My friend Linda Hirshman, a powerhouse feminist intellectual, died on October 31. For the last podcast of the year, I wanted to remember Linda, who was a frequent guest on the show (see here, here and here).

I loved talking to Linda both personally and on the podcast because she was such a formidable and fearless thinker, one not afraid to make people mad by challenging the unjust status quo.

To talk about Linda’s work, I’m joined by Moira Donegan, another frequent guest who was also very close to Linda. In fact, Linda had officiated at Moira’s wedding.

For the podcast, we remember Linda as a bracing writer and personality; someone willing to make bold, contentious arguments. We trace her trajectory from being a labour lawyer to a mid-career switch to philosophy and her final emergence as a much-read public intellectual. In particular, we focus on her famous and much-disputed American Prospect essay “Homeward Bound.” (This essay was later expanded into the book, Get To Work). This leads to a discussion of Linda’s interest in social movements and the law, as well as her theory of change which involves the bringing together of radical social movements and elites. 

Linda was a very important figure in my life and I’ll miss her. Talking about her life and work with Moira gave me an opportunity to pay tribute to this remarkable woman and her vital legacy. Listeners might also want to look up Katha Pollitt’s own tribute to Linda.