Outro

Air Date: 3/27/2026

Today we examine the relationship between labor education, moral ambition, and the possibility of a better world. We'll hear about IWW members building a "Philosophy 101" for organizers, a historian's argument that humanity is fundamentally cooperative rather than selfish, and why getting labor history into public schools may be one of the most important organizing projects of our time.

Be part of the show! Leave a voice message, message us on Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

Full Show Notes

Check out our new show, SOLVED! on YouTube!

BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!)

Use our links to shop Bookshop.org and Libro.fm for a non-evil book and audiobook purchasing experience!

Join our Discord community!

TOP TAKES

KP 1: A Case for Human Decency (by Rutger Bregman) Part 1 - Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso - Air Date 10-25-20

KP 2: 73 Ben Fletcher, Part 1 - Working Class History - Air Date 6-5-23

KP 3: Striking At Kings Part 1 - Labor Heritage Power Hour - Air Date 2-12-26

KP 4: The Unsung Women of the Labor Movement with Jenny Kaplan Part 1 - The Bright Side - Air Date 9-2-24

KP 5: Climate Justice Through Collective Liberation Mikaela Loach Part 1 - This Is Hell! - Air Date 8-6-25

KP 6: Are We Trapped In Meaningless Jobs (With Rutger Bregman) Part 1 - Lever Time - Air Date 12-18-25

(00:49:56) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

Solidarity Isn't a Feeling — It's a Structure (And Bosses Know It)

Requiem for the Wagner Act

DEEPER DIVES

(01:01:40) SECTION A: HISTORY

A1: Restoration, Revolution and English Enlightenment - The History of England - Air Date 11-9-25

A2: 73 Ben Fletcher, Part 1 Part 2 - Working Class History - Air Date 6-5-23

A3: UNLOCKED Overtime Episode 43 - The General Strike in US History Pt 3 - Work Stoppage - Air Date 1-23-26

A4: The Unsung Women of the Labor Movement with Jenny Kaplan Part 2 - The Bright Side - Air Date 9-2-24

A5: UNLOCKED Overtime Episode 43 - The General Strike in US History Pt 3 Part 2 - Work Stoppage - Air Date 1-23-26

(01:40:45) SECTION B: ORGANIZING

B1: Eugene Debs' Winning a World Speech, 1904 - Bucckeyye Historin - Air Date 9-28-24

B2: What Does It Mean To Be Member Run Part 1 - One Big Podcast - Air Date 6-6-21

B3: Revisiting the Legacy of the Fight for $15 (with Yannet Lathrop and Dr. T. William Lester) Part 1 - Pitchfork Economics with Nick Hanauer - Air Date 8-27-24

B4: What Does It Mean To Be Member Run Part 2 - One Big Podcast - Air Date 6-6-21

B5: Are We Trapped In Meaningless Jobs (With Rutger Bregman) Part 2 - Lever Time - Air Date 12-18-25

(02:24:47) SECTION C: EDUCATION

C1: IWW Education and Organizing in Higher Ed Part 1 - One Big Podcast - Air Date 1-17-26

C2: Striking At Kings Part 2 - Labor Heritage Power Hour - Air Date 2-12-26

C3: Revisiting the Legacy of the Fight for $15 (with Yannet Lathrop and Dr. T. William Lester) Part 2 - Pitchfork Economics with Nick Hanauer - Air Date 8-27-24

C4: IWW Education and Organizing in Higher Ed Part 2 - One Big Podcast - Air Date 1-17-26

(02:55:10) SECTION D: VISION

D1: A Case for Human Decency (by Rutger Bregman) Part 2 - Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso - Air Date 10-25-20

D2: Cornel West Hope Is Spiritual Armor Against Modern Society's Spiritual Warfare - Big Think - Air Date 7-27-17

D3: The Importance Of Revolutionary Optimism - Second Thought - Air Date 10-8-21

D4: Climate Justice Through Collective Liberation Mikaela Loach Part 2 - This Is Hell! - Air Date 8-6-25

SHOW IMAGE CREDITS

Description: Photo of a worker at a Fight for $15 rally calling into a megaphone while the crowd behind her holds protest signs.

Credit: "Fast food workers on strike for higher minimum wage and better benefits" by Fibonacci Blue, Flickr | CC BY 2.0 | Changes: Cropped

Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Listen Anywhere! BestOfTheLeft.com/Listen Listen Anywhere!

Follow BotL: Bluesky | Mastodon | Threads | X

Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft

Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com