Hope Dies Last with Ryan Harvey

When Detroit-born singer and organizer Barbara Dane attended the 1967 Festival de la Cancion Politica in Havana it sparked a bold idea: she would launch a grassroots record label to curate music from the world's revolutionary anti-colonial movements. Thus was born Paredon Records. Forget everything you've learned about the protest music of the 1960's and tune in as Ryan and Riot-Folk alum turned public radio producer Mark Gunnery speak with Barbara about the vision behind Paredon, the incredible artists she collaborated with and her defiant journey as a blacklisted leftist musician in the Cold War.

Originally recorded in early April, Ryan is joined by activist academics Sam Agarwal and Smriti Upadhyay to discuss the historic farmers protests in India and the authoritarian government led by Narendra Modi. From overseeing anti-Muslim pogroms as the governor of Gujarat State in 2002 to becoming the country's Prime Minister in 2014, Modi is often labeled the Donald Trump of India. But the movement behind him has deep organizational roots and a complex network of civil society organizations, corporate financiers and social media giants aiding and abetting his regime. While the episode was recorded before the recent surge in COVID-19 cases in India, it provides some of the context which might help explain this terrifying moment. Read Sam's recent Truthout piece here: https://truthout.org/articles/bidens-trade-policy-with-india-could-accelerate-global-climate-catastrophe/.

Ryan, Chris #2 from Anti-Flag, and members of Myanmar's infamous anarcho-punk band The Rebel Riot discuss the ongoing uprising against the February military coup and the history of punk politics in Myanmar.

Ryan is joined by musician Kareem Samara, actor Jordan Stephens and poet Analysis—all football players and fans— to discuss the movement against white supremacy among athletes and sports fans, the Premiere League's sanctioning of the taking of the knee, and what happens when protest tactics become too safe, predictable and routine.

Ten years ago, Egyptians took to the streets against a decades-old military dictatorship. But the initial success of the revolution faded, first with the entry of the Muslim Brother to power, and then with the military-coup that overthrew them. Today, Egyptians again live under military rule, and tens of thousands of activists, journalists, artists and other political prisoners linger in the country's most notorious prisons. In this episode, Ryan speaks with Saed, a participant in the revolution who was later held in Tora Prison, and scholar Vivienne Matthies-Boon, who has been researching the deep impact the revolution and subsequent repression have had on its participants.

Ryan is joined by Earther's climate journalist Dharna Noor to discuss the incoming Biden Administration's climate team.

Speaking of elections, let's talk about Bolivia. On October 18th, voters handed Luis Arce and the Movement for Socialism a historic majority. In doing so, they defeated a right-wing government that had held power since a coup last year forced President Evo Morales out of the country. Now, Evo's party is back, and they have a bigger mandate than ever. How did this victory come about, especially amidst massacres, mass arrests and vigilante violence against activists and lawmakers alike? Bolivian-based human rights lawyer Thomas Becker joins the show to tell the story.

British MP and socialist figurehead Jeremy Corbyn was suspended from the Labour Party Thursday over comments regarding public assumptions about anti-semitism complaints within the party.  In this episode, Ryan is joined by UK-based activist and Labour member Navid Somani to discuss Corbyn's suspension, the very real existence of anti-semitism within the party and how this situation should be understood in relation to the larger, ongoing push to delegitimize the left-flank of Labour.

A week of unprecedented protests against Thailand’s military-government and monarchy have brought the country to a potential crossroads.  A continuation of the student movement that brought tens of thousands to the streets in the early summer, the protests have been met with significant repression from police and a number of prominent activists – some who were living in exile in neighboring states – have died or disappeared under mysterious circumstances. In this episode, Ryan speaks with two participants of the protest movement about the situation on the ground. Below are a few sources you can follow to get updates on the situation, many of which have been censured in Thailand: https://twitter.com/Thisruptdotco https://twitter.com/KhaosodEnglish https://twitter.com/prachatai_en https://twitter.com/FreeYOUTHth

A year ago, student protests against increases in public transportation fares in Chile turned into a nationwide uprising against the economic policies introduced during the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet — a regime brought to power in a CIA-backed coup on September 11, 1973. In this episode, Ryan speaks with Chilean activist Alan Ruckert about the violent rise and deepening crisis of neoliberalism in Chile and throughout the world.

Ryan speaks with a former medical volunteer who worked in the Moria refugee camp on Lesvos, Greece. The overcrowded camp housing primarily Afghan refugees was burned to the ground last week after two nights of fires tore through it, leaving more than 13,000 people on the streets. It is not yet known who is responsible for the fires, but police and fascist attacks have become a regular fixture of life for refugees on the island, as have riots against the conditions inside camps like Moria.

Ryan speaks with former student leader and human rights activist Johnson Yeung and Lausan 流傘 collective member Promise Li about the unprecedented multi-year uprising, China's political crackdown and how authoritarian "leftist" disinformation efforts are seeking to delegitimize the fight against police brutality and totalitarianism in Hong Kong.

Lebanese writer and activist Joey Ayoub joins Ryan by phone to discuss the recent explosion in Beirut, the political and economic crisis, and the widespread anti-government protests that have gripped the country since last year. Please donate to any of the groups listed here: https://twitter.com/AbirGhattas/status/1291686772565577729. Follow Joey at @JoeyAyoub and listen to his podcast at @FireThisTime.

This week, Ryan takes a break from some heavy topics to chat with Rebel Beat Radio host Aaron Lakoff about the politics of punk rock and their shared love for Rancid.

For the last few years, there has been a quiet effort to organize an independent union at Amazon-owned Whole Foods. In this episode Ryan sits down with a member of Whole Worker to discuss what this effort has looked like and what is coming next.

Ryan and episode co-host Franca Muller-Paz (Conjunto Bruja) sit down virtually with Hector Flores from Los Angeles-based Son Jarocho fusion band Las Cafeteras to chat music, culture and both guests' work on the Bernie Sanders campaign.

In this special edition episode, Ryan talks with two NYC doctors working in the city's overflowing emergency units and ad-hoc Coronavirus wards.

A discussion with two members of the Italian grassroots political party Potere Al Popolo on the COVID-19 pandemic and the role neoliberal policies have played in created a dire public health crisis.

On the 17th anniversary of its start, Ryan sits down with four Iraq War veterans about what the US invasion and occupation looked like on the ground and why it still matters today. The four are all active members of the grassroots anti-war organization Veterans For Peace.

Since 1898, The Philippines has been a center of American hegemonic power. US soldiers have been there ever since, and it is home to one of the world's oldest anti-imperialist guerilla insurgencies. Today the nation faces yet another crisis under the rule of fascistic president Rodrigo Duterte. In this episode, Ryan sits down with activists from Malaya Movement, BAYAN and GABRIELLA, all international groups working in solidarity with the National Democracy Movement in the Philippines.