E24 - Jobs, Jive, & Joy with Bernard Marszalek & Peter Bloom

For this episode we have a conversation with Bernard Marszalek and Peter Bloom about Bernard’s new book Jobs, Jive, & Joy: An Argument for the Utopian Spirit. In it we cover a wide range of topics including tech bros, the place of Bernard’s mum in labor history, and the ongoing quest to have our lives be filled with radical hedonism, collective joy, and non-alienated time. “Utopianism arose in the 19th century as a response to industrialism. Today a new culture needs to address the immanent disasters of climate catastrophe and resource depletion. Foundational to this new culture is the desire to live a life of joyful collectivity that seeks individual satisfaction and group accomplishments. The faux luxuries that today tempt submission to toil soon won’t be an option. In the not-too-distant future, we will have no choice but to align our pleasures with goals that center on friendship, on playful production for use and enjoyment, and on the exploration of our better selves. I call this option, to transcend miserablism, radical hedonism.” More on Bernard’s book here: https://charleshkerr.com/books/jobs-jive-and-joy-by-bernard-marszalek Intro / outdo music: Gid Tanner - Work Don’t Bother Me (1930), from the collection Hard Time, Good Time & End Time Music : 1923-1936, Cargo Records, 2012