Best Rutger Bregman Podcasts (2024)

1
Keep Your Coins We Want Change: The Shift Directives Part 4 53:33

9d ago53:33

53:33

In the finale of our series on The Shift Directives, our experts examine the staggering scale and far-reaching impact of institutional investment on housing. What could we gain if housing investment and housing redevelopment complied with human rights standards? Leilani and Sam tackle thorny issues like tax advantages for REITs and the alarming tre…

1
Those Who Caused the Problem Can’t Solve the Problem: The Shift Directives Part 3 46:06

14d ago46:06

46:06

In this critical third installment of our series on The Shift Directives, Sam, Leilani, and Kirsten delve into the intricate dance between local, national, and international policies, exposing how disconnects in governance can leave vulnerable citizens without a roof over their heads. Leilani and Sam dissect the multi-level approach needed to effec…

1
Get Your Hands Off My Asset! The Shift Directives Part 2 41:56

21d ago41:56

41:56

In the second installment of this four-part special series, Pushback Talks Producer Kirsten delves deeper into The Shift Directives with Leilani & Sam. Leilani and Sam get into Directive 7 of The Shift Directives, which is all about protecting tenants and creating spaces for them to participate in the future of their communities. Together the three…

1
The Great Housing Reset: The Shift Directives Part 1 37:13

28d ago37:13

37:13

In this first episode of a four-part special series, Pushback Talks Producer Kirsten sits down with Leilani Farha and Sam Freeman to introduce listeners to The Shift Directives; a revolutionary approach to the global housing crisis. Setting the stage for the series, this episode begins reimagining how we understand, regulate, and experience housing…

1
Radically Legal: Berlin Takes Back the Law - with Joanna Kusiak 44:24

2M ago44:24

44:24

This week, we welcome back friend of the show Dr. Joanna Kusiak to discuss her new book, "Radically Legal" and Berlin's ongoing efforts to keep housing affordable through innovative legal approaches. We explore the often-overlooked role of emotion in the creation and interpretation of law, challenging the notion that legal systems operate purely on…

1
How the World Ran Out of Everything, with Peter S. Goodman 54:03

2M ago54:03

54:03

It's the Season 8 premiere of Pushback Talks! Filmmaker Fredrik Gertten and Advocate Leilani Farha welcome back New York Times correspondent Peter S. Goodman to discuss his provocative new book, "How the World Ran Out of Everything: Inside the Global Supply Chain." Goodman, Gertten, and Farha explore the often-overlooked human consequences of our i…

1
Summer Series: Nomad Nation: How the Remote Work Revolution is Changing the World 56:07

2M ago56:07

56:07

It's summertime in Sweden and Canada, and that means it's time for Pushback Talks - Summer Series! For the next 12 weeks, we'll revisit a few of our favorite episodes from the last season. The Filmmaker and the Advocate are taking a break, but the podcast isn't. No matter where you are - we hope you enjoy this year's Summer Series! In this episode …

1
Summer Series: Law & Resistance – the South African -Palestine Connection, with Sylvia Vollenhoven 38:19

3M ago38:19

38:19

It's summertime in Sweden and Canada, and that means it's time for Pushback Talks - Summer Series! For the next 12 weeks, we'll revisit a few of our favorite episodes from the last season. The Filmmaker and the Advocate are taking a break, but the podcast isn't. No matter where you are - we hope you enjoy this year's Summer Series! In this week's e…

1
Summer Series: Mass Protests and the Missing Revolution – a conversation with author Vincent Bevins 1:15:11

3M ago1:15:11

1:15:11

It's summertime in Sweden and Canada, and that means it's time for Pushback Talks - Summer Series! For the next 12 weeks, we'll revisit a few of our favorite episodes from the last season. The Filmmaker and the Advocate are taking a break, but the podcast isn't. No matter where you are - we hope you enjoy this year's Summer Series! "From 2010 to 20…

1
Summer Series: Radical Nerds: A Conversation with Rutger Bregman 51:33

4M ago51:33

51:33

It's summertime in Sweden and Canada, and that means it's time for Pushback Talks - Summer Series! For the next 12 weeks, we'll revisit a few of our favorite episodes from the last season. The Filmmaker and the Advocate are taking a break, but the podcast isn't. No matter where you are - we hope you enjoy this year's Summer Series! This week the Fi…

1
Summer Series: Chris Smalls is Living Rent Free in Jeff Bezos' Head 42:50

4M ago42:50

42:50

It's summertime in Sweden and Canada, and that means it's time for Pushback Talks - Summer Series! For the next 12 weeks, we'll revisit a few of our favorite episodes from the last season. The Filmmaker and the Advocate are taking a break, but the podcast isn't. No matter where you are - we hope you enjoy this year's Summer Series! What is it that …

1
Human Rights When There Are None: with Volker Türk, UN 39:42

5M ago39:42

39:42

What's it like to be the world leader of human rights at a time when it looks like they've been abandoned? Volker Türk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, sits down for an eye-opening talk about "human rights economies" that value human dignity over profits. Türk shares his bold ideas to fundamentally reshape finance, policy, an…

1
From Shadows to Shouts: The Global Student Uprising for Palestine 40:09

5M ago40:09

40:09

In this episode of Pushback Talks, we delve into the global wave of pro-Palestinian student protests igniting campuses worldwide. After students at Columbia University treated the Gaza Solidarity Encampment on April 17th, they found themselves in a two-week standoff that inspired students around the world. In just 3 weeks, pro-Palestinian encampmen…

1
The Rent is Too Damn High: Making the Case Against Landlords 52:02

6M ago52:02

52:02

This week on Pushback Talks, Fredrik and Leilani explore a bold proposition: What if we put the business of landlordism on trial? Nick Bano's latest work, "Against Landlords: How to Solve the Housing Crisis," serves as our guide. Bano, a barrister specializing in representing marginalized groups, takes us on a journey through the history of housing…

1
35 - Yoshua Bengio on Why AI Labs are “Playing Dice with Humanity’s Future” 47:57

6M ago47:57

47:57

I'm really excited to come out of hiatus to share this conversation with you. You may have noticed people are talking a lot about AI, and I've started focusing my journalism on the topic. I recently published a 9,000 word cover story in Jacobin’s winter issue called “Can Humanity Survive AI,” and was fortunate to talk to over three dozen people com…

1
On the Brighter Side - Getting Inspirational with World Habitat 51:37

6M ago51:37

51:37

In this episode of Pushback Talks, Leilani and Fredrik sit down with David Ireland, the Chief Executive of World Habitat, to catch up on things since they teamed up for the filming of Push. Their conversation delves into the World Habitat Awards and the inspiring projects they recognize and support, highlighting innovative solutions that are transf…

1
Nomad Nation: How the Remote Work Revolution is Changing the World 56:07

7M ago56:07

56:07

In this episode of Pushback Talks, hosts Fredrik and Leilani delve into a fascinating intersection of global trends: digital nomadism. As the world grapples with issues like migration, touristification, gentrification, and financialization, the rise of digital nomads adds another layer of complexity to the housing landscape. With the COVID-19 pande…

1
Suffering Like Hell: Argentina's Milei Mayhem 46:50

8M ago46:50

46:50

This week, we turn our attention to Argentina, a nation grappling with political turmoil and economic distress. With rising polarization and economic instability, President Milei's controversial policies roll back social programs and consolidate power, exacerbating social inequalities and economic disparities. Sebastián Fest, a seasoned Argentinian…

1
The Tenant Class - a conversation with author Ricardo Tranjan 46:43

8M ago46:43

46:43

As the cost of living continues to rise and housing remains one of the hottest topics in the news, there's a common misconception in North America that tenants are just homeowners in waiting. Laws and incentives are written to support this idea, and it's leaving a growing generation of tenants behind in a way that is detrimental for us all. This we…

1
Law and resistance - the South Africa-Palestine Connection, with Sylvia Vollenhoven 38:19

9M ago38:19

38:19

In this week's episode of Pushback Talks, we delve into the intricate dynamics of historical narratives and their profound influence on contemporary events. Award-winning South African journalist, filmmaker, and writer Sylvia Vollenhoven joins Fredrik and Leilani to explore the enduring power of empathy amidst longstanding conflicts and resistance …

1
Mass Protests and the Missing Revolution - a conversation with author Vincent Bevins 1:15:11

9M ago1:15:11

1:15:11

"From 2010 to 2020, more people participated in protests than at any other point in human history. " Yet we are not living in more just and democratic societies as a result...How did so many mass protests lead to the opposite of what they asked for?" Take a look behind the scenes of global uprisings and their unfulfilled aims as Pushback Talks welc…

1
Radical Nerds: A Conversation with Rutger Bregman 51:33

10M ago51:33

51:33

Embark on a transformative journey this week with the Filmmaker and the Advocate as they engage in conversation with Rutger Bregman, esteemed historian and author of Humankind and Utopia for Realists. Join the trio as they navigate the heart of societal transformation, unraveling Bregman's impactful contributions to Fredrik's film "Breaking Social.…

1
Collective Courage: Madrid Tenants Demand Their Rights 42:07

12M ago42:07

42:07

Ever wondered what it takes to build a thriving community of empowered tenants? In this illuminating episode of Pushback Talks, we speak with Valeria Raçu and Alba Jiménez of the Madrid Tenant's Union (also known as Sindicato de Inquilinas e Inquilinos de Madrid) about building meaningful movements. Join Fredrik and Leilani as they sit down with Va…

1
Chris Smalls is Living Rent Free in Jeff Bezos' Head 42:50

1y ago42:50

42:50

What is it that makes a worker essential? This is the question that Chris Smalls and hundreds of thousands of Amazon workers had to ask as they found themselves working long hours in unsafe conditions at the height of the pandemic, having been deemed 'essential.' But when Chris, who was responsible for training thousands of other employees and uppe…

1
Cruel Summer: Housing, Inequality, & Injustice 43:27

1y ago43:27

43:27

Welcome to Season 7 of Pushback Talks! It's been an eventful summer, as nations worldwide grappled with the housing and climate crises, and people took to the streets to protest wealth inequality and the rapidly rising cost of living. In this highly anticipated season premiere, we join Fredrik and Leilani for a one-on-one conversation about their w…

1
Summer Series: The Vulture Ate My Student Housing 39:33

1y ago39:33

39:33

This year's summer series is coming to a close! We did things a little differently this year, revisiting some of our favorite episodes from across all six seasons, and giving you updates on the guests and topics at the top of each episode. No matter where you are - we hope you enjoy the final episode of the 2023 Summer Series! Students the world ov…

1
Summer Series: Wake Up! How Vulture Capitalists Demolished the American Dream 49:46

1y ago49:46

49:46

It's summertime in Sweden and Canada, so it's time for Pushback Talks - Summer Series! And we're doing things a little differently this year. For the next six weeks, we'll revisit some of our favorite episodes from across all six seasons, giving you updates on the guests and topics at the top of each episode. The Filmmaker and the Advocate are taki…

1
34 - Carl Robichaud on Oppenheimer and Dealing with Nukes 1:41:04

1+ y ago1:41:04

1:41:04

Carl Robichaud is the first person I go to on the topic of nuclear weapons. He has been working as a grantmaker and analyst of nuclear weapons policy for close to two decades. He co-leads nuclear security grantmaking at Longview Philanthropy, where I used to work as a media consultant. Prior to Longview, Carl led nuclear grantmaking for the Carnegi…

1
Summer Series: Taking on Blackstone – Denmark’s Housing Minister Lays Down the Law 44:10

1y ago44:10

44:10

It's summertime in Sweden and Canada, and that means it's time for Pushback Talks - Summer Series! And we're doing things a little differently this year. For the next six weeks, we'll revisit some of our favorite episodes from across all six seasons, giving you updates on the guests and topics at the top of each episode. The Filmmaker and the Advoc…

1
Summer Series: 6AM Bulldozer – Live and Direct from Nigeria with Chicoco Radio 47:24

1+ y ago47:24

47:24

It's summertime in Sweden and Canada, and that means it's time for Pushback Talks - Summer Series! And we're doing things a little differently this year. For the next six weeks, we'll revisit some of our favorite episodes from across all six seasons, giving you updates on the guests and topics at the top of each episode. The Filmmaker and the Advoc…

1
Summer Series: The Art of Persuasion – Changing Hearts and Minds with Anand Giridharadas 53:18

1+ y ago53:18

53:18

It's summertime in Sweden and Canada, and that means it's time for Pushback Talks - Summer Series! And we're doing things a little differently this year. For the next six weeks, we'll revisit some of our favorite episodes from across all six seasons, giving you updates on the guests and topics at the top of each episode. The Filmmaker and the Advoc…

1
Summer Series: Money, Money, Money – Living in an Era of Corruption + Kleptocratic Networks, A Conversation with Sarah Chayes 1:01:14

1+ y ago1:01:14

1:01:14

It's summertime in Sweden and Canada, and that means it's time for Pushback Talks - Summer Series! And we're doing things a little differently this year. For the next six weeks, we'll revisit some of our favorite episodes from across all six seasons, giving you updates on the guests and topics at the top of each episode. The Filmmaker and the Advoc…

1
The Bologna Blueprint: An Inspirational Housing Strategy 48:30

1+ y ago48:30

48:30

In the last few years, the city of Bologna has been undergoing some big changes. Already known as a progressive city throughout the region, the city is putting its people in the driver's seat when it comes to housing policy in the hopes that the national government will follow its example. Sparked by the election of a neo-fascist national governmen…

1
The Automated Landlord: How Big Tech & Finance Reshape Cities 42:32

1+ y ago42:32

42:32

Join us for an eye-opening episode as we dive into the world of urban geography and technology with Dr. Desiree Fields, an esteemed scholar, and researcher. Drawing from her extensive expertise, Dr. Fields shines a light on the tangible effects of digital platforms, uncovering the stark socio-economic disparities they bring to our cities. In this e…

1
The Trickle Up Economy, with Oxfam America's Policy Lead on Economic Justice 53:03

1+ y ago53:03

53:03

Join us in this thought-provoking episode of Pushback Talks as we sit down with Rebecca Riddell, Policy Lead, Economic Justice at Oxfam America. In a candid conversation, Leilani, Fredrik, and Rebecca speak on the importance of engaging in difficult conversations and effectively communicating across ideological divides when advocating for housing r…

1
Bulldozed Out: The People's Fight for Land and Homes in Kenya 41:18

1+ y ago41:18

41:18

It's been over 7 years since the Jubilee Party of Kenya set out the ambitious Big Four Agenda to address affordable housing, affordable healthcare, food security, and manufacturing. As part of this ambitious plan, the City of Nairobi aimed to deliver 1 million housing units by 2022, with that number later being lowered to 500,000 to make the goal m…

1
Journalists at Risk: Revealing the Corruption of the SuperRich with Matthew Caruana Galizia 1:03:47

1+ y ago1:03:47

1:03:47

Breaking Social made its big debut at the CPH:DOX International Film Festival, but the conversation is far from over. In this gripping episode, Fredrik sits down with Matthew Caruana Galizia, an investigative journalist who has spent years taking on ultra-wealthy people and corporations to uncover corruption. As the creator of the Daphne Caruana Ga…

1
Breaking Social: Building a Path from Anger to Hope 55:39

1+ y ago55:39

55:39

There's a new addition to the WG Film catalog! Fredrik's latest film, Breaking Social, is about the social contract we live by in society -- and the ways that the social contract is subverted and abused by the ultra-wealthy to undermine democracy and give them control of the world we live in. From Chile to the Netherlands, Breaking Social explores …

1
EARTHQUAKE in Turkiye & the Cost of Corruption 1:02:17

1+ y ago1:02:17

1:02:17

From 2012-2022, and in the midst of a major construction boom, Turkiye fell nearly 50 places on the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index, from 54 to 101 out of 174 countries. The country has been praised for its ability to do infrastructure quickly, but the level of damage caused by a recent 7.8-magnitude quake has drawn greater a…

1
Bad to Worse: The Ukraine War & Serbia's Housing Crisis 37:55

1+ y ago37:55

37:55

Apartments in Serbia are selling fast. But the average income in Serbia is about 640 euros and the average price of an apartment is 2000 euros, so who is buying the apartments? The Russian invasion of Ukraine has caused a domino effect around the world in a multitude of areas. Serbia, one of the few countries openly accepting Russians is facing an …

1
London vs. 10 Downing Street: the Battle for the Right to Housing w/ London's Deputy Mayor for Housing 50:57

2y ago50:57

50:57

Despite a high per capita GDP, the UK has the worst economy in western Europe. With tons of austerity measures being implemented, finance as one of its major industries, prime ministers in and out non-stop, and accusations of racism in housing coming to the fore yet again, the behemoth nation is staring down a difficult road in realizing the right …

1
Architects for Public Good 57:19

2y ago57:19

57:19

The neoliberal prioritization of profit in the development of cities is drastically impacting the appearance and function of cities worldwide. Social and government housing providers are told to follow the lead of private housing providers, taking away the government's ability to innovate and push the envelope in the housing space. At the same time…

1
The Art of Persuasion – Changing Hearts and Minds with Anand Giridharadas 51:40

2y ago51:40

51:40

All across the world we’re witnessing a crisis of democracy and a sense of increased polarization. How can we engage in conversations that call others in rather than out? How can we seek to win over those who currently refuse to agree with us? And how do we create visions for the future that make our movements irresistible? Leilani and Fredrik talk…

1
The Vultures' Feast: Billionaires Devouring Mobile Homes 40:39

2y ago40:39

40:39

Did you know that approximately 22 million Americans live in mobile homes? Mobile homes have long been one of the most affordable types of dwelling but, because the homes are usually situated on rented land, mobile homeowners suffer from a unique type of housing precarity. Mobile homeowners are often low-income, with less access to infrastructure b…

1
33 - Habiba Islam on the Left and Effective Altruism 2:35:02

2y ago2:35:02

2:35:02

[This episode was recorded before the FTX collapse. It contains some discussion of Sam Bankman-Fried. Habiba has asked me to pass on that, to say the least, she no longer endorses what she says about Sam as an example of someone doing good. I've also linked in the show notes to her twitter thread with her thoughts on FTX.] This episode is a long ti…

1
Defending Exarcheia: Athens Neighborhood Takes on the Big Guns 48:50

2y ago48:50

48:50

For years, the Athens neighborhood of Exarcheia Square has been under attack by right-wing politicians. The area, along with nearby Strefi Hill, is a long-standing bastion of political resistance full of cafés, squats, and social centers, and the last remaining free public space in the neighborhood. Now, the City has begun construction on a metro s…

1
32 - Rutger Bregman on Why People Are Decent, Effective Altruism, and Causing Tucker Carlson’s Meltdown 2:11:26

2y ago2:11:26

2:11:26

Rutger Bregman is the bestselling author of Utopia for Realists and Humankind: a Hopeful History. He has been profiled in the New York Times and interviewed on the Daily Show. Rupert Murdoch has been spotted reading his book, and Tucker Carlson called him a “fucking moron.” I first came across Rutger years ago when a friend was reading Utopia for R…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Rutger Bregman Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide