The Next System Podcast

The Next System podcast brings a variety of progressive ideas for system change to one place. In too many cases, progressives prioritize a particular idea or movement or change over all others, leaving the left divided over which injustice must be corrected first, never uniting on a platform of ideas. This podcast presents many ideas, and, just as importantly, often discusses correlations between ideas - how systems interact currently, and how solutions must interact to affect change. I read a poor review of the podcast that pointed out a lack of diversity in guests, as well as how many of the guests work within the current system or are proposing changes that work within the current system. I would refute both charges. The podcast is still in its early stages, and I’ve listened to every episode over the past two weeks - diversity in every sense is not an issue. As far as working within the current system goes, these proposals aren’t the kind of incrementalism typical of timid liberals as the review seemed to suggest. Single payer healthcare seemed like a radical, politically impossible pipe dream just a couple of years ago, but is now gaining wide recognition on the left as the only true solution to the healthcare system - yet you could say that working to change congress people’s minds about that issue, or working to vote people into office who support that idea, is just incrementalists working within the current system. Well, perhaps unfortunately, everything’s not going to change for the best all at once, so a podcast like this that seeks to flesh out seemingly radical ideas, and make it obvious that they are morally responsible, fiscally responsible, and will actually generate hugely positive impacts in society is, in my opinion, refreshing and necessary. To that reviewer: don’t eat your own. To the Next System team: thank you so much for what you do. It’s truly inspiring. I will echo another reviewer with my one critique - fade out the intro music much faster, it’s hard to hear the beginning because it stays loud too long and you’re fairly soft spoken. Thanks again.

So glad you interviewed the Rev. Coates - he is a visionary. (As an aside - you need to duck out the intro music when you are introducing the guest)

I have been really frustrated with the Next Systems Project and this podcast especially. They seem to interview a lot of non-profit leaders and orgs that are themselves reliant on the current, capitalist system and foundation money. Where are the interviews with Cooperation Jackson, 3rd party leaders, folks who are really interested in changing the system. Please begin to balance your work with folks who have a little more edge to their work. Also, why are more than half the interviews with white folks? There is a real black left in this country that deserves recognition for starting this conversation about changing the system long before TNSP.