Best Screaming For Progress Podcasts (2024)

1
Ep.110: Philosophy and Future Generations 1:11:32

2h ago1:11:32

1:11:32

Close your eyes. Imagine a young person you know and care about. Picture them at age 90. And then think about the kind of world you want to leave them. Is it ridden by conflict and chaos? Or is it peaceful and habitable? Such thought experiments can lead us to change behaviour and priorities. But they also have wider application to government and p…

1
65. Subtext: A Deal with the Devil: Lou Pearlman’s Boy Band Ponzi Scheme 28:53

2h ago28:53

28:53

Lou Pearlman is best known for two things, launching the careers of some of the biggest pop artists of the 1990’s and being the mastermind behind one of the largest ponzi schemes in the history of the United States. In this episode of subtext Kendra and Rich break down both sides of Lou Pearlman and talk about how someone who seemingly did so many …

1
Ep.109: Ministry for the Future IRL 38:04

12d ago38:04

38:04

There's a lot of talk right now about future generations. Ursula von der Leyen of the European Commission says she'll create a portfolio with responsibilities for intergenerational fairness. A Summit of the Future to be held in September at the United Nations also helps explain the buzz. In this, the first of two episodes, a conversation with Eliza…

1
64. Cydni: "You are so much stronger than you know." 51:07

7d ago51:07

51:07

Cydni spent ten years in a relationship with the singer of a popular band that became increasingly more abusive, both physically and mentally, before she removed herself from it in 2023. In this episode she talks about what caused her to ignore the red flags she noticed at the beginning of the relationship, the ways in which the abuse escalated, an…

1
63. Subtext: Warped Summer Extravaganza (Major Bummer) 36:01

28d ago36:01

36:01

For almost a quarter of a century, Warped Tour was the can’t-miss festival of the year for teenage and young adult fans of punk rock and all its variations. In its later years, a slew of sexual assault allegations overshadowed the bands and camaraderie for which it initially stood. In this episode, Kendra and Rich break down the history of Warped T…

1
62. Michelle Rhoades: Part 2: "Naked and screaming for someone to help." 42:30

1M ago42:30

42:30

Part 2: Michelle details the brutal and public rape she experienced, as a minor, by the singer of a well-known rock band. She also discusses how her story has been falsely represented in books and interviews by members of that band, and what her path to healing has looked like since that time. This is the second half of a two part interview. If you…

1
61. Michelle Rhoades: Part 1: "It's me you're doing this to." 47:38

1M ago47:38

47:38

Michelle Rhoades came of age in the early days of the highly influential Hollywood punk and glam rock scene. In this episode, she talks about growing up in Los Angeles and how a chance encounter with the future singer of a famous rock band led to a harrowing, life-altering experience. This is the first half of a two part interview.- If you have bee…

1
60. Subtext: Chris Brown: A history of abuse, harassment, and violence 16:45

2M ago16:45

16:45

In 2009, Chris Brown made headlines when he viciously beat artist and singer Rihanna during a domestic dispute. After a brief hiatus, Brown continued his career without seemingly any setbacks. Fifteen years after the initial incident, Rich and Kendra discuss other examples of Brown engaging in domestic abuse and violent outbursts and the accolades …

1
Ep.108: Accountability in the Von Der Leyen Era, Greece, Pfizer, Iran 1:02:29

2M ago1:02:29

1:02:29

Border violence. Hostage diplomacy. Vaccine purchases. Just some of the areas where opaqueness in EU decision-making can erode public trust and ultimately democracy. These also are areas where accountability journalism like freedom of information requests can help uncover undue influence by lobbies and foreign powers as well as abuses by security s…

1
59. Subtext: Dr. Luke v. Kesha: Out of The Darkness 17:42

2M ago17:42

17:42

For nine years, award winning producer Dr. Luke and pop songstress Kesha battled in court over her accusations that she was drugged, raped, emotionally abused, and body shamed by the producer. Kendra and Rich discuss numerous facets of the lawsuits, including the complexities of multi state suits, interpersonal ties to the music industry which may …

1
Ep.107: Shame, Falsification, Normalisation of Radical Right, EU Vote, The Lonely Olive 1:01:01

3M ago1:01:01

1:01:01

How did politics long deemed unacceptable go mainstream so quickly? Pundits have blamed disinformation, social media and growing distrust of elites. But these factors don't adequately explain how illiberalism and identitarian ideologies have spread so rapidly even to countries thought to be immune. It's a puzzle Portuguese political scientist Vicen…

1
58. Subtext: Nick Carter: The Boy Band Predator 15:04

2M ago15:04

15:04

Nick Carter of the multi platinum selling boy band, The Backstreet Boys, has recently come under scrutiny for numerous allegations of sexual assault. We discuss the allegations, the girl and boy band industry of the 90s, and Fallen Idols, a documentary recently released about Nick and Aaron Carter. - REFERENCES Nick Carter Sexual-Assault Allegation…

1
Ep.106: Palestinian State, Ireland, Tony Connelly, James Joyce 58:00

3M ago58:00

58:00

Ireland and Spain are to grant formal recognition to a Palestine state as soon as this month. The move puts Dublin and Madrid at odds with most other EU states and with the United States. Sweden is the only other state to have recognised Palestine during its membership of the EU, and that was a decade ago. In this episode, Tony Connelly, the Europe…

1
57. Subtext: Harvey Weinstein: You Can't Overturn Progress 11:22

3M ago11:22

11:22

In 2017, dozens of women came forward to speak out against the abuse they faced from film mogul and heavyweight Harvey Weinstein. In April 2024, after an extensive appeals process, his New York conviction was overturned. Rich and Kendra discuss what this means for his future, the #metoo movement, and survivors nationwide. - REFERENCES Harvey Weinst…

1
Ep.105: Abortion Politics, EU Elections, Austria, Papayas, Slovenia 42:03

4M ago42:03

42:03

Abortion is a deal breaker for some voters. That's the case in the US where Joe Biden is making Donald Trump pay a political price for his role in overturning Roe vs. Wade. That's also been the case in Poland where a wellspring of pro-choice sentiment helped remove the ultraconservative Law and Justice party last year. So could that same dynamic ha…

1
56. Subtext: Perversion and Prestige: The New York Philharmonic Cover-up 9:10

4M ago9:10

9:10

In 2010 Cara Kizer reported that she was drugged and raped by two members of the NY Philharmonic Orchestra. In this episode of subtext we look at the aftermath of those accusations and what the ensuing ten years looked like for Kizer including how the orchestra itself handled her coming forward. Read the Vulture article: https://www.vulture.com/art…

1
Ep.104: Free speech, National Conservatives, Cordon sanitaire, CPAC 1:04:29

4M ago1:04:29

1:04:29

What's the best approach to fighting the hard right? Suppressing toxic views? Or contesting them publicly? The answer lies in the middle of course — an open society must retain the means to reject intolerance and hate. But what's clear from recent events in Brussels is that hasty and ham-fisted bans on the hard right can amplify rather than diminis…

1
55. Nur-D: "It’s the moves you make, when it’s not easy, that will shift the future." 57:30

5M ago57:30

57:30

Hip hop artist Nur-D joins us from the Twin Cities to discuss his zero-tolerance policy regarding playing bills with rapists/abusers and his refusal to play at venues which allow them on their stages. He shares his negative experiences with one of the major venues in Minneapolis and how his career continues to advance without their support. - Visit…

1
Ep.103: Politics and Eurovision, Sweden v France, Ukraine v Russia, Israel 1:15:18

5M ago1:15:18

1:15:18

Some people love Eurovision. Others don't get it. But beyond the camp and kitsch of the annual song contest there's much to observe about the politics of Europe and the wider region. In this episode, author and broadcaster Dave Keating starts with discord between Sweden and France over language. The sourest notes were struck in the mid-1970s after …

1
54. Subtext: Justin Sane: Lies He Told The Children 15:30

5M ago15:30

15:30

In July of 2023, Justin Sane, a.k.a Justin Geever, frontman of the political punk band Anti-Flag, was accused of rape and assault by multiple women. As a result, the band broke up and dissolved their record label, A-F Records. Kendra and Rich share updates on the case including litigation and Geever’s recent plans to flee the country. - Visit the P…

1
Ep.102: European Parliament and Race, Aya Nakamura, Diversity and Policing 1:07:44

5M ago1:07:44

1:07:44

Opposition to French-Malian singer Aya Nakamura performing at the Paris Olympics is whipped up by the "fachosphère" in France. The former head of the EU Border and Coast Guard joins the far-right and accuses former colleagues of a "project" to encourage migration. Those are just two recent examples of the kinds of prejudice and conspiracy theory th…

1
Ep.101: Greenland Trump, WW3 Denmark, Rwanda Model, War Council 51:21

6M ago51:21

51:21

Donald Trump wanted to buy it; Mette Frederiksen said it wasn't for sale. Greenland and its ownership is for Greenlanders to decide, the Danish prime minister told President Trump five years ago. In this episode Karin Axelsson, EU correspondent for the respected Danish daily Politiken, reflects on why the world's biggest island, which gained autono…

1
Ep.100: Frontex in Greece, Abortion in France 46:08

6M ago46:08

46:08

Frontex, the EU border and coast guard, is the bloc's best funded agency costing upwards of a billion euros a year. There are plans for a standing corps of 10,000 uniformed personnel this decade. But something is badly amiss. Migrants keep drowning in large numbers under Frontex's watch. That includes what is thought to be the worst disaster of its…

1
53. Subtext: Danny Elfman: Orchestrated Grooming 16:08

6M ago16:08

16:08

Over the course of Danny Elfman’s decades plus career he has worked with the biggest names in the entertainment industry and also had sexual assault and harassment accusations levied against him. In this episode, Kendra and Rich break down these allegations and how they tie into the bigger conversation of grooming and how high profile entertainers …

1
52. Emily Wolfe: "I decided to step into my power." 32:50

6M ago32:50

32:50

Emily Wolfe was in the midst of a tour when she found out that a member of her team sexually assaulted someone. Emily discusses how her decision to let this person go impacted her life and informed her art, and how important it is that live shows are a place where people can feel safe. - Emily's new album, The Blowback, is available on streaming pl…

1
Ep.99: Conflict Data, Navalny, Militias, Gaza, German Farmers 49:53

7M ago49:53

49:53

The world is growing more violent. Worst affected countries include Myanmar, Syria and Mexico as well as those experiencing more obvious crises like Gaza and Ukraine. That's according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project or ACLED. But there's also growing concern about more developed countries with longer established democratic tradi…

1
51. Subtext: Diddy: Press Stop 13:44

7M ago13:44

13:44

Kendra and Rich discuss the recent allegations and subsequent lawsuit against Sean "Diddy” Combs, his extensive musical career, and the history of assault accusations that have been levied against him, as far back as the early 90’s. - REFERENCES: A Brief Look at Diddy’s History of Controversies and Allegations (Rolling Stone) A look at the allegati…

1
Ep.98: Orbán rattled, Fortifying Germany against the AfD, Farmer rampage 56:22

7M ago56:22

56:22

Markus Becker of Der Spiegel describes a developing situation in Germany where the popularity of the far-right AfD party has surged over the past year. Revelations that members of the AfD discussed deportations of non-assimilated people and of those with non-German backgrounds has prompted a huge backlash including mass demonstrations. The AfD has …

1
Ep.97: Terry Reintke, Looking to Ban ID, Article 2, AfD, Le Pen 52:04

7M ago52:04

52:04

Terry Reintke unhesitatingly describes some EU lawmakers with anti-European and far-right views as fascists. Her directness stands in sharp contrast to bland circumlocutions more common to Brussels. Now Terry, a German who co-heads the Greens in the European Parliament, wants the chamber to launch an inquiry into whether its extreme right Identity …

1
Ep.96: NATO, Post-Trump Stress Disorder, Breton, Rutte vs Kallas 54:56

8M ago54:56

54:56

The prospect of a wider conflict with Russia under a scenario where Donald Trump is back in the White House has spooked Europe. Thierry Breton, a European commissioner, is among those sounding the alarm. This month Breton made headlines by recalling how Trump said NATO was dead and the United States would never come to Europe's rescue. The journali…

1
Ep.95: Draghi, Michel, Acca Laurentia, Meloni and Putin 49:59

8M ago49:59

49:59

Mario Draghi is the obvious candidate to be the next president of the European Council. The job involves leading the meetings of EU heads of state and government. And it's wide open since incumbent Charles Michel announced he's quitting. But despite Draghi's notable achievements, including saving the euro and crafting game-changing policies on vacc…

1
Sleepwalking Into 2024 47:15

8M ago47:15

47:15

Jacques Delors passed away this week. He was the longest serving president of the European Commission. But what made Delors such a towering figure was his headlong rush to unify the continent. Monetary union. Free movement. The Single Market. Delors is the preeminent architect of the modern European project. Fast forward three decades and that arch…

1
50. Karen Barth Menzies & Shawn Vincent: "Survivors are not defined by their trauma." 50:29

9M ago50:29

50:29

Karen Barth Mensies is a litigation attorney who represents survivors of sexual abuse and harassment. Shawn Vincent works alongside Karen as a litigation consultant. The two have been working tirelessly on a myriad of high profile sexual assault allegation cases and fighting to extend statutes of limitations nationwide. Karen and Shawn discuss the …

1
Big Meat’s Big Win in Europe 50:05

9M ago50:05

50:05

Big Meat had a good year in Europe. Plans to set emission limits for large-scale cattle farms were scrapped. Rules requiring landowners to restore wetlands were mostly gutted. And a keenly anticipated reform of the animal welfare rules was mostly consigned to the deep freeze. Among those promised animal welfare reforms: legislation to End the Cage …

1
49. Subtext: we are enough. and we’re great at doing stuff. An end-of-year wrap up. 13:00

9M ago13:00

13:00

On the final subtext of 2023, Kendra and Rich look back at some of the highlights from the last year and look ahead to what's in store for 2024. - If you have been on the receiving end of harm from someone: be it artist, venue owner, audience member, or someone else and would like to share your story on a future episode, please reach out to us at: …

1
48. Joe: #SpeakingOut: Wrestling's moment of reckoning 42:09

10M ago42:09

42:09

In June 2020, the hashtag #SpeakingOut started trending on Twitter as numerous women came forward with stories of the abuse, assaults, and harassment they had experienced as wrestlers. On this episode, Kendra and Rich talk to independent wrestling fan Joe about what this meant for the world of professional wrestling and how these stories had previo…

1
Rethinking the Race for Metals and Minerals 59:40

10M ago59:40

59:40

EU industrial policy for silicon chips to space technologies to electric vehicles too often seems to rely on Europeans prevailing in a global race to mine. The phrase "drill, baby, drill" applies as much to metals and minerals as oil and gas these days. But the EU's industry hawks are in denial. This is a race Europe can't ever win. The EU has rela…

1
47. Subtext: The Lizzo Conundrum 17:03

10M ago17:03

17:03

On this episode of Subtext, Kendra and Rich break down the court filings against Lizzo and discuss her problematic past. They also discuss the complications that arise when an artist goes from a small touring outfit to a large production arena act and how this can impact the power dynamics and interpersonal relationships.- REFERENCES: Former Lizzo …

1
46. Shannon: "I wasn't recognizable to myself anymore." 54:00

11M ago54:00

54:00

Shannon details the horrific trauma she suffered during a toxic and abusive relationship with a well-connected East Coast tattoo artist. She also discusses how that relationship directly contributed to a years long struggle with alcoholism. After hitting rock bottom during the pandemic, Shannon walks us through her journey of going to rehab, gettin…

1
How to Take On Elon Musk 53:31

11M ago53:31

53:31

The problem of X as a source of hate and a threat to democracy is back at the top of the policy agenda. Elon Musk's social media platform circulated a large amount of false information as well as images of extreme violence during the recent terror attack in Israel. A European Commissioner, Thierry Breton, said that content probably was illegal in E…

1
45. Subtext: What did Diplo do? 16:29

11M ago16:29

16:29

On this episode, Kendra and Rich give a quick overview of the popular EDM DJ Diplo and the many allegations that have been levied against him over the past several years. - REFERENCES: Diplo Responds to Quenlin Blackwell 'Grooming' Accusations (Paper) After Multiple Claims of Rape & Grooming, Diplo Accepted at Stagecoach (savingcountrymusic.com) Di…

1
Eurowhiteness and a Far-Right EU 31:32

11M ago31:32

31:32

We need to talk about a Far Right EU. Nativists and ultraconservatives are being actively courted by the European mainstream including at the level of the EU. There's the advent of prime minister Giorgia Meloni, with her party's roots in Italian fascism, and then there's the popularity in France of Marine Le Pen, previously seen as too extreme. But…

1
How Eurowhiteness Shapes the EU 40:00

11M ago40:00

40:00

Europeans are comfortable talking about whiteness in the American context. But when it comes to their own continent, not so much. That serves to shut down an important conversation about police brutality, decolonisation and migration. The resistance to discussing whiteness is starkly apparent at the level of the EU and it's another sign the Europea…

1
44. Veronica De Hart: "It's okay to have complicated feelings." 50:03

12M ago50:03

50:03

Veronica De Hart discusses her entrance into the punk scene in 2021 after years of advocacy work. She shares her own personal history of sexual assault along with her goal to make Camp Punkslyvania, and the scene as a whole, a safer place for everyone. -If you have been on the receiving end of harm from someone: be it artist, venue owner, audience …

1
43. Subtext: How we do self-care. 21:15

12M ago21:15

21:15

Kendra and Rich share the ways in which they support each other and the importance of having a strong support system when the emotional weight of engaging in persistent discourse on trauma is at its heaviest. - If you have been on the receiving end of harm from someone: be it artist, venue owner, audience member, or someone else and would like to s…

1
42. Lily Davis: "Healing happens in community and clarity with others." 45:20

1y ago45:20

45:20

This guest has asked that they remain anonymous. We refer to her as "Lily" throughout the episode. While in college in the Midwest, Lily began a long distance relationship with a musician from her home state on the East Coast. Upon returning home early due to the pandemic, relationship red flags became more noticeable and resulted in sexual assault…

1
41. Subtext: What happens next. 14:00

1y ago14:00

14:00

Rich and Kendra discuss what happens when a survivor of sexual assault or abuse by a musician comes forward. They explain the repercussions of speaking out, the impact when other artists remain silent or align themselves with abusers, and the massive influence that music fans can have as a driving force for change in today's culture. - If you have …

1
When Conservatives Endanger Democracy — Revisited 33:27

1y ago33:27

33:27

News from Spain where a far-right political party called Vox lost seats in the recent general election. Vox are culture warriors in the mould of the US MAGA movement: anti-migrant, anti-LGBT+, anti-Islam, anti-feminist and with a predilection for blocking action on EU climate goals. The response in Brussels to Vox's poor showing was triumphalism. B…

1
40. Kristina Sarhadi: "People don't hang their whole lives on a music scene, but we do." 56:42

1y ago56:42

56:42

Kristina found salvation in the punk community as an escape from her home life. But when she finally met her idol, the singer of a political punk band that helped shape her values, instead of treating her like part of the community, he raped her. Kristina describes the details of that night, how it changed the trajectory of her life and how she int…

1
39. Subtext: Danny Masterson: Guilty of Rape 17:50

1y ago17:50

17:50

On this episode of subtext, Kendra and Rich discuss the results of actor Danny Masterson's recent court retrial in which he was found guilty of 2 of 3 counts of rape. They consider the role that the Church of Scientology played in Masterson's defense, how Hollywood reacted to the initial accusations, and how this ruling could set a precedent for si…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Screaming For Progress Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide