Getting to the Root of it with Venus Roots Transistor (https://transistor.fm) https://feeds.transistor.fm/getting-to-the-root-of-it-with-venus-roots join niki franco (venus roots), a community organizer, writer, and facilitator of spaces for collective study, as she leans into conversations of radical truth-telling with artists, theorists, and organizers living in a world of rigid binaries and multiple truths. she navigates the urgency of solidarity, ancestral preservation, and dismantling systems of oppression that inform and deform our lives. @venusroots www.venusroots.com © 2026 niki franco 4786e120-11ef-56da-90d4-72a6efcc1f24 yes Support this podcast on Patreon en Mon, 20 Apr 2026 17:17:52 -0400 Mon, 20 Apr 2026 17:18:06 -0400 http://www.venusroots.com https://img.transistorcdn.com/g13lKJ_Jqm1SQMRD-1ZavR5_Dc2uA-nbYeVfYOa5C5g/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9zaG93/LzI1OTAvMTYzNjk4/NTgxOS1hcnR3b3Jr/LmpwZw.jpg Getting to the Root of it with Venus Roots http://www.venusroots.com episodic niki franco join niki franco (venus roots), a community organizer, writer, and facilitator of spaces for collective study, as she leans into conversations of radical truth-telling with artists, theorists, and organizers living in a world of rigid binaries and multiple truths. she navigates the urgency of solidarity, ancestral preservation, and dismantling systems of oppression that inform and deform our lives. @venusroots www.venusroots.com join niki franco (venus roots), a community organizer, writer, and facilitator of spaces for collective study, as she leans into conversations of radical truth-telling with artists, theorists, and organizers living in a world of rigid binaries and multiple truths. politics, culture, society, feminism, solidarity, socialism, Niki Franco No No No God But Us, with author Bobuq Sayed 4 4 6 6 No God But Us, with author Bobuq Sayed full 6422d8ee-d95a-437a-aabf-7c79a30b52e9 https://share.transistor.fm/s/02b1c091 In this episode, Niki interviews author, writer, and organizer Bobuq Sayed about their new forthcoming debut novel, No God But Us.
In the conversation, the two explore the responsibility of writers and artists, speak against pinkwashing, and how the novel stands against imperialist rationales.

Bobuq Sayed’s “No God But Us” is out May 26th from Harper Books. Pre-order now!

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> In this episode, Niki interviews author, writer, and organizer Bobuq Sayed about their new forthcoming debut novel, No God But Us.
In the conversation, the two explore the responsibility of writers and artists, speak against pinkwashing, and how the novel stands against imperialist rationales.

Bobuq Sayed’s “No God But Us” is out May 26th from Harper Books. Pre-order now!

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> Mon, 20 Apr 2026 17:17:50 -0400 niki franco niki franco 2947 In this episode, Niki interviews author, writer, and organizer Bobuq Sayed about their new forthcoming debut novel, No God But Us.
In the conversation, the two explore the responsibility of writers and artists, speak against pinkwashing, and how the novel stands against imperialist rationales.

Bobuq Sayed’s “No God But Us” is out May 26th from Harper Books. Pre-order now!

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> politics, culture, society, feminism, solidarity, socialism, No Ramsey 4 Governor and a Socialist California 4 4 5 5 Ramsey 4 Governor and a Socialist California full 1325b9f3-4eb4-4952-b667-1a3afdede9ec https://share.transistor.fm/s/5374a6df In this episode, Niki interviews Ramsey Robinson, a candidate for governor of California representing the Peace and Freedom Party. They discuss Ramsey's socialist platform and key issues such as the housing crisis, healthcare access, the need for union jobs, and the impact of billionaires on the economy.

Ramsey emphasizes the importance of building working-class power and the role of the Peace and Freedom Party, which was started by the Black Panther Party and anti-war student organizers in the 60's. You can learn more about Ramsey's campaign at www.ramsey4gov.com

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> In this episode, Niki interviews Ramsey Robinson, a candidate for governor of California representing the Peace and Freedom Party. They discuss Ramsey's socialist platform and key issues such as the housing crisis, healthcare access, the need for union jobs, and the impact of billionaires on the economy.

Ramsey emphasizes the importance of building working-class power and the role of the Peace and Freedom Party, which was started by the Black Panther Party and anti-war student organizers in the 60's. You can learn more about Ramsey's campaign at www.ramsey4gov.com

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> Tue, 27 Jan 2026 13:07:34 -0500 niki franco niki franco 3329 In this episode, Niki interviews Ramsey Robinson, a candidate for governor of California representing the Peace and Freedom Party. They discuss Ramsey's socialist platform and key issues such as the housing crisis, healthcare access, the need for union jobs, and the impact of billionaires on the economy.

Ramsey emphasizes the importance of building working-class power and the role of the Peace and Freedom Party, which was started by the Black Panther Party and anti-war student organizers in the 60's. You can learn more about Ramsey's campaign at www.ramsey4gov.com

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> politics, culture, society, feminism, solidarity, socialism, No War on Venezuela and Latin America, with Manolo de los Santos 4 4 4 4 War on Venezuela and Latin America, with Manolo de los Santos full 8af7b7b6-f73c-434c-a67e-2e097b8ab9e8 https://share.transistor.fm/s/3b930330 In this episode, Niki interviews Manolo Los Santos to discuss the alarming political escalations in Latin America, particularly focusing on U.S. imperialism and its impact on countries like Venezuela. They explore the historical context of military dictatorships, the current geopolitical landscape, and the interconnectedness of global struggles for liberation and dignity. 

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> In this episode, Niki interviews Manolo Los Santos to discuss the alarming political escalations in Latin America, particularly focusing on U.S. imperialism and its impact on countries like Venezuela. They explore the historical context of military dictatorships, the current geopolitical landscape, and the interconnectedness of global struggles for liberation and dignity. 

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> Tue, 16 Dec 2025 07:00:00 -0500 niki franco niki franco 2526 In this episode, Niki interviews Manolo Los Santos to discuss the alarming political escalations in Latin America, particularly focusing on U.S. imperialism and its impact on countries like Venezuela. They explore the historical context of military dictatorships, the current geopolitical landscape, and the interconnectedness of global struggles for liberation and dignity. 

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> politics, culture, society, feminism, solidarity, socialism, No Why Is the US Escalating Against Venezuela? with Zoe Alexandra of Peoples Dispatch 4 4 2 2 Why Is the US Escalating Against Venezuela? with Zoe Alexandra of Peoples Dispatch full 675ad28b-5396-4aab-bd42-59e0ced70ca5 https://share.transistor.fm/s/9c5ed982 In this episode, Niki interviews journalist Zoe Alexandra of Peoples Dispatch to discuss the escalating military presence of the U.S. in the Caribbean, particularly focusing on Venezuela. They explore the implications of U.S. sanctions, the role of media in shaping public perception, and the historical context of U.S. interventions in Latin America. The conversation highlights the regional responses to U.S. aggression, the current mood in Venezuela, and calls for action among listeners to challenge the narratives surrounding these issues.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> In this episode, Niki interviews journalist Zoe Alexandra of Peoples Dispatch to discuss the escalating military presence of the U.S. in the Caribbean, particularly focusing on Venezuela. They explore the implications of U.S. sanctions, the role of media in shaping public perception, and the historical context of U.S. interventions in Latin America. The conversation highlights the regional responses to U.S. aggression, the current mood in Venezuela, and calls for action among listeners to challenge the narratives surrounding these issues.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> Wed, 01 Oct 2025 07:00:00 -0400 niki franco niki franco 3440 In this episode, Niki interviews journalist Zoe Alexandra of Peoples Dispatch to discuss the escalating military presence of the U.S. in the Caribbean, particularly focusing on Venezuela. They explore the implications of U.S. sanctions, the role of media in shaping public perception, and the historical context of U.S. interventions in Latin America. The conversation highlights the regional responses to U.S. aggression, the current mood in Venezuela, and calls for action among listeners to challenge the narratives surrounding these issues.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> Venezuela, U.S. military, Caribbean, sanctions, media narratives, regime change, Latin America, sovereignty, drug trafficking, international relations No Perfect Victims, with Mohammed el-Kurd 4 4 1 1 Perfect Victims, with Mohammed el-Kurd full a4907130-8399-4393-9fda-7bf47826ec6a https://share.transistor.fm/s/7342323e In this episode, Niki interviews Palestinian poet, author, and organizer, Mohammed el-Kurd to discuss his latest book, Perfect Victims: And The Politics of Appeal. The two unpack the complicity of western institutions on the genocide of Palestinians, shallow identity politics, the weaponization of anti-semitism, the New York War Crimes, and our responsibility to embody hope in such dark times. 

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> In this episode, Niki interviews Palestinian poet, author, and organizer, Mohammed el-Kurd to discuss his latest book, Perfect Victims: And The Politics of Appeal. The two unpack the complicity of western institutions on the genocide of Palestinians, shallow identity politics, the weaponization of anti-semitism, the New York War Crimes, and our responsibility to embody hope in such dark times. 

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> Wed, 06 Aug 2025 19:08:40 -0400 niki franco niki franco 3056 In this episode, Niki interviews Palestinian poet, author, and organizer, Mohammed el-Kurd to discuss his latest book, Perfect Victims: And The Politics of Appeal. The two unpack the complicity of western institutions on the genocide of Palestinians, shallow identity politics, the weaponization of anti-semitism, the New York War Crimes, and our responsibility to embody hope in such dark times. 

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> Palestine, solidarity, liberation, organizing, zionism, colonialism, No The Encampments, with Kei Pritsker 3 3 14 14 The Encampments, with Kei Pritsker full 4c92def5-877c-4391-b4b1-9ad9ba1df8a6 https://share.transistor.fm/s/abd5771c In this episode, Niki interviews Kei Prister, co-director of The Encampments, to discuss the new film, the impact of the student intifada a year later, and what this fight signals for the future of the US empire and most importantly, what it says about young people's thirst for liberation. 

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> In this episode, Niki interviews Kei Prister, co-director of The Encampments, to discuss the new film, the impact of the student intifada a year later, and what this fight signals for the future of the US empire and most importantly, what it says about young people's thirst for liberation. 

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> Tue, 15 Apr 2025 06:00:00 -0400 niki franco niki franco 3258 In this episode, Niki interviews Kei Prister, co-director of The Encampments, to discuss the new film, the impact of the student intifada a year later, and what this fight signals for the future of the US empire and most importantly, what it says about young people's thirst for liberation. 

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> politics, culture, society, feminism, solidarity, socialism, No Love in a F*cked up World, With Dean Spade 3 3 13 13 Love in a F*cked up World, With Dean Spade full 8c2df35e-ca9b-48ef-8c28-9290cab008d3 https://share.transistor.fm/s/69b37081 In this Valentine's Day special episode, Niki interviews Dean Spade, a queer and trans organizer, attorney, and an author. They ground the conversation in Dean's new book, Love in a F*cked up World: How to Build Relationships, Hook Up, and Raise Hell Together. The two discuss how oppressive systems impact our relationships (romantic and otherwise), the role of conflict, and what we must learn from less alienated societies to survive ongoing crises.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> In this Valentine's Day special episode, Niki interviews Dean Spade, a queer and trans organizer, attorney, and an author. They ground the conversation in Dean's new book, Love in a F*cked up World: How to Build Relationships, Hook Up, and Raise Hell Together. The two discuss how oppressive systems impact our relationships (romantic and otherwise), the role of conflict, and what we must learn from less alienated societies to survive ongoing crises.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> Fri, 14 Feb 2025 11:09:09 -0500 niki franco niki franco 4053 In this Valentine's Day special episode, Niki interviews Dean Spade, a queer and trans organizer, attorney, and an author. They ground the conversation in Dean's new book, Love in a F*cked up World: How to Build Relationships, Hook Up, and Raise Hell Together. The two discuss how oppressive systems impact our relationships (romantic and otherwise), the role of conflict, and what we must learn from less alienated societies to survive ongoing crises.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> politics, culture, society, feminism, solidarity, socialism, No Seed Saving as an Antidote to Colonization, with Vivien Sansour of Palestine Heirloom Seed Library 3 3 12 12 Seed Saving as an Antidote to Colonization, with Vivien Sansour of Palestine Heirloom Seed Library full 719a06e4-1276-478b-910d-88e037d7b98a https://share.transistor.fm/s/6b49dfd9 In this episode, Niki interviews Vivien Sansour, founder of Palestine Heirloom Seed Library. In this conversation, the two discuss the ritual of seed saving among colonized peoples and the many ways in which saving the land's fruits is a way of returning to our humanity and our dignity. 

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> In this episode, Niki interviews Vivien Sansour, founder of Palestine Heirloom Seed Library. In this conversation, the two discuss the ritual of seed saving among colonized peoples and the many ways in which saving the land's fruits is a way of returning to our humanity and our dignity. 

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> Tue, 04 Feb 2025 15:35:11 -0500 niki franco niki franco 1876 In this episode, Niki interviews Vivien Sansour, founder of Palestine Heirloom Seed Library. In this conversation, the two discuss the ritual of seed saving among colonized peoples and the many ways in which saving the land's fruits is a way of returning to our humanity and our dignity. 

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> politics, culture, society, feminism, solidarity, socialism, No The Incoming Trump Administration, with Eugene Puryear 3 3 11 11 The Incoming Trump Administration, with Eugene Puryear full 92a5c876-7160-4e99-9e29-5cb5c9a1c2bb https://share.transistor.fm/s/02b8ef1f In this episode, Niki interviews Eugene Puryear, an author, journalist, and host of Breakthrough News. In this conversation, the two discuss the incoming Trump administration and its implications on the Palestinian struggle, the global south at large, and what we can expect these next four years.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> In this episode, Niki interviews Eugene Puryear, an author, journalist, and host of Breakthrough News. In this conversation, the two discuss the incoming Trump administration and its implications on the Palestinian struggle, the global south at large, and what we can expect these next four years.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> Mon, 20 Jan 2025 13:05:11 -0500 niki franco niki franco 3042 In this episode, Niki interviews Eugene Puryear, an author, journalist, and host of Breakthrough News. In this conversation, the two discuss the incoming Trump administration and its implications on the Palestinian struggle, the global south at large, and what we can expect these next four years.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> politics, culture, society, feminism, solidarity, socialism, No Audre Lorde and June Jordan's Black Feminism and Palestine, with Marina Magloire 3 3 10 10 Audre Lorde and June Jordan's Black Feminism and Palestine, with Marina Magloire full 35c1b9ad-825c-4b02-9f6d-ebabc83737d4 https://share.transistor.fm/s/a9d7591d In this episode, Niki interviews Marina Magloire, Atlanta-based Black Feminism scholar, professor, and author of We Pursue Our Magic: A Spiritual History of Black Feminism. In this conversation, the two discuss the complicated relationship between two iconic queer Black feminist poets, Audre Lorde and June Jordan, and their opposing views on Zionism for the majority of their lives.

You can read Marina's essay, Moving Towards Life: Exploring the correspondence of June Jordan and Audre Lorde, Marina Magloire assembles an archive of a Black feminist falling-out over Zionism here.

Audre Lorde's Uses of the Erotic
June Jordan's I Must Become a Menace to My Enemies

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> In this episode, Niki interviews Marina Magloire, Atlanta-based Black Feminism scholar, professor, and author of We Pursue Our Magic: A Spiritual History of Black Feminism. In this conversation, the two discuss the complicated relationship between two iconic queer Black feminist poets, Audre Lorde and June Jordan, and their opposing views on Zionism for the majority of their lives.

You can read Marina's essay, Moving Towards Life: Exploring the correspondence of June Jordan and Audre Lorde, Marina Magloire assembles an archive of a Black feminist falling-out over Zionism here.

Audre Lorde's Uses of the Erotic
June Jordan's I Must Become a Menace to My Enemies

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> Tue, 27 Aug 2024 13:06:50 -0400 niki franco niki franco 2956 In this episode, Niki interviews Marina Magloire, Atlanta-based Black Feminism scholar, professor, and author of We Pursue Our Magic: A Spiritual History of Black Feminism. In this conversation, the two discuss the complicated relationship between two iconic queer Black feminist poets, Audre Lorde and June Jordan, and their opposing views on Zionism for the majority of their lives.

You can read Marina's essay, Moving Towards Life: Exploring the correspondence of June Jordan and Audre Lorde, Marina Magloire assembles an archive of a Black feminist falling-out over Zionism here.

Audre Lorde's Uses of the Erotic
June Jordan's I Must Become a Menace to My Enemies

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> politics, culture, society, feminism, solidarity, socialism, No US Out of Korea, with Jamie Tyberg of Nodutdol 3 3 9 9 US Out of Korea, with Jamie Tyberg of Nodutdol full 67ca9201-5fa5-438f-b512-da5c933f550d https://share.transistor.fm/s/33a1452b In this episode, Niki interviews Jamie Tyberg, organizer with Nodutdol to discuss why the Korean War is so unknown amongst Americans, why there are "two" Koreas, the US' continued and increasing aggression against the Korean peninsula and what that means for the region and the rest of the world, why a ceasefire is not enough, and the fight for reunification of Korean families.

Nodutdol's latest campaign, US Out of Korea launches all over the US on July 27th.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> In this episode, Niki interviews Jamie Tyberg, organizer with Nodutdol to discuss why the Korean War is so unknown amongst Americans, why there are "two" Koreas, the US' continued and increasing aggression against the Korean peninsula and what that means for the region and the rest of the world, why a ceasefire is not enough, and the fight for reunification of Korean families.

Nodutdol's latest campaign, US Out of Korea launches all over the US on July 27th.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> Fri, 26 Jul 2024 12:46:39 -0400 niki franco niki franco 2356 In this episode, Niki interviews Jamie Tyberg, organizer with Nodutdol to discuss why the Korean War is so unknown amongst Americans, why there are "two" Koreas, the US' continued and increasing aggression against the Korean peninsula and what that means for the region and the rest of the world, why a ceasefire is not enough, and the fight for reunification of Korean families.

Nodutdol's latest campaign, US Out of Korea launches all over the US on July 27th.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> politics, culture, society, feminism, solidarity, socialism, No Why Is The US Calling China Imperialist Towards Africa? with Mikaela Nhondo Erskog 3 3 8 8 Why Is The US Calling China Imperialist Towards Africa? with Mikaela Nhondo Erskog full 823b9b76-f760-4875-8e02-c180d98049ec https://share.transistor.fm/s/f28b2842 In this episode, Niki interviews Mika Erskog, South African researcher with Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research and host of the podcast The Crane: An Africa-China Podcast Dongsheng Collective. They discuss the relationship between China and the African continent, while dispelling the accusations that China is "imperialist," and what young progressive people in Africa are looking towards in this historical moment of self-determination.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> In this episode, Niki interviews Mika Erskog, South African researcher with Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research and host of the podcast The Crane: An Africa-China Podcast Dongsheng Collective. They discuss the relationship between China and the African continent, while dispelling the accusations that China is "imperialist," and what young progressive people in Africa are looking towards in this historical moment of self-determination.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> Fri, 31 May 2024 09:44:34 -0400 niki franco niki franco 3019 In this episode, Niki interviews Mika Erskog, South African researcher with Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research and host of the podcast The Crane: An Africa-China Podcast Dongsheng Collective. They discuss the relationship between China and the African continent, while dispelling the accusations that China is "imperialist," and what young progressive people in Africa are looking towards in this historical moment of self-determination.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> politics, culture, society, feminism, solidarity, socialism, No Why Is The US Smearing Mexico's President, with Kurt Hackbarth 3 3 7 7 Why Is The US Smearing Mexico's President, with Kurt Hackbarth full 432a594f-6161-4297-a7ac-92fcd1a90afe https://share.transistor.fm/s/e29db2d8 In this episode, Niki interviews journalist Kurt Hackbarth, the two discuss Mexico's upcoming historic election, why the US insists on smearing the Mexican president with media lies, and how the future of Mexico has major impacts across the Latin America and the globe. 

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> In this episode, Niki interviews journalist Kurt Hackbarth, the two discuss Mexico's upcoming historic election, why the US insists on smearing the Mexican president with media lies, and how the future of Mexico has major impacts across the Latin America and the globe. 

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> Mon, 06 May 2024 07:00:00 -0400 niki franco niki franco 3288 In this episode, Niki interviews journalist Kurt Hackbarth, the two discuss Mexico's upcoming historic election, why the US insists on smearing the Mexican president with media lies, and how the future of Mexico has major impacts across the Latin America and the globe. 

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> politics, culture, society, feminism, solidarity, socialism, No Why Mass Protests Don't Equate to Revolution, with Vincent Bevins 3 3 6 6 Why Mass Protests Don't Equate to Revolution, with Vincent Bevins full 70838169-96e5-485d-b80f-b44572ce3564 https://share.transistor.fm/s/c0cb069a In this episode, Niki interviews acclaimed journalist and author, Vincent Bevins. In this conversation, the two discuss the trend of mass protests across the globe often resulting in the opposite of what people were demanding in the streets in the first place. They weave the history of anti-communism, US-backed right-wing coups, the weaking and demobilization of leftist organizations and parties, and the role of media.

Vincent Bevins is the author of The Jakarta Method and If We Burn: The Mass Protest Decade and the Missing Revolution

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> In this episode, Niki interviews acclaimed journalist and author, Vincent Bevins. In this conversation, the two discuss the trend of mass protests across the globe often resulting in the opposite of what people were demanding in the streets in the first place. They weave the history of anti-communism, US-backed right-wing coups, the weaking and demobilization of leftist organizations and parties, and the role of media.

Vincent Bevins is the author of The Jakarta Method and If We Burn: The Mass Protest Decade and the Missing Revolution

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> Fri, 19 Apr 2024 11:26:01 -0400 niki franco niki franco 3445 In this episode, Niki interviews acclaimed journalist and author, Vincent Bevins. In this conversation, the two discuss the trend of mass protests across the globe often resulting in the opposite of what people were demanding in the streets in the first place. They weave the history of anti-communism, US-backed right-wing coups, the weaking and demobilization of leftist organizations and parties, and the role of media.

Vincent Bevins is the author of The Jakarta Method and If We Burn: The Mass Protest Decade and the Missing Revolution

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> politics, culture, society, feminism, solidarity, socialism, No The Legacy of Cuban Medical and Healthcare Solidarity, with Dr. Samira Addrey 3 3 5 5 The Legacy of Cuban Medical and Healthcare Solidarity, with Dr. Samira Addrey full 165b8481-f2ed-4404-b355-c9410782bb63 https://share.transistor.fm/s/d69c8ec3 In this episode, Niki interviews Ghanian-American doctor, Dr. Samira Addrey, Graduate of the Latin American School of Medicine in Cuba. In this conversation, the two discuss the legacy of not only the Latin American School of Medicine, but how Cuba has managed to develop some of the world's best doctors, biotech innovations, and their commitment to medical solidarity, despite the US blockade and all the crises it creates for Cuba and its people.

Additional note regarding the situation in Cuba:
"Right now the U.S. government is deliberately starving the Cuban people 90 miles to our South. We all must act now. A food crisis is unfolding on the island of an unprecedented scale. A country where hunger had been made a thing of the past is now running out of bread and other essential food items. We are launching an emergency campaign — Let Cuba Live: Bread for Our Neighbors. Our goal is to send 800 tons of wheat flour to Cuba as legal humanitarian aid, so that millions of people have bread for a month."

Donate at: LetCubaLive.info/bread 

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> In this episode, Niki interviews Ghanian-American doctor, Dr. Samira Addrey, Graduate of the Latin American School of Medicine in Cuba. In this conversation, the two discuss the legacy of not only the Latin American School of Medicine, but how Cuba has managed to develop some of the world's best doctors, biotech innovations, and their commitment to medical solidarity, despite the US blockade and all the crises it creates for Cuba and its people.

Additional note regarding the situation in Cuba:
"Right now the U.S. government is deliberately starving the Cuban people 90 miles to our South. We all must act now. A food crisis is unfolding on the island of an unprecedented scale. A country where hunger had been made a thing of the past is now running out of bread and other essential food items. We are launching an emergency campaign — Let Cuba Live: Bread for Our Neighbors. Our goal is to send 800 tons of wheat flour to Cuba as legal humanitarian aid, so that millions of people have bread for a month."

Donate at: LetCubaLive.info/bread 

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> Mon, 08 Apr 2024 07:00:00 -0400 niki franco niki franco 4284 In this episode, Niki interviews Ghanian-American doctor, Dr. Samira Addrey, Graduate of the Latin American School of Medicine in Cuba. In this conversation, the two discuss the legacy of not only the Latin American School of Medicine, but how Cuba has managed to develop some of the world's best doctors, biotech innovations, and their commitment to medical solidarity, despite the US blockade and all the crises it creates for Cuba and its people.

Additional note regarding the situation in Cuba:
"Right now the U.S. government is deliberately starving the Cuban people 90 miles to our South. We all must act now. A food crisis is unfolding on the island of an unprecedented scale. A country where hunger had been made a thing of the past is now running out of bread and other essential food items. We are launching an emergency campaign — Let Cuba Live: Bread for Our Neighbors. Our goal is to send 800 tons of wheat flour to Cuba as legal humanitarian aid, so that millions of people have bread for a month."

Donate at: LetCubaLive.info/bread 

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> politics, culture, society, feminism, solidarity, socialism, No Organized Labor, Unions, Strikes and Palestine, with Zaina Alsous 3 3 4 4 Organized Labor, Unions, Strikes and Palestine, with Zaina Alsous full 98e729c9-92f3-4526-8847-1f95e25f7ce7 https://share.transistor.fm/s/7088cc41 In this episode, Niki interviews Palestinian labor organizer and author, Zaina Alsous, where the two discuss the history of Palestinian and Arab worker-led revolts, the significance of the largest US labor unions calling for an immediate ceasefire, and the limitations of our current ability to hold general strikes in the US and what is required to make this more possible.

You can read more editorial work by Zaina here.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> In this episode, Niki interviews Palestinian labor organizer and author, Zaina Alsous, where the two discuss the history of Palestinian and Arab worker-led revolts, the significance of the largest US labor unions calling for an immediate ceasefire, and the limitations of our current ability to hold general strikes in the US and what is required to make this more possible.

You can read more editorial work by Zaina here.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> Wed, 28 Feb 2024 10:40:04 -0500 niki franco niki franco 3061 In this episode, Niki interviews Palestinian labor organizer and author, Zaina Alsous, where the two discuss the history of Palestinian and Arab worker-led revolts, the significance of the largest US labor unions calling for an immediate ceasefire, and the limitations of our current ability to hold general strikes in the US and what is required to make this more possible.

You can read more editorial work by Zaina here.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> politics, culture, society, feminism, solidarity, socialism, Yes On Palestinian Resistance and Why the US Can't Win Wars, with Vijay Prashad 3 3 3 3 On Palestinian Resistance and Why the US Can't Win Wars, with Vijay Prashad full 3647daa4-f243-441f-9b62-fcf68f61b8b3 https://share.transistor.fm/s/e25fc8d4 In this interview, Niki interviews historian and journalist Vijay Prashad, where the two discuss the history of Palestinian resistance throughout Zionist occupation, why the US may have the power to destroy countries but cannot win wars, and where the seeds of hope lie in this revolutionary moment.

Vijay Prashad is the Executive Director of Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research, the Chief Editor of Leftword Books, and the author of forty books.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> In this interview, Niki interviews historian and journalist Vijay Prashad, where the two discuss the history of Palestinian resistance throughout Zionist occupation, why the US may have the power to destroy countries but cannot win wars, and where the seeds of hope lie in this revolutionary moment.

Vijay Prashad is the Executive Director of Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research, the Chief Editor of Leftword Books, and the author of forty books.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> Mon, 22 Jan 2024 13:22:47 -0500 niki franco niki franco 2939 In this interview, Niki interviews historian and journalist Vijay Prashad, where the two discuss the history of Palestinian resistance throughout Zionist occupation, why the US may have the power to destroy countries but cannot win wars, and where the seeds of hope lie in this revolutionary moment.

Vijay Prashad is the Executive Director of Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research, the Chief Editor of Leftword Books, and the author of forty books.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> politics, culture, society, feminism, solidarity, socialism, No Neither Democrats nor Republicans Save Us, So Now What? With PSL Presidential Candidate, Claudia De la Cruz 3 3 2 2 Neither Democrats nor Republicans Save Us, So Now What? With PSL Presidential Candidate, Claudia De la Cruz full 21bca30a-b4d9-4cea-a777-eb88cc203d59 https://share.transistor.fm/s/594752cb "The lesser of two evils politic has not served working class people." In this interview, Niki interviews presidential candidate for PSL (Party for Socialism and Liberation), Claudia De la Cruz. The two discuss the unfolding crises in the US - unemployment, inflation, housing/rent crisis, climate collapse, the threat of war, among other issues and how both Democrats and Republicans refuse to address these crisis and bring about solutions to most Americans.

As a relentless genocide takes place on the Palestinian people, Biden, Democrats, and Republicans alike have made their commitments and interests clear. Soon, these same politicians will be asking Americans for their vote, but most people feel exhausted of business as usual. In this conversation, Niki and Claudia get into the specifics of what is at stake and what can be done.

You can volunteer to be part of this campaign here.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> "The lesser of two evils politic has not served working class people." In this interview, Niki interviews presidential candidate for PSL (Party for Socialism and Liberation), Claudia De la Cruz. The two discuss the unfolding crises in the US - unemployment, inflation, housing/rent crisis, climate collapse, the threat of war, among other issues and how both Democrats and Republicans refuse to address these crisis and bring about solutions to most Americans.

As a relentless genocide takes place on the Palestinian people, Biden, Democrats, and Republicans alike have made their commitments and interests clear. Soon, these same politicians will be asking Americans for their vote, but most people feel exhausted of business as usual. In this conversation, Niki and Claudia get into the specifics of what is at stake and what can be done.

You can volunteer to be part of this campaign here.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> Sun, 29 Oct 2023 16:54:27 -0400 niki franco niki franco 2798 "The lesser of two evils politic has not served working class people." In this interview, Niki interviews presidential candidate for PSL (Party for Socialism and Liberation), Claudia De la Cruz. The two discuss the unfolding crises in the US - unemployment, inflation, housing/rent crisis, climate collapse, the threat of war, among other issues and how both Democrats and Republicans refuse to address these crisis and bring about solutions to most Americans.

As a relentless genocide takes place on the Palestinian people, Biden, Democrats, and Republicans alike have made their commitments and interests clear. Soon, these same politicians will be asking Americans for their vote, but most people feel exhausted of business as usual. In this conversation, Niki and Claudia get into the specifics of what is at stake and what can be done.

You can volunteer to be part of this campaign here.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> politics, culture, society, feminism, solidarity, socialism, No One Year Ago, I Went on Hiatus! 3 3 1 1 One Year Ago, I Went on Hiatus! full 633c15c5-be21-497c-a999-5ef6027e4a2e https://share.transistor.fm/s/8f799f83 In this episode, Niki is interviewed by their best friend and comrade, Sabrina Beydoun. Niki reflects intimately on what themes have been anchoring her this past year of sabbatical and hiatus - the challenges of what it means to leave home and build anew, being in a place of transition and uncertainty, and unprecedented personal challenges, while reckoning that the only path forward is collective care and interdependence. 


Sabrina Beydoun is a Lebanese-American chef, writer, and cultural worker. You can read their substack, Nourished here.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> In this episode, Niki is interviewed by their best friend and comrade, Sabrina Beydoun. Niki reflects intimately on what themes have been anchoring her this past year of sabbatical and hiatus - the challenges of what it means to leave home and build anew, being in a place of transition and uncertainty, and unprecedented personal challenges, while reckoning that the only path forward is collective care and interdependence. 


Sabrina Beydoun is a Lebanese-American chef, writer, and cultural worker. You can read their substack, Nourished here.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> Wed, 19 Jul 2023 15:27:04 -0400 niki franco niki franco 4071 In this episode, Niki is interviewed by their best friend and comrade, Sabrina Beydoun. Niki reflects intimately on what themes have been anchoring her this past year of sabbatical and hiatus - the challenges of what it means to leave home and build anew, being in a place of transition and uncertainty, and unprecedented personal challenges, while reckoning that the only path forward is collective care and interdependence. 


Sabrina Beydoun is a Lebanese-American chef, writer, and cultural worker. You can read their substack, Nourished here.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> politics, culture, society, feminism, solidarity, socialism, No Who Is Wellness For? With Fariha Róisín 2 2 5 5 Who Is Wellness For? With Fariha Róisín full 3ed5ace7-f29f-4f73-9b20-14b5c2732b8e https://share.transistor.fm/s/2845b7a7 In this episode, Niki interviews Fariha Róisín, author of Who Is Wellness For? In the conversation, the two discuss the role of dignity in affirming one’s healing in the face of trauma, colonialism, capitalism, and other systems of oppression. They also unpack the relationship between spiritual warfare, commodification of wellness, and the corporate industries that intentionally invisibilize the violence behind popular wellness trends and practices. 

Audio disclaimer: I encourage you to listen on your laptop or car, as there is a bit of background noise coming from Fariha's audio. Otherwise, enjoy this tender conversation. 

Music by Magic City Hippies

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> In this episode, Niki interviews Fariha Róisín, author of Who Is Wellness For? In the conversation, the two discuss the role of dignity in affirming one’s healing in the face of trauma, colonialism, capitalism, and other systems of oppression. They also unpack the relationship between spiritual warfare, commodification of wellness, and the corporate industries that intentionally invisibilize the violence behind popular wellness trends and practices. 

Audio disclaimer: I encourage you to listen on your laptop or car, as there is a bit of background noise coming from Fariha's audio. Otherwise, enjoy this tender conversation. 

Music by Magic City Hippies

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> Wed, 27 Jul 2022 07:00:00 -0400 niki franco niki franco 3606 In this episode, Niki interviews Fariha Róisín, author of Who Is Wellness For? In the conversation, the two discuss the role of dignity in affirming one’s healing in the face of trauma, colonialism, capitalism, and other systems of oppression. They also unpack the relationship between spiritual warfare, commodification of wellness, and the corporate industries that intentionally invisibilize the violence behind popular wellness trends and practices. Audio disclaimer: I encourage you to listen on your laptop or car, as there is a bit of background noise coming from Fariha's audio. Otherwise, enjoy this tender conversation. In this episode, Niki interviews Fariha Róisín, author of Who Is Wellness For? In the conversation, the two discuss the role of dignity in affirming one’s healing in the face of trauma, colonialism, capitalism, and other systems of oppression. They also u politics, culture, society, feminism, solidarity, socialism, No Pandemic Ain't Over, with Elea Chang 2 2 4 4 Pandemic Ain't Over, with Elea Chang full 00610a6c-3fc5-4efc-9c75-a6b29f170dae https://share.transistor.fm/s/ab4ca87d In this episode, Niki interviews Elea Chang, disability justice advocate, community organizer, and artist. The two discuss the capitalist notion of the "pandemic being over," and the ways in which disability justice offers a pathway of care, solidarity, and safety in these uncertain times. In this, they also discuss the limitations of representation and identity politics in an economy that commodifies it all.

Elea is the creator of Disabled and Here, an interview and stock images celebrating disabled BIPOC.

This episode is in partnership with Open Collective Foundation.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> In this episode, Niki interviews Elea Chang, disability justice advocate, community organizer, and artist. The two discuss the capitalist notion of the "pandemic being over," and the ways in which disability justice offers a pathway of care, solidarity, and safety in these uncertain times. In this, they also discuss the limitations of representation and identity politics in an economy that commodifies it all.

Elea is the creator of Disabled and Here, an interview and stock images celebrating disabled BIPOC.

This episode is in partnership with Open Collective Foundation.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> Thu, 09 Jun 2022 09:57:10 -0400 niki franco niki franco 2969 In this episode, Niki interviews Elea Chang, disability justice advocate, community organizer, and artist. The two discuss the capitalist notion of the "pandemic being over," and the ways in which disability justice offers a pathway of care, solidarity, and safety in these uncertain times. In this, they also discuss the limitations of representation and identity politics in an economy that commodifies it all. Elea is the creator of Disabled and Here, an interview and stock images celebrating disabled BIPOC. In this episode, Niki interviews Elea Chang, disability justice advocate, community organizer, and artist. The two discuss the capitalist notion of the "pandemic being over," and the ways in which disability justice offers a pathway of care, solidarity, a politics, culture, society, feminism, solidarity, socialism, No Connection in a Digital World, with Annika Hansteen-Izora 1 1 22 22 Connection in a Digital World, with Annika Hansteen-Izora full f9cd3c37-fdef-456b-a8d1-11f05b02b88b https://share.transistor.fm/s/80c69d4b *This episode was originally published in May 2021*

In this episode, Niki interviews Annika Hansteen-Izora, an art director, poet, and designer. The two reckon with the interests (profit, militarism, white supremacy, ableism - to name a few) that dictate social media platforms, algorithms, and the digital world at large, in a time where we are all spending hours on end on apps. Drawing from Afro-Futurism, Afro-Nowism, and speculative fiction, the two envision what communities centered in care and safety may look and feel like. 

Annika is currently the Creative Director of Design and UI at Somewhere Good, a new social media platform that centers people of color. 

Annika’s references and suggestions for folks to learn more from:
Safiya Umoja Noble: Algorithms of Oppression
Digital Doulas Take Restorative Justice to Cyberspace by. Yaa Addae
Data healing concept by Neema Githere
Data trauma concept by Olivia McKayla Ross  
Glitch Feminism by Legacy Russell
Joy Buolamwini and Algorithmic Justice
Mandy Harris Williams and #brownupyourfeed  

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> *This episode was originally published in May 2021*

In this episode, Niki interviews Annika Hansteen-Izora, an art director, poet, and designer. The two reckon with the interests (profit, militarism, white supremacy, ableism - to name a few) that dictate social media platforms, algorithms, and the digital world at large, in a time where we are all spending hours on end on apps. Drawing from Afro-Futurism, Afro-Nowism, and speculative fiction, the two envision what communities centered in care and safety may look and feel like. 

Annika is currently the Creative Director of Design and UI at Somewhere Good, a new social media platform that centers people of color. 

Annika’s references and suggestions for folks to learn more from:
Safiya Umoja Noble: Algorithms of Oppression
Digital Doulas Take Restorative Justice to Cyberspace by. Yaa Addae
Data healing concept by Neema Githere
Data trauma concept by Olivia McKayla Ross  
Glitch Feminism by Legacy Russell
Joy Buolamwini and Algorithmic Justice
Mandy Harris Williams and #brownupyourfeed  

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> Tue, 26 Apr 2022 11:13:50 -0400 niki franco niki franco 2915 In this episode, Niki interviews Annika Hansteen-Izora, an art director, poet, and designer. The two reckon with the interests (profit, militarism, white supremacy, ableism - to name a few) that dictate social media platforms, algorithms, and the digital world at large, in a time where we are all spending hours on end on apps. Drawing from Afro-Futurism, Afro-Nowism, and speculative fiction, the two envision what communities centered in care and safety may look and feel like. In this episode, Niki interviews Annika Hansteen-Izora, an art director, poet, and designer. The two reckon with the interests (profit, militarism, white supremacy, ableism - to name a few) that dictate social media platforms, algorithms, and the digital politics, culture, society, feminism, solidarity, socialism, No Indigenous Resistance As An Antidote to Climate Crisis, with Nick Estes 2 2 2 2 Indigenous Resistance As An Antidote to Climate Crisis, with Nick Estes full f2805416-7b32-40d2-afb8-7cc81e260acc https://share.transistor.fm/s/1a26a057 In this episode, Niki interviews Nick Estes, Indigenous scholar, writer, and co-founder of The Red Nation. The two reflect on 2021's Jan 6th insurrection and some notable political differences between the political economy of the US vs socialist economies in the Global South. They also offer some critiques on the new Netflix sensation, Don't Look Up, while centering the need for Indigenous resistance as an antidote to the climate crisis. 

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> In this episode, Niki interviews Nick Estes, Indigenous scholar, writer, and co-founder of The Red Nation. The two reflect on 2021's Jan 6th insurrection and some notable political differences between the political economy of the US vs socialist economies in the Global South. They also offer some critiques on the new Netflix sensation, Don't Look Up, while centering the need for Indigenous resistance as an antidote to the climate crisis. 

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> Fri, 07 Jan 2022 09:24:29 -0500 niki franco niki franco 3692 In this episode, Niki interviews Nick Estes, Indigenous scholar, writer, and co-founder of The Red Nation. The two reflect on 2021's Jan 6th insurrection and some notable political differences between the political economy of the US vs socialist economies in the Global South. They also offer some critiques on the new Netflix sensation, Don't Look Up, while centering the need for Indigenous resistance as an antidote to the climate crisis. In this episode, Niki interviews Nick Estes, Indigenous scholar, writer, and co-founder of The Red Nation. The two reflect on 2021's Jan 6th insurrection and some notable political differences between the political economy of the US vs socialist economies politics, culture, society, feminism, solidarity, socialism, No Hands Off Cuba, with Manolo De Los Santos 2 2 1 1 Hands Off Cuba, with Manolo De Los Santos full c61541b2-ed76-4c84-8389-2ac725b79888 https://share.transistor.fm/s/fcf0cd98 In this episode, Niki interviews Manolo De Los Santos, a Caribbean popular educator and the two discuss the November 15th protests in Cuba, what narratives we should be mindful of in hopes of supporting the lives of Cuban people on the island, and the dangers of advocating for US intervention. 


Manolo is the co-executive director of The People's Forum in NYC.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> In this episode, Niki interviews Manolo De Los Santos, a Caribbean popular educator and the two discuss the November 15th protests in Cuba, what narratives we should be mindful of in hopes of supporting the lives of Cuban people on the island, and the dangers of advocating for US intervention. 


Manolo is the co-executive director of The People's Forum in NYC.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> Mon, 15 Nov 2021 10:56:05 -0500 niki franco niki franco 2651 In this episode, Niki interviews Manolo De Los Santos, a Caribbean popular educator and the two discuss the November 15th protests in Cuba, what narratives we should be mindful of in hopes of supporting the lives of Cuban people on the island, and the dangers of advocating for US intervention. Manolo is the co-executive director of The People's Forum in NYC. In this episode, Niki interviews Manolo De Los Santos, a Caribbean popular educator and the two discuss the November 15th protests in Cuba, what narratives we should be mindful of in hopes of supporting the lives of Cuban people on the island, and the dan politics, culture, society, feminism, solidarity, socialism, No Haiti, Cuba, and Lessons of Caribbean Resistance, with Claudia De La Cruz 1 1 25 25 Haiti, Cuba, and Lessons of Caribbean Resistance, with Claudia De La Cruz full e162d672-c48a-483d-b209-b24e1cbe2690 https://share.transistor.fm/s/7ce248d5 In this episode, Niki interviews Claudia De La Cruz, Co-Executive Director of The People's Forum. The two discuss the recent events in Haiti, Cuba, and other political crises in the region and what this means for oppressed people globally. They also discuss the continuous historical patterns of what happens in moments like this, and the ways in which US media works in insidious ways to confuse and distract everyday people and ultimately serve elite interests.
 

Support the podcast and become a patreon here.


Music courtesy of Magic City Hippies.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> In this episode, Niki interviews Claudia De La Cruz, Co-Executive Director of The People's Forum. The two discuss the recent events in Haiti, Cuba, and other political crises in the region and what this means for oppressed people globally. They also discuss the continuous historical patterns of what happens in moments like this, and the ways in which US media works in insidious ways to confuse and distract everyday people and ultimately serve elite interests.
 

Support the podcast and become a patreon here.


Music courtesy of Magic City Hippies.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> Mon, 12 Jul 2021 14:06:58 -0400 niki franco niki franco 3134 In this episode, Niki interviews Claudia De La Cruz, Co-Executive Director of The People's Forum. The two discuss the recent events in Haiti, Cuba, and other political crises in the region and what this means for oppressed people globally. They also discuss the continuous historical patterns of what happens in moments like this, and the ways in which US media works in insidious ways to confuse and distract everyday people and ultimately serve elite interests. In this episode, Niki interviews Claudia De La Cruz, Co-Executive Director of The People's Forum. The two discuss the recent events in Haiti, Cuba, and other political crises in the region and what this means for oppressed people globally. They also discu politics, culture, society, feminism, solidarity, socialism, No Politicizing Journalism, with Clarissa Brooks 1 1 24 24 Politicizing Journalism, with Clarissa Brooks full 8a0e9cf9-eb11-4b77-a7f9-f273b1aeb247 https://share.transistor.fm/s/027caa5f In this episode, Niki interviews Clarissa Brooks, an abolitionist movement journalist and organizer. The two discuss the dangers of status quo "objectivity" in journalism and media, and look alternatively, to grassroots examples of Black investigative journalists who hold political commitments and relationships with the communities they write about. They also discuss the attention economy and its impact on which stories are prioritized and centered.


Clarissa's writing has been featured in Rolling Stone, THEM, NPR, Harper's Bazaar, Teen Vogue, Complex, among others.


Support the podcast and become a patreon here.

Music courtesy of Magic City Hippies.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> In this episode, Niki interviews Clarissa Brooks, an abolitionist movement journalist and organizer. The two discuss the dangers of status quo "objectivity" in journalism and media, and look alternatively, to grassroots examples of Black investigative journalists who hold political commitments and relationships with the communities they write about. They also discuss the attention economy and its impact on which stories are prioritized and centered.


Clarissa's writing has been featured in Rolling Stone, THEM, NPR, Harper's Bazaar, Teen Vogue, Complex, among others.


Support the podcast and become a patreon here.

Music courtesy of Magic City Hippies.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> Tue, 06 Jul 2021 09:10:22 -0400 niki franco niki franco 3498 In this episode, Niki interviews Clarissa Brooks, an abolitionist movement journalist and organizer. The two discuss the dangers of status quo "objectivity" in journalism and media, and look alternatively, to grassroots examples of Black investigative journalists who hold political commitments and relationships with the communities they write about. They also discuss the attention economy and its impact on which stories are prioritized and centered. In this episode, Niki interviews Clarissa Brooks, an abolitionist movement journalist and organizer. The two discuss the dangers of status quo "objectivity" in journalism and media, and look alternatively, to grassroots examples of Black investigative jou politics, culture, society, feminism, solidarity, socialism, No 2nd Year Anniversary Special, with Mimi Zhu 1 1 23 23 2nd Year Anniversary Special, with Mimi Zhu full a276f4ba-fb48-446c-8911-4bffb5f3ac37 https://share.transistor.fm/s/40653ac7 In this celebratory episode, Niki rings in the second anniversary of the podcast by getting into conversation with fellow gemini Mimi Zhu, writer and author of the forthcoming Book, Be Not Afraid of Love. The two discuss the realities that become more possible through storytelling for communities of color, the co-opting necessitated by corporate campaigns such as Stop Asian Hate and Pride, and the ways in which grief, loss, and migrant narratives all create openings for transformation and abolitionist values. 

Mimi's work explores themes of survival, queerness, alternate worlds rooted in interdependence/kinship/solidarity. Their work has been featured in the New York Times, PAPER Magazine, Guardian, SLATE, Artnet, NME, Bustle, JacobinMag, them., The Fader, INSIDER, VICE. They also write a monthly newsletter called WRITE, TO HEAL that includes essays, prompts, and curated playlists.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> In this celebratory episode, Niki rings in the second anniversary of the podcast by getting into conversation with fellow gemini Mimi Zhu, writer and author of the forthcoming Book, Be Not Afraid of Love. The two discuss the realities that become more possible through storytelling for communities of color, the co-opting necessitated by corporate campaigns such as Stop Asian Hate and Pride, and the ways in which grief, loss, and migrant narratives all create openings for transformation and abolitionist values. 

Mimi's work explores themes of survival, queerness, alternate worlds rooted in interdependence/kinship/solidarity. Their work has been featured in the New York Times, PAPER Magazine, Guardian, SLATE, Artnet, NME, Bustle, JacobinMag, them., The Fader, INSIDER, VICE. They also write a monthly newsletter called WRITE, TO HEAL that includes essays, prompts, and curated playlists.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> Fri, 11 Jun 2021 10:11:09 -0400 niki franco niki franco 3485 In this celebratory episode, Niki rings in the second anniversary of the podcast by getting into conversation with fellow gemini Mimi Zhu, writer and author of the forthcoming Book, Be Not Afraid of Love. The two discuss the realities that become more possible through storytelling for communities of color, the co-opting necessitated by corporate campaigns such as Stop Asian Hate and Pride, and the ways in which grief, loss, and migrant narratives all create openings for transformation and abolitionist values. In this celebratory episode, Niki rings in the second anniversary of the podcast by getting into conversation with fellow gemini Mimi Zhu, writer and author of the forthcoming Book, Be Not Afraid of Love. The two discuss the realities that become more pos politics, culture, society, feminism, solidarity, socialism, No Work Won't Love You Back, with Sarah Jaffe 1 1 21 21 Work Won't Love You Back, with Sarah Jaffe full 67fcd1e3-b3d5-44b8-9f13-33e0231e85a8 https://share.transistor.fm/s/f347eb20 In this episode, Niki interviews Sarah Jaffe, labor journalist and author. The two discuss Sarah's new book, Work Won't Love You Back: How Devotion to Our Jobs Keeps Us Exploited, Exhausted and Alone, which offers historical context on the gendered, racialized, and capitalist history impacting workers, families, and what kind of labor society deems as valuable or not. In this conversation, the two also discuss recent examples of workers resisting, organizing, and shifting the terrain for labor in response to COVID-19 and they challenge the notion that: if you love what you do, you won't work a day in your life. 

Sarah's work has been featured in The New York Times, The Nation, the Guardian, the Washington Post, The New Republic, the Atlantic, and elsewhere. She is the co-host, with Michelle Chen, of Dissent magazine’s Belabored podcast, as well as a columnist at The Progressive and New Labor Forum.


Support the podcast and become a patreon here.

Music courtesy of Magic City Hippies.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> In this episode, Niki interviews Sarah Jaffe, labor journalist and author. The two discuss Sarah's new book, Work Won't Love You Back: How Devotion to Our Jobs Keeps Us Exploited, Exhausted and Alone, which offers historical context on the gendered, racialized, and capitalist history impacting workers, families, and what kind of labor society deems as valuable or not. In this conversation, the two also discuss recent examples of workers resisting, organizing, and shifting the terrain for labor in response to COVID-19 and they challenge the notion that: if you love what you do, you won't work a day in your life. 

Sarah's work has been featured in The New York Times, The Nation, the Guardian, the Washington Post, The New Republic, the Atlantic, and elsewhere. She is the co-host, with Michelle Chen, of Dissent magazine’s Belabored podcast, as well as a columnist at The Progressive and New Labor Forum.


Support the podcast and become a patreon here.

Music courtesy of Magic City Hippies.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> Sat, 27 Mar 2021 11:02:01 -0400 niki franco niki franco 3288 In this episode, Niki interviews Sarah Jaffe, labor journalist and author. The two discuss Sarah's new book, Work Won't Love You Back: How Devotion to Our Jobs Keeps Us Exploited, Exhausted and Alone, which offers historical context on the gendered, racialized, and capitalist history impacting workers, families, and what kind of labor society deems as valuable or not. In this conversation, the two also discuss recent examples of workers resisting, organizing, and shifting the terrain for labor in response to COVID-19 and they challenge the notion that: if you love what you do, you won't work a day in your life. In this episode, Niki interviews Sarah Jaffe, labor journalist and author. The two discuss Sarah's new book, Work Won't Love You Back: How Devotion to Our Jobs Keeps Us Exploited, Exhausted and Alone, which offers historical context on the gendered, racia politics, culture, society, feminism, solidarity, socialism, No The Role of An Artist and Cultural Worker, with Fresco Steez 1 1 20 20 The Role of An Artist and Cultural Worker, with Fresco Steez full 617f0c46-91b4-405b-9a7e-74580184bb22 https://share.transistor.fm/s/9fe1a15b In this episode, Niki interviews Fresco Steez, a cultural engineer and organizer who has designed countless slogans, visuals, and communications that center the notion of being Unapologetically Black. In this conversation, the two discuss the role of artists and cultural workers in revolutionary struggles, the potential and necessity behind popularizing radical ideas, and the two get vulnerable around commitments to agitate and organize whenever possible.

You can learn more about Fresco's latest project with Levi's here.


Support the podcast and become a patreon here.

Music courtesy of Magic City Hippies.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> In this episode, Niki interviews Fresco Steez, a cultural engineer and organizer who has designed countless slogans, visuals, and communications that center the notion of being Unapologetically Black. In this conversation, the two discuss the role of artists and cultural workers in revolutionary struggles, the potential and necessity behind popularizing radical ideas, and the two get vulnerable around commitments to agitate and organize whenever possible.

You can learn more about Fresco's latest project with Levi's here.


Support the podcast and become a patreon here.

Music courtesy of Magic City Hippies.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> Mon, 08 Mar 2021 11:51:36 -0500 niki franco niki franco 3052 In this episode, Niki interviews Fresco Steez, a cultural engineer and organizer who has designed countless slogans, visuals, and communications that center the notion of being Unapologetically Black. In this conversation, the two discuss the role of artists and cultural workers in revolutionary struggles, the potential and necessity behind popularizing radical ideas, and the two get vulnerable around commitments to agitate and organize whenever possible. In this episode, Niki interviews Fresco Steez, a cultural engineer and organizer who has designed countless slogans, visuals, and communications that center the notion of being Unapologetically Black. In this conversation, the two discuss the role of arti politics, culture, society, feminism, solidarity, socialism, No Abolition and A New Administration, with Derecka Purnell 1 1 19 19 Abolition and A New Administration, with Derecka Purnell full dd72ca1c-42d8-4e44-abe1-fc144df268b5 https://share.transistor.fm/s/0a61a74f In this episode, Niki interviews Derecka Purnell, an abolitionist writer, organizer, lawyer. Derecka works to end police and prison violence by providing legal assistance, research, and trainings to community based organizations through an abolitionist framework.  In this conversation, the two discuss the limits of identity politics, why anti-capitalism and abolition go together, lessons from the 2020 uprising and what's ahead under a new administration. 


Derecka's writings have been published in The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Guardian, Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar, Teen Vogue, The Appeal, Truthout, Slate, Boston Review, Huffington Post, Vox, and In These Times. She’s been featured on NPR, the Boston Globe, Slate’s What Next, and MSNBC, and is the former Editor-in-Chief of the Harvard Journal of African American Public Policy.

Support the podcast and become a patreon here.

Music courtesy of Magic City Hippies.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> In this episode, Niki interviews Derecka Purnell, an abolitionist writer, organizer, lawyer. Derecka works to end police and prison violence by providing legal assistance, research, and trainings to community based organizations through an abolitionist framework.  In this conversation, the two discuss the limits of identity politics, why anti-capitalism and abolition go together, lessons from the 2020 uprising and what's ahead under a new administration. 


Derecka's writings have been published in The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Guardian, Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar, Teen Vogue, The Appeal, Truthout, Slate, Boston Review, Huffington Post, Vox, and In These Times. She’s been featured on NPR, the Boston Globe, Slate’s What Next, and MSNBC, and is the former Editor-in-Chief of the Harvard Journal of African American Public Policy.

Support the podcast and become a patreon here.

Music courtesy of Magic City Hippies.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> Wed, 17 Feb 2021 06:00:00 -0500 niki franco niki franco 3344 In this episode, Niki interviews Derecka Purnell, an abolitionist writer, organizer, lawyer. Derecka works to end police and prison violence by providing legal assistance, research, and trainings to community based organizations through an abolitionist framework. In this conversation, the two discuss the limits of identity politics, why anti-capitalism and abolition go together, lessons from the 2020 uprising and what's ahead under a new administration. In this episode, Niki interviews Derecka Purnell, an abolitionist writer, organizer, lawyer. Derecka works to end police and prison violence by providing legal assistance, research, and trainings to community based organizations through an abolitionist fr politics, culture, society, feminism, solidarity, socialism, No Embodying Our Abolitionist Dreams, with adrienne maree brown 1 1 18 18 Embodying Our Abolitionist Dreams, with adrienne maree brown full d4cecb73-eee0-434d-9c3d-a8ed75c2c29c https://share.transistor.fm/s/c0aa5915 In this episode, Niki interviews adrienne maree brown, the author of Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good and Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds. In this conversation, the two discuss what it means to embody abolitionist values, strategies for discerning differences in movement work, boundaries on and offline, moving towards generative conflict more effectively, adrienne's new book, We Will Not Cancel Us, and dreamy longings for 2021.


adrienne maree brown is a longtime movement facilitator, supporting the work of organizations and collectives. Her new book, We Will Not Cancel Us is an invitation for abolitionist organizers and movement workers.

Episode transcript available here.

Support the podcast and become a patreon here.

Music courtesy of Magic City Hippies.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> In this episode, Niki interviews adrienne maree brown, the author of Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good and Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds. In this conversation, the two discuss what it means to embody abolitionist values, strategies for discerning differences in movement work, boundaries on and offline, moving towards generative conflict more effectively, adrienne's new book, We Will Not Cancel Us, and dreamy longings for 2021.


adrienne maree brown is a longtime movement facilitator, supporting the work of organizations and collectives. Her new book, We Will Not Cancel Us is an invitation for abolitionist organizers and movement workers.

Episode transcript available here.

Support the podcast and become a patreon here.

Music courtesy of Magic City Hippies.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> Mon, 28 Dec 2020 10:27:13 -0500 niki franco niki franco 3407 In this episode, Niki interviews adrienne maree brown, the author of Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good and Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds. In this conversation, the two discuss what it means to embody abolitionist values, strategies for discerning differences in movement work, boundaries on and offline, moving towards generative conflict more effectively, adrienne's new book, We Will Not Cancel Us, and dreamy longings for 2021. In this episode, Niki interviews adrienne maree brown, the author of Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good and Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds. In this conversation, the two discuss what it means to embody abolitionist values, politics, culture, society, feminism, solidarity, socialism, No How To Do Nothing, with Jenny Odell 1 1 17 17 How To Do Nothing, with Jenny Odell full 7b20f853-1ac9-42f1-a6aa-8cbe239a1d39 https://share.transistor.fm/s/23bd873f In this episode, Niki interviews Jenny Odell, author of NYT bestselling book, How To Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy. The two discuss divesting from the act of personal branding on social media, bioregionalism and re-connecting to the living ecosystems that surround us, the danger behind privatization of public and outdoor spaces, and the racial and class dynamics of leisure and who has access to it.

Jenny is a multidisciplinary artist and author based in Oakland, CA. Her work generally involves acts of close observation, whether it's birdwatching, collecting screen shots, or trying to parse bizarre forms of e-commerce. Her writing has appeared on New York Times, New York Magazine, The Atlantic, The Believer, The Paris Review, McSweeney's, SFMOMA's Open Space, The Creative Independent, and Sierra Magazine.

Episode transcript available here.


Support the podcast and become a patreon here.

Music courtesy of Magic City Hippies.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> In this episode, Niki interviews Jenny Odell, author of NYT bestselling book, How To Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy. The two discuss divesting from the act of personal branding on social media, bioregionalism and re-connecting to the living ecosystems that surround us, the danger behind privatization of public and outdoor spaces, and the racial and class dynamics of leisure and who has access to it.

Jenny is a multidisciplinary artist and author based in Oakland, CA. Her work generally involves acts of close observation, whether it's birdwatching, collecting screen shots, or trying to parse bizarre forms of e-commerce. Her writing has appeared on New York Times, New York Magazine, The Atlantic, The Believer, The Paris Review, McSweeney's, SFMOMA's Open Space, The Creative Independent, and Sierra Magazine.

Episode transcript available here.


Support the podcast and become a patreon here.

Music courtesy of Magic City Hippies.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> Fri, 27 Nov 2020 12:27:42 -0500 niki franco niki franco 4179 In this episode, Niki interviews Jenny Odell, author of NYT bestselling book, How To Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy. The two discuss divesting from the act of personal branding on social media, bioregionalism and re-connecting to the living ecosystems that surround us, the danger behind privatization of public and outdoor spaces, and the racial and class dynamics of leisure and who has access to it. In this episode, Niki interviews Jenny Odell, author of NYT bestselling book, How To Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy. The two discuss divesting from the act of personal branding on social media, bioregionalism and re-connecting to the living e politics, culture, society, feminism, solidarity, socialism, No Let's Talk Cuba, with Liz of Belly of The Beast 1 1 16 16 Let's Talk Cuba, with Liz of Belly of The Beast full cf6de245-3d30-4df3-b743-d15c57842f14 https://share.transistor.fm/s/33ac4fde In this bilingual interview, Niki interviews Liz of Belly of the Beast. The two discuss the US blockade on Cuba and its profound and lasting effect, what the US elections mean for Cubans in Cuba, and they invite nuance into the conversation regarding Cuban politics. They also unpack the emotional and relational challenges that imperialist policies have on family dynamics, friendships, and a strategically divided Cuban community.


Support the podcast and become a patreon here.

Music courtesy of Magic City Hippies.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> In this bilingual interview, Niki interviews Liz of Belly of the Beast. The two discuss the US blockade on Cuba and its profound and lasting effect, what the US elections mean for Cubans in Cuba, and they invite nuance into the conversation regarding Cuban politics. They also unpack the emotional and relational challenges that imperialist policies have on family dynamics, friendships, and a strategically divided Cuban community.


Support the podcast and become a patreon here.

Music courtesy of Magic City Hippies.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:00:00 -0500 niki franco niki franco 3067 In this bilingual interview, Niki interviews Liz of Belly of the Beast. The two discuss the US blockade on Cuba and its profound and lasting effect, what the US elections mean for Cubans in Cuba, and they invite nuance into the conversation regarding Cuban politics. They also unpack the emotional and relational challenges that imperialist policies have on family dynamics, friendships, and a strategically divided Cuban community. In this bilingual interview, Niki interviews Liz of Belly of the Beast. The two discuss the US blockade on Cuba and its profound and lasting effect, what the US elections mean for Cubans in Cuba, and they invite nuance into the conversation regarding Cuba politics, culture, society, feminism, solidarity, socialism, No Context > Content, with Phil Agnew 1 1 15 15 Context > Content, with Phil Agnew full 8e6c623f-8fe4-443b-9068-0766027ff812 https://share.transistor.fm/s/e4200077 In this episode, Niki talks to Phil Agnew, former Senior Advisor for Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign and co-founder of Dream Defenders. As 'content' takes precedence over 'context' for the sake of social media likes and mass re-tweets, the two discuss the nuances of building political power, the necessity to prioritize slow and steady work over urgency, mental health, and which seeds of optimism they're sowing these days.


You can learn more about Phil's latest project, Black Men Build here.


Support the podcast and become a patreon here.

Music courtesy of Magic City Hippies.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> In this episode, Niki talks to Phil Agnew, former Senior Advisor for Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign and co-founder of Dream Defenders. As 'content' takes precedence over 'context' for the sake of social media likes and mass re-tweets, the two discuss the nuances of building political power, the necessity to prioritize slow and steady work over urgency, mental health, and which seeds of optimism they're sowing these days.


You can learn more about Phil's latest project, Black Men Build here.


Support the podcast and become a patreon here.

Music courtesy of Magic City Hippies.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> Mon, 26 Oct 2020 15:31:15 -0400 niki franco niki franco 2978 In this episode, Niki talks to Phil Agnew, former Senior Advisor for Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign and co-founder of Dream Defenders. As 'content' takes precedence over 'context' for the sake of social media likes and mass re-tweets, the two discuss the nuances of building political power, the necessity to prioritize slow and steady work over urgency, mental health, and which seeds of optimism they're sowing these days. In this episode, Niki talks to Phil Agnew, former Senior Advisor for Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign and co-founder of Dream Defenders. As 'content' takes precedence over 'context' for the sake of social media likes and mass re-tweets, the two discu politics, culture, society, feminism, solidarity, socialism, No Like a Bird, with Fariha Róisín 1 1 14 14 Like a Bird, with Fariha Róisín full bf2c1a10-5eaa-41d7-bd60-553a8b592742 https://share.transistor.fm/s/d00fd055 In this episode, Niki interviews Fariha Róisín, a Bangladeshi multidisciplinary artist, writer, podcaster, and poet. In light of Fariha's debut novel launch, Like a Bird, the two discuss the commodification of trauma, queerness and Islam, and the ongoing work of healing familial and ancestral wounds. 

Fariha's work has been featured in Vogue, PAPER, Nylon, Huffington Post, and elsewhere. Her new novel, Like a Bird is out September 15th. Order here.

Transcript available here.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> In this episode, Niki interviews Fariha Róisín, a Bangladeshi multidisciplinary artist, writer, podcaster, and poet. In light of Fariha's debut novel launch, Like a Bird, the two discuss the commodification of trauma, queerness and Islam, and the ongoing work of healing familial and ancestral wounds. 

Fariha's work has been featured in Vogue, PAPER, Nylon, Huffington Post, and elsewhere. Her new novel, Like a Bird is out September 15th. Order here.

Transcript available here.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> Mon, 14 Sep 2020 13:24:56 -0400 niki franco niki franco 2634 In this episode, Niki interviews Fariha Róisín, a Bangladeshi multidisciplinary artist, writer, podcaster, and poet. In light of Fariha's debut novel launch, Like a Bird, the two discuss the commodification of trauma, queerness and Islam, and the ongoing work of healing familial and ancestral wounds.  Fariha's work has been featured in Vogue, PAPER, Nylon, Huffington Post, and elsewhere. Her new novel, Like a Bird is out September 15th. Order here. In this episode, Niki interviews Fariha Róisín, a Bangladeshi multidisciplinary artist, writer, podcaster, and poet. In light of Fariha's debut novel launch, Like a Bird, the two discuss the commodification of trauma, queerness and Islam, and the ongoing politics, culture, society, feminism, solidarity, socialism, No We Can't Win Unless We're Organized, with James Lopez 1 1 13 13 We Can't Win Unless We're Organized, with James Lopez full 9834d23a-1375-431a-b178-cc3d779faa3c https://share.transistor.fm/s/123eb6a9 In this episode, Niki interviews James Lopez, Executive Director at Power U Center for Social Change. Grounded in an organizing tradition and a leftist framework, the two discuss what it means for "defund the police" to go mainstream, the benefits and limitations of social media politickin, and what is needed to win meaningful material social change. 

James began organizing through the Western New York Law Center working with members of their consumer debt clinic, which helped change New York state policy around predatory lending, payday loans, and Community Reinvestment issues. Prior to Power U, James was an organizer for VOICE-Buffalo, where he organized with residents and those formerly incarcerated in order to push policy on policing reform and alternatives to mass incarceration. He was also part of Black Love Resists in the Rust (BLRR), which is a collective of organizers of color in the city of Buffalo committed to developing transformational organizing in the city of Buffalo. James is an alum of Black Organizing for Leader and Dignity (BOLD) Directors Training.

Support the podcast and become a patreon here.

Episode transcript available here.
Music courtesy of Magic City Hippies.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> In this episode, Niki interviews James Lopez, Executive Director at Power U Center for Social Change. Grounded in an organizing tradition and a leftist framework, the two discuss what it means for "defund the police" to go mainstream, the benefits and limitations of social media politickin, and what is needed to win meaningful material social change. 

James began organizing through the Western New York Law Center working with members of their consumer debt clinic, which helped change New York state policy around predatory lending, payday loans, and Community Reinvestment issues. Prior to Power U, James was an organizer for VOICE-Buffalo, where he organized with residents and those formerly incarcerated in order to push policy on policing reform and alternatives to mass incarceration. He was also part of Black Love Resists in the Rust (BLRR), which is a collective of organizers of color in the city of Buffalo committed to developing transformational organizing in the city of Buffalo. James is an alum of Black Organizing for Leader and Dignity (BOLD) Directors Training.

Support the podcast and become a patreon here.

Episode transcript available here.
Music courtesy of Magic City Hippies.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> Mon, 24 Aug 2020 09:45:31 -0400 niki franco niki franco 2698 In this episode, Niki interviews James Lopez, Executive Director at Power U Center for Social Change. Grounded in an organizing tradition and a leftist framework, the two discuss what it means for "defund the police" to go mainstream, the benefits and limitations of social media politickin, and what is needed to win meaningful material social change. In this episode, Niki interviews James Lopez, Executive Director at Power U Center for Social Change. Grounded in an organizing tradition and a leftist framework, the two discuss what it means for "defund the police" to go mainstream, the benefits and lim politics, culture, society, feminism, solidarity, socialism, No Unpacking Black Capitalism, with Francisco Perez 1 1 12 12 Unpacking Black Capitalism, with Francisco Perez full 2667b060-046d-488a-8caa-9ee2a346fca9 https://share.transistor.fm/s/64da5378 In this episode, Niki interviews Francisco Perez aka Platanomics, a Black solidarity economy activist, educator, and researcher currently pursuing a PhD in economics. In this interview, the two unpack Black capitalism, how buying Black unfortunately won't free us, and how this crisis offers us some openings for transformation. The conversation attempts to answer "whose concerns does Black capitalism actually speak to?"


Francisco is the Director of the Center for Popular Economics, a nonprofit collective of political economists whose programs and publications demystify the economy and put useful economic tools in the hands of people fighting for social and economic justice. Francisco has worked on social and economic development projects in Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Guinea, Senegal, Sierra Leone, the US and Venezuela. He also worked for the Museum for African Art in NYC and was a member of a collective of artists fighting to free political prisoners called the “Scientific Soul Sessions.”

To support the podcast, become a Patreon today.

Music courtesy of Magic City Hippies

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> In this episode, Niki interviews Francisco Perez aka Platanomics, a Black solidarity economy activist, educator, and researcher currently pursuing a PhD in economics. In this interview, the two unpack Black capitalism, how buying Black unfortunately won't free us, and how this crisis offers us some openings for transformation. The conversation attempts to answer "whose concerns does Black capitalism actually speak to?"


Francisco is the Director of the Center for Popular Economics, a nonprofit collective of political economists whose programs and publications demystify the economy and put useful economic tools in the hands of people fighting for social and economic justice. Francisco has worked on social and economic development projects in Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Guinea, Senegal, Sierra Leone, the US and Venezuela. He also worked for the Museum for African Art in NYC and was a member of a collective of artists fighting to free political prisoners called the “Scientific Soul Sessions.”

To support the podcast, become a Patreon today.

Music courtesy of Magic City Hippies

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> Mon, 20 Jul 2020 10:55:00 -0400 niki franco niki franco 3620 In this episode, Niki interviews Francisco Perez aka Platanomics, a Black solidarity economy activist, educator, and researcher currently pursuing a PhD in economics. In this interview, the two unpack Black capitalism, how buying Black unfortunately won't free us, and how this crisis offers us some openings for transformation. The conversation attempts to answer "whose concerns does Black capitalism actually speak to?" In this episode, Niki interviews Francisco Perez aka Platanomics, a Black solidarity economy activist, educator, and researcher currently pursuing a PhD in economics. In this interview, the two unpack Black capitalism, how buying Black unfortunately won't politics, culture, society, feminism, solidarity, socialism, No Being a Lowkey Superstar, with Kari Faux 1 1 11 11 Being a Lowkey Superstar, with Kari Faux full 0f0520ec-5755-4646-92df-c178238c4418 https://share.transistor.fm/s/bf5cb47b In this episode, Niki interviews Kari Faux, a multidisciplinary artist, rapper, and producer. The two get vulnerable and real about the impact of social media, the conflation of visibility with fame and financial security, and the power that having supportive friends and family has on our mental health. Through this candid conversation, Kari talks about the pressures of living in LA, the creative process behind producing and writing music, and how artists are more than 'aesthetic packages' up for consumption.

Kari's music has garnered her millions of streams and a soundtrack feature on the critically acclaimed HBO show, Insecure. Her latest project, Lowkey Superstar is available everywhere. Her work has been featured on PAPER Mag, Pitchfork, Hypebeast, The Fader, NPR, and elsewhere.


To support the podcast, become a Patreon today!

Featured music: Kari Faux's "Stick Up"

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> In this episode, Niki interviews Kari Faux, a multidisciplinary artist, rapper, and producer. The two get vulnerable and real about the impact of social media, the conflation of visibility with fame and financial security, and the power that having supportive friends and family has on our mental health. Through this candid conversation, Kari talks about the pressures of living in LA, the creative process behind producing and writing music, and how artists are more than 'aesthetic packages' up for consumption.

Kari's music has garnered her millions of streams and a soundtrack feature on the critically acclaimed HBO show, Insecure. Her latest project, Lowkey Superstar is available everywhere. Her work has been featured on PAPER Mag, Pitchfork, Hypebeast, The Fader, NPR, and elsewhere.


To support the podcast, become a Patreon today!

Featured music: Kari Faux's "Stick Up"

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> Thu, 09 Jul 2020 11:58:33 -0400 niki franco niki franco 3151 In this episode, Niki interviews Kari Faux, a multidisciplinary artist, rapper, and producer. The two get vulnerable and real about the impact of social media, the conflation of visibility with fame and financial security, and the power that having supportive friends and family has on our mental health. Through this candid conversation, Kari talks about the pressures of living in LA, the creative process behind producing and writing music, and how artists are more than 'aesthetic packages' up for consumption. In this episode, Niki interviews Kari Faux, a multidisciplinary artist, rapper, and producer. The two get vulnerable and real about the impact of social media, the conflation of visibility with fame and financial security, and the power that having suppor politics, culture, society, feminism, solidarity, socialism, No Cannabis Politickin, with Mennlay Golokeh Aggrey 1 1 10 10 Cannabis Politickin, with Mennlay Golokeh Aggrey full 806bd49f-79a2-4497-9357-a8064891f277 https://share.transistor.fm/s/1da3766d In this quarantine episode, Niki interviews Mennlay Golokeh Aggrey, a multidisciplinary cannabis entrepreneur, artist, and writer. Gushing in their shared gemini curiosity, Niki and Mennlay discuss the politics of weed, the hype moment of CBD, ancestral wisdom present in food, and how the African Diaspora is expansive and in every corner of the world.


Mennlay is the author of The Art of Weed Butter: A Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming a Cannabutter Master. Her work has been featured in Vogue, Healthyish, VICE, Vanity Fair, and elsewhere.

@venusroots

To support the podcast, become a Patreon today.

Music courtesy of Magic City Hippies

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> In this quarantine episode, Niki interviews Mennlay Golokeh Aggrey, a multidisciplinary cannabis entrepreneur, artist, and writer. Gushing in their shared gemini curiosity, Niki and Mennlay discuss the politics of weed, the hype moment of CBD, ancestral wisdom present in food, and how the African Diaspora is expansive and in every corner of the world.


Mennlay is the author of The Art of Weed Butter: A Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming a Cannabutter Master. Her work has been featured in Vogue, Healthyish, VICE, Vanity Fair, and elsewhere.

@venusroots

To support the podcast, become a Patreon today.

Music courtesy of Magic City Hippies

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> Mon, 18 May 2020 07:00:00 -0400 niki franco niki franco 3296 In this quarantine episode, Niki interviews Mennlay Golokeh Aggrey, a multidisciplinary cannabis entrepreneur, artist, and writer. Gushing in their shared gemini curiosity, Niki and Mennlay discuss the politics of weed, the hype moment of CBD, ancestral wisdom present in food, and how the African Diaspora is expansive and in every corner of the world. In this quarantine episode, Niki interviews Mennlay Golokeh Aggrey, a multidisciplinary cannabis entrepreneur, artist, and writer. Gushing in their shared gemini curiosity, Niki and Mennlay discuss the politics of weed, the hype moment of CBD, ancestral w politics, culture, society, feminism, solidarity, socialism, No Mother's Day Special: Challenging Oppressive Ideas of Motherhood, with Cynthia Cervantes Gumbs 1 1 7 7 Mother's Day Special: Challenging Oppressive Ideas of Motherhood, with Cynthia Cervantes Gumbs full 219a3e2b-a0b3-420f-84f5-172c59e12a4e https://share.transistor.fm/s/3163926d In this quarantine episode, Niki interviews Cynthia Cervantes Gumbs, creative director and co-founder of Maroon World. As COVID-19 begins to shift perspectives around the indispensable value of childcare labor and reproductive work, Niki brings in Cynthia for a fresh perspective on what it means to be an artist, a mother, and an emerging voice in the creative world - with all identities coexisting in harmony. They discuss the myths and hangups around pregnancy and motherhood in an era of white-washed feminism and all-time-high capitalist pursuit. Most importantly, they talk through their shared understanding of how much trauma our generation has internalized from their familial unit and how motherhood/parenting may offer us a new opportunity to heal ancestral wounds.

Cynthia's work has been featured in New York Times, ID, Teen Vogue, PAPER, Vogue, The Cut, and more.


@venusroots

To support the podcast, become a Patreon today.

Music courtesy of Magic City Hippies

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> In this quarantine episode, Niki interviews Cynthia Cervantes Gumbs, creative director and co-founder of Maroon World. As COVID-19 begins to shift perspectives around the indispensable value of childcare labor and reproductive work, Niki brings in Cynthia for a fresh perspective on what it means to be an artist, a mother, and an emerging voice in the creative world - with all identities coexisting in harmony. They discuss the myths and hangups around pregnancy and motherhood in an era of white-washed feminism and all-time-high capitalist pursuit. Most importantly, they talk through their shared understanding of how much trauma our generation has internalized from their familial unit and how motherhood/parenting may offer us a new opportunity to heal ancestral wounds.

Cynthia's work has been featured in New York Times, ID, Teen Vogue, PAPER, Vogue, The Cut, and more.


@venusroots

To support the podcast, become a Patreon today.

Music courtesy of Magic City Hippies

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> Thu, 07 May 2020 09:00:00 -0400 niki franco niki franco 3378 In this quarantine episode, Niki interviews Cynthia Cervantes Gumbs, creative director and co-founder of Maroon World. As COVID-19 begins to shift perspectives around the indispensable value of childcare labor and reproductive work, Niki brings in Cynthia for a fresh perspective on what it means to be an artist, a mother, and an emerging voice in the creative world - with all identities coexisting in harmony. They discuss the myths and hangups around pregnancy and motherhood in an era of white-washed feminism and all-time-high capitalist pursuit. Most importantly, they talk through their shared understanding of how much trauma our generation has internalized from their familial unit and how motherhood/parenting may offer us a new opportunity to heal ancestral wounds. In this quarantine episode, Niki interviews Cynthia Cervantes Gumbs, creative director and co-founder of Maroon World. As COVID-19 begins to shift perspectives around the indispensable value of childcare labor and reproductive work, Niki brings in Cynthia politics, culture, society, feminism, solidarity, socialism, No Talkin' Music Industry and Music as a Tool of Solidarity, with Doris Muñoz 1 1 8 8 Talkin' Music Industry and Music as a Tool of Solidarity, with Doris Muñoz full 92a13b27-43dd-48f6-a56f-e0917608ba4c https://share.transistor.fm/s/4865c7dd In this quarantine episode, Niki interviews Doris Muñoz, founder of Mija Mgmt, representing some of the top emerging Latinx artists. At 23, she took indie artist Cuco from backyard shows to Coachella in just one year. Understanding that representation is not enough for improving the material conditions for immigrants, she started Solidarity for Sanctuary, a concert series that connects undocumented families to grassroots organizations. Through this candid and vulnerable conversation, they discuss the criminalization of communities, the burden of high expectations of success placed on the children of immigrants, and where the music industry must do better.


Doris’ work has been featured in New York Times, Remezcla, Billboard, Redbull, MTV, and more.


@venusroots

To support the podcast, become a Patreon today.

Music courtesy of Magic City Hippies

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> In this quarantine episode, Niki interviews Doris Muñoz, founder of Mija Mgmt, representing some of the top emerging Latinx artists. At 23, she took indie artist Cuco from backyard shows to Coachella in just one year. Understanding that representation is not enough for improving the material conditions for immigrants, she started Solidarity for Sanctuary, a concert series that connects undocumented families to grassroots organizations. Through this candid and vulnerable conversation, they discuss the criminalization of communities, the burden of high expectations of success placed on the children of immigrants, and where the music industry must do better.


Doris’ work has been featured in New York Times, Remezcla, Billboard, Redbull, MTV, and more.


@venusroots

To support the podcast, become a Patreon today.

Music courtesy of Magic City Hippies

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> Sun, 03 May 2020 18:00:00 -0400 niki franco niki franco 4036 In this quarantine episode, Niki interviews Doris Muñoz, founder of Mija Mgmt, representing some of the top emerging Latinx artists. At 23, she took indie artist Cuco from backyard shows to Coachella in just one year. Understanding that representation is not enough for improving the material conditions for immigrants, she started Solidarity for Sanctuary, a concert series that connects undocumented families to grassroots organizations. Through this candid and vulnerable conversation, they discuss the criminalization of communities, the burden of high expectations of success placed on the children of immigrants, and where the music industry must do better. In this quarantine episode, Niki interviews Doris Muñoz, founder of Mija Mgmt, representing some of the top emerging Latinx artists. At 23, she took indie artist Cuco from backyard shows to Coachella in just one year. Understanding that representation is politics, culture, society, feminism, solidarity, socialism, No Getting Real About the Art World and Social Media, with Decolonize This Place 1 1 6 6 Getting Real About the Art World and Social Media, with Decolonize This Place full a36774f3-6f64-417a-9763-2d03649f539b https://share.transistor.fm/s/53e94ee1 In this quarantine episode, Niki interviews Marz and Amin of Decolonize This Place, a collective of organizers, artists, and cultural workers in NYC who have led actions of solidarity with Palestine, Black Liberation, and decolonizing the land NYC landlords profit off of. Some of their most notable actions have been against museums across NYC in hopes of holding them accountable. As COVID19 heightens the crisis of disaster capitalism, they discuss some sobering assessments of the moment, the role of artists in this struggle, and truths for all of us to consider as we strive for a taste of freedom. 


Decolonize This Place and their work has been featured in the New York Times, Teen Vogue, The Atlantic, Hyperallergic, ARTnews, and more.


@venusroots

To support the podcast, become a Patreon today.

Music courtesy of Magic City Hippies

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> In this quarantine episode, Niki interviews Marz and Amin of Decolonize This Place, a collective of organizers, artists, and cultural workers in NYC who have led actions of solidarity with Palestine, Black Liberation, and decolonizing the land NYC landlords profit off of. Some of their most notable actions have been against museums across NYC in hopes of holding them accountable. As COVID19 heightens the crisis of disaster capitalism, they discuss some sobering assessments of the moment, the role of artists in this struggle, and truths for all of us to consider as we strive for a taste of freedom. 


Decolonize This Place and their work has been featured in the New York Times, Teen Vogue, The Atlantic, Hyperallergic, ARTnews, and more.


@venusroots

To support the podcast, become a Patreon today.

Music courtesy of Magic City Hippies

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> Fri, 24 Apr 2020 12:00:00 -0400 niki franco niki franco 3234 In this quarantine episode, Niki interviews Marz and Amin of Decolonize This Place, a collective of organizers, artists, and cultural workers in NYC who have led actions of solidarity with Palestine, Black Liberation, and decolonizing the land NYC landlords profit off of. Some of their most notable actions have been against museums across NYC in hopes of holding them accountable. As COVID19 heightens the crisis of disaster capitalism, they discuss some sobering assessments of the moment, the role of artists in this struggle, and truths for all of us to consider as we strive for a taste of freedom. In this quarantine episode, Niki interviews Marz and Amin of Decolonize This Place, a collective of organizers, artists, and cultural workers in NYC who have led actions of solidarity with Palestine, Black Liberation, and decolonizing the land NYC landlor politics, culture, society, feminism, solidarity, socialism, No Tracing Ancestral Wisdom through Food, with Kia Damon 1 1 4 4 Tracing Ancestral Wisdom through Food, with Kia Damon full 6141c125-1e2f-4f09-8b40-e56ebf303eae https://share.transistor.fm/s/42af759e In this episode, Niki interviews Kia Damon (@kiacooks), an emerging multifaceted Chef and the Culinary Director for Cherry Bombe. They discuss what it means to be self-taught, young, gifted, queer, and Black in an industry with harsh labor expectations and a culture that particularly de-prioritizes self care and mental health. Tracing ancestral wisdom through food, Kia offers a unique perspective into the culinary world and what is possible when we step out of the rigid eurocentric and capitalist box of "success" and "validation".


Kia's groundbreaking work was recently featured in a New York Times article, 16 Black Chefs Changing Food in America. Her work has also been featured in Vogue, Refinery29, Milky Mag, and elsewhere.


Music courtesy of Magic City Hippies


www.venusroots.com
@venusroots

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> In this episode, Niki interviews Kia Damon (@kiacooks), an emerging multifaceted Chef and the Culinary Director for Cherry Bombe. They discuss what it means to be self-taught, young, gifted, queer, and Black in an industry with harsh labor expectations and a culture that particularly de-prioritizes self care and mental health. Tracing ancestral wisdom through food, Kia offers a unique perspective into the culinary world and what is possible when we step out of the rigid eurocentric and capitalist box of "success" and "validation".


Kia's groundbreaking work was recently featured in a New York Times article, 16 Black Chefs Changing Food in America. Her work has also been featured in Vogue, Refinery29, Milky Mag, and elsewhere.


Music courtesy of Magic City Hippies


www.venusroots.com
@venusroots

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> Mon, 02 Dec 2019 12:00:00 -0500 niki franco niki franco 3452 In this episode, Niki interviews Kia Damon (@kiacooks), an emerging multifaceted Chef and the Culinary Director for Cherry Bombe. They discuss what it means to be self-taught, young, gifted, queer, and Black in an industry with harsh labor expectations and a culture that particularly de-prioritizes self care and mental health. Tracing ancestral wisdom through food, Kia offers a unique perspective into the culinary world and what is possible when we step out of the rigid eurocentric and capitalist box of "success" and "validation". In this episode, Niki interviews Kia Damon (@kiacooks), an emerging multifaceted Chef and the Culinary Director for Cherry Bombe. They discuss what it means to be self-taught, young, gifted, queer, and Black in an industry with harsh labor expectations an politics, culture, society, feminism, solidarity, socialism, No Chipping Away at the Toxicity of the Fashion Industry, with Becca McCharen-Tran 1 1 3 3 Chipping Away at the Toxicity of the Fashion Industry, with Becca McCharen-Tran full c9f845d2-0e13-4a44-a9e3-ec731ec509cf https://share.transistor.fm/s/2b99afb2 In this episode, Niki interviews Becca McCharen-Tran, queer fashion designer and founder of Chromat (a swim and bodywear brand known for its powerful garments that fit all bodies). Recognizing the impact of cultural institutions, they discuss the inherent white supremacist nature of the fashion industry, pick apart the contradictions of the new trends of "body positivity" and "inclusivity", and highlight different designers who are centering conversations of race, police brutality, and the carceral state.


Becca's work has been featured in Vogue, Teen Vogue, Them, Nylon, Glamour, Business of Fashion, Marie Claire, Opening Ceremony, Elle, Glamour, The Huffington Post, and elsewhere.

Chromat has designed pieces for Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj, Madonna, Tyra Banks, FKA Twigs, and many other artists.


Music courtesy of Magic City Hippies


@venusroots

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> In this episode, Niki interviews Becca McCharen-Tran, queer fashion designer and founder of Chromat (a swim and bodywear brand known for its powerful garments that fit all bodies). Recognizing the impact of cultural institutions, they discuss the inherent white supremacist nature of the fashion industry, pick apart the contradictions of the new trends of "body positivity" and "inclusivity", and highlight different designers who are centering conversations of race, police brutality, and the carceral state.


Becca's work has been featured in Vogue, Teen Vogue, Them, Nylon, Glamour, Business of Fashion, Marie Claire, Opening Ceremony, Elle, Glamour, The Huffington Post, and elsewhere.

Chromat has designed pieces for Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj, Madonna, Tyra Banks, FKA Twigs, and many other artists.


Music courtesy of Magic City Hippies


@venusroots

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> Tue, 12 Nov 2019 00:00:00 -0500 niki franco niki franco 3435 In this episode, Niki interviews Becca McCharen-Tran, queer fashion designer and founder of Chromat (a swim and bodywear brand known for its powerful garments that fit all bodies). Recognizing the impact of cultural institutions, they discuss the inherent white supremacist nature of the fashion industry, pick apart the contradictions of the new trends of "body positivity" and "inclusivity", and highlight different designers who are centering conversations of race, police brutality, and the carceral state. In this episode, Niki interviews Becca McCharen-Tran, queer fashion designer and founder of Chromat (a swim and bodywear brand known for its powerful garments that fit all bodies). Recognizing the impact of cultural institutions, they discuss the inherent politics, culture, society, feminism, solidarity, socialism, No Art and Organizing as World-Making, with Zaina Alsous 1 1 2 2 Art and Organizing as World-Making, with Zaina Alsous full 79aaa453-dd59-40ed-a35e-ef038d43c37c https://share.transistor.fm/s/14b29fbe In this episode, Niki interviews Zaina Alsous, a Palestinian, abolitionist poet, and movement worker in Miami. Processing the urgency of the current carceral and climate crisis, they discuss potential interventions to resist and disrupt fascism, within an analysis of settler colonialism, and the power of new language as a means to world-making and envisioning social and political possibilities.

Zaina's work has been published in the Boston Review, Bitch Magazine, the New Inquiry, Mask Magazine, Adroit, and elsewhere. She edits for Scalawag Magazine, a publication dedicated to unsettling dominant narratives of the U.S. South. Her first full-length collection A Theory of Birds won the Etel Adnan Poetry Prize, and will be published by the University of Arkansas Press in fall of 2019. Pre-order it here.



Music courtesy of Magic City Hippies.

www.venusroots.com

@venusroots

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> In this episode, Niki interviews Zaina Alsous, a Palestinian, abolitionist poet, and movement worker in Miami. Processing the urgency of the current carceral and climate crisis, they discuss potential interventions to resist and disrupt fascism, within an analysis of settler colonialism, and the power of new language as a means to world-making and envisioning social and political possibilities.

Zaina's work has been published in the Boston Review, Bitch Magazine, the New Inquiry, Mask Magazine, Adroit, and elsewhere. She edits for Scalawag Magazine, a publication dedicated to unsettling dominant narratives of the U.S. South. Her first full-length collection A Theory of Birds won the Etel Adnan Poetry Prize, and will be published by the University of Arkansas Press in fall of 2019. Pre-order it here.



Music courtesy of Magic City Hippies.

www.venusroots.com

@venusroots

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> Sun, 21 Jul 2019 18:45:00 -0400 niki franco niki franco 3202 In this episode, Niki interviews Zaina Alsous, a Palestinian, abolitionist poet, and movement worker in Miami. Processing the urgency of the current carceral and climate crisis, they discuss potential interventions to resist and disrupt fascism, within an analysis of settler colonialism, and the power of new language as a means to world-making and envisioning social and political possibilities. In this episode, Niki interviews Zaina Alsous, a Palestinian, abolitionist poet, and movement worker in Miami. Processing the urgency of the current carceral and climate crisis, they discuss potential interventions to resist and disrupt fascism, within an politics, culture, society, feminism, solidarity, socialism, No The Era of Radical Online Art Collectives, with Mars 1 1 1 1 The Era of Radical Online Art Collectives, with Mars full b39b272f-5635-4e4f-862d-41b9462d3268 https://share.transistor.fm/s/114d555a In this episode, Niki interviews Mars, founder of Art Hoe Collective, a globally-renowned QTPOC collective of young artists that helped catalyze the movement of online creative collectives back in 2015. Navigating the nuances of commodification of bodies of color; they discuss exploitation of trauma, the precarity of the gig economy, the invisibility of creative labor by femmes of color, and the effects of radical rhetoric becoming mainstream.


Art Hoe Collective has been featured in PAPER Magazine, Dazed, Teen Vogue, ESSENCE, i-D, Nylon.

Music courtesy of Magic City Hippies

venusroots.com
@venusroots 

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> In this episode, Niki interviews Mars, founder of Art Hoe Collective, a globally-renowned QTPOC collective of young artists that helped catalyze the movement of online creative collectives back in 2015. Navigating the nuances of commodification of bodies of color; they discuss exploitation of trauma, the precarity of the gig economy, the invisibility of creative labor by femmes of color, and the effects of radical rhetoric becoming mainstream.


Art Hoe Collective has been featured in PAPER Magazine, Dazed, Teen Vogue, ESSENCE, i-D, Nylon.

Music courtesy of Magic City Hippies

venusroots.com
@venusroots 

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ]]> Wed, 05 Jun 2019 13:00:00 -0400 niki franco niki franco 2975 In this episode, Niki interviews Mars, founder of Art Hoe Collective, a globally-renowned QTPOC collective of young artists that helped catalyze the movement of online creative collectives back in 2015. Navigating the nuances of commodification of bodies of color; they discuss exploitation of trauma, the precarity of the gig economy, the invisibility of creative labor by femmes of color, and the effects of radical rhetoric becoming mainstream. Art Hoe Collective has been featured in PAPER Magazine, Dazed, Teen Vogue, ESSENCE, i-D, Nylon. Music courtesy of Magic City Hippies venusroots.com @venusroots In this episode, Niki interviews Mars, founder of Art Hoe Collective, a globally-renowned QTPOC collective of young artists that helped catalyze the movement of online creative collectives back in 2015. Navigating the nuances of commodification of bodies politics, culture, society, feminism, solidarity, socialism, No