PUSHBACK Talks
Society & Culture
About
Landlords without faces, apartments without tenants. In 2019, filmmaker Fredrik Gertten released Push, an award-winning documentary that explores the unaffordable, unlivable city, and the growing global housing crisis. Following the Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing, Leilani Farha, the film sought to understand why cities around the world are becoming increasingly expensive. In June of 2020, Fredrik and Leilani teamed up again to continue the conversation they began with the film, and PUSHBACK Talks was born. Since then, PUSHBACK Talks has grown into an exploration of the social, political, and economic forces that shape our world, and of the actions people are taking to push back against inequality, corruption, authoritarian systems, poverty, war, and the shift towards far-right conservatism. Join the Filmmaker (Gertten) and the Advocate (Farha) as they dissect these topics, uncover the connections between them, and search for soluti
Episodes
- Word Food: Occupied & Dandelion
Pushback Talks Season 9 is here with "Word Food"! This season, Fredrik & Leilani return with their signature bite-sized episodes: sharp, surprising, 15-minute explorations of the words that shape our world. Each week, they pick a single wo…
- Word Food: Yoghurt & Moonlight
Pushback Talks Season 9 is here with "Word Food"! This season, Fredrik & Leilani return with their signature bite-sized episodes: sharp, surprising, 15-minute explorations of the words that shape our world. Each week, they pick a single wo…
- Word Food: Big Tech & Resilience
Pushback Talks Season 9 is here with "Word Food"! This season, Fredrik & Leilani return with their signature bite-sized episodes: sharp, surprising, 15-minute explorations of the words that shape our world. Each week, they pick a single wo…
- Word Food: Profit & Spring
Pushback Talks Season 9 is here with "Word Food"! This season, Fredrik & Leilani return with their signature bite-sized episodes: sharp, surprising, 15-minute explorations of the words that shape our world. Each week, they pick a single wo…
- Word Food: Greta & Empathy
Pushback Talks Season 9 is here with "Word Food"! This season, Fredrik & Leilani return with their signature bite-sized episodes: sharp, surprising, 15-minute explorations of the words that shape our world. Each week, they pick a single wo…
- Word Food: Revolution & The Flood
Pushback Talks Season 9 is here with "Word Food"! This season, Fredrik & Leilani return with their signature bite-sized episodes: sharp, surprising, 15-minute explorations of the words that shape our world. Each week, they pick a single wo…
- Word Food: Puerto Rico & Universal
Pushback Talks Season 9 is here with "Word Food"! This season, Fredrik & Leilani return with their signature bite-sized episodes: sharp, surprising, 15-minute explorations of the words that shape our world. Each week, they pick a single wo…
- Word Food: Upside Down & Soft Power
Pushback Talks Season 9 is here with "Word Food"! This season, Fredrik & Leilani return with their signature bite-sized episodes: sharp, surprising, 15-minute explorations of the words that shape our world. Each week, they pick a single wo…
- Word Food: Wall Street & Safety
Pushback Talks Season 9 is here with "Word Food"! This season, Fredrik & Leilani return with their signature bite-sized episodes: sharp, surprising, 15-minute explorations of the words that shape our world. Each week, they pick a single wo…
- Word Food: Women, Life, Freedom & Alabama
Pushback Talks Season 9 is here with "Word Food"! This season, Fredrik & Leilani return with their signature bite-sized episodes: sharp, surprising, 15-minute explorations of the words that shape our world. Each week, they pick a single wo…
- Word Food: Doughnuts & Polar
Pushback Talks Season 9 is here with "Word Food"! This season, Fredrik & Leilani return with their signature bite-sized episodes: sharp, surprising, 15-minute explorations of the words that shape our world. Each week, they pick a single wo…
- Word Food: Slavery & NGO-ish
Pushback Talks Season 9 is here with "Word Food"! This season, Fredrik & Leilani return with their signature bite-sized episodes: sharp, surprising, 15-minute explorations of the words that shape our world. Each week, they pick a single wo…
- Word Food: Activist burnout & Patience
Pushback Talks Season 9 is here with "Word Food"! This season, Fredrik & Leilani return with their signature bite-sized episodes: sharp, surprising, 15-minute explorations of the words that shape our world. Each week, they pick a single wo…
- Word Food: Bubblegum & To be a Musk
Pushback Talks Season 9 is here with "Word Food"! This season, Fredrik & Leilani return with their signature bite-sized episodes: sharp, surprising, 15-minute explorations of the words that shape our world. Each week, they pick a single wo…
- Word Food: Airbnb & Winter
Pushback Talks Season 9 is here with "Word Food"! This season, Fredrik & Leilani return with their signature bite-sized episodes: sharp, surprising, 15-minute explorations of the words that shape our world. Each week, they pick a single wo…
- Word Food: Bumblebee & Nelson
Pushback Talks Season 9 is here with "Word Food"! This season, Fredrik & Leilani return with their signature bite-sized episodes: sharp, surprising, 15-minute explorations of the words that shape our world. Each week, they pick a single wo…
- Word Food: Ceasefire & Madeleine
Pushback Talks Season 9 is here with "Word Food"! This season, Fredrik & Leilani return with their signature bite-sized episodes: sharp, surprising, 15-minute explorations of the words that shape our world. Each week, they pick a single wo…
- Word Food: It's Possible & Black and White
Pushback Talks Season 9 is here with "Word Food"! This season, Fredrik & Leilani return with their signature bite-sized episodes: sharp, surprising, 15-minute explorations of the words that shape our world. Each week, they pick a single wo…
- Word Food: Lucky & F**k Corruption
Pushback Talks Season 9 is here - with "Word Food" back on the menu! This season, Fredrik & Leilani return with their signature bite-sized episodes: sharp, surprising, 15-minute explorations of the words that shape our world. Each week, th…
- Language Matters: a Playful Stream of Consciousness, pt2
This week we continue with the last five episodes of this years Summer Series, back-to-back! If you missed the previous ones, or just like to listen to them in one go, here's your chance. And if you liked this concept of shorter episodes a…
- Language Matters: a Playful Stream of Consciousness, pt1
This week we give you kind of a rerun; the first six episodes of this years Summer Series, back-to-back! If you missed the previous ones, or just like to listen to them in one go, here's your chance. Word Food – bite-sized conversations th…
- Summer Word Food: Pushback & Money
The Pushback Talks Summer Series is back! This summer, Fredrik & Leilani are serving up what we call Word Food – bite-sized conversations that pack a punch. Here's how it works: each week, we randomly select two words and dive into a 10-15…
- Summer Word Food: Democracy & Flowers
The Pushback Talks Summer Series is back! This summer, Fredrik & Leilani are serving up what we call Word Food – bite-sized conversations that pack a punch. Here's how it works: each week, we randomly select two words and dive into a 10-15…
- Summer Word Food: Remake & Sleep
The Pushback Talks Summer Series is back! This summer, Fredrik & Leilani are serving up what we call Word Food – bite-sized conversations that pack a punch. Here's how it works: each week, we randomly select two words and dive into a 10-15…
- Summer Word Food: Dancing & Supply Chains
The Pushback Talks Summer Series is back! This summer, Fredrik & Leilani are serving up what we call Word Food – bite-sized conversations that pack a punch. Here's how it works: each week, we randomly select two words and dive into a 10-15…
- Summer Word Food: No Words & Water
The Pushback Talks Summer Series is back! This summer, Fredrik & Leilani are serving up what we call Word Food – bite-sized conversations that pack a punch. Here's how it works: each week, we randomly select two words and dive into a 10-15…
- Summer Word Food: Growth & Summer
The Pushback Talks Summer Series is back! This summer, Fredrik & Leilani are serving up what we call Word Food – bite-sized conversations that pack a punch. Here's how it works: each week, we randomly select two words and dive into a 10-15…
- Summer Word Food: Social Contract & Media
The Pushback Talks Summer Series is back! This summer, Fredrik & Leilani are serving up what we call Word Food – bite-sized conversations that pack a punch. Here's how it works: each week, we randomly select two words and dive into a 10-15…
- Summer Word Food: Frankenstein & Wine
The Pushback Talks Summer Series is back! This summer, Fredrik & Leilani are serving up what we call Word Food – bite-sized conversations that pack a punch. Here's how it works: each week, we randomly select two words and dive into a 10-15…
- Summer Word Food: ROI & Saviour
The Pushback Talks Summer Series is back! This summer, Fredrik & Leilani are serving up what we call Word Food – bite-sized conversations that pack a punch. Here's how it works: each week, we randomly select two words and dive into a 10-15…
- Summer Word Food: Human & Walk the Dog
The Pushback Talks Summer Series is back! This summer, Fredrik & Leilani are serving up what we call Word Food – bite-sized conversations that pack a punch. Here's how it works: each week, we randomly select two words and dive into a 10-15…
- Summer Word Food: Hope & Bananas
The Pushback Talks Summer Series is back! This summer, Fredrik & Leilani are serving up what we call Word Food – bite-sized conversations that pack a punch. Here's how it works: each week, we randomly select two words and dive into a 10-15…
- Fighting the Georgian Dream: The 180+ Day Protest
Fredrik and Leilani dive into Georgia's unprecedented protest movement with Gota Chanturia, education policy specialist and member of the Movement for Social Democracy. For more than 180 days, Georgians have been on the streets opposing th…
- Architects of Change: Mexico's Women Leaders Take on the Housing Crisis
This week, we explore how Mexico City is challenging the global housing crisis through innovative female leadership. While 26,000 Airbnb listings have transformed the city's housing landscape, primarily benefiting large investors rather th…
- Rights are Never Wrong, Colonialism is
In this week's episode, Fredrik and Leilani take center stage without guests to candidly explore how we might find connection and hope in challenging times. They reflect on the state of democracy, human rights, and social movements, sharin…
- Displacement by Design: A Veteran Advocate's Enduring Fight for Palestine
What happens when international law exists on paper but not in practice? This week, Fredrik Gertten and Leilani Farha speak with Allegra Pacheco, an American human rights lawyer who has dedicated her career to protecting vulnerable Palesti…
- Staying Sane in a World of Chaos - with NYT Correspondent Peter S. Goodman
This week, we dive deep into the fracturing landscape of global politics with Peter S. Goodman , New York Times Global Economic Correspondent and author. What happens when the rules of global cooperation suddenly seem disposable? When nati…
- To the UN! Advocates Hold UK Accountable
Fredrik and Leilani sit down with Sam Freeman (Head of Research and Advocacy at The Shift) and Dominika Leitane (Legal Officer at Opportunity Green) who reveal how they took the UK government to the United Nations—and won! Get an exclusive…
- Sweden vs Tesla: The Longest Labor Strike in History
What happens when Elon Musk's anti-union Tesla meets Sweden's powerful labor movement? Since October 2023, Swedish workers have maintained the country's longest strike in a century, with solidarity spreading across Nordic countries. In thi…
- Canada Fights for What's Right - a conversation with MP Leah Gazan
Canadian Member of Parliament Leah Gazan (New Democratic Party, Manitoba) joins Fredrik and Leilani to explore how nations and individuals can stand firm against authoritarianism without succumbing to despair. Drawing from her family's exp…
- Ending Homelessness the Finnish Way - with Juha Kahila
Finland has achieved what many countries still deem impossible: significantly reducing long-term homelessness through a Housing First model. Finland's model, which has reduced homelessness by 80% since 2008, doesn't just provide housing –…
- Australia's Housing Disaster with Justice Kevin Bell
In our first episode of the new year, Leilani and Kirsten sit down with former Victoria Supreme Court Justice Kevin Bell to examine Australia's housing challenges and their global implications. Drawing on his 15 years on Victoria's highest…
- The Singapore Solution - Housing for All
What if public housing could be a solution, not a symptom of urban inequality? Singapore offers an alternative to the traditional narrative of state-sponsored housing. In this episode, Fredrik, Leilani, and National University of Singapore…
- Bikes vs Cars: The Transformation of Paris - With Paris deputy Mayor Christophe Najdovski
Cities are the frontline of our global challenges – from climate change to housing crises. In this powerful episode of Pushback Talks, Deputy Mayor of Paris Christophe Najdovski reveals how progressive urban leadership can transform cities…
- The Legend of the Vagabond Queen: Resisting Displacement in Lagos
In Nigeria's largest city, a powerful story is unfolding - one that shines a light on the urgent struggle for housing rights and urban resilience. In this episode, we sit down with the creative team behind the new film "The Legend of the V…
- Keep Your Coins We Want Change: The Shift Directives Part 4
In the finale of our series on The Shift Directives, our experts examine the staggering scale and far-reaching impact of institutional investment on housing. What could we gain if housing investment and housing redevelopment complied with…
- Those Who Caused the Problem Can’t Solve the Problem: The Shift Directives Part 3
In this critical third installment of our series on The Shift Directives, Sam, Leilani, and Kirsten delve into the intricate dance between local, national, and international policies, exposing how disconnects in governance can leave vulner…
- Get Your Hands Off My Asset! The Shift Directives Part 2
In the second installment of this four-part special series, Pushback Talks Producer Kirsten delves deeper into The Shift Directives with Leilani & Sam. Leilani and Sam get into Directive 7 of The Shift Directives, which is all about protec…
- The Great Housing Reset: The Shift Directives Part 1
In this first episode of a four-part special series, Pushback Talks Producer Kirsten sits down with Leilani Farha and Sam Freeman to introduce listeners to The Shift Directives; a revolutionary approach to the global housing crisis. Settin…
- Radically Legal: Berlin Takes Back the Law - with Joanna Kusiak
This week, we welcome back friend of the show Dr. Joanna Kusiak to discuss her new book, "Radically Legal" and Berlin's ongoing efforts to keep housing affordable through innovative legal approaches. We explore the often-overlooked role of…