Oats for Breakfast

Are immigrants to blame for the housing crisis? w/ James Hardwick

EPISODE NOTES In this episode, we tackle the housing crisis with James Hardwick, a seasoned activist with over a decade of experience supporting adults facing poverty and houselessness. Drawing on his insightful series of articles for Canadian Dimension, we explore some pressing questions in the housing debate. Can immigration be blamed for rising housing costs? Will building more homes solve the crisis? What approaches should be taken to address homelessness? You can find James' articles on housing here: https://canadiandimension.com/articles/author/james-hardwick [https://canadiandimension.com/articles/author/james-hardwick] Have thoughts about the show? You can write to oatsforbreakfastpod [at] gmail [dot] com. Music: "Home Sweet Home" by Willbe [https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Willbe/contact]. This podcast is powered by Pinecast [https://pinecast.com].

Norman Finkelstein: 'The Rise and Fall of Palestine'

EPISODE NOTES Norman Finkelstein is a political scientist whose work focuses on the Israel-Palestine conflict. He is the author of numerous books, including Image and Reality of the Israel-Palestine Conflict and Gaza: An Inquest into its Martyrdom. This conversation is largely about one of Professor Finkelstein’s first books: The Rise and Fall of Palestine. Published almost two decades ago, the book is based on the time Finkelstein spent in the West Bank, while the first intifada was underway. We talked about Rise and Fall and about how the book's contents relate to what’s happening in Gaza today. Our conversation also touched on the US election results and what they might mean for Gaza and the wider region. Have thoughts about the show? You can write to oatsforbreakfastpod [at] gmail [dot] com. Music: "Home Sweet Home" by Willbe [https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Willbe/contact]. This podcast is powered by Pinecast [https://pinecast.com].

Trump's Unholy Alliance w/ Paul Jay

EPISODE NOTES This episode of Oats for Breakfast features an interview with journalist and filmmaker Paul Jay about a recent essay he wrote titled, "Trump’s Unholy Alliance: Risking the Apocalypse for Dollars [https://theanalysis.news/trumps-unholy-alliance-fanatical-billionaires-and-pro-worker-christian-nationalism/].” The essay looks at the two major poles of support that Trump’s current run for the presidency has based on: Silicon Valley tech billionaires on the one hand and Christian nationalists on the other. During the podcast interview, Paul discusses why a second Trump term would be qualitative different and, more dangerous, than previous Republican presidencies, including Trump’s first term in office. We also talk about what it might take, over the long term, to beat back the advances that the far-right has been making in the US and Canada. Find more from Paul Jay here: https://theanalysis.news/ [https://theanalysis.news/] If you'd like to get in touch with us, you can email oatsforbreakfastpod [at] gmail [dot] com Music: "Home Sweet Home" by Willbe [https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Willbe/contact]. This podcast is powered by Pinecast [https://pinecast.com].

'Nuclear is Not the Solution' w/ M.V. Ramana

EPISODE NOTES This episode features an interview with M.V. Ramana about his book Nuclear is Not the Solution: The Folly of Atomic Power in the Age of Climate Change [https://www.versobooks.com/en-ca/products/3013-nuclear-is-not-the-solution] (Verso 2024). Professor Ramana delves into the common misconception that nuclear energy is a viable fix for the climate crisis, explaining why it's neither cost-effective, timely, nor safe. With renewable sources like solar and wind now economically competitive, he argues that nuclear energy's risks and delays are unnecessary distractions from real climate solutions. If you'd like to get in touch with us, you can email oatsforbreakfastpod [at] gmail [dot] com Music: "Home Sweet Home" by Willbe [https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Willbe/contact]. This podcast is powered by Pinecast [https://pinecast.com].

Jim Crow and its afterlives w/ Adolph Reed Jr.

EPISODE NOTES Oats chats with political scientist Adolph Reed Jr. about his 2022 book The South: Jim Crow and Its Afterlives. The discussion features personal reflections from Adolph Reed about what everyday life was like during the Jim Crow era. We also talk about the concepts of "race" and "race relations", as they are understood today, are a the product of that era; about how Jim Crow gets unhelpfully analogized with reference to the modern-day prison system; and a few other related things. Have thoughts about the show? Share them by writing to oatsforbreakfastpod [at] gmail [dot] com. Music: "Home Sweet Home" by Willbe [https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Willbe/contact]. This podcast is powered by Pinecast [https://pinecast.com].