All Hail To The Pod

Jim Slaven chats to activist and scholar Mary Anne Trasciatti in New York about the life and work of Elizabeth Gurley Flynn. This is the final episode in Season Three of All Hail To The Pod. Patreon subscribers will receive advanced access to exciting new content produced by Cowgate Media over the summer. We are … Continue reading Rebel: Elizabeth Gurley Flynn →

Why are so many children in Scotland being taken from their mothers at birth or early in their lives? All Hail To The Pod speaks to mothers whose children have been removed and researchers investigating the situation. Maggie Mellon hosts this episode of the Pod and is joined by Talia and Steph, two mothers who … Continue reading Infant Removals In Scotland →

In this episode Jim Slaven chats to political and community activist Sean Baillie about his photo journal, Locked Down. They discuss Sean’s work chronicling life in Glasgow during the pandemic, the Scottish election, what it all means for the left and working class creativity during Covid. Sean’s Photo Journal can be purchased directly here. To … Continue reading Working Class Creativity And Covid →

Scotland’s drug deaths rate is 15 times the European average and an international embarrassment. Michael Collins is from Glasgow and currently Strategic Policy and Planning Director at the Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City. Having previously worked in Washington DC on progressive drugs policy with some of the most prominent politicians in the … Continue reading Scotland’s Drug Deaths Crisis →

In this episode of the Pod a panel of women activists, chaired by Maggie Mellon, discuss the forthcoming election to the Scottish Parliament. Participants are Julie Smith, Rhona Hotchkiss and Colette Walker. Further election specials exploring issues of importance in Scotland will be released in the run up to May’s election. To win the battle … Continue reading Women And Scotland’s Election →

In this episode Jim chats to Derry singer/songwriter Declan McLaughlin about his fascinating career, growing up in Derry during the war, and the relationship between music and working class politics on his new album Path of Most Resistance. The new album and Declan’s back catalogue can be purchased at Here. To win the battle of … Continue reading Path Of Most Resistance →

In this episode Jim Slaven chats to historian Brian Hanley about the 1920 Longshoremen Strike in New York. Also known as the Irish Patriotic Strike. A fascinating piece of working class and revolutionary history. Jim and Brian discuss the key players and the political and social context. To win the battle of ideas we need … Continue reading New York’s Irish Patriotic Strike of 1920 →

This episode of the Pod looks at women’s rights in Scotland in 2021. It is an all women episode and we want to thank all the women involved for making it happen. Those participating in the discussion are Lisa Randall, Rhona Hotchkiss, Sinead Watson and Maggie Mellon. To win the battle of ideas we need … Continue reading Women’s Rights in Scotland →

In the opening episode of Season 3 of the Pod we have an interview with James Connolly biographer Lorcan Collins. In a wide ranging discussion Lorcan and Jim Slaven discuss Connolly’s life and times. To win the battle of ideas we need to build and sustain independent platforms for progressive working class perspectives. To help … Continue reading Lorcan Collins On James Connolly →

Welcome back to All Hail To The Pod. A new season will begin on 15th February 2021. With episodes dropping every two weeks. Guests including writers, musicians and activists discussing what their work and experience means for working class politics today. Hosted by Jim Slaven. All Hail To The Pod is a Cowgate Media podcast. … Continue reading Season 3 Trailer →

For the first episode of the third season of All Hail To The Pod, Jim Slaven talks to leading Irish republican Frankie Quinn. Frankie has just published his latest collection of poetry, Open Gates, and was in Scotland promoting the book. Jim interviewed Frankie at Summerhall Arts Complex in Edinburgh in front of a live … Continue reading A Risen People With Frankie Quinn →

For this episode Jim Slaven chats to New York researcher Kelly Anne Reynolds about the fascinating life of William J Maloney. William J Maloney was born in Edinburgh and educated at Edinburgh University. He was a talented student and brilliant doctor, who settled in New York before joining the British Army in WW1 and being … Continue reading The Lives Of William J Maloney →

In this episode of the Pod Jim Slaven sits down with the founders of the Time For Inclusive Education (TIE) Campaign, Jordan Daly and Liam Stevenson. Time For Inclusive Education campaign around issues of LGBT visibility in the Scottish education system. Jordan and Liam discuss the origins of the campaign in the aftermath of the … Continue reading The TIE Campaign →

In the latest episode of the Pod Jim Slaven chats to CommonSpace journalist and host of Beyond The Noise, David Jamieson. They discuss Brexit, Scottish independence, the nomadic proletariat and what the current crisis means for left strategy and working class agency. This is a joint podcast with Beyond The Noise and is published simultaneously … Continue reading Class Will Out →

For this episode of the Pod Jim Slaven chats to Jimmy Yan, a researcher in Melbourne whose work explores the influence of the Irish revolutionary period of 1913-1923 on social radicalism in Australia. The episode focuses on the case of two sacked workers, Alex Morrison and Tom Wilson. Who were sacked after they proposed and … Continue reading When Working Men Unite →

In this episode Jim Slaven returns to hosting duties for a show on James Connolly. Jim chats to Willy Maley and Kirsty Lusk, two of the Glasgow University researchers who (along with Maria Dick) recently discovered an anonymous short story from 1894 that they (and we) believe to be a version of James Connolly’s lost … Continue reading James Connolly’s The Agitator’s Wife →

This episode of the Pod is guest hosted by writer and activist Cat Boyd. Cat chats with an activist in the Fire Brigades Union. They discuss the importance of Unions, rank and file activism, masculinity in politics and much more. Cat Boyd tweets @kittcatboyd To win the battle of ideas we need to build and … Continue reading There’s Power In The Union →

In the opening episode of Season Two we travel to Ireland to discuss Brexit on the Border. Jim Slaven and the Pod production team travel to the Border Counties to speak to local residents and political activists. The episode begins in East Tyrone with an interview with Independent Republican Councillor in Dungannon, Barry Montieth. From … Continue reading S2 EP1: Brexit On The Border →

In our season one finale we have an exclusive interview with Danny Morrison. Danny was for many years one of the most prominent members of the republican movement as Sinn Fein’s Director of Publicity. Now a full time writer, Danny is also a former political prisoner. In a wide ranging interview with Jim Slaven they … Continue reading Danny Morrison Interview →

In this episode of the Pod Jim Slaven chats to Edinburgh based singer-songwriter Calum Baird. They discuss Calum’s musical and political development and his new single, City For Sale, which addresses the issue of gentrification. The conversation starts by looking into the social implications of change in cities like Edinburgh then broadens out to discuss … Continue reading City For Sale →