Novara Media

Mark Steven, author and literary critic, joins Juliet Jacques and Nihal El-Aasar in a discussion on the role of literature in revolution. They explore the relationship between literature and politics, the global scope of revolutionary moments, the influence of Antonio Gramsci on the autonomous movement in Italy, Lenin's perspective on Tolstoy, the importance of strikes as a tactic in class war, and contemporary literature that inspires collective action.

Author and broadcaster Gaia Vince argues that we need to focus on how we'll deal with the already happening and about to get much worse effects of climate change, such as huge swaths of the planet becoming uninhabitable and 2 billion people needing to find somewhere new to live. She proposes a radical reframing of how we think about migration. Topics discussed include wet bulb temperatures, demographic aging, the Japanese nappy market, rising sea levels, tipping points, electric vehicle infrastructure, the warping of time, lessons from COVID-19, declining birth rates, special economic zones, anti-migrant rhetoric, and the multicultural nature of Britain.

Anthropologist Dean MacCannell discusses the manipulation of tourism by capitalism, staged authenticity in travel, and the environmental guilt associated with tourism. The podcast explores the shift from collecting objects to collecting experiences, the search for authenticity in relation to Airbnb, tourists' fascination with disaster zones, and tips for becoming more organic tourists. It also emphasizes the importance of embracing local experiences and the significance of unexpected events while traveling.

From his radical youth in 1970s Italy to his research as one of the world’s leading theoretical physicists, Carlo Rovelli is as comfortable talking politics as he is explaining quantum theory. He sat down with Aaron to talk about the future of Europe, his theory of white holes, and why we’re not actually living in a simulation. His book White Holes: Inside The Horizon is available from Penguin. * A huge thank you to everyone who has chosen to back our journalism this year. You’ve made everything we do possible. https://novara.media/support

Is football the place for political struggle? Is there a limit to the success of fan-owned clubs? How disappointed can we be when pundits and players turn out not to be comrades? Cultural critic Juliet Jacques and Pro Revolution Soccer host Tom Williams unite for a conversation inspired by Mickaël Correia’s book, The People’s History of Football. They talk about the commodification of football, how a politics of resistance has inspired teams from Cairo to Clapton, and why a supporter-owned club would ever want to sell up to Disney. * A huge thank you to everyone who has chosen to back our journalism this year. You’ve made everything we do possible. https://novara.media/support

For this end-of-year edition of Downstream, the Novara Media team look back on the biggest stories of the year. Ash Sarkar is joined by Moya Lothian-McLean, Michael Walker and Owen Jones to talk about the Labour Party, the climate crisis, the rise of AI and the war on Gaza. From clouds brightening to prospects dimming, it’s a conversation with a surprisingly high level of off-brand festive cheer. This conversation was recorded live in London on 7th December. * A huge thank you to everyone who has chosen to back our journalism this year. You’ve made everything we do possible. https://novara.media/support

The ACFM gang get together for the last time this year to deliver a Festive 50. Keir, Jem and Nadia select the best bits of culture and politics from 2023, from music, films, books to games, strikes and actions. Unwrap to find sci-fi blaxploitation, comedy history, gobby glam-punk, Judge Dredd analysis, a fresh angle on Silicon Valley billionaires and much more. Thanks for listening to the show and for all your support this year – we couldn’t do it without you. https://novara.media/support Sign up to the ACFM newsletter: https://novaramedia.com/newsletters Find our ever-expanding playlist on Spotify by searching “ACFM”. Produced and edited by Matt Huxley and Chal Ravens. PRS licence number: LE-0016481

Analysis of the iconic film 'It's a Wonderful Life' discussing themes of war, banking, family, and home ownership. Exploration of the inherent goodness of the working man and the American context. Examination of cultural and Christian influences. Reflection on death, freedom, and finding meaning in life.

Asset management companies like Blackrock, Vanguard and Macquarie have avoided real scrutiny for decades, but their secretive activities are starting to attract attention from political researchers and academics. What do these companies do, and what risk do they pose to society? Author and academic Brett Christophers sets out to answer this question in his new book, Our Lives in Their Portfolios: Why Asset Managers Own the World. He sat down with Aaron for a crash course in the world of asset management, discussing the dangers of financialisation, how UK infrastructure has been gutted by privatisation, and what we can learn from the case of the City of Chicago vs. Morgan Stanley. * A huge thank you to everyone who has chosen to back our journalism this year. You’ve made everything we do possible. https://novara.media/support

Millions have protested against the bombing of Gaza by taking part in marches, boycotts, sit-ins and other demonstrations. But what difference does it make, either to the world or to ourselves? The gang confront a contentious topic in this Trip. Do “A to B” marches ever achieve anything? What about joining hands around an RAF base? Digging up roads? Refusing to pay your taxes? Is squatting a form of direct action? They discuss Irish hunger strikers, Montgomery bus boycotters, Greenham Common women and the people that Suella Braverman calls “hate marchers”, with music from Lowkey, the Plastic Ono Band, Steel Pulse and more. Find our ever-expanding playlist on Spotify by searching “ACFM”. Sign up to the ACFM newsletter: https://novaramedia.com/newsletters Music: Rolling Stones – Street Fighting Man / Dylan – Masters of War / Samba extract / Public Enemy – 911 is a Joke / Lowkey – Ghosts of Grenfell / Steel Pulse – Handsworth Revolution / The Plastic Ono Band – Give Peace A Chance / John Lennon – Working Class Hero Book: Charles Tilly – Social Movements: 1768-2004 Produced and edited by Matt Huxley and Chal Ravens. PRS licence number: LE-0016481