The Weed Out Podcast
A podcast by abolitionists for those who are in the mood to hear that discussion. We are Western Massachusetts based but hope to resonate everywhere. Discussions will focus on both local topics and events that impact us all on a broad level and could be applied to people all over the country. We will share ways to get involved with direct action, information on how to make records requests from public officials, and good news about our area and beyond! We hope you will listen and follow along with us as we weed out the nonsense in our town and maybe even yours too.
Episodes
Some members of the SJP at Smith College join Spence for a conversation about what they are doing and more. Please listen in and support the students across WMA that are protesting peacefully in hopes to end a genocide.
Bill Shaner of Worcester Sucks and I love it joins us to talk all things Worcester, city politics, and more!
www.theweedout.com
Join us to meet the four candidates running in Massachusetts in 2024 from the Workers Party! This third party is a socialist principled political group with activist and leaders across the state. They need assistance in gathering signatures in order to get on the ballot at the Federal Level, even if you don't vote 3rd party, please assist them if you can in strengthening democracy and allowing more parties than the two we have now!
...Akil Vicks is a local writer and activist. Akil is from Philadelphia and has a background in research. He is currently working on multiple writing projects including contributing to Jacobin. Join us for a discussion about the election year, local politics, and more!
theweedout.com
For episode 60, we get an update on the Berkshires biggest town - Pittsfield (they have a new Mayor) and are facing a housing crisis. Michael weighs in on this and gives us all an update on what he and his wife are doing with their organization Roots & Dreams and Mustard Seeds Inc.
Many of us Western Ma folx know and love King Kone - get an update on that too!
xoxo
theweedout.com
RiverValleyPSL joins us again after visiting DC on JAN. 13th to protest the genocide in Gaza. There were reports of 400,000 thousand people that gathered together with this common demand for the President and the leaders of the West who are engaging in these actions.
Tune in to hear about the experience from a group that went locally!
theweedout.com
Sierra's writings on abolition, immigration, education, gender, labor, and nature have been featured in publications like Shadowproof, Modern Farmer, Documented, Talk Poverty, and Library Journal. She currently covers police and prisons for The Shoestring.
Sierra has a Master’s in Education from Antioch University and has spent years working with immigrant learners in Ve...
On January 13th, the RiverValleyPSL is heading to DC to come together with other like minded people to "deliver a powerful message" that is asking for ceasefire and the US to disengage with the genocide in Gaza.
Over 100 people from Western Ma will ride from Amherst, Northampton, and Springfield to meet in D.C. - they hope you will join them!
If you'd like to join them and have not yet registered please do so here:
Join us as we discuss the fascist parades in the wake of a waltham, ma police officer and national grid worker killed in a motor vehicle accident.
cops parade as a show of force, collect OT, whitewash their image with the deceased body of a coworker. we discuss the role this plays in manufacturing consent.
We are talking ableism and how it is baked into our language and so many things that it is something we all have to work on pushing back on the norm. If you are not someone who is disabled, we discuss how someday we will all face some kind of disability. The word disability is another term that is often criticized by those who are differently abled as it implies difference and inability in the name. This is one example of how it pe...
Spencer and Joanna will be talking all things CATS! The cute little fur balls are often used as a symbol of antifascists movements, they are the assigned pet of "witches", and they really bring the joy and the are only a few of the things we discuss.
We could not resist a chance to chat about our cats and the different ways they are used as symbols that align with our values. As always, we also will include some local ghoulery &...
Clara and Fergus, from Demilitarize Western MA, join us to discuss recent direct actions taken against L3 Harris in Northampton, MA. We talk about the group, their goals, and how the group ended up taking these direct actions. Please listen in to hear more and to get involved if you'd be interested in doing them.
theweedout.com
Spencer and Joanna will discuss the allegations against Captain Reyes and what the Holyoke administration/PD did in order to investigate and handle the allegations. Captain Reyes handled any internal affairs issues and so people reporting concerns would have to go to him. He was eventually accused of creating a hostile work environment which included sexual harassment even when asked to stop. The person that made the allegations wa...
Owen Broadhurst is a local organizer and friend of The Weed Out. He joins us to discuss recent sweeps of certain neighborhoods in Holyoke that have impacted not only Owen's close connections but neighbors to all of us in the Western Ma Community. The police arrested some for not having ID on them and this should not be the case. Owen also gives the audience an update on The Worker's Party here in Western Ma and how to get involved ...
Laura Saylor joins us to give us some updates on what is going on in her part of the state (Eastern, MA). She gives us an update on Ron Sellon and the protesting her and her organizers are doing regarding this Police Chief being able to keep his position. Further, she talks about why she is still focusing on Sandra Birchmore and will continue to protest and meet with the people that have information that should be used to bring som...
Danielle and Tamik (who is a person who remains incarcerated in Hampden County) join Spence and Joanna to ask the Western Ma Community for your help. We discuss the No Longer 3/5ths Coalition and what that means for those that remain incarcerated here in MA. The ability for those people to have the right to vote was taken away in 2000. We need people to gather signature to restore this right for those incarcerate. Please listen in ...
Listen in to hear from Defund 413! We ask them who they are and what they are all about. Spence chats to one of the members Birdy about what is happening in Amherst, MA right now along with the CRESS program and the local elections that are coming up on Tuesday, November 7th. Please share with those you know in that town and listen in to hear about what is happening in a community here in Western Ma that addresses needs of the citi...
This episode is an update from the Trader Joe's United Union here in Hadley, MA. Listen in for some updates on what's going on, how we as a community can help, and how the National Union campaign is going for Trader Joe's!
www.theweedout.com
Katie Talbot is back with some good news and some updates from Neighbor to Neighbor. There are some local elections, housing organizing and dates that are coming up to watch out for, and some initiatives at the state level that we can all take action on. Listen in to here more about how you can get involved with your neighbors!
www.theweedout.com
It's 9/11 and how could anyone ever forget with the way the media and government have used this tragedy. Listen in as we discuss 9/11, the aftermath, and why it's important to have discussions about this date that reflects on more than the narratives assigned to it.
Ghoulery and TomFoolery segment: https://x.com/JoshLandesWAMC/status/1700600598536524237?s=20
https://x.com/theweedout/status/1700611285086343615?s=20
www.theweedout.co...
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