Episodes
-
Episode 11: The Left and the US Democratic Party w/ Adam Hilton
Bernie Sanders has recently announced his second bid for the Democratic Party Presidential nomination in 2020. What does it mean for a self-proclaimed democratic socialist to enter the mainstream of US politics and attempt to transform one of the two business-dominated parties that control the US...
-
Episode 10: Freedom of Speech in Capitalism w/ Samir Gandesha
What does a socialist conception of free speech look like? Can we really trust the capitalist state to protect the free speech rights of socialist critics? As free speech has become an increasingly explosive issue within our liberal societies, Oats chatted with Samir Gandesha of Simon Fraser...
-
Sneak peek: Extended interview w/ Tanner Mirrlees
We continue our discussion with Tanner Mirrlees. We talk about what the Munk Debates are, whether no-platforming is a justifiable tactic, as well as the lessons the Left might want to take to heart when considering the rise of the alt-right. Become a patron to get full access to the extended...
-
Episode 09: The alt-right and the Bannon-Frum debate w/ Tanner Mirrlees
Oats sat down with Tanner Mirrlees to chat about the rise of the "alt-right" as well as the recent debate between Steve Bannon and David Frum in Toronto.
-
Episode 09: The alt-right and the Bannon-Frum debate w/ Tanner Mirlees
Oats sat down with Tanner Mirlees to chat about the rise of the "alt-right" as well as the recent debate between Steve Bannon and David Frum in Toronto.
-
Sneak peek: Extended interview w/ Jordan House
This is a sneak peek of the extended segment of our interview with Jordan. We continue the conversation about the struggle for justice in the prison system. To get access to the full version, go to patreon.com/OatsForBreakfast and become a patron.
-
Episode 08 - The Struggle for Justice in Prisons w/ Jordan House
From 21 August and 9 September, prisoners across the US went on strike. One set of Canadian prisoners — at Burnside jail in Nova Scotia — decided to join the strike effort. We chat with Jordan House about the continent-wide prison strike. We also talk about who goes to prison (and who doesn't!),...
-
Episode 07 - The Toronto Overdose Prevention Society w/ Sarah Ovens
Canada is in the midst of an opioid overdose epidemic. In 2016 there were 3,005 opioid-related deaths in Canada. In 2017 the figure jumped to 3,996. The Canadian government's response has been inadequate, which has prompted a wave of activism. We talk to Sarah Ovens, a social worker and an...
-
Episode 06 - Free Public Transit w/ Herman Rosenfeld
Canadians consider healthcare to be a right — we don't think the amount of money people have should determine whether they can see a doctor. Is it possible to think of public transit as a public good? We talk to Herman Rosenfeld, a member of Free Transit Toronto, to explore the idea of free…
more -
Episode 05 - Palestine Solidarity and Freedom of Speech w/ William Robinson
Expressing solidarity with Palestine and criticizing the state of Israel can be a challenge. To explore this challenge, we talk to William Robinson about his recent book "We Will Not be Silenced: The Academic Repression of Israel's Critics."
-
Sneak Peak: The Sex Ed Controversy in Ontario w/ Sadia Khan
Get access to the full version of this interview by going to patreon.com/OatsForBreakfast and becoming a patron of our podcast. This extended interview builds on the discussion that took place in Episode 4. Toronto-based community organizer Sadia Khan reflects on her experience as a public-school...
-
Episode 04 - Why did minorities vote for Doug Ford? w/ Sadia Khan
The Progressive Conservatives, led by Doug Ford, attracted a great deal of support from non-white voters during the recent provincial election in Ontario. Why would minorities support a hard-right politician? We talk to Toronto-based community organizer Sadia Khan to find out.
-
Episode 03 - The Days of Action w/ Sam Gindin
When the Progressive Conservative government of Mike Harris came to power in Ontario in 1995 and began implementing its agenda of cuts, the labour movement decided to organize a response. The response came in the form of the Days of Action—a series of rolling political strikes that involved...
-
Episode 02 - Ford's victory and the limits of the NDP w/ Sam Gindin
The victory of Doug Ford's Progressive Conservatives in the Ontario provincial election appears to be part of a broader trend—the hard-right has been going from strength to strength around the world. We talk to the labour activist Sam Gindin about why it is now Ontario's turn to face off against...
-
Sneak peak: Extended interview with Alan Sears
This extended interview follows up on the discussion we had with Alan Sears in the episode on university education. You can get access to the full interview by supporting us on patreon.com/oatsforbreakfast.
-
Pilot Episode - University education w/ Alan Sears and Jessica Ireland
University education in Canada is becoming increasingly necessary and, at the same time, increasingly difficult to access. We look at the recent trends in higher education to try to understand what's happening. This episode features interviews with Alan Sears, who teaches in the Sociology...