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The Labor Notes Podcast

Labor Notes
Labor Movement
Labor Notes
Union Organizing
ICE
Trump Administration
Solidarity
May Day 2028
We Can't Wait Campaign
Labor Organizing
New York City
Collective Action
Sugared and Bronze
Unions
Kroger
Teamsters Local 135
Trump
Labor Rights
Labor Management Committees
California Teachers Association
Starbucks Workers United

The Labor Notes Podcast, co-hosted by organizers Danielle Smith and Natascha Elena Uhlmann, is a weekly show from the folks who put on the Labor Notes conference every two years. We’ll talk about the strikes, contract campaigns, shop floor actions, reform caucus organizing, and union elections that our staff and rank-and-file workers in the labor movement’s troublemaking wing write about and work ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes81Founded2 years ago
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News

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Artwork for The Labor Notes Podcast

Latest Episodes

If you’re holding bad meetings, caving to management, and trying to do everything yourself, congrats—you’re already well on your way to fumbling your shot!

On the other hand, if you want to actually advance a positive vision for your union that ener... more

They lure people into their campaigns, grow phone trees, and machete a path out of fear.

It turns out some of our archetypal evil heroines—Amy Dunne of Gone Girl, sisters Sally and Gillian Owens of Practical Magic, and Merricat Blackwood of We Have ... more

Tyson workers at a meatpacking plant in Joslin, Illinois, arrived at work one day in mid-August to discover that it was suddenly closed and that 2,500 of them would be out of jobs.

These workers—members of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 15... more

After five weeks on the picket line, 80 public transit workers in Jackson, Mississippi, members of ATU Local 1208, have won a 5 percent wage increase; beat back a plan for “microtransit,” a private on-call service that would have brought in drivers w... more

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Recent Guests

Caitlyn Clark
Reporter for Labor Notes; associated with Essential Workers for Democracy
Essential Workers for Democracy; UFCW Local 1546
Episode: Tyson Shuttered a Plant Overnight, Laying off 2,500 Meatpacking Workers
Luis Feliz Leon
Labor Notes coworker who spoke to union organizers for Labor Notes
Labor Notes
Episode: Unions Aren’t Backing Down Amid Reported Federal Infiltration Efforts in Minnesota
Al Bradbury
Editor at Labor Notes, Seattle-based
Labor Notes
Episode: Letter Carriers Fighting to Make their Union More Democratic Have an Opening
Kathleen Householder
Unite Here Local 274 member
Unite Here Local 274
Episode: The Other World Cup Winners: Workers Organizing at World Cup Host Cities
Paul Prescod
Labor Notes coworker
Labor Notes
Episode: The Other World Cup Winners: Workers Organizing at World Cup Host Cities
Luis Fernando Mora Reyes
App worker from Mexico City, representative of UNTA (National App Workers Union)
UNTA (National App Workers Union)
Episode: App Workers in Mexico Are Fighting The Bosses' Biggest Lie
Dakota Massman
Pivotal in the recognition strike at Horseshoe Indianapolis Casino
Casino workers / Union organizers
Episode: The Labor Notes Podcast: Live! At the 2026 Conference
Joe DiManuel Hall
Stewards Corner contributor and Labor Notes trainer
Labor Notes
Episode: Still Having Bad Meetings? Take Another Listen
Ellen David Friedman
Author of Keep Going; labor organizer and commentator
Labor Notes (author)
Episode: Keep Going: A Guide To Organizing When It’s Hard (w/ Ellen David Friedman and Carlos Pérez)

Hosts

Danielle Smith
Co-host and organizer at Labor Notes; long-time journalist and organizer with a focus on democratic unionism
Natascha Elena Uhlmann
Co-host and staff writer at Labor Notes; organizer and educator focusing on militant, democratic unions

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 102 ratings
  • Great

    Informative, wide ranging guests, smart hosts

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sweiver84
    United States10 months ago
  • Informative!

    IAM 751 steward checking in!

    This podcast is great. I love the topics. It is a great addition to the steward tool kit. They cover topics that are relevant to my roll as a shop steward. Keep up the good work!

    Solidarity forever!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Yandy_and
    United Statesa year ago
  • Good stuff

    If you’re a shop steward or new to the union movement, then this is the podcast for you. I also recommend their workshops as well.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Roland Zanzibar
    United Statesa year ago
  • Solidarity forever

    This is exactly what you’re looking for!! You’ll learn so much

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    goindierock4ever
    United Statesa year ago
  • My favorite labor podcast

    I’ve been searching for a labor podcast that wasn’t long, run by old-school union men, and took modern takes on labor problems that have persisted in the country since it was created. This podcast hits the nail on the head. I love it!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bitterherbz
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Great resource for shop stewards and union organizers.
Informative with wide-ranging guests and smart hosts.
Positive reception of practical organizing advice and resources.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Jackson Transit Workers Win Strike, Save Saturday Service
Q: Anything you want to add about how this strike came together and what workers were able to accomplish here?
A relatively small unit depended on strong internal communication through stewards, maintained public support, used pressure on the city council and the private contractor MV Transportation, and ultimately secured a 5% wage increase and blocked the microtransit plan, which together preserved service and protected riders, including those with disabilities.
Jackson Transit Workers Win Strike, Save Saturday Service
Q: To start us off, can you tell us a little bit about what these workers were fighting for?
They fought for a significant across-the-board wage increase to keep up with inflation, fairer discipline practices, and protection of crucial transit services like paratransit, while opposing a microtransit proposal that would have introduced lower-wage, non-CDL drivers and undermined safe, accessible service.
Steward’s Corner: Are You Thinking Like an Organizer?
Q: What does it look like in practice to think like an organizer when a steward encounters a problem?
It involves adding the question of whether this is an opportunity to involve more people to the steward's usual problem-solving process, and then actively identifying and engaging those people to pursue collective solutions.
How Utility Workers Won Back Real Pensions in Pennsylvania
Q: Hi, my name is Andy. I'm a photojournalist and a unit chair and actually a new member organizer in the News Guild. I'm lucky enough to be working with Media Guild of the West, local 39213. We represent units from Southern California over to Texas. And honestly, the News Guild is crushing it in my opinion with new organizing. But I'd love some extra tips on how to agitate a bit around some apathy and kind of just general acceptance of the way things are.
The hosts suggest standing with coworkers to ask reasonable questions together can build solidarity and that engaging in marches on the boss and coordinated posting can activate and mobilize members, helping them see how decisions are made and encouraging greater participation.
The Labor Notes Podcast: Live! At the 2026 Conference
Q: How do you organize coworkers who superficially seem to not care about the union?
Identify underlying concerns, build relationships, and show practical value of participation; start with simple asks, keep information accessible, and use peer-led outreach through trusted coworkers to expand engagement.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Labor Notes Podcast

What is The Labor Notes Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A weekly labor-focused show led by organizers, featuring discussions of strikes, contract campaigns, shop-floor actions, reform caucus organizing, and union elections. Episodes frequently center on practical organizing tactics, democratic unionism, and timely labor campaigns—from postal workers to educators and app-based workers—with guests who share frontline experiences and strategic insights. A standout trait is its hands-on, tactical orientation: clear takeaways for stewards, organizers, and rank-and-file members, plus ongoing workshop and event promotion from Labor Notes.

Noteworthy elements include a strong emphasis on democratic union reforms, peer-to-peer organizing, and the use of real-world campaigns to illustrate tactics. The sh... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Labor Notes Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Labor Notes Podcast:

1. Democracy Now! Audio
2. The Dig
3. The Red Nation Podcast
4. Citations Needed
5. Jacobin Radio

How many episodes of The Labor Notes Podcast are there?

The Labor Notes Podcast launched 2 years ago and published 81 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 The Labor Notes Podcast?

Recent guests on The Labor Notes Podcast include:

1. Caitlyn Clark
2. Luis Feliz Leon
3. Al Bradbury
4. Kathleen Householder
5. Paul Prescod
6. Luis Fernando Mora Reyes
7. Dakota Massman
8. Joe DiManuel Hall

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.

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