Surviving Society Productions

In this episode, Sita and Chantelle discuss the conversations from the Structure of Feeling series, exploring the impact of urgent political calamities on our everyday lives. About Structure of Feeling In this Surviving Society miniseries, Sita Balani draws on the ideas of socialist thinker Raymond Williams who coined the term ‘structure of feeling’ to capture our collective emotional experience o...

S1/E4 Sita Balani & Alfie Bown: The gamification of social life According to Alfie Bown, we are in the middle of a ‘desirevolution’ — a fundamental and political transformation of the way we desire as human beings. Dream Lovers. The Gamification of Relationships attempts to understand how digital technologies are reshaping our subjectivity. This interview focuses on the unexpected interconnections...

In this episode Sita is in conversation with Tabitha about her non-fiction debut, Sea State: A Memoir. This book explores the world of North Sea Oil – an industry often overlooked despite its huge economic and ecological significance. Lasley is drawn to the rig workers – working class men who find themselves making big money by living in conditions of isolation, homosociality, and infrastructural...

In this episode, Sita is in conversation with Yara on their novels – Stubborn Archivist and There Are More Things. The conversation focuses on transnational circuits of political repression and resistance – in particular the connections between the UK and Brazil. Experimental yet accessible, Fowler’s work captures the rhythms of life in contemporary London and the ways in which the city is shaped...

In this episode Sita is in conversation with journalist and author Kieran Yates to discuss her non-fiction debut, All The Houses I’ve Ever Lived In: Finding Home in a System that Fails Us. This book offers an acute portrayal of our defining generational experience: insecure housing. Yates not only captures the everyday details of the housing crisis – the constant movement, the mould blooming in th...

This week Ez, Aaron and Chantelle are in conversation about the state of politics, how we can be better critical friends of each other and what imagining alternatives to the current systems looks like in practice.

In this episode we hear from Malecka about her work as a race equality manager in Liverpool city’s regional combined authority, a cofounder of Elevate (youth mentoring) and her volunteer work at the Caribbean Centre. Malika’s role in the local authority was created in response to the Black Lives Matter uprisings in 2020. Welcome to surviving society presents Hidden Histories. This is a collaborati...

Creative, artist and filmmaker Michelle joined us to talk about how her work and art highlights the holistic experience and identity of Black scousers in Liverpool. Links: https://lbah.co.uk Welcome to surviving society presents Hidden Histories. This is a collaborative project focused on histories and contemporary formations of empire, imperialism and slavery in Britain and the Caribbean. You are...

In part 2 Jimi provides us with an overview of the events that took place both before and during the Toxeth uprisings of 1980. Links: https://www.serendipity-uk.com/product/1981-black-liverpool-past-and-present-2/ Welcome to surviving society presents Hidden Histories. This is a collaborative project focused on histories and contemporary formations of empire, imperialism and slavery in Britain and...

In the first of two episodes, Jimi discusses the origins of the Toxeth uprisings through childhood experiences of violent racism inflicted by the police and white people in Liverpool. Shelda asserts that these tensions are still pertinent in Liverpool today. Links: https://www.serendipity-uk.com/product/1981-black-liverpool-past-and-present-2/ Welcome to surviving society presents Hidden Histories...

In this episode we hear about Kerry’s long career and activist work in Liverpool around mental, physical and maternal health as well as the wellbeing of Black and Asian populations in the city. Links: Welcome to surviving society presents Hidden Histories. This is a collaborative project focused on histories and contemporary formations of empire, imperialism and slavery in Britain and the Caribbea...

Alan and Shelda explain how the Liverpool African and Caribbean Grassroots initiative formed to retore and bring back to life the Merseyside Caribbean Centre in 2020. Welcome to surviving society presents Hidden Histories. This is a collaborative project focused on histories and contemporary formations of empire, imperialism and slavery in Britain and the Caribbean. You are listening to season one...

Shelda and Stephen locate Liverpool as a city in Europe with one of the oldest Black populations. Expect a conversation which centres Black residents of Liverpool long history of living, resisting and settling in the city. Links: https://www.serendipity-uk.com/product/1981-black-liverpool-past-and-present-2/ Welcome to surviving society presents Hidden Histories. This is a collaborative project fo...

Shelda and Chantelle introduce the Hidden Histories project as a long term collaboration which highlights the various ways in which British colonialism still impacts the lives of Black people in Liverpool and the Caribbean. Hidden Histories has been executively produced by Shelda-Jane Smith, Levi Gahman, Chantelle Lewis & George Ofori-Addo. Branding by Munotida Chinyanga - www.munotida.com

This week Chantelle and Ez are in conversation with James O'Brien. The focus is on how we build solidarity through conversations and practices which are intentionally open, vulnerable and loving. Links: https://www.waterstones.com/author/james-obrien/250836

Ez and Chantelle reflect on the conversations and (love) lessons from the series. The discussion centres bell hooks’ scholarship on love in community, in family and in romance. In these episodes we explore the role of love in social justice spaces. Each guest focuses on how they bring love into their work. With discussion on the possibilities and challenges of centring love in practice; expect nua...

This conversation focuses on how we can better connect theory and practice when we talk about love. Ez, Lisa and Yusef discuss the possibilities and limitations of academic work on love, Useful links: https://www.dmu.ac.uk/research/centres-institutes/stephen-lawrence-research-centre/index.aspx In these episodes we explore the role of love in social justice spaces. Each guest focuses on how they br...

Alex and Ez talk about race and racialisation in the context of Blackness and masculinity in social justice work. This is a conversation about love, vulnerability and healing together. Useful links: https://healingjusticeldn.org/ In these episodes we explore the role of love in social justice spaces. Each guest focuses on how they bring love into their work. With discussion on the possibilities an...

This conversation focuses on healing and learning together in community. Ifasina talks about how their life and work is grounded in love, understanding and acceptance of our differences. Useful links: https://www.getembodiedsoulmovement.com/ In these episodes we explore the role of love in social justice spaces. Each guest focuses on how they bring love into their work. With discussion on the poss...

Ez and Molly discuss the challenges of reparative sexual violence work in social justice spaces. The conversation focuses on how we can better resist carceral logics. Useful links: https://actbuildchange.com/ In these episodes we explore the role of love in social justice spaces. Each guest focuses on how they bring love into their work. With discussion on the possibilities and challenges of centr...

In the first episode of this series, Ez is joined by Stephanie Wong, the founder and director of Act Build Change. Their conversation centres dignity, anger and love whilst working in service to community. Useful links: https://actbuildchange.com In these episodes we explore the role of love in social justice spaces. Each guest focuses on how they bring love into their work. With discussion on the...

This is a keynote conversation hosted by the Identities journal and the British Library. Imogen and Chantelle present a chronology of race and class through histories of both oppression and resistance in Britain and across the Empire. Links: https://www.identitiesjournal.com https://lancasterblackhistorygroup.com https://leadingroutes.org

Kate and Amy discuss class, gender and inequality in relation to the removal of children from families. Useful links: https://www.reformorg.co.uk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyttx0v6u10

Social justice and climate emergency campaigners, Katherine Egland and Krystal Martin spoke to us about Drax power station's biomass burning in both the US and UK. Katherine Egland and Krystal Martin were in the UK as part of a campaign to draw international connections and solidarity between Selby (UK) and communities of colour in Southern US. They are sharing knowledge concerning the impact of D...

Liam, Sophia and Chantelle Lewis reflect on the political climate today and the role of anti-racist organising in contemporary society. Intro music: Passport on our face - John Pandit Links https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/feb/18/unconscious-bias-training-is-nonsense-says-outgoing-race-relations-chair