Episodes
May 4, 2020
50. Psychedelics and the Self: Exploring Consciousness (w. RevLeftRadio)
Rundown In this bonus episode, Mexie appears on RevLeftRadio to discuss psychedelics, ego, consciousness, spirituality and leftism with Brett. This discussion dovetails well with our recent discussion on Mind and Nature, exploring themes of meditation and communing with nature in relation to leftist thought and activism. By popular request, we’ve gone in deeper on the psychedelic portion of our convo. Hope you enjoy! (Responsibly ;)) Sources and Links * Michael Pollan, How to Change Your Mind: h...
April 29, 2020
49. Final Fantasy 7: Towards an Eco-Anarchist Future (w. Green, Ash, and Jacob)
Rundown In this episode, Mexie talks with Green, a comrade from the Indigenous Anarchist Federation, Ash from the Horror Vanguard podcast, and her partner, Jacob, about all things FF7 and how relevant the game’s narrative is for our current historical moment. We discuss the way the game handles themes of anti-capitalism, colonialism, environmentalism, racism, patriarchy, and last but not least, trauma. Eco-activist resurgence when?! Sources and Links * Green on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ANeon...
March 31, 2020
48. COVID-19 and Seizing the Means (Part 2) with Bitchy Shitshow
Rundown In this episode, Mexie talks with Nichole and Callie from the Bitchy Shitshow podcast about the potential and the dangers that COVID-19 poses for leftists. Part 1 of our discussion is up on the Bitchy Shitshow podcast, where we discuss this mask off moment for our toxic work culture and push back on calls to be ‘productive’ right now. In Part 2 of the convo we talk about the ways in which the right could seize on this moment to push us further towards a fascistic surveillance state, but ...
March 18, 2020
47. Social Emotional Learning (SEL) for Socialism and Animal Liberation with Pierce Delahunt
Rundown In this episode, Mexie talks with Pierce Delahunt, a Social Emotional Learning educator and activist. We discuss the potential of SEL and Non-Violent Communication for socialist and vegan activism and outreach. Pierce shares great insight into how to connect with other peoples’ needs in ways that can build solidarity and trust and help us in our fight for total liberation. Sources and Links * Pierce on Medium: Medium (SEL for SJ)* Pierce on Twitter: Twitter* Pierce on Instagram: Instagra...
Feb. 18, 2020
46. BONUS – Mind & Nature: Meditation, Psychedelics, and Eco-Grief (w. RevLeftRadio)
Rundown In this bonus episode, Mexie joins Brett on Rev Left Radio to discuss our outdoor experiences, and experiences with meditation and psychedelics, and how these things intersect and influence our political consciousness. It’s hard to pin down one main topic because our conversation was so rich and complex, but we’re both really excited to put it out into the world and we hope it resonates or inspires people to find connection. Sources and Links * RevLeftRadio: https://revolutionaryleftradi...
Feb. 13, 2020
45. Twilight Valentine’s Special, Part I! w. Horror Vanguard & Mad Blender
Rundown In this spooky, emo Valentine’s Day special, Mexie, Mad Blender, and Ash and Jon from the Horror Vanguard dig into the timeless masterpiece that is the Twilight saga. Part I is here on the Vegan Vanguard, and Part II is up on the Horror Vanguard! Be sure to catch both episodes to get the full breadth of our magical discussion. Sources and Links * Horror Vanguard Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/user-317910500* Horror Vanguard on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HorrorVanguard* Horror Vanguard...
Jan. 31, 2020
44. Building Utopia with SRSLY Wrong
Rundown In this episode, Mexie sits down with the Wrong Boys of the SRSLY Wrong podcast to discuss all things utopic! We cover a lot of ground, from social ecology, to library socialism, to Revolution (both material and internal). The Wrong Boys are delightful as always and we hope you enjoy this one! Sources and Links * SRSLY Wrong Podcast: https://srslywrong.com/* SRSLY Wrong on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SrslyWrong* Bookchin, The Ecology of Freedom: https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/m...
Dec. 21, 2019
43. Decolonizing Revolution with the Indigenous Anarchist Federation
Rundown In this episode, Mexie interviews Green, a Métis activist from the Indigenous Anarchist Federation, on the importance of decolonizing our leftist organizing strategies. We talk about the concept of decolonization and what it would mean in practice, discuss important differences between settler and Indigenous worldviews, and outline the importance of having an analysis of the ‘settler’ as a social position. We end with advice for settler leftists on how to approach revolution within a dec...
Nov. 27, 2019
42. Sexual Violence, Pedophilia, and the Systems that Perpetuate Them with Kathrin
Rundown In this episode, Mexie speaks with fellow anti-capitalist vegan YouTuber Kathrin about her experiences of sexual violence and childhood sexual abuse and the systems of capitalism and patriarchy that fail victims and perpetuate harm. We place our own experiences of sexual violence into broader context and demonstrate how patriarchal gender norms, media representations, language, carcerality, and capitalist inequality create the conditions for abuse, normalize abuse, and fail to facilitate...
Nov. 4, 2019
41. BONUS – Ecology, Anthropocentrism and Revolution (w. Coffee with Comrades)
Rundown Mexie joins Pearson on the Coffee with Comrades podcast to talk ecology, anthropocentrism, and revolution. We talk about the importance of unsettling linear visions of progress that see humans as above or outside of the ecosystems we form part and of centring reciprocity in our praxis. We discuss how the human/nature dualism is baked into our ways of thinking, our language, our economies, and point to the dangerous implications of this before discussing how to decolonize our minds. Sourc...
Oct. 31, 2019
40. The Women of the Alt-Right with Mad Blender
Rundown In this episode, Mexie talks with Leslie of Mad Blender about the women of the alt-right. We discuss the obvious links between toxic masculinity and the alt-right, and then dig into the possible reasons why this overtly patriarchal movement might appeal to so many women. Sadly, women have been at the forefront of white power movements since their inception, something that tends to be overlooked in mainstream discourse. Sources and Links * Leslie’s channel, Mad Blender: https://www.youtub...
Sept. 23, 2019
39. Death Positivity and Doomsday Preppers w/ Ash (Horror Vanguard)
Rundown In this episode, Mexie and Marine talk with Ash, co-host of the Horror Vanguard podcast, about death positivity (or the lack thereof) and how this relates to the doomsday preppers movement. We start by outlining death positivity and why it is so important in our present-day society, particularly with respect to the climate crisis. We then dive into the wild world of doomsday prepping and the lengths that many people are going to futilely avoid their own mortality. We loved this convo and...
Aug. 28, 2019
38. Climate Despair: What Is It and Ways To Deal (Sorta?)
Rundown In this episode, Marine speaks with Zavi Kang Engles about eco-anxiety / climate despair and the impacts it has in their own lives, as well as on the wider society. They discuss how male gender norms play a key role in feeding climate denialism, as well as the dominant ideologies that must be challenged to save the planet. Marine and Zavi also explore ways of thinking that have helped them cope with their eco-anxiety, and discuss ideas that can facilitate the collective healing and mass ...
Aug. 1, 2019
37. Could Capitalism Exist Without Patriarchy?
Rundown In this episode, Mexie and Marine argue that any revolutionary movement that replicates patriarchal ideology and values will not lead us to emancipation. We define patriarchy on a systemic level as well as in terms of a value system that we have internalized – one that codes powerfully important attributes such as humility, empathy, selflessness and nurturing as feminine and thus less-than. While patriarchy can exist, and has existed, without capitalism, we argue that capitalism could no...
July 3, 2019
36. Let the Ruling Classes Tremble: Review of Jordan Peele’s “Us” ft. the Horror Vanguard
Rundown In this spooktacular crossover episode, Mexie and Marine are joined by Ash and Jon from the Horror Vanguard podcast to review Jordan Peele’s second think-piece, “Us”. We discuss a number of pertinent themes including class consciousness and revolution, the anxieties of the middle-class, the intersections race and class, duality, religion, colonialism, imperialism, and much, much more! As always, we would love to hear your spooky takes as well. Sources and Links * The Horror Vanguard Podc...
May 29, 2019
35. Economic Refugees and the IMF/World Bank with Greg from In The Roots
Rundown In this episode, Mexie interviews Greg from In The Roots Podcast about the role of our global financial institutions in the making (and re-making) of the Global South and in exacerbating the refugee crisis.
April 30, 2019
34. Radical Education for Youth with Alexis Fawn
Rundown In this episode, Mexie interviews radical activist and educator Alexis Fawn about the importance of arming students with critical thinking skills and class consciousness before they enter university. Inspired by Paulo Freire and his seminal text Pedagogy of the Oppressed, Alexis has developed a radical pedagogy for high school students along with various teaching techniques to enhance students’ critical thought and improve their media literacy. We discuss the many ways in which these tec...
March 14, 2019
33. Should We Tax Meat for the Climate? with Mad Blender
Rundown In this episode, Mexie and Leslie from Mad Blender respond to a question from one of the listeners about whether taxing meat for the climate is a productive idea. We start by exploring the costs (financial, health-related, and environmental) of the animal agriculture industry and the reasons why meat taxes are being proposed by a variety of organizations, researchers, and governments. We then look at different approaches to the tax, including taxing the producers for the emissions they c...
Jan. 30, 2019
32. Contra Bolsonaro with Maria the Witch
Rundown In this episode, Mexie interviews Maria the Witch, a critical leftist YouTuber based in Brazil, about Bolsonaro’s election and his time so far in office. Maria explains what led up to the election, the campaign talking points that garnered the most support, and what he has been able to do thus far in office. We end with what comrades outside of Brazil can do to help support the struggle there, including potentially donating to the list of organizations below (note: please check out each ...
Jan. 16, 2019
31. The Criminalization of Indigenous Resistance with Warren Bernauer
Rundown In this episode, Mexie interviews Dr. Warren Bernauer about the relationship between what John Bellamy Foster terms ‘ecological imperialism’ and the criminalization of Indigenous resistance to extractive capital. We discuss Warren’s co-authored article called “From Wallmapu to Nunatsiavut: The Criminalization of Indigenous Resistance” (listed below) which highlights the cases of two Indigenous women jailed for defending their communities: Francisca Linconao in Chile and Beatrice Hunter i...
Jan. 2, 2019
30. Extra, Extra! Mexie and Marine Dream Headlines for the Future
Rundown Well, we gave it a shot! Following the advice of our beloved adrienne maree brown and Emergent Strategy, in this episode we put our energy towards dreaming the future we want to see. We each came up with headlines for the future, some in the near future (the next 10-20 years) when the transition to post-capitalism is taking place, and some for 50+ years from now when the changes we want to see in the world have come about. We kept our headlines secret from each other until we were on air...
Dec. 19, 2018
29. The Great March of Return and Palestinian Resistance with Abby Martin
Rundown In this episode, Mexie interviews renowned journalist and activist Abby Martin on the plight of Palestinians under Israeli occupation and on the recent and ongoing Great March of Return. Abby explains the history and brutality of Israeli occupation and exposes the horrors of life on the ground in Gaza and the West Bank. We discuss her coverage of the protests in Gaza, the geopolitics that allow this illegal occupation to continue, and the ultimate unfeasibility of a two-state solution. W...
Dec. 5, 2018
28. Veganism in an Oppressive World with Julia Feliz-Brueck
Rundown This week Marine interviews Julia Feliz-Brueck about her consistently anti-oppression vegan activism. Julia is a decade-long vegan, a mother of two, a scientist, and a published author and illustrator. She is also the founder of Sanctuary Publishers (sanctuarypublishers.com), a vegan book publisher that gives back to marginalized communities with every book sold. Published under the Sanctuary Publishers label, sales from Julia’s most recent books, The Baby and Toddler Vegan Feeding Guide...
Nov. 21, 2018
27. Will Geoengineering Save Us?
Rundown In this episode, Mexie explores what geoengineering can (and can’t) provide in terms of climate change mitigation and adaptation. She outlines various options in the two main geoengineering categories: Carbon Dioxide Removal (removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere) and Solar Radiation Management (reducing the amount of solar radiation that hits the earth’s surface). The options in the first category are safer than the options in the latter, however each comes with serious risk. Geoe...