This is a conversation with Morgan Govin and Molly Hagan.
This is how Morgan introduces herself on her website: “I spent five years addicted to heroin and four years incarcerated as a direct result of my addiction. I lost my mom and four close friends to overdose. I found a system of injustice within the US justice system. Now, I work to change the systems that harmed us. I strive for safer, healthier communities.” Morgan is also JSTOR Daily’s engagement editor (and occasional feature writer) for the American Prison Newspapers collection.
Molly is a writer, journalist and photographer whose piece “The Meaning of Time in The Hour Glass” introduced me to The House Glass paper, which was part of our conversation. We also talked about Morgan’s experience, about the US’ brutal carceral system, and the meaning of time in prison. We also talked about logics of scarcity and what we lose, wherever we live, when incarcerated people are rendered invisible.
You can find the episode wherever you listen to podcasts.
Mentions and Recommendations:
- Episode with Shareah Taleghani on Syrian Prison Literature and the Poetics of Human Rights
- Episode with Kate Zen on Basebuilding, Sex Workers’ Rights and Mutual Aid
Molly:
- A Paradise Built in Hell: The Extraordinary Communities That Arise in Disaster by Rebecca Solnit
- The Dead Are Arising: the Life of Malcolm X by Les Payne and Tamara Payne
- Solitary: A Biography by Albert Woodfox
Morgan:
- Corrections in Ink: A Memoir by Keri Blakinger
- Until We Reckon: Violence, Mass Incarceration, and a Road to Repair by Danielle Sered
- You’re Wrong About podcast
How to Support:
The Fire These Times is independent, ad-free and self-funded. Since March 2020, I’ve produced weekly episodes averaging anywhere from 60 to 110 minutes.
With a small amounted donated monthly or yearly, you can help expand this project into video essays, public panels, newsletters and more. I also wish to release episodes twice a week. Your support can be for as little as $2 or $5 a month or $20 or $50 a year, which is what most people contribute.
The best way to do so is through Patreon, which will also give you early access to audio episodes, exclusive video episodes, merchandise, monthly hangouts, access to the upcoming book club and more. But there are also options through BuyMeACoffee.com, PayPal or Ko-fi.com.
If you can’t support financially, you can still help get more listeners to this podcast by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Castbox, Podchaser, Podcast Addict or wherever you listen to podcasts.
How to Follow to Get Updates:
I’m currently in the process of re-orienting this project away from a dependency on the social media corporations as I find the algorithm they use unethical, not to mention their predatory business practices.
The most reliable ways to get updates of The Fire These Times are through directly subscribing on your favorite app podcast, Patreon, on this website (to subscribe simply add your email at the bottom of the page) or via RSS.
Other methods:
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Joey Ayoub is on Mastodon | Twitter | Instagram | Archives but the easiest way to reach out to him is via Email or Signal (send your number via email!)
Credits:
Host: Joey Ayoub
Producer: Joey Ayoub
Sound editor: Joey Ayoub
Music: Rap and Revenge
Main theme design: Wenyi Geng
Episode design: Joey Ayoub
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