Buzz
From the Weather Underground in the 1960s to the January 6, 2021, Capitol attacks, radical movements are often marked by violence, intrigue, and compelling personalities. As the U.S. faces increasingly polarized politics, examining these historical events can provide insights for the future. These 6 podcasts delve into the history of radical groups, uncovering hidden stories and offering perspectives from those who witnessed these events firsthand.
Mother Country Radicals
Mother Country Radicals chronicles the journey of The Weather Underground, a leftist militant group formed in 1969 and labeled a domestic terrorist organization by the FBI due to their bombings of government and financial institutions.
Host Zayd Ayers Dohrn, the child of Weather Underground figures Bernardine Dohrn and Bill Ayers, provides a rare perspective on the group's operations and shares his personal experiences growing up in hiding during the 1970s while his parents evaded the FBI. Through conversations with Bernardine and Bill, the podcast reveals the passionate yet flawed efforts of young activists striving for radical change.
Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff
Margaret Killjoy, a transfeminine writer and activist, hosts Cool Zone Media’s latest podcast, Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff, spotlighting revolutionaries, pioneers, and the daring figures behind historic uprisings. With a conversational and engaging tone, Margaret transforms history into an exciting dialogue, akin to overhearing a lively chat among politically savvy friends. Featuring guests like Robert Evans from Behind the Bastards, the show dives into gripping tales of defiance that inspire action and reflection. A standout episode explores the Jane Collective, a clandestine group offering abortion services in Chicago from 1969 until Roe v. Wade in 1973.
American Radical
American Radical revisits the 2021 Capitol riot through the story of Roseanne Boyland, who lost her life amid the chaos. Beginning in her hometown of Kennesaw, Georgia, the podcast, led by MSNBC’s Ayman Mohyeldin, examines Roseanne’s final months, her exposure to conspiracy theories, and her tragic end. Through interviews, medical reports, and insights from loved ones, the series seeks to unravel the circumstances of her death on January 6.
Will Be Wild
Will Be Wild explores the radicalization that drove individuals from across the U.S. to storm the Capitol on January 6. Through interviews with a diverse group—ranging from those who opposed the attack to participants and even a son who reported his father—hosts Andrea Bernstein and Ilya Marritz (of Trump, Inc.) examine the insurrection’s impact on American democracy. The podcast portrays January 6 as the start of a broader anti-democratic movement in the country.
Imperfect Paradise
In the early 1990s, Oscar Gomez was a prominent figure in Davis, California. He hosted “La Onda Chicana” on UC Davis’s KDVS radio, organized protests against the 500th anniversary of Columbus’s arrival, joined a hunger strike to establish a Chicano studies department at UCLA, and opposed Proposition 187, which sought to deny public services to undocumented immigrants. Tragically, Gomez was found dead in Santa Barbara in 1994 at just 21 years old. Imperfect Paradise’s series The Forgotten Revolutionary, hosted by Adolfo Guzman-Lopez—a fellow college student, radio host, and Chicano activist—explores Gomez’s life, Guzman-Lopez’s quest for answers, and his personal reflections on surviving the same movement.
Project Unabom
Hosted by Eric Benson, Project Unabom delves into the life of Ted Kaczynski and his 18-year reign of terror from a remote Montana cabin. Featuring fresh reporting and interviews, the podcast examines the controversial choice by the New York Times and Washington Post to publish a terrorist’s manifesto, explores Kaczynski’s early years, and sheds light on the origins of his paranoid ideology. It also uncovers the overlooked tale of the Dungeons & Dragons enthusiasts wrongly accused of his crimes, alongside exclusive conversations with Kaczynski’s brother, David.
