Other Life #5 - Dan Goss and Rosie Hiscock

Summary

Dan Goss is a happy revolutionary. Unlike me Dan actually works hard on many active political campaigns. We first met through Plan C. Although Dan is a very committed and serious organizer, he's also very based and reflective and funny, too, which is why I asked him to do a podcast. We are joined by Rosie Hiscock, who is a working actress and musician. We recorded this podcast in Dan's home in London.   Notes with timestamps: how to shut down a coal mine in South Wales (1:56) activist guilt, and work guilt, and why they're fucked up (7:50) doing direct action just for fun (9:05) honesty as the only radical political obligation (9:40) don't be insecure about seeming selfish (13:00) don't do stupid activist shit if you don't honestly believe it's going to make revolution (15:00) why I like Plan C (15:30) Dan is against altruism and selfishness (15:50) What if the joy of our relationships was the only thing? (18:15) don't care what some random activist group thinks (18:50) maybe we need a cult with no leader (24:30) how does one become ungovernable? (34:20) acting and performance as a political skill (37:25) The power of self-observance (38:00) Rosie teaches us the Alexander Technique (39:00) the political significance of a slouching posture (41:40) resentment and conservatism (52:30) how is Dan so happy all the time? (55:00) on becoming revolutionary or hating yourself (63:00) how the fear of being offensive turns people off to politics (74:30) the idiotic performances of activism (75:00) refuse anything that does not feel like the liberation of your soul (76:20) radical politics is learning how to live (83:00)