The Javier Gonzalez Podcast

JGP Episode 1: Welcome to May Day 2026. javiergonzalezpodcast.org In the debut episode of the Javier Gonzalez Podcast, Javier Gonzalez and DJ Slowpoke present the 2026 edition of the May Day Mix — a blend of history, politics, music, and personal reflection centered around the forgotten origins of International Workers’ Day. Javier breaks down how May Day began in the United States during the 1886 labor uprisings and the Haymarket Affair in Chicago, where workers fighting for the 8-hour workday were met with deadly violence, executions, and political repression. He explores how the U.S. buried that history by replacing May Day with Labor Day, disconnecting Americans from a radical labor tradition still honored across the world. The episode also dives into modern inequality, corporate power, debt, poverty, mass illness, policing, and the growing disconnect between working people and the political system. Javier reflects on helping organize the historic immigrant rights marches of 2006, argues that many modern movements have been absorbed or neutralized, and calls for people to reconnect with neighbors, co-workers, and community outside traditional political structures. Alongside political commentary, the episode includes labor history recommendations such as Salt of the Earth, Matewan, and Harlan County, USA, plus music, storytelling, and reflections on resistance, memory, and survival. This isn’t just a mix. It’s history. It’s remembrance. It’s a warning. Chapters (00:00:03) - Mayday: The History of International Workers Day(00:05:50) - If I Ruled The World(00:24:41) - Labor Day and History Movies to Watch(00:35:30) - How the Rich Are Screwing Us Over(00:47:39) - Time is Truly Ridous(01:00:29) - Mayday Mix