Shows
Infinite Discontent - A PodcastSpecial: Trump Wins - Interview #9 with Alex KularatnamAlex Kularatnam joins Alasdair and Jacob to discuss Trump’s recent election win. We discuss why Trump’s MAGA Republican movement won, why Kamala Harris’ Democratic Party lost, and the future of leftist organising in a country where reactionary politics now unites the government, social media, and the oligarchy.Alex is a recent graduate of Birkbeck, University of London’s MA Psychoanalytic Studies program, and former Parliamentary Assistant at the UK House of Commons. Get full access to Infinite Discontent at infinitediscontent.substack.com/subscribe2024-12-181h 22
Infinite Discontent - A PodcastSpecial: Trump, Internet Culture and Reactionary Politics - Interview #8 with Rob TopinkaRob Topinka joins Jacob and Alasdair to discuss the recent US election, reactionary internet culture, the global oligarchy, and more.Dr Rob Topinka is Senior Lecturer in the School of Creative Arts, Culture, and Communication at Birkbeck, University of London. His specialties are reactionary politics, race and racism, digital culture and the city.LinksRob Topinka’s staff profile: https://www.bbk.ac.uk/our-staff/profile/9151496/robert-topinkaRacing the Street by Rob Topinka: https://www.ucpress.edu/books/racing-the-street/paper‘“Back to a Past that Was Futuristic:” The Alt-Right and the Uncanny...2024-12-1140 min
Infinite Discontent - A PodcastNeoliberalism's TriumphIn this episode, Alasdair finishes our exploration of the rise of neoliberalism, concluding Season 1 of our audio episodes. Get full access to Infinite Discontent at infinitediscontent.substack.com/subscribe2024-11-1924 min
Infinite Discontent - A PodcastThe Rise of NeoliberalismAlasdair continues our exploration of the rise of neoliberalism, from its beginnings in the Mont Pelerin Society to its capture of academic departments around the world. Get full access to Infinite Discontent at infinitediscontent.substack.com/subscribe2024-10-2118 min
Infinite Discontent - A PodcastSpecial: Israel's Genocide in Gaza, Protests in Germany and Police Brutality - Interview #7 with Mada Al-ZoabiMada Al-Zoabi joins Alasdair and Jacob to discuss Israel’s genocide in Gaza, the German state’s suppression of free speech, and German police brutality.Correction notice 15/10/2024 - at approx. 36 minutes, Mada Al-Zoabi claimed that Germany had not officially acknowledged the 20th century genocide in Namibia. Germany officially recognised this atrocity in 2021, over a century after the genocide finished, committing to pay reparations of €1.1bn over the following 30 years. See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-57279008 Get full access to Infinite Discontent at infinitediscontent.substack.com/subscribe2024-10-041h 09
Infinite Discontent - A PodcastSpecial: Racism & the UK Far-Right Riots - Interview #6 with Tom FielderTom Fielder joins Alasdair and Jacob to discuss the recent far-right riots in the UK, racism in the British political imaginary, and more. Links* Tom Fielder’s Research Profile: https://birkbeck.academia.edu/TomFielder* Channel 5 News Interviews with 2024 UK Rioters: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9C8G6dRAqUU* David Starkey and the 2011 riots: https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2011/08/david-starkey-black-powell* Death toll for post-9/11 conflicts: https://watson.brown.edu/costsofwar/figures Get full access to Infinite Discontent at infinitediscontent.substack.com/subscribe2024-08-231h 08
Infinite Discontent - A PodcastSpecial: Trump's Assassination Attempt, JD Vance, & Kamala Harris - Interview #5 with Jacob, Nick and AlasdairWe come together to discuss dramatic recent events - the failed assassination attempt on Donald Trump, JD Vance becoming Trump’s VP pick, and Kamala Harris’ emergence as the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination. Get full access to Infinite Discontent at infinitediscontent.substack.com/subscribe2024-08-0559 min
Infinite Discontent - A PodcastThe Rise & Fall of Bretton WoodsAlasdair explores the rise and fall of the Bretton Woods system. Get full access to Infinite Discontent at infinitediscontent.substack.com/subscribe2024-07-0222 min
Infinite Discontent - A PodcastSpecial: Israel, China and Progressive Internationalism - Interview #4 with Diego GeDiego Ge joins Alasdair and Jacob to discuss Israel’s genocide in Gaza, anti-Semitism, international progressive activism, and more. Get full access to Infinite Discontent at infinitediscontent.substack.com/subscribe2024-06-101h 34
Infinite Discontent - A PodcastStation to Station (or, Bowie Leaves L.A.)Alasdair and Nick complete their exploration of Bowie’s fascist period. Get full access to Infinite Discontent at infinitediscontent.substack.com/subscribe2024-06-0321 min
Infinite Discontent - A PodcastSpecial: Barbie, David Foster Wallace, Irony & Fascist Films - Interview #3 with Niv NairAlasdair and Jacob are joined by Nivedita Nair to chat about Barbie, David Foster Wallace, irony, and fascism in cinema. Get full access to Infinite Discontent at infinitediscontent.substack.com/subscribe2024-04-191h 29
Infinite Discontent - A PodcastThe Young American (or, Bowie in the USA)In this episode, Nick and Alasdair continue to explore the life of an icon of liberal society who descended into fascism in a moment of anxiety and disintegration: David Bowie. Get full access to Infinite Discontent at infinitediscontent.substack.com/subscribe2024-04-1623 min
Infinite Discontent - A PodcastZiggy Stardust (or, Bowie's Rock 'n' Roll Suicide)Alasdair and Nick explore the life of an icon of liberal society who descended into fascism in a moment of anxiety and disintegration: David Bowie. Get full access to Infinite Discontent at infinitediscontent.substack.com/subscribe2024-03-2123 min
Infinite Discontent - A PodcastSpecial: Interview #2 - Lynching, Group Violence & the Far-Right with Amanda Mont'Alvão Veloso RabeloAlasdair and new co-host, Jacob Smith, are joined by Amanda Mont’Alvão Veloso Rabelo to discuss Amanda’s PhD research on group violence, lynching in Brazil and psychoanalysis. Get full access to Infinite Discontent at infinitediscontent.substack.com/subscribe2024-03-181h 17
Infinite Discontent - A PodcastThe Culture of the BombContinuing our exploration of the cultural, political and psychic effects of the 20th century’s most terrifying invention – the atomic bomb. Get full access to Infinite Discontent at infinitediscontent.substack.com/subscribe2024-02-2926 min
Infinite Discontent - A PodcastSpecial: Memes, Trumpism and January 6th - Interview #1 with Jacob SmithAlasdair speaks to Jacob Smith about his recent MA research on memes, Trumpism, and the January 6th riots. Recorded on 27/01/2024. Get full access to Infinite Discontent at infinitediscontent.substack.com/subscribe2024-02-121h 44
Infinite Discontent - A PodcastGround Zero (or, Hiroshima and the Trinity Test)On the cultural, political and psychic effects of the 20th century’s most terrifying invention – the atomic bomb. Get full access to Infinite Discontent at infinitediscontent.substack.com/subscribe2024-02-0825 min
Infinite Discontent - A PodcastKarlfried Graf DürckheimOn the life and ideas of Karlfried Graf Dürckheim, a Nazi propagandist who became a liberal spiritualist after WWII. Get full access to Infinite Discontent at infinitediscontent.substack.com/subscribe2024-01-2924 min
Infinite Discontent - A PodcastEverything You Cannot ForgetIn this episode, we look at the rising fascism in the UK, Europe and the US, and introduce the podcast. Get full access to Infinite Discontent at infinitediscontent.substack.com/subscribe2024-01-1017 min