As we experience one of the worst pandemics in modern times, in addition to the ongoing climate emergency and a plethora of urgent problems facing our species, a number of questions should be raised about  our current economic and political paradigms. This is why I decided to launch a new podcast called The Fire These Times.

The Fire These Times, named after the James Baldwin book ‘The Fire Next Time’, is a podcast that promotes mutual aid frameworks for the 21st century.

As of now, there are five episodes already available on the podcast ranging from Hong Kong’s existential crisis to Lebanon’s Kafala system, and passing by a very curious episode on why we should oppose the logic of the guillotine. 

You can already find them on Apple Podcasts, Anchor, Breaker, Google Podcasts, Radio Public, Spotify, Pocket Casts, and RSS or wherever you get your podcasts.

In the weeks and months to come I will be talking to various writers, intellectuals, researchers and activists from all over the world to talk about some of the many issues facing humanity today. The topics of conversation will sometimes focus on misunderstood struggles and existential risks and how mutual aid can help us address them.

From Afghanistan to Hong Kong, Lebanon to Chile, Ethiopia to the Philippines, Syria to South Africa, Egypt to Argentina, the USA to the UK and Palestine to Russia - these are where the confirmed guests so far are from.

Upcoming episode topics include: plant-based left politics, authoritarianism on the left, minority groups in the middle east, legacy of Yiddish in anti-Zionism, what it means to be displaced and/or racialised, fascism in the era of climate catastrophe, the male gaze in cinema, minimalism and its discontents, fake news and disinformation campaigns, modern masculinities, surviving a siege, facing fortress Europe, queer Arab identities, fantasy and anarchism, anarchism in the Chinese revolution and eastern Mediterranean radicalism.

If you like what I do, please consider supporting this project with only 1$ a month on patreon.com/firethesetimes or on buymeacoffee.com/joeyayoub.

You can also follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter. The website is: thefirethisti.me

The music is by Tarabeat.