[Rewind] Saket Soni:  Resilience Force -  Climate Change Demands New Labor Solutions Now episode artwork

EPISODE · Sep 4, 2025 · 36 MIN

[Rewind] Saket Soni: Resilience Force - Climate Change Demands New Labor Solutions Now

from Laura Flanders and Friends: Solutions-Focused Progressive Perspectives on Politics, News, and Culture · host Laura Flanders

Synopsis:  Uncovering the Hidden Stories of Disaster Recovery Workers: Discover the true stories of immigrant workers rebuilding America after hurricanes, floods, fires, and other disasters, and learn about initiatives like Resilience Force working towards a million-strong, skilled workforce with fair labor practices. Description [Rewind Full Uncut Conversation Originally released February 2023]:  “THE GREAT ESCAPE: A True Story of Forced Labor and Immigrant Dreams in America” tells the story of one of the largest human trafficking schemes in modern American history and how the traffickers were finally held to account. Saket Soni was the co-founder of The New Orleans Workers Center for Racial Justice in the post-Katrina years. Today he’s the founder and director of Resilience Force, a project that comes directly out of his experience working with the men in this book. The U.S. is experiencing a labor shortage, and climate catastrophe will increase the need for disaster recovery workers. How can we build the resilient workforce we need, with the rights and equity workers deserve? Join Laura and Saket for this urgent conversation on the future of labor.Guest:  Saket Soni: Author, THE GREAT ESCAPE: A True Story of Forced Labor and Immigrant Dreams in America; Founder & Director, Resilience Force Full Conversation Release: While our weekly shows are edited to time for broadcast on Public TV and community radio, we offer to our members and podcast subscribers the full uncut conversation. These audio exclusives are made possible thanks to our member supporters. Watch the episode cut airing on PBS stations across the country at our YouTube channel RESOURCES:The Show is listener and viewer supported.  That's thanks to you!  Please donate and become a member.Full conversation & show notes are available at Patreon.com/theLFShow*Recommended book:“The Great Escape: A True Story of Forced Labor and Immigrant Dreams in America” by Saket Soni,  Get the Book Here(*Bookshop is an online bookstore with a mission to financially support local, independent bookstores. The LF Show is an affiliate of bookshop.org and will receive a small commission if you click through and make a purchase.)Related Laura Flanders Shows:•  Unforget, Dream, Build   Watch / Download Podcast•  Ecology: The Infrastructure of the Future?  Watch / Download Podcast•  Labor Looks Up After Amazon Union Vote Watch / Download Podcast•  Saket Soni:  Fighting For a Better Future After Sandy  WatchRelated Articles and Resources:•  Populations around the world are declining. Migration is the solution, says economist, by Kai McNamee, Matt Ozug & Ari Shaprio for All Things Considered, NPRListen / Read•  Supply Chain Disruptions, Trade Costs, and Labor Markets, by Andrés Rodriquez-Clare, Mauricio Ulate, and Jose P. Vasquez; Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco.  Read Here•  $20million settlement agreement reached in labor trafficking cases coordinated by SPLC on behalf of exploited Indian guest workers, by Southern Poverty Law Center, Read Here•  Close to Slavery:  Guestowrker Programs in the United State, Report by Southern Poverty Law Center, Read Here Laura Flanders and Friends Crew: Laura Flanders-Executive Producer, Writer; Sabrina Artel-Supervising Producer; Jeremiah Cothren-Senior Producer; Veronica Delgado-Video Editor, Janet Hernandez-Communications Director; Jeannie Hopper-Audio Director, Podcast & Radio Producer, Audio Editor, Sound Design, Narrator; Sarah Miller-Development Director, Nat Needham-Editor, Graphic Design emeritus; David Neuman-Senior Video Editor, and Rory O’Conner-Senior Consulting Producer. FOLLOW Laura Flanders and FriendsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraflandersandfriends/Blueky: https://bsky.app/profile/lfandfriends.bsky.socialFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/LauraFlandersAndFriends/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lauraflandersandfriendsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFLRxVeYcB1H7DbuYZQG-lgLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lauraflandersandfriendsPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/lauraflandersandfriendsACCESSIBILITY - The broadcast edition of this episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Sep 4, 2025

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Synopsis: The story of one of America's largest human trafficking cases sheds light on the plight of immigrant laborers and sparks an urgent conversation about their future. Stay informed and engaged! Don't miss out on our captivating weekly episodes that dive deep into the heart of our economy, culture, and politics from the past to the present. Please hit the podcast subscribe button if you've yet to subscribe. Description [Rewind Full Uncut Conversation Originally released February 2023]: “THE GREAT ESCAPE: A True Story of Forced Labor and Immigrant Dreams in America” tells the story of one of the largest human trafficking schemes in modern American history and how the traffickers were finally held to account. Saket Soni was the co-founder of The New Orleans Workers Center for Racial Justice in the post-Katrina years. Today he’s the founder and director of Resilience Force, a project that comes directly out of his experience working with the men in this book. The U.S. is experiencing a labor shortage, and climate catastrophe will increase the need for disaster recovery workers. How can we build the resilient workforce we need, with the rights and equity workers deserve? Join Laura and Saket for this urgent conversation on the future of labor. Guest: Saket Soni: Author, THE GREAT ESCAPE: A True Story of Forced Labor and Immigrant Dreams in America; Founder & Director, Resilience Force Full Conversation Release: While our weekly shows are edited to time for broadcast on Public TV and community radio, we offer to our members and podcast subscribers the full uncut conversation. These audio exclusives are made possible thanks to our member supporters.

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[Rewind] Saket Soni: Resilience Force - Climate Change Demands New Labor Solutions Now

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