Downstream: Social Mobility Is A Lie w/ Dan Evans

Downstream: Social Mobility Is A Lie w/ Dan Evans

Author: Novara Media July 31, 2023 Duration: 2:02:34

Has the left misunderstood the state of our nation? Sociologist and trade unionist Dan Evans thinks so. He talks to Aaron about the unexpected power of the petty bourgeoisie – the insecure class between the working class and the bourgeoisie – and how its Thatcherite values of home ownership and entrepreneurialism have reshaped British politics in the last few decades.

They also discuss the political culture of Dan’s hometown in South Wales, what Corbynism got wrong about class, why university graduates are facing downward mobility and – perhaps inevitably – the state of the Labour Party.

Dan’s book, A Nation of Shopkeepers: The Unstoppable Rise of The Petty Bourgeoisie, is out now from Repeater.


Tune in to Novara Media for a distinct and probing take on the world as it is, and as it could be. This independent podcast offers a necessary space for the conversations often sidelined elsewhere, weaving together sharp analysis of current affairs with deeper explorations of culture, philosophy and power. Each episode naturally delves into the interconnected crises shaping our time-be it the fraying edges of our economic system, the urgent fight for climate justice, or the enduring struggles against structural inequality. The discussions are built on a foundation of radical thought and a commitment to imagining alternatives, moving beyond the day's headlines to examine the root causes and potential futures. Hosted by the team at Novara Media, the audio format brings a direct, engaging and often challenging perspective, featuring interviews, panel debates and solo commentaries that refuse simplistic answers. It’s for anyone who finds mainstream narratives insufficient and is looking for a podcast that treats politics, society and culture as the complex, urgent and deeply human matters they truly are.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 306

Novara Media
Podcast Episodes
Novara FM: Can International Law Protect Gaza? w/ Rob Knox [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:29:46
As Israel extends its bombardment of Gaza into Rafah – a supposed safe zone where 1.7 million Palestinians are seeking refuge – the limits of the “laws” of war seem horribly apparent. Following South Africa’s case agains…
Novara FM: How To Be Honest About Empire w/ Sathnam Sanghera [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:13
Certain historians and politicians like to claim that the British Empire was “on balance” a good thing. Slavery was evil, they admit, but abolition was good. Racism was wrong, but free markets are desirable. In his new b…
ACFM Trip 40: UFOs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:25:35
Should the left care about the existence of aliens? The ACFM gang explore the impact of UFOs on political thought in this Trip. Keir, Jem and Nadia discuss the connections between UFO conspiracies and right-wing thought,…
ACFM Microdose: Plugged-in Protest w/ Jeremy Gilbert [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:13
Music has the uncanny power to stir up big feelings, which makes it an obvious vehicle for political statements of hope, anger, despair, or how to cast your vote. In this Microdose episode to accompany ACFM’s recent Trip…
Novara FM: The Novels That Inspired Class War w/ Mark Steven [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:03
What role does literature play in revolution? If the question seems bizarre to you and the answer obvious, you’re not alone. Yet some of the most important revolutionaries in history have turned to literature in times of…