Old Mole Variety Hour

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Airs at: Mon, 05/05/2025 at 9:00am - 10:00am

Airs at: Mon, 02/02/2026 at 9:00am - 10:00am
Produced by: 
KBOO
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Views, Reviews, and Interviews from a socialist-feminist, anti-racist and anti-colonial point of view.

 

Every Monday from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM.

A program of social and political commentary from a socialist-feminist, anti-racist and anti-colonial point of view.

The Old Mole burrows down to the roots of the great issues of our time – the struggles of ordinary people for democratic and sustainable ways of life.  The Mole goes where corporate media fear to tread, supporting grassroots challenges to top-down authority and giving voice to movements that shake the foundations of an unjust society.  The Moles' perspective is democratic, anti-capitalist, feminist, anti-colonial and anti-racist.  We count Karl Marx as a friend but are open to other voices from the left. The show includes analyses of global politics and economics, local grassroots activism, segments on the Left & the Law, and reviews of films, books, music, and theater. 

Contributors include: Julian Ankney, Larry Bowlden, Joe Clement, Norm Diamond, Kevin Foster, Jan Haaken, Desiree Hellegers, Patricia Kullberg, Luisa Martinez, Laurie Mercier, Frann Michel, Denise Morris, Bill Resnick, Victoria Saucedo, Sophie Smith, Mike Snedecker, Roben White, Matt Witt

Here is why we call this show "The Old Mole"

For individual segments and more content: View more Old Mole content

Check out our Program Blog

Subscribe to our podcast (see above; search the show name on iTunes; also available on Googleplay)

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Our theme song is the traditional "Mole in the Ground," sometimes performed by Clayton & Ernie, sometimes by Joe Clement,  and sometimes blended with other versions, like the one by dj/rupture, sung by Sindhu Zagoren on the album Special Gunpowder, or Blind Boy Paxton  

Our graphic lettering is by Charlie Ertola. Host portraits by Clayton Morgareidge.
 

You can leave comments for the Moles by clicking on the comment section for any of our audio pieces.  

Streams: 
KBOO Stream 1
Program status: 
Current

Book Mole: "Sights Unseen"

Airs at: Sun, 12/28/2008 at 4:00pm
Produced for Old Mole Variety Hour
Kaye Gibbons writes about growing up with (and without)  a mother who is mentally ill in her novel Sights Unseen, reviewed here by Larry Bowlden.  Read more

Obama's Education Secretary

Airs at: Sun, 12/28/2008 at 4:00pm
Produced for Old Mole Variety Hour
  The CEO of the Chicago Public Schools, Arne Duncan, has been chosen to be Secretary of Education in the Obama Cabinet.  What does his track record suggest is ahead for schools?  It's not a progressive picture.   Clayton Morgareidge reads from an article by Henry A. Gir... Read more

Old Mole Variety Hour for December 29, 2008

Airs at: Sun, 12/28/2008 at 4:00pm
Produced for Old Mole Variety Hour
Hosted by Clayton Morgareidge, this program looks at how the emerging Obama administration is walking the  line between public interest and private profit in two areas: health care and education.  It  features several great drum solos from the jazz world (mostly curtaile... Read more

Old Mole Variety Hour

Airs at: Mon, 12/22/2008 at 9:00am - 10:00am
Produced for Old Mole Variety Hour
Topics on this edition of the Old Mole include: •    How Obama’s foreign policy might affect the poorer nations of the world •    the role of remorse in granting parole, with reference to Diane Downs •    the dying death penalty; and •    why Eric Holder is the only cabine... Read more

2008 in the Law

Airs at: Sun, 12/21/2008 at 4:00pm
Produced for Old Mole Variety Hour
  Diane Downs denied parole, the role of remorse in who gets what punishment, the decline of the death penalty, and what Republicans have to fear from Eric Holder -- these are the issues Portland Attorney discusses with the Old Mole's Laurie Mercier.     Read more

Foreign Policy in the Obama Years

Airs at: Sun, 12/21/2008 at 4:00pm
Produced for Old Mole Variety Hour
Where will US foreign policy go under Obama?  How might it impact the poorer nations of the world.  Sarah Anderson,  Director of the Global Economic Project at the Institute for Policy Studies,  provides her insights in this conversation with the Old Mole's Bill Resnick.   Read more

Old Mole Variety Hour for December 22, 2008

Airs at: Sun, 12/21/2008 at 4:00pm
Produced for Old Mole Variety Hour
Hosted by the intrepid Laurie Mercier, braving the biggest snow fall in 40 years to reach the KBOO studio, this  program features Laurie's discussion with attorney Mike Snedeker of developments in the law this past year.  We also hear how  vampires are becoming more roma... Read more

Vampires Going Mainstream?

Airs at: Sun, 12/21/2008 at 12:00am
Produced for Old Mole Variety Hour
Are vampires going mainstream?  Frann Michel assesses the signicance of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series of young adult novels and the movie now playing. You can read  her remarks and find lots of interesting links here.  Read more

History of Labor Sit-ins

Airs at: Tue, 12/16/2008 at 4:00pm
Produced for Old Mole Variety Hour
Workers at a door and window company in Chicago were recent victorious in a sit-down action.  Old Mole  Denise Morris reads from a piece by Christopher  Phelps and Nelson Lichtenstein about the  history of such actions.  You can find the online version here. Read more

Significance of Hip Hop

Airs at: Sun, 12/14/2008 at 4:00pm
Produced for Old Mole Variety Hour
Radical musicologist Brad Duncan explains  the huge, world-wide significance of Hip Hop music and culture with special  attention to Dead Prez in this conversation with Bill Resnick. Read more