Socially Democratic

Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined by National Assistant Secretary for Australian Labor, Jen Light.  Jen discusses her journey in Labor politics, including moments in her life which shaped her interests and values as a social democrat, as well as her experience as an Organiser with Labor.  Jen reflects on how young people engage with politics and gives her thoughts on how best to orga...

Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined by federal member for Griffith, Shadow Minister for the Environment and Water, and former Student Unity alum, Terri Butler. In the spirit of the Marshall Ganz teachings of Public Narrative and Story of Self, Terri discusses her journey from a kid growing up in FNQ to student activist (one for the stu-pol folks circa 1997), to lawyer and then public o...

Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined by the former Digital Manager for Premier Dan Andrews, now a Social Media, Digital Strategy & Content Consultant, Eloise Young.  Eloise shares her journey into political digital communications and discusses how online strategy and comms has evolved, how it has become such a powerful engagement tool, how digital campaigning differs from the tradit...

Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined by former Washington Bureau chief for the ABC, journalist, and author Zoe Daniel.  Zoe discusses the current situation in Afghanistan as the US ends its 20 year war in the region and the relationship between journalists and the locals who risk life and limb to assist reporters in getting important stories out to the world.  And, in celebration of the...

Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined by senior public servant, policy expert and author, Andrew Wear.  Andrew returns to the show to discuss his latest book, “Recovery: How we can create a better, brighter future after a crisis.”  Andrew argues that Australia needs to lift its gaze beyond the pandemic and set up the foundations for a more prosperous and resilient future, anticipating fu...

Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined by former ALP National Organiser and the current Labor MP for the Queensland state seat of Logan, Linus Power.  Linus shares his thoughts on the Queensland experience of COVID, attitudes towards it’s recent outbreaks and lockdowns, and the handling of the pandemic by the Palaszczuk government. Stephen and Linus evaluate the contrasting performance of...

Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined by former Australian trade union organiser - now based in New York and the National Political Coordinator for the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), Lawerence Ben.  Lawrence discusses the recent RDWSU campaign to unionise Amazon workers in Bessemer, Alabama - a campaign which faced serious resistance, including union busting tactic...

Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined by Assistant Secretary from the Australian Council of Trade Unions, Scott Connolly. Scott discusses the ACTU’s first virtual congress, and how the ACTU’s pushed the federal government into introducing Job Keeper and the need for Job Keeper 2.0. Scott also talks about the growth in union membership in various sectors, the fight to organise and advance...

Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined by Federal Member for Bruce, Labor’s Julian Hill. Coming out of Melbourne’s 5th lockdown, Julian discusses Australia’s lacklustre vaccine rollout plan, with its shifting targets and mixed messaging, as we limp towards herd immunity and a “new normal.”   He also reflects the absence of leadership from the Morrison government in implementing a national...

Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined by the CEO of The McKell Institute, Michael Buckland.  For our 100th episode, Michael discusses the current COVID outbreak in New South Wales, did the hubris of the Berejiklian Government lead to this NSW wave, and does the government have a clear plan to reduce the case numbers down to zero? Michael shares McKell research highlighting the social and...

Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined by the National Assistant Secretary, Julia Fox from the SDA - the only Union that represents retail, fast food and warehouse workers.  Julia paints a bleak picture when discussing the impact covid, customer violence, gender inequality, delayed wage increases and sexual harassment has had on retail and fast food workers and what the SDA and its 210,00...

Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined by former Organiser for OFA, former Senior Political Director for Color of Change, now running his own campaign/community organising consultancy - Kwesi Chappin  On this July 4 long weekend, Kwesi discusses the United States of America post Trump and 6 months into the Biden presidency, unpacking various aspects of American life. From healthcare, demo...

Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined again by Victorian Labor MP for the Eastern Region, and Socially Democratic staple, Harriet Shing. With Pride Month wrapping up for 2021, and recording on the 52nd anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, Harriet reflects on the 2017 campaign for marriage equality, its roses and thorns. She discusses sexual empowerment in sports; how and why women lead th...

Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined by Labor’s Member for Bendigo East, Minister for Transport infrastructure, fellow Marist Brothers, and Latrobe Uni alumni, Jacinta Allan. Jacinta gives us an update on all the major transport infrastructure works being undertaken by the Victorian Labor government, including the Melbourne Metro project, Airport Rail Link, Suburban Rail Loop and the su...

Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined, once again, by former Obama organiser and local New Yorker, Sam Scheidman.  Sam gives a speed dating style update on Tuesday’s New York City Mayoral Democratic primary election, including a rundown of the diverse boroughs of NYC, the candidates, and the issues shaping this hot contest. This is a particularly historic occasion as it is the first New...

Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined by former Labor member for Batman, David Feeney.  David unpacks Australia’s complex diplomatic relationship with China and the genesis of the diplomatic current brain-fart that led to the Morrison government picking a fight with a global superpower and critical trading partner.  The presenting sponsor of the Socially Democratic podcast is Dunn Street...

Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined by Socially Democratic’s Pop Culture Correspondent, Tess Farrell. Tess returns to the show to review Aaron Sorkin’s latest movie, The Trial of the Chicago 7, starring Sacha Baron Cohen. The 2020 Netflix special depicts the trial of anti-Vietnam War protestors charged with conspiracy and crossing state lines with the intention of inciting riots at the...

Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined by Jerusalem based journalist for Plus 61J and Education Director for multi-faith community organisation, Kids for Peace - Jerusalem, Ittay Flescher. Ittay returns to Socially Democratic to break down the recent conflict between Israel and Palestine, giving the historical context to a highly complex and confronting dispute that led to the recent roun...

Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined by former Obama organiser and Socially Democratic staple, Sam Scheidman.  Sam returns to the show to discuss the first 100 days of the Biden presidency, evaluating his accomplishments thus far including the COVID response and stimulus plan.  Sam and Stephen consider the fallout from the Jan 6 attempted coup on American democracy, the turmoil inside t...

Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined by former Director for Political Operations in the Blair Government, and Director of Communications for the Gillard Government, John McTernan. John discusses last week’s Holyrood elections in Scotland, where Labour had its worst-ever result with 22 seats, and the lowest share of the vote in both Constituency & List votes.  John analyses the linge...

Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined by former federal Labor Minister in the Rudd and Gillard governments, Kate Ellis.  Kate discusses her first book, “Sex, Lies, and Question Time,” a critical analysis and reflection from Ellis and 16 other political leaders across the political spectrum on the toxic culture in Canberra. She discusses why she broke her silence to write on this topic, w...

Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined by James Booth, a progressive political consultant based in Washington DC who was most recently the Director of Paid Media Analytics on the Biden for President Campaign.  James discusses his experience and expertise in data analysis, the importance of it in campaigning and in particular the reliance field organising has on data and the analysis of da...

Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined by the Federal Member for Cowan, Anne Aly.  Anne details her incredible journey from Alexandria, Egypt, to Albury, Australia, as part of a young migrant family in a diverse, multicultural community, to her impeccable academic career studying at both the American University in Cairo, Egypt, and Edith Cowan University, WA. Anne weaves a fantastic story...

Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly handed the mic over this week to Ryan Batchelor from the McKell Institute for his interview with former ABC bureau chief in Washington DC, Zoe Daniel.  Zoe discusses her new book “Greetings From Trumpland,” co written by ABC foriegn correspondent, Roscoe Whalan, and shares her thoughts on the impact Trump branded politics has had on the larger political spectru...

Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined by Deputy Labor Leader and federal member for Corio, Richard Marles.  Richard and Stephen discuss their top five favourite sporting moments, the intersection between sports and politics, and the state of federal politics heading into an election year.  The presenting sponsor of the Socially Democratic podcast is Dunn Street. For more information on h...