Best The Polis Project Podcasts (2025)

1
Why Celebrity Algorithms are Destroying You 39:29

26d ago39:29

39:29

The hosts take a critical look at the algorithms ruling our lives on social media and beyond, with a warning to divest from celebrity content and culture that permeates the news cycle, politics, and more. Whereas the early Facebook and Instagram eras were known for curated and bespoke feeds that were personally made for you, social media has largel…

1
The Screen, the Stadium & the State: Bollywood Comes out to Play 31:57

2M ago31:57

31:57

The hosts take a sharp, playful, and unflinching look at Bollywood’s obsession with sports films and the not-so-subtle nationalism embedded within them. From Lagaan to Chak De! India to 83, they explore why India’s sports biopic industry has exploded in the past 15 years, and how these films turn real-life athletic struggles into patriotic spectacl…

1
Indian Cinema and Censorship: Featuring Anna M.M. Vetticad 43:21

2M ago43:21

43:21

The hosts are joined by award-winning film critic and journalist Anna M.M. Vetticad for a conversation on the state of Indian cinema under Modi-era censorship. A veteran of over 30 years in journalism, Anna brings her incisive political analysis and deep knowledge of film culture to this episode — exposing how India’s cinematic landscape has become…

1
Visa and Border Regimes: Featuring Tanvi Misra 48:13

2M ago48:13

48:13

As the crackdown on immigration and violent deportations explode across the US, Suchitra, Bhakti, and Madhuri are joined by journalist Tanvi Misra to peel back the bureaucratic spectacle of American border regimes. The conversation takes a deeper look at how legal status — once seen as a form of protection — is increasingly weaponised by the state …

1
If Op-Eds Could Kill 33:36

3M ago33:36

33:36

The hosts turn their lens on the insidious, galvanizing power of the opinion column. The hosts dissect how elite liberal media platforms like The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and The Wall Street Journal have weaponized their op-ed pages to manufacture consent, launder imperialist narratives, and maintain the myth of expert cre…

1
Refaat Did Not Die, He Multiplied! Featuring Yousef Aljamal 43:53

3M ago43:53

43:53

The hosts invite writer, editor, and translator Yousef Aljamal for a moving and intimate conversation that honours the life, work, and enduring legacy of the late Refaat Alareer — Palestinian writer, poet, professor, and beloved mentor assassinated by Israel in December 2023. Yousef was Refaat’s student, collaborator, and close friend. Yousef assem…

1
The War on Student Protest 36:14

3M ago36:14

36:14

The podcasts takes on the alarming escalation of state repression against pro-Palestinian student protesters in the U.S. The episode unpacks how legal frameworks, university complicity, and media narratives have converged to criminalize dissent on campus. From ICE raids to administrative gag orders, they break down how universities have transformed…

1
Make Indian American Women Brown Again 37:21

4M ago37:21

37:21

The hosts take a sharp, witty, and incisive look at the identity crisis of Indian American women in the public eye. From Kamala Harris to Mindy Kaling to Usha Vance, the hosts ask: why is the dominant representation of the Indian American woman so adjacent to whiteness? Why does she either perform hyper-assimilation or lean into fetishised exoticis…

1
Why The Media Gets Incarceration Wrong 29:36

4M ago29:36

29:36

The hosts take on the media’s failure to accurately depict incarceration, tracing how language, imagery, and selective storytelling reinforce carceral logic. From Gaza to Guantanamo, they examine how imprisonment narratives are shaped by what is shown — and, more crucially, what is omitted. The hosts dissect how terms like prisoner, detainee, and h…

1
Why The Media Gets Migration Wrong 39:40

4M ago39:40

39:40

Suchitra, Bhakti, and Madhuri dissect the persistent failures of media coverage on migration, exposing how mainstream outlets reinforce state narratives rather than challenging them. From the selective sympathy extended to Ukrainian refugees to the criminalization of Black and Brown migrants, the hosts examine how race, class, and geopolitical inte…

1
Is India Developing a Fascist Aesthetic? 29:46

4M ago29:46

29:46

Suchitra, Bhakti, and Madhuri look at how India’s cultural landscape has become deeply intertwined with right-wing ideology. From Bollywood’s hyper-masculine action heroes to the aggressive iconography of Hindu gods, from the spectacle of nationalist weddings to the militarization of everyday imagery, the episode unpacks how aesthetics shape politi…

1
Is Your Social Media Activism Working? 46:53

5M ago46:53

46:53

Suchitra, Bhakti, and Madhuri take a step back from the incessant noise of social media to dissect what all that posting really leads to. Is your social media activism actually making a difference? From the early days of Twitter-fueled revolutions to the performative hashtag activism that followed, the hosts trace the history of online organizing a…

1
How Will The Media Do Trump 2.0? 40:18

5M ago40:18

40:18

Suchitra, Bhakti, and Madhuri look into the crystal ball to offer up some forecasts about how the media will respond to a second Trump presidency. Reflecting on his first term, the hosts remember liberal media’s relentless obsession with his persona, his life, his tweets and his gaffes, all of which overshadowed policy critique and normalized him a…

1
Danny Dorling: Seven typical British children today – injustice and hope 43:56

5M ago43:56

43:56

If we found seven typical 6-year-old children to represent today’s UK, who would they be? What would their stories reveal? Amid the cost-of-living crisis, this could be a depressing story, when even the best-off of the seven is disadvantaged. Yet aspirations endure, and there are many signs that things could be getting better. What do we miss when …

1
Why The Media Won't Call It Genocide 35:21

5M ago35:21

35:21

Suchitra, Bhakti, and Madhuri tackle the harrowing question: why won’t the media call what is happening in Palestine a genocide? Through incisive analysis, the hosts unravel the complicity of international law and media institutions in denying and obfuscating the reality of genocide, exposing the colonial frameworks that govern both. They discuss t…

1
The Indians Are Coming! 48:45

5M ago48:45

48:45

Suchitra, Bhakti and Madhuri start off the new year with a focus on the crop of Indian Americans who support Donald Trump, MAGA and have emerged as shamelessly racist and anti-migrant despite their own immigrant background. A recent feud between Trump, Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy over the topic of H1-B visas and who gets to migrate into the US te…

1
When the Media Tries to be Woke 38:08

7M ago38:08

38:08

Suchitra, Bhakti, and Madhuri ask what happens when the media tries to be woke. Turns out, it all becomes very cringe. The episode unpacks performative wokeness in mainstream media, and exposes how the term woke – rooted in Black resistance – has been stripped of its radical origins and become a marketing tool. The word woke originates in abolition…

1
And the Prize goes to…Warmongers! 36:36

7M ago36:36

36:36

Suchitra, Bhakti, and Madhuri examine a year of prize scandals, immoral literary institutions and inappropriate red carpet galas. They ask why the genocide in Gaza has not been a red line for many prestigious literary institutions who have insisted on going about business as usual. They look at how literary institutions, prize committees, cultural …

1
Islamophobia in the Media 43:56

7M ago43:56

43:56

Suchitra, Bhakti, and Madhuri embark on a detailed breakdown of Islamophobia, dissecting its historical roots, modern manifestations, and the critical role the media plays in perpetuating anti-Muslim sentiment. They examine how Islamophobia has evolved from colonial narratives into a sophisticated mechanism of systemic hatred, embedded in global po…

1
The Media's Blame Games 41:10

7M ago41:10

41:10

Suchitra, Bhakti, and Madhuri discuss narratives of blame in the aftermath of the loss of Kamala Harris and the Democratic Party in the 2024 US elections. Donald Trump’s win sent shockwaves through liberal media who have been uncritically championing a candidate who played to the center and styled herself as a conservative rather than connecting wi…

1
We Told You So 32:42

7M ago32:42

32:42

Suchitra, Bhakti and Madhuri declare “We Told You So” in light of the disastrous defeat of Kamala Harris and the Democratic Party in the 2024 US elections. By "we," the hosts refer to the loyal constituency of people who definitely did not want to see Donald Trump in power. These very people have been offering feedback to the Kamala Harris campaign…

1
If Book Reviews Could Kill 45:59

8M ago45:59

45:59

Suchitra, Bhakti and Madhuri analyze the genre of "book reviews" and the ways in which they are instrumental in shaping opinion on writers, literature, ideas, and culture, more broadly. Book reviews are an extremely vital part of all newspapers and media outlets but the undergirding questions is who gets reviewed and who gets ignored? Book reviews …

1
The Media's War on Children 42:17

8M ago42:17

42:17

Suchitra, Bhakti, and Madhuri delve into the media's problematic portrayal of children, particularly in conflict zones. The episode asks: who gets to be a “child” in mainstream media? The coverage of children over the years reveals two broad themes: 1) the process of “un-childing” and 2) tendency towards saviorism that can produce troubling represe…

1
Worst Headlines in a Year of Livestreamed Genocide 49:21

8M ago49:21

49:21

Suchitra, Bhakti and Madhuri analyze shocking, biased and racist headlines from mainstream newspapers from the past year with a focus on Palestine, Lebanon and Iran. They discuss the importance and impact of headlines historically but also in a world defined by ever-diminishing attention spans, and where news is mainly read on smartphones. The medi…

1
Unethical Reporting on Sexual Violence 43:24

9M ago43:24

43:24

In this episode Suchitra, Bhakti, and Madhuri delve into the unethical reporting on sexual violence, particularly in the context of the ongoing genocide perpetrated by Israel on Gaza. The hosts discuss the trends of hyper-reporting and zero reporting, the ethics of how victims are portrayed, and the media's role in fabricating narratives that serve…

1
Fawning over Kamala 46:37

9M ago46:37

46:37

Suchitra Vijayan, Bhakti Shringarpure and Madhuri Sastry dissect the media's coverage of Kamala Harris, focusing on the Democratic National Convention and the presidential debate. Coverage of Harris has focused on the portrayal of her as a youthful 'brat', excessive focus on aesthetics, and the lack of critical analysis in mainstream media. They ex…

1
Danny Dorling and Poly Toynbee discuss the book: "Seven Children". 44:43

9M ago44:43

44:43

Social scientist and inequality expert Danny Dorling discusses his latest work, Seven Children, an immersive and highly original study of child inequality, in a conversation at Foyles with Polly Toynbee. Foyles bookshop, Charring Cross Road, London, September 12th 2024.By Danny Dorling

1
About the podcast 0:36

9M ago0:36

0:36

Are you questioning your reality? Do you feel gaslighted? It's not you, it's the media. Tune in each week. It's Not You, It's the Media. A podcast by the Polis Project. https://www.thepolisproject.com/ Hosts: Suchitra Vijayan is a writer, photographer and activist. She is the founder and Executive Director of The Polis Project. For her first book, …

1
How Oxford has changed, the work of Donnington Doorstep, and something personal 19:06

12M ago19:06

19:06

Donnington Doorstep is a community-based family centre delivering a range of universal and specialist services. It was set up in 1984 by local parents, who knew that caring for children can be hard. My mum was involved a little at the start, and I was one of the children that it was hard to care for (unruly, etc). Forty years on Donnington Doorstep…

1
Welcome to Oxford? Refugees, migrants, incomers who have made the city their home 1:41:45

1y ago1:41:45

1:41:45

Who are the incomers who have made the city of Oxford, England their home? Social policy scholar Elizabeth Peretz, geographer Danny Dorling, historian Maurice East and activist Jabu Nala-Hartley lead a discussion about migrants' histories and realities in a Refugee Week event organised by the Coalition To Keep Campsfield Closed. The speakers explor…

1
How did Britain become so divided? Danny Dorling on our shattering nation 1:11:48

1y ago1:11:48

1:11:48

Why is the UK so unusual – and not at all in a good way? How did the Conservative Party end up having more in common with European political parties such as Germany]s far-right AfD than with other “conservative” parties on the continent – as far back as the prime ministership of David Cameron? How did a recent Scottish government policy that most p…

1
Brexit is a failed project: a brighter future is possible 1:26:36

1+ y ago1:26:36

1:26:36

Danny Dorling, Liz Webster, and Willow Fisher, speaking on "Brexit is a failed project: a brighter future is possible", a Public Meeting organised by Oxford for Europe, Wesley Memorial Church, Oxford, March 20th 2024. A summary for part of the first part is here: https://www.dannydorling.org/?p=9917 and full report which that part is based on is he…

1
"BRITISH CULTURE" by Danny Dorling, at the Sunday Papers Live, 17 March 2024 24:27

1+ y ago24:27

24:27

13:10-13.35 - "BRITISH CULTURE" Danny Dorling at the Sunday Papers Live, March 17th 2024 (One Marylebone, 1 Marylebone Rd, London) Is there any hope? What do we do? Join Danny Dorling, professor in the School of Geography and the Environment at the University of Oxford, as he explores the options, and how Geography shows you a way out for London, E…

1
Failing neoliberalism: How Britain changed from a shining social and economic example to a nearly failed state 1:29:57

1+ y ago1:29:57

1:29:57

A public talk given by Danny Dorling at the Rudolf Agricola School for Sustainable Development, University of Groningen, House of Connections, Oude Ebbingestraat, Groningen, The Netherlands, 19 December 2023. Based on the book "Shattered Nation" and concerning recent events and more long term trends in the UK, the Netherlands, and elsehwhere. Intro…

1
What should Labour do on housing - and would it be indulgent? 46:38

1+ y ago46:38

46:38

Danny Dorling, speaking after John Broughton and Peter Apps, on the housing Policies of the British Labour Party, at the Labour Housing Group Conference: Tackling London's Housing Crisis, Camden London Borough Council, December 9th 2023By Danny Dorling

1
Shattered Nation: Inequality and the Geography of A Failing State 1:03:14

1+ y ago1:03:14

1:03:14

Danny Dorling asking how Britain became so divided. Recorded at Toppings book shop in Edinburgh on 7 December 2023. Britain was once the leading economy in Europe; it is now the most unequal. In Shattered Nation, leading geographer and author of Inequality and the 1% shows that we are growing further and further apart. Visiting sites across the Bri…

1
Islands: In Conversation with John Furlong – a talk about a book 56:38

1+ y ago56:38

56:38

Islands: Danny Dorling in Conversation with John Furlong – a talk about a book, Department of Education, 15 Norham Gardens, University of Oxford, December 4th 2023. John Furlong, former Director of the University of Oxford Department of Education, discusses his recent memoir ‘Islands: In Search of Brave New Worlds’ with Danny Dorling, Halford Macki…

1
Falling life expectancy in the UK 49:56

1+ y ago49:56

49:56

Falling life expectancy in the UK - a talk by Professor Danny Dorling, Halford Mackinder Professor of Geography, School of Geography and the Environment, Oxford University Centre for the Environment given at the Royal Society of Medicine in London at a meeting held on 'Recent advances in medicine and surgery on' Thursday 30 November 2023.…

1
Tim Marshall and Danny Dorling: Worlds Apart – mapping inequality, Hay Festival 1:01:16

1+ y ago1:01:16

1:01:16

Danny Dorling and Tim Marshall talk to Oliver Bullough WORLDS APART – MAPPING INEQUALITY Thursday 23 November 2023, 8pm Venue: Llwyfan Cymru – Wales Stage (Hay Castle) One of the UK’s leading geographers, Danny Dorling shows why we are growing further and further apart in his new book Shattered Nation. Looking at hunger, precarity, waste, exploitat…

1
Healthy Lives in an Age of Insecurity 2:00:35

1+ y ago2:00:35

2:00:35

Three talks and a discussion lead by Jabu Nala-Hartley, a Masters of Public Health student at Oxford Brookes University, Oxford City Councillor for Barton and Sandhills, recent Chair of the Oxford District Labour Party, and current chair of the Oxford Living Wage Campaign - involving Danny Dorling, Kate Pickett and Richard Wilkinson; introduced by …

1
The Left Behind and the Shattered Nation: Inequality and the Geography of a Failing State 1:14:44

1+ y ago1:14:44

1:14:44

Keynote lecture given by Dany Dorling at the CREW research lab, Université Sorbonne Nouvelle (USN), in Paris. Given on November 10th 2023 as part of a study day that focussed on the population and geographical locations that were left behind over recent decades in the UK. Considering the particular policies, addressing the concept, causes and conse…

1
Brexit: a failed project in a failing state? 1:30:18

1+ y ago1:30:18

1:30:18

Presentation by Danny Dorling and discussion with Luke Cooper and Zoe Williams: Brexit has failed to address any of the substantive challenges of the day, but it was not a ‘year zero’ for the many problems facing the United Kingdom and, in fact, reflected decades of public policy failure. That’s the argument of Oxford University professor Danny Dor…

1
How Do We Stop Britain Becoming a Failed State? 1:19:56

1+ y ago1:19:56

1:19:56

Tom Clark, Samira Shackle, and Danny Dorling, discuss How Do We Stop Britain Becoming a Failed State? at Festival of the Future City, The Watershed, Bristol, on October 18th.By Danny Dorling

1
Danny Dorling talks about A Shattered Nation at The Wanstead Tap, London, 4 October 2023 1:27:04

1+ y ago1:27:04

1:27:04

Danny Dorling talks about his new book and begins with the anniversary of the Battle of Cable Street which occurred on this day in 1936 - the last time the UK was as unequal as it was again in 2023. No slides, and an injection of some hope.By Danny Dorling

1
UK’s racialized immigration policies: Francesca Recchia in conversation with Helidah Ogude Chambert 51:56

3y ago51:56

51:56

In this podcast, Francesca Recchia sits down with Helidah Ogude Chambert to discuss the racism and xenophobia inherent in the United Kingdom’s immigration policies, where it stems from and which communities are particularly vulnerable to it and why.By The Polis Project

1
The Genocidal Gaze: A conversation with Elizabeth Baer 29:23

3y ago29:23

29:23

Suchitra Vijayan in conversation with Elizabeth Baer about her book "The Genocidal Gaze."The first genocide of the twentieth century, though not well known, was committed by Germans between 1904–1907 in the country we know today as Namibia, where they exterminated hundreds of Herero and Nama people and subjected the surviving indigenous men, women,…

1
Terror Capitalism - A conversation with Darren Byler 41:16

3y ago41:16

41:16

Suchitra Vijayan speaks to Darren Byler about his book Terror Capitalism: Uyghur Dispossession and Masculinity in a Chinese City. In Terror Capitalism anthropologist Darren Byler theorizes the contemporary Chinese colonization of the Uyghur Muslim minority group in the northwest autonomous region of Xinjiang. He shows that the mass detention of ove…

1
How home disappeared: Twenty years after the Gujarat pogrom 48:32

3y ago48:32

48:32

Twenty years after the Gujarat pogrom, Suchitra Vijayan speaks to Zahir Janmohamed about the moment, his experience on the ground and his work since. The conversation delves into the deep seated anti-Muslim sentiment in India and looks for ways to heal. The conversation was originally held as a Twitter Space session.…

1
Reproductive Politics and the Making of Modern India: A conversation with Mytheli Sreenivas 52:12

3y ago52:12

52:12

In this conversation, Urvi Khaitan sits down with Mytheli Sreenivas to discuss her book, "Reproductive Politics and the Making of Modern India'. The book explores colonial administrators, postcolonial development experts, nationalists, eugenicists, feminists, and family planners all aimed to reform reproduction to transform both individual bodies a…

1
India's Undeclared Emergency: Suchitra Vijayan in conversation with Arvind Narrain 48:11

3y ago48:11

48:11

In this conversation, Suchitra Vijayan speaks to Arvind Narrain about his book India's Undeclared Emergency: Constitutionalism and the Politics of Resistance. They touch upon the provisions in the constitution that have been interpreted to shove India into an unofficial emergency situation, reflect on how this compares to India's emergency of the 1…

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