Shows
Matters After Print04 - Writer: Ilyas KassamAn interview with the writer and artist Ilyas Kassam, in which we discuss the links between creative practice, spirituality, the self, and politics. Through his two highly experimental pieces 'Waterboard Suicide' and 'My Favourite Triangle' we explore the power of writing in the 21st century.
Find more of Kassam's work here https://www.ilyaskassam.com/ or on his instagram @IlyasKassam
2021-02-0753 min
Karl Marx Does The Washing UpS3 E10: SoulsIlyas and Shy, influenced by Shy's bathroom mirror, explore the concept of having multiple souls. Whilst exploring their differing "ruling souls," the conversation inevitably forks down the divergent paths of Lockdowns, Michael Jackson, Identity and the Poetry of Fernando Pessoa.2020-12-2435 minKarl Marx Does The Washing UpS3 E9: PatienceIlyas and Shy explore Patience; how patient they are, if its innate, and if it's really that important. Whilst becoming increasingly impatient with each other, the conversation inevitably forks down the divergent paths of Babies, Anger, the Jungle and Mental Health.2020-04-2642 minKarl Marx Does The Washing UpS3 E8: Eschewing (ft. The Ghost of Ben Okri)Ilyas and Shy, saddened by the passing of Ben Okri, explore whether or not they actively eschew understanding aspects of their lives in order to maintain their sanity. Whilst trying to define the word eschewing, the conversation inevitably forks down the divergent paths of Natural Selection, Wisdom, Love and Mental Health. **It has since been made clear to us by Ben Okri himself, that he is much very much alive and well**2020-04-1251 minKarl Marx Does The Washing UpS3 E7: JudgementIlyas and Shy discuss Postel's Law, exploring the function and nature of Judgement. Whilst judging each other's actions, the conversation inevitably forks down the divergent paths of Survival, Forgiveness, Technology and Friendship.2020-03-2935 minKarl Marx Does The Washing UpS3 E6: FreedomIlyas and Shy discuss Freedom; if we can attain it, if we need it, and what it really is. Whilst constrained by the recording equipment, the conversation inevitably forks down the divergent paths of Boundaries, Solitude, Meditation and Physics.2020-01-2632 minKarl Marx Does The Washing UpS3 E5: Empathy (ft Marie-Claire Springham)Ilyas and Shy are invited to Amsterdam, home of the notorious Marie-Claire Springham. Whilst discussing her extraordinary attempts to encourage male breast feeding, the conversation inevitably forks down the divergent paths of Empathy, Love, Parenting, and the deliciousness of testosterone filled libations.2020-01-121h 07Karl Marx Does The Washing UpS3 E4: InnovationIlyas and Shy discuss whether or not society has been interacting with God in the same way for centuries. Whilst debating if religion and spirituality is in need of some innovation, the conversation inevitably forks down the divergent paths of Truth, Poetry, Technology and Absolution.2019-12-2927 min
Beyond Binary ThinkingHow to Enjoy Disagreeing With PeopleWe invite Ilyas Kassam from Karl Marx Does The Washing Up to discuss why disagreements get everyone so worked up. Has Social Media really made our echo chambers worse than when we lived in small villages? Is arguing online merely filling the lonely void since we left those villages? Is it part of our need to make our mark on the world, or make sense of the chaos? How do we make these communities, and our conversations more productive and positive? Is argument and disagreement a negative thing? Is it possible or desirable...2019-12-251h 58Karl Marx Does The Washing UpS3 E3: Flat Earth (ft Mark Sargent)Ilyas and Shy are invited to Kidderminster, home of the UK Flat Earth Conference 2019. Whilst taking advantage of the free bar, they interview Mark Sargent (self-professed Head of the Flat Earth Movement) and attempt to ascertain if he really doesn’t adhere to the communal belief that we all live on a spinning ball, floating in space. Lacking the tools to check Mark’s complex mathematics, the conversation inevitably forks down the divergent paths of Gravity, Belief, Education and the Matrix.2019-12-151h 28Karl Marx Does The Washing UpS3 E2: EnvyShy posits his theory on Envy, while Ilyas, envious of his wisdom, ridicules it. Whilst their envy of each other grows, the conversation inevitably forks down the divergent paths of Jealously, Creativity, Altruism, and Ambition.2019-12-0125 minKarl Marx Does The Washing UpS3 E1: RebirthIlyas and Shy examine whether the way in which we die affects the quality of our rebirth and subsequently our next life. Whilst Ilyas debates with himself how he died in his past life, the conversation inevitably forks down the divergent paths of Dreams, Octopus Consciousness, Parenting and Sexual Harassment.2019-11-1726 minKarl Marx Does The Washing UpS2 E10: Terrence (the Teacher)Ilyas and Shy meet a mysterious person in Cafe Nero who calls himself Terrence the Teacher. Terrrance's account of his near death experience inevitably leads them into the murky waters of Free Will, Mortality, Consciousness and Shopping at Harrods.2019-06-2339 minKarl Marx Does The Washing UpS2 E9: EnlightenmentIlyas and Shy discuss what enlightenment is; if its nonsense rouse, a flash of light or just pure happiness. This inevitably leads them into the murky waters of Happiness, Serenity, Anger and a realisarion that one of them is truly enlightened.2019-06-0232 minKarl Marx Does The Washing UpS2 E8: God(s)Ilyas and Shy discuss God(s); what they are, if they exist, and if we can communicate with them. This inevitably leads them into the murky waters of Narcissism, Delusion, Faith and their desire for Transcendence.2019-05-191h 05Karl Marx Does The Washing UpS2 E7: AmbitionIlyas and Shy discuss ambition, and their ambitious desire to rid themselves of their ambition. This inevitably leads them into the murky waters of Capitalism, Obesity, Car Adverts and Oneness with God.2019-05-0529 minKarl Marx Does The Washing UpS2 E6: Truth (ft Katie Hopkins)Ilyas and Shy are invited to Amsterdam, home of the notorious Marie-Claire Springham. Whilst discussing her attempts to encourage male breast feeding, the conversation inevitably forks down the divergent paths of Empathy, Love, Parenting, and the deliciousness of testosterone filled libations.2019-04-211h 11Karl Marx Does The Washing UpS2 E5: IgnoranceIlyas and Shy ignorantly discuss their differing disdain for ignorance. This inevitably leads them into the murky waters of Knowledge, Judgement, Wisdom and their own Gujarati roots.2019-03-3139 minKarl Marx Does The Washing UpS2 E4: AmbiguityIlyas and Shy discuss the joys of ambiguity, and why they hold such an affinity for the ambiguous. This inevitably leads them into the murky waters of Poetry, Truth, Dyslexia and Ilyas' own existence.2019-03-1735 minKarl Marx Does The Washing UpS2 E3: IdentityIlyas and Shy discuss their identity, and whether they are the ones who construct it. This inevitably leads them into the murky waters of Judgement, Instagram, Ego and Shy's Turkish roots.2019-03-0337 minKarl Marx Does The Washing UpS2 E2: HomeIlyas and Shy discuss home; what home is, what makes them feel at home, and the places they look for it. This inevitably leads them into the murky waters of Family, Cities, Souls and Epistemological Nihilism.2019-02-1726 minKarl Marx Does The Washing UpS2 E1: FaithIlyas and Shy discuss Faith; what it is, where it lurks, and how it is grown. This inevitably leads them into the murky waters of Nihilism, God, Fear and Ikea Furniture.2019-02-0239 minKarl Marx Does The Washing UpS1 E27: Love (ft Ma Anand Sheela)Ilyas and Shy are invited to Switzerland, home of the notorious Ma Anand Sheela. Whilst exploring her ideas on love (and eating Sheela's potentially poisonous food) they drag each other down a rabbit hole of Polygamy, Tradition, Marriage, and ask Sheela if she really did commit those atrocities that she is accused of.2018-12-231h 17Karl Marx Does The Washing UpS1 E26: TelepathyIlyas and Shy explore their obsession with synchronicity. Whilst trying to ascertain whether there lies any meaning in such moments, they drag each other down a rabbit hole of Poetry, Karma, Noetics and Mcdonalds.2018-12-0946 minKarl Marx Does The Washing UpS1 E25: SuicideIlyas and Shy explore suicide. Whilst exploring if its as dramatic and abhorrent as their parents led them to believe, they drag each other down a rabbit hole of Friendship, Astrology, Happiness and Mental Health.2018-11-2534 minKarl Marx Does The Washing UpS1 E24: PrayerIlyas and Shy discuss Prayer. Whilst exploring why each one of them prays, they drag each other down a rabbit hole of Gratitude, Sex, Food and Paradoxes.2018-11-1142 minKarl Marx Does The Washing UpS1 E23: TruthIlyas and Shy explore their concept of truth. Whilst exploring their contrary views on truth, they drag each other down a rabbit hole of Language, Intimacy, Story-Telling and Chinese Food.2018-10-2842 minKarl Marx Does The Washing UpS1 E22: Fetish (Past Lives)Ilyas and Shy chaotically explore shame. Whilst exploring their own shame, they drag each other down a rabbit hole of Past Lives, Fetishes, Dinner Parties and Mario Kart.2018-10-1436 minKarl Marx Does The Washing UpS1 E21: MeaningIlyas and Shy ponder the meaning of their lives, and consequently the universe. Whilst exploring their own melancholic existence, they drag each other down a rabbit hole of Nihilism, Happiness, Beauty and Purpose.2018-09-3033 minKarl Marx Does The Washing UpS1 E20: DoubtIlyas and Shy contemplate doubt. Whist exploring their own indecisiveness, they drag each other down a rabbit hole of Vegetarianism, Erections, The I-Ching and the City of Birmingham.2018-09-1625 minKarl Marx Does The Washing UpS1 E19: LonelinessIn this episode Ilyas and Shy explore Lonliness, and why their mums are so adamant that marriage is the solution to their lonliness. This takes them into the realm of Connection, Attachment, Onomastics and Art.2018-09-0229 minKarl Marx Does The Washing UpS1 E18: MemoryIn this episode Ilyas and Shy, explore the tenuous grasp they have over their memory, and their unconscious impulse to distort their pasts; whilst taking us into the world of butterflies, truth, and identity.To read a full account of Ilyas and Shy's experience with Butterfly Man, and to vote which story is true, please visit :https://www.karlmarxdoesthewashingup.com/episodes2018-08-1933 minKarl Marx Does The Washing UpS1 E17: PhilosophyIlyas and Shy explore the purpose of Philosophy. Whilst exploring their own obsession with asking Why they drag each other down a rabbit hole of Truth, Impotence, Rationality and Epistemic Curiosity.2018-08-0524 minKarl Marx Does The Washing UpS1 E16: FashionIlyas and Shy discuss the subliminal world of Fashion. Whilst acknowledging their sadness at being deemed unfashionable, they drag each other down a rabbit hole of Identity, Nudity, Technology and Pineapples.2018-07-2224 minKarl Marx Does The Washing UpS1E15: ViolenceIlyas and Shy discuss the impact of physical and emotional violence. Whilst exploring their own experiences with violence, they drag each other down a rabbit hole of Power, Illness, Fear and Anger.2018-06-2430 minKarl Marx Does The Washing UpSE1 E14: HeroesShy and Ilyas explore the role of a hero. Whilst exploring their own heroes, they drag each other down a rabbit hole of Vulnerability, Gandhi, Polytheism and Parenting.2018-06-1025 minKarl Marx Does The Washing UpS1E13: LoveIlyas and Shy contemplate the unpredictable world of Love. Whilst examining their own relentless desire to say I love you, they drag each other down a rabbit hole of God, Ego, Aerial Economics and Five Guys.2018-05-2731 minKarl Marx Does The Washing UpS1E12: SpiritsIlyas and Shy contemplate the existence of Spirits. Whilst exploring their own contact with spirits, they drag each other down a rabbit hole of Curses, Psychology, Belief and Vitamin C.2018-05-0628 minKarl Marx Does The Washing UpS1E11: IntimacyIlyas and Shy discuss intimacy. Whilst examining their own fears and desires, they drag each other down a rabbit hole of Family, Dating, Humility and Tree Hugging.2018-04-2228 minKarl Marx Does The Washing UpS1E10: ReligionIlyas and Shy head to a church to explore Religion. With the church closed (but the crypt cafe open) they drag each other down a rabbit hole of Polytheism, Allegories, Architectural Memory, and God's Smell.2018-04-0137 minKarl Marx Does The Washing UpS1E9: DeathIlyas and Shy navigate the emotive world of death. Whilst exploring death of Shy's Grandmother, they drag each other down a rabbit hole of Grief, Acceptance, Faith and Afterlife Finance.2018-03-1829 minKarl Marx Does The Washing UpS1E8: DreamsIlyas and Shy explore their dreams. Whilst exploring why Shy only dreams in Spanish, they drag each other down a rabbit hole of Repetition, Past Lives, Ego and Intimacy.2018-03-0423 minKarl Marx Does The Washing UpS1E7: SoulIlyas and Shy discuss the Soul. Whilst exploring if they have one (and how to acquire one) they drag each other down a rabbit hole of Gardening, Narcissism, God, and Justin Bieber.2018-02-1827 minKarl Marx Does The Washing UpS1E6: AfterlifeIlyas and Shy contemplate the ramifications of this life upon the next. Whilst exploring their relentless need to learn from their mistakes, they drag each other down a rabbit hole of Free Will, Fatalism, Uncertainty, and Cosmic Real Estate.2018-02-0528 minKarl Marx Does The Washing UpS1E5: AbsurdityIlyas and Shy contemplate the absurdity of life. Whilst examining their own overwhelming obsession to live in the moment, they drag each down a rabbit hole of Ego, Beauty, Happiness and Poetry.2018-01-2125 minKarl Marx Does The Washing UpS1E4: Pleasure (Gastroenteritis)Ilyas and Shy contemplate the world of pleasure. Whilst recovering from a bout of Gastroenteritis, they drag each other down a rabbit hole of Sex, Pain, Illness and Locked Doors.2017-12-1729 minKarl Marx Does The Washing UpS1E3: TimeIlyas and Shy contemplate Time. Whilst examining their general disregard for it, they drag each other down a rabbit hole of God, Art, Transcendence and Time Management.2017-12-0324 minKarl Marx Does The Washing UpS1E2: NonsenseIlyas and Shy discuss nonsense. Whilst exploring their own affinity towards an unintelligible use of language, they drag each other down a rabbit hole of Knowledge, Humility, Flat Earths, and Poetic Accounting.2017-11-1921 minKarl Marx Does The Washing UpS1E1: HologramsIlyas and Shy discuss the holographic world of romance. Whilst examining their failed relationships, they drag each other down a rabbit hole of Truth, Love, Lust, and Washing Up.2017-11-1921 min