Socially Democratic

Stephen Donnelly
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Politics
  • Updated Weekly

Socially Democratic is your weekly centre-left politics and campaign podcast hosted by Stephen Donnelly, founder of Dunn Street - a campaign agency bringing change by organising from the ground up. Each Friday, Stephen and guests breakdown the issues shaping Australia and the rest of the world and the social democrats leading them. Follow on Instagram at @dunn.street Facebook at @dunnstreetaustralia Twitter at @Dunn_Street_LinkedIn at Dunn Street Website at dunnstreet.com.au 

  1. 1d ago

    Ep. 366: The Royal Commission on Antisemitism: What We're Learning with Lisa Mittelman | Australia's Labor Podcast

    Australian Labor politics podcast Socially Democratic returns to one of the most important and difficult conversations in Australian public life. In December last year, following the terrorist attack at Bondi Beach that killed 15 Jewish Australians on the first night of Hanukkah, we spoke about the rise of antisemitism in Australia and the Left's role in allowing it to fester. We promised to follow up. The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion is now in its sixth month of hearings. Over 20,000 submissions have been made in the largest community response to any Royal Commission in Australian history, from a community of just 120,000 people. Host Stephen Donnelly is joined by Lisa Mittelman, Director of Public Affairs and Strategy for the Zionist Federation of Australia, to unpack what we're learning. ⚖️ Where does free speech end and threats to safety begin? ✡️ How the days after October 7th changed the Jewish community's understanding of their place in Australia 📋 How the Jewish community organised, overcame hesitancy and fear, and made history with 20,000 submissions 🏫 Where antisemitism is most embedded: universities, schools, the arts, and social media, and why that's not an accident 🔤 The Z word: how "Zionist" has become a socially acceptable substitute for "Jew" 💙 What the Jewish community hopes the Royal Commission delivers, and what gives Lisa hope Don't miss this ep. Socially Democratic is an Australian Labor politics and campaigns podcast with expert guests. New episodes every Friday. Support the show Socially Democratic is an opinion-based political and campaign podcast that facilitates discussion on a range of topical issues. The opinions of guests are not an endorsement and do not necessarily reflect the views of the staff at Dunn Street and Socially Democratic. Access ad-free episodes and send in questions by joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SociallyDemocratic If you like the show, rate and review us on your favourite podcast app. Follow Us on Socials: Facebook (https://tr.ee/9jGIOy) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/sociallydemocratic) LinkedIn (https://tr.ee/YxyYJh) X (https://x.com/SocialDemPod) YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@DunnStreet) The presenting sponsor of the Socially Democratic podcast is Dunn Street. For more information on how Dunn Street can help you organise to build winning campaigns in your community, business or organisation, and make the world a better place, look us up at: dunnstreet.com.au

    Ep. 366: The Royal Commission on Antisemitism: What We're Learning with Lisa Mittelman | Australia's Labor Podcast

  2. Aug 13

    Ep. 365: Teacher Strikes, Gambling Reform, the Democratic Primaries and Other Mailbag Questions with Lissie Ratcliff | Australia's Labor Podcast

    Australian Labor politics podcast Socially Democratic is back with the August Mailbag. It's just Stephen and Lissie this month, with Todd Pinkerton away temporarily.  Lissie Ratcliff joins host Stephen Donnelly for a packed episode covering teacher strikes in Victoria, the Suburban Rail Loop saga, gambling reform, UK Politics, and a deep dive into the US Democratic primaries. They cover: 📚 The AEU teacher strikes. The union's own leadership had a deal voted down by its members - so how do the AEU and the Carroll government get this over the line before the election? 🚇 The Suburban Rail Loop. Voters like it and it's the kind of long-term infrastructure planning we say we want - so why does the Victorian media hate it? 🎰 Gambling advertising. Has the government got the settings right, and what happens when you try to wean sporting codes off dirty money? 🌍 Around the grounds: What the Democratic primaries in Michigan and Wisconsin tell us about where the left is heading, plus Nigel Farage fighting a by-election against a bloke with a rubbish bin on his head. 📺 Watch list:  Political Currency with Kemi Badenoch [ https://apple.co/3TYFrIW ] Larry David's Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness [ https://bit.ly/3UgHmst ] Don't miss this ep. Socially Democratic is an Australian Labor politics and campaigns podcast with expert guests. New episodes every Friday. Support the show Socially Democratic is an opinion-based political and campaign podcast that facilitates discussion on a range of topical issues. The opinions of guests are not an endorsement and do not necessarily reflect the views of the staff at Dunn Street and Socially Democratic. Access ad-free episodes and send in questions by joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SociallyDemocratic If you like the show, rate and review us on your favourite podcast app. Follow Us on Socials: Facebook (https://tr.ee/9jGIOy) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/sociallydemocratic) LinkedIn (https://tr.ee/YxyYJh) X (https://x.com/SocialDemPod) YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@DunnStreet) The presenting sponsor of the Socially Democratic podcast is Dunn Street. For more information on how Dunn Street can help you organise to build winning campaigns in your community, business or organisation, and make the world a better place, look us up at: dunnstreet.com.au

    Ep. 365: Teacher Strikes, Gambling Reform, the Democratic Primaries and Other Mailbag Questions with Lissie Ratcliff | Australia's Labor Podcast

  3. Aug 6

    Ep. 364: Growing the Labor Party: Membership, Recruitment and Retention - LIVE at the ALP National Conference Fringe | Australia's Labor Podcast

    Socially Democratic goes live at the 50th ALP National Conference Fringe in Adelaide for a special panel on one of the Labor Party's most important and least discussed challenges: how do we grow our membership, and how do we keep people once they join? Host Stephen Donnelly is joined by Todd Pinkerton, Director of Campaigns and Strategy at Unions NSW; Bisma Asif, Member for Sandgate in the Queensland Parliament; and Hannah MacLeod, Executive Director SA/NT at the McKell Institute. They cover: 🧩 Why there's no coordinated national strategy for Labor Party recruitment, and what that costs us 💸 Potential structural issues like the price of joining and the waiting list problem 📉 The Corbyn cautionary tale: when half a million people joined UK Labour and almost none of them did anything 🍺 Politics in the pub, gazebos, and Labor merch: what's actually working on the ground 🗳️ What Bisma learned from doorknocking for eight months 🤝 The missing middle. Who's recruiting the people who aren't at uni and aren't retired? Socially Democratic is an Australian Labor politics and campaigns podcast with expert guests. New episodes every Friday. Support the show Socially Democratic is an opinion-based political and campaign podcast that facilitates discussion on a range of topical issues. The opinions of guests are not an endorsement and do not necessarily reflect the views of the staff at Dunn Street and Socially Democratic. Access ad-free episodes and send in questions by joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SociallyDemocratic If you like the show, rate and review us on your favourite podcast app. Follow Us on Socials: Facebook (https://tr.ee/9jGIOy) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/sociallydemocratic) LinkedIn (https://tr.ee/YxyYJh) X (https://x.com/SocialDemPod) YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@DunnStreet) The presenting sponsor of the Socially Democratic podcast is Dunn Street. For more information on how Dunn Street can help you organise to build winning campaigns in your community, business or organisation, and make the world a better place, look us up at: dunnstreet.com.au

    Ep. 364: Growing the Labor Party: Membership, Recruitment and Retention - LIVE at the ALP National Conference Fringe | Australia's Labor Podcast

  4. Jul 30

    Ep. 363: Feeney Files with Jessie McCrone LIVE at the ALP National Conference | Australia's Labor Podcast

    Australian Labor politics podcast Socially Democratic goes live at the 50th ALP National Conference in Adelaide. Host Stephen Donnelly is joined by David Feeney and Jessie McCrone for a wide-ranging night of conference trivia, half-year report cards, and hot takes. They cover: 🏛️ Conference democracy. Has expanding the ALP National Conference to 400 delegates made it more powerful or less? 🌟 South Australia's golden era. Penny Wong, Don Farrell, Mark Butler, Peter Malinauskas, and why the SA branch is punching well above its weight Plus, 📊 Half-year report cards.  🍺 Conference trivia.  🏆 Who won the month. Socially Democratic is an Australian Labor politics and campaigns podcast with expert guests. New episodes every Friday. #AustralianPoliticsPodcast #AusPol #AustralianPolitics #LaborParty #ALP #AustralianLabor #ProgressivePolitics #SocialDemocracy #Podcast #CurrentAffairs #ALPNationalConference #Adelaide #SouthAustralia #PennyWong #DonFarrell #MarkButler #PeterMalinauskas #AnthonyAlbanese #OneNation #PaulineHanson #Greens #Teals #LiberalParty #AngusT aylor #AndyBurnham #TobaccoPolicy #DavidFeeney #JessieMcCrone #FeeneyFiles #HousingPolicy #Elections Support the show Socially Democratic is an opinion-based political and campaign podcast that facilitates discussion on a range of topical issues. The opinions of guests are not an endorsement and do not necessarily reflect the views of the staff at Dunn Street and Socially Democratic. Access ad-free episodes and send in questions by joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SociallyDemocratic If you like the show, rate and review us on your favourite podcast app. Follow Us on Socials: Facebook (https://tr.ee/9jGIOy) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/sociallydemocratic) LinkedIn (https://tr.ee/YxyYJh) X (https://x.com/SocialDemPod) YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@DunnStreet) The presenting sponsor of the Socially Democratic podcast is Dunn Street. For more information on how Dunn Street can help you organise to build winning campaigns in your community, business or organisation, and make the world a better place, look us up at: dunnstreet.com.au

    Ep. 363: Feeney Files with Jessie McCrone LIVE at the ALP National Conference | Australia's Labor Podcast

  5. Jul 29

    Ep. 362: Emergency Episode: The Victorian Labor Leadership Spill with David Feeney and Lissie Ratcliff | Australia's Labor Podcast

    Australian Labor politics podcast Socially Democratic is back with a snap episode. Victoria has a new Premier. On Monday and Tuesday, in a matter of 48 hours, Jacinta Allan was replaced by Ben Carroll, who is now the 50th Premier of Victoria. Host Stephen Donnelly is joined by two people who know Victorian Labor politics from the inside: former Victorian State Secretary and MP David Feeney, and former Chief of Staff to the Daniel Andrews - Lissie Ratcliff. They unpack: 🏛️ The plot. Sunday night's factional conveners meeting, Monday's delegation, the cabinet meeting, the leaked briefing note, and Tuesday's caucus showdown 🧵 Why Jacinta Allan's Premiership came to a head: the construction industry scandal, the Canberra disease infecting Spring Street, and a decentralised cabinet 🗳️ The deputy leadership ballot: Gabriel Williams needing right faction votes, and what it means for the left's internal split 🔧 What Ben Carroll has to do in the next 130 days before the election: staffing, reshuffling, pivoting to campaign mode, and setting a new agenda ⚖️ The defensive grid vs the proactive agenda: integrity, community and safety, and economics Socially Democratic is an Australian Labor politics and campaigns podcast with expert guests. New episodes every Friday. Support the show Socially Democratic is an opinion-based political and campaign podcast that facilitates discussion on a range of topical issues. The opinions of guests are not an endorsement and do not necessarily reflect the views of the staff at Dunn Street and Socially Democratic. Access ad-free episodes and send in questions by joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SociallyDemocratic If you like the show, rate and review us on your favourite podcast app. Follow Us on Socials: Facebook (https://tr.ee/9jGIOy) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/sociallydemocratic) LinkedIn (https://tr.ee/YxyYJh) X (https://x.com/SocialDemPod) YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@DunnStreet) The presenting sponsor of the Socially Democratic podcast is Dunn Street. For more information on how Dunn Street can help you organise to build winning campaigns in your community, business or organisation, and make the world a better place, look us up at: dunnstreet.com.au

    Ep. 362: Emergency Episode: The Victorian Labor Leadership Spill with David Feeney and Lissie Ratcliff | Australia's Labor Podcast

  6. Jul 23

    Ep. 361: One Nation's Soft Vote and the Secret Harbour By-Election | Australia's Labor Podcast

    This episode of Socially Democratic is a special two-parter recorded on the eve of the ALP National Conference in Adelaide. Part one: pollster John Armitage from Qdos Research joins Stephen for a mid-year federal check-in. One Nation is at 30% in Newspoll. The Liberals have collapsed to 19%. And the swing is coming from women. Part two: Priya Brown from GRA Partners breaks down the Secret Harbour by-election in WA: a long winter campaign in a mortgage-belt seat that One Nation has firmly in its sights. 📊 One Nation at 30%: what it means on two-party preferred, and why the vote is still soft 🏛️ Why the Liberals going One Nation-lite is electoral suicide 🧭 Competent vs caring: how voters see Albanese, Taylor, and Hanson 👩 Why Labor is losing women to One Nation, and how to get them back 🗺️ Secret Harbour: demographics, redrawn boundaries, and One Nation's perfect test seat 🏆 Why Labor's campaign machine gives them the edge in a long winter by-election Don't miss this ep. Socially Democratic is an Australian Labor politics and campaigns podcast with expert guests. New episodes every Friday. #AustralianPoliticsPodcast #AusPol #AustralianPolitics #LaborParty #ALP #AustralianLabor #ProgressivePolitics #SocialDemocracy #Podcast #CurrentAffairs #OneNation #PaulineHanson #Polling #Newspoll #JohnArmitage #KudosResearch #SecretHarbour #WesternAustralia #WAPolitics #PriyaPatelBrown #WomenVoters #MortgageBelt #FIFOWorkers #LiberalParty #AngusT aylor #AnthonyAlbanese #Elections #Campaigns #Strategy #Coalition Support the show Socially Democratic is an opinion-based political and campaign podcast that facilitates discussion on a range of topical issues. The opinions of guests are not an endorsement and do not necessarily reflect the views of the staff at Dunn Street and Socially Democratic. Access ad-free episodes and send in questions by joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SociallyDemocratic If you like the show, rate and review us on your favourite podcast app. Follow Us on Socials: Facebook (https://tr.ee/9jGIOy) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/sociallydemocratic) LinkedIn (https://tr.ee/YxyYJh) X (https://x.com/SocialDemPod) YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@DunnStreet) The presenting sponsor of the Socially Democratic podcast is Dunn Street. For more information on how Dunn Street can help you organise to build winning campaigns in your community, business or organisation, and make the world a better place, look us up at: dunnstreet.com.au

    Ep. 361: One Nation's Soft Vote and the Secret Harbour By-Election | Australia's Labor Podcast

  7. Jul 16

    Ep. 360: AI Guardrails, Lessons from Telstra, and Other Mailbag Questions with Lissie Ratcliff and Todd Pinkerton | Australia's Labor Podcast

    Socially Democratic is back with the July Mailbag, and we're here to answer your questions on AI regulation, nationalising critical infrastructure, and whether Victorians should be nervous about the state election. Host Stephen Donnelly is joined by former Chief of Staff to Daniel Andrews and Managing Partner at FMRS Advisory Lissie Ratcliff, and the Director of Campaigns and Strategy at Unions NSW, Todd Pinkerton. They cover: 🤖 Albanese's big AI speech. Is it a fundamental shift in the government's position, or just a step in the right direction? 🏭 The recent Telstra outage prompts the question: Should Labor nationalise critical infrastructure? 🏠 Victoria's housing story: why Labor governments need to get off the fence and just say they want house prices to come down 🗳️ The Victorian Election: With One Nation polling at 27%, and Liberal support collapsing, should Labor be worried? 👀 Plus: the watch (and read and listen) list. Top recommendations from Todd, Lissie, and Stephen. Mentioned in the Show: Socially Democratic: Feeney Files with Jessie McCrone LIVE! Friday July 24, 5:15pm The Jade 142-160 Flinders Street Adelaide, SA 5000 Purchase tickets: https://bit.ly/4w0M6AI Send a Woman to Washington! A full ride to the 2026 Dunn Street United States Engagement Mission. Applications close July 31. Apply here: https://bit.ly/4aRSO3l Graham Greene's Our Man in Havana: https://bit.ly/4ppNydk and The Quiet American: https://bit.ly/3RkWqEr The Fourth Estate: In Conversation with Barrie Cassidy Part 1: https://apple.co/4aZa2vM Part 2: https://apple.co/4bragMe Socially Democratic is an Australian Labor politics and campaigns podcast with expert guests. New episodes every Friday. Support the show Socially Democratic is an opinion-based political and campaign podcast that facilitates discussion on a range of topical issues. The opinions of guests are not an endorsement and do not necessarily reflect the views of the staff at Dunn Street and Socially Democratic. Access ad-free episodes and send in questions by joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SociallyDemocratic If you like the show, rate and review us on your favourite podcast app. Follow Us on Socials: Facebook (https://tr.ee/9jGIOy) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/sociallydemocratic) LinkedIn (https://tr.ee/YxyYJh) X (https://x.com/SocialDemPod) YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@DunnStreet) The presenting sponsor of the Socially Democratic podcast is Dunn Street. For more information on how Dunn Street can help you organise to build winning campaigns in your community, business or organisation, and make the world a better place, look us up at: dunnstreet.com.au

    Ep. 360: AI Guardrails, Lessons from Telstra, and Other Mailbag Questions with Lissie Ratcliff and Todd Pinkerton | Australia's Labor Podcast

  8. Jul 9

    Ep 359: Democracy, Dissent, and the Fight Ahead with Alison Byrnes, Rosie Ryan and Todd Pinkerton | Australia's Labor Podcast

    Socially Democratic goes live at the New South Wales Labor State Conference Fringe for a special episode recorded in front of a live audience at Sydney Town Hall. Host Stephen Donnelly is joined by regular guest and Unions NSW Director of Campaigns and Strategy Todd Pinkerton, Federal Member for Cunningham Alison Byrnes, and ALP National Assistant Secretary Rosie Ryan. They cover: 🏛️ What makes the NSW Labor Conference unlike any other political event in Australia 🗳️ How the McKell Model keeps Labor's three pillars (rank and file, parliamentary party, and unions) working together ⚖️ Managing dissent and coming out united: why Labor has kept the show together for 150 years 🎤 Chris Minns' keynote: jobs, manufacturing, multiculturalism, and what it signals for 2026 📊 One Nation: what's driving the surge and how Labor speaks to voters who feel left behind 🎉 Plus special categories and conference trivia! Socially Democratic is an Australian Labor politics and campaigns podcast with expert guests. New episodes every Friday. #AustralianPoliticsPodcast #AusPol #AustralianPolitics #LaborParty #ALP #AustralianLabor #ProgressivePolitics #SocialDemocracy #Podcast #CurrentAffairs #NSWLaborConference #NSWLabor #ChrisMinns #NSWElection2026 #OneNation #PaulineHanson #AlisonByrnes #RosieRyan #ToddPinkerton #McKellModel #TradeUnions #UnionsNSW #Elections #Campaigns #Strategy #Manufacturing #Multiculturalism #Liberals #Coalition Support the show Socially Democratic is an opinion-based political and campaign podcast that facilitates discussion on a range of topical issues. The opinions of guests are not an endorsement and do not necessarily reflect the views of the staff at Dunn Street and Socially Democratic. Access ad-free episodes and send in questions by joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SociallyDemocratic If you like the show, rate and review us on your favourite podcast app. Follow Us on Socials: Facebook (https://tr.ee/9jGIOy) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/sociallydemocratic) LinkedIn (https://tr.ee/YxyYJh) X (https://x.com/SocialDemPod) YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@DunnStreet) The presenting sponsor of the Socially Democratic podcast is Dunn Street. For more information on how Dunn Street can help you organise to build winning campaigns in your community, business or organisation, and make the world a better place, look us up at: dunnstreet.com.au

    Ep 359: Democracy, Dissent, and the Fight Ahead with Alison Byrnes, Rosie Ryan and Todd Pinkerton | Australia's Labor Podcast
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5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Socially Democratic is your weekly centre-left politics and campaign podcast hosted by Stephen Donnelly, founder of Dunn Street - a campaign agency bringing change by organising from the ground up. Each Friday, Stephen and guests breakdown the issues shaping Australia and the rest of the world and the social democrats leading them. Follow on Instagram at @dunn.street Facebook at @dunnstreetaustralia Twitter at @Dunn_Street_LinkedIn at Dunn Street Website at dunnstreet.com.au 

Information

  • Creator
    Stephen Donnelly
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    366
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Socially Democratic
  • Show Website
    Socially Democratic

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