70 – The Politics of Empathy, Knowledge, and Responsibility w/ Jeff Monson

In this dense episode, we speak with MMA pioneer, grappling legend, and political radical Jeff 'The Snowman' Monson. Unlike what you might expect, Jeff's politics didn't come from reading theory but rather as a direct result from his accomplishments in wrestling and combat sports, as well as his years in social work. He was like many Americans, in a bubble. Through his work and especially through his travels as a competitor, he saw the suffering of marginalized people that he was previously unaware of. This broke him down emotionally and spiritually. But knowing what you know now, do you pretend nothing has changed or do you accept what you saw and the responsibility that comes with it? A lot of that depends on how much empathy you have. Radical politics is just empathy, knowledge, and responsibility.  We can't continue to produce important episodes like this one without your solidarity. There is no Southpaw without you and your financial support. In return, not only do you help produce the show but you also get access to more great content. It's mutual aid. Join Team Southpaw on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/southpawpod  Find Jeff on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeff.monson.946 and on Instagram: @jeff_monson_official  You can find Southpaw on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram: @SouthpawPod  As well as on the Southpaw Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/southpaw  You can also find Sam on Twitter and Instagram: @StuffFromSam