The Green New Deal

We're thrilled that this episode is guest-hosted by Rinaldo Walcott, a professor of Women and Gender Studies at the University of Toronto (and a member of The Leap’s board). Rinaldo speaks with Nairobi-based scholar Keguro Macharia, author of the new book Frottage: Frictions of Intimacy across the Black Diaspora (2019), about diaspora, gender, Black feminism, intimacy, gardening, extreme weather, Afropessimism, and more.

For our first podcast episode of the pandemic, we take a step back and examine the big picture — and who better to guide us than The Leap’s co-founder Naomi Klein. In a wide-ranging conversation, we explore the perils and possibilities of this political moment, from the unprecedented ways that Silicon Valley is benefiting from the pandemic, to the radicalizing power of “essential work."

What could be more fundamental than the right of every person to a safe and healthy home — whether the place where we sleep each night, or our collective home, our planet? In conversation with the brilliant Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor and Daniel Aldana Cohen, we explore how a Green New Deal for Housing could protect us from climate chaos — and guarantee beautiful, affordable, and sustainable homes for all.

In a special mini-episode, we discuss the federal election and all the special moments of racism that it surfaced.

We ask federal leader Elizabeth May about the Green Party’s plan to mobilize Canadian society to fight climate change. And we follow up with Alex Tyrrell, the head of Quebec’s provincial (and openly eco-socialist) GP, one of May’s highest-profile internal critics. The Green Party of Canada has seen a sudden surge in popularity — but can they really lead on the Green New Deal?

We talk to maverick NDP candidate Svend Robinson about how the party is doing on climate so far, and whether it's capable of getting the Green New Deal right. We also touch on the NDP's history and future of opening itself to the creativity and energy of social movements. Spoiler alert: it's not always a pretty story.

We examine the normalization of racism and xenophobia in political discourse, as we unpack one of the most pressing human rights and climate issues of our time: migration. Guests Harjeet Singh of Action Aid and Kara Manso of the Caregivers’ Action Center share stories and call on us all to be more human.

We talk to Varshini Prakash, co-founder of the Sunrise Movement, about the bold idea sweeping the U.S. political landscape known as the Green New Deal. And we explore the opportunities and challenges of bringing the Green New Deal frame to Canada.

It’s election year in Canada, and The Leap is launching a brand new podcast hosted by Avi Lewis and Maya Menezes. The first episode drops February 12. Get ready.