PODCAST · history
Working Class History
by Working Class History
History isn't made by kings and politicians, it's made by all of us. This podcast is about how we, together, have fought for a better world. Become a paid subscriber, support our work and listen ad-free with early access and exclusive bonus episodes at patreon.com/workingclasshistory.
Episodes
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E126: [TEASER] Fireside Chat - How we won the weekend
New Fireside Chat available exclusively for our Patreon supporters about the true history of the weekend, struggles over time off from work, and what is missing from mainstream accounts. Our podcast is brought to you by our Patreon supporters. Our supporters fund our work, and in return get...
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WCL15: Literature of the 1926 General Strike
As part of our work to mark the centenary of the UK's 1926 general strike, we sat down with with Charles Ferrall and Dougal McNeill, authors of the excellent Writing the 1926 General Strike: Literature, Culture, Politics to talk about some of the literature texts produced in response to the…
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E125.1: [TEASER] Riot Dogs - Greece bonus episode
Free preview extract ofIn various countries around the world, as movements against exploitation and inequality exploded, protesters found some unlikely allies – street dogs. In these episodes, we look at movements and riot dogs in two countries: Chile and Greece, and Negro Matapacos and…
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E125: Riot dogs - Negro Matapacos
In various countries around the world, as movements against exploitation and inequality exploded, protesters found some unlikely allies – street dogs. In these episodes, we look at movements and riot dogs in two countries: Chile and Greece, and Negro Matapacos and Loukanikos, respectively.Our...
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E124: [TEASER] Fireside Chat - World Cup of Chaos
Fireside Chat podcast available exclusively for our Patreon supporters we invited back Tomas Rothaus (from our Argentina 2001 episodes) to discuss football, politics, and the chaotic mess of the World Cup in Donald Trump's USA. Our podcast is brought to you by our Patreon supporters. Our…
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E123.1 [TEASER]: IWW Starbucks Workers Union, bonus episode
Free preview of the bonus episode to our three-part podcast series about the organising campaign by the Industrial Workers of the World union at Starbucks in the 2000s, in conversation with Daniel Gross, one of the key organisers. This episode covers more about Daniel’s work and organising…
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E123: IWW Starbucks Workers Union, part 3
Final part of our three-part podcast series about the organising campaign by the Industrial Workers of the World union at Starbucks in the 2000s, in conversation with Daniel Gross, one of the key organisers. This part covers international solidarity, Starbucks union-busting strategies, the…
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E122: IWW Starbucks Workers Union, part 2
Part 2 of our three-part podcast series about the organising campaign by the Industrial Workers of the World union at Starbucks in the 2000s, in conversation with Daniel Gross, one of the key organisers. This part covers solidarity unionism and direct action on the job, tactics, and gains won by...
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E121: IWW Starbucks Workers Union, part 1
Before the current wave of organising at Starbucks, another group of workers in the early 2000s got together and formed a union at one of the most anti-union corporations on earth. They won better pay and conditions, and laid the groundwork for the unionisation campaign today. Learn their story…
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E120.1: [TEASER] 1926 general strike, bonus episode
Bonus episode for our three-part miniseries about the UK’s 1926 general strike, in collaboration with the General Strike 100 project and told using interviews with striking workers themselves. In this episode, East London dock worker, Harry Watson, talks about life and work on the docks around…
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E120: 1926 general strike, part 3
The final of our three-part miniseries about the UK’s 1926 general strike, which saw one and three-quarter million workers walk out in the biggest single work stoppage in British history. In collaboration with the General Strike 100 project and told using interviews with striking workers...
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E119: 1926 general strike, part 2
Part 2 of our three-part miniseries about the UK’s 1926 general strike, which saw one and three-quarter million workers walk out in the biggest single work stoppage in British history. In collaboration with the General Strike 100 project and told using interviews with striking workers themselves....
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E118: 1926 general strike, part 1
First of our three-part miniseries about the UK’s 1926 general strike, which saw one and three-quarter million workers walk out in the biggest single work stoppage in British history. In collaboration with the General Strike 100 project and told using interviews with striking workers themselves....
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E116.1: [TEASER] Argentina uprising 2001, bonus – the state and political violence
Preview extract of our bonus episode about state and political violence in Argentina (and beyond). Part of our miniseries on the 2001 Argentina uprising, which toppled the government, and saw the spread of neighbourhood assemblies and factories taken over by workers. In conversation with Tomas...
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E117: [TEASER] Fireside Chat – Trump’s Letter to Norway
Fireside Chat podcast available exclusively for our Patreon supporters where we make fun of Trump’s absurd text to the Norwegian Prime Minister, and what it means for the rest of the world that the US President is a half-witted narcissist. Our podcast is brought to you by our Patreon supporters....
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E116: Argentina uprising 2001, part 2
Part 2 of a double episode about the 2001 uprising in Argentina, which toppled the government, and saw the spread of neighbourhood assemblies and factories taken over by workers. In conversation with Tomas Rothaus, a participant in the uprising and author of Argentina, a Tale of Two Utopias:...
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E115.1: [TEASER] Argentina uprising 2001, bonus – football and politics
Preview extract of our bonus episode about the history and politics of football culture in Argentina. Part of our miniseries on the 2001 Argentina uprising, which toppled the government, and saw the spread of neighbourhood assemblies and factories taken over by workers. In conversation with Tomas...
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E115: Argentina uprising 2001, part 1
Part 1 of a double episode about the 2001 uprising in Argentina, which toppled the government, and saw the spread of neighbourhood assemblies and factories taken over by workers. In conversation with Tomas Rothaus, a participant in the uprising and author of Argentina, a Tale of Two Utopias:...
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E114: [TEASER] Fireside Chat – 2025 in review
Teaser extract of our latest Fireside Chat podcast available exclusively for our Patreon supporters in which we sit down for a bit of a chat about the year past, for WCH and the world, and plans we have for the year ahead. We discuss a year of the podcast, sick leave, full kit wankers, the rise…
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E113: [TEASER] Radical Reads – Forces of Labour
This is a teaser preview of one of our Radical Reads episodes, made exclusively for our supporters on patreon. You can listen to the full 67-minute episode without ads and support our work at https://www.patreon.com/posts/e113-radical-of-143322722 In this episode, we discuss Beverly Silver's...
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WCH Podcast and Patreon Update
An update for you on the Working Class History podcast and its future. In short, we began releasing much more frequent podcast episodes 18 months ago, in an effort to get more supporters on Patreon. While we were able to grow our support, it has not been sufficient to cover our increased costs…
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E112: [FREE EPISODE] Radical Reads - Be Gay Do Crime
As part of our Radical Reads series, we speak about our latest book, Be Gay, Do Crime: Everyday Acts of Queer Resistance and Rebellion, with editors Zane McNeill, Blu Buchanan and Riley Clare Valentine. Radical Reads is one of our Patreon-only exclusive series, where we discuss texts – both old…
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E111.1: [TEASER] Poll tax revolt, bonus episode
Preview extract of a bonus episode of our double podcast on the successful mass direct action campaign against the UK poll tax in the late 1980s and early 1990s. In conversation with Dave Morris from the Tottenham Anti-Poll Tax campaign and Haringey Solidarity Group. This part covers more...
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E111: Poll tax revolt, part 2
Second of a double podcast episode about the successful mass direct action campaign against the UK poll tax in the late 1980s and early 1990s. In conversation with Dave Morris from the Tottenham Anti-Poll Tax campaign and Haringey Solidarity Group. This part covers repercussions from the poll tax...
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E110: Poll tax revolt, part 1
First of a double podcast episode about the successful mass direct action campaign against the UK poll tax in the late 1980s and early 1990s. In conversation with Dave Morris from the Tottenham Anti-Poll Tax campaign and Haringey Solidarity Group.This part covers the background, Thatcherism,...
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WCL14: Live from the Working Class Literature Festival
Following our double-episode on the Florence Working-Class Literature Festival back in February, our co-host Matt was invited to this year’s festival, recording this episode on-site at the ex-GKN factory in Florence. Featuring the various writers, researchers, organisers, and activists in...
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E109: Women in the miners' strike, part 2
Concluding part of our double episode about the crucial role played by women in the great miners’ strike in Britain, 1984-5, in conversation with Heather Wood, chair of the Easington women’s strike support group. Our podcast is brought to you by our Patreon supporters. Our supporters fund our…
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E108: Women in the miners' strike, part 1
Double episode about the crucial role played by women in the great miners’ strike in Britain, 1984-5, in conversation with Heather Wood, chair of the Easington women’s strike support group. Our podcast is brought to you by our Patreon supporters. Our supporters fund our work, and in return get...
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E107: [TEASER] Fireside Chat – Hope Dies Last
Teaser of our latest Fireside Chat, available in full exclusively for our supporters on Patreon. A couple of years ago, John from WCH and Ade from our Farsi-language sister project, Daily Worker History Farsi, were interviewed for the Hope Dies Last podcast by musician and journalist Ryan Harvey....
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E106: [TEASER] Radical Reads – China in Global Capitalism
This is a teaser preview of one of our Radical Reads episodes, made exclusively for our supporters on patreon. You can listen to the full 122-minute episode without ads and support our work at https://www.patreon.com/posts/e106-radical-in-129688227 In this episode, we speak to Eli Friedman and...
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WCL13: Jack Hilton, Rochdale Caliban, part 2
Part 2 of our double episode on working-class author Jack Hilton, with Jack Chadwick whose literary detective work rescued Hilton from almost total obscurity. This part covers his novel Caliban Shrieks in more detail and how it compares to other working-class novels from the same period; his…
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WCL12: Jack Hilton, Rochdale Caliban, part 1
Part 1 of our double episode about Jack Hilton, a working-class author, World War I veteran, unemployed movement organiser, and trade union activist from Rochdale, north-west England. For this episode, we spoke to Jack Chadwick whose literary detective work rescued Hilton from almost total...
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E105: [TEASER] Fireside Chat – Organising in the public sector
This is a teaser preview of one of our Fireside Chat episodes, made exclusively for our supporters on Patreon. You can listen to the full 104-minute episode without ads and support our work at https://www.patreon.com/posts/e105-fireside-in-127749416 In this episode, we spoke to one of our hosts,...
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E104: Pirates, part 2
Second of a double podcast about the Golden Age of Piracy, with historian Marcus Rediker. Our podcast is brought to you by our patreon supporters. Our supporters fund our work, and in return get exclusive early access to podcast episodes, ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, free and discounted...
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E103: Pirates, part 1
First in a double podcast about the Golden Age of Piracy, with historian Marcus Rediker. The legendary pirates of this era weren’t just thieves—they were daring rebels challenging the very systems of power and authority of their time. Fighting every colonial empire, and creating their own ways of...
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E102: [TEASER] Fireside Chat – Luigi Mangione
This is a teaser preview of one of our Fireside Chat episodes, made exclusively for our supporters on Patreon. You can listen to the full 65-minute episode without ads and support our work at https://www.patreon.com/posts/e102-fireside-124623473 The date this episode aired, March 19, Luigi…
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WCL11: Florence Working-Class Literature Festival, part 2
Part 2 of our double-episode about the Working-Class Literature Festival held every year in Florence, at the former GKN car parts factory, which was taken over by the workers after they were made redundant in 2021. We're joined again by working-class author and one of the main organisers of the...
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WCL10: Florence Working-Class Literature Festival, part 1
First of a double-episode podcast about the Working-Class Literature Festival held every year in Florence, at the former GKN car parts factory, which was taken over by the workers after they were made redundant in 2021. In this episode, we talk to working-class author and one of the main…
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E101: [TEASER] Radical Reads – ‘Fractured: Race, Class, Gender and the Hatred of Identity Politics’
This is a teaser preview of one of our Radical Reads episodes, made exclusively for our supporters on patreon. You can listen to the full 87-minute episode without ads and support our work at https://www.patreon.com/posts/e101-radical-and-120598405 In this episode, we speak to Alex Charnley and...
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E100: Vietnam War strike wave, part 2
With the background of the Vietnam war, rising prices and stagnant wages, workers in the US began to ignore calls to support the war effort and keep working, and instead launch a wave of wildcat strikes in key industries, while women homeworkers fought for lower prices. We tell the story of these...
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E99: Vietnam War strike wave, part 1
With the background of the Vietnam war, rising prices and stagnant wages, workers in the US began to ignore calls to support the war effort and keep working, and instead launch a wave of wildcat strikes in key industries, while women homeworkers fought for lower prices. We tell the story of these...
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E98: [TEASER] Radical Reads – ‘Jews Don’t Count’ by David Baddiel
This is a teaser preview of one of our Radical Reads episodes, made exclusively for our supporters on patreon. You can listen to the full 85-minute episode without ads and support our work at https://www.patreon.com/posts/e97-radical-10-116392240 In this episode, we talk to Michael Richmond, a...
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E97: [TEASER] Radical Reads – ‘Hezbollah: 10 Things You Need To Know’
This is a teaser preview of one of our Radical Reads episodes, made exclusively for our supporters on patreon. You can listen to the full 91-minute episode without ads and support our work at https://www.patreon.com/posts/e97-radical-10-116392240 In this episode, we talk to Elia Ayoub, a Lebanese...
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E96: Bootleg miners, part 2
During the Great Depression in the US, facing mass job losses and abject poverty, thousands of coal miners in Pennsylvania took direct action and began digging their own mines on company property. We tell their story in this two-part podcast. Our podcast is brought to you by our patreon…
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E95: Bootleg miners, part 1
During the Great Depression in the US, facing mass job losses and abject poverty, thousands of coal miners in Pennsylvania took direct action and began digging their own mines on company property. We tell their story in this two-part podcast. Our podcast is brought to you by our patreon…
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E94: [TEASER] E94: Radical Reads w/ Jasper Bernes – ‘If We Burn’
This is a teaser preview of our first Radical Read, made exclusively for our supporters on patreon. You can listen to the full 68-minute episode without ads and support our work at https://www.patreon.com/posts/e94-radical-w-if-113750155 First of our new series, Radical Reads, in which we team up...
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WCL9: Chinese migrant worker poetry, part 3
The final episode of our three-part series about migrant worker poetry in China. We speak to Maghiel van Crevel, Professor of Chinese Language and Literature at Leiden University. Maghiel has travelled extensively in China, meeting with and writing about the work of Chinese migrant worker poets.…
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WCL8: Chinese migrant worker poetry, part 2
Part 2 of our three-part series about migrant worker poetry in China. We speak to Maghiel van Crevel, Professor of Chinese Language and Literature at Leiden University. Maghiel has travelled extensively in China, meeting with and writing about the work of Chinese migrant worker poets. In this...
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WCL7: Chinese migrant worker poetry, part 1
First of the three-part series on migrant worker poetry in China. In these episodes, we speak to Maghiel van Crevel, Professor of Chinese Language and Literature at Leiden University. Maghiel has travelled extensively in China meeting with and writing about the work of Chinese migrant worker…
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E92: South Korea 1987, part 2
Second of a double podcast episode about the South Korean movements of 1987 which overthrew the US-backed military dictatorship and won big improvements for workers. In these episodes we speak with Kim Jin-sook and Hong Seung Ha about their experiences of the June Democratic Struggle, and the…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
History isn't made by kings and politicians, it's made by all of us. This podcast is about how we, together, have fought for a better world. Become a paid subscriber, support our work and listen ad-free with early access and exclusive bonus episodes at patreon.com/workingclasshistory.
HOSTED BY
Working Class History
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Working Class History have?
Working Class History currently has 152 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Working Class History about?
History isn't made by kings and politicians, it's made by all of us. This podcast is about how we, together, have fought for a better world. Become a paid subscriber, support our work and listen ad-free with early access and exclusive bonus episodes at patreon.com/workingclasshistory.
How often does Working Class History release new episodes?
Working Class History publishes regularly with 152 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Working Class History?
You can listen to Working Class History on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Working Class History?
Working Class History is created and hosted by Working Class History.
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