Oats for Breakfast

Oats for Breakfast has gone without publishing an episode for an unusually long period of time. Landlord trouble is the cause. I explain some of the details in this audio clip. And I highlight how listeners who could end up facing landlord issues of their own might be able to head them off. I also make an announcement about a change in the podcast publishing schedule: from now on we'll be publishing just one episode per month (as opposed to twice a month) and we'll be doing away with our Patreon page. While there will still be costs associated with the podcast, we can't justify asking for support on Patreon while publishing content only once per month.

In collaboration with Jamhoor, Oats for Breakfast hosts a discussion on the ongoing public health catastrophe in India. Those interested in supporting relief efforts in India can find a list of organizations and people looking for donations here: https://mutualaidindia.com/

Oats chats with post-doctoral fellow Adam King about the failed attempt to organize an Amazon fulfillment centre in Bessemer, Alabama. You can read the piece that our discussion is based on here: https://readpassage.com/p/what-the-failed-amazon-union-drive-means-for-labour-everywhere/ Notes go here

We chat with Professor Navyug Gill about the ongoing farmers' protest in India. The discussion touches on: the intent of the Indian government to further neoliberalize and corporatize the farming sector the scale of the protest and the farmers' demands the nature of the BJP and its broader agenda reforms that would actually benefit farmers and agriculture in India and lots more. This episode of Oats for Breakfast was produced in collaboration with Jamhoor (https://www.jamhoor.org/), a Toronto-based media organization that amplifies marginalized and progressive voices from South Asia. Access the episode transcript here: https://oatspodcast.com/podcast/episode-64-the-indian-farmers-protest/

Oats chats with Julian von Bargen about a book he recently co-edited, 'Challenging the Right, Augmenting the Left: Recasting Leftist Imagination.' We dig into the book's treatment of the environmental crisis, political parties and movements, as well as about the history of civil liberties and the free speech debate. Support Oats for Breakfast by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/oatsforbreakfast

Oats chats about housing injustice in Toronto with Brendan Jowett, a tenant lawyer who has fought to prevent the clearance of homeless encampments in city parks during the pandemic. We discuss Toronto's deepening housing crisis, the rent strike movement, and what people can do to get involved in fighting against housing injustice. Support Oats for Breakfast by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/oatsforbreakfast

We chat with author and activist Charlie Demers about Primary Obsessions, a novel about a psychologist who helps people overcome mental health problems by day and tries to solve a murder mystery by night. You can grab a copy of Primary Obsessions from wherever you get your books. Subscribe to Charlie's latest essays and podcast here: https://charliedemers.substack.com/ Charlie will be giving a talk on March 3 about Comedy, Free Expression, & Social Justice. Check it out here: https://cfe.ryerson.ca/events/comedy-free-expression-social-justice Support Oats for Breakfast by becoming a patron: https://patreon.com/oatsforbreakfast

Oats chats with Kyle Bailey about the limits of stakeholder capitalism, corporate citizenship, and corporate social responsibility. The discussion is based on a journal article Kyle wrote, which can be accessed here: https://www.ppesydney.net/issue-86-summer-2020-2021/

We follow up our broad discussion about agriculture by zooming in on the local urban agriculture movement -- we chat about its positive aspects as well as its limits. Learn more about the Black Creek Community Farm here: https://www.blackcreekfarm.ca/

Episode Notes Oats chats about the problems within the modern-day food system, whether technological achievements like GMOs are a good thing, and about the limits of traditional agricultural societies. Support Oats for Breakfast by becoming a patron: www.patreon.com/oatsforbreakfast

Episode Notes This episode of Oats for Breakfast features a discussion with Adolph Reed Jr. that was organized and live-streamed by Ryerson University's Centre for Free Expression. You can access the full video version of the discussion on the CFE's website: https://cfe.ryerson.ca/key-resources/podcasts/anti-black-racism-and-inequality-what-be-done Support Oats for Breakfast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/oatsforbreakfast

Oats for Breakfast will be on hiatus for the month of November. We'll be back again in December. The Patreon billing has been paused so patrons won't be charged this month.

Oats for Breakfast chats with podcaster Andre Goulet about the recently-launched Harbinger Media Network, an initiative that's bringing together left-wing content creators from around the country. Find out more about Harbinger here: https://harbingermedianetwork.com/

Oats interviews sociologist Lisa Kowalchuk about 'We Resist: Defending the Common Good in Hostile Times', a volume she co-edited. We also chat about the working conditions of nurses in Central America and about St. James Town Storeys, a Toronto-based podcast that Lisa co-hosts. 'We Resist': https://www.mqup.ca/we-resist-products-9780228001423.php St. James Town Storeys: https://stjamestownstoreys.com/

Oats for Breakfast sits down to chat about Kirsten Ghodsee's 2018 book 'Why Women Have Better Sex Under Socialism: And Other Arguments for Economic Independence.' The discussion explores the nature of gender and sexual relations in the Eastern Bloc countries—the upsides and the downsides—while also considering how socialists should orient themselves to gender/sex issues in the present-day West. Support Oats for Breakfast by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/oatsforbreakfast

Oats for Breakfast chats with Joseph Anderson about his recent book, 'Capitalist Pigs: Pigs, Pork, and Power in America.' The book surveys the role that swine played in the making of American capitalism, from the colonial period to the present. You can purchase a copy of the book here: https://wvupressonline.com/node/780 Support Oats for Breakfast by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/oatsforbreakfast

On this bonus episode of the podcast Oats sits down with Henry, a left-wing content creator known as Deathnography. We chat about memes, podcasting, music, and anthropology.

Oats for Breakfast interviews Meryam Haddad, a socialist candidate in the Green Party of Canada's leadership race. We chat about Meryam's platform, why she calls herself a socialist, how she intends to win over voters to the Green Party, and more. Find our more about Meryam's candidacy on her campaign website: https://www.meryam2020.ca Support Oats for Breakfast by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/oatsforbreakfast

Oats for Breakfast chats with Rio de Janeiro-based human rights lawyer Rhaysa Ruas about social and political circumstances in Brazil. The wide-ranging discussion touches on the COVID-19 crisis, the rise and fall of the Workers' Party, as well as the destruction of the Amazon forest and indigenous communities that inhabit it. Support the Oats for Breakfast by becoming a monthly patron: https://www.patreon.com/oatsforbreakfast

Oats interviews Freddie deBoer about his book, "The Cult of Smart: How Our Broken Education System Perpetuates Social Injustice." In the book Freddie argues that, to the extent that educational outcomes are the result of inherent differences between individuals, a system that distributes rewards based on educational outcomes should be regarded as unfair. Find out how you can get a copy of "The Cult of Smart" on Freddie's website: https://fredrikdeboer.com/ Help us make the Oats podcast by becoming a monthly supporter: https://www.patreon.com/oatsforbreakfast

Oats for Breakfast chats with Yana Ludwig, a socialist running for office in one of the most conservative states in the US. Yana is a candidate in Wyoming's Democratic Party Senate primary, set to take place on August 18th. We chat about her platform, about how her campaign is trying to win over workers in the coal industry, and more! Yana's campaign website: https://www.yana4wyo.com/ Support the Oats for Breakfast podcast: https://www.patreon.com/oatsforbreakfast

Oats chats with Dimitri Lascaris about his candidacy in the Green Party's leadership race. Dimitri tells us about how he became a socialist, the need to abolish billionaires, the impact that COVID-19 has had in long-term care facilities in Quebec and Ontario, his hopes for advancing a progressive agenda that can grow the Green Party, Canada's failed bid to win a UN Security Council seat, and a lot more. Find out more about Dimitri's candidacy by going to his campaign website: https://www.teamdimitri.ca/ Become a supporter of the Oats for Breakfast podcast: https://www.patreon.com/oatsforbreakfast

Oats for Breakfast chats about the recent wave of protests that were sparked by George Floyd's murder in Minneapolis. We get into a critical discussion about the potential impacts of the protests on the upcoming US election, the merits of defunding the police, whether racism explains patterns in policing, as well as about the way anti-racism is promoted.

Oats first hosted a discussion about COVID-19 on episode 40 (which was published on February 10, 2020), well before the pandemic attained global proportions. In this episode we go back to review what we thought about the disease back then and offer a reassessment. We also chat about China's relatively successful efforts in dealing with its outbreak and try to come to terms with why Canada and especially the US are faring comparatively worse. Oats for Breakfast relies on listener support to sustain itself. You can support us by becoming a patron: www.patreon.com/OatsForBreakfast

We return from our month long hiatus to chat about our experience of travelling back to Canada and (after developing some symptoms) our efforts to try to get tested for COVID-19. Everything worked out OK for us in the end, but our experience suggests that the response to the COVID-19 crisis is not being managed particularly well in Canada. Oats for Breakfast relies on listener support to sustain itself. You can support us by becoming a patron: www.patreon.com/OatsForBreakfast

Oats will be on hiatus during May. A couple of us need to travel back to Canada and managing the logistics of that are going to make it difficult to continue publishing podcast content.Since we won't be publishing content and therefore won't have our usual costs this month, Patreon billing was paused.We hope to see you all again in June!

We continue the discussion we were having last time about the way the COVID-19 crisis is playing out in the Global South. We chat about preachers who want to protray the virus as a form of divine punishment, the rise of domestic abuse, as well as the economic depravation and hunger resulting from the crisis.Oats for Breakfast relies on listener support to sustain itself. You can support us by becoming a patron of the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/oatsforbreakfast

In this episode we chat a bit about the experience we've had with the COVID-19 crisis while being in the Global South before getting into a broader discussion of the social and political developments that are taking place in our surroundings. We take up the issues of policing, the strife of daily wage earners, minority scapegoating, and more. The outlook for much of the Global South is not good but we also point to the case of Kerala, where an effective lockdown and provisioning strategy has allowed the spread of the virus to be contained. Oats for Breakfast relies on listener support to sustain itself. You can support us becoming a patron of the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/oatsforbreakfast

Oats chats with Dru Oja Jay and Sam Hersh about the ongoing efforts to organize rent strikes across Canada. We talk about the impact the COVID-19 crisis has had on renters, the desperation that's leading many to forgo paying rent, the kind of coalition-building that will be required if a rent strike movement is to win needed political victories, and more. Check out CancelRent.ca if you'd like to find ways to get involved in rent strike organizing. Oats relies on listener support to sustain itself. You can help support us by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/oatsforbreakfast

In the second part of our collaborative discussion with Jamhoor.org, we chat about some of the protest movements currently active in India and Pakistan, including the anti-war Pashtun Tahafuz Movement and the Shaheen Bagh protests. We also talk about the repression in Kashmir, and about how inter-ethnic and inter-religious conflict can help to undermine the class struggle in South Asia.

Oats for Breakfast, in collaboration with Jamhoor.org, hosts a discussion about South Asia. We chat about Hindutva and the closing off of space for dissent in India, some of the seemingly-parallel trends currently underway in Pakistan, the contradictions of minority nationalism, as well as a whole lot else. Oats relies on listener support to sustain itself. Support us by becoming a monthly patron: https://www.patreon.com/oatsforbreakfast

We continue our discussion with Sam Gindin. This time we chat about how the Left should engage with the working class, what socialism means, and the linkages that can be made between the environmental movement and the workers' movement. Oats for Breakfast relies on listener support to sustain itself. We hope you consider supporting us by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/oatsforbreakfast

We sit down to chat with Sam Gindin, former director of research for the Canadian Auto Workers, about how he came to find himself on the Left as well as about the developments that he has witnessed and participated in since then. The discussion spans from Sam's memories of growing up in Winnipeg to his reflections on Syriza and Corbyn. Oats relies on listener support to sustain itself. Support us if you can by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/oatsforbreakfast

Oats continues the dicussion about Jagmeet Singh's 'Love & Courage.' In this segment, while digging deeper into Singh's book, we try to take stock of his recent condemnation of the pro-Palestine movement, we compare him with Bernie Sanders, and chat about the challenges involved in pushing the NDP to the Left.

Oats hosts a critical discussion about Jagmeet Singh's book, 'Love & Courage: My Story of Family, Resilience, and Overcoming the Unexpected.' (We're not trying to mean — we promise! We're just trying to understand why it is that the NDP remains committed to centrism, even while the electoral Left in the US and elsewhere is going through a resurgence.)

Oats chats with Vancouver-based writer, activist, and comedian Charlie Demers about indigenous sovereignty, pipeline resistance, and the contradictions of resource of development.

The second part of our discussion about the coronavirus outbreak. This time we chat about some of the conspiracy theories that are spreading about the virus as well as about the rise of anti-Chinese sentiment — and we try to think through what the best way for leftists to respond to conspiracy theories and xenophobia.

We sit down to chat about the coronavirus outbreak, its social and cultural implications, and we use the opportunity to highlight some aspects of the Chinese state — especially the capacity of the central state to retain legitimacy even when Chinese citizens lose trust in local and regional layers of the state. The personal account (of a woman from Wuhan) that we reference during the episode can be accessed here: https://www.reddit.com/r/ChinaFlu/comments/evjzso/mymompassedawayinanisolatedwardinwuhana/?utmsource=share&utm_medium=web2x

We continue our discussion about HBO's 'Watchmen.' This time we get into chatting reparations, particularist and universalist policy measures, as well as the tendency of liberal storytellers to seek individualist solutions to social problems.

Oats hosts a discussion on HBO's 'Watchmen,' a superhero drama series that deals with issues of race and racism in the present-day United States.

The last instalment in our series on Islam and Muslims. We chat about the Arab Gulf, terrorism, and whether Muslims would benefit from socialist universalism.

The second part of our series on Islam and Muslims. We continue chatting about and developing the themes we started discussing last week.

We kick off the new year with a three-part series on Islam and Muslims. Over the course of the series, Muslim contributors to Oats for Breakfast will take part in discussions about their relationship to Islam as well as about the developments that have flowed out of the Muslim world's experience with capitalist modernity.

We continue chatting with Michael Smith and Claire-Anne Lester. This time the discussion looks at the range of the political spectrum in South Africa, the student and labour movements, as well as the 2012 Marikana Massacre and what it tells us about the nature of the post-Apartheid state.

Oats chats with Michael Smith and Claire-Anne Lester about South Africa. Our discussion touches on Nelson Mandela's legacy, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, as well as how the South African left has approached questions about race, identity, and belonging.

Oats chats about Martin Scorsese's 'The Irishman' as well as the book that the film is based on, Charles Brandt's 'I Heard You Paint Houses.' Our discussion explores the interface between the labour movement, the state, and organized crime in post-War American capitalism.

We continue our discussion about Wexit and Western Alienation. This time we also get into chatting a bit about Quebec (and the role that regionalist politics has played there), the failed attempts to push for electoral reform in British Columbia, as well as about Jason Kenney's "energy war room."

Oats sits down to comment on all the recent hubbub about 'Wexit.' Our discussion goes into the roots of Western Alienation and the kind of political culture that reliance on oil extraction seems to create.

We continue chatting about Bong Joon-Ho's 'Parasite' and the travails of working class life. This time we get into discussing the gender dynamics portrayed in the film, how the attempts by the poor to plan their lives is dealt with, and about how 'Parasite' brilliantly captures the bleak reality of life under modern capitalism.

Oats for Breakfast sits down to chat about 'Parasite,' a widely-acclaimed black comedy written and directed by the Korean film-maker Bong Joon-Ho. The film offers a superb depiction of how the struggle for survival under capitalism pits the poor against each other.

We continue the discussion we were having with Justin Podur, author of 'Siegebreakers'. In this segment, we chat about what the process of writing the novel was like, class divisions among Palestinians, and whether leftist fiction-writing can make a comeback.