Shows
The Poplar TapesAnarchism, Decolonization and Solidarity Publishing w. Benjamin PilletIn this episode, Kiegan Irish and Alex Boos are joined by Benjamin Pillet, a PhD grad from Université de Québec à Montréal who now lives on a sustainable farm with his family in Paspébiac, to discuss his journey from France to Turtle Island, the concept of Anarcho-Indigenism, settler solidarity publishing, activism, decolonization, anarchism, postcolonialism, theories of the state and more.
Special thanks to Benjamin Pillet for sharing his time with us and to Jacob Irish for postproduction. Thank you to our listeners for joining us.
You can find Benjamin Pillet's PhD thesis here (in French):
https://archipel.uqam.c...2021-07-271h 41UnsettlingAnarchism, Decolonization and Solidarity Publishing w. Benjamin PilletIn this episode, Kiegan Irish and Alex Boos are joined by Benjamin Pillet, a PhD grad from Université de Québec à Montréal who now lives on a sustainable farm with his family in Paspébiac, to discuss his journey from France to Turtle Island, the concept of Anarcho-Indigenism, settler solidarity publishing, activism, decolonization, anarchism, postcolonialism, theories of the state and more.
Special thanks to Benjamin Pillet for sharing his time with us and to Jacob Irish for postproduction. Thank you to our listeners for joining us.
You can find Benjamin Pillet's PhD thesis here (in French):
https://archipel.uqam.c...2021-07-271h 41The Poplar TapesIs America Fascist? An Historical AnalysisIn this episode, Kiegan Irish and Alex Boos are joined by Montreal-based poet William Vallières for an enriching discussion on the nature and history of fascism and what the legacy of studies on fascism can offer us when interpreting politics in the world today.
Special thanks goes out to Will for generously sharing his time and thoughts with us. You can find his most recent book of poetry Versus (2019) with Véhicule Press if you follow this link: https://www.vehiculepress.com/q.php?EAN=9781550655377
We also extend our gratitude to Jacob Irish for his generous an...2021-05-172h 12UnsettlingIs America Fascist? An Historical AnalysisIn this episode, Kiegan Irish and Alex Boos are joined by Montreal-based poet William Vallières for an enriching discussion on the nature and history of fascism and what the legacy of studies on fascism can offer us when interpreting politics in the world today.
Special thanks goes out to Will for generously sharing his time and thoughts with us. You can find his most recent book of poetry Versus (2019) with Véhicule Press if you follow this link: https://www.vehiculepress.com/q.php?EAN=9781550655377
We also extend our gratitude to Jacob Irish for his generous an...2021-05-172h 12
The Poplar TapesCommunity and Autonomy: Migrants in GreeceFeeling lonely? As the first round of vaccines rolls into Canada, a yearning for the revitalization of social relations long severed and strangulated by the social distancing and confinement required to fight COVID-19 grows stronger. But what kinds of social relations are we going to build now and commit to the future? What can we build together in the face of crisis at home or abroad? In this episode, Kiegan Irish and Alex Boos are joined by friends Ryan Faulkner and Héloïse Muller to discuss how community organizing in Greece has handled one of the EU’s wors...2020-12-171h 02UnsettlingCommunity and Autonomy: Migrants in GreeceFeeling lonely? As the first round of vaccines rolls into Canada, a yearning for the revitalization of social relations long severed and strangulated by the social distancing and confinement required to fight COVID-19 grows stronger. But what kinds of social relations are we going to build now and commit to the future? What can we build together in the face of crisis at home or abroad? In this episode, Kiegan Irish and Alex Boos are joined by friends Ryan Faulkner and Héloïse Muller to discuss how community organizing in Greece has handled one of the EU’s wors...2020-12-171h 02The Poplar TapesPost-Capitalist Desire: Mark Fisher 2020 VisionSeven months into the global pandemic, Kiegan Irish and Alex Boos revisit one of Mark Fisher’s papers called “Post-Capitalist Desire.” At a time when societal collapse, economic recession, world-historical crises, homelessness, unemployment and fascist tendencies are on the rise, we believe it is crucial to think about the situation of the political left in public discourse and how it is taking shape today. What could a post-capitalist world look like? How do we think through capitalism to its end and beyond in the settler colonial context of Canada? In what ways are Fisher’s reflections on the challenges the poli...2020-10-191h 31UnsettlingPost-Capitalist Desire: Mark Fisher 2020 VisionSeven months into the global pandemic, Kiegan Irish and Alex Boos revisit one of Mark Fisher’s papers called “Post-Capitalist Desire.” At a time when societal collapse, economic recession, world-historical crises, homelessness, unemployment and fascist tendencies are on the rise, we believe it is crucial to think about the situation of the political left in public discourse and how it is taking shape today. What could a post-capitalist world look like? How do we think through capitalism to its end and beyond in the settler colonial context of Canada? In what ways are Fisher’s reflections on the challenges the poli...2020-10-191h 31
The Poplar TapesErin O'Toole and Conservative Politics in CanadaIn this episode, Kiegan Irish and Alex Boos are joined by Mike Fong to discuss Erin O'Toole's recent conservative party leadership election, the legacy of Canadian conservative politics and Canadian political economy. What shape is Canada's right-wing discourse taking? How do today's conservative party politics tie in with right-wing radicalization practices and what are some of the stakes at play for the political left and Indigenous politics? What strategies could the liberals implement to impede a conservative government if a vote of non confidence is held in the upcoming Fall? Join us in this episode as we consider all...2020-08-3100 minUnsettlingErin O'Toole and Conservative Politics in CanadaIn this episode, Kiegan Irish and Alex Boos are joined by Mike Fong to discuss Erin O'Toole's recent conservative party leadership election, the legacy of Canadian conservative politics and Canadian political economy. What shape is Canada's right-wing discourse taking? How do today's conservative party politics tie in with right-wing radicalization practices and what are some of the stakes at play for the political left and Indigenous politics? What strategies could the liberals implement to impede a conservative government if a vote of non confidence is held in the upcoming Fall? Join us in this episode as we consider all...2020-08-311h 17
The Poplar Tapes1492 Land Back Lane, The Twentieth Century and the Character of CanadaIn this episode, Kiegan Irish and Alex Boos discuss some of the events transpiring at 1492 Land Back Lane, where Haudenosaunee land defenders and allies have been actively holding Haudenosaunee territory since July 19, 2020, before diving into a film analysis of Winnipeg film director Matthew Rankin’s The Twentieth Century. Join us as we revisit the plot, themes, historical resonances and symbolism of Rankin’s film in effort to comprehend what this film can tell us about Canadian history, politics, identity and the construction of a national psyche.Huge thank you goes out to Jacob Irish for his ongoing comm...2020-08-2300 minUnsettling1492 Land Back Lane, The Twentieth Century and the Character of CanadaIn this episode, Kiegan Irish and Alex Boos discuss some of the events transpiring at 1492 Land Back Lane, where Haudenosaunee land defenders and allies have been actively holding Haudenosaunee territory since July 19, 2020, before diving into a film analysis of Winnipeg film director Matthew Rankin’s The Twentieth Century. Join us as we revisit the plot, themes, historical resonances and symbolism of Rankin’s film in effort to comprehend what this film can tell us about Canadian history, politics, identity and the construction of a national psyche.
Huge thank you goes out to Jacob Irish for his ongoing commitment and work...2020-08-231h 19
UnsettlingCanada on Turtle Island: Early Settler History, the Fur Trade, and Lost FuturesIn this episode, Kiegan Irish and Alex Boos revisit and contemplate historical moments and trajectories that trace out certain facets of the encounter between Europeans and Indigenous peoples on Turtle Island. Taking a dual historical approach that blends Linda Tuhiwai Smith’s decolonial methodology of Indigenizing discourse with a historical materialist analysis borrowed from Marxism, we consider some of the effects of the colonial dynamics of the European-Indigenous fur trade on both Indigenous and European societies and examine the structure and evolution of specific French trading companies to pinpoint their roles both as vanguards of European economic trading practices an...2020-07-022h 11The Poplar TapesCanada on Turtle Island: Early Settler History, the Fur Trade, and Lost FuturesIn this episode, Kiegan Irish and Alex Boos revisit and contemplate historical moments and trajectories that trace out certain facets of the encounter between Europeans and Indigenous peoples on Turtle Island. Taking a dual historical approach that blends Linda Tuhiwai Smith’s decolonial methodology of Indigenizing discourse with a historical materialist analysis borrowed from Marxism, we consider some of the effects of the colonial dynamics of the European-Indigenous fur trade on both Indigenous and European societies and examine the structure and evolution of specific French trading companies to pinpoint their roles both as vanguards of European economic trading practices an...2020-07-0200 min
UnsettlingDemystifying Climate Science with Anna BishopIn this episode, Kiegan Irish, Alex Boos, and Alex Edwards are joined by guest Anna Bishop, who recently completed a master’s in biogeochemistry from the University of Alberta, to elucidate the world of climate science and its methods of understanding climate change. Join us as Anna demystifies climate science with language that balances the rigour of science with clarity and accessibility.
2020-05-281h 27The Poplar TapesDemystifying Climate Science with Anna BishopIn this episode, Kiegan Irish, Alex Boos, and Alex Edwards are joined by guest Anna Bishop, who recently completed a master’s in biogeochemistry from the University of Alberta, to elucidate the world of climate science and its methods of understanding climate change. Join us as Anna demystifies climate science with language that balances the rigour of science with clarity and accessibility.2020-05-2800 min
Political Philosophy PodcastNew Media Roundtable with ETVpod, Jerb the Humanist, Chrisiousity, & The Poplar TapesI was part of a panel discussion of left-wing new media producers. We covered the IDW, the left, free speech, & liberalism vs the left.
Participants:
Embrace the Void
https://voidpod.com/
Chrisiousity:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn1b...
https://twitter.com/chrisiousity
The Poplar Tapes:
https://thepoplartapes.podbean.com/
https://twitter.com/ThePoplarTapes
Jerb the Humanist:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmE8...
https://twitter.com/Jerbivore2020-04-251h 37UnsettlingNew Media Roundtable: Free Speech, American Politics and the LeftNow, something a little different for The Poplar Tapes. This time around, Kiegan Irish joined a roundtable with other creators to discuss left media, free speech, contemporary American politics, the differences between socialism and liberalism, and more!
A big thank you goes out to Toby Buckle from the Political Philosophy Podcast for organizing the roundtable and to everyone else who took part!
Check out their projects here:
Jerb:
https://twitter.com/Jerbivore
https://www.spreaker.com/show/jerb-th...
Political Philosophy Podcast:
https://www.politicalphilosophypodcas...
https://twitter.com/PolPhilPod
Chrisiousity:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn1b...
https://twitter.com...2020-04-241h 33The Poplar TapesNew Media RoundtableNow, something a little different for The Poplar Tapes. This time around, Kiegan Irish joined a roundtable with other creators to discuss left media, free speech, contemporary American politics, the differences between socialism and liberalism, and more! A big thank you goes out to Toby Buckle from the Political Philosophy Podcast for organizing the roundtable and to everyone else who took part!Check out their projects here:Jerb:https://twitter.com/Jerbivorehttps://www.spreaker.com/show/jerb-th...Political Philosophy Podcast:https://www.politicalphilosophypodcas...https://twitter.com...2020-04-2400 min
Embrace The VoidEV - 139 New Media RoundtableSomething new this week! Some friends put together a roundtable discussion on left/liberal relations and related pressing issues. Hope you enjoy!Video version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPI02PAv3GQParticipants:Political Philosophy Podcast:https://www.politicalphilosophypodcas...https://twitter.com/PolPhilPodChrisiousity:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn1b...https://twitter.com/chrisiousityThe Poplar Tapes:https://thepoplartapes.podbean.com/https://twitter.com/ThePoplarTapesJerb the Humanist:https://www.youtube...2020-04-241h 35
Jerb The HumanistNew Media Roundtable - Interrogating What Free Speech Actually MeansToby Buckle of the Political Philosophy Podcast organized a series of online creators for the purpose of heterodox discussions about philosophy, politics, and progress. In the inaugural episode of this project, Toby, Aaron, Chrisi, Kiegan, and I unpack what we really mean by free speech when we appeal to it. Towards the end, we discuss leftist and liberal conflict and how to move forward.Reminder- most of my content is on the channel and not uploaded to the podcast feed.https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmE8jnO-2WwKYjSpRXEu2HwSupport me here!https://www...2020-04-241h 35
The Poplar TapesBernie and Populism: Failures and LessonsIn this episode Alex Edwards and Kiegan Irish discuss the Bernie Sanders primary campaign. Bernie had a huge amount of momentum and grassroots support, yet a ripple of electoral losses led to a struggling campaign. We discuss in detail what went wrong at the level of strategy and rhetoric. We look at the campaign through the lens of populism and enumerate our diagnoses as well as offering prescriptions for building genuine power on the left.2020-03-3100 minUnsettlingBernie and Populism: Failures and LessonsIn this episode Alex Edwards and Kiegan Irish discuss the Bernie Sanders primary campaign. Bernie had a huge amount of momentum and grassroots support, yet a ripple of electoral losses led to a struggling campaign. We discuss in detail what went wrong at the level of strategy and rhetoric. We look at the campaign through the lens of populism and enumerate our diagnoses as well as offering prescriptions for building genuine power on the left.
2020-03-311h 35
UnsettlingCOVID-19: Origins, Agribusiness, Climate Change and the FutureIn this episode, Kiegan Irish and Alex Boos discuss the novel coronavirus, a.k.a COVID-19. We investigate its origins and draw out the connections between industrial agricultural practices, globalization, climate change, and the spread of the virus. We then do a deep dive into the relationship to nature embodied in the global economic order and how our lasting social, political, and economic problems have shaped the current crisis. What does this mean for our future? How does the left advocate for change rather than a return to the normality which led to this situation in the first place?2020-03-281h 14The Poplar TapesCOVID-19: Origins, Agribusiness, Climate Change and the FutureIn this episode, Kiegan Irish and Alex Boos discuss the novel coronavirus, a.k.a COVID-19. We investigate its origins and draw out the connections between industrial agricultural practices, globalization, climate change, and the spread of the virus. We then do a deep dive into the relationship to nature embodied in the global economic order and how our lasting social, political, and economic problems have shaped the current crisis. What does this mean for our future? How does the left advocate for change rather than a return to the normality which led to this situation in the first place?2020-03-2800 minUnsettlingWet'suwet'en and the Age of Finance CapitalismIn this episode, Kiegan Irish and Alex Boos discuss an essay entitled “Racialized Accumulation by Dispossession in the Age of Finance Capitalism: Notes on the Debt Economy” from Jackie Wang’s book Carceral Capitalism. Distilling Wang's critical reworkings of Rosa Luxemberg’s concept of hybrid capitalism and her reflections on systems of expropriation and indebtedness specific to the age of finance capitalism, we consider how they can be reapplied to the context of Canadian settler colonialism, Coastal Gas Link and the RCMP raid into Wet’suwet’en traditional territory in the early hours of the morning on February 6th, 2020.
To donat...2020-03-191h 11The Poplar TapesWet'suwet'en and the Age of Finance CapitalismIn this episode, Kiegan Irish and Alex Boos discuss an essay entitled “Racialized Accumulation by Dispossession in the Age of Finance Capitalism: Notes on the Debt Economy” from Jackie Wang’s book Carceral Capitalism. Distilling Wang's critical reworkings of Rosa Luxemberg’s concept of hybrid capitalism and her reflections on systems of expropriation and indebtedness specific to the age of finance capitalism, we consider how they can be reapplied to the context of Canadian settler colonialism, Coastal Gas Link and the RCMP raid into Wet’suwet’en traditional territory in the early hours of the morning on February 6th, 2020.
To donat...2020-03-1900 min
UnsettlingCoulrophobia: The Evil Clown as Cultural MetaphorIn this episode, Kiegan Irish and Alex Boos discuss the history of the figure of the clown from the Feast of Fools to Ronald McDonald, and its eventual development into the 'evil' clown, which plays a recurring role in particular as a signifier in the popular culture of today. Taking the horror genre as a pivotal point of departure, we then consider the political anxieties the evil clown embodies for our contemporary political moment.
Special thanks goes out to Dan Boos and Jacob Irish for editing and postproduction!
2020-01-1954 minThe Poplar TapesCoulrophobia: The Evil Clown as Cultural MetaphorIn this episode, Kiegan Irish and Alex Boos discuss the history of the figure of the clown from the Feast of Fools to Ronald McDonald, and its eventual development into the 'evil' clown, which plays a recurring role in particular as a signifier in the popular culture of today. Taking the horror genre as a pivotal point of departure, we then consider the political anxieties the evil clown embodies for our contemporary political moment.
Special thanks goes out to Dan Boos and Jacob Irish for editing and postproduction!2020-01-1900 min
Unsettling2019 Federal Election BluesIn this episode, Kiegan Irish, Mike Fong, and Alex Boos discuss Canada's upcoming federal election with a conversational approach, covering a broad range of topics. We talk through how to orient ourselves towards the different political parties and the political system in Canada as a whole. We talk about voting, not voting, democracy, the concepts of "voter apathy" and "strategic voting," Canadian history and identity, party rhetoric, the Canadian media and the construction of the Canadian public. Join us! And get yourself set straight (or maybe crooked) as you go into the voting booth this Monday! Special thanks goes...2019-10-191h 46The Poplar Tapes2019 Federal Election BluesIn this episode, Kiegan Irish, Mike Fong, and Alex Boos discuss Canada's upcoming federal election with a conversational approach, covering a broad range of topics. We talk through how to orient ourselves towards the different political parties and the political system in Canada as a whole. We talk about voting, not voting, democracy, the concepts of "voter apathy" and "strategic voting," Canadian history and identity, party rhetoric, the Canadian media and the construction of the Canadian public. Join us! And get yourself set straight (or maybe crooked) as you go into the voting booth this Monday! Special thanks goes...2019-10-1900 min
UnsettlingCorruption in Canadian Banks: Is There No Alternative?In this episode, Kiegan Irish, Alex Boos and Alex Edwards discuss reporting from 2017 and 2018 on corruption in Canadian banking culture and embed these reports in the wider context of our capitalist economy with a reading of Mark Fisher’s Capitalist Realism. We look at the banking practices of Canada’s banks and the federal government’s response to these banking practices and draw from Fisher’s concepts of market Stalinism and bureaucratic anti-production. What constitutes the discourse around “legitimate” and “realistic” banking practices? How have technologies changed the face of Canada's banking industry? Are there alternatives? We discuss all this and more.
...2019-09-101h 04The Poplar TapesCorruption in Canadian Banks: Is There No Alternative?In this episode, Kiegan Irish, Alex Boos and Alex Edwards discuss reporting from 2017 and 2018 on corruption in Canadian banking culture and embed these reports in the wider context of our capitalist economy with a reading of Mark Fisher’s Capitalist Realism. We look at the banking practices of Canada’s banks and the federal government’s response to these banking practices and draw from Fisher’s concepts of market Stalinism and bureaucratic anti-production. What constitutes the discourse around “legitimate” and “realistic” banking practices? How have technologies changed the face of Canada's banking industry? Are there alternatives? We discuss all this and more. 2019-09-1000 min
UnsettlingFalse Dichotomies in Politics: Hillary vs. Trump; Green New Deal vs. Labour RightsIn this episode Alex Edwards, Kiegan Irish, and Alex Boos discuss false dichotomies in our political discourse. We look at how these dichotomies are set up intentionally by those in positions of political power to divide an electorate and achieve their goals.
We look at three examples of these false dichotomies. First, the 2016 American election of Hillary vs. Trump, second the Green New Deal vs. its detractors who oppose it to the labour rights of workers in the fossil fuels sector, and third the distinction between pragmatic and utopian politics in the face of a climate crisis.
2019-07-101h 12The Poplar TapesFalse Dichotomies in Politics: Hillary vs. Trump; Green New Deal vs. Labour RightsIn this episode Alex Edwards, Kiegan Irish, and Alex Boos discuss false dichotomies in our political discourse. We look at how these dichotomies are set up intentionally by those in positions of political power to divide an electorate and achieve their goals. We look at three examples of these false dichotomies. First, the 2016 American election of Hillary vs. Trump, second the Green New Deal vs. its detractors who oppose it to the labour rights of workers in the fossil fuels sector, and third the distinction between pragmatic and utopian politics in the face of a climate crisis. 2019-07-1000 minThe Poplar TapesThere's Nothing Wrong with Counting (Part3: Surveillance and Subject Formation)The third and final instalment in our series on algorithms and the digital condition. In this episode Kiegan Irish and Alex Boos discuss what kinds of people we are becoming in a world dominated by communication media and surveillance. We talk about some of the implications of data collection for our daily lives and the way that companies and governments use data to incentivize certain kinds of behaviour. In the end, we speculate about ways of living and organizing around digital media that could serve as alternatives to the digital mechanisms of control and domination in the hands of...2019-06-1500 minUnsettlingThere's Nothing Wrong with Counting (Part3: Surveillance and Subject Formation)The third and final instalment in our series on algorithms and the digital condition. In this episode Kiegan Irish and Alex Boos discuss what kinds of people we are becoming in a world dominated by communication media and surveillance. We talk about some of the implications of data collection for our daily lives and the way that companies and governments use data to incentivize certain kinds of behaviour. In the end, we speculate about ways of living and organizing around digital media that could serve as alternatives to the digital mechanisms of control and domination in the hands of...2019-06-1525 minThe Poplar TapesThere's Nothing Wrong with Counting (Part2: Algorithms and the Market)In the second of our three-part series on algorithms and the digital condition, Kiegan Irish and Alex Boos discuss the relationship between algorithms and the market. We live in an age of social media and to understand what that means for ourselves and for our society it's important to learn about the market forces that motivate and organize the networks we use everyday. How do new digital technologies affect markets? How do algorithms affect the conditions of labour today? What kind of infrastructure is necessary to sustain our complex digital economies? We cover all this and more! h...2019-06-1100 minUnsettlingThere's Nothing Wrong with Counting (Part2: Algorithms and the Market)In the second of our three-part series on algorithms and the digital condition, Kiegan Irish and Alex Boos discuss the relationship between algorithms and the market. We live in an age of social media and to understand what that means for ourselves and for our society it's important to learn about the market forces that motivate and organize the networks we use everyday. How do new digital technologies affect markets? How do algorithms affect the conditions of labour today? What kind of infrastructure is necessary to sustain our complex digital economies? We cover all this and more!
https://www.j...2019-06-1122 minUnsettlingThere's Nothing Wrong with Counting (Part1: Polarization)In Part One of our three part series on algorithms and the digital condition, Kiegan Irish and Alex Boos discuss what an algorithm is, the history of algorithms, and the way that algorithms function to polarize our political culture in a digital environment.
2019-05-3029 minThe Poplar TapesThere's Nothing Wrong with Counting (Part1: Polarization)In Part One of our three part series on algorithms and the digital condition, Kiegan Irish and Alex Boos discuss what an algorithm is, the history of algorithms, and the way that algorithms function to polarize our political culture in a digital environment.2019-05-3000 minUnsettlingChris Hedges on HateKiegan Irish and Pat Case discuss a chapter from Chris Hedges latest book and decide if his criticisms of antifa are warranted.
2019-04-3056 minThe Poplar TapesChris Hedges on HateKiegan Irish and Pat Case discuss a chapter from Chris Hedges latest book and decide if his criticisms of antifa are warranted. 2019-04-3000 minThe Poplar TapesEnvironmental Racism and Pro-Pipeline Sentiment in CanadaIn this episode Kiegan Irish, Alex Boos and Alex Edwards discuss the movement in support of building pipelines in Canada and the constitutive environmental racism that comes along with it. 2019-04-2300 minUnsettlingEnvironmental Racism and Pro-Pipeline Sentiment in CanadaIn this episode Kiegan Irish, Alex Boos and Alex Edwards discuss the movement in support of building pipelines in Canada and the constitutive environmental racism that comes along with it.
2019-04-2334 min