55 - A.K. 47 - Red Love: Introduction
Kristen R. Ghodsee introduces Alexandra Kollontai's 1923 novella, Red Love (full text available at marxists.org) and reads the Foreword to the 1927 English language edition. Also mentioned in the episode is Sally Rooney's novel, Normal People. _______ "This novel is neither a study in “morals,” nor a picture of the standard of life in Soviet Russia. It is a purely psychological study of sex-relations in the post-war period. "I have chosen the environment of my own country and made my own peop...
24 Maj 202018min
54 - Bonus Episode - On Kollontai and Turning Fifty
In this episode, Kristen Ghodsee reads a passage from Cathy Porter's excellent biography of Alexandra Kollontai about the events of the year 1922 when Kollontai turned 50. Her standing in the Party was at its worst and her marriage to Dubenko was falling apart. It was during this time that she wrote her "Letters to Working Youth," trying to share her experience and advice with the younger generations. On this episode, Ghodsee discusses generational politics with her daughter and why Millennia...
26 Apr 202026min
53 - A.K. 47 - Sisters Part III
In this episode Kristen Ghodsee reads the third and final part of Alexandra Kollontai's 1923 short story, "Sisters." The "Nepmen" in the story are Soviet revolutionaries that take advantage of Lenin's New Economic Policy (NEP) to get rich and return to traditional gender roles. Kollontai herself was very critical of the NEP and especially its effects on Soviet women. Send us a text Thanks so much for listening. This podcast has no Patreon-type account and receives no funding. There are ...
17 Apr 202020min
52 - A.K. 47 - Sisters Part II
In this episode Kristen Ghodsee reads the second part of Alexandra Kollontai's 1923 short story, "Sisters." The "Nepmen" in the story are Soviet revolutionaries that take advantage of Lenin's New Economic Policy (NEP) to get rich and return to traditional gender roles. Kollontai herself was very critical of the NEP and especially its effects on Soviet women. Send us a text Thanks so much for listening. This podcast has no Patreon-type account and receives no funding. There are no ads an...
10 Apr 202018min
51 - A.K. 47 - Sisters Part I
In this episode Kristen Ghodsee reflects on the coronavirus and begins to read Alexandra Kollontai's 1923 short story, "Sisters." Mentioned in this episode are the $2.99 e-book sale for the entire month of April for Why Women Have Better Sex Under Socialism: And Other Arguments for Economic Independence, as well as Ghodsee's April 6th appearance on the Quarantine Books Club. Send us a text Thanks so much for listening. This podcast has no Patreon-type account and receives no funding. ...
1 Apr 202019min
50 - A.K. 47 - Bonus Episode - Post-IWD Greetings from Wellington, New Zealand
In this episode, Kristen Ghodsee send greetings from New Zealand and shares some exciting news about various articles and interviews that were published in conjunction with International Women's Day and Women's History Month. Please find below a list of links mentioned in this podcast: three in English and two in German. There is also a link to a Spanish translation of the New York Times piece.“How the socialist behind paid child care and parental leave was erased from women's history, “ NBC ...
10 Mars 20208min
49 - A.K. 47 - Bonus Episode - International Women's Day 2020
In this episode, Kristen Ghodsee recounts the amazing story of how Alexandra Kollontai saved the lives of one of her colleague's parents in Sweden. After the Nazi invasion of Norway in 1940, Hans Cerf and his wife needed to immediately get out of Europe through Moscow, but the clerk in the Soviet embassy in Stockholm said that it would take six weeks to issue them visas. Enter one "beautiful bosomy lady." Send us a text Thanks so much for listening. This podcast has no Patreon-type account an...
8 Mars 202016min
48 - A.K. 47 - The Loves of Three Generations Discussion II
In this episode, Kristen Ghodsee discusses the fraught historical relationship between left movements and women's emancipation. As the case of Kollontai shows us, revolutionary men do not always remain committed to women's issues after the revolution has been accomplished. Mentioned in this essay is this article about August Bebel from Jacobin Magazine. Send us a text Thanks so much for listening. This podcast has no Patreon-type account and receives no funding. There are no ads and there i...
1 Mars 202017min
