Free Daily Podcast Summary
The Fire These Times: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Elia Ayoub
Where doom scrolling meets radical hope. “The Fire These Times is a place where we tell our hardest truths, and find one another" - Naomi Klein.Hosted by Elia Ayoub with co-hosts Dana El Kurd, Daniel Voskoboynik, israa' and other members of the From The Periphery Media Collective.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 1 weeks ago44 min
Fascists Really Believe It w/ Toby Buckle (E224)
Do fascists really believe in fascism? Yes, yes they do, and we need to stop pretending otherwise to better equip ourselves against them. I had the writer Toby Buckle (Political Philosophy Podcast) on to talk about his essay “Fascists Really Believe It” for Liberal Currents. Recorded 26 August 2026. Patreon release 27 August 2026 (+ video exclusive). I was previously on his podcast to talk about fascism and fiction. You can support The Fire These Times on Patreon and in return get: early access to all episodes, exclusive videos, mini-series, access to our monthly hangout as well as the Discord channel, discounts on merch, personalised thank you cards, and more to come.Masterclass on Modern Lebanon: Registration is now open for November 2026.Newsletter: Subscribe to HauntologiesSocial Media: I’m on Bluesky and Instagram.Related episodes:The rise of end times fascism w/ Astra Taylor and Naomi Klein (E200)Our Mirror Worlds w/ Naomi Klein (E182)The Stories That Fascism Fears Most w/ Jessie Gender (E199)American Neocons, Christian Zionists & Israeli Fascism w/ Atalia Omer (E176)Lebanon and the Threat of Christian Fascism w/ Justin Salhani (E158)Understanding (Anti-)Fascism w/ Shane Burley (E125)Organizing Against Ice w/ Nicole Bedera, Aydin and Ed (E211)Contact: To collaborate, reach out on ayoub@thefirethesetimes.com / Signal @ Ayoub.02
- 2 weeks ago1h 5m
Reclaiming Land in Casiavera w/ David E. Gilbert (E223)
Two decades ago, a group of Indonesian agricultural workers began occupying the agribusiness plantation near their homes. In the years since, members of this remarkable movement have reclaimed collective control of their land and cultivated diverse agricultural forests on it, repairing the damage done over nearly a century of abuse. Countering Dispossession, Reclaiming Land, by my guest David E. Gilbert, is that story. It is an account of the ways these workers-turned-activists mobilized to move beyond industrial agriculture's exploitation of workers and the environment, showing how emancipatory and ecologically attuned ways of living with land are possible. At a time when capitalism has remade landscapes and reordered society, the Casiavera reclaiming movement stands as an inspiring example of what struggles for social and environmental justice can achieve.Casiavera, located in Sumatra, modern Indonesia, is an example of a land bank movement in the modern era, backed by highly organised unions in Indonesia and globally. This story takes us from Dutch colonial times to the US-backed coup that brought one of the most brutal dictatorships of the 20th century. It is also a story of pragmatism, including the casiavera movement recruiting an accomplice within the state security apparatus itself. As I’m not very knowledgeable about this topic beyond reading David’s book, you won’t hear a lot of me in this episode, besides my reflections at the end, as I told David to take his time and explain in as much detail as possible how Casiavera became possible, and what we can all learn from that history.Mentioned:La Via CampesinaFederation of Indonesian Peasant Union (Federasi Serikat Petani Indonesia)The Final Straw episode with DavidThis episode was first released for Patreon supporters on 14 August 2026 and made public on 7 September 2026.If you’d like to support The Fire These Times, the best way to do it is through Patreon.com/thefirethesetimes. In return, you’ll get early access to everything I record, exclusive videos, the mini-series all at once, access to the monthly hangout, discounts on my classes and newsletter, the class recordings (all of them), an invitation to join the Discord chat, merch, personalised thank you cards, and more stuff to come.Registrations for the November class (online) on modern Lebanese history and politics are now open: https://thefirethesetimes.com/lebanonclass ------Social Media: Elia (Bluesky, Instagram), TFTT (Bluesky, Instagram)For feedback, requests etc: ayoub@thefirethesetimes.comEverything else is archived on the website.------Elia's recent piecesShadoMag:
- 4 weeks ago1h 1m
James Baldwin and the Black Atlantic w/ John Drabinksi (E222)
This will come as a total surprise, but I really like James Baldwin. I know, it’s shocking. I always kept it subtle, like how I named this podcast after his book The Fire Next Time, and how I have been bringing him up every other episode for years, and how I have a shelf that is just for books by him and about him. The reason I like James Baldwin is that I’ve found something for me in his work, something that I can not just relate to but also use to understand the wider world, including my own world. This is a curious thing in the context of Baldwin because he was, ultimately, an American writer. An African-American writer, to be exact of course, but his Americanness is something which he took to heart. Not in a weird nationalist way but rather in a sort of matter-of-factly kind of way. So how did I come to relate to him? That’s one of the questions we explored here, but to be honest it’s not even the main one. What I wanted to know, and what my guest John E. Drabinski has explored in his book So Unimaginable a Price: Baldwin and the Black Atlantic, is why did Baldwin, a man clearly concerned with the fate of the world, rarely engage with the Black Atlantic and might even be described as an ‘anti-diaspora’ thinker, at least to some extent. This is a conversation about Baldwin, yes, but ultimately it is a conversation about shifting identities and perspectives in a rapidly changing world, one which seems to be changing even faster now than it did during Baldwin’s time.John E. Drabinski is Professor in the Department of African American and Africana Studies, with a joint appointment in the Department of English. Along with Ashley Newby and Brie Gorrell, he co-hosts The Black Studies Podcast, which documents the history and future of the field of Black Studies from the perspective of students, professors, artists, and activists. He is both co-editor of Journal of French and Francophone Philosophy and co-editor of the book series Global Black Critical Thought on Cambridge University Press.Mentioned:James Baldwin ReviewBlack Cultural Archives, BrixtonBeing Black and British with David OlusogaThis episode was first released for Patreon supporters on 14 August 2026 and made public on 24 August 2026.------If you’d like to support The Fire These Times, the best way to do it is through Patreon.com/thefirethesetimes. In return, you’ll get early access to everything I record, exclusive videos, the mini-series all at once, access to the monthly hangout, discounts on my classes and newsletter, the class recordings (all of them), an invitation to join the Discord chat, merch, personalised thank you cards, and more stuff to come.Registrations for the November class (online) on modern Lebanese history and politics are now open: https://thefirethesetimes.com/lebanonclass ------Social Media: Elia (Bluesky, Instagram), TFTT (Bluesky, Instagram)For feedback, requests etc: ayoub@thefirethesetimes.comEverything else is archived on the website.------Elia's recent piecesShadoMag:<a href="https://shado-mag.com/articles/opini
- Aug 18, 20269 min
November Lebanon Class: Registration Open
In which I talk about the upcoming class on modern Lebanese history and politics, the 5th and last one one this year. Dates (UK Time): November 7, 2-4 pmNovember 14, 4-6 pmNovember 21, 4-6 pmNovember 28, 4-6 pmQuick links:All details here: https://thefirethesetimes.com/lebanonclass/All Patreon supporters get a discount (message me!) Email: ayoub@thefirethesetimes.com or Signal: Ayoub.02 (please introduce yourself)Book your spot here: https://ko-fi.com/eliaayoub
- Aug 17, 202653 min
Beyond the Apocalypse w/ Waubgeshig Rice (E221)
These days, the apocalypse has been on my mind a lot. Maybe that's not surprising, given the state of the world. This can easily descend into dread and hopelessness, which is something I try and avoid for my own sake. When I picked up Moon of the Crusted Snow and Moon of the Turning Leaves, written by my guest Waubgeshig Rice, in a bookshop in Ottawa, I didn't know what to expect. I've always been into 'post-apocalyptic' stories, but I soon found out that there was something different about this cast of characters: their people, the Anishinaabe, had already survived multiple apocalypses at the hands of the Canadian state. In this episode, Waubgeshig and I spoke about the Whitesky saga books, the ongoing wildfires, passing on traditions, learning Ojibwe and teaching it to his kids, Gaza, how the father-daughter relationship in the books inspired my own relationship, and so much more.Waubgeshig’s Recommendations:Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones The Sorceress of Sky Serpents by Eden RobinsonCounty Road Six by Kevin Hardcastle------This episode was first released on Patreon on 11 August 2026, a day after recordingVideo version premiering on YouTube on 17 August 2026 at 6pm UK time: https://youtu.be/37-oFTg6xBIIf you’d like to support The Fire These Times, the best way to do it is through Patreon.com/thefirethesetimes. In return, you’ll get early access to everything I record, exclusive videos, the mini-series all at once, access to the monthly hangout, discounts on my classes and newsletter, the class recordings (all of them), an invitation to join the Discord chat, merch, personalised thank you cards, and more stuff to come.Registrations for the November class (online) on modern Lebanese history and politics are now open: https://thefirethesetimes.com/lebanonclass ------Social Media: Elia (Bluesky, Instagram), TFTT (Bluesky, Instagram)For feedback, requests etc: ayoub@thefirethesetimes.comEverything else is archived on the website.------Elia's recent piecesShadoMag: The Belfast pogrom was predictable972Mag: Lebanon walks into Israel’s trapAlso, for HauntologiesReport from Belfast. Day 1.Recent Podcast interviewsIt Could Happen Here: The Media Context for the Belfast PogromIt Could Happen Here: Lebanon's Agreement with Israel------CreditsElia Ayoub (host, producer, episode design), the rosa artist</a
- Aug 4, 202651 min
The Ceuta 'Incident' w/ Ayman Makarem (E220)
Elia Ayoub is joined by Ayman Makarem (Politically Depressed) to talk about the Ceuta ‘incident’ which left at least 70 people dead, the political discourse in Europe, the Moroccan monarchy’s cynicism, antisemitic conspiracy theories, and the danger that is Fortress Europe – including for Europeans.Links:Hauntologies: On CeutaHarsha Walia’s commentaryBorder Violence Monitoring NetworkSupport: You can support my work with a one-off or monthly donation on Ko-fiMasterclass on Modern Lebanon: Registration still possible for August 2026Newsletter: Subscribe to HauntologiesSocial Media: I am on Bluesky and InstagramContact: Reach out on ayoub@thefirethesetimes.com or on Signal @ Ayoub.02The Fire These TimesSocial Media: TFTT is on Bluesky and InstagramTranscription: You can help Antidote Zine transcribe TFTT episodes hereWebsite: All episodes are archived on the websiteFrom The PeripheryTFTT is a proud member of From The Periphery Media Collective, which you can support on Patreon and follow on Bluesky, YouTube and Instagram.Check out other project wherever you get your podcasts:Politically DepressedSyria: The Incon
- Jul 20, 20261h 2m
219/ Cosmic Dream Boogie w/ Chanda Prescod-Weinstein
For episode 219, I talk to Chanda Prescod-Weinstein about her latest book "The Edge of Space-Time: Particles, Poetry and the Cosmic Dream Boogie." Science is political. Reality is queer af. Also: race, imperialism, Star Trek (of course), Supergirl and post/colonialism.Support: You can support my work with a one-off or monthly donation on Ko-fiMasterclass on Modern Lebanon: Registration still possible for August 2026Newsletter: Subscribe to HauntologiesSocial Media: I am on Bluesky and InstagramContact: Reach out on ayoub@thefirethesetimes.com or on Signal @ Ayoub.02The Fire These TimesSocial Media: TFTT is on Bluesky and InstagramTranscription: You can help Antidote Zine transcribe TFTT episodes hereWebsite: All episodes are archived on the websiteFrom The PeripheryTFTT is a proud member of From The Periphery Media Collective, which you can support on Patreon and follow on Bluesky, YouTube and Instagram.Check out other project wherever you get your podcasts:Politically DepressedSyria: The Inconvenient Revolution From The Periphery Podcast The Mutual Aid PodcastElia's recent piecesShadoMag: The Belfast pogrom was predictable972Mag: Lebanon walks into Israel’s trapAlso, for HauntologiesReport from Belfast. Day 1.<
- May 6, 20261h 48m
218/ Solarpunk Panel 2026 w/ Luka Dowell, Ariel Kroon & Andre
For episode 218 of The Fire These Times, I talk to Luka Dowell (Solarpunk Now!), Ariel Kroon (Solarpunk Presents) and Andre (HydroponicTrash) about our changing relationships to Solarpunk given everything that's been going on in the world since the last time we all sat together (in 2023).Lebanon emergency reliefSupport: You can support my work with a one-off or monthly donation on Ko-fiMasterclass on Modern Lebanon: Late registration still possible for May 2026Newsletter: Subscribe to HauntologiesSocial Media: I am on Bluesky, Instagram and MastodonContact: Reach out on ayoub@thefirethesetimes.com or on Signal @ Ayoub.02Previous TFTT episodes on Solarpunk:Solarpunk and Storytelling the Present and Future w/ Phoebe WagnerClimate Narratives that Go Beyond the Apocalypse w/ Alyssa HullThe Political Economy of Solarpunk w/ Andrew Dana HudsonIn Search of Afro-Solarpunk w/ Rob Cameron Hauntings, Futurisms and the Present Movement w/ Luka Dowell aka Solarpunk Now!Solarpunk and Post-Capitalist Desires w/ HydroponicTrashThe Fire These TimesSocial Media: TFTT is on Bluesky and InstagramTranscription: You can help Antidote Zine transcribe TFTT episodes hereWebsite: All episodes are archived on the websiteFrom The PeripheryTFTT is a proud member of From The Periphery Media Collective, which you can support on Patreon and follow on Bluesky
About The Fire These Times
Where doom scrolling meets radical hope. “The Fire These Times is a place where we tell our hardest truths, and find one another" - Naomi Klein.Hosted by Elia Ayoub with co-hosts Dana El Kurd, Daniel Voskoboynik, israa' and other members of the From The Periphery Media Collective.
Customized Recaps
AI-powered recaps with compact key takeaways, quotes, and insights.
Straight to Your Inbox
Get key takeaways from The Fire These Times in a 5-minute read.
Save Hours Every Week
Stay current on your favorite podcasts without falling behind.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Podzilla's The Fire These Times daily summary?
It's a free AI-powered email that summarizes new episodes of The Fire These Times as soon as they're published. You get the key takeaways, notable quotes, and links & mentions — all in a quick read.
How does the The Fire These Times podcast summary work?
When a new episode drops, our AI transcribes and analyzes it, then generates a personalized summary tailored to your interests and profession. It's delivered to your inbox every morning.
Is this an official The Fire These Times product?
No. Podzilla is an independent service that summarizes publicly available podcast content. We're not affiliated with or endorsed by Elia Ayoub.
Can I get summaries of other podcasts too?
Absolutely! The free plan covers up to 3 podcasts. Upgrade to Pro for 15, or Premium for 50. Browse our full catalog at /podcasts.
How often does The Fire These Times release new episodes?
The Fire These Times publishes biweekly. Our AI generates a summary within hours of each new episode.
What topics does The Fire These Times cover?
The Fire These Times covers topics including News, Politics. Our AI identifies the specific themes in each episode and highlights what matters most to you.
Start getting The Fire These Times summaries tomorrow morning.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.