Coming From Left Field (Video)

“Smart Fish Don’t Bite” with Bill Ehrhart

In this podcast, we have a conversation with poet Bill Ehrhart, whose new poetry book, “Smart Fish Don’t Bite,” serves as a testament to a life fully examined. While Ehrhart's identity is often intertwined with the war—a theme he explores but resists being solely defined by—the discussion reveals a writer whose poetry grapples with a vast range of human experience, from the nostalgic innocence of childhood and the enduring comfort of love and friendship to sharp, satirical critiques of modern politics.

The interview traces his unconventional path to becoming a writer, sustained by his wife's support and his own determination to prioritize art over career, and evolves into a broader philosophical reflection on memory, aging, and finding perspective in the face of political and personal turmoil, all punctuated by readings of his evocative and powerful poems.

Ehrhart is a Marine Corps veteran who served in the Vietnam War and was involved with Vietnam Veterans Against the War. He has authored numerous books of prose and poetry, such as "Vietnam-Perkasie: a Combat Marine Memoir" and "Thank You for Your Service: Collected Poems." He is a prominent interview subject in the 2017 PBS documentary by Ken Burns, “The Vietnam War.” Ehrhart earned a PhD from the University of Wales at Swansea and worked for many years as a Master Teacher of English and History at the Haverford School for Boys, retiring in 2019.

 

0:00 - Introduction to Bill Ehrhart
16:17 - Poem: "Eating Oysters in Easton"
24:24 - Poem: "Things My Mother Gave Me"
30:54 - Poem: "Night Stalkers"
38:11 - Poem: "On Smedley Butler's Grave"
44:46 - Poem: "Cycling at Vésinet"
48:28 - Discussion on Politics & Poem: "Soup Can Blues"
53:38 - Poem: "MAGA Voter's Lament"
55:30 - Philosophical Discussion on History & Democracy

 

 

Get the Book: https://moonstone-arts-center.square.site/product/ehrhart-w-d-smart-fish-don-t-bite/YD2QGAXXBUFHBNEM4K6HS6AF

 

Mentioned:  Hollywood Progressive article "Cycling at Vesinet" https://hollywoodprogressive.com/art/cycling-at-vesinet

Greg’s Blog: http://zzs-blg.blogspot.com/

Pat’s Substack: https://patcummings.substack.com/about

 

#BillEhrhart#WDEhrhart#SmartFishDon'tBite#PoetryReading#VietnamVeteran#PoetInterview#WarPoetry#KenBurnsVietnam#SmedleyButler#HaverfordSchool#VeteranStories#AntiWarPoetry#GregGodels#PatCummings#CFLF#ComingFromLeftField#Podcast#zzblog#mltoday

“Homeland: The War on Terror in American Life” with Richard Beck

Richard Beck was 14 years old when planes flew into the Twin Towers on 9/11. He grew up in a Philadelphia suburb as a “mainstream liberal Democrat,” and during high school, was more concerned with music than politics. After graduating from Harvard, Beck moved to New York, where he still resides, and began contributing to the progressive journal n+1, a print and digital magazine of literature, culture, and politics.

In this podcast, we discuss his new book, “Homeland: The War on Terror in American Life,” a groundbreaking history of how the decades-long war on terror changed virtually every aspect of American life.

Key Themes Discussed:

1. Impunity Culture: A major shift was the open defense of previously clandestine or denied practices (like torture) by officials from both parties (Bush and Obama administrations). This created a precedent where powerful figures face no consequences for their actions.
2. Media & Propaganda: The press became "stenographers" for power, exemplified by Judith Miller's reporting in the New York Times, which helped propagandize the case for war.
3. Political Culture: A climate of intense nationalism and suppression of dissent was created (e.g., the backlash against the Dixie Chicks).
4. Pop Culture as a Reflection: Superhero movies (e.g., Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy, Iron Man) are analyzed as cultural products that processed the anxieties of the War on Terror, glorifying special forces-type heroes and wrestling with themes of torture, surveillance, and extra-legal violence.
5. New Atheism: The movement (Hitchens, Harris, Dawkins, etc.) is criticized for devolving into a racist, Islamophobic project that framed the conflict as a "clash of civilizations," similar to the Bush administration's rhetoric.
6. The Economic Purpose ("The Missing Why"): A significant portion of the discussion focuses on the book's third section, which argues that the War on Terror had a deeper economic logic.
7. The Illusion of Democracy: The hosts and Beck reference a study suggesting that U.S. government policy has no statistical relationship to public opinion, arguing that the undemocratic trends exacerbated by the War on Terror were long underway.

 

Get the Book: https://www.kingsbookstore.com/book/9780593240229

Mentioned:  https://www.nplusonemag.com/

Greg’s Blog: http://zzs-blg.blogspot.com/

Pat’s Substack: https://patcummings.substack.com/about

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“The Capital of Slavery: Washington, D.C. 1800-1865” with Gerald Horne

 

Was the founding of the United States a "great leap forward for humanity" or a project deeply rooted in slavery and settler colonialism?

 

In this episode, we sit down with renowned historian Dr. Gerald Horne to discuss his new book, “The Capital of Slavery: Washington, D.C. 1800-1865.”

 

We dismantle the myth of Washington, D.C. as a pure symbol of democracy and reveal its brutal reality as the nerve center of American slavery. We discuss how enslaved people were sold in the shadow of the Capitol and how their resistance—including joining the British to burn the White House in 1814—shaped the nation's politics.

We explore:

• How the "unpaid sector of the working class" built the capital and constantly challenged their oppression.
• The direct link between the American Colonization Society (which created Liberia) and the backlash against Black resistance.
• The parallels between the Fugitive Slave Act and modern ICE raids, and the historical roots of family separation.
• Why this suppressed history is so threatening that it sparks modern-day battles over "woke" museums and critical race theory.

 

Dr. Horne places this history in an urgent contemporary context, arguing that understanding this past is essential to comprehending the rise of neo-fascism and the political struggles of today. This is a conversation about America’s hidden past and the fight for its future.

Horne received his undergraduate education at Princeton, received his Ph.D. from Columbia University, and a J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley. He is currently the John J. and Rebecca Moores Chair of History and African American Studies at the University of Houston.

 

 

Get the Book: https://www.intpubnyc.com/browse/capital-of-slavery/  

Mentioned:  https://www.kpfk.org/on-air/freedom-now/

Greg’s Blog: http://zzs-blg.blogspot.com/

Pat’s Substack: https://patcummings.substack.com/about

 

GeraldHorne#AmericanHistory#Slavery#WashingtonDCCapital Slavery# 1619Project#AmericanRevolution#SettlerColonialism#BlackHistory#Historiography#Trump#Fascism#Smithsonian#Reparations#IndigenousHistory#BookInterview#CriticalRaceTheory#NatTurner#GregGodels#PatCummings#CFLF#ComingFromLeftField#Podcast#zzblog#mltoday

“Fake Work: How I Began to Suspect Capitalism is a Joke” with Leigh Claire La Berge

In this episode of Coming from Left Field, we engage in a thought-provoking conversation with author Leigh Claire La Berge about her book “Fake Work: How I Began to Suspect Capitalism is a Joke.” Drawing from her surreal experience documenting Y2K compliance for a Fortune 500 company—a job focused on generating legal cover rather than solving technical issues— La Berge explores the absurdity of modern corporate culture and how "bullshit jobs" reveal deeper flaws in capitalism.

 

The discussion touches on Marxist critiques, parallels between the dot-com bubble and today’s AI hype, and La Berge’s humorous project Marx for Cats, which uses feline behavior to explain economic theory.

 

Blending memoir, satire, and political analysis, the episode challenges listeners to rethink the meaning of work while offering sharp insights into alienation, class dynamics, and the possibility of systemic change.

 

Get the Book: https://www.haymarketbooks.org/books/2534-fake-work

Mentioned: http://marxforcats.com

Greg’s Blog: http://zzs-blg.blogspot.com/

Pat’s Substack: https://patcummings.substack.com/about

 

#LeighClaireLaBerge#FakeWork#HowIBegantoSuspectCapitalismisaJoke#Capitalism#Marxism#BullshitJobs#Y2K#CorporateCulture#MarxforCats#DavidGraeber#LateStageCapitalism#GregGodels#PatCummings#CFLF#ComingFromLeftField#Podcast#zzblog#mltoday

“Raise Your Hand If You Hear My Voice,” poetry with Janice Cummings O’Mahony

Join us for a heartfelt and thought-provoking conversation with poet Janice Cummings O’Mahony as we dive into her new collection of poetry, “Raise Your Hand If You Hear My Voice,” exploring memory, family, love, grief, and resilience.

Janice’s work blends nostalgia with sharp wit, tackling themes like childhood, military trauma, aging, and social justice. Her poems move seamlessly between emotional depth and snarky humor, offering a raw and authentic look at life’s complexities.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• Why Janice turned to poetry after a career in social work and government
• How her father’s PTSD from WWII and Korea shaped her writing
• The challenge of editing poetry—killing your "darlings" for clarity
• Feminist themes in poems like "Sleeper Cell" and "Decorum"
• Satirical takes on privilege in "First World Musing"
• The haunting reality of gun violence in "Uvalde Lament"

Why You’ll Love This Episode:

• Poetry for skeptics: Even if you’re not a poetry fan, Janice’s earthy, relatable style might change your mind.
• Personal & political: From family secrets to social critique, her work bridges the intimate and the universal.
• Raw readings: Hear Janice perform excerpts, including Pat reading the poignant "Morning Glory” and Greg reading darkly funny "Bad Art."

Get the Book: JaniceO’Mahony.com (https://JaniceOMahony.com )

Greg’s Blog: http://zzs-blg.blogspot.com/

Pat’s Substack: https://patcummings.substack.com/about

 

#JaniceOmahony#JaniceCummingsOmahony#O’Mahony#RaiseYourHandIfYouHearMyVoice#Poetry #PoetryPodcast #PoetryCommunity #PoetryLovers #SpokenWord #AuthorInterview #PoetInterview #BookLaunch #NewBook #PoetryBook#MemoryPoetry #FamilyPoetry #LovePoems #GriefAndHealing #Resilience #MilitaryPTSD #VeteranStories #WhidbeyIsland#FeministPoetry #SocialJustice #AgingAndTime#GregGodels#PatCummings#CFLF#ComingFromLeftFieldPodcast #zzblog #mltoday

“America, América: A New History of the New World” with Greg Grandin

In this thought-provoking episode, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Greg Grandin joins us to discuss his groundbreaking book, “America, América: The Origins of Hemispheric and Global Hegemony,” which challenges traditional narratives of U.S. history by centering Latin America’s pivotal role.

We discuss:

• Why does U.S. history begin with the Mayflower—and not the Spanish conquest?
• How did Latin America pioneer social rights (healthcare, education) decades before the U.S. or Europe?
• The dark legacy of U.S. intervention: From Cold War coups to the rise of Trumpist politics in Latin America today.
• Myth-busting the frontier, the Catholic Church’s dual legacy, and the untold stories of Indigenous resistance.

 

We also debate FDR’s New Deal, the failures of neoliberalism, and why Latin America’s leftist "Pink Tide" (Chávez, Lula, Morales) faced backlash—leading to today’s right-wing surge (Bolsonaro, Milei, Bukele).

This is a must-listen for history buffs, political junkies, and anyone questioning the standard U.S. origin story!

Order the book: https://www.kingsbookstore.com/book/9780593831250

Greg Grandin Website: https://greggrandin.com/

Follow Greg Grandin on Twitter: @GregGrandin

Greg’s Blog: http://zzs-blg.blogspot.com/

Pat’s Substack: https://patcummings.substack.com/about

 

#GregGrandin #USHistory #America, América # The Origins of Hemispheric and Global Hegemony #LatinAmerica #AmericanRevolution # Pulitzer Prize-winning historian #ColdWar #PinkTide #SocialRights #Trumpism #PoliticalHistory #American Revolution #Spanish Conquest #Colonialism #New Deal #Cold War in Latin America # Indigenous Resistance #GregGodels# PatCummings#CFLF#ComingFromLeftFieldPodcast #zzblog #mltoday

“Radio Tacoma: A Low-Power FM Media Revolution” with Pam Beal

This episode features an interview with Pam Beal, a board member of Radio Tacoma (KTAH 101.9), a grassroots low-power FM station dedicated to democratizing media and amplifying local voices.

Pam attended Wilson High School, Concordia Lutheran College, and Reed College. She received her Ph.D. in English (dissertation on William Blake and Enlightenment philosophy) from SUNY Buffalo, which provides a perfect background to run a community radio station.

Radio Tacoma is part of the rise of low-power FM (LPFM) community radio stations, focusing on local content that includes progressive politics, labor rights, climate activism, indigenous rights, and the homegrown music and poetry scene.

Coming From Left Field has been added to the content broadcast on Radio Tacoma, making this a reciprocal interview that blends media critique, local activism, and radical philosophy, with a common “left field” ethos shared by the podcast and station.

 

Radio Tacoma (KTAH 101.9): https://radiotacoma.org

Also streamed on TuneIn: http://tun.in/sfyVw

Radio Tacoma Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RadioTacoma101.9

Find your LPFM station: https://lpfmdatabase.weebly.com/

Good resource for LPFMs: https://recnet.com

Greg’s Blog: http://zzs-blg.blogspot.com/ 

Pat’s Substack: https://patcummings.substack.com/about

 

#PamBeal #CommunityRadio #LowPowerFM #LeftistPodcast #MediaJustice #Tacoma #Activism #CommunityRadio #LowPowerFM #IndependentMedia #GrassrootsJournalism #MediaReform #Political & Philosophical #LeftistPodcast #Marxism #Socialist #ProgressiveTalk #AntiCapitalism #ChristianSocialism #LiberationTheology #Tacoma #GritCity #LocalPolitics #ActivistRadio #ClimateJustice #IndigenousRights #PublicBanking #RadioTacoma #SarahAugustine #PoliceReform #NoamChomsky #GregGodels# PatCummings#CFLF#ComingFromLeftFieldPodcast #zzblog #mltoday

Overview of Coming From Left Field Podcast

This is a 10-minute "deep dive" overview of the Coming From Left Field Podcast created by Google's AI NotebookLM research assistant.  It provides a summary of the content and highlights selective episodes that have been aired over the past four years, where we discuss politics, history, economics, social justice, media, and philosophy—often from a critical, leftist perspective.

Core Themes Include:

• Politics & History: Critique of mainstream narratives, discussions on democracy, imperialism, and historical events (e.g., Greensboro massacre).
• Economics & Labor: Focus on neoliberalism, wealth inequality, and labor movements.
• Education & Media: Analysis of education policy, media bias, and press freedom (e.g., Julian Assange coverage).
• Social Justice: Indigenous rights, civil rights, and critiques of policing.
• Philosophy & Marxism: Deep dives into Marxist theory, socialism, and ideological debates.
• Health & Culture: Intersections of politics and health, mental health, and occasional cultural topics (poetry, music).

 

Final Thought:

I hope you will conclude that our podcast exemplifies how niche, persistent media can deepen public engagement with specific ideologies and counter-narratives, filling gaps left by traditional news cycles.

 

Greg’s Blog: http://zzs-blg.blogspot.com/ 

Pat’s Substack: https://patcummings.substack.com/about

 

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“Bonfire: American Sociocide, Broken Relations, & the Quest for Democracy” with Charles Derber

In this episode, we dive deep into America's social crisis with sociologist Charlie Derber, author of “Bonfire of America: Sociocide, Broken Relationships, and the Quest for Democracy.” Derber explores the concept of "sociocide"—the systemic unraveling of societal bonds—arguing that hyper-individualism, neoliberal economics, and political polarization have eroded trust, community, and collective identity. The discussion traces how Reagan-era policies, Silicon Valley's disruption, and the Democratic Party's abandonment of class solidarity have fueled Trumpism as a symptom, not an anomaly. While bleak, Derber highlights grassroots resistance as a path forward, warning against nostalgia for a pre-Trump "normal" that never addressed inequality. A provocative mix of history, sociology, and urgent political critique that concludes with a tone of hope for a better future.

 

 

Order the book: https://tinyurl.com/5t3ye96s

Greg’s Blog: http://zzs-blg.blogspot.com/ 

Pat’s Substack: https://patcummings.substack.com/about

 

#Sociocide# Trumpism# Neoliberalism# Political polarization# Social capital# Decline of democracy# Economic inequality# Authoritarianism# Charlie Derber# Leftist podcast# Breakdown of society# Civic deserts# Loneliness epidemic# Working-class alienation# Democratic Party failure# Silicon Valley billionaires# Fascism in America# Social media isolation# Resistance movements# Fight oligarchy# Political sociology# American crisis# Democracy podcast# Pat Cummings#Greg Godels#ZZ Blog#Coming From Left Field#CFLF#Podcast#zzblog#mltoday

"DisElderly Conduct: The Flawed Business of Assisted Living & Hospice" with Judy Karofsky

In this episode of Coming from Left Field, we dive into America’s broken elder care system with Judy Karofsky, author of “DisElderly Conduct: The Flawed Business of Assisted Living and Hospice.” We discuss how corporate greed and lack of regulation have turned assisted living into a profit-driven nightmare, where facilities—often run by private equity firms—prioritize cost-cutting over resident dignity. With shocking stories from Judy’s own mother’s ordeal (including wrongful death notices and evictions), the conversation highlights systemic neglect, underpaid staff, and families left powerless.

Our discussion pivots to solutions, from policy reforms (like Biden’s stalled staffing mandates) to grassroots activism. Judy’s book serves as a rallying cry, comparing the crisis to Silent Spring—a wake-up call to demand dignity for the elderly. While the system feels rigged, the episode ends on a note of defiance: by sharing stories, organizing, and pressuring lawmakers, change is possible. This is a raw, urgent look at a crisis affecting us all—because, as Judy warns, “Every one of us will need or provide this care someday.”

 

 

Order the book: https://diselderlyconduct.com/

Greg’s Blog: http://zzs-blg.blogspot.com/ 

Pat’s Substack: https://patcummings.substack.com/about

 

#private equity healthcare#elder care crisis#assisted living problems#nursing home abuse# private equity healthcare#elder care costs#aging in America# hospice c#are flaws#Judy Karofsky interview#Diselderly#Conduct book#senior living scams#Medicare assisted living#elder care reform#caregiver burnout#elder rights advocacy#aging parents care#elder care horror stories#VA vs private elder care#Pat Cummings#Greg Godels#ZZ Blog#Coming From Left Field#CFLF#Podcast#zzblog#mltoday