Commons Conversations Podcast

Digital Campaigning to Counter the Far-Right with James Clark and Mar Garcia Sanz

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 01:14:07 GMT

Commons Conversations

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Community Organizing in Rural and Regional Areas with Hayley Sestokas

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 01:12:34 GMT

Commons Conversations

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First Nations and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Voices in the Climate Movement with Neha Madhok and Michelle Prasad

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 01:11:00 GMT

Commons Conversations

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Comics and Art in Social Change with Jess Harwood

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 01:07:48 GMT

Commons Conversations

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Campaigning against the Fossil Fuel Industry with Sophie Hartley and Cathy Rogers

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 01:05:07 GMT

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Understanding and Countering Far-Right Movements with Will Potter and Natasha Adams

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 01:02:56 GMT

Commons Conversations

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Rural and Regional Environmental Organizing with Lucy Graham

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 00:54:27 GMT

In this week’s episode episode Commons Director Holly Hammond chats with Lucy Graham, Cape York Campaigner at the Cairns and Far North Environment Center (CAFNEC) about her experiences of rural and regional organizing. To hear more episodes of Commons Conversations visit- https://commonslibrary.org/commons-conversations-podcast/

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Collective Trauma Healing and Nonviolent Direct Action with Kazu Haga and Charlie Wood

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 00:51:02 GMT

In this week’s episode of Commons Conversations climate justice organizer and therapist Charlie Wood chats with trainer and educator Kazu Haga about his new book, Fierce Vulnerability. Together they explore the intertwined nature of personal and systemic change, emphasizing the importance of collective trauma healing and nonviolent direct action.

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Discussing LBGTIQA+ Activism and Solidarity in Timor Leste with Upe and Bella Gahlos

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Common Library Engagement Officer Aoife Carli Hannan chats with two activists from Timor-Leste.

First off Aoife is joined by Upe, a human rights activist and member of the LGBTIQA+ community, sharing his experiences in the Pride Movement in Timor, his involvement in international solidarity movements, and his experiences joining the fight to save Binybarra / Lee Point on Larrakia Country.

After this, she chats with the formidable Bella Galhos, a freedom fighter, survivor, social activist and current Presidential Advisor. During this interview, Bella talks about her role in Timor-Leste's liberation struggle, advancing LGBTIQA+ and women's rights in Timor, and the ongoing challenges facing the nation.

These interviews were conducted during a trip to Dili, Timor-Leste in August 2024.

The transcript is available to read in the following formats:

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Building Union and Climate Movement Coalitions with Dan Sherrell and Desiree Cai

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 13:00:00 GMT

In this podcast Movement Monitor Fellow Isabella Todd interviews Dan Sherrell, from the Australian Council of Trade Unions, and Desiree Cai, from the Tomorrow Movement. They discuss the lessons learnt from campaigning around a policy and legislation win, in the form of the 2024 founding of the Net Zero Authority. In particular they explore how this work brought together and strengthened relationships between unions, climate activists and others.

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Resisting Genocide and Settler-Colonialism With Noura Mansour and Tarneen Onus-Browne

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 13:00:00 GMT

In a conversation held in late 2024 Tarneen Onus Browne and Noura Mansour discuss solidarity between First Nations and Palestinian communities in Australia, highlighting the resilience and strength derived from resistance to shared experiences of genocide and settler colonialism. Tarneen Onus-Browne is a proud Gunditjmara, Yorta Yorta person through their mother and Bindal and Meriam person through their father and they live on the unceded land of the Wurundjeri peoples. They are a community organising lead at Australian Progress and a community organiser for Warriors of the Aboriginal Resistance working on Invasion Day, Black Deaths in Custody and Black Lives Matter. Noura Mansour is a Palestinian educator, political analyst, writer, activist and community organizer who is the National Director of Democracy in Colour.

Read transcript

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Creative Activism and Endo Violence with Allison Rich and Dr Alicia Pawluczuk

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Commons Library Director Holly Hammond chats with activist Allison Rich and activist-scholar Dr Alicia Pawluczuk about their creative activism and the Endo Violence Collective. The collective works to amplify the voices of those affected by endometriosis and foster a rich, inclusive dialogue that transcends conventional boundaries.

Read transcript.

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Citizen Science and Blockading at Roxby Downs with Al Lad and Annie McGovern

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 06:00:20 GMT

In this episode Emily Trounce-Wood interviews anti-nuclear activists Al Lad and Annie McGovern. They discuss their four decades of campaigning against the Olympic Dam uranium mine at Roxby Downs, including taking part in blockades and maintaining a vigil during 1983 and 1984 and conducting citizen science in the years since.

Read transcript

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Fighting Disinformation and Transphobia with Alex Kelly and Jackie Turner

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 04:55:16 GMT

In this conversation Alex Kelly interviews Jackie Turner about the importance of building solidarity, community and knowledge of history while combating disinformation. Alex is an activist,filmmaker and the Economic Media Centre Communications Director. Jackie is the Director of the Trans Justice Project.

Read transcript.

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Winning Climate Justice Campaigns with Kenzie Harris

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 03:54:48 GMT

In this episode Commons Librarian Iain McIntyre interviews Kenzie Harris from the Global Grassroots Support Network about the assistance and resources the group provides to justice oriented activist groups from around the world. Particular attention is paid to findings and insights gleaned from a research report about climate justice campaigns entitled How We Win, which was released during 2024.

To find out more visit-

https://blueprintsfc.org/ggsn/

https://commonslibrary.org/ingredients-for-wins-lessons-from-successful-climate-justice-campaigns-in-north-america/

Read transcript-

https://commonslibrary.org/commons-conversations-podcast/#Episodes-3

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Insights into Environmental Justice Movements in India with Radhika Jhaveri

Tue, 06 Feb 2024 02:42:53 GMT

In this episode environmental justice activist Radhika Jhaveri is interviewed by Kenzie (Mackenzie) Harris, the principal coordinator for the Global Grassroots Support Network (GGSN). Radhika is the the GGSN coordinator for India, a member of the youth based collective "Let India Breathe", and the founder of Pantrynook- a zerowaste (plastic free) food packaging company. In the interview she discusses how the campaign to protect Aarey, a forest within the suburbs of Mumbai, brought together a coalition of urban and Indigenous communities from the mid to late 2010s. In doing so she describes how this gave rise to new ways of campaigning in India, as well as how it revealed the advantages and pitfalls involved with broad coalitions. Amongst other topics the interview also explores the importance of long term visions within social change work and ways in which current campaigns supporting Palestine are providing a lead for global solidarity more generally.

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AI, Technology and Social Transformation with Ned Howey

Sun, 28 Jan 2024 21:59:57 GMT

Aoife Carli-Hannan, engagement officer with the Commons Library, chats with Ned Howey, the co-founder of Tectonica, a movement building agency whose stated mission is “to create a seismic shift in the way politics are done, through innovations that empower social, economic, and environmental justice movements.” Alongside directly helping organizations, political parties, and unions with an array of strategic, creative and technological services the agency also created and facilitates the Tectonica Organising Network (TON). In this conversation Aoife and Ned focus on the democratic dilemmas, opportunities and challenges associated with new generative AI technologies. They discuss the potential of these tools to deepen existing biases and power imbalances but also the possibilities they create for fostering practices that can connect people to social change movements and transform our societies for the better.

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Citizen Science and Big Tree Hunting with Alice Hardinge

Tue, 16 Jan 2024 05:04:44 GMT

This episode features a conversation between Emily Wood Trounce and Alice Hardinge, the acting Tasmanian campaign manager for the Wilderness Society. In it they explore the practice and value of citizen science and big tree hunting in locating and identifying threatened species. They discuss how this results in a number of valuable outcomes, including allowing conservationists to enforce existing rules regarding clearfelling while also supporting campaigns to fully end the logging of old growth forests.

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Emerging AI Technologies and Campaigning with Hannah O'Rourke

Tue, 16 Jan 2024 01:27:25 GMT

Aoife Carli-Hannan, engagement officer with the Commons Library, chats with Hannah O’Rourke, co-founder of the UK based Campaign Lab and a trainer with Social Movement Technologies. They discuss the role AI technologies can play in supporting campaigners with messaging, outreach and other opportunities. They also canvas issues in regards to ethics and regulation, and ways in which activists can shape the use of technology as well as overcome its barriers and limitations.

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Building Coalitions and Campaigns to Protect Forests with Jess Beckerling

Tue, 16 Jan 2024 01:14:47 GMT

In this conversation community radio broadcaster Mike Tucak interviews Jess Beckerling, campaign director of the WA Forest Alliance about her decades of experience in supporting coalition work and mobilising communities. They discuss lessons drawn from the successful campaign to end the logging of Western Australian forests, many of which can be applied to other issues.

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Insights into Indigenous Solidarity, Creativity and Social Justice with Laniyuk and Te Raukura O’Connell Rapira

Tue, 09 Jan 2024 00:18:24 GMT

A conversation between Te Raukura O’Connell Rapira and Laniyuk. They discuss a range of topics including the power of Indigenous solidarity, love of land, resistance to rainbow capitalism, and the role of creativity and emotion in achieving story sovereignty and social justice.

Te Raukura O’Connell Rapira is the Director of The Pod: Centre for Healing Justice and is from Te Ātiawa, Ngāruahine, Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa, Ngāti Whakaue and Country Kerry in Ireland. Laniyuk is a Larrakia, Kungarakan, Gurindji, and French writer, visual artist and performer of poetry, speculative fiction and short memoir.

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Movement Success, Durability and Research with Professor Winnifred Louis

Tue, 09 Jan 2024 00:06:44 GMT

Hear a conversation between Sophie Hartley, climate activism researcher with the Commons Library, and Professor Winnifred Louis, director of the Social Change Lab at the University of Queensland.

Winnifred is a social psychologist whose research interests focus on the influence of identity and norms on social decision-making in contexts ranging from political activism to peace psychology to health and the environment. In this conversation she discusses findings regarding the impact of movement actions and activities along different timescales and with differing audiences as well as principles that can help campaigns to be more effective and durable.

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Women and Leadership in the Environment Movement with Judy Lambert and Victoria McKenzie-McHarg

Mon, 08 Jan 2024 23:51:24 GMT

Listen to an inspiring podcast about women and leadership in the Australian environment movement. In this episode co-founder of Women's Environmental Leadership Australia (WELA) Judy Lambert is interviewed by the current director of WELA, Victoria McKenzie-McHarg. They discuss Judy’s experience in many roles as well as her vision of a multilayered movement which features a diversity of people, skills and knowledge.

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Insights from Disability Campaigning with Rochelle Porteous

Mon, 08 Jan 2024 23:36:23 GMT

A conversation between Holly Hammond, Director of the Commons Library, and Rochelle Porteous, the Advocacy Manager at the Council for Intellectual Disability. Rochelle discusses some key wins and the insights she has drawn from a rich history of campaigning.

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Insights into Values, Difference and Campaigning with Laura (Te Raukura) O’Connell Rapira

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 02:48:35 GMT

This episode features an interview with Laura O’Connell Rapira (now known as Te Raukura O'Connell Rapira) the former director of Aotearoa digital campaign organization ActionStation and former executive director of movement building at the Foundation for Young Australians. In conversation with Commons Librarian Holly Hammond they discuss the importance of putting shared values at the heart of campaigning and other work, as well as the significance of contributions by youth and First Nations to social change. Laura also reflects on assisting people to work together across difference in terms of background, life experiences and approaches to social change through the creation of meeting and organizing spaces where people can show up as their full selves.

Explore Further

How Action Station became a Values-led Organisation
Foundation for Young Australians – Movement Network & Collective Imagining
The future can be awesome but not without activism – TED Talk by Laura O’Connell Rapira

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Insights into the Stolen Wages Campaign with Geraldine Fela

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 04:40:55 GMT

How did a rank and file led campaign force the University of Melbourne to hand over $31.5 million in stolen wages? To find out Commons Librarian Iain McIntyre chats with Geraldine Fela, a member of the National Tertiary Education Union and a former delegate with the University of Melbourne’s Casual Network. She discusses how a strong group, built around concerted campaigning and a culture of grassroots democracy, forced the university into conceding better conditions and paying back stolen wages.

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Insights into Communities and Climate Change with Maddy Rose Braddon

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 04:27:48 GMT

Commons Librarian Holly Hammond chats with Maddy Rose Braddon, who works as a connector and collaborator with people and networks to help them thrive in communities impacted by climate change. They reflect on the impact of climate change on Northern New South Wales, the lessons to be drawn from community led responses to disaster, and the role of local, grassroots institutions in leading recovery efforts.

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Lessons from Campaigning for AIDs Activism with Sarah Schulman

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 04:17:22 GMT

This episode features an interview by Commons Librarian Holly Hammond with novelist, playwright, screenwriter, and historian Sarah Schulman. They discuss the nature of effective coalitions, the challenges of accurately documenting social movements, and lessons from campaigns led by the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACT UP) during the 1980s and 1990s. A participant in the campaigns, Schulman’s book, Let the Record Show: A Political History of ACT UP New York, 1987-1993, is based on over 200 interviews with those involved in the fight for healthcare and justice for people living with AIDS and HIV.

Transcript

Explore Further

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Insights into Learning in Movements with Laurence Cox

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 04:09:53 GMT

Commons Librarian Iain McIntyre interviews Irish activist and researcher Laurence Cox about the nature and role of learning in creating social change. Laurence has been involved in a range of movements for more than 35 years. In his day job he researches social movements and co-edits the activist/academic movement journal Interface. Alongside using reflection, learning and sharing to improve a range of practical skills Laurence discusses how various projects and organisations, including Movement Learning Catalyst, are working to help activists address broader dilemmas to do with strategy and movement building.

Explore Further

Why learning from each others struggles is vital to long term movement success
Movement Learning Catalyst – Ulex Project
Learning in Movements – Interface Journal

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Insights into First Nations Activism with Grace Vegesana and Millie Telford

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 04:02:24 GMT

In this episode Millie Telford is interviewed by Grace Vegesana, the Climate & Racial Justice Director for the Australian Youth Climate Coalition (AYCC). Millie was active in AYCC prior to co-founding and leading Seed Indigenous Youth Climate Network. She worked with Seed for ten years and has recently moved on, focusing on First Nations justice through a new role at Australian Progress. During the interview Millie discusses a range of recent shifts that have come about in Australian society through the activism of First Nations communities. She also outlines the challenges for those communities in finding and working with allies, and the way in which centering the voices of those most affected by issues works to benefit all.

Explore Further

Read the transcript of this conversation (PDF)
Seed Indigenous Youth Climate Movement
Water is Life – film about the campaign to stop fracking in the NT
Common Threads – First Nations Summit

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Insights from Disability Campaigning from El Gibbs and Elly Desmarchelier

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 03:39:33 GMT

El Gibbs is a campaigner and award winning writer whose work focuses on disability and social justice issues. In this interview she and writer, speaker and disability rights advocate, Elly Desmarchelier, discuss their experiences of campaigning around a range of causes. They also chat about ways in which campaigns can become more effective, strategic and accessible, about learning from mistakes, and the importance of rest and fun in creating sustainable, deep and lasting change.

Transcript

Explore Further – Links from Podcast

Explore Further – Resources in the Commons Library

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