Redneck Gone Green: Episode 5 With Special Guest Kali Akuno

Howdy y’all, It’s taken me a while to get around to sending out parts of the Celebration of life we had at the Arcata Playhouse. It’s a long service. We had music and wonderful speakers, so I thought I would share the individual segments with you. If you’d like to see the whole thing, you can find it here. Our first speaker was Jim Reed. Jim initially met David in a Green Party meeting in 1999, with the following four years closely organizing together on political and social issues, which laid the initial foundation for their lifelong bond and endearing friendship. David called Jim, “Brotherman.” And they were truly soul brothers

In this episode of Redneck Gone Green, Shane is joined by the late David Cobb's widow, Ruthi. Over the last three weeks since we lost David, there has been some confusion around the circumstances of his death. Ruthi and Shane come together to present the grim reality and open up about how grief changes you, but how it also calls you back to your community. We may have lost a fire-starter, a powerhouse, and a giant source of inspiration for many, but there is a way forward—and it's the one he believed in the most. We have to keep showing up. We have to treat each other lovingly. We must realize our fight is against the billionaire class that's pillaging and plundering the world we all live in, and our challenge is to choose love, solidarity, and the long road. If you'd like to make a donation to support David's family, you may do so at https://gofund.me/614c9afb4

Most economists ask how capitalism can be managed. Clara Mattei asks a more dangerous question: Why do we assume capitalism is inevitable? In the episode we talk to Economics Professor Clara Mattei about the systemic nature of capitalism, its historical roots, and pathways to economic emancipation. Mattei emphasizes the importance of collective decision-making and grassroots organizing to challenge and escape the current economic system.

Erel Onojobi is a powerful example of what it looks like to organize for racial and economic justice with a clear-eyed understanding that systems are not neutral. She is a British social change agent who doesn’t just talk about inequality; she builds alternative infrastructure to address the systems that create it. With a background in youth work, advocacy, and financial inclusion, she has founded initiatives like “Little STEMs,” a project that connects disadvantaged primary school children with leading universities. She currently serves as a Program Director at the Runnymede Trust, Britain’s leading race equality think tank.What resonates for me the most is her respectful but unapologetic critique of mere “inclusion.” Erel persuasively argues that although this frame can help people survive systems that were never built for them, they can also hinder efforts to build the collective power to transform those systems. In this episode, we explore the interconnectedness of racial and economic justice, strategies for community ownership, and the importance of long-term systemic change.

We live in a time when many people feel powerless. Billionaires seem to have more influence than entire communities. Housing grows less affordable. Wealth becomes more concentrated. Democracy itself feels increasingly fragile. But despair is not a strategy. Building democratic institutions is a strategy. Creating community ownership is a strategy. Using the law to expand democracy instead of protecting concentrated wealth is a strategy. In this episode, we explore the transformative potential of the solidarity economy, focusing on worker co-ops, community land trusts, and legal innovations that empower communities and challenge systemic oppression. Guest Hasmik Geghamyan from the Sustainable Economies Law Center shares insights on building democratic institutions and resisting corporate land grabs.