Two and a Mic

Amber from the Road to Tar Valon joins me in this episode on the cancellation of an epic TV Show the Wheel of Time. Amber has her fingers on the pulse of that big spinning wheel and world of WoT themes and theories and shares a few morsels for us to chew on.Plus a very quick chat about Murderbot (more to come when the TV Series season 1 concludes).As always, thank you so much Amber for your time and your insights. You can find Amber's YouTube channel here: (117) Road to Tar Valon - YouTubeThis is TwoandaMic!Rise Up and Be CuriousI welcome opinions of every kind so please come and find me on social media at:Instagram: TwoandaMicTwitter: TwoandaMic1Should I really have to ask?

When Alex sent me the article about a Cybersex club as background to this episode's discussion, I was sold on the idea immediately. The sex industry has always been a part of society. For as long as communities have existed, sex has been traded in one form or another. Sex is the vehicle through which society grows, quite literally.Sex motivates and inspires and innovates. Sex pushes boundaries in ways most sectors cannot fathom.However sex and the sex industry must adhere to very specific rules if they are to operate in a law-abiding society and the first rule is legal consent.Here are some links Alex wanted to share:The New Age of Sexism: How the AI Revolution is Reinventing Misogyny, by Laura Bates (reading her books in general is a good idea, as she has evolved into an excellent resource for fighting misogyny).https://www.awesomebooks.com/book/9781471190483/the-new-age-of-sexismYour Brain on Porn: Internet Pornography and The Emerging Science of Addiction, by Gary Wilson (this book is ten years old but is a good fence-post of significant research, even if I do not agree with all of it).https://www.awesomebooks.com/book/9780993161605/your-brain-on-pornTakedown: Inside The Fight To Shut Down Pornhub for Child Abuse, Rape, and Sex Trafficking, by Laila Mickelwait.(This is only available in Kindle or Audio format)https://amzn.eu/d/e0cqrdMI can be found here, if anyone is nuts enough to want to talk to me.https://bsky.app/profile/underdark.mediaI welcome opinions of every kind so please come and find me on social media at:Instagram: TwoandaMicTwitter: TwoandaMic1Should I really have to ask?

A Haunted House by Virginia Woolf was inspired by the home into which she moved in 1911 called Asham House. It was a retreat and intended to alleviate her stresses and mental health issues. She was plagued with mental health issues in her older years. Some speculate that they may stem from having been sexually abused when younger by her half-brother Gerald Duckworth, an event she revealed in an essay in 1939.These are the pains of Virginia Woolf, yet there was also a lot of love. She loved her husband even though their marriage was unconventional. She loved many friends and a few of them intimately. She was an artist, a trend-setter and a creator of movement and style. She was an activist and an inspiration.She could have lived longer but she chose not to. She will forever be remembered.This very short story reveals a little of how she saw the world around her and is a gentle way to slip into that world of Virginia Woolf.TwoandaMic#BeCurious #RiseUpI welcome opinions of every kind so please come and find me on social media at:Instagram: TwoandaMicTwitter: TwoandaMic1Should I really have to ask?

There are so many hidden gems in the short story format. The ability to convey a complete sense of the characters and present a conclusion to a challenge that doesn't creep aimlessly from one page to the next, is an art form.Hector Hugh Munro or Saki was a master and that he himself inspired Noel Coward and P. G. Wodehouse is no wonder.Here I narrate his short story The Mouse, typically witty and delicately mischievous.This is TwoandaMic.Rise Up and Be CuriousNB. The picture is taken from Barnes & Noble's publication of H. H. Munro's complete works. The narration of short stories on my channel are by me and all errors are therefore my own as well.I welcome opinions of every kind so please come and find me on social media at:Instagram: TwoandaMicTwitter: TwoandaMic1Should I really have to ask?

The situation the LGBTQ+ community finds itself in today, especially in the case of Trans women, did not happen over a single April 16th night in 2025. The descent into hate has been long-winded, public and blown so far off course from the realities on the ground, it might almost read like a dystopian thriller. Which would have been preferable than it being reality by quite a distance.Where does the hate come from? Why is this hate being supported by so many different political groups that themselves would normally be opposed to one another like feminists and establishment people and in some cases neo-nazis?In this podcast with Alex, we talk about some of these issues and try to pull apart the reasons behind the underlying hate.Thank you Alex for your courage in speaking out and your straightforward honesty.This is TwoandaMic.Rise Up and Be CuriousHere are some important links we talked about during the show:https://basilisk.gallery/@Greyhttps://www.wearequeeraf.com/uk-supreme-court-rules-that-trans-women-arent-women-under-the-equality-act-2010/This above is excellent all roundhttps://goodlawproject.org/the-devastating-impact-of-the-supreme-court-judgmentFurther readinghttps://whatthetrans.com/category/exp/News media for trans peoplehttps://transsafety.network/Trans safety networkhttps://transactual.org.uk/who-are-transactual-uk/Trans ActualI welcome opinions of every kind so please come and find me on social media at:Instagram: TwoandaMicTwitter: TwoandaMic1Should I really have to ask?

Greg and I look at the 1968 novel and 1980s movie entitled Bladerunner and apply the ludicrously intellectual debating skills of two seasoned seals sunning themselves after a good swim. This metaphor is not diminished in the slightest by the fact that I cannot swim.We do not agree though this time and it is wonderful to be able to disagree with my brother and not end up getting ridiculed for my lack of vision.Greg, your insight and analysis is greatly valued as always and I look forward to the next one.This is TwoandaMic!Rise Up and Be CuriousI welcome opinions of every kind so please come and find me on social media at:Instagram: TwoandaMicTwitter: TwoandaMic1Should I really have to ask?

No country should have to protect itself as much as so many African nations have since the end of the second world war. Burkina Faso is experiencing the kind of aggression a nation at war would expect to face. Captain Ibrahim Traore has been the target of more than 21 assassination attempts. Where is all this aggression coming from? Many fingers are pointing towards the ‘democracy-loving' west, as if hypocrisy needed a new name.The endless promotion of war, hate, fear and aggression in order to create money to facilitate wealth for elites is a failed project. In the desperation of trying to push it through, the extreme right has decided to set fire to the world. Their efforts have been met with resistance. People no longer blindly believe their lies. We know the truth because we can see the truth.Let us follow the torch of freedom carried by the people of Burkina Faso, and the youth from Kenya who rose up last year against their own government and set our own minds free.As always, my special thanks to Esheru, your insight and perspective is always energising.This is TwoandaMic!#RiseUp and #BeCuriousEpisode art from: Ibrahim Traoré – The Young Leader Fighting for Africa's LiberationI welcome opinions of every kind so please come and find me on social media at:Instagram: TwoandaMicTwitter: TwoandaMic1Should I really have to ask?

Esheru is an activist who embraces many different forms of activism. He is present at demonstrations, he meets people, he attends AGMs, he does podcasts, he is on social media endlessly and energetically holding back the tides of hate. Esheru is also active with the pen and talented at the same time. His recent series on SubStack is an example of his ability to convey complex and at the same time highly emotional sentiments, with details and nuances, and most importantly from perspectives most people don't even consider.These articles and these stories of truth deserve to be known. Below is a link to Esheru's SubStack account as well as names of books he recommends we read.Thank you brother for your time and my deepest respect for your activism.TwoandaMic no longer clocking out.#RiseUphttps://open.substack.com/pub/esheru/p/the-womb-of-exploitation?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=4zmbt8Recommended reading:Sven Lindqvist - Exterminate All The BrutesMichelle Alexander - New Jim CrowTao Leigh Goffe - Dark LaboratoryPeter Fryer - Staying PowerI welcome opinions of every kind so please come and find me on social media at:Instagram: TwoandaMicTwitter: TwoandaMic1Should I really have to ask?

The Aghmoog Collective is a group of artists in Montreal who have come together to raise money for the vulnerable Armenians living near the border with Azerbaijan. These people have to contend with sporadic weapon fire from Azeri soldiers, without reason, without warning. They have little to no defences, no shelter and no support.All the funds raised will go to building shelters to buy these people time, to protect themselves until Armenian forces arrive to defend them.Your contribution will save lives and offer a sense of hope to those above whom the clouds are gathering.Twoandamic no longer clocking out!#RiseUpHere is a link to the fundraiser: https://ap.am/en/fundraisers/a2848efe-dbef-4084-82ba-9556a7ff247b?tab=story

Holistic and structural sustainability in small communities around the world. That is what Nutrition Smart Communities could lead to one day.Power shifting from knowledge superiority to respect for local knowledge, awareness and cooperation. Supporting one another over being dominant and subservient. Partnerships rather than lead-and-follow one-way streets.In this episode we hear what the teams have learned working on this fantastic project in India. My thanks as always to Philippe for his invaluable insights, and to Saroj for putting this altogether.TwoandaMic no longer checking out!#RiseUpSome important links:Home - WelthungerhilfeInstagramNutritionSmartCommUNITY (@nutriSmartcomm) / XI welcome opinions of every kind so please come and find me on social media at:Instagram: TwoandaMicTwitter: TwoandaMic1Should I really have to ask?

If Dr Boshart does not act in a way Canadian doctors feel comfortable with, that will earn her a label. The fine line of acceptable professional and “angry Indian woman” is placed in front of people by the limited worldviews of systemic societal racism.What is the solution? Dr Boshart suggests we have to get together more as humans. We shouldn't keep people so separate. We need to get to know each other, understand one another, and break down the walls of ignorance.Here Dr Boshart speaks about her experiences and thoughts on racism in Canada and what she sees glancing across the border into Trump's USA.Thank you Dr Boshart for your time.TwoandaMic no longer clocking out!#RiseUpI welcome opinions of every kind so please come and find me on social media at:Instagram: TwoandaMicTwitter: TwoandaMic1Should I really have to ask?

After the ethnic cleansing of Armenians in Karabakh, Azerbaijan has not had enough and through lies and false flag events, is setting the stage for its invasion of Armenia. This is how the EU's trade partner behaves, and the EU has done little to discourage genocidal dictator Aliyev from this course.Harut talks with me about the situation in Armenia as well as in Syria with regards to the Alawites. We know so much less than we think we know and if we only consume western news outlets, we will come to learn less and less and less.Thank you Harut for your time.TwoandaMic no longer clocking out!#RiseUpNote from Harut: All of the opinions I expressed are solely my own, and are not the opinion of any organization I associate with.I welcome opinions of every kind so please come and find me on social media at:Instagram: TwoandaMicTwitter: TwoandaMic1Should I really have to ask?

The calm breeze caresses the pond. Slow ripples, like silent waves skate along the surface. Then a kid chucks a stone ‘plonk' right into the middle and the pond sends angry flows to every side. The child stands over the pond in awe at the chaos. The flows gently becalm and the pond returns to its peaceful serenity.We are that pond. We are resilient to a fault. We have this confidence that everything will go back to what it was regardless of what happens. Yet we are not talking about these superficial occurrences anymore. Political movements like ripples come and go. A childish president dropping a stone or two here and there. Yet we return to normal thereafter. So it's all ok, right? We can ride it out can't we?I don't think we can anymore. I think the problem is more significant. I think we have realised that the pond is not a natural body of water, but a skilfully designed bath that masks the falsity of its creation. It is the manipulation we have all lived under, grown with and tried to escape occasionally succeeding only in sliding back down the sheer wet sides. Yet that's not the worst of it. The sinister creators of this fake pool have a plug at the bottom and a filter over that. When they pull the plug, most of this pond is going to disappear and only the ones with the right connections will be saved by the filter. Do not be fooled any longer. This pool will either be drained, or it will dry out, and we're going to be screwed either way…TwoandaMic clocking out.#RiseUpI welcome opinions of every kind so please come and find me on social media at:Instagram: TwoandaMicTwitter: TwoandaMic1Should I really have to ask?

This is a podcast about a gang of inadequate men with power who have managed to concoct a story of pure fabrication, just to make themselves and their friends richer. President Troll, Secretary Ruin and Mr Husk. Take a bow…while people they have worked with are arrested for child abuse, they're going after organisations who've made it their 60 year mission to look after people from around the world. I can call them Inadequate Bastards…TwoandaMic clocking out!#RiseUp

On International Women's Day I have the honour of releasing an episode with an amazing person whose dedication to her work, community, and roots is inspiring beyond imagination.Dr Boshart is unique and when you hear the work she does, why she does that work, and the way in which she does it, I have no doubt that she will amaze you too.I am eternally grateful Dr Boshart for your time and look forward to our next chat.TwoandaMic clocking out.#RiseUpI welcome opinions of every kind so please come and find me on social media at:Instagram: TwoandaMicTwitter: TwoandaMic1Should I really have to ask?

This must read, actually the only thing that needs to be read if you want to learn about ancient Rome, is as fascinating as the title is long. It is a masterpiece in historical analysis because it entertains as much as it informs and it entertains A LOT!Shout out to the narrator Sophie Ward as well who has done an amazing job.Thank you Greg for your time. It's always a giggle.TwoandaMic clocking out.#RiseUpI welcome opinions of every kind so please come and find me on social media at:Instagram: TwoandaMicTwitter: TwoandaMic1Should I really have to ask?

This is the last in the miniseries concerning the #AfD and their policies in advance of the #elections in #Germany in #2025. This episode focuses on the AfD's tax policies and identifies just how the AfD intends to further punish the poor by giving #tax breaks to the rich. By reducing tax burdens on those who can afford it, the AfD would be forced to greatly reduce social security spending. The rich would get to keep the money they have exploited the poor to get, and the poor would be further impoverished and desperate.The tax policies of the AfD stand for inequality, impoverishment and exploitation.Vote with an open mind and a generous heart.TwoandaMic clocking out.#RiseUpI welcome opinions of every kind so please come and find me on social media at:Instagram: TwoandaMicTwitter: TwoandaMic1Should I really have to ask?

Sovereignty – the right and ability for a collective to choose for themselves how they govern the territory they claim for their own. There are inherently certain concepts included within this idea that present themselves as defensive. The separation of human cultural identity into tribes has often led to conflict, even when the capacity and desire for trade has existed.In the last few centuries the concept of national identity has become much stronger and in the last 20 years, aggressive and xenophobic. As realities come under perceived threat, the desperate lash out. It is in the throes of desperation, that depravity rules. Those desperate rules are being forced on the electoral systems of western plutocracies to gradually upgrade through the tiers of fascism.That is why this election is so important. We must not let another domino fall.TwoandaMic clocking out.#RiseUpI welcome opinions of every kind so please come and find me on social media at:Instagram: TwoandaMicTwitter: TwoandaMic1Should I really have to ask?

In this episode Anne talks to me about her group Mindful Motherhood, which is a 6 week online course in English that focuses on encouraging growth mindsets and building up self-leadership skills in young mothers.There is more information at this link where you can also sign up to join the waiting list: english group lp — golden.leadershipThe first such course is due to start in March 2025. So, if you are a young mother or are considering having a child, this course might well be perfect for you.Thank you, Anne, for your time.TwoandaMic clocking out.Enjoy!I welcome opinions of every kind so please come and find me on social media at:Instagram: TwoandaMicTwitter: TwoandaMic1Should I really have to ask?

As I continue to analyse the policies of the AfD in particular in Germany, I am struck by the discomforting similarities that exist across all of the radical fledgling groups around the world. It is of course by no coincidence that these similarities in policies exist. It is clear that these cult communities and movements are in contact, are funded by the same interests and mirror the policies that have resonated the most with poverty-stricken, underrepresented and disaffected voters. Yet what do these groups really want? In this episode I look more closely at what the AfD offers families, women and of course the non-binary communities. It worries me greatly how clearly the AfD's prejudices are communicated and yet how completely overlooked they are by mainstream parties. It is clear the level of Islamophobia they exhibit and yet they are not picked apart for their racism. On the contrary, these radical opinions are being openly discussed in mainstream politics and the pushback is muted at best and that is shocking!Society is walking towards political chaos not blindfolded, but covering its eyes with its own hands. This has gone on for dangerously too long and people need to wake up to the very real threats such extremism embodies, and is welcoming into our local communicaties and families. It is unacceptable and we need to #WakeUp.TwoandaMic clocking out.#RiseUp

In this episode I analse the policies the AfD has proposed with regards to energy including their thoughts on climate, fuel use and what they see as being the main issues regarding energy provision in Germany.The AfD much like in their other policy areas are not so much alternative, but antiquated.TwoandaMic clocking out.#RiseUpI welcome opinions of every kind so please come and find me on social media at:Instagram: TwoandaMicTwitter: TwoandaMic1Should I really have to ask?

This podcast looks at the AfD's main policies concerning Migration and Border Control. It is perhaps the party's most controversial area, especially as it has garnered so much debate in the last few years.The fact that most of the other parties have never really got to grips with this issue, nor have they ever presented a policy that counters the arguments of the AfD effectively enough, is why people continue to talk about the issue.Here I analyse the main points and offer my opinions in response.TwoandaMic clocking out…#RiseUp!I welcome opinions of every kind so please come and find me on social media at:Instagram: TwoandaMicTwitter: TwoandaMic1Should I really have to ask?

Educating our kids has a profound and long-lasting impact on the future of their generation and the nation. There is no way to underplay the importance. In the same way that we have carried forth the emotional and psychological distresses of our youth to varying degrees, so too shall our children.As we struggle to come to terms with the world as we find it, they will further struggle with a world confused and confounded with a total lack of reliable news sources, the guilt of their elders for having so acutely failed in our responsibility to pass on a better world than the one we found and on top of all of that attempting to wade through the chaos of division, climate change and growing uncertainty.Alternatively, we could try to find a way of reversing this polarising track and finding ways to bring our fractious communities together for the sake of our children.TwoandaMic clocking out.#RiseUp!I welcome opinions of every kind so please come and find me on social media at:Instagram: TwoandaMicTwitter: TwoandaMic1Should I really have to ask?

The German government isn't doing enough to support different towns and cities around Germany, mainly in the former East Germany. This is a conversation that needs to be had. It's not enough that every now and then a politician makes some half-hearted reference to urban development funding or inward investment and so on. There needs to be a participatory programme that allows residents in various areas to voice concerns, and those concerns need to be taken seriously.When they are not taken seriously, the void gets filled. The result may not be to everyone's liking, not even to those who vote for them.TwoandaMic clocking out!#RiseUpI welcome opinions of every kind so please come and find me on social media at:Instagram: TwoandaMicTwitter: TwoandaMic1Should I really have to ask?

When news stories broke, investigative news stories, controversial news stories, they broke for good reason. They were backed up by evidence and by courageous editors. They were stories which rocked the establishment, not because they were designed to rock the establishment, but because the stories needed to be told, regardless of who was affected by them.Here are some reasons I have come up with why stories should not be covered up:National interest – wrongNational security – wrongTo protect the integrity of office – wrongBecause the object of the investigation has a lot of money and power – wrongBecause the object of the investigation is influential – wrongBecause the object of the investigation knows the owner of the paper – wrongBecause the object of the investigation is a sponsor of the paper – wrongBecause the object of the investigation contributes to the governing party – wrongBecause the object of the investigation is a good person, usually – wrongBecause the object of the investigation is a ranking official of an ally – wrongBecause the object of the investigation has diplomatic immunity – wrong None of these reasons is an excuse to either cover up a story or avoid taking someone to court. If any of these excuses are used to cover up a story or to not drag someone before the courts, then we do not live in a democracy. This is for two reasons:1) In every acceptable definition of democracy, there is a rule of law.2) In every acceptable definition of democracy, the law is applied equally and fairly to everyone.Any divergence from this path, for any reason, is a sign of a failed democracy. If our main national news providers are involved in a programme of deliberately hiding the truth, the objective reporting of their journalists from the public, then we truly live in a failed state. Then the public is simply not considered mature enough or capable enough of understanding what is happening in the world. That is plainly wrong.If we want to have a media that represents the quality of reporting we deserve as intelligent and analytical beings then we need to demand that. Alternatively, we walk away from it, and stop paying the license fee.Thank you as always Esheru for your knowledge, analysis and your time.TwoandaMic clocking out.Enjoy! Here is the link to the article referred to in the podcast: https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/bbc-civil-war-gaza-israel-biased-coverage

Lilek is a good friend of mine and of the show and she is always generous with her time when it comes to talking with me and educating me on spirituality, Zen and reconnecting with nature.In this episode we talk about Lilek's recent visit to Plum Village and what she experienced while there and the additional workload she took on too, completely by surprise. Lilek also talks about how to deal with pain, political suffering, crisis and awareness overload, through meditation, through counselling and through resilient communities.Thank you Lilek for your time and wisdom.TwoandaMic clocking out.Enjoy!I welcome opinions of every kind so please come and find me on social media at:Instagram: TwoandaMicTwitter: TwoandaMic1Should I really have to ask?

Here is a place that has a lot for everyone. Creative people, sellers, builders, storytellers, consumers and fans. The UNCRN name is a promise of quality, creative thought and safe expression in a respectful space.It is where media brings to life stories that are bursting to be told. Here is the link tree to all your platforms of choice and all the information you need. Sign up today for a newsletter and do not miss out:uncrn.io | Instagram, TikTok | LinktreeThank you Julia Books for your time and thank you Jasmin for everything.TwoandaMic clocking out,Enjoy!I welcome opinions of every kind so please come and find me on social media at:Instagram: TwoandaMicTwitter: TwoandaMic1Should I really have to ask?

This is a short account of Libya, mainly after the arrival of Colonel Gaddafi in 1969, its history post Ottoman Empire, post-Italian rule and post-war. In 1945 when the world was finally putting away its weapons and picking up instead debris to clean away the ruins of communities the pride of ignorant men had brought about, other movements were beginning to take shape. There was an opportunity to build freedom and independence from colonial rule. Some of these were attained through aggression or in the case of Libya, for the first time ever, through the new United Nations organisation.It must be noted first of all however that after this destructive war in which Italy had played an aggressive role under Mussolini, and France had been occupied by nazi Germany, these two nations, despite having had time to consider their own misfortunes, immediately sought to seize or continue to control other countries. I cannot imagine what kind of people would think like that. Imagine a man, stumbling home from the pub where he has just been beaten up, walks into another person's home and tries to kick them out. That was France and Italy.It didn't work out for them on this occasion and Libya achieved its independence with the return of Emir Idris from exile.Gaddafi is a complicated and controversial figure. In the end he was disliked by many of his countryfolk, much like Bashar Assad in Syria at the moment. Gaddafi was occasionally embraced by western leaders, in the end he was killed by them. His country has since fallen into endless domestic conflict, the people live in uncertainty and poverty, they have no access to water, and warlords rule over natural resources. Would Libya have been better off under Gaddafi? Nobody can answer that question. Do the nations that instigate regime change have a direct responsibility to the people of that nation? Absolutely. Do the people of those nations have an irrefutable right to the profits of the resources taken from their lands by foreign powers? Even more so.Our world is not a just one. International politics may have laws, but they lack dignity and respect because those laws are not enforced.We argue for better. Thank you Esheru for your time and insight.TwoandaMic clocking out…Enjoy!I welcome opinions of every kind so please come and find me on social media at:Instagram: TwoandaMicTwitter: TwoandaMic1Should I really have to ask?

This is an episode borne of a social media thread which Esheru led and I supported. This chat developed in an impromptu fashion where we were actually going to talk about something completely different. Funnily enough though this was exactly how we met. Esheru leading the fight against racism. That fight is a fight of all conscientious, understanding and awake people. Racism is a path to self-destruction. If your hate consumes you so much that you would eradicate communities to satiate your bloodthirst, where will you direct it when you are done?History has answered that question several times over. You will turn on yourselves. You will destroy your own families and communities and when you are finished, when you are weak, so weak that you can hold your home no longer, the hordes will cross the channel, and raise a different flag above the parapet and you will know again as you have in the past, your petty squabbles, your false alliances and your revised histories are worth no more than a pile of ash.Thank you Esheru for your time.TwoandaMic clocking out!Enjoy.The books we referred to in this episode are:Empire Land by Sathnam SangheraBlask AF History by Michael HarriotI welcome opinions of every kind so please come and find me on social media at:Instagram: TwoandaMicTwitter: TwoandaMic1Should I really have to ask?

This poem by Shoshee Chunder Dutt is a wonderful collection of thoughts from the Bengali essayist, writer and poet. It is hard to find information on Shoshee, but a search for him produces a number of educational materials and documents. It is perhaps a compliment that he should be so fixedly remembered in this way, as a teacher and a guide.I would love for people to write to me of Shoshee Chunder Dutt. Tell me your thoughts and opinions of his work.Peace and freedom and understand…EnjoyI welcome opinions of every kind so please come and find me on social media at:Instagram: TwoandaMicTwitter: TwoandaMic1Should I really have to ask?

In this concluding part of our discussion on Burkina Faso, Esheru and I delve into the horrific loss and significance of the murder of Thomas Sankara by his best friend Blaise Compaore. As if by means of deciding to exemplify exactly what Burkina Faso lost, Ibrahim Traore is blazing a trail of leadership that every people of every nation would wish to find in their government.When left alone to rule without foreign influence, African nations are more than capable of showing the rest of the world what real leadership means.Thank you Esheru for your time, as always.Enjoy!

There is so much to write about to introduce this episode. Instead I will leave the bare facts for people to encourage them to locate and follow the 3 fantastic guests I had here. I have also included below their suggestions for further reading and if other people have suggestions of their own to make, then please feel free to send them in.Ademola Topic: The continuing humanitarian crisis in Congo. This crisis remains completely underreported by the media. It is a glaring example of how colonialism continues to affect African nations today. The uninspiring leadership that we see in Africa is structured by some men in Washington, London and Berlin. Multinational business interest struggling for dominance in Congo is at the heart of the crisis and thereby interfering in the internal governance of the country.@OgbeniDemolaBook recommendations: Women's liberation and the African Women's Struggle by Thomas SankaraThe End of Oil by Paul MiddletonPodcast: Ubuntu: The African Perspective with Ademola and Dele Ogun Esheru: Extraction and exportation. These are the primary goals of all the international interests present on the continent of Africa today and that work to the absolute detriment of the local peoples. The world needs Africa, Africa doesn't need the world.@esherukwakuBook recommendations:How Europe Underdeveloped Africa by Walter RodneyAfrican Women: A Historical Panorama by Patricia W. Romero Florah: Speaks about September 5th when the Ugandan athlete Rebecca Cheptegai was horribly killed by her ex-partner. Florah also refers to feminist philosopher Maria Lugones explaining how post-colonialism African countries were 50 times more likely to have domestic violence cases than those countries that had not been under colonial rule. We also need to look at the connection between social and environmental phenomena and crises and gender-based violence.Book recommendations:The Seven Necessary Sins for Women and Girls. By Mona Eltahawy. Invention of women: Making an African Sense of Western Gender Discourses by Oyeronke OyewumiMany thanks to Esheru, Ademola and Florah for your wisdom, time and insight.TwoandaMic clocking out.Enjoy!

In this the most spontaneous of my recent episodes, Esheru, the gallant, the informed and the flexible, joins me, from a cafe in Sweden no less, to analyse as quickly as his cappuccino would allow, the result of the US Election 2024. We talk about some of the race dynamics, gender breakdown and why things turned out the way they did. Is there any solace to be found from our discussion? We have opinions and no more. We hope to have given you food for thought and I welcome your thoughts by way of response. How do you see President no. 47 doing? What changes will his election have on the world? And where next for the Democratic Party? Answers in a tweet please...As always, thank you Esheru for your time and knowledge. Enjoy!

This episode delves deeper into the human wonder that was Thomas Sankara in part two of our podcast on Burkina Faso. Sankara was a visionary, a dedicated Burkinabe and someone who genuinely wanted to make the world a better place. Even when in following the letter of the law, some people who failed in a coup against him were executed, he was dismayed. He did not want them to be executed. Yet he accepted the rule of law.In the next episode of our trip through the history of Burkina Faso, we will venture into a story that looks at the demise of Thomas Sankara and the dictatorial rule of a friend and ally who turned his back.It is interesting to note as an aside that none of the information referred to in our podcast is secret, designated confidential or indeed hard to find, yet the horrific violation of sovereignty by western nations is remarkably underplayed by mainstream media. There is a dissociative characteristic that does not allow us truly to fathom the actions conducted by western authorities on other nations. We ignore the severity and illegality of them because they were done by our ‘side.' Yet when any similar activity occurs from another state there is absolute outrageLet us look at two examples. France, a former colonial power and current neo-colonial power, creates a backstory of corruption and treachery against a leader in an African country and with the help of allies like the UK seeks to introduce a regime change to bring about a more amicable trading partner. The media is relatively silent on the whole thing. Russia sends two spies to the UK to murder a person they have labelled a national security risk, and the UK media goes crazy, and it is thereafter always referred back to.In my opinion both of these actions are wrong. The difference I refer to is the prejudicial role the media plays in its reporting. I would invite people to reconsider many of the truths they believe they know, especially if they were taught such things at school. If we are to allow our opinions to dictate our actions, then we are responsible for making sure our opinions are based on facts. That also means do not automatically accept whatever you hear on a podcast. What we talk about, if they are topics that interest you, should inspire you to do a bit of fact checking yourselves. The world today is highly volatile, and understanding why this is the case, and how to diffuse the situation is fundamental if we wish to try to pass on a habitable world to the next generation. I am as usual joined by Esheru, who I shall dub “Esheru the informed” because of his amazing depth of knowledge in all topics concerning colonialism and global injustice. Esheru is an activist and a friend, and I thank him dearly for his time.TwoandaMic clocking out!Enjoy

This episode begins the multi-part journey that is the story of post-war Burkina Faso. It is so full of characters, twisting plots, love and deceit, violence and intrigue, it would have been a bestseller, had it ever been reported properly. Always remember the name Thomas Sankara!That is the way unfortunately. Once-colonial powers will cling on any way they can and on this occasion, the clinging-on is achieved through disinformation tactics.Burkina Faso is a remarkable country, like so many other African nations, which if left to themselves can prosper in ways nobody thought possible. The world is at a crossroads and we need to make the right choices. We need to become active to guarantee that the indigenous rights of nations are upheld. We need to start today for we should have started years ago.Thank you Esheru once again for your time.Enjoy!The book we refer to in the beginning is called The New Jim Crow and it's by Michelle Alexander.I welcome opinions of every kind so please come and find me on social media at:Instagram: TwoandaMicTwitter: TwoandaMic1Should I really have to ask?

We don't always seek alternative perspectives to our own when we are engaged in heated debate. We don't reflect how our words may strike others. We don't always focus on what is happening around us when we have something to say ourselves.With Lulu we discuss on the topic of feminism and how through incorporating feminist ideals into how we live, we can achieve elevated levels of understanding and cooperation for everyone, regardless of gender.Communication remains a significant stumbling block in many situations, at home, at work, in international politics. We are constantly told to accept what we are told and not to question the efficacy of that limitation, let alone the veracity of the information we have been given.As an exercise, let us try occasionally to listen more than we speak, question what we do not feel to be true, and express what we know in our hearts needs to be said. Today is not a day to remain silent. If we are to achieve gender equality, and if we are to extend that sense of justice to encompass other areas of life, we need to make a concerted effort to introduce these principles every day, everywhere.You can follow Lulu on IG: SuinartsHere website can be found here: readymag.website/u966652154/lulusuinI welcome opinions of every kind so please come and find me on social media at:Instagram: TwoandaMicTwitter: TwoandaMic1Should I really have to ask?

In this episode I am joined once again by Esheru to continue our journey through the continent of Africa and to combine our thoughts on the political, social and economic factors that plague and influence the fortunes of the nation.In this episode we look at the Democratic Republic of Congo and glance occasionally across its borders and sometimes further afield when attempting to gage how far the grating winds of enforced change have travelled and why.Thank you very much Esheru for your time and thoughts.This is TwoandaMicEnjoy!The Map for the Cover Art is taken from TomTom 2024 via online search for the DRC.I welcome opinions of every kind so please come and find me on social media at:Instagram: TwoandaMicTwitter: TwoandaMic1Should I really have to ask?

Activism knows many faces. As does racism, prejudice and discrimination. We live in societies where colour is political, social and economic. It is family and it is enmity. It is a call to arms. It is a fight for justice. It is a struggle against oppression. It has long since been the latter.In this new series, I am joined by the activist who inspired it. Esheru is an activist who is indefatigable in his determination to represent the cultures of African origin. This series will try to introduce people not only to the struggle that African nations and peoples have faced for centuries, but also to what could have been and what could be, if pro-African policies are truly applied.Thank you Esheru for your time, wisdom and patience.Enjoy! Some of the books we mentioned in the podcast include:The Psychosis of Whiteness (penguin.co.uk)A Fatherless People – Rovingheights Books (rhbooks.com.ng)A Line in the Sand by James Barr | Waterstones

Randall Jarrell was a poet who died far too young at the age of 51. There are far too many who have died at the tender age of far-too-young. Today that list grows and grows anew.This poem, entitled The Refugees and published in 1942 resonates loudly in the world that we have created or that we have allowed to be created in our name. We have not become a society overtaken by spreading apathy, we have allowed it to become the norm because to do otherwise was inconvenient. Yet I minded of the threats we have welcomed into our societies and communities. The hatred that engulfs our social dialogue is creating immeasurable inconveniences which will soon come knocking. By then our democratic laxness will receive the judgement it deserves.Randall Jarrell wrote often of war, of society and of that most intense quality, the human condition in relation to others. Over the next few weeks, I will narrate more of his work so that people can once again become familiar with him. Jarrell is one of those poets who should never be overlooked, lest he one day be forgotten. Such art should never be allowed to fall upon the ignominy of the dusty shelf.TwoandaMic clocking out!Enjoy!I welcome opinions of every kind so please come and find me on social media at:Instagram: TwoandaMicTwitter: TwoandaMic1Should I really have to ask?

In continuing the “Why the Right dislikes…” series, I take a look at a few topics in one go. The main emphasis is on the xenophobic slant of most right-wing rhetoric these days, but there is also a fair chuck of attention paid to where that xenophobia comes from, why, and what the purpose is. I don't believe my thoughts here can be applied to every right-wing extremist; I doubt that such a generally applied rule exists. However, I do believe that a good portion of dissatisfied, underrepresented and mistreated white British people have been made to turn down this path as their only means of getting attention.The reality is that a small minority of racists exist in the UK and other countries too, that are loud, hate-filled and are working on an agenda set by powerful establishment figures to their own detriment. Yet their satisfaction is found in the feeling of power that their hatred gives them. These cowards, the ones that attack peaceful, law-abiding citizens in mobs and armed gangs are the real threats to society, the real criminals, and should be treated as such.Hate-policies have no place in decent society.A message of peace and a call for unity from TwoandaMic.I will look at some of the statements making the rounds in the mainstream from right wing commentators and attempt to give what I feel is a more accurate perspective.TwoandaMic clocking out!Enjoy!I welcome opinions of every kind so please come and find me on social media at:Instagram: TwoandaMicTwitter: TwoandaMic1Should I really have to ask?

The genocide that Azerbaijan committed against the Armenians of Artsakh is not a question of debate. Armenians lived in their ancestral homes of thousands of years until one day they did not. They were not politely asked to leave, they did not sell their homes, they did not leave because they wanted a change. They were attacked by an aggressive dictatorship and forced to leave or die after a 9-month blockade. They received no help from the UN and no support from the EU. Why would they when the EU and many powerful UN nations line up with palms facing the sun for Azerbaijan's black gold to pour between their greedy fingers. Human dignity has little value. Oil is everything. That is the price of democracy.In this very brief initial conversation with Vartoui from Marseilles, we talk about the UN and COP29 and Vartoui speaks a little about Marseilles and the Armenian community there.Thank you Vartoui for your time.Enjoy!

I love reading some of these classic short stories. They serve as a record of human lives through the ages and from different perspectives. In the 1830s the sale of opium was rising rapidly under the Qing dynasty, Australia's creation is decided and Melbourne is founded, Charles Masson conducts his excavation work around Kabul Jalalabad where he notes that Kabul in 1833 is a model of tolerance. In New England Hawthorne penned The Ambitious Guest.In this short story Nathaniel Hawthorne tells a well-known story of those parts in the Willey tragedy in New Hampshire. On August 28, 1826 an entire family was killed while fleeing to safety. The home from which the fled remained undamaged.Commentary on the story has suggested that the real protagonist is nature itself (Christopher Johnson) and “The Ambitious Guest” is really Hawthorn expressing his own desire to become someone famous, at the beginning of his career (Brenda Wineapple, Hawthorne's biographer).It is a wonderful tale despite the tragedy that follows. There is so much hope and happiness in the home, and then…Enjoy!I welcome opinions of every kind so please come and find me on social media at:Instagram: TwoandaMicTwitter: TwoandaMic1Should I really have to ask?

In this 200th episode I am joined by my kids to talk about their lives and interests, where they are, and what they think about topics such as education, football (Mo Salah), games consoles (Xbox and Playstation) and the planet.More importantly, I am just happy to record a snippet of our interactions so that I can revisit these days in the long distant future.Thank you boys. I love you!Enjoy!I welcome opinions of every kind so please come and find me on social media at:Instagram: TwoandaMicTwitter: TwoandaMic1Should I really have to ask?

This is an introduction into a long running story that some people in the west may have heard of in the periphery of their political consumption. Armenia and Azerbaijan have since the fall of the USSR been at loggerheads over Artsakh or Nagorno-Kharapagh. In the aftermath of the fall of the USSR, the populus of Artsakh implemented their right to self-determination, voted of their own accord to become a free and sovereign state and became a Republic with their own elections and rule of law. It was a poor nation but a nation created by a democratic instrument and maintained by similar principles.In recent times Azerbaijan, with its superior wealth and support from a glut of foreign powers salivating over Azeri oil, undertook a brutal advance to wipe out the Armenian population of Artsakh. With drones and advanced weaponry, brutality and no mercy they wiped out entire villages and forced those that survived to leave their ancestral homes. This sounds unfortunately quite familiar in this day and age because it is happening elsewhere in the world too.Hostages have also been taken. In response to this barbaric act of genocide Azerbaijan has been rewarded by hosting COP29. Not only is Azerbaijan one of the world's worst human rights violators, it has committed genocide against a sovereign state which it has since wiped off the face of the earth, it has zero respect for climate crisis plans and it is the host of COP29.This is how the modern world behaves.Please also check out truthandaccountabilityleague.org who designed the artwork used for this episode.Thank you Harout for your time.Peace!I welcome opinions of every kind so please come and find me on social media at:Instagram: TwoandaMicTwitter: TwoandaMic1Should I really have to ask?

Ever since the first cavewoman kicked the first caveman's ass at monopoly, there has been discrimination, and the patriarchy was established.The series is entitled Why the Right Dislikes…In future episodes I will look more specifically into various related topics and voice a few thoughts with diferent perspectives. This first episode is about why the Right dislikes...Diversity. These are but a few thoughts put together with the sole intention of proposing a different perspective. We don't always share the same views because we always look at the developing threat from a different position.The intention of this episode is to show that diversity is not the threat some people think it is.Enjoy!

In this next episode of the Book Club with Greg, we take a lingering glance at Dissolution, the first Shardlake novel from author C J Sansom. This is Greg's recommendation and in true delight we attack it with gusto.To set the scene, it is England in the reign of Henry VIII. Anne Boleyn has just been beheaded and Henry has taken the bold step of separating England from Rome. He also needs case and the Catholic monasteries are rolling in gold. Dissolution deals with how Thomas Cromwell takes down the first of the monasteries in his great purge. Thank you, Greg, for your time.Enjoy!

Ever wonder why scientists don't always know how best to communicate with the general public? Among the many interesting topics we discuss in this episode, is an enthralling insight into the mental process of presenting an idea, from the scientific community's perspective, and it makes a lot of sense…naturally.One of the many benefits for me in doing these podcasts is to temporarily transport into the minds of my guests, to see through their eyes, listening to their words and giving them the freedom to elaborate on their thoughts however they feel best. In this podcast, I am able to share that fascinating journey because of the complete openness with which Hannah speaks. Her answers are analytical and deep. She does not run away from the challenge of presenting complexity to a lay person and the message is all the better as a result.We use Cixin Liu's 3 Body Problem as a backdrop to discussing one of Hannah's essays about the Fermi Paradox, game theory, and some chap's theory of evolution.Hannah is a biologist and neurotech venture capitalist, and an artist too.Thank you, Hannah, for your time.Enjoy.Some important links to check out:A link to Hannah's essay: https://medium.com/@la.payette/evolution-game-theory-and-possibly-why-we-havent-met-any-aliens-yet-the-three-body-problem-d7bf503def6dWebsite: Hannah Payette Peterson (hpp.xyz)I welcome opinions of every kind so please come and find me on social media at:Instagram: TwoandaMicTwitter: TwoandaMic1Should I really have to ask?

In this third and final part of this mini-series with Kenyan artist Omish Njash we begin with me putting to Omish the welcome activism GenZ have picked up and carried forward and how the government has tried to disrupt them. I mention unity as a key principle behind this movement, and here Omish begins the landslide of his thoughts. I could have added all of his text here as quotations but instead I will leave simply a few notable ones for you:“The greatest gift the younger generation has given this country is they have shaken us out of an apathy.”“It was a revolution, but it wasn't a evolution that liberates all the people who deserve liberating.”“There were aspects of our togetherness that were not there. “Thank you so much Omish Njash for your time and wisdom. I ask all of those who can, to buy this Kenyan artist a coffee or two. He and his friends, and the millions like him around the world, need our support.Thank you Omish for your time. Enjoy!Please support Omish Njash if you can at this link:APONDI SATUNYA! - Ko-fi ❤️ Where creators get support from fans through donations, memberships, shop sales and more! The original 'Buy Me a Coffee' Page.I welcome opinions of every kind so please come and find me on social media at:Instagram: TwoandaMicTwitter: TwoandaMic1Should I really have to ask?

Omish Njash explains this sentiment during the podcast: there is difference between art and content. There is a realisation that there is a need for the creation of a new currency that is neither art, nor wisdom, or even sensible, to even be content. They jump on the moment to create content, which has a shorter life span and less meaningful value.“An artist is faced with their own honesty or dishonesty, at a moment that has become political.”“We take democracy seriously.” I am not sure many politicians want to hear this, even some of those who welcome criticism. Democrats (I am referring to any democracy advocating politicians, anywhere) want to believe in democracy if it brings them to power. They will believe in it again when the election cycle comes around again. What they do in between is anyone's guess.Tell us it isn't true, tell us we still have a country…powerfully meaningful words. These are the sentiments that describe how I feel often when thinking about politics in the UK and EU. Tell us we still have a country. Tell us the country we live in which claims to uphold democratic values, really means it. That this is not just a slogan for domestic use. That these are views that travel with meaning…There are so many powerful sentiments in this short episode I could include the entire transcript. Instead, I urge you to listen.During this episode I play a short excerpt from a demo version of the song Ochongorio by Omish Njash and produced by Lescoin.Thank you, Omish, for your time.TwoandaMic!Please support Omish Njash if you can at this link:APONDI SATUNYA! - Ko-fi ❤️ Where creators get support from fans through donations, memberships, shop sales and more! The original 'Buy Me a Coffee' Page.I welcome opinions of every kind so please come and find me on social media at:Instagram: TwoandaMicTwitter: TwoandaMic1Should I really have to ask?

It is not often that I can speak with someone in the middle of a historical event. For a start they are usually far more concerned with the maelstrom going on around them to take time out to talk about things. Yet Omish is reflective, perhaps because he is an artist, maybe because he is a philosopher, and in part because as an activist, he is aware of the need to spread the word, lest someone else spread lies instead.Omish has also shared with us some of his art and I am extremely grateful to him for doing so.Thank you, Omish, for your time, and good luck in your activism.Enjoy!A link to the BBC article I refer to.William Ruto's humbling over Kenya Finance Bill shows power of Gen Z (bbc.com)And here a great report from Adeola Fayehun about the events we discuss here in our episode:How Kenyans Fought The Govt. & Won! Lessons For Other Africans (youtube.com)To offer support to artist Omish Njash, please follow this link:APONDI SATUNYA! - Ko-fi ❤️ Where creators get support from fans through donations, memberships, shop sales and more! The original 'Buy Me a Coffee' Page.Artistic recognition:Omish performed the song in this first episode in collaboration with Wuod Baba and 1njau, produced by Addi.The episode graphic art was created by Omish Njash.I welcome opinions of every kind so please come and find me on social media at:Instagram: TwoandaMicTwitter: TwoandaMic1Should I really have to ask?

This is an episode about a Russian student, interested in art, rebellious in nature, who moves to Berlin and realises she has room to extend her arms and take in a deep breath, and continues her passion as she knows best.It could easily have been a podcast about a librarian creating a podcast about librarians (there is also famously another librarian making positive waves in the US).This podcast could also easily have been about learning to embrace your own culture even when the political tides push you away from the shores of home.We touch on all of these in parts, and stay focused on the source of all, Lulu, a humble, creative and open woman looking to share the fantastic impressions of art as she sees it, with the world.Enjoy.Here are some important links to topics raised during the podcast. Please check out Lulu's blog page.https://telegra.ph/the-world-of-Plesen-06-05https://telegra.ph/mir-Pleseni-06-05https://readymag.website/u966652154/lulusuin/And here's a link to the organisation that brought us together: wir.deI welcome opinions of every kind so please come and find me on social media at:Instagram: TwoandaMicTwitter: TwoandaMic1Should I really have to ask?