NO GPS

Most Important Show Ever? | Ep9

The revolution has been televised?!
In this episode Mez & Aharon, with the help of producer man Matt, talk about the last 3 episodes of Andor. The guys discuss the nitty gritty and less glamorous aspects of a revolution (17:55). Everything from the epic prison break in Narkina 5 (2:27) and Andor's critique of mass incarceration to the skulduggery of Luthen and the necessity of his morally questionable tactics for the success of the rebellion (52:05). 
 
Although Andor's 2nd season is still in the works we are considering putting Andor in the same vein as shows like The Wire - namely, as one of the greatest shows of all-time. Email us at nogpspodcast@gmail..com to let us know what you think of that hot take. 
 
Seriously, the guys for this episode stay true to having NO GPS - they go as far as using the conversation between Mon Mothma and Davo(s?) to go into the nature of financial capitalism (11:54) and use Maarva Andor's eulogy to get into the depths of a proto-revolutionary's mindset (37:10).

NO GPS Ep. 8: The Wakandans learn how to Swim, Again

The Indigenous and Afrocentric dream of reviving ancient civilizations untouched by modernity and colonization come to life in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Mez & Aharon (with the genius guidance of producer man Matt) talk about what happens after this dream is shattered and the world happens upon it.
How is insurmountable grief dealt with? For the first time the Wakandans deal with the unrelenting wave of disaster and pain visited upon the black-African diaspora. The way they surf that wave of grief is instructive for all of us. Mez & Aharon discuss how Princess Shuri, the new Black Panther, learns how to swim through the pain and grief, not as a means of escape but as a means towards self realization.     
They talk about how the film treats righteous anger with the due respect it deserves. Emotions of this caliber are usually discarded in productions of this quality and size. But in Wakanda Forever, Princess Shuri, the Black Panther, becomes a synthesis of both her nobel brother King T'challa and her militant cousin King Killmonger. But one has many rivers to cross before this level of black consciousness is reached. Mez & Aharon act as ferrymen in this podcast episode. Enjoy!
Correction: the Year of the Elephant is the year 570 not 1626.
Artwork by Sham & Matt.

NO GPS Episode 7: Andor & the Globalized Managerial Industrial Complex

You are going to have to use your little grey cells to understand the grey side of the force for this episode of NO GPS. Mez & Aharon talk about feeling like tourist's in the world - not belonging to a specific place, and the mania that feeling produces. Further, what happens when people don't have a relationship to the past or to their indigeneity? They become rebels and fight to become newly rooted in what was before seen as alien worlds. 
 
Also discussed are the managerial strategies of the carceral and democratic-capitalist states. The similarities between both managerial styles are highlighted. And the critical question must be asked: will the manager take up for the worker against the forces of oppression? Lastly, the societal outcasts that fill up the ranks of revolutionary forces and fund & catalyze them are the very ones forgotten after final rebel victories. Mez & Aharon center their contributions and give analysis to them.
 
You can find all of the featured music in this podcast at:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/1xub7I9nszNj8hdB9Ezihm?si=sI5nwoG0SL6wjuQEPq46ow

NO GPS Episode 6: Wakandan & Mayan Futures

In this short episode Mez & Aharon give their initial takeaways from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. They talk indigenous mythology, the guiding ghost of Chadwick Boseman and the romanticism of the precolonial past.

NO GPS Episode 5: Escaping the Hellish Repetitions of the Sampled Drum Loop?

In this weeks episode Mez & Aharon (with the help of producer-man Matt) talk about music. Everything from the deep meanings laden in the fast raps of the Heavy D's & Bone Thugs n Hamrony's, to Luther Vandross' extraordinary rendition of Burt Bacharach's 'A House Is Not a Home', and to the transcendental Blues of Malian guitarist Ali Farka Toure. Peep this treasure of obscure facts and philosophical insights into the true cultural functions of black music in the New World.
*Correcting Mistakes:
Aharon mistakenly refers to Tevin Campbell as Tevin Brown.
He also mistakenly refers to Robert Johnson as Randy Johnson.
For more information on some of the topics discussed on the podcast you can check out the Soker substack page for part 1, 2 and 3 of the article 'Why do I RAP so fast':
https://open.substack.com/pub/soker/p/why-do-i-rap-so-fast?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
https://open.substack.com/pub/soker/p/why-do-i-rap-so-fast-cce?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
https://open.substack.com/pub/soker/p/why-do-i-rap-so-fast-5c3?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
 
To hear more of Aharon's music featured on the intro and outro, go to:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/1xub7I9nszNj8hdB9Ezihm?si=pMhf6FjZQmabxcsMfVdH4A
 
 

NO GPS Episode 4: Why you should be a Raptors fan & The problem with Sports Analytics

In this episode of NO GPS Mez & Aharon, with the help of producer Matt, talk the global reach of the NBA, their issue with sports data science, the Toronto Raptors (or as they affectionately call them: The Toronto Africans), Nick Nurse and all manner of things interesting in the world of culture and sport. Hold tight to your seats for this ride! And remember, it's about the journey and not the destination.
All of the music in this episode is provided by TrethWest and performed by Aharon. You can hear more of their music at: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1xub7I9nszNj8hdB9Ezihm?si=PD0vC3oPQYGgP-QX3de3bQ

NO GPS Episode 3: The Foundation in the Chaos

In this episode we have Mez & Aharon talking about the latest episodes (5-6) of the show Andor. They discuss far ranging topics like the disappearance of the middle class in the global north, the revolutionary thought of the character Nemik, the Indigenous fight for survival amidst environmental destruction & how the global supply chains of transnational corporations in the West are changing in lockstep with the vertically integrated governance system of the Empire in Star Wars.

NO GPS Episode 2: Star Wars & the Forgotten People of Andor

Mez & Aharon give you novel takes and analysis on the first four episodes of Andor. 

NO GPS Episode 1: What the World’s Been Waiting For

Step into the cypher with Aharon, Mez & Matt with this nifty introduction of the NO GPS podcast! Where we focus on the journey and not the destination.