Blueprints of Disruption

Democratic workplaces, community owned assets and credit unions. Co-operatives offer a range of solutions to the issues facing us today. But what are they exactly? Erin Morgan of the Ontario Co-Operative Association joins host Jessa McLean to discuss the basics of co-ops, their roots and why we could use a whole lot more of them. Whether it be credit unions, co-operative housing or even utilities...

What would you do if your wages were stolen? What if you were new to Canada and your immigration status depended on that employment? The folks within the Naujawan Support Network (NSN) in Peel are self-organizing to get those wages back and to better protect workers in their community. Their tactics are bold. They go after bad bosses - naming and shaming them in very public ways. Simran and Arin o...

Local elections are getting a lot more interesting with organizations like Horizon Ottawa helping empower and equip progressive local campaigns. Organizer Sam Hersh chats with Host Jessa McLean about why these elections matter so much, and how Horizon Ottawa is working to even the playing field against the influence of developers. The episode will leave you hopeful for the possibilities for local...

Organizing on the Left often requires we do a lot with very little. Hear from one of the most versatile and creative organizers out there, Tim Ellis. A rave DJ by night, a rabble rousers always - continues to share what he knows in the hopes of building a mass movement for change. His approach to bringing people together for maximum political impact is something we could all learn from. More resou...

Absolute power or Executive Power? Who actually runs the electoral Left? Discussions with current and former NDP Party Executives proves quite revealing, demonstrating that like most politics in Canada, very few people are calling all the shots. We hear what that means for members, and what its like trying to navigate these tightly controlled inner circles of partisan politics. Akuah Frempong, a f...

With the recent overturning of Roe vs. Wade in the United States and reproductive rights seemingly under attack, Host Jessa McLean chats with Robyn Schwarz about what Reproductive Justice means and what its current state is here in Canada. Keep up with Robyn's work: Feminist Historian. Educator. Organizer. Researcher. Socialist. Non-Profit Human. Abortion Doula. Follow her on Twitter

Activist, educator and ally Anna Jessup discusses the important of holding space for folks to share their experiences, connect with likeminded people, and fight back against police violence and colonial oppression. She highlights the work of Fund our Communities, Defund the Police, a community activist group in downtown Toronto. Alongside host, Jessa McLean, Anna talks about what a good ally does,...

A lot of people know what they want to change, but they just don’t know where to start. Organizer and ICL Facilitator Duncan Pike goes through some of the basics of how to mobilize people while he tells his own story of self as an activist. We learn how the Institute for Change Leaders assists other movements in their goals, and all about the Theory of Change. More resources: Institute for Ch...

Autistic advocate and academic Lulu Larcenciel sits down with host Jessa McLean to challenge misconceptions surrounding autism, discuss the need for massive shift in how we accommodate for neurodivergent community members, and take a critical look at so-called progressive policy that is impacting disabled people. Lulu put together an amazing resource tool here: Autistic Resistance Foundations Reso...

An insider discussion on just how the Ontario NDP blew the election against Ford by suppressing local democracy in order to hand pick candidates. Host Jessa McLean sits down with Jay Woodruff, NDP Disability Committee Co-Chair and local Riding President to dispel myths about the Party and give folks an idea of what its really like inside the Left's electoral party. Hear how local favourites were b...

Two comrades from Lloydminster/Vermillion, Tigra-Lee Campbell and Des Bissonnette, share stories of finding solidarity and creating meaningful supportive spaces in rural Alberta and Saskatchewan with host Jessa McLean. Keep up with the guests here: Follow them on Facebook Lloydminster & Vermilion for Equity Foundation

If we're going to disrupt the system, we must make sure the movements we create are safe. In the show's premier episode, Host Jessa McLean chats with Community Activist, Noodle, to discuss how we protect ourselves and our comrades, and how doing that builds a much richer community for activists to thrive in. Noodle provides practical tools and also deeper perspectives on what it means to keep the...