The F Word with Laura Flanders

Laura Flanders
  • 4.7 (15)
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Laura Flanders is a best-selling author and the host of Laura Flanders and Friends (formerly The Laura Flanders Show), a syndicated weekly program airing on Public TV in which she talks to creative thinkers and change-makers from the worlds of politics, arts and the new economy. In her weekly commentary, The "F" Word, she tells you what she thinks. The "F" Word is heard on the Progressive Voices Channel on Tune-In and is made available free to radio stations who appreciate an upbeat, radical perspective. lauraflanders.org

  1. Full Conversation- Rabble Rousers: Frances Goldin and the Fight for Cooper Square

    JAN 6

    Full Conversation- Rabble Rousers: Frances Goldin and the Fight for Cooper Square

    Low income Americans face an acute housing shortage. But our guests have a victory to share. “Rabble Rousers: Frances Goldin and the Fight for Cooper Square" is a newly-released documentary telling the story of how a diverse group of New Yorkers, led by housing organizer Frances Goldin, fought a 50-year struggle against abandonment, white flight, violence, drugs and "Power Broker" Robert Moses to save a 12-block section of lower Manhattan from being destroyed. They created the first urban Community Land Trust (CLT), and thousands of homes and businesses were saved from speculation. The CLT established permanent low-income housing for Cooper Square residents. The film, which is out now from New Day Films, was directed and produced by our guests Kelly Anderson and Ryan Joseph, with Kathryn Barnier. Anderson and Joseph, along with historian Johanna Fernández join Laura to discuss the significance of Goldin, rabble rousing and the Cooper Square story for today. Plus, a commentary from Laura on “lost causes” that aren’t. Guests: -Kelly Anderson: Producer/Director, “Rabble Rousers: Frances Goldin and the Fight for Cooper Square” -Johanna Fernández: Professor, 20th Century US History & the History of Social Movements at Baruch College & the Graduate Center CUNY -Ryan Joseph: Producer/Director, “Rabble Rousers: Frances Goldin and the Fight for Cooper Square”

    38 min
  2. Full Conversation- Johann Hari: Get Your Mind Back / Save Democracy?

    10/23/2025

    Full Conversation- Johann Hari: Get Your Mind Back / Save Democracy?

    As a monthly sustaining supporter you are receiving early access to listen and download the full uncut conversation from our episode "Johann Hari: Get Your Mind Back / Save Democracy?" Description: Are we too distracted to think? The answer is worse than you’d expect. In his latest book, New York Times bestselling author Johann Hari says we’re all the victims of attention theft and the consequences are catastrophic, for our personal lives and our democracy. Adults in the workplace focus on a task for 3 minutes on average, and that number is declining. “We've got so many crises we need to deal with that require sustained focus and attention on the part of the citizenry,” Hari tells Laura, but our focus has been stolen by companies out to make a profit. “Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention and How to Think Deeply Again” was named one of the best books of 2022 by many publications and is out in paperback this month. In this wide-ranging conversation, Johann and Laura discuss how we got here, what structural changes we need, and how we need to stop beating ourselves up. It's not our fault we can't focus, says Hari, but we do need our minds back if we want society to function. All that and a commentary from Laura on Luddites. Guest: Johann Hari- Bestselling Author, “Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention and How to Think Deeply Again” Full research and reading list to further delve into the conversation is posted at https://Patreon.com/theLFShow

    41 min
  3. Saket Soni: How Trafficked Workers Pulled Off “The Great Escape”

    10/23/2025

    Saket Soni: How Trafficked Workers Pulled Off “The Great Escape”

    Description: “THE GREAT ESCAPE: A True Story of Forced Labor and Immigrant Dreams in America” tells the story of one of the largest human trafficking schemes in modern American history and how the traffickers were finally held to account. Saket Soni was the co-founder of The New Orleans Workers Center for Racial Justice in the post-Katrina years. Today he’s the founder and director of Resilience Force, a project that comes directly out of his experience working with the men in this book. The U.S. is experiencing a labor shortage, and climate catastrophe will increase the need for disaster recovery workers. How can we build the resilient workforce we need, with the rights and equity workers deserve? Join Laura and Saket for this urgent conversation on the future of labor. Guest: Saket Soni, Author, THE GREAT ESCAPE: A True Story of Forced Labor and Immigrant Dreams in America; Founder & Director, Resilience Force Full research and reading list to further delve into the conversation is available here on at https://Patreon.com/theLFShow

    36 min
  4. F-Word: The Paramount Skydance Sale Makes the Case for Public Media

    07/26/2025

    F-Word: The Paramount Skydance Sale Makes the Case for Public Media

    Synopsis, Laura's Commentary: As billionaires buy up our newsrooms and Congress defunds public media, the stakes for democracy couldn’t be higher. If we don’t reinvent and reinvest in independent media now, it may soon be too late. For the transcript of this commentary and more articles by Laura subscribe to Substack. Watch Laura's interview with Documented NY's Labor Reporter Amir Khafagy and Capital B's Rural Issues Reporter Aallyah Wright on Laura Flanders & Friends on YouTube, or PBS stations and hear their take on commercial coverage of the NYC Mayor's race and anti-Black rule changes at USDA, or listen to past commentaries and full uncut interviews through subscribing to this free podcast. That episode is available on YouTube July 25th 5pm ET; PBS World Channel July 27th, and on over 300 public stations across the country (check your listings, or search here via zipcode). Listen: Episode airs on community radio stations across the country (check here to see if your station airs the show) & available as a podcast July 30th. Full Episode Notes are located HERE. This show is made possible by you! To become a sustaining member go to LauraFlanders.org/donate

    2 min
  5. Full Conversation- America's Drug Price Nightmare: Public Production Can Save Lives

    07/17/2025

    Full Conversation- America's Drug Price Nightmare: Public Production Can Save Lives

    Pharmaceutical prices in the US are astronomically high and many vulnerable people can’t afford the drugs they need. Public ownership of drug manufacturing can break the private monopolies and save lives, but it’s going to take a lot of public pressure to make change. Today, we look at the progress that’s being made to tackle America’s killer drug price problem at the state, national and global level. The Biden administration’s agreement with manufacturer Eli Lilly to cap insulin prices at $35/dose is a step, but what would really make a difference would be to get private profit and monopoly patents out of the health business altogether. In the US, California is taking the lead. Advocates Dana Brown, Luis Gil Abinader and Kevin Wren join Laura to bring us an update –  and in her closing, Laura shares some news about the impact of our investigative series from North Carolina. Guests: •Dana Brown: Director, Health & Economy, The Democracy Collaborative •Luis Gil Abinader: Legal Scholar; Fellow, Georgetown University Law O'Neill Institute; Board Member, Universities Allied for Essential Medicines (UAEM) •Kevin Wren: Queer Activist & Patient Advocate Chapter Leader, California #insulin4all; T1 International; Queer Activist & Patient Advocate, MA Evans School of Public Policy & Governance, University of Washington

    34 min
  6. F-WORD: Melissa Hortman's Lesson: Woke Worked

    06/19/2025

    F-WORD: Melissa Hortman's Lesson: Woke Worked

    Laura's Extended Commentary aka The F-Word: Melissa Hortman’s murder was more than a tragedy—it was a political assassination aimed at a movement. This commentary honors her legacy as a coalition-builder behind Minnesota’s progressive gains and calls for courage, organizing, and solidarity in her wake. - The related episode featuring Sarah Schulman premieres on our YouTube channel June 20th 5pm ET where you are invited to join us to Watch the episode live and chat with Laura in real time. It premieres on PBS World Channel June 22nd, and on over 300 public stations across the country (check your listings, or search here via zipcode), and airing on community radio & available in the podcast feed June 25th. The full uncut conversation is available June 20th 5pm in the podcast feed... please hit the subscribe button wherever you get your podcasts. For more articles by Laura subscribe to Substack: https://lauraflanders.substack.com/?utm_campaign=pub&utm_medium=web

    4 min
  7. COMMENTARY: Troops Need Care Not a Circus

    06/13/2025

    COMMENTARY: Troops Need Care Not a Circus

    Laura's Commentary: With seventeen veterans taking their lives daily in the US, a haunting question arises: can America redefine its values and reclaim its democratic principles before it's too late, or will it continue down a path of militarized politics and shattered ideals? Subscribe to the Laura Flanders and Friends Podcast for the exclusive uncut conversation between Liev Schreiber and Laura Flanders For more articles by Laura subscribe to Substack: https://substack.com/home/post/p-165868460

    5 min
  8. Full Conversation- V (formerly Eve Ensler): Reckoning with Our Past, Transforming the Futur

    05/28/2025

    Full Conversation- V (formerly Eve Ensler): Reckoning with Our Past, Transforming the Futur

    "V (formerly Eve Ensler): Reckoning with Our Past, Transforming the Future." Original Release Date- February 19, 2023 Description: “Reckoning” is the new best-selling book from V (formerly Eve Ensler), author of “The Vagina Monologues” and founder of V-Day/One Billion Rising, the global movement to end violence against all women, gender-expansive people, girls, and the earth. Reckoning, writes V, is “the antidote to fascism”. In this Women’s History Month special, which includes performances by V and Laurence Olivier Award-winning actress and Tony nominee, Noma Dumezweni, Laura speaks with V about why she changed her name, her long history working for peace, the current pushback against teaching African American history, and the abortion she had at the age of 23 when she was living in a halfway home. What is the reckoning we need, and where can it lead us? What happens if we do NOT reckon? Guest:  V (formerly Eve Ensler): Award-winning Playwright, Author & Founder V-Day & One Billion Rising; Best-selling Author, Reckoning, The Apology Full research and reading list to further delve into the conversation is available at Patreon here => https://tinyurl.com/y7xasnny

    42 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.7
out of 5
15 Ratings

About

Laura Flanders is a best-selling author and the host of Laura Flanders and Friends (formerly The Laura Flanders Show), a syndicated weekly program airing on Public TV in which she talks to creative thinkers and change-makers from the worlds of politics, arts and the new economy. In her weekly commentary, The "F" Word, she tells you what she thinks. The "F" Word is heard on the Progressive Voices Channel on Tune-In and is made available free to radio stations who appreciate an upbeat, radical perspective. lauraflanders.org

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