Podcast of the Cybernetic Marxists. Examining the intersection of Technology, (Left) Politics, and Philosophy
Episodes
Apr 8, 2020
Apr 8, 2020
1hr 32 min
In which we are joined by returning guest Bob Neubauer, to discuss "The Capitalocene Part I: on the nature and origins of our ecological crisis" by Jason Moore. In part two, we will discuss the second essay. In the third episode we will re-convene with Bob to discuss some of the responses to Moore's work, and to situate these episodes in the context of the coronavirus pandemic.
If you like the show, consider supporting us on Patreon.
Links:
Mar 16, 2020
Mar 16, 2020
57 min
In which we chat with Tom O'Brien (host of From Alpha To Omega) about the Coronavirus pandemic, and what it all means for the future of society.
If you like the show, consider supporting us on Patreon.
Links:
Mar 4, 2020
Mar 4, 2020
1hr 26 min
In which we talk to Callum Cant about his new book, "Riding for Deliveroo: Resistance in the New Economy".
"What is life like for workers in the gig economy? Is it a paradise of flexibility and individual freedom? Or is it a world of exploitation and conflict? Callum Cant took a job with one of the most prominent platforms, Deliveroo, to find out.
His vivid account of the reality is grim. Workers are being tyrannised by algorithms and exploited for the profit of the few – but they are not taking it lying down. Cant reveals a transnational network of encrypted chats and informal groups which have given birth to a wave of strikes and protests. Far from being atomised individuals helpless in the face of massive tech companies, workers are tearing up the rulebook and taking back control. New developments in the workplace are combining to produce an explosive subterranean class struggle – where the stakes are high, and the risks are higher.
Riding for Deliveroo is the first portrait of a new generation of working class militants. Its mixture of compelling first-hand testimony and engaging analysis is essential for anyone wishing to understand class struggle in platform capitalism."
If you like the show, consider supporting us on Patreon.
Links:
Feb 19, 2020
Feb 19, 2020
1hr 19 min
In which we continue our discussion of "Organizing for Power: Stealing Fire from the Gods", by Amelia Davenport.
If you like the show, consider supporting us on Patreon.
Links:
Feb 6, 2020
Feb 6, 2020
1hr 16 min
In which we read "Organizing for Power: Stealing Fire from the Gods", by Amelia Davenport. Part two will air in two weeks.
If you like the show, consider supporting us on Patreon.
Links:
Jan 15, 2020
Jan 15, 2020
1hr 58 min
In which we interview the worker-owners of Loomio, a decision-making software cooperative.
If you like the show, consider supporting us on Patreon.
Links:
- Loomio Cooperative Handbook
- Loomio Facilitators Guide
- Loomio Blog
- Creating the Workplace of the Future
- General Intellect Unit on iTunes
- http://generalintellectunit.net
- Support the show on Patreon
- https://twitter.com/giunitpod
- General Intellect Unit on Facebook
- General Intellect Unit on archive.org
- Emancipation Network
Dec 11, 2019
Dec 11, 2019
1hr 21 min
In which we read "A Study of Organizational Closure and Autopoiesis", by Harish Jose.
If you like the show, consider supporting us on Patreon.
Links:
- A Study of Organizational Closure and Autopoiesis, at https://harishsnotebook.wordpress.com
- General Intellect Unit on iTunes
- http://generalintellectunit.net
- Support the show on Patreon
- https://twitter.com/giunitpod
- General Intellect Unit on Facebook
- General Intellect Unit on archive.org
- Emancipation Network
Nov 13, 2019
Nov 13, 2019
1hr 11 min
In which we finish our discussion of Eliza, a game by Zachtronics.
"After abandoning her high-powered tech career and a mysterious three-year absence, Evelyn Ishino-Aubrey resurfaces working as a proxy for a virtual counseling app called Eliza. Her job consists solely of reading a script provided to her in real-time by an AI, leaving her no autonomy over what she says. Is Eliza a technological marvel that brings therapy to those who otherwise couldn’t access it? Or is it an ineffective replacement and another vector for technology companies to gain control over our lives and humanity?"
If you like the show, consider supporting us on Patreon.
Links:
Oct 31, 2019
Oct 31, 2019
1hr 12 min
In which we play Eliza, a game by Zachtronics.
"After abandoning her high-powered tech career and a mysterious three-year absence, Evelyn Ishino-Aubrey resurfaces working as a proxy for a virtual counseling app called Eliza. Her job consists solely of reading a script provided to her in real-time by an AI, leaving her no autonomy over what she says. Is Eliza a technological marvel that brings therapy to those who otherwise couldn’t access it? Or is it an ineffective replacement and another vector for technology companies to gain control over our lives and humanity?"
If you like the show, consider supporting us on Patreon.
Links:
Oct 9, 2019
Oct 9, 2019
58 min
In which conclude our reading of "Digital Socialism?" by Evgeny Morozov.
If you like the show, consider supporting us on Patreon.
Links:
Sep 25, 2019
Sep 25, 2019
57 min
In which we read "Digital Socialism?" by Evgeny Morozov. Part 2 will air in a few weeks.
If you like the show, consider supporting us on Patreon.
Links:
Sep 11, 2019
Sep 11, 2019
1hr 35 min
In which we are joined by our friend Matt, to discuss two articles by François Chollet, "The Implausibility of Intelligence Explosion", and "What Worries Me About AI".
If you like the show, consider supporting us on Patreon.
Links:
Sep 1, 2019
Sep 1, 2019
58 min
Part two of our collaboration episode with Swampside Chats, in which we (re)read Stafford Beers "Designing Freedom".
If you like the show, consider supporting us on Patreon.
Links:
Aug 22, 2019
Aug 22, 2019
59 min
A collaboration episode with Swampside Chats, in which we (re)read Stafford Beers "Designing Freedom", and zoom off on all kinds of tangents along the way. Part two will air next week.
If you like the show, consider supporting us on Patreon.
Links:
Aug 7, 2019
Aug 7, 2019
57 min
In which we read "The Necessity of Extended Autopoiesis" by Nathaniel Virgo. (Our reading of) this text treks through cybernetics, gaia theory, deleuzian metaphysics and biology, converging on an understanding of the relation between bodies and processes.
If you like the show, consider supporting us on Patreon.
Links: