A.K. 47 - Selections from the Works of Alexandra Kollontai
History
About
Kristen R. Ghodsee reads and discusses 47 selections from the works of Alexandra Kollontai (1872-1952), a socialist women's activist who had radical ideas about the intersections of socialism and women's emancipation. Born into aristocratic privilege, the Ukrainian-Finnish Kollontai was initially a member of the Mensheviks before she joined Lenin and the Bolsheviks and became an important revolutionary figure during the 1917 Russian Revolution. Kollontai was a socialist theorist of women’s emancipation and a strident proponent of sexual relations freed from all economic considerations. After the October Revolution, Kollontai became the Commissar of Social Welfare and helped to found the Zhenotdel (the women's section of the Party). She oversaw a wide variety of legal reforms and public policies to help liberate working women and to create the basis of a new socialist sexual morality. But Russians were not ready for her vision of emancipation, and she was sent away to Norway to serve
Episodes
- 163 - A.K. 47 - Bonus Episode - What would Kollontai think of Taylor Swift?
In this extended episode, Kristen Ghodsee and her daughter enjoy a wide-ranging discussion with two special guests on the music and global influence of Taylor Swift, particularly in light of her recent engagement and rumors of her upcoming…
- 162 - A.K. 47 - “Formative Years” - Celebrating the 154th Anniversary of Kollontai’s Birth
On the 154th Anniversary of Kollontai’s birth, Kristen Ghodsee reads a section from her chapter "Alexandra Kollontai (1872–1952): Communism as the Only Way Toward Women’s Liberation," written with Natalia Novikova and published in The Palg…
- 161 - A.K. 47 - Bonus Episode - 2026 International Women’s Day from the streets of Berlin
Kristen Ghodsee reports from the streets of Berlin during the 2026 official 8 March demonstration and the march from Oranienplatz to the Rotes Rathaus. Some links to articles about the history of International Women’s Day: NPR Morning Edit…
- 160 - A.K. 47 - “Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg: Fighters, Martyrs, Heroes"
Kristen Ghodsee reads Alexandra Kollontai’s February 1919 obituary for her murdered German comrades: Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg. An uncorrected proof of Ghodsee's chapter on the Luxemburg-Liebknecht Demo from her 2017 book, Red Han…
- 159 - A.K. 47 - Bonus Episode - 7th Anniversary of the Podcast!
Kristen Ghodsee shares a conversation with her daughter in Berlin on the 7th anniversary of the podcast. This is their 17th shared episode. Send us Fan Mail Thanks so much for listening. This podcast has no Patreon-type account and receive…
- 158 - A.K. 47 - Bonus Episode - The Political Economy of Love in Capitalism
Kristen Ghodsee reads her own December 2025 essay "The Political Economy of Love in Capitalism” This text appeared as the featured essay in the Winter 2025 special issue of Jacobin.de on “Love.” Below are the links to the original essay in…
- 157 - A.K. 47 - The Communist Valkyrie - Part 4
Kristen Ghodsee reads the final part of her biographical chapter on Alexandra Kollontai from Ghodsee's 2022 book, Red Valkyries: Feminist Lessons from Five Revolutionary Women . Mentioned in this episode are these new Jacobin articles: “ T…
- 156 - A. K. 47 - The Communist Valkyrie - Part 3
Kristen Ghodsee reads the third part of her biographical chapter on Alexandra Kollontai from Ghodsee's 2022 book, Red Valkyries: Feminist Lessons from Five Revolutionary Women . Mentioned in this episode: Event - December 2, 2025 in Berlin…
- 155 - A.K. 47 - Bonus Episode - Kristen Ghodsee and Astrid Zimmerman in Berlin (6 November 2025)
A special extended, bonus episode for those of you traveling for the long weekend. Kristen Ghodsee shared a conversation with Astrid Zimmerman for the Shakespeare and Sons bookstore in Berlin, Germany on 6 November 2025. In this less-than-…
- 154 - A.K. 47 - The Communist Valkyrie - Part 2
Kristen Ghodsee reads the second part of her biographical chapter on Alexandra Kollontai from Ghodsee's 2022 book, Red Valkyries: Feminist Lessons from Five Revolutionary Women . Mentioned in this episode: " My Daughter’s Abandoned Prom Dr…
- 153 - A.K. 47 - The Communist Valkyrie - Part 1
Kristen Ghodsee reads from her own chapter on Alexandra Kollontai from her 2022 book, Red Valkyries: Feminist Lessons from Five Revolutionary Women , available now in Spanish , Italian , Slovak , Chinese , Turkish , and Korean , and also a…
- 152 - A.K. 47 - My Heart Belongs to the Finnish Poor
Kristen Ghodsee reads the first English translation of Alexandra Kollontai’s “My Heart Belongs to the Finnish Poor,” originally published as "Suomen köyhälistölle kuuluu sydämeni" by the Finnish Trade Union Federation yearbook Työn Juhla:…
- 151 - A.K. 47 - Narva
Kristen Ghodsee reads Cathy Porter’s translation of an excerpt from Alexandra Kollontai’s autobiography. Reflecting on a visit to Narva, Estonia in March of 1896, when she was just 24-years-old, Kollontai describes the event that radicaliz…
- 150 - A.K. 47 - Bonus Episode - Capitalism, Socialism, and Esteem with Prof. Scott Sehon
Kristen Ghodsee revisits her discussion about arguments for socialism with Bowdoin College professor of philosophy, Scott R. Sehon. This conversation focuses on the role of esteem and how it is increasingly commodified in a capitalist soci…
- 149 - A.K. 47 - Bonus Episode - Embrace your political despair
Kristen Ghodsee shares a conservation with a previous guest from March 2022, a self-described anarchist activist, about the value of feeling one’s political despair and using it to generate political creativity. Mentioned in this episode:…
- 148 - A.K. 47 - The New Morals
Kristen R. Ghodsee reads a 1930 interview with Alexandra Kollontai about the new morality around love and marriage in the Soviet Union. Kollontai argues that romantic love and relationships will no longer be the most important thing in wom…
- 147 - A.K. 47 - March 8, 1947
Kristen Ghodsee reads Aleksandra Kollontai’s March 8, 1947 International Women’s Day address, taken from the book: Alexandra Kollontai: The Plight, Struggle, and Liberation of Women Send us Fan Mail Thanks so much for listening. This podca…
- 146 - A.K. 47 - Bonus Episode - Sally Rooney's Intermezzo (with spoilers)
In this special bonus episode, recorded on Valentine's Day 2025 in Dublin, Kristen Ghodsee and her daughter discuss the book Intermezzo , the latest by the Irish novelist, Sally Rooney. Rooney identifies herself as a Marxist and often mixe…
- 145 - A.K. 47 - Who Needs the War? - Part 6
Kristen Ghodsee reads the final section of Alexandra Kollontai's 1915/1916 essay about World War I–"Who Needs the War?"–and looks for lessons applicable to the present day. This is especially salient today because the United States is on t…
- 144 - A.K. 47 - Who Needs the War? - Part 5
Kristen Ghodsee reads the fifth section of Alexandra Kollontai's 1915 essay about World War I–"Who Needs the War?"–and looks for lessons applicable to the present day. This is especially salient today because of the narrow confirmation of…
- 143 - A.K. 47 - Who Needs the War? - Part 4
Kristen Ghodsee reads the fourth section of Alexandra Kollontai's 1915 essay about World War I–"Who Needs the War?"–and looks for lessons applicable to the present day. This translation is from a 1984 collection of Kollontai's writing publ…
- 142 - A.K. 47 - Who Needs the War? - Part 3 (and a special message for election eve)
Kristen Ghodsee reads the third section of Alexandra Kollontai's 1915 essay about World War I–"Who Needs the War?"–and looks for lessons applicable to the present day. This translation is from a 1984 collection of Kollontai's writing publi…
- 141 - A.K. 47 - Bonus Episode - Is Internationalism possible?
In this episode, Kristen Ghodsee discusses Alexandra Kollontai, nationalism, internationalism, and supranationalism with her daughter, just home from Ireland for fall break. Trigger warning: lots of Irish history! Mentioned in this episode…
- 140 - A.K. 47 - Who Needs the War? - Part 2
Kristen Ghodsee reads Alexandra Kollontai's 1915 essay about World War I–"Who Needs the War?"–and looks for lessons applicable to the present day. This translation is from a 1984 collection of Kollontai's writing published by Progress Publ…
- 139 - A.K. 47 - Who Needs the War? - Part 1
Kristen Ghodsee reads Alexandra Kollontai's 1915 essay about World War I–"Who Needs the War?"–and looks for lessons applicable to the present day. This translation is from a 1984 collection of Kollontai's writing published by Progress Publ…
- 138 - Bonus Episode – Socialism: A Logical Introduction with Professor Scott Sehon
Kristen Ghodsee speaks to Scott R. Sehon, a professor of philosophy, about his new book, Socialism: A Logical Introduction , and why we should use arguments to make a case for socialism and against capitalism. The first ten U.S.-based list…
- 137 - A.K. 47 - Bonus Episode - Claudia Jones's 8 March 1950 International Women's Day Speech
For International Women's Day, Kristen Ghodsee reads the Black Trinidadian activist and journalist Claudia Jones's speech for International Women's Day in 1950. This speech, (and the published version which appeared afterwards) led to Jone…
- 136 - A.K. 47 - "Diplomat, Novelist, Leader - Versatile Mme. Kollontay"
Kristen Ghodsee reads a profile of Alexandra Kollontai which appeared in the Washington Post on May 15, 1927 when Kollontai was serving as the Soviet ambassador to Mexico. Mentioned in this episode: The hardcover of Everyday Utopia is on s…
- 135 - A.K. 47 - Bonus Episode - 5th Anniversary Conversation about Parenthood
Kristen Ghodsee and her daughter share a conversation about Kollontai's pro-natalism and the current discourse about the BirthStrike. Are the relevant moral imperatives about having or not having children? And how does the climate crisis f…
- 134 - A.K. 47 - The Labor of Women in the Evolution of the Economy - Part 3
Kristen Ghodsee reads the final part of Alexandra Kollontai's 1921 essay, "The Labor of Women in the Evolution of the Economy" to explore Kollontai's arguments for the socialization of the family and the socialist uses of the maternal inst…
- 133 - A.K. 47 - The Labor of Women in the Evolution of the Economy - Part 2
Kristen Ghodsee reads the second part of Alexandra Kollontai's 1921 essay, "The Labor of Women in the Evolution of the Economy" to explore Kollontai's arguments for the socialization of the family and the socialist uses of the maternal ins…
- 132 - A.K. 47 - The Labor of Women in the Evolution of the Economy - Part 1
Kristen Ghodsee reads the first part of Alexandra Kollontai's 1921 essay, "The Labor of Women in the Evolution of the Economy." A portion of this essay on abortion was discussed on the 6 March 2019 episode, but here Ghodsee digs in to Koll…
- 131 - A.K. 47 - Bonus Episode - The Fun Manifesto
In this bonus episode, Kristen Ghodsee welcomes back her now almost 22-year-old daughter to discuss a theory of fun. What would a society look like if we prioritized the ability of everyone to have as much fun as they wanted (in whatever f…
- 130 - A.K. 47 - The Workers Opposition - Part 5
Kristen Ghodsee reads the fifth and final part of Alexandra Kollontai's 1921 text: "The Workers Opposition." Mentioned in this episode are: Science Magazine podcast, " Everyday Utopia: In Praise of Radical Alternatives to the Traditional F…
- 129 - A.K. 47 - The Workers Opposition - Part 4
Kristen Ghodsee reads the fourth part of Alexandra Kollontai's 1921 text: "The Workers Opposition" and moans a bit about joining Instagram: @kristenghodsee Mentioned in this episode are: WIRED, Have a Nice Future Podcast, “ Maybe you shoul…
- 128 - A.K. 47 - The Workers Opposition - Part 3
Kristen Ghodsee reads the third part of Alexandra Kollontai's 1921 text: "The Workers Opposition." Send us Fan Mail Thanks so much for listening. This podcast has no Patreon-type account and receives no funding. There are no ads and there…
- 127 - A.K. 47 - The Workers Opposition - Part 2
Kristen Ghodsee reads the second part of Alexandra Kollontai's 1921 text: "The Workers Opposition." Check out these upcoming events: Online - How To Academy, August 3 (6:00pm GMT) Online - Second Life Book Club , August 9 (12:00pm Pacific…
- 126 - A.K. 47 - The Workers Opposition - Part 1
Kristen Ghodsee reads the first part of Alexandra Kollontai's 1921 text: "The Workers Opposition." Mentioned in this episode are these upcoming events: Online - How To Academy, August 3 (6:00pm GMT) Online - Second Life Book Club , August…
- 125 - A.K. 47 - Introduction to The Workers Opposition
On the eve of a possible UPS strike in the United States, Kristen Ghodsee reads a 1968 introduction to Alexandra Kollontai's 1921 pamphlet written in support of the Workers Opposition. This was a fundamental critique of Bolshevism from wit…
- 124 - A.K. 47 - Conversation Piece
Kristen Ghodsee reads Cathy Porter's 1980 translation of Kollontai's 1922 short story, "Conversation Piece," about a woman having to choose between the man she loves romantically and the man she loves intellectually and spiritually. Mentio…
- 123 - A.K. 47 - A 1982 Review of Kollontai's "A Great Love" in the New York Times
Kristen Ghodsee reads an April 25, 1982 review of a [then] new English translation of Alexandra Kollontai's collection, "A Great Love," translated by Cathy Porter. Mentioned in this episode are: A list of utopian summer reading recommendat…
- 122 - A.K. 47 - Bonus Episode - the Anti-Sexist Kollontai Vodka of Italy
Kristen Ghodsee reads an article about the creation in 2019 of the Kollontai Vodka Antisessista by a group of self-managed workers in Milan. Sales from this vodka are used to finance a autonomist literary cafe in Bari. The whole project is…
- 121 - A.K. 47 - "Alexandra Kollontay: The World's One Woman Ambassador" Part 2
Kristen Ghodsee reads the second half of a biographical article written by the American Katharine Anthony and published in The North American Review in September 1930. At this point in time, Kollontai was serving as the Soviet ambassador t…
- 120 - A.K. 47 - "Alexandra Kollontay: The World's One Woman Ambassador" Part 1
Kristen Ghodsee reads the first half of a biographical article written by the American Katharine Anthony and published in The North American Review in September 1930. At this point in time, Kollontai was serving as the Soviet ambassador to…
- 119 - A.K. 47 - Bonus Episode - Clara Zetkin on the Establishment of 8 March as International Communist Women's Day
To celebrate International Women's Day in 2023, Kristen Ghodsee reads an abridged version of Clara Zetkin's article on the official establishment of March 8 as International Communist Women's Day. The article is from International Press Co…
- 118 - A.K. 47 - Alexandra Kollontai in Mexico
Kristen Ghodsee reads two news items about Alexandra Kollontai from December 25, 1926 and April 21, 1927, during the time that Kollontai served as the Soviet ambassador to Mexico. Ghodsee also shares some exciting news about her forthcomin…
- 117 - A.K. 47 - The First Steps Towards the Protection of Motherhood
Kristen Ghodsee reads and discusses Alexandra Kollontai's 1918 essay, "The First Steps Towards the Protection of Motherhood." Kollontai saw motherhood as a "obligation" and "sacred duty" of women, and was very pro-natalist in her politics.…
- 116 - A.K. 47 - Kollontai Seizes the Alexander Nevsky Monastery for War Veterans
In this episode, Kristen Ghodsee speaks with professor Page Herrlinger at Bowdoin College about the political ramifications of Alexandra Kollontai's untimely seizure of the Alexandra Nesky monastery on January 19, 1918. As Commissar of Soc…
- 115 - A.K. 47 - Bonus Episode - Should we put a value on friendship?
In this episode, Kristen Ghodsee and her daughter discuss the "value" of our relationships. Why is it an achievement to have a hundred thousand followers on social media (most of whom you will never know), but not an achievement to have te…
- 114 - A.K. 47 - Bonus Episode - 4th Anniversary Interview: "Self care is out; community care is in"
Kristen Ghodsee and her daughter discuss the what's in and out for the new year, including Kollontai, Kir Royale cocktails, and community care. Mentioned in the episode are Rebecca Amsellem's podcast, " The Method ;" the Palgrave Handbook…