ABC Café: Recent Episodes
Anthony Apodaca
A Vermont-focused podcast for curious people featuring interviews with artists, comedians, activists, academics, and whomever else we find interesting. It's a long-form conversation with local people about how they influence their world and how they are influenced by it. Hosted by Anthony Apodaca.
Paul Fleckenstein on climate change and local organizing. We talk about the current state of the climate movement and the importance of local organizing as a strategy to build a movement. We also talk about Burlington's push for airport expansion and how you can get involved to fight back.
Petition to stop the airport expansion: https://tinyurl.com/2p8kdwaz
Another silent spring: https://www.tempestmag.org/2022/03/another-silent-spring/
Recorded on March 26, 2021
Hosted by Anthony Apodaca
Ashley Smith on the Tempest Collective, Socialism, and Democracy. We talk about the politics of the Tempest Collective, the rot of state capitalism, working-class organizing, and building a new party to address our interrelated local and global crises.
Recorded on February 3, 2021
Hosted by Anthony Apodaca
John Heermans on the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont's recent resolution "Recognition of Apartheid in Israel/Palestine". Discussed on the show:
Apartheid in Israel/Palestine
https://diovermont.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Recognition-of-Apartheid-in-IsraelPalestine.pdf
Leahy Laws
https://diovermont.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Application-of-the-Leahy-Laws-to-Israel.pdf
Freedom of Speech
https://diovermont.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Supporting-Freedom-of-Speech-and-the-Right-to-Boycott.pdf
Recorded on December 23, 2021
Hosted by Anthony Apodaca
Liz Blum and Kathy Shapiro join us to discuss Palestine, Israel, and the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement (BDS). We discuss how BDS is modeled on the fight against South African Apartheid, antisemitism, Jewish Voice for Peace, and why this issue should matter to all Vermonters. Links for further reading:
Ten Myths about Israel
The Politics of Defining Antisemitism
Jewish Voice for Peace
On Antisemitism
A Land with a People
A Northern Ireland Solution for Palestine?
BDS Movement
A Threshold Crossed: Israeli Authorities and the Crimes of Apartheid and Persecution
Recorded on December 10, 2021
Hosted by Anthony Apodaca
Music by Sir Thomas Cornholder of the Massachusetts Cornholders
Rabbi Jan and Rabbi David join us to discuss Burlington's recent resolution "Calling for Justice and a Peaceful End to the Palestine and Israel Conflict." The resolution calls for the city to "express its solidarity with the Palestinian people" and endorse the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement (BDS).
Four rabbis: A joint letter to Burlington City Council about BDS vote
Marc Estrin: The rabbis have it wrong about BDS movement
BDS Movement
A Threshold Crossed: Israeli Authorities and the Crimes of Apartheid and Persecution
Recorded on October 7, 2021
Hosted by Anthony Apodaca
Music by Sir Thomas Cornholder of the Massachusetts Cornholders
The People of Winooski share their pain and suffering under F-35 operations. In this episode, we cover the Winooski City Council meeting that took place on Sept 7, attended by the Vermont Air National Guard.
Full meeting: https://www.cctv.org/watch-tv/programs/winooski-city-council-424
Recorded on September 7, 2021
Hosted by Anthony Apodaca
Music by Dr. Divorce
Yasamin Gordon on Building Equity in the City of Winooski. We talk about her new role as Equity Director, engaging with and listening to members of the community, voting rights, the police, and much more.
Recorded on August 20, 2021
Hosted by Anthony Apodaca
Music by Zebulon 5
Jess Laporte on People for Police Accountability. We talk about the movement and struggle for police accountability in Burlington, the proposed charter change to help make that happen, and how you can get involved.
Discussed on show:
People for Police Accountability
https://peopleforpoliceaccountability.com/
Women's Justice and Freedom Initiative
https://www.wjfi.org/
The Battery Park Movement
https://www.facebook.com/The-Battery-Park-Movement-101456988442763
Vermont ACLU
https://www.acluvt.org/
Peace and Justice Center
https://www.pjcvt.org/
Migrant Justice
https://migrantjustice.net/
Vermont Racial Justice Alliance
https://www.vtracialjusticealliance.org/
Recorded on July 23, 2021
Hosted by Anthony Apodaca and Daniel Trigg
Music by David Ratsauce
The Guard Responds with Marguerite Adelman and James Marc Leas. In our second episode about the F-35 in Burlington, we talk about the Guard's response to the recent Winooski ballot measure, the lack of response from our elected officials, and whose door we need to bang on to get these damn planes out of our cities.
https://jetlinefilm.com/
https://cancelf35.substack.com/
https://www.defendtheguard.us/
Submit your F-35 comment: https://tinyurl.com/4zjjn39x
Results: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1tmEqEFUYQv7mxR5PnSn49mARczYZfNLObabuY1cvp6A/viewanalytics
Recorded on June 11, 2021
Hosted by Anthony Apodaca and Daniel Trigg
Wafic Faour on the Palestinian struggle in Vermont. We talk about his journey to Vermont as a Palestinian refugee, Israeli occupation and apartheid, and how your actions can make a difference. Discussed on the show:
Vermonters for Justice in Palestine
A Threshold Crossed: Israeli Authorities and the Crimes of Apartheid and Persecution
B'Tselem (The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories)
Jewish Voice for Peace
Daniel Larison on Israel’s De Facto Annexation of Palestine (the Scott Horton show)
Max Blumenthal on the Real History of Israel-Palestine (the Scott Horton show)
Recorded on June 3, 2021
Hosted by Anthony Apodaca and Daniel Trigg
Cancel the F-35 with James Marc Leas and Ze'eva Chasan. We discuss the decision to bring the F-35 to Vermont, the major players involved in that decision, the devastating consequences for people living in the flight path, and what can be done to push back.
Discussed on the show:
https://jetlinefilm.com/
https://cancelf35.substack.com/
https://vtdigger.org/2018/03/05/leahy-staff-central-role-f-35-basing-decision/
Submit your F-35 comment: https://tinyurl.com/4zjjn39x
Results: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1tmEqEFUYQv7mxR5PnSn49mARczYZfNLObabuY1cvp6A/viewanalytics
Recorded on May 5, 2021
Hosted by Anthony Apodaca and Daniel Trigg
Interview with Elizabeth Parker, Director of Public Engagement for Sustainable Montpelier Coalition. We talk about the recent launch of MyRide by GMT, restoring city landscapes, sustainable (and affordable!) transportation, and the bygone age of the train.
https://sustainablemontpelier.org/transportation/
Recorded on January 27, 2021.
Interview with Burlington City Councilperson Zoraya Hightower. We talk about her work on the Community Development and Neighborhood Revitalization Committee as well as the historic passage of the city resolution on "Racial Justice through Economic and Criminal Justice." We also dive into some discussion on the Burlington Police Department, the interplay of race and class, and what it takes to build a movement.
Discussed in the show: https://www.haymarketbooks.org/books/778-from-blacklivesmatter-to-black-liberation
Interview with Taylor Small, Director of the Health & Wellness program at Pride Center of Vermont and current candidate for the Vermont House of Representatives. We talk about healthcare and housing as a human right, minimum wage, education, and defunding the Vermont State Police as a practical means to provide better services for our community.
Interview with Vermont State Representatives Selene Colburn, Diana González, and Brian Cina on their recent open letter to legislative colleagues calling to defund the Vermont State Police. They make the case to reduce the police budget by 20% and use those funds for strategic re-investments in Vermont's underrepresented, marginalized, and disenfranchised communities.
Show links:
https://selenecolburn.org/2020/06/10/a-call-to-defund-the-vermont-state-police/
https://www.versobooks.com/books/2426-the-end-of-policing (eBook version is free at the time this was published)
https://www.mpd150.com/star-tribune-editorial-we-must-look-beyond-police-for-community-safety/
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-017-0211-5
https://vtdigger.org/2020/06/12/legislative-leaders-signal-unwillingness-to-consider-defunding-state-police/
Interview with Helen Scott on fighting UVM's budget cuts, which hurt the lowest paid faculty and staff, even as a bloated administration sacrifices very little. Further, the cuts threaten the sustainability of the university by eroding its infrastructure. She proposes an alternative approach that is democratic, transparent, and progressive. Helen Scott is Professor of English at UVM. She is a member of United Academics AFT/AAUP and is District Vice President for Chittenden County with the Vermont AFL-CIO.
UVM Against the Cuts
https://www.facebook.com/groups/556061698629743/
Helen Scott's Blog Post
https://champlainvalleydsa.org/blog/fighting-the-cuts-at-uvm
VSCS Thrive
https://vscsthrive.org/
Interview with Dayna Stimson on the pros and cons of Vermont's response to Covid-19. Dayna, of Burlington, is a family nurse practitioner and a member of the Champlain Valley Democratic Socialists of America and Community Voices for Immigrant Rights.
Show links:
https://ethics.harvard.edu/Covid-Roadmap
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhRQxk9QA-o&t=25s
https://dfr.vermont.gov/about-us/covid-19/modeling
https://champlainvalleydsa.org/blog/no-one-is-illegal-not-one-left-behind-time-to-escalate-the-fight-for-immigrant-rights
Interview with Linda Olson, President of the Vermont State Colleges Faculty Federation, AFT Vermont. We talk about the recent proposal to close three campuses of the Vermont State Colleges System, the road that led us here, and what can be done in response.
Discussed on the show:
VSCS Thrive (https://vscsthrive.org/) - An organization and a movement to protect and ensure the vitality of the Vermont State Colleges in perpetuity.
Upcoming meeting with Vermont educators and organizers.
Fund Vermont's Future: Join the Fight for Public Education
Wednesday, May 6
https://www.facebook.com/events/716850312465746/
Interview with Kris Nelson, co-founder of Rescue Club (Zero Gravity's new non-alcoholic beer) and co-founder of Citizen Cider. We talk about his new project at Zero Gravity, the difficulties faced by bars and restaurants during lockdown, life after Covid-19, and the beauty of fall.
This podcast is available for free, but if you'd like to support a cause we care about, please consider supporting our partners Revelry Theater (revelrytheater.com/donations).
Interview with Keegan Albaugh, founder and board member of the Dad Guild in Burlington, Vermont. We talk about the purpose of the Dad Guild, educating fathers, and the effects of Covid-19 on parenting.
https://www.dadguild.org/
Interview with Burlington Tenants Union representative Charles Winkleman. We talk about the effects of Covid-19 for renters in Burlington, the power dynamics of renters and owners, and how you can get involved.
An abbreviated write-up in this show will be published soon on the Champlain Valley DSA website. You can also visit the Burlington Tenants Union website to find out more information or contact them directly.
We also discussed Amazon's treatment of Christian Smalls.
In this episode we talk to Jenna Emerson about her work as a health and sexuality teacher at the University of Vermont. You'll probably learn some things about the birds and the bees (we did) and you'll get to hear one of her newest parody songs.
Jenna also serves (along with Anthony) on the board of directors for Revelry Theater (https://revelrytheater.com/).
Currently there's no real way to support this podcast, but we'd love it if you could head over to VTDigger (https://vtdigger.org/2020/04/01/3000masksin30days/) and help them raise 3000 masks in 30 days. This podcast is in no way affiliated with VTDigger; we just saw what they were doing and wanted to spread the word.