Getting to the Root of it with Venus Roots
Getting to the Root of it with Venus Roots

Getting to the Root of it with Venus Roots

niki franco

Overview
Episodes

Details

join niki franco (venus roots), a community organizer, writer, and facilitator of spaces for collective study, as she leans into conversations of radical truth-telling with artists, theorists, and organizers living in a world of rigid binaries and multiple truths. she navigates the urgency of solidarity, ancestral preservation, and dismantling systems of oppression that inform and deform our lives. @venusroots www.venusroots.com

Recent Episodes

War on Venezuela and Latin America, with Manolo de los Santos
DEC 16, 2025
War on Venezuela and Latin America, with Manolo de los Santos
In this episode, Niki interviews Manolo Los Santos to discuss the alarming political escalations in Latin America, particularly focusing on U.S. imperialism and its impact on countries like Venezuela. They explore the historical context of military dictatorships, the current geopolitical landscape, and the interconnectedness of global struggles for liberation and dignity.  ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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42 MIN
Why Is the US Escalating Against Venezuela? with Zoe Alexandra of Peoples Dispatch
OCT 1, 2025
Why Is the US Escalating Against Venezuela? with Zoe Alexandra of Peoples Dispatch
In this episode, Niki interviews journalist Zoe Alexandra of Peoples Dispatch to discuss the escalating military presence of the U.S. in the Caribbean, particularly focusing on Venezuela. They explore the implications of U.S. sanctions, the role of media in shaping public perception, and the historical context of U.S. interventions in Latin America. The conversation highlights the regional responses to U.S. aggression, the current mood in Venezuela, and calls for action among listeners to challenge the narratives surrounding these issues. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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57 MIN
Perfect Victims, with Mohammed el-Kurd
AUG 6, 2025
Perfect Victims, with Mohammed el-Kurd
In this episode, Niki interviews Palestinian poet, author, and organizer, Mohammed el-Kurd to discuss his latest book, Perfect Victims: And The Politics of Appeal. The two unpack the complicity of western institutions on the genocide of Palestinians, shallow identity politics, the weaponization of anti-semitism, the New York War Crimes, and our responsibility to embody hope in such dark times.  ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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50 MIN
The Encampments, with Kei Pritsker
APR 15, 2025
The Encampments, with Kei Pritsker
In this episode, Niki interviews Kei Prister, co-director of The Encampments, to discuss the new film, the impact of the student intifada a year later, and what this fight signals for the future of the US empire and most importantly, what it says about young people's thirst for liberation.  ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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54 MIN
Love in a F*cked up World, With Dean Spade
FEB 14, 2025
Love in a F*cked up World, With Dean Spade
In this Valentine's Day special episode, Niki interviews Dean Spade, a queer and trans organizer, attorney, and an author. They ground the conversation in Dean's new book, Love in a F*cked up World: How to Build Relationships, Hook Up, and Raise Hell Together. The two discuss how oppressive systems impact our relationships (romantic and otherwise), the role of conflict, and what we must learn from less alienated societies to survive ongoing crises. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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67 MIN