Best Fiona Banner Podcasts (2024)

1
Interview with Fiona Lali: Suella is a symptom, capitalism is the disease 26:58

2M ago26:58

26:58

Fiona Lali recently shot to prominence, and stunned former British Home Secretary Suella Braverman, when she publicly branded Suella a “war monger” and a “liar” for her support for the genocide in Gaza. Fiona’s words chimed with millions of workers and youth who have seen this clip, and who are sick and tired of this rotten imperialist system, of t…

1
Encampments for Palestine: reports from the front lines 1:12:31

2M ago1:12:31

1:12:31

As the horrors of Israel’s war on Gaza continue to escalate, a wave of student protests has erupted in solidarity with the Palestinians: drawing comparisons with the anti-Vietnam War movement. Starting in the USA, the encampments quickly spread internationally, meeting with press slander and brutal police repression. In this special episode, we spe…

1
Why we need a Communist International – season FINALE! 1:02:51

3M ago1:02:51

1:02:51

In June, the International Marxist Tendency will take the monumental step of founding a new Revolutionary Communist International (RCI), to provide communist workers and youth around the world with a bold rallying point in the struggle to overthrow capitalism. In doing so, the RCI will build on the immense revolutionary legacy left behind by the Th…

1
Why AI under capitalism is a failure 1:00:19

3M ago1:00:19

1:00:19

Advances in artificial intelligence continue to make headlines, as AI has begun to play a role in everything from art and journalism to conspiracy theories and unemployment. While AI is clearly here to stay, it is equally clear that the capitalist class has no interest in using it to its fullest. Once again, capitalism’s brutal inefficiency and sys…

1
Art, culture and the Russian Revolution 45:47

4M ago45:47

45:47

Communism is often presented by its enemies as being at best uninterested in art and culture, and at worst openly hostile to anything but the crudest propaganda. This is completely at odds with the approach of Lenin and the Bolsheviks, and genuine communists today. The Russian Revolution ushered in an explosion of artistic creativity, which for the…

1
Would communists ban religion? 50:11

4M ago50:11

50:11

Communists are often slandered by our enemies as wanting to violently suppress and ‘ban’ religion. While Marxism is a materialist philosophy, and therefore uncompromisingly atheist, the policy of Marxists towards religion bears absolutely no resemblance to this crude caricature. As Marx explained, the oppressed and exploited masses turn to religion…

1
Manifesto of the Revolutionary Communist International 58:12

4M ago58:12

58:12

Yesterday, the International Marxist Tendency proudly published the Manifesto of the Revolutionary Communist International: a call to arms for all communists who want to put an end to the rotten capitalist system once and for all. If you agree with our analysis, register now for the founding conference of the RCI in June, and help us build an organ…

1
Honour Aaron Bushnell: fight for revolution! 53:13

4M ago53:13

53:13

On 25 February, 25-year-old US airforce serviceman, Aaron Bushnell, took his own life by self-immolation outside the Israeli embassy in Washington, in protest at US imperialism’s support for the crimes being carried out by the IDF. His last words, livestreamed to the world, were: “Free Palestine!” Just days later, IDF soldiers murdered over 100 civ…

1
Lies about Lenin: DEBUNKED 44:19

4M ago44:19

44:19

Few people in history are more slandered than Vladimir Lenin. From school textbooks to the capitalist press, the ruling class are desperate to blacken Lenin’s name wherever they get the opportunity. But how should communists respond? 100 years after his death, the capitalist smear campaign against the greatest revolutionary that has ever lived has …

1
What is capitalism? 44:34

5M ago44:34

44:34

We are often told that capitalism is the most efficient economic system; that markets are rational tools for distribution; and that only under capitalism can people live free and fair lives. However, while capitalism might enrich a parasitic handful, it is fundamentally a system of oppression and exploitation for the vast majority of humanity. But …

1
Unrest on every continent: how communists are mobilising! 49:24

5M ago49:24

49:24

This week’s special episode was recorded during the recent meeting of the global leadership of the International Marxist Tendency in Italy. We hear reports from the front lines of the class struggle from five leading comrades involved in building revolutionary communist organisations in: South Africa, Argentina, Pakistan, France and the United Stat…

1
Defend the Cuban Revolution! 25:55

5M ago25:55

25:55

The Cuban Revolution is rightly considered an inspiration by communists worldwide. This tremendous movement threw off the chains of capitalism and US imperialism, opening the way for incredible social, economic and technological advances in what had previously been a brutally oppressed society. Today, however, the Cuban Revolution faces a number of…

1
Is communism against human nature? 33:03

5M ago33:03

33:03

A textbook argument against communism is that, although it may sound nice, it is fundamentally “against human nature”. Many communists will be sick and tired of hearing this accusation, but what actually is ‘human nature’? How should communists respond to this claim? This week’s episode of Spectre of Communism welcomes Ben Curry, writer and editor …

1
In defence of Lenin 1:06:49

6M ago1:06:49

1:06:49

With capitalism in its deepest-ever crisis, it is more important than ever for communists to defend the immortal achievements of one of the greatest revolutionaries the world has ever seen. For this reason, 2024’s first episode of Spectre of Communism looks at the real life and ideas of Lenin. The episode welcomes Rob Sewell, editor of The Communis…

1
Spectre of Communism Podcast intro theme 0:35

6M ago0:35

0:35

By popular demand, here is our intro (and outro) theme. Credit to composer Comrade David (Insta: @hiimdavej).By IMT - www.marxist.com

1
Palestine: a communist perspective 51:28

7M ago51:28

51:28

Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza is undoubtedly the defining political event of 2023. The entire political establishment has lined up behind Israel, justifying a brutal military campaign of collective punishment against the Palestinians (which has killed around 20,000 civilians so far) as “self defence.” While liberals, reformists and even some self-pr…

1
The Origins of Christianity 1:03:53

7M ago1:03:53

1:03:53

It’s the festive season, and the Spectre of Communism podcast is welcoming Alan Woods (marxist.com editor-in-chief) onto a special live episode to discuss the origins of Christianity from a Marxist perspective. This is a fascinating story of revolution and counter-revolution in the ancient world. Despite the reactionary nature of Christianity today…

1
LIVE tomorrow (7pm UK Time): ‘The Origins of Christianity’ – Spectre of Communism podcast 1:02

7M ago1:02

1:02

It’s the festive season, and the Spectre of Communism podcast is welcoming Alan Woods (marxist.com editor-in-chief) onto a special live episode to discuss the origins of Christianity from a Marxist perspective. This is a fascinating story of revolution and counter-revolution in the ancient world. We will broadcast the episode tomorrow (12 December)…

1
Napoleon: Marxism vs movie myths 47:05

7M ago47:05

47:05

Ridley Scott’s recent biopic Napoleon has evoked much criticism for its shallow narrative and plethora of historical inaccuracies. But who was the real Napoleon Bonaparte? How did a young Corsican from a relatively modest background become the strongman behind an empire that would dominate Europe? This week’s episode of the Spectre of Communism Pod…

1
What is the state, and how do we smash it? 33:30

8M ago33:30

33:30

Many people think of the state as a huge collection of bureaucratic offices and institutions that have little to do with our daily lives. Some have illusions in the state as a neutral arbiter over society, operating on the basis of universal principles of ‘democracy’ and ‘rule of law’. But for countless workers and youths on the receiving end of po…

1
Is China Communist? 41:01

8M ago41:01

41:01

The Chinese Communist Party and its defenders claim that China is building a successful socialist society, and is at the forefront of an anti-imperialist struggle against the West. But is China communist? Does the legacy of the Chinese Revolution live on today in the CCP? In reality, despite the enormous achievements of the Chinese Revolution, Chin…

1
What will communism look like? 38:09

8M ago38:09

38:09

Right-wingers claim that communism would be a dictatorial hellscape: nothing could be further from the truth. Communism means a society free from money, social classes, poverty and oppression, where people live “from each according to their ability, each according to their needs.” But what would such a society look like, and how do we get there? Ca…

1
The Russian Revolution: the greatest event in history 59:32

8M ago59:32

59:32

7 November (in the New Style calendar) marks the anniversary of the 1917 October Revolution in Russia. For communists, the Russian Revolution is the greatest event in human history. But for many right-wing, liberal and reformist critics of Lenin and the Bolsheviks, it was an anti-democratic catastrophe that condemned Russia to murderous dictatorshi…

1
Spectre of Communism: New IMT podcast out 7 November! 2:29

8M ago2:29

2:29

A spectre is haunting all major podcast platforms… The International Marxist Tendency (IMT) is launching a new weekly podcast, the Spectre of Communism, to coincide with the anniversary of the Russian Revolution (7 November). The first episode will feature Alan Woods, editor-in-chief of marxist.com and author of Bolshevism: The Road to Revolution. …

1
Israel-Palestine: Intifada until victory! 44:38

9M ago44:38

44:38

On Saturday 7 October, Hamas forces in Gaza launched an unexpected attack on Israel, triggering an immediate response from the Israeli Defence Force. Fundamentally, this is a conflict between unequal forces, as the Palestinian masses have for decades been the victims of a regime of terror promoted by the likes of Netanyahu and Israel’s imperialist …

1
Chile coup: 50 years on 1:04:53

10M ago1:04:53

1:04:53

Today marks 50 years since the coup that overthrew the government of Salvador Allende in Chile. To remember the revolutionary struggles of this period and to emphasise the invaluable lessons contained therein, International Marxist Radio is back for a special episode. Allende’s Popular Unity government, which carried out a series of major reforms f…

1
Why We Are Communists 45:40

11M ago45:40

45:40

PODCAST FINALE! Watch a video of the discussion on YouTube, premiering 2 August 15:00 British time: https://youtu.be/ew7oKxdvm5I More and more workers and youth all over the world are being drawn to the ideas and banner of communism, much to the anger and anxiety of the bosses, bankers and bourgeois politicians. With capitalism at a total impasse, …

1
IMR finale next week: ‘The Spectre of Communism’ coming soon! 3:16

12M ago3:16

3:16

A quick special announcement to inform our listeners that next week’s episode of International Marxist Radio (released 2 August) Wednesday will be our last. As a send-off, the discussion, ‘Why We Are Communists’, has also been filmed. In addition to posting the audio here as usual, we will upload the video to In Defence of Marxism’s YouTube channel…

1
Class Struggle in the Roman Republic 56:07

12M ago56:07

56:07

The Roman Republic was a society characterised by great social and political upheaval. This is a period of well-documented and important class struggle, which has many parallels with the situation today. If we are to avoid making the mistakes of history, a close study of the past is absolutely crucial for all Marxists. This week’s episode of Intern…

1
How the Spanish Revolution was betrayed 54:50

12M ago54:50

54:50

The Spanish Revolution and Civil War (which began this week in 1936) represent a profoundly heroic period of struggle by the Spanish working class and peasantry. The masses gave their all in the fight against Franco, only to be failed by their leadership. Both the anarchists and the Stalinists at the head of the fight against fascism failed to lead…

1
Marx or Graeber? A reply to ‘The Dawn of Everything’ 57:13

12M ago57:13

57:13

David Graeber and David Wengrow’s anthropological opus, The Dawn of Everything, claims to offer an entirely new, radical view of the development of human society (implicitly: one that knocks down Marx and Engels’ historical materialism). This is no small task, but is the book as earth-shattering as the immodest title suggests? Despite making waves …

1
France: police killing sparks mass fury 46:27

1y ago46:27

46:27

Last week, a French policeman shot an unarmed French-Algerian teenager (Nahel M.) in the chest after a traffic stop. Before pulling the trigger, Nahel was told “I will lodge a bullet in your head”. A video of the brutal slaying was uploaded to social media, resulting in a massive outpouring of rage that swept the country. Police violence in France …

1
Prigozhin’s adventure: clash of the oligarchs 36:23

1y ago36:23

36:23

Last weekend, Yevgeny Prigozhin, chief of the infamous Russian mercenary company Wagner, led an apparent mutiny. After withdrawing his troops from the front line of the Ukraine War, Prigozhin took control of the military bases at Rostov-on-Don and began what he called “march for justice” (albeit a heavily armed one), heading towards Moscow. Within …

1
Marx and the revolutions of 1848 1:29:52

1y ago1:29:52

1:29:52

175 years ago, a wave of revolutions swept across the European continent, in which the working class played a key role in challenging the might of the feudal order. From France to Germany to Italy, the masses led a struggle for democratic and economic demands, winning significant concessions from the decrepit ruling classes of Europe. Marx and Enge…

1
Multipolarity vs. world revolution 1:00:32

1y ago1:00:32

1:00:32

The relative decline of US imperialism is leaving a void that is starting to be filled by other powers. In recent years, this has led to a rise of rival imperialist nations such as China and Russia, which are increasingly trying to challenge the domination of the US. What are the implications of this for the class struggle? What are the tasks of co…

1
Towards a Third American Revolution? 44:49

1y ago44:49

44:49

The recent period in the USA has been highly eventful. From the Trump presidency, to the Sanders movement, to BLM and the George Floyd protests, to the storming of Capitol Hill, the ‘Land of the Free’ is more polarised than it has been for decades. Poverty, racism and inequality are rampant; and seemingly not a month passes without another terrible…

1
Overpopulation or overproduction? Marx vs. Malthus 51:46

1y ago51:46

51:46

Is human population growth to blame for poverty and climate change? Plenty of pundits and politicians on the right and left alike seem to think so. Knowingly or not, they repeat the reactionary ideas of the Reverend Thomas Malthus, whose economic and social theories Marx and Engels demolished nearly 200 years ago. Yet today, the spectre of Malthusi…

1
Class struggle in Africa: part two 46:38

1y ago46:38

46:38

This week’s episode of International Marxist Radio concludes our two-part series looking at the class struggle in Sub-Saharan Africa. This week, Ben Morken, a leading comrade of the International Marxist Tendency based in South Africa, discusses the broader context that has led to the current state of affairs across the continent. Historically rava…

1
Class struggle in Africa: part one 56:21

1y ago56:21

56:21

This week’s episode of International Marxist Radio is the first of a special two-part series looking at the class struggle in Sub-Saharan Africa. Ben Morken, a leading comrade of the International Marxist Tendency based in South Africa, discusses the current political situation in a number of African countries, which constitute a bubbling cauldron …

1
Identity politics: capitalism’s weapon of division 55:04

1y ago55:04

55:04

This week’s episode of International Marxist Radio welcomes Daniel Morley, a leading comrade of Socialist Appeal, the British section of the International Marxist Tendency, to discuss so-called identity politics, and why Marxists oppose its influence on the class struggle. In many countries today, identity politics (i.e. the idea that one’s racial,…

1
How Marx became a Marxist 1:02:20

1y ago1:02:20

1:02:20

In this week’s episode of International Marxist Radio, Josh Holroyd, a leading comrade of the International Marxist Tendency and editor of In Defence of Marxism magazine (issue 41 available now), discusses the early life, works and revolutionary career of Karl Marx, whose 205th birthday we mark on Friday! Born on 5 May 1818 in Trier, Marx’s formati…

1
Labor struggle in the USA: the sleeping giant stirs 49:10

1y ago49:10

49:10

This week on International Marxist Radio, Tom Trottier, a leading comrade of Socialist Revolution, the US section of the International Marxist Tendency, speaks about exciting developments in the labour movement in the United States of America! After a long period of relative inactivity, the US working class is beginning to move. As the ongoing cris…

1
The fall of woman: Engels, Morgan and the family 1:05:28

1y ago1:05:28

1:05:28

On this week’s episode of International Marxist Radio, Fred Weston, a leading comrade of the International Marxist Tendency, discusses the historical roots of women’s oppression. While we are often told that the oppression of women is innate to human relations, this could not be further from the truth. In reality, in pre-class societies, hunter-gat…

1
Pakistan on the brink! 1:06:48

1y ago1:06:48

1:06:48

This week’s episode welcomes Adam Pal, leading comrade of Lal Salaam, the Pakistani section of the International Marxist Tendency, to discuss the ongoing turmoil in Pakistan. In the midst of a deep political crisis, the Pakistani ruling class is split, with different factions leaning on sections of the military high command to maintain their positi…

1
Banking crisis: will there be a new recession? 41:03

1+ y ago41:03

41:03

This week’s episode welcomes back Niklas Albin Svensson, a leading member of the International Marxist Tendency, to discuss the ongoing turmoil in the global banking system. A few weeks ago, Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) collapsed, but the failure of SVB was not the end of the story. Rather, what we have seen is a sudden flurry of bank collapses, which…

1
Germany: mega-strikes and major crisis 1:05:55

1+ y ago1:05:55

1:05:55

This week’s episode discusses the perspectives for class struggle in Germany, with Alex Kalabekow, a leading comrade of Der Funke, the German section of the International Marxist Tendency. Note: this podcast was recorded before the 27 March ‘Mega-Strike’ which brought hundreds of thousands of transport workers onto the streets in the largest strike…

1
France: Macron vs the masses! 32:14

1+ y ago32:14

32:14

This week’s episode welcomes Jules Legendre, a leading comrade of Révolution, the French section of the International Marxist Tendency, to discuss the developing situation in France concerning Macron’s hated pension reforms. Having bypassed the National Assembly and forced through a rise in the retirement age from 62 to 64, this week Macron narrowl…

1
Stalin: 70 years after a tyrant’s death 1:04:12

1+ y ago1:04:12

1:04:12

This week’s episode welcomes Niklas Albin Svensson, a leading comrade of the International Marxist Tendency, to discuss the legacy of Stalinism, 70 years after the death of Joseph Stalin in March 1953. While many associate Stalin and his crimes with socialism or communism, this could not be further from the truth. As Niklas explains, Stalinism is n…

1
Women and the Russian Revolution 1:06:05

1+ y ago1:06:05

1:06:05

This week’s episode of International Marxist Radio welcomes Ylva Vinberg, leading comrade of Revolution, the Swedish section of the International Marxist Tendency, and Fred Weston, co-author of Wellred Books’ latest publication, Women, Family and the Russian Revolution – available to pre-order now: https://wellred-books.com/women-family-and-the-rus…

1
The Ukraine War at one year 1:13:56

1+ y ago1:13:56

1:13:56

This week’s episode of International Marxist Radio (IMR) welcomes back Jorge Martin – this time to speak about the continuing war in Ukraine, which recently passed the one-year anniversary mark. The war has caused untold misery, not just for people caught in the conflict, but also for millions of workers around the world, as energy and food prices …

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Fiona Banner Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide