In this episode, we’ll be talking about history, temporality, and what the movie Groundhog Day can teach us about escaping capitalism. Our guest is Onur Acaroğlu, a lecturer in sociology at the University of Northampton in the UK, and author of the recent book chapter “The Challenge of Postcapitalism: Non-Capitalist Temporalities and Social Pathology”. We'll discuss time loops, utopianism, and self-preservation as an act of political warfare.

In this episode, we'll look at the possible strategic development of the degrowth movement, nowtopias and the concept of the pluriverse. Our guests are Matthias Schmelzer, Nina Treu and Tonny Nowshin. They are the authors of a chapter examining what degrowth can learn from other progressive movements for a new book entitled, "Degrowth and strategy: How to bring about social–ecological transformation."

In this episode, our guest is Robin Hahnel, who, in partnership, with Michael Albert developed a model called the “participatory economy”.  His latest book, "Democratic Economic Planning", was published in 2021, and forms the basis for our conversation. Among the subjects we discuss are democratic economic planning, generational justice and building moral economies.

In this episode, we’ll be talking about buen vivir, or the idea of living well, as well as rethinking development, and indigenous cultural traditions that can lead us to new ways of moving beyond capitalism. Our guest is Kepa Artaraz, a former lecturer in Social Policy at the University of Brighton in the UK. We'll discuss universal basic income and Kepa's escape from academic life and plans to grow a food forest in the Basque country in Spain.

In this episode, we talk about subjects including meaningless jobs, precarity, the anxiety that results from self-branding, and how to overcome futility. Our guest is Neil Vallelly, a political and social theorist, and author of the recently-published book, Futilitarianism: Neoliberalism and the Production of Uselessness.

In this episode, we’ll be talking about universal basic income, wellbeing, and monetism. Our guest is Marco Dondi, author of the recently-published book Outgrowing Capitalism: Rethinking Money to Reshape Society and Pursue Purpose. Marco also has more than ten years of experience as a strategy consultant working across disciplines including economic development, education and banking.

In this episode, we discuss human needs, universal basic services, essential labour and social citizenship. Our guest is Ian Gough, a visiting professor at the Centre for the Analysis of Social Exclusion and an associate at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment. both at the London School of Economics. Ian is also an Emeritus Professor at the University of Bath and a taskforce member for the Social Guarantee. We’ll talk about the foundational economy, the shortcomings of universal basic income, and what qualifies as non-essential labor.

In this episode, we’ll be talking about how archaeology shapes our view of the past, present and future, and how the discipline can be an invaluable resource for challenging established narratives around capitalism.

Our guests are Catherine Frieman, an associate professor in European archaeology at the Australian National University, and James Flexner, a senior lecturer in historical archaeology and heritage at the University of Sydney, and. We’ll discuss everything from the troubles with neolibeal academia to anarchism, degrowth and a couple of topics that may be better saved for an Englishman’s therapist.

In this episode, we’ll be talking about how universal basic services can help move us towards establishing a more equitable, efficient and sustainable society. Our guest is Anna Coote, an analyst, writer and social policy advocate, and principal fellow at the New Economics Foundation in the UK. We’ll discuss everything from the welfare state and food deserts to human needs and the problems with universal basic income. 

In this episode, we’ll be talking about how capitalism shapes our conception of disability, its impact on our mental health, and how we can rethink the welfare state. My guest is David Matthews, a lecturer in sociology and social policy at Coleg Llandrillo, Wales, and the leader of its degree program in health and social care. We’ll discuss how capitalism co-opts progressive politics, the monotony of work, and why it’s okay to enjoy watching wrestling. 

In this episode, we’ll discuss why porn work should be regarded as similar to any other form of labour, how it gives us examples of pushing back against capitalist working conditions, and the ways it can inspire us to think about a better future. Our guest is Heather Berg, assistant professor of women, gender, and sexuality studies at Washington University in St Louis. We talk about sex worker solidarity, how porn workers cross class boundaries, and why it’s okay to be lazy. 

In this episode, our guest is Ekaterina Chertkovskaya, a researcher based at Lund University in Sweden. We’ll discuss how corporations are responsible for acts of violence against the environment, their employees and societies as a whole – and how degrowth economics can inspire new ways of living and organizing.

In this episode, our guest is Cory Doctorow, a science fiction writer, journalist and technology activist. We discuss how to counter giant tech monopolies, move beyond the profit motive, and the concept of library socialism. We’ll also discover that Cory is probably not the best candidate to be an influencer for a discount home-improvement brand.

In this episode, we’ll be talking about how co-operative businesses that are owned by their employees could transform working life as we know it. We’ll be focusing on the state of West Virginia, which is most famous for its connection to coal mining, but is also one of the most economically challenged regions in the United States.

Our guest is Todd Nesbitt, a professor at Lock Haven University in Pennsylvania. We’ll discuss everything from black gold and the natural resource curse to an economic model called “distributism”. (We’ll also be trying very hard not to discuss a particular song by John Denver.) 

In this episode, we’ll be talking about the role of fiction and imagination in helping us move beyond capitalism, and how they can assist us in tackling the significant economic and ecological crises we now face. Our guest is Nick Lawrence, an associate professor at the University of Warwick in the UK. We’ll discuss everything from postcapitalist novels to how Walmart could be a model for socialist utopia, and the Netflix show The Queen’s Gambit.

In this episode, we talk about the blockchain, cryptocurrencies, and how these and other technologies could help us move beyond capitalist ideas of value. Our guest is Hannes Gerhardt, associate professor of human geography at the University of West Georgia, who discusses everything from the role of money to the prospect of companies introducing their own digital currencies.

In this episode, we discuss how Christianity might contribute to moving us beyond capitalism and towards a system that is more moral, more equal, and that helps protect the planet. My guest is Dennis Hiebert , a professor of sociology at Providence, a Christian university located near Winnipeg, Canada. We discuss everything from the prosperity gospel and whether capitalism is a religion to why some atheists believe faith is vital to achieving major change.

The discussion in this episode focuses on how we can imagine different types of economy that prioritize things that are more important than growth, such as caring for each other, building stronger communities, and new ways of making decisions together. Our guest is John Clarke, an Emeritus Professor as the Open University in the UK. We talk about everything from Ronald Reagan to GDP, the idea of the commons, and whether modern capitalism can really be described as being similar to late-stage Joan Rivers.

In this episode, we’ll be discussing degrowth economics, an approach that challenges us to live in much more collaborative and meaningful ways. In doing so, we can take care of our needs, take care of each other, and take care of the planet.

Our guest is Anitra Nelson, an activist and scholar affiliated with the Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute (MSSI) at the University of Melbourne, in Australia. We'll be talking about everything from COVID-19 to tiny houses and the concept of conviviality.

In this episode, we’ll be discussing how the economy is not just numbers and people buying and selling things, but a story we tell ourselves. And by changing this story, we can change our lives, and begin to tackle problems like climate change, inequality, and social isolation.

Our guest is Melissa Kennedy, who teaches at the University of Vienna and the University of Education Upper Austria. We'll be talking about everything from hidden economic narratives to romance and the enduring nature of the American Dream.

In this episode, we’ll be discussing imagined economies, and how picturing a different future - such as by reading science fiction books or watching a few episodes of Star Trek - can open up new possibilities for living.

My guest today is Jens Schröter, who is the chair for media studies at the University of Bonn in Germany. We'll be talking about everything from 3D printing and cups of tea made out of antimatter to what a world without money would look like.