#1800 How Capitalism Created Loneliness and How To Joyfully Organize Our Way to Community

#1800 How Capitalism Created Loneliness and How To Joyfully Organize Our Way to Community

Author: Best of the Left: Perspectives on Politics, Culture, and Economics June 12, 2026 Duration: 3:56:36

Air Date: 6/12/2026

Today we examine how America caused a loneliness epidemic by tearing down the places where people used to find each other, how big tech is offering AI as a lackluster substitute for connection, and how people are building the opposite of loneliness with block parties, labor unions, and community gardens.

Full Show Notes

Transcript

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TOP TAKES

KP 1: How Capitalism Causes Loneliness Part 1 - Second Thought - Air Date 6-2-23

KP 2: Anthropic Discovers the Axis of Evil, and AIs Loneliness Economy - The AI Fix - Air Date 2-3-26

KP 3: The Political Economy of Love Attention, Affection, & What Capitalism Can't Buy Part 1 - Rev Left Radio - Air Date 1-19-26

KP 4: What Do We Mean by Humane Tech Part 1 - Your Undivided Attention - Air Date 6-4-26

KP 5: Stone Soup A Recipe for Community Organizing Marina Barnett Part 1 - TEDxWidenerUniversity - Air Date 10-24-22

KP 6: The Simple Habit for a Happier Social Life Nicholas Epley Part 1 - TEDTalks - Air Date 5-19-26


(00:49:32) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

Why the Left Needs to Have More Fun to Build Real Power

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DEEPER DIVES

(00:59:32) SECTION A: THE LONELINESS WE LIVE IN

A1: Loneliness - Capitalism's Collateral Damage - Democracy At Work - Air Date 8-29-22

A2: How Capitalism Causes Loneliness Part 2 - Second Thought - Air Date 6-2-23

A3: Loneliness - Capitalism's Collateral Damage Part 2 - Democracy At Work - Air Date 8-29-22

A4: The Political Economy of Love Attention, Affection, & What Capitalism Can't Buy Part 2 - Rev Left Radio - Air Date 1-19-26


(01:29:54) SECTION B: AI COMPANION MACHINE

B1: Can AI Companionship Cure Loneliness – or Deepen It Part 1 - PBS NewsHour - Air Date 2-27-26

B2: People Are Lonelier Than Ever. Enter AI. - Your Undivided Attention - Air Date 5-30-25

B3: The Dark Side of AI Companions, and the 1930s LLM - The AI Fix - Air Date 5-5-26

B4: What Do We Mean by Humane Tech Part 2 - Your Undivided Attention - Air Date 6-4-26

B5: Can AI Companionship Cure Loneliness – or Deepen It Part 2 - PBS NewsHour - Air Date 2-27-26


(02:18:26) SECTION C: REFRACTIONS AND REACH-OUTS

C1: Gladiators, Real Housewives and the Pull of Reality TV Part 1 - Throughline - Air Date 4-30-26

C2: If Hope Is a Muscle, Then How Do I Build It Part 1 - How to Survive the End of the World - Air Date 4-10-26

C3: Gladiators, Real Housewives and the Pull of Reality TV Part 2 - Throughline - Air Date 4-30-26

C4: If Hope Is a Muscle, Then How Do I Build It Part 2 - How to Survive the End of the World - Air Date 4-10-26

C5: The Simple Habit for a Happier Social Life Nicholas Epley Part 2 - TEDTalks - Air Date 5-19-26


(02:58:25) SECTION D: BUILDING IT BACK

D1: Stone Soup A Recipe for Community Organizing Marina Barnett Part 2 - TEDxWidenerUniversity - Air Date 10-24-22

D2: How People Are Combatting Loneliness with Community Connections - The Newsfeed - Air Date 5-22-26

D3: Solo How Do We Make the Left Fun Again - The Bardo Podcast - Air Date 3-10-26

D4: Being Human with Marshall Ganz Part 1 - Practical Wisdom for Leaders - Air Date 5-20-26

D5: Biko Koenig, Worker Centered Allyship & Action in the Contemporary Labor Movement (Oxford UP, 2024) Part 1 - In Conversation An OUP Podcast - Air Date 3-11-26

D6: Being Human with Marshall Ganz Part 2 - Practical Wisdom for Leaders - Air Date 5-20-26

D7: Biko Koenig, Worker Centered Allyship & Action in the Contemporary Labor Movement (Oxford UP, 2024) Part 2 - In Conversation An OUP Podcast - Air Date 3-11-26


 

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For over fifteen years, Best of the Left-Leftist Perspectives on Progressive Politics, News, Culture, Economics and Democracy has served as a vital, human-curated digest of voices from across the progressive spectrum. Instead of presenting a single opinion, each episode is built around a specific theme-from economic inequality to climate policy to cultural shifts-and weaves together insightful commentary from a diverse array of journalists, activists, and thinkers. This approach allows you to efficiently grasp the nuances of complex issues by hearing multiple expert angles in one sitting, all while discovering new commentators and sources you might not have encountered otherwise. The result is a richly layered analysis that algorithms simply cannot replicate, offering depth and context often missing from the daily news cycle. Since 2006, this award-winning podcast has cut through the noise, drawing from hundreds of independent and established sources to provide a coherent, thoughtful examination of the forces shaping our society and governments. Tuning in means joining a long-running conversation dedicated to understanding and advancing democratic principles, social justice, and a more equitable economy, all through the focused lens of leftist thought.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Best of the Left - Leftist Perspectives on Progressive Politics, News, Culture, Economics and Democracy
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