I had a brilliant conversation with Marina Purkiss, a political commentator known for her straight-talking, highly opinionated perspective on current affairs. Marina shared how her political journey began by simply putting out tweets, which grew into a large platform.
We discussed how political apathy is a privilege , and for many, including Marina, the Brexit referendum was the wake-up call that made politics impossible to ignore.
Marina opens up about the challenges of political commentary, from being threatened with lawsuits to dealing with the chilling online abuse and sexism, particularly the vitriol directed at women. She expresses the deep rage she feels over the hypocrisy and incompetence of bad actors in politics. We also delve into the necessity of women bringing their true selves to power, and the importance of community and catharsis—like that found in her podcast, The Trawl—to manage the mental toll of being engaged in an overwhelming world.
📌 Episode Highlights
- 04:59 On the shift from political apathy to engagement: "I feel like we're in this point in time where it's just I can't look away".
- 09:49 Marina shares that as her platform grew, she became less reckless and more cautious due to multiple threats of lawsuits and people disingenuously twisting her words
- 12:28 Discussing the chilling backlash received on a tweet promoting humanity, which caused Marina to worry for her own safety and delete the post.
- 18:50 Marina speaks to the perception that she must convince people she knows what she's talking about because of her appearance, highlighting the unconscious bias in the space.
- 25:11 Expressing her deep rage over the hypocrisy and brazen corruption of politicians who bend over backwards for international interests over their own citizens.
- 28:55 Acknowledging an unhealthy approach to dealing with rage, including having "constant adrenaline" and needing a glass of wine to slow down the nervous system.
- 33:04 Finding hope in the rise of the Green Party and the fact that the "mask is slipping" for other parties, allowing truth to come out.
- 37:57 Encouraging people new to politics to not worry about missteps and to seek information from credible, non-billionaire-backed sources like Byline Times or The New European
👤 About the Guest: Marina Purkiss
Marina Purkiss is a political commentator, writer, and co-host of The Trawl podcast. She also maintains a full-time tech marketing career.
- The Trawl Podcast:
- Social Media: Please search for Marina Purkiss on social media.
🔗 Episode links:
- The Trawl Podcast: Co-hosted by Marina Purkiss and Jemma Forte.
- Byline Times: News publication recommended for informed reading.
- The New European: News publication (now called New World) recommended for informed reading
- Carol Cadwallah, Ash Sarkar, Politics Joe: Writers and organisations recommended for political commentary
Connect with Megan:
Instagram: @HigherLove_withMegan
Website: www.higher-love.com
This episode was written and recorded by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft (lucylucraft.co.uk)
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