Cocktails & Capitalism

This week, we dive into Chevron’s corporate prosecution of lawyer Steven Donziger with Paul Paz y Miño – the associate director of Amazon Watch .  Defending farmers and Indigenous folks who have been poisoned by ChevronTexaco’s pollution, Donziger helped to win a $9.5 billion judgment against the company for the devastation it caused in Ecuador. Instead of paying up, Chevron retaliated by demonizi...

Have you heard of the Amazon Chernobyl? To save money, ChevronTexaco deliberately caused the largest oil disaster in history. They dumped over 16 billion gallons of toxic oil waste into open pits in the Amazon rainforest in Ecuador. They poisoned rivers, streams, peasant farmers, and Indigenous communities living in the rainforest. Their cost cutting measures were fatal to hundreds if not thousand...

This week, Eli of Modern Cinderellas ITALIA explains how love kills capitalism. We continue our previous discussion of the nuclear family and its relationship to capitalism, but this time we dive into the ways that friendship and other forms of community help us combat the kind of isolation that capitalism feeds and thrives upon.  Eli is a relationship anarchist and intersectional feminist who has...

In this episode, we explore why romantic love and the nuclear family are essential to the workings of capitalism. We are joined by Eli of Modern Cinderella ITALIA . Eli is a relationship anarchist and intersectional feminist who explains her decision to remain child-free and single. Eli shares part of her personal story to ground our discussion of love under capitalism. She shows us how the capita...

What is anarcho-capitalism ??? In this minisode, I speak with Jordon of 805UNCENSORED about this bizarre ideology and how it fundamentally differs from anarchism . We dive much more deeply into these political systems on the upcoming episode of Jordon's podcast titled "What the Fuck is Anarcho-capitalism?" Don't miss it! 805UNCENSORED is a podcast offering an anti-capitalist pe...

This week, Christa and I discuss the winners and losers of cannabis legalization. While people of color suffered most from the criminalization of marijuana in the US, the plant’s legalization for medical and recreational use has deprived these same people of the opportunity to participate in this newly-legalized industry. Instead, rich capitalists and corporations have managed to dominate the mark...

This week, we speak with Neka Savage – a member of the Sovereign Nation of Chitimacha . Like her mother, who did much to revitalize the Chitimacha language, Neka has been working to reclaim the last remaining traditional art form of her tribe: the practice of river cane basket weaving . These baskets were once used in nearly every aspect of daily life. Today, this basketry is practiced by only six...

In this episode, Alex Zambito tells the twisted story of the FBI’s efforts to infiltrate and dismantle leftist movements in America. COINTELPRO campaigns began in the 50s, targeting communists, anti-war activists, and black leaders of the civil rights movement.  Alex Zambito is on the editorial board for Midwestern Marx – a website and journal offering Marxist analysis of politics and history. He...

This week, I speak with Mikey Inouye and Aedyn-Rhys King -- two community organizers who have been fighting to shut down the Navy’s massive Red Hill fuel storage facility next to Pearl Harbor. This facility leaked thousands of gallons of toxic fuel into O’ahu’s sole source aquifer, poisoning Aedyn, his family, and thousands of others who have relied on the aquifer.  Recognizing the severity of the...

We’re joined by climate justice activist and former mayor Heidi Harmon. Heidi served as mayor of San Luis Obispo before becoming the Senior Public Affairs Director for the Romero Institute ’s Let’s Green CA Initiative. In this role, she works to get fossil fuel money out of California politics and pressures governor Newsom to declare a state of emergency regarding the climate.  Throughout her life...

In this episode, I speak with author, artist, and freelance creative director Steven Vogel . Steven is the creator of Black Lodges – an add-free online zine offering Marxist commentary about politics, music, culture, and art. I was thrilled to discover that this project has come to include a communist drinking club! According to Steven, this club is “absolutely necessary for maintaining your sanit...

In this episode, we are joined by Prepper Pig , who shares practical lessons from his broad experience as a community organizer and environmental justice activist . He tells his personal story, beginning with his first experience of spontaneous mutual aid in the wake of Hurricane Hugo that left his community without water or electricity. This event was formative for Prepper Pig, compelling him to...

In this episode, Leeh tells the story of Palestine from the 50's to the present, completing our trilogy about the struggles of the indigenous Palestinians who have lived and died under brutal Israeli occupation . In addition to providing a clear overview of recent history, this episode highlights the role that capitalism has played in this ongoing humanitarian crisis.  Beginning by discussing...

Continuing the story of Palestine, Leeh outlines the Great Arab Revolt and the events leading up to the 1948 Nakba . Known to the Palestinians as “The Catastrophe”, the Nakba was an ethnic cleansing campaign that destroyed over 500 villages and displaced 700,000 Palestinian refugees. This violence was spearheaded by Zionist David Ben-Gurion , who would go on to become Israel’s first Prime Minister...

In this episode, Leeh begins the story of Palestine. She describes the origins of Zionism and the influence of Theodor Herzl, explaining the settler colonial scheme to establish a Jewish state in the home of the Palestinian people.   You’ll also hear about: How the British seized control of  Palestine  The Balfour Declaration  Beginning of settlement Palestinian support for Jewish settlers Tune in...

In this episode, we share a few stories from listeners about the experiences that drove them to become anticapitalists. Since this is the first episode of this type, both Erika and Ben (who joined us for the Orwell trilogy) share a bit about their own anticapitalist journeys. Tune in to discover the many ways that folks on the left are being galvanized to reject capitalism. Big thanks to Addie, Ca...

In this episode, Andy – host of The Poor Prole's Almanac & Tomorrow, Today – tells the story of the sheep craze that decimated the northeastern US in the early 1800s. The introduction of this industry has long-lasting negative consequences for the environment and the farmers whose livelihoods are quickly transformed and left in ruins. The Poor Prole's Almanac is a podcast that tackle...

This week we’re joined by Jordon of the  805UNCENSORED  podcast, who tells the story of media mogul William Randolph Hearst. After inheriting wealth and a newspaper from his father, Hearst builds a ruthless media empire. He comes to own a quarter of the newspapers in America, reaching 20 million readers daily.  Popularizing the term “Yellow Journalism” – a highly sensationalized form of reporting...

This week, we’re joined by stand-up comedian, filmmaker, and activist Toni Nagy! She explains how her dream to start a green fast food company was crushed as she became too familiar with our toxic capitalist patriarchy. Tune in to hear Toni discuss the nonprofit industrial complex, the psychology of wealth, and the kind of rape culture that is perpetuated under capitalism. Toni Nagy has written, d...

Continuing the story of the Peasant Revolt of 1381, Lauren B details the demands that the rebels make of 14 year old King Richard II. They demand an end to serfdom, rent reduction, the freedom to trade, and freedom from any punishments for their uprising. Tune in to hear the conclusion of this true tale of blood, guts, and betrayal. Huge thanks to Lauren B for bringing this story to life for us. H...

In this episode, Lauren B continues the story of the Peasant Revolt of 1381. After the Black Death and a subsequent famine, the surviving peasants face artificially suppressed wages at the same time that they are being taxed to fund a foreign war.  In response, they organize and carry out a country-wide uprising. Heads roll in this episode, so brace yourselves! Lauren also created the incredible c...

This week, Lauren B. tells us about the horrors and injustices experienced by the peasants in medieval England. By fleshing out the effects of the plague and the oppressive measures that colonial rulers forced upon the surfs, Lauren lays the groundwork for the story of the Peasant Revolt of 1381. Tune in next week to hear the rest! Lauren B is an incredibly talented subsistence maker who creates m...

Joined by John and Ben once again, Erika completes the story of George Orwell’s life. This episode outlines Orwell’s efforts to combat the totalitarian influence of Stalin, whom he feared would forever stain the name of socialism. We also address “Orwell’s list” -- a controversy that has tarnished Orwell’s reputation amongst many leftists.  Since 1984 and Animal Farm are the novels that made Orwel...

In this episode, Erika continues to tell the story of George Orwell’s life to her friends Ben and John. We discuss Orwell’s time fighting fascists in the Spanish Civil War, during which he is shot in the neck while fighting alongside trade union members, Marxists, and anarchists. He is amazed by the anarcho-communes that crop up in Catalonia. When the leftist anti-fascist militia he’s joined is at...

George Orwell offered so much political insight, but his writings and views are widely misinterpreted by conservatives and leftists alike. We begin season 2 of Cocktails & Capitalism by telling the story of George Orwell’s evolution into an anti-imperialist, anti-capitalist democratic socialists who would risk his life to fight fascism.  The first chapter in this Orwell trilogy explores the au...