rabble radio

Today is the day of Jack Layton's state funeral at Roy Thompson Hall in Toronto. The ceremony follows days of heartfelt outpourings. In this podcast, memories of Jack Layton from those who knew him: young people who volunteered with him, and long-time activists and leaders. Hear some of their stories in this podcast.

The complete audio from Jack Layton's funeral. Eulogies by Mike and Sarah Layton, Stephen Lewis and Karl Belanger. 

There are very few humans who don't enjoy music. For most people, it offers relaxation, inspiration, enjoyment and in times of trouble, solace. Leah Abramson is an activist and documentary maker who works with women in prison, fostering their musical expression. In the documentary we're about to play for you, she takes us behind the prison walls to hear some of the music created by the women there...

Murray Dobbin joined us on rabble radio a few times before the election got started. After the Conservative win and the orange crush happened, I called him up one more time for a talk about how Canada's future is shaping up, and what progressive people need to do in this new Conservative majority Canada. Here's our conversation. Did I mention that this year marks rabble.ca's 10th anniversary? It i...

There's an election, but we say: no depression. Murray Dobbin comes back to rabble radio to shed a bit of light in the electoral darkness. He's a lot more hopeful than last episode! Seriously. Recorded on the eve of the leader's debate, Dobbin talks about the campaign road ahead.

In this podcast: terrifying yet boring — the Canadian election. A new rabble radio contest. Cracking the cover of human books. Fukushima Daichi and alt power. An ode to the ipad deux. Canada is enduring its fourth election in seven years. While the NDP and the Liberal Parties grapple for the vote from the Left, the Conservative Party of Canada is reaching for a majority government. As polls stand...

In this International Women's Day episode, we hear from Nahla Abdo on the continuing uprisings, and Palestinian Activist Reem Yumis talks about women's role in the current protests. Happy IWD, all! Nahla Abdo is an Arab-Canadian feminist. She took the time to call in her comments about the protests sweeping the Middle East and North Africa. Reem Yumis is a Palestinian Activist. She took spoke to t...

Jase Tanner was in Tahrir square when pro-Mubarak forces came to break up the demonstrations. Code Pink's Medea Benjamin was in another part of the square. In this podcast, we hear their stories.

Tighe Barry was in Cairo as part of a Codepink delegation on its way to Gaza when the protests started. In this special edition of rabble radio, he describes his experience in the protests. By now most people have seen pictures of the pro-democracy protests in Egypt.  The government has closed internet and cell phone access in the country. However, peace activist and blogger David Swanson managed...

In this episode of rabble radio: transit police in Vancouver accused of violence, a new report recommends protection for women and girls in Haiti, and Canada's government continues attempts to eject war resisters. Music this episode: Bad Cop. The lawyer working on the case of transit riders facing violence from Vancouver Transit Police talks about the case. You'll be shocked. Wayne's got some new...

June Swadron is a successful writing coach, author, and therapist. In this interview with Lyn Thompson from rabble.ca's Living on Purpose podcast, she talks about learning to write about one of her most secret truths, living with bi-polar disorder. The Reel Women have a spy movie for you that you might not have heard of. It is a good one for long winter nights. Loud Fast Rules. It's a rerelease of...

Velcrow Ripper reports from the Cancun climate summit. A woman living with mental illness and addiction talks about how supportive housing has kept her from dying. Julian Assange's words after being released on bail. The open Internet provides a safe space for feminist ideas. Blogger Amanda Marcotte speaks to the interviewers at The F Word.

Report from the daily podcast from the UN Climate Summit, post-election checkin in Haiti and George Galloway answers tough questions.

Should we be able to criticize war on Remembrance Day, Aung San Suu Kyi — what does her freedom mean, and demanding better food for the poor.

In this podcast, a feature interview with activist and academic Phyllis Bennis. Phyllis Bennis has spent a lifetime working toward peace in the middle east. She is a fellow of both the Transnational Institute and the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, D.C., where she is the director of the New Internationalism Project. She specializes in  U.S. Foreign Policy Issues, particularly involving...

Remember those anti-tar sands posters and ads that hit the news way back in the summer? Those posters and ads were produced by environmentalist groups in the United States, including the Sierra Club. and while those kinds of images haven't hit the news recently, activist work has not stopped since then. The Energy Justice Network is a group that works with local communities to track and record all...

He says. She says. Jesse Rosenfeld was writing for The Guardian newspaper when G20 security beat him up and arrested him. Amy Goodman on what it means to have a real independent media. Jesse Rosenfeld was writing for The Guardian when G20 security beat him up and arrested him. rabble radio spoke to him a few hours after he was released from detention. Amy Goodman is the host of the radio/tv/podcas...

Queer honourees give their awards back to Pride Toronto over the banning of the term Israeli-apartheid, pre-G20 African activists speak out on celebrity activism, and coming out in Uganda where Pride is no party. Queer activists should be able to stand up for human rights. James Loney talks about why he is giving back his Fearless Award to Pride Toronto. Pride is political and Pride Toronto should...

In his first interview since being released from Israeli detention, a Canadian activist from the Free Gaza Flotilla activist describes seeing solidarity in the face of death, and what happened when the Israeli military took control of the humanitarian aid ship and arrested those on board. Kevin Neish tells his story to the media for the first time in this episode of rabble radio. Part of the inter...

Kevin Neish was detained in Israel for two days after the Free Gaza Flotilla was attacked and activists arrested. In this podcast he talks about his release and what activism means.

Queens University gave former Prime Minister Paul Martin an honorary doctorate of laws on Friday, and Monday he joined the program Alternative Frequency at Kingston's community radio station CFRC to talk about all about it. But host Elamin Abdel Mahmoud couldn't let the opportunity to ask the former Prime Minister about the Gaza Flotilla. Here's part of their conversation. Even before the attack o...

As you've probably heard the Israeli Navy has intercepted an multinational flotilla of ships carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza. At least ten activists were killed in the conflict, and many more wounded. All the other activists have been taken into custody by the Israeli Government. There are no Canadian ships in the flotilla, but that doesn't mean there weren't any Canadians aboard. Kevin Neish is...

Interview with Bob Wiseman, who has generously provided a theme song for rabble radio. Thanks Bob! This week, Toronto is the host of the Marxism 2010 conference. Activists and thinkers from around the world will gather on the 28th of May to address some of the same issues that the G8/G20 is considering, but from a different angle. One of the speakers at the conference will be Kostas Katarahias, a...

For the last five years, No One Is Illegal has held a demonstration for immigration reform on May Day. This year, one item up for discussion was on the difference between what immigrants are told to expect in Canada and the reality faced by the people who migrate to this country. The rabble podcast network's John Bonnar joined in on the march and recorded an interview while he was there. Here is p...

In this podcast: an ethics expert on the importance of hate speech, eco-defenders stand up to corporate greenwashing, talking access to content with Canada's Pirate Party, and truckers with something to say. Not to mention some hard rock from the '80s, and a delicious taste of Montreal hip-hop! It's been a little while since Ann Coulter's speech at the University of Ottawa was cancelled because of...