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Artwork for KPFA - Against the Grain

KPFA - Against the Grain

KPFA
Capitalism
Neoliberalism
Social Justice
Palestine
Zionism
Israel
Lies My Teacher Told Me
Racism
Mental Health
Labor Movement
Great Depression
Gaza
Education
Climate Change
KPFA
United States
Donald Trump
California
Gig Economy
Socialism

Acclaimed program of ideas, in-depth analysis, and commentary on a variety of matters—political, economic, social, and cultural—important to progressive and radical thinking and activism. Against the Grain is produced and hosted by Sasha Lilley.

PublishesDailyEpisodes1000Founded21 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsPolitics

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Artwork for KPFA - Against the Grain

Latest Episodes

Prisons won’t be dismantled anytime soon. So what does—or should—prison abolition mean? Anna Terwiel draws from Angela Davis’s writings a host of insights that buttress what Terwiel considers a realist political project. Among other things, she exami... more

Commercial sex and imperialism — army bases and brothels — have often gone hand in hand. But in the early 20th century an emergent U.S. empire defined itself as rooted in sexual purity. Historian Eva Payne describes how a heavy price for this notion ... more

One of conservation’s greatest achievements happened mostly by accident and is still hiding in plain sight from most of us. When settlers established cities in the United States, they decimated the existing ecosystems. But in recent decades, as envir... more

How did conservatives come to dominate so much of the media in the U.S.? Historian A.J. Bauer looks at the formative period between the advent and repeal of the Fairness Doctrine in which the right borrowed from the left to sharpen its criticism of t... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Eva Payne
Assistant Professor of History
University of Mississippi
Episode: U.S. Empire and Sexual Morality
Benjamin Recht
Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at UC Berkeley
UC Berkeley
Episode: Deferring to Computers
Cindy Cohn
Executive Director, Electronic Frontier Foundation
Electronic Frontier Foundation
Episode: Fighting Surveillance
Dylan Gottlieb
Historian; Assistant Professor of History at Bentley University; author of Yuppies, The Bankers, Lawyers, Joggers, and Gourmands Who Conquered New York
Bentley University
Episode: Triumph of the Yuppie
Starre Vartan
Science writer and author of The Stronger Sex, What Science Tells Us About the Power of the Female Body
Author, The Stronger Sex
Episode: Sex and Strength
Henry Snow
Labor historian, author of Control Science, How Management Made the Modern World
University/author
Episode: Controlling Workers
Paul Heideman
Author of Rogue Elephant, Associate Editor at Jacobin
Jacobin / author of Rogue Elephant
Episode: How the GOP Lurched Further to the Right
Julian Treasure
Author of Sound Effects, How Sound Shapes Our Lives, Our Well-Being and Our Planet
Author/Researcher
Episode: Changing Sound
Brent Kaup
Professor of Sociology, College of William & Mary
College of William and Mary
Episode: Capitalism and Insect-Borne Diseases

Hosts

C. S. Soong
Co-host and producer known for thoughtful and well-researched interviews, bringing depth to discussions on political, economic, and social issues.
Sasha Lilley
Co-host and key contributor to the discussions, focusing on providing critical analysis and diverse perspectives on various socio-political topics.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 250 ratings
  • Great Program

    I have been listening to Against The Grain for over a decade. Please keep up the great work. The topics covered by C.S. Song and Sasha Lilley are very informative and are needed more than ever, in these authoritarian times.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Hija de La Orisha
    United States10 months ago
  • Excellent research and hosts

    Very thoughtful and informative! Sasha Lilley and CS Song are very adept at guiding the interviews forward. I almost always learn something that changes my knowledge of the world, even from the eps whose titles I am less interested in. My favorite was an interview with David Graeber.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DostDevil
    United States5 years ago
  • Are there any herbs for ‘orange-man-bad’ syndrome??

    Extremely biased against Trump presidency. While there is some credible, unbiased, subjects discussed on this podcast, it fails to objectively evaluate the White House w/out selling the same old propaganda the left has been dishing for four years

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    whyareyouonlyonitunes
    United States6 years ago
  • KPFA, and public intellectualism, at its best

    Simply one of the finest scholarly radio shows in America. I’d been listening to Against the Grain on FM for more than a decade, and I’m so grateful that it’s now offered via podcast so I can easily listen to it on the east coast. You’d be hard pressed to find a more fascinating podcast hearing from the most innovative leftist intellectuals today.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tkoshark
    United States6 years ago
  • Yo

    Yo chill on the ram das

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    yoooooooooootkrnn
    United States7 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Overall, it is regarded as an essential source for discussions on radical politics and progressive thought.
Listeners appreciate the thoughtfulness and depth of analysis provided by the hosts, highlighting the informative nature of discussions.
Some find the content to be biased towards extreme left views, which may not align with all listeners' perspectives, indicating a potential polarization in audience reception.
The podcast is praised for featuring expert guests whose perspectives challenge mainstream narratives.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Controlling Workers
Q: Can you summarize how the Panopticon relates to labor control in your book?
The Panopticon is used as a concrete symbol of how workers are made to internalize discipline; it represents the broader project of turning labor into observable, measurable, and controllable processes, which then informs modern management practices.
Triumph of the Yuppie
Q: What about the political shifts within the Democratic Party during this era?
The guest points to deregulation efforts and fundraising dynamics, noting how Wall Street donations and a meritocratic narrative helped propel a Democratic realignment toward finance interests while recruiting new voter blocs among educated professionals.
Triumph of the Yuppie
Q: How did this new class influence cities like New York?
Yuppies and the institutions that employed them helped reshape urban policy and real estate markets, fostering gentrification, new forms of cultural capital, and investment-driven urban renewal that prioritized capital returns over long-standing working-class communities.
Triumph of the Yuppie
Q: What backdrop or economic conditions gave rise to the Yuppie phenomenon in the 1980s?
The guest explains a confluence of deregulation, the shift from manufacturing to finance as a profitable sector, and the broader reorganization of urban economies that opened elite professional roles to a more diverse group of entrants, all underpinned by the rise of financialization.
Changing Sound
Q: And how can we make the spaces around us better for hearing and listening?
He suggests practical design and behavioral practices, such as conscious listening, quieter spaces, and architectural choices that reduce reverberation and unwanted noise, alongside individual habits like mindful listening and environment savoring.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About KPFA - Against the Grain

What is KPFA - Against the Grain about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Content centers around progressive and radical topics, addressing a range of political, economic, social, and cultural issues that are significant to contemporary activism. Through thoughtful interviews and guest contributions, episodes explore subjects such as labor history, economic inequality, authoritarianism, and the complexities of U.S. imperialism. A notable aspect is the inclusion of discussions that challenge mainstream narratives, providing depth and critical insights into the mechanisms of power and resistance. This approach not only engages listeners but also fosters an informed community interested in social justice and egalitarian principles.

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Which podcasts are similar to KPFA - Against the Grain?

These podcasts share a similar audience with KPFA - Against the Grain:

1. Behind the News with Doug Henwood
2. Jacobin Radio
3. The Intercept Briefing
4. The Nation Podcasts
5. What's Left of Philosophy

How many episodes of KPFA - Against the Grain are there?

KPFA - Against the Grain launched 21 years ago and published 1000 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on KPFA - Against the Grain?

Recent guests on KPFA - Against the Grain include:

1. Eva Payne
2. Benjamin Recht
3. Cindy Cohn
4. Dylan Gottlieb
5. Starre Vartan
6. Henry Snow
7. Paul Heideman
8. Julian Treasure

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