Spring Radio – Details, episodes & analysis

When we began this mini-series, Pierre Poilievre and the conservatives were looking like they could win big if an election were to be held. However, the Liberal Party’s political fortunes changed in early 2025, as the threat of tariffs consumed Canadian political conversation, an unpopular Trudeau resigned, and Mark Carney became the new leader of the party. 

With polls looking good for the Liberals and the race thrown open, Carney called a quick election and pulled off yet another win at the ballot box, leading the Liberals to a fourth term in office and a minority government.  

The success of the Liberals has been hailed as a miraculous political resurrection, whilst, in a shock result, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre lost the seat he had held since 2004, even as his party performed better than expected. 

To discuss the election results, their implications for the Canadian working class, and what the future holds for organizing and Canadian politics, Spring member Josh Frame sat down with Pam Frache, coordinator of the Justice for Workers Campaign and organiser at the Workers Action Centre. Full transcript of this episode will be available shortly.

To support more episodes like this, please consider donating to Spring's annual fund drive. We put every penny to good use! 

The housing system is designed to make the people at the top richer while the rest of us struggle to pay rent or afford a mortgage. The only way the system will improve is if the working class organize to challenge the status quo.

In today’s episode, we talk with Chiara Padovani, an organizer who has been challenging corporate landlords and building tenant power with her neighbours. 

Follow Chiara at https://www.instagram.com/chipadovani/ and https://x.com/chipadovani 

Follow the York South-Weston Tenant Union at https://www.instagram.com/yswtenantunion and https://x.com/YSWtenants  

Spring Radio episode with Ricardo Tranjan on the tenant class: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6zP3h9aMG5yq6MuEAgqJKn?si=edf88d69841b4794 

Spring Radio episode with YSW Tenant Union: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4sbroZfLKurguz14PFGxri?si=9a861cb604a248d2 

Join us at the Toronto Peoples’ March for Housing Justice on June 14 @ 1pm at 230 Sherbourne.

This episode was produced in Tkaronto on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples.

It was produced by Krisna Saravanamuttu, Spencer Bridgman, and Ayan Tani. With original music by Benjamin Bilgen.

To read and listen to more from Spring, and to find out how to join the Spring Socialist Network, please go to SpringMag.ca. 

In this episode, Bangladeshi economist and public intellectual, Anu Mohammad, discusses the working class nature of the mass uprising in Bangladesh and where the country is headed after ousting an authoritarian government. 

In Spring’s annual Red October conference, we will be going deeper into the discussion around mass uprisings and revolution, along with other talks on state and elections, fighting the right-wing and fascism, and building workers’ power. Join Spring for a weekend of socialist ideas and strategy from October 18 to 20 in Toronto, Canada. Purchase Red October tickets here (PWYC options available): https://www.tickettailor.com/events/springmagazine1/1357089

This episode was produced on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples. It was produced by Spencer Bridgman and Sarah Shahid, with original music by Benjamin Bilgen. The song at the end of the interview is called Awaaz Utha by Bangladeshi rapper Hannan, who was arrested during the uprising but is now free. The song is available wherever you get your music.

To support more episodes like this, please consider contributing to Spring Magazine’s 2024 Fund Drive: https://www.gofundme.com/f/spring-magazines-2024-fund-drive.

This episode is the first installment in an ongoing series on the rhetoric of Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, and his bid to become the next Prime Minister of Canada. Poilievre's catchy one liners and strong online presence have been working over drive to promote a broadly regressive, neo-liberal and populist agenda as an option for Canada. With the polling as it stands, it is clear we must be prepared for the very real possibility of a Pierre Poilievre led Conservative government in the near future. But what can we as socialists do to counter his harmful messaging?

In this series, we will unpack Poilievre's many slogans and how to challenge them in conversations with those who may be swayed by messaging. Consider this your toolkit for the inevitably difficult conversations with loved ones, acquaintances and strangers as we approach the upcoming federal election. 

According to a poll released earlier this month, two of the top issues for voters in turning off support for the Liberal Party were cost of living increases and a lack of progress on inflation. Co-host Josh Frame sits down with Spring Member & Justice for Workers coordinator Pam Frache to talk about what is wrong with Poilievre's views on inflation and his solutions for making life more affordable for the working class.    This episode was produced on the traditional territory of many nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples.   It was produced by Carlie Macfie and Josh Frame, with original music by Benjamin Bilgen. To read and listen to more from Spring and to find out how to join the Spring Socialist Network, please go to SpringMag.ca.   To support more episodes like this, please consider contributing to Spring Magazine's 2024 Fund Drive: https://www.gofundme.com/f/spring-magazines-2024-fund-drive.   

The fight in the imperial core for a free Palestine has gained new momentum in the last couple months. This is due, in part, to the growing movement of pro-Palestinian student encampments demanding that their universities divest from the genocidal Israeli state.

In this episode, you’ll hear perspectives and insights from Ontario Tech University student Waddah, UCLA student and labour organizer Desmond, and OFL President Laura Walton.    This episode was produced on the traditional territory of many nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples.   It was produced by Sarah Shahid, Ayan Tani, Spencer Bridgman, and Josh Frame, with original music by Benjamin Bilgen. To read and listen to more from Spring and to find out how to join the Spring Socialist Network, please go to SpringMag.ca.   To support more episodes like this, please consider contributing to Spring Magazine's 2024 Fund Drive: https://www.gofundme.com/f/spring-magazines-2024-fund-drive. 

You can find the transcript for this episode here.

In this episode, Spring member Valerie Lannon sits down with Sudanese engineer and Marxist political activist Muzan Alneel to discuss the dire political and humanitarian crisis in Sudan. Muzan walks us through the current political situation, resistance efforts on the ground, and the best way for international allies to express their solidarity.   This episode was produced on the traditional territory of many nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples.   It was produced by Valerie Lannon, Carlie Macfie and Sarah Shahid, with original music by Benjamin Bilgen. To read and listen to more from Spring and to find out how to join the Spring Socialist Network, please go to SpringMag.ca.   To support more episodes like this, please consider contributing to Spring Magazine's 2024 Fund Drive: https://www.gofundme.com/f/spring-magazines-2024-fund-drive   You can find the transcript for this episode here.  

In today’s episode, we’re joined by Matthew Huber, author of the excellent book: Climate Change as Class War. We discuss the causes and possible solutions to the climate crisis from a socialist perspective.

This episode was produced on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples.

It was produced by Deena Newaz, Josh Frame, and Spencer Bridgman, with original music by Benjamin Bilgen. To read and listen to more from Spring, and to find out how to join the Spring Socialist Network, go to SpringMag.ca.

Today’s episode is about the Migrant Spring: a campaign pushing for permanent resident status to all undocumented people in Canada. We spoke with Migrant Workers Alliance for Change organizer Sarom Rho about the campaign, why it is so necessary in this moment, and how it connects with the fight for a Free Palestine. 

To see if there’s a Migrant Spring action being held near you, go to migrantrights.ca/events/mar16/. 

This episode was produced on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples.

It was produced by Samuel Tetelepta, Carlie Macfie, Spencer Bridgman, and me, Josh Frame. With original music by Benjamin Bilgen. To read and listen to more from Spring, and to find out how to join the Spring Socialist Network, go to SpringMag.ca.

You can find a transcript for this episode here.

In this episode we tune in to a condensed version of Spring's recent conversation with Benoit Renaud, a Quebec education worker and socialist, about lessons we can learn from the Quebec labour movement.

Listeners tuning in from outside of Quebec may be surprised to learn that more than half a million public sector workers went on strike in November and December. It was the largest strike in Quebec’s history and one of the largest in the history of Canada. The Common Front strategy in Quebec has a rich history in the province— and the coalition on strike this past fall was not only incredibly large, it was also successful in gaining both wage increases and improved working conditions for hundreds of thousands of public sector workers.

This episode was recorded on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples. It was produced by Spencer Bridgman, Carlie Macfie, and Sarah Shahid, with original music by Benjamin Bilgen. To read and listen to more from Spring, and find out how to join the Spring Socialist Network, please go to SpringMag.ca.   You can find the transcript for this episode here.

This episode is about the spirit and energy of a revolution. You’ll hear a talk from Spring members Deena Newaz and Peter Hogarth that was originally recorded on October 14, 2023 as part of Spring’s Red October conference.

The talk centres around the Russian revolution of 1917 and its impact not only on the Russian working class, but on people facing oppression at the hands of the ruling class around the world — from India to Peru, and from 1917 to today. 

This episode was recorded in Tkaronto on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples.

It was produced by Spencer Bridgman, Everett Kehew, and Joshua Frame, with original music by Benjamin Bilgen.

You can find the transcript for this episode here.