EPISODE 4: ANARCHIST CALISTHENICS: The Radical Theory That Will Change Your Life

Overview: This episode introduces the concept of “Anarchist Calisthenics,” a radical framework coined by anthropologist James C. Scott that challenges how we relate to everyday rules, compliance, and resistance. I unpack what it means to build our “muscles of disobedience” in daily life, so that when larger moments of defiance are needed—at protests, in courtrooms, in our workplaces—we’re mentally and politically ready to show up.

The episode dives into how power socializes us to obey even when it's harmful, and how revolutionary practice requires intentional unlearning. Through storytelling and historical examples, I show how everyday defiance—whether it's skipping a bus fare, organizing a rent strike, or refusing to collaborate with police—is practice for the bigger ruptures.

Key Themes:

  • Everyday disobedience as political practice

  • Building your resistance muscle

  • Power, rules, and obedience

  • The psychology of deference

  • Learning to say no in a world that teaches compliance

  • Disruption as a habit, not a spectacle

Discussion Questions:

  • What are the small rules you break, and what do they teach you about power?

  • When have you felt pressure to comply even when you disagreed?

  • How can small acts of resistance prepare us for larger confrontations?

  • What does it mean to be trustworthy to your community, rather than obedient to the state?

Activities:

  • Make a two-column chart: “Rules I Follow” vs. “Rules I Challenge.”

  • Roleplay scenarios of refusal—practice saying no to unjust demands in different contexts.

  • Journal about a time you were punished or praised for obeying. What did you learn?

  • Watch the episode and pause at each story—reflect on how you’d respond in that moment.

  • Pair up and brainstorm ways your community could practice “everyday resistance” more intentionally.

Further Learning & Resources:

  • "Two Cheers for Anarchism" by James C. Scott

  • "Discipline and Punish" by Michel Foucault (for deeper theory)

  • "Joyful Militancy" by Nick Montgomery & Carla Bergman

  • Zine: "We Are All Prisoners of Our Obedience" (CrimethInc.)

  • Video: "How to Practice Everyday Resistance" by Sub.Media