Radio Reversal

NOlympics Committee - The Olympics Is Fascist

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 10:00:00 +1000

This week on Radio Reversal we're bringing you another episode in our NOlympics Committee series: THE OLYMPICS IS FASCIST!

In this live recording from No Phones No Phascists in August this year, Anna and Nat offer a provocation and an invitation to think about the long and continuing relationship between the Olympics and fascism. We kick off by digging into the historical links between the Olympics and fascism, excavating the racist, sexist and imperialist logics that have long underpinned the contemporary Olympic Games. We trace the relationship between the Olympics and fascist regimes in Europe, including the role of the 1936 Olympics in Berlin in the rise and emboldening of the Nazi regime in Germany. We consider how the the governing bodies responsible for the Olympics often adopt fascistic models of authoritarian control and top-down governance, with key roles held by "strong-man" figures for decades with little oversight or accountability. And finally, we reflect on how the Olympics as a contemporary mega-event serves as a testing ground for technologies of repression including mass surveillance and "anti-terrorism" laws, border policing and protest repression; and as a laundering tool through which those measures come to seem like normal and acceptable parts of everyday governance.

And of course - a reminder that this month's No Phones, No Phascists event is on tomorrow (Friday 25th September) at the Understory in Holland Park West from 4pm - 9pm. If you're in Brisbane, consider this your invitation to come along for a glorious community event including veggo dinner by donation, collective art and zine-making, fantastic local music and much more.

Songs played
Amyl and the Sniffers - Chewing Gum
3% - Not Many - Ganay Miralunbar feat. Fred Leone
Holly Throsby - Wouldn't It Be Good
Miles Nautu - The Front
Worm Girlz - Broken Tooth

NOlympicsBNE - Nationalism, militarism, and sporting megaevents

Thu, 17 Sep 2026 10:00:00 +1000

Good morning Zedheads! Are you ready for another meeting of the NOlympicsBNE Committee? On today's agenda: how the Olympics reflects, reproduces, advances, and launders nationalism and militarism.

Anna and Nat are joined LIVE in the 4ZZZ studio by Dr Samid Suliman - Samid is Director, International (Arts, Education and Law) and Senior Lecturer, Migration and Security (School of Humanities, Languages and Social Science) at Griffith University. He is interested in migration studies, security, climate change, and political theory, and is currently working on projects exploring art, democracy and free speech, nuclear colonialism and militarism, borders and security, and more.

Samid is going to help us understand what nationalism and militarism are, particularly in the context of the present alt-right and fascistic resurgence, how these dynamics are expressed through international mega-events like the Olympics, and how the feel-good-marketing (propaganda) of the Olympics can launder and normalise dangerous politics and practices.

Tune in from 9-10am on 4ZZZ for all this, along with new and local music. To catch up on other shows in our NOlympics series, head to the 4ZZZ website to listen back on demand, and while you're there, SUBSCRIBE to support local radio, local media, local music, and local analysis. AND AND AND find the Radio Reversal Podcast on your podcasting app of choice, for a longer-lasting archive of our NOlympics series (and plenty more!).

Images from Suzanne Plunkett 2012, Andrew Medichini 2012, Martin Bernetti 2024, and Wikimedia Commons

Songs played
NIDALA - Sugar in the rain
salt & steel - The Rules of the River
3% - Not Many - Ganay Biralunbar (feat. Fred Leone)
ROMA - Heavy Lifting

A(gainst) I(mperial) Technofascism: Students Rejecting Slop

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 10:00:00 +1000

This week on Radio Reversal, Marissa is in the studio with the fourth episode in our mini-series on AI, which we are calling A(gainst) I(mperial) Technofascism, documenting the problems with AI and the resistance to it. This week, we’re bringing you recordings from an interview with Eva and Jamie from Students Rejecting Slop. In this interview, Eva and Jamie share personal reflections and testimonies from other students about how AI is being used in university education and the flimsy justifications for its rollout across the board. You can get in touch with Students Rejecting Slop and contribute to their survey about AI use in education on instagram @studentsrejectingslop and via their linktree.

If you’re looking for a fun and ethical thing to do at UQ, consider joining the Sports Fundraiser for Palestine tomorrow (Friday, 11 September) from 1-7pm at the UQ Basketball and Netball courts. You can find more details about the fundraiser, including a link for tickets, and info about other upcoming events on the BREAD substack.

Image credit: Students Rejecting Slop on instagram

Songs played
3% - Not Many - Ganay Biralunbar (feat. Fred Leone)
Katchafire - Giddy Up (feat Emily Wurramara)
NIDALA - Sugar In The Rain
Miles Nautu - coals
Lydia Fairhall - Bloom
Jaguar Jonze - Kawasaki Ninja

Fascism 101

Thu, 3 Sep 2026 10:00:00 +1000

Good morning Zedly ones! Nat and Anna in the studio this morning, for a show we've been talking about and promising for ages - 'Fascism 101'. Over the past year or so we have been talking a lot about fascism and the resurgence of far-right movements here and elsewhere, and the relationship between fascism and other contemporary issues and politics (e.g. fascism and AI, fascism and transphobia, fascism and settler colonialism, fascism and the policing of protest movements - to listen back to some of these episodes, head to radioreversal.org or find us on your favourite podcasting app!).

And yet, we haven't really dug into what we mean when we say 'fascism', so that's what we're going to do today - what is 'fascism', and, more than rote definition, what are the traits, tendencies, attitudes and affects of fascism that we can look for as fascistic politics and movements adapt themselves to different places, different contexts, and different moments? What do we need to watch out for, as people opposed to fascism? How does fascism attempt to recruit even those of us who abhor fascist politics? How do we resist cooption and complicity?

Join us from 9-10am on 4ZZZ for a big chatty show, with some great new music and some great, on theme, antifascist music, catch up on demand via the 4ZZZ website, and, while you're there, subscribe to 4ZZZ to keep antifascist radio on the air!

Songs played
Tahdig - Blueprint
Sycco - Look Up
Miss Kaninna - Stolen Wages
Carsie Blanton & The Burning Hell - Fascists are Good

School Strike for AI Regulation

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 10:00:00 +1000

This week on Radio Reversal, Marissa is in the studio with the third episode in our mini-series on AI and the growing resistance to it. This week, we’re bringing you recordings from the School Strike for AI Regulation on Kabi Kabi country (maroochydore) from their first strike for term 3 on 21 July. School students and supporters have been gathering outside the Sunshine Coast Regional Council office throughout the term to protest against AI, build solidarity for folks to resist AI, and call on political leaders to regulate this technology. Organisers and school students, Lilly and Ruby, talk about why they are resisting AI and calling for political action. You can follow the work of the school strike on instagram @strikesforaireguation. And get along to the next strike on 1 September if you’re free!

Image credit: emma.wishaw, 21 July 2026

Songs played
Sycco - Look Up
Candice Lorrae - Calling Me
Sunny Luwe - Made Me Smile
Say True God? - BLAK (Feat. Niwa)
Breanna Lee - Can We Just Talk
Miss Kannina - STOLEN WAGES

Colonialism, fascism & civilisational cultures with Aunty Mary Graham

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 10:00:00 +1000

This week on Radio Reversal, Anna and Jonno are joined by Dr. Aunty Mary Graham for a conversation about fascism, colonialism and the power of Aboriginal principles of relationality, sacredness, and custodianship in orienting us for the struggle ahead. Aunty Mary is a Kombumerri and Wakka Wakka writer, philosopher and teacher, whose groundbreaking work on the philosophical underpinnings of Aboriginal worldviews has shaped generations of thinkers in Magan-djin and beyond. Anna and Jonno caught up with Aunty Mary to talk about the preconditions to fascism, the role of fascism in colonial regimes, and why Aboriginal principles of custodianship and relationality offer useful tools in the struggle against resurgent fascist movements in the present moment.

Songs played
Alex the Astronaut - I just wanna dance
Charlie Needs Braces - This Land
Emma Donovan - A Change is Gonna Come
Tia Gostelow - Vague Utopias
Miss Kaninna - Handout

Radiothon 2026!!

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 10:00:00 +1000

Happy Radiothon, Zedheads! Han's in the studio today with a Fiercely Independent playlist to encourage you to earn that warm fuzzy glow (TM) for another year and subscribe to your underground champions, local community radio station 102.1FM 4ZZZ!

Songs played
The Dø - Dust It Off
Silverchair - Straight Lines
Say True God? - Don't Worry feat. Stanley T
Lutalo - Daedalus
Sunny Luwe - Made Me Smile
Marika Hackman - No Caffeine
Rowena Wise - Blood Ties
Sycco - Look Up
Porches - I Wanna Ride
Dobby - Lessons
Jaguar Jonze - Half Devil

AI and fascism, with Dr Karen Crawley

Thu, 6 Aug 2026 10:00:00 +1000

Good morning Zedheads! Today on Radio Reversal we're continuing our conversation on AI, and continuing our conversation on fascism, by bringing you a conversation about - you guessed it! - AI and fascism! At last Friday's No Phones, No Phascists event, we were joined by the wonderful Dr Karen Crawley, in conversation with Radio Reversal producer Anna, who offered some great insights into the different kinds of AI and their different relationships to fascist movements, politics, and affects, and the range of different strategies we can use to intervene, contest, and go Full Ludd on harmful AI technologies.

Tune in to 4ZZZ 102.1FM from 9am for this and lots of new and local music, or catch up on demand via the 4ZZZ website, AND subscribe to the Radio Reversal podcast and newsletter to listen back whenever and keep up with what we're cooking up for your ears

Songs played
ALGBRA - Komodo Dragon (feat. Roman MC)
Worm Girlz - Kills Me Like You Do
Seeing Violet - Billionaire
Sereen - Philes
YINGURAY - wonderful
ssszlami - girl on the screen

Resisting AI... "in australia's interests" with Jathan Sadowski

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 10:00:00 +1000

Happy Thursday, Zedly ones! It’s Marissa in the studio today, bringing you an interview recording with friend of the show and critical thinker about all things tech, Jathan Sadowski. In this interview, we talk about AI and unpack Albo’s recent speech entitled “AI in Australia’s interests”. We discuss how resistance to AI and meaningful regulation of the powerful and exploitative AI industry is undermined by a politics of normalisation and “just embracing it”.

This episode features only part of the interview with Jathan, and it is the first episode in a mini-series on AI. Planned future episodes will feature interviews with the genuinely inspiring high school and university students organising to resist AI and its associated harms.

You can find out more about Jathan’s work on his website and by listening to the excellent podcast he co-produces called This Machine Kills.

You can catch the full interview with Jathan on the Radio Reversal podcast in a few weeks.

Have a wonderful Thursday!

Image credit: @strikesforairegulation, 16 June 2026, https://www.instagram.com/p/DZoWT85EtNI/

Songs played
YINGURAY - wonderful
Kurilpa Kiosk and Topology - Changing Seasons
Odette - AAAH!
Selve - Desire
Jaguar Jonze - Half Devil feat KIRE

NOlympics Committee #3 - Fighting Fascism & Olympics Fatalism LIVE from Barrambin

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 10:00:00 +1000

Hello friends & welcome to the third meeting of the 2032 NOlympics Committee! This week on the show, join Anna & Nat on an excursion to Ibis Island where they give a talk on fascism & olympics fatalism, and how we can resist it. We dig back into the concept of Event Capture that we've been exploring over the past few weeks, this time introducing the concept of "narrative capture" or "future capture" - the way that the storytelling and political discourses around the Olympics serve to fuel fascism, launder settler colonialism and obscure more radical possibilities for the city.

As always, we'll also be sharing loads of new local music and discussions about upcoming events - including the Paperbark Zine Fair which is coming up this Saturday 25th July from 12pm - 5pm at Jagera Hall. There'll be more details on the event in the comments below, but if you're in the mood for some DIY anarchist political literature, head over to see Radio Reverser Anna who'll have a bunch of new political zines, art zines & one-off pieces for your reading pleasure!

And a reminder that if you'd rather listen to our shows in podcast form, head to radioreversal.org and sign up as a subscriber! You'll get newsletter updates with links to new shows and the first chance to listen to our standalone series and investigative podcasts. Our first 50 paid subscribers will get a special intro pack with posters and zines...so get in quick if you want EVEN MORE Radio Reversal in your life.

Songs played
Dobby - Free Your Mind
Emma Donovan - Take Me To The River
Joan and the Giants - Mama Don't Cry
Miss Kannina - Handout

Jayson Gillham on arts, censorship, & music for two pianos

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 10:00:00 +1000

Good morning Zedilanians! Han in the studio with you this morning, bringing you a conversation with acclaimed Australian-British concert pianist Jayson Gillham about arts, censorship, and music for two pianos. Jayson is returning to Australian stages from next week, performing at QPAC Wednesday, 22 July, alongside his friend Palestinian-Jordanian pianist Iyad Sughayer. We chat about this concert program, and about the importance of being your whole self and standing up for what is right, even in the face of repression and censorship such as he has faced in the form of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra's choice to cancel his performances in August 2024. Tickets to Jayson and Iyad's show available here.

Songs played
mui zyu - the mould
Connor D'Netto - Witness
Emma Donovan - BIRDS OF A FEATHER ft. Drifting Clouds
Saint Levant - SABAH EL WARD صباح الورد
Spencer Krug - I'll Believe in Anything