This week on the Labor Radio Podcast Weekly, we wrap up our Best of the Year series with another round of standout episodes—chosen by producers and hosts across the Labor Radio Podcast Network.

Highlights include deep Midwest reporting from Heartland Labor Forum; urgent political and cultural conversations from The Green and Red Podcast; working-class reflection and debate from The Wealthy Ironworker; and sustained local labor reporting from Boiling Point.

We also share Best of selections from Labor History Today, connecting centuries of labor struggle to today’s fights, and we close with Work Stoppage—bringing sharp analysis, humor, and unapologetic class politics to the Network.

Find links to every episode featured this week on the Labor Radio Podcast Network socials, and 👉 Subscribe, listen, and follow us at laborradionetwork.org #LaborRadioPod #1u #UnionStrong #WorkersVoices #SolidarityMedia @AFLCIO

Help us build sonic solidarity by clicking on the share button below. Highlights from labor radio and podcast shows around the country, part of the national Labor Radio Podcast Network of shows focusing on working people’s issues and concerns.

Edited and produced by Chris Garlock; social media guru Mr. Harold Phillips.

As the year winds down, the Labor Radio Podcast Weekly takes a step back to celebrate the work coming out of the Labor Radio Podcast Network. Instead of choosing favorites ourselves, we asked Network producers and hosts to select their top five episodes of 2025—and this week, you’ll hear the first batch of those Best of the Year picks.

Highlights include Labor Jawn’s deep dives into Philadelphia labor history; Labor Force’s sharp analysis of power, precarity, and organizing in today’s economy; and selections from the Labor Heritage Power Hour exploring labor culture through music, history, and imagination. We also feature grassroots reporting from Working To Live in Southwest Washington, national political coverage from The Valley Labor Report, and on-the-ground worker stories from My Labor Radio.

Want to hear the full episodes our producers chose as their best of the year? Find them at LaborRadioNetwork.org, and follow @LaborRadioNet on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, and X for links to each episode as we roll them out over the coming weeks.

Thanks to all the producers and hosts who make the Network what it is—and to everyone who listens, shares, and supports labor radio.

This week’s Labor Radio Podcast Weekly takes a wide-angle look at where labor power is showing up right now—on the shop floor, in politics, in culture, and across the media landscape.

We start on The Workers’ Mic, where hosts are joined by The Labor Radio Podcast Network’s Chris Garlock and Harold Phillips to talk about why independent labor media matters and how the Network connects worker struggles across industries and regions. From there, The Dig digs into the political moment, with Eric Blanc, Leah Greenberg, and Waleed Shahid examining the liberal resistance’s sharp left turn and what it means for organizing and strategy moving forward.

On Labor Radio from WORT in Madison, it’s a packed labor news roundup—from state worker rallies and dairy workers authorizing a strike to Starbucks organizing wins and fights over school voucher transparency.

We also hear from Heartland Labor Forum, which takes on the often-overlooked issue of mental health in the labor movement, spotlighting union-led programs that support members and their families.

Our unusual pick this week comes from the Power Line Podcast, featuring a tailgate conversation with Austin Carr—known online as “America’s Favorite Lineman”—on life in the trades and how social media is reshaping work and identity. Plus, in our Shows You Should Know speed round, we spotlight more voices across the Network, including The Wealthy Ironworker, Boiling Point, RadioLabour Canada, El Cafecito del Día, and The CWA Hour of Power, and we pause to remember Ken Nash of Building Bridges.

👉 Subscribe, listen, and follow us at laborradionetwork.org @thedigradio @powerlinepodcast @coalition_labor

@Heartland_Labor#LaborRadioPod #1u #UnionStrong #WorkersVoices #SolidarityMedia @AFLCIO

Help us build sonic solidarity by clicking on the share button below. Highlights from labor radio and podcast shows around the country, part of the national Labor Radio Podcast Network of shows focusing on working people’s issues and concerns.

Produced by Chris Garlock, edited by Patrick Dixon, social media guru Mr. Harold Phillips.