Struggle in the Suburbs

Part of the struggle to build a better world is how the stories of those struggles are told. Mainstream media emphasizes the voices of the powerful, while changes to the media landscape are forcing many journalists to focus more on quantity over quality. Barrie Community Media wants to do things differently. Joining Michael Speers to discuss how they are going to do that are Brandon Rheal Amyot and Sam Gillett.

Landlords continue to wage war against working people. The only way to stop them is to organize, which is exactly what Emina Gamulin has been doing. On this episode, we speak to her about the power of organizing and the lessons we can learn that can help tenants and working people everywhere.

When it comes to the fact that supervised consumption sites save lives, there really shouldn’t be any debate. But opponents - be they politicians, business owners or residents - still argue with the experts and dispute their effectiveness. On this episode, Sarah Tilley from The Gilbert Centre joins Michael Speers to discuss drug use, the intersecting issues created by capitalism and why an SCS is needed ASAP.

Barrie council is currently taking a look at whether or not the city should move to a ranked ballot system. On this episode, Dave Meslin and Jennifer Van Gennip join Michael Speers to discuss why making that change is the right thing to do.

Brandon Rhéal Amyot joins Michael Speers to talk about the concerns of students in Canada, lacklustre support initiatives, and why politicians keep ignoring the needs of students despite the broad economic benefits of their education.

As we mark another International Workers’ Day, activist and organizer Pam Frache joins Michael Speers to talk about the unity and power of workers, reform and revolution, and how socialists can connect with all working people as we journey along that path together.

Jessa McLean is a community activist with a bold vision for working people. The former federal NDP candidate in the riding of York-Simcoe is a proud socialist who has been fighting for years to end capitalism’s exploitation of workers. She joins Michael Speers to discuss class consciousness, amplifying socialist voices and building a political party that truly represents the interests of the working class.

Victoria Butler is a young writer full of insights and perspectives well beyond her 23 years. In this interview, we talk about her poetry and what inspires it, the role of the artist when it comes to creating change, how capitalism seeks to silence artists, and why art must be more available and accessible to everyone.

Michael Speers and Keenan Aylwin debate the concept of a universal basic income. Is UBI a pragmatic solution to the problems of capitalism or is it just another market mechanism that ignores the need to dismantle capitalism altogether?

In this special interview, Michael Speers speaks with Keenan Aylwin - a democratic eco-socialist and Barrie city councillor - about what motivates him, where he finds the courage to stand up to establishment politicians and what needs to be done to create a better city and society.

Michael Speers looks at government responses to the Coronavirus pandemic and how recent reforms can be a springboard to our socialist future.

Yes, liberals can become socialists. Join host Michael Speers as he opens up about his political transformation and how socialism can begin to take hold outside our urban areas.

Struggle in the Suburbs is a new podcast that looks at how socialism and leftist politics are defined and experienced outside of our urban areas.