Ever wondered what specifically happens to a person who gets the bubonic plague? Do you know specifically how bubonic plague is relates to the first forms of border control? Do you want to know? If so, then this episode is for you!

If not, how does it feel to be a mentally healthy person? In this episode I take listeners through the history of borders and border control, paying particular attention to the history of British migration policy. Expect discussion of the plague (obviously), eugenics theory, Westphalian peace accords, Windrush migration and the Hostile Environment.

Ever stared blankly at the endless horizon and wondered “what the f*ck is ‘mental health’ anyway?”. Then this episode is for you!

In this episode I take a look at modern discourses surrounding mental health, and dig down to the apparently endless calls to “protect our peace”. I touch on trends in the present like the so-called “corporatification of friendship”, and the ever present commodification of suffering, as well as explore the historical roots of psychiatry and its philosophical implications, with particular attention to the works of Michel Foucault.

In this episode I take a look at tropes surrounding "strong women". I explore where these tropes came from and what kinds of stories they can tell us, paying particular attention to black feminist thought from Sojourner Truth to bell hooks.

In a perhaps uncharacteristically heartfelt episode, I ask for listeners to think about what implications these tropes have for different models of femininity.

You can expect a healthy dose of imperial and medical history, psychology, and media studies. Given the subject matter this episode does explore some challenging themes including: medical misogyny, racism, slavery, genocide and sexual violence. As such, listener discretion is advised.

In this episode I take a look at the breakdown of community in the present day. I come at this question a bit sideways and explore the question of why community breaks down through the theories of three different philosophers: Karl Marx, Michel Foucault and Jean Baudrillard.

We'll be back with you in a couple of months with some BANGERS, sorry about the wait, but it will be worth it.

Militant Empathy is a new podcast for curious people, covering history, politics, philosophy, culture and vibes!

Every month from April 5th 2025 there will be a new episode that'll take a stab at some of the big questions we face today. Questions like: why do communities fall apart? Where did borders come from? What do we mean when we talk about justice? Why are the police like this? What the hell is mental health anyway?

If this sounds up your street stay tuned for launch xoxo