Rephonic
Artwork for AlternativeRadio

AlternativeRadio

David Barsamian
United States
Democracy
Israel
Palestine
Vietnam
Health Insurance Industry
Community Media
Gaza
Sovereignty
Racism
Climate Change
Corporate Media
Latin America
Capitalism
Militarism
Social Justice
World Trade Organization
International Monetary Fund
Vietnam War
Materialism

Alternative Radio is an "unembedded" weekly one-hour public affairs program offered free to all public radio stations in the US, Canada, Europe, South Africa, Australia, and on short-wave on Radio for Peace International. AR provides information, analyses and views that are frequently ignored or distorted in other media. Visit alternativeradio.org for the complete catalog.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes24Founded16 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsGovernment

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for AlternativeRadio

Latest Episodes

The reality of what occurred on the Pine Ridge Sioux Reservation in the 1970s is not reflected in most contemporary histories of the United States. Scores of indigenous people were killed and many more were wounded. Ward Churchill, an activist with t... more

Freedom and equality are foundations of democratic societies. Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, passed by the United Nations in 1948, is a milestone document that establishes that “All human beings are born free and equal in dig... more

Hannah Arendt says lying aids the powerful and leads to public cynicism. She warned that lying by leaders undermines democracy. Truth is an uncontestable fact. Lies are not. Calling things you don’t like a hoax makes it difficult for citizens to cut ... more

Hannah Arendt is one of the most original and influential political thinkers and scholars of this epoch. Her work and her ideas today are as relevant as ever. She wrote about ideology, racism, totalitarianism, imperialism, terror, propaganda, and ant... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Economic Update with Richard D. Wolff
Economic Update with Richard D. WolffDemocracy at Work, Richard D. Wolff
Democracy Now! Audio
Democracy Now! AudioDemocracy Now!

Recent Guests

Peg Birmingham
Professor of philosophy at DePaul University and specialist on Hannah Arendt
DePaul University
Episode: [Peg Birmingham] Freedom & Equality
Marci Shore
Historian of Eastern Europe and professor at the University of Toronto's Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy
Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy
Episode: [Marci Shore] Truth & Lies
Marli Huijer
Professor emeritus of public philosophy at Erasmus University
Erasmus University
Episode: [Marli Huijer] Hannah Arendt on Totalitarianism
Omar Bartov
Professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Brown University
Brown University
Episode: [Omer Bartov] Israel, Genocide & Palestine
Marcy Shore
Award-winning scholar, professor at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, University of Toronto
University of Toronto
Episode: [Marci Shore] Antisemitism & the Rise of Fascism
Timothy Snyder
Professor of European History at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
Episode: [Timothy Snyder] A World of Empire
Chris Hedges
Award-winning independent journalist, host of The Chris Hedges Report
Independent journalist, author
Episode: [Chris Hedges] Savagery at Home & Abroad
Benjamin Het
Historian, author of Burning the Reichstag, Crossing Hitler, and The Death of Democracy
Hunter College and The Graduate Center, City University of New York
Episode: [Benjamin Hett] How Hitler Happened
Sheldon Whitehouse
US Senator from Rhode Island
US Senate
Episode: [Sheldon Whitehouse] The Trump, Putin & Epstein Triangle

Host

David Barsamian
Radio producer, interviewer and founder of Alternative Radio.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 671 ratings
  • Too much Chomsky

    Have listened for decades to this unique broadcast first on public radio, now on a pod. But after learning about Epstein friendship, Chomsky lands differently. Taking a break.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    mooglitz
    United Statesa year ago
  • We need more like this

    Alternative Radio has been around for so many years and doing such important work elevating voices that are working for the betterment of our world. We need more folks joining David Barsamian and his team in doing this. We need more voices to fight the corporatist narrative that is assailing us daily on all sides. There are more of us than there are of them. Our collective voice should be reflective of that.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BeardedYeti
    Canadaa year ago
  • Great podcast

    Always educational, a great platform for listening to an excellent variety of experts on current issues and their underlying causes.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Baowshy
    Australia2 years ago
  • Too Left

    If you want to pull down the civilization we are in this is the pod for you.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Aoibhistin
    United States2 years ago
  • Great Program, terrible Podcast policy

    I appreciate the great show and speakers, and am glad they bothered to create a Podcast of it at all, but c’mon, one episode at a time (or you can telegraph, fax or use smoke signals to request/receive old episodes)?!

    It would be much more useful to share the back catalog, or at least a half-dozen or more episodes at a time versus being so controlling with them. I get that it’s likely a revenue stream, but perhaps create a Patreon or subscription feed to get the full

    Episodes or get extra cont... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Tolga M
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Many value the platform for featuring prominent experts as well as less-heard scholars, organizers and global perspectives.
Some describe the critical, progressive outlook as strongly left-leaning and find the political framing one-sided.
Recurring complaints focus on limited access to older episodes and episodes becoming unavailable quickly.
Some listeners find the release cycle too slow for current events, while others praise the steady weekly cadence.
Listeners praise the interviews and lectures for being educational, insightful and rich in historical context.

Top News Podcasts

The Daily
The DailyThe New York Times
Pod Save America
Pod Save AmericaPod Save America
The MeidasTouch Podcast
The MeidasTouch PodcastMeidasTouch Network
Pivot
PivotNew York Magazine
IHIP News
IHIP NewsJennifer Welch & Angie Sullivan
Morning Wire
Morning WireThe Daily Wire
Bulwark Takes
Bulwark TakesThe Bulwark

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

[Peg Birmingham] Freedom & Equality
Q: How do you think about glory and dignity in relation to this trinity of reconciliation, solidarity, and critical judgment, and how is that distinguished from pity?
Birmingham distinguishes pity, which centers on the self, from world-disclosing political affects such as anger and compassion. She broadens glory beyond individual heroic deeds to the endurance of plural worlds, shared labor and work, and political action on a common earth.
[Peg Birmingham] Freedom & Equality
Q: I'm wondering if the secularized Trinity that you propose, if there's something within there that also responds to the forms of neo-capitalism that we all suffer from.
Birmingham says Arendt regarded poverty as politically produced and believed political life should regulate, though not be entirely separated from, economic life. She points to Arendt's analysis of capitalism and imperialism, while noting inconsistencies in her account of revolution.
[Erica Chenoweth] Nonviolent Civil Disobedience
Q: Talk a little bit about higher education, and given your position at the Kennedy School, what have you observed about the intersection of academia and democratic participation?
Chenoweth notes that universities and faculties have become battlegrounds for rights and free expression, with many institutions suing or resisting policies, while also pointing to acts by faculty and students pushing back and expanding democratic norms. She emphasizes the unique role of academia in supplying data, training, and a platform for civil resistance, even as universities face pressures to conform to political power.
[Ilan Pappé] The Historical Context of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Q: What do you think about the idea of a moderate Israeli pushback and retreat from the current genocide?
From my observations in Israel, the younger generation has graduated from an educational system that supports neo-Zionists, which is why most Israelis prefer to be a racist state rather than a democracy.
[Ilan Pappé] The Historical Context of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Q: Could you tell us any more about that? It sounds like England is getting just as brutal in its treatment of Palestinian resistance as the United States with university students.
I do think that like in some other Western European countries, the demonstrations for Palestine gave a pretext for some sections of the government, especially in the security services, a pretext to curb freedom of speech.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About AlternativeRadio

What is AlternativeRadio about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Weekly, hour-long public-affairs interviews and lectures examine the historical roots of current political conflicts and social issues. Conversations with historians, journalists, scholars, elected officials and organizers cover topics including authoritarianism, war, empire, civil resistance, human rights and economic justice. The format gives guests room for sustained analysis, often connecting present-day events to earlier movements, political ideas and historical turning points.

A recurring interviewer, David Barsamian, brings in both prominent public intellectuals and specialists whose perspectives receive less attention in mainstream media. The emphasis is on critical analysis of power, foreign policy and dominant political narrative... more

Where can I find podcast stats for AlternativeRadio?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for AlternativeRadio. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to AlternativeRadio and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does AlternativeRadio get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for AlternativeRadio, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for AlternativeRadio?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for AlternativeRadio, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does AlternativeRadio have?

To see how many followers or subscribers AlternativeRadio has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to AlternativeRadio?

These podcasts share a similar audience with AlternativeRadio:

1. Ralph Nader Radio Hour
2. Economic Update with Richard D. Wolff
3. The Chris Hedges Report
4. The Intercept Briefing
5. Democracy Now! Audio

How many episodes of AlternativeRadio are there?

AlternativeRadio launched 16 years ago and published 24 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact AlternativeRadio?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for AlternativeRadio?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for AlternativeRadio from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for AlternativeRadio?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of AlternativeRadio. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on AlternativeRadio?

Recent guests on AlternativeRadio include:

1. Peg Birmingham
2. Marci Shore
3. Marli Huijer
4. Omar Bartov
5. Marcy Shore
6. Timothy Snyder
7. Chris Hedges
8. Benjamin Het

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days