Fucking Cancelled

In Episode 24, we are joined by Dr. Maria Paredes, licensed trauma therapist and certified eating disorder specialist, out of the United States. We discuss cancel culture as it relates to therapy. How can therapists support cancelled people? How can cancelled people find supportive therapy? What happens when a canceller is in the therapy room? What happens when it's therapists doing the cancelling...

In Episode 23, we discuss the art of surviving cancellation. What are some ways to take real responsibility if you do feel like you've actually done something you regret? What is in your control and what isn't? What does it mean to accept things about your situation that you can't change? And most importantly, what are some ways to change the things you can? You can still have a beautiful life, ev...

In Episode 22, we sit down with writer, podcaster and friend of the pod Molly Frances. We discuss socialism and the Nexus, corporate social media, American food culture, and mental health. We also talk about why it is important not to let your spirit be crushed by cancel culture. Part of the Talking Shit series. Show Notes Molly's Instagram Molly's Substack Molly's podcast, Out of the Woods Molly'...

In Episode 21, we discuss accountability processes, and how they are often framed as alternatives to both the criminal justice system and cancel culture. We argue instead that they function as an extension of cancel culture, and do not effectively address situations typically covered by the criminal justice system. We offer an abolitionist critique of accountability processes, and suggest differen...

In Episode 20, we talk socialist dreaming. Why is it important to dream? What do we gain from dreaming? How does the punitive and dogmatic atmosphere in 'social justice' circles restrict our dreams? And most importantly, what are our socialist dreams -- what does it look like in the world we want to win?   SHOW NOTES: Capitalist Realism by Mark Fisher Some Remarks on Consensus by David Graeber Dmi...

In Episode 19, we're joined by friend of the pod Stevie Lang, a union organizer from Australia. We talk about what it's like working for a union, polyamory and BDSM, and raising a kid as a single parent. We also get into neoliberalism, the place of spirituality on the Left, and the fundamental human need for care. Part of the Talking Shit series. Show Notes 'The Triumph of Militant Liberalism w/ C...

In Episode 18, we sit down with Freddie deBoer, a writer out of Brooklyn, New York, USA. We discuss his classic piece "Planet of Cops" and the culture of constant recrimination and mutual surveillance that has taken hold of the left. We also get into free speech and why leftists should care about it, how to go about dismantling racism as a material, economic process rather than one of inner soul s...

In Episode 17, we discuss Step Two. We break down the concepts and principles behind the step and share our own experiences with taking Step Two. We then talk about what the concepts and principles of Step Two might offer people trying to leave the Nexus. Finally we consider the lack of spirituality on the Left and consider what role spirituality might play in building socialism. Parts of the Half...

In Episode 16, we break down the basics of attachment theory and the various attachment styles. We discuss the difficulty of developing secure attachment within the Nexus, the role of disorganized attachment in fundamentalism, and the importance of understanding attachment needs for socialists. Part of the Fucking Feelings series. Show Notes Clementine's Substack Hand-Holding “Supportive Touch” Le...

In Episode 15, we discuss the third component of the Nexus, identitarianism. What do we mean by identitarianism and what are some of its characteristics? How do identitarian arguments work, and how do identitarian premises influence thought on the Left? Finally, we touch on alternative ways of addressing some of the difficult questions that identitarianism seeks to answer. Part of the Identity Cri...

In Episode 14, we sit down with coach and consultant Africa Brooke, based in London, England, to discuss her open letter, 'Why I'm Leaving the Cult of Wokeness'. We talk about dogma, denialism, and the American-centrism in social justice culture. We discuss the frequent framing of critiques of cancel culture as a 'white thing'. We consider the phenomenon of vague accusations and we unpack the dist...

In Episode 13, we discuss the first of the 12 Steps. We break down the meaning of the step from our own experience, exploring it in relation to our recovery from addiction and alcoholism but also in a broader context. We think through how the spirit of Step One can offer freedom and acceptance in the face of cancellation. We also consider how Step One could be useful for those still caught up in c...

In episode 12 we are joined by Jen Elizabeth, a harm reductionist and author out of Southern California. We discuss the principles of harm reduction, compassion as an antidote to shame, and the importance of respecting people's autonomy. We talk about meeting people where they're at, how sobriety and harm reduction approaches are placed in opposition to each other when they should be in solidarity...

In Episode 11, we sit down with Jah Grey, an award winning photographer from Toronto. We talk about Jah's photography: beautiful portraits of black men, that explore black masculinity through a lens that highlights vulnerability, complexity, and humanity. We also talk about cancel culture (especially within queer and trans spaces), abolitionism, and the importance of opposing dehumanization and di...

In Episode 10, we're joined by our friend Poplar Rose, a witch, writer, and herbalist living in BC, to talk about recovery from the trauma of cancellation. Poplar shares her experiences with cancellation, the sources of strength she found after her world fell apart, and the hope she holds for the future and offers to others. Part of the Experience, Strength, and Hope series. Show Notes Braiding Sw...

In Episode 9, we offer a 101 on cancel culture: what is cancellation, how does cancellation work, and what are the different types of cancellation? We also explain why we call it a 'culture', and explain why we oppose it: it's cruel, it prevents the left from building power, and it moves us away from developing real solutions for addressing both conflict and abuse. Throughout we maintain a commitm...

In Episode 8, we sit down with US-based media psychologist Dr. Christine Marie to discuss her research paper titled The Traumatic Impact of Media Humiliation, Misrepresentation and Victim-Shaming on Narrative Identity and Well-Being. We unpack the traumatic impact of media campaigns of humiliation and misrepresentation, including Dr. Marie's findings that these campaigns produce symptoms indicativ...

In Episode 7, we're joined by Aloiso Wilmoth, also known by his stage name He Valencia (and his IG handle moma.ps5), a techno DJ, socialist, and cultural commentator from the United States. We talk about the mess that is woke Instagram, the rise of hardcore racial essentialism on the identitarian 'left', and the deep need for materialist politics. We also get into issues like solidarity vs allyshi...

In Episode 6, we discuss different situations in which people hurt others and feel hurt by others, what distinguishes one type of such an experience from another, and what sorts of responses are appropriate. We unpack the terms ‘harm’ and ‘accountability’, often used in the Nexus but seldom defined, and tease apart some of the unstated assumptions underlying them. We offer a framework for understa...

In Episode 5, the second episode of cancel club, our true pal and father figure DJ Fraser joins us to talk 12 Steps. DJ is a professor, art historian, trans "elder", and unwavering snack daddy, and sits down with us to discuss emotional sobriety, 12 Step principles, and the place of trauma and shame in the Nexus. Part of the Cancel Club series. Show Notes The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous Follo...

In Episode 4, we examine social media, a crucial component of the Nexus. We talk about our own relationships with social media and look at how it functions as an expression, and a tool, of neoliberal capitalism. We discuss how social media affects our bodies and our social behaviour, as well as its impact on the production of truth. Finally, we ask some hard-hitting questions: could it be that Cle...

In Episode 3, our dear friend and comrade Tara McGowan-Ross — poet, multidisciplinary artist, and all-around bad-ass — joins us for Cancel Club. We talk all things cancel culture, spilling the dirt on times we've been cancelled, times our friends have been cancelled, and times we've cancelled others. This episode is dedicated to the memory of Ben Prunty, a good friend and tireless organizer, who l...

In Episode 2, we reflect on the reception the pod has gotten so far. Then we discuss the recent Green Party of Canada leadership race, and examine in detail the eco-socialist platform of the runner-up, Dimitri Lascaris. Finally, we get into the cancellation of Stuart Parker, an academic, left-wing activist, and former leader of the BC Eco-Socialist Party -- and ask, following Kai Cheng Thom, if we...

In Episode 1, we introduce ourselves and share some of our own experiences with cancel culture. We then explain the goals of the pod: first, to analyze and critique what we call the Nexus, a synthesis of identitarianism, cancel culture, and social media; second, to offer spiritual, emotional, and ethical insights into exiting the Nexus; and third, to move toward a different vision for the left, gr...