophia Barsoski unpack the 50 year legacy of CUTV. Then Shannon Carranco, Amy Cunningham and Leah Borts-Kuperman explain how...

Harbinger Society Presents presents a terrifying excerpt from our October 30th I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST TELETHON as Bread and Poppies' Hilary Agro and Harbinger board member Dr. Jess Green in Toronto talk COP 27 and leftist parenting strategies for Halloween, then Stephen Magusiak and Romy Garrido in Calgary, Emily Leedham in Winnipeg, Rumneek Johal in Surrey and Mitchell Thompson in Toronto discu...

Kristen and Kyla join I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST TELETHON, a fun 12 hour Twitch fundraiser for the Harbinger Media Network. Start with Invisible Institutions' Megan Linton and Unmaking Saskatchewan's Sara Birrell talk Briarpatch's 50th birthday with Saima Desai and John Cameron, then join Pullback's Kristen Pue and Kyla Hewson who sit down with Green Majority Radio's Lauren Latour to talk with Victo...

Kyla and Kristen are joined by Sarah Mistak to grapple with the challenges of raising a good person in a complicated world. Sarah has a Masters in Global Affairs, and is the mother of a 4 year old and a 2 year old. Topics: talking with kids about biases, privilege, truth and reconciliation, and other difficult subjects; modern family limitations and boundaries; navigating a world where everyone wa...

Encore! Look for pod favourite episodes being re-released outside of the regularly scheduled show. This episode originally aired in October of 2021. Would you buy lab-grown meat? Cell-cultured meat is now being sold in Singapore, and is coming soon everywhere else. In this episode, Kyla and Kristen are joined by climate activist Robert Miller to discuss the promise and dilemmas of cell-cultured me...

Kristen and Kyla are joined by Sarah Miller, a research associate specializing in climate adaptation with the Canadian Climate Institute to discuss the final report in the Costs of Climate Change series from the CCI, "Damage Control". This report dissects how Canada's economy will be affected by climate change, with a focus on people's well-being and proactive adaptation measures to help mitigate...

Encore! Look for pod favourite episodes being re-released outside of the regularly scheduled show. This episode originally aired in October of 2021. “Now I’m picturing the Lorax with guns taped to his hands.” In this special Halloween episode, Kristen and Kyla are joined by activist Robert Miller to talk Squid Games and share spooky stories inspired by capitalism. Robbie shares a folktale based on...

Kristen talks to Kyla about deforestation and the state of the worlds forests today. Topics: what is deforestation; how does deforestation occur; what are the effects of deforestation; why are forests so great; the history of Forest Stewardship Council and other forest eco-labels; what can we do to help. Leave us a voicemail! https://podinbox.com/pullback Website: https://www.pullback.org/episode-...

Encore! Look for pod favourite episodes being re-released outside of the regularly scheduled show. This episode originally aired in November of 2021. Kyla and Kristen are joined by Panthea Vatandoost and Saliema and Biraima from Daily Dose of Blackness to discuss cultural appropriation. Panthea is a television, film, and theatre actor, and founder and Managing Artistic Director of Medusa Theatre S...

Kyla and Kristen want to know what actions you've been taking that might be a little out of your comfort zone! Have you been speaking up more about causes you care about with friends and family? Volunteering with a new organization? Dumpster diving? Let us know! In this episode, Kyla and Kristen are joined by Tesla (she/her) with Shop Small Vancouver, a directory and Instagram page that aim to hel...

Encore! Look for pod favourite episodes being re-released outside of the regularly scheduled show. This episode originally aired in January of 2020. “Convert it into a wetland! — that should be the new ‘burn it down’.” What do Pythagoras, Leonardo da Vinci, and Susan B Anthony have in common? They were all vegetarian! Kristen and Kyla talk vegetarianism 101. Topics: the different kinds of vegetari...