Best C Derick Varn Podcasts (2025)

What happens when grief becomes inheritance? When poet Miller Oberman became a father himself, he suddenly understood something that had shaped his entire life: he had been parented by someone traumatized by the loss of a child. This revelation sparked an extraordinary poetic journey, driving him toward his father's unfinished memoir about the drow…

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Marxism and the Literary Left in America (feat. Alan Wald) 1:53:26

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16d ago1:53:26

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I am joined by Alan M. Wald to discuss his extensive work on the literary left and the history of intellectuals and the communist movement in America. We discuss Wald's new book of essays called "Bohemian Bolsheviks: Dispatches from the Culture and History of the Left" which features a number of Wald's more recent essays and interventions on the hi…

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Socialist Realism and the Communist Ideal: On Mikhail Lifshits (feat. Angela Harutyunyan) 1:54:16

16d ago1:54:16

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My guest is art historian and Marxist thinker Angela Harutyunyan, who has joined us to discus the work of the Marxist philosopher Mikhail Lifshits. Lifshits was an important Soviet Marxist thinker who developed a theory of aesthetics that remained committed to the proposition that communism entails the overcoming of alienation. Lifshits offers a cr…

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Flowers for Marx Symposium, Part 2: Daniel Tutt and Matt McManus 2:01:45

17d ago2:01:45

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From theoretical battles to publishing controversies, this episode dives deep into the fault lines dividing today's left through the lens of "Flowers for Marx," a new collection exploring Marxist humanism and scientism. Contributors Daniel Tutt and Matt McManus share the book's tumultuous journey—rejected by its original publisher because contribut…

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Flowers for Marx Symposium, Part 1: Ben Burgis, Conrad Hamilton, and Ernesto Vargas 1:35:39

24d ago1:35:39

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What makes a book of Marxist theory so controversial that publishers back out after initially accepting it? The answer takes us deep into the heart of leftist intellectual debates that have shaped revolutionary movements for generations. "Flowers for Marx" brings together contrasting perspectives on fundamental questions that have divided Marxists …

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Why Your Stories Matter More Than Technology Ever Will with William "Bill" Welser 1:22:50

1M ago1:22:50

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What if our personal stories are more valuable than we realize? In this thought-provoking conversation, William Welser, founder of LOTIC and innovative technologist, explores how our narratives shape not just our understanding of ourselves but also the artificial intelligence systems we create. Welser challenges conventional thinking about data, ar…

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Gothic Capitalism and the Fate of Radical Art with Adam Turl 1:32:23

1M ago1:32:23

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What happens when artistic rebellion becomes just another commodity? In this thought-provoking conversation, Adam Turl unpacks his book "Gothic Capitalism: Art Evicted from Heaven and Earth," taking us on a journey through the ruins of revolutionary movements and avant-garde dreams. The discussion begins with an unexpected Soviet connection—Alexand…

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Financial Literacy: The Missing Piece in Social Justice with Courtney Teasley 1:05:58

1M ago1:05:58

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Money isn't just about personal comfort—it's the foundation of sustainable social change. In this compelling conversation, attorney and business coach Courtney Teasley challenges conventional thinking about the relationship between financial power and justice work. Teasley introduces her concept of the "DAM community" (Disproportionately Affected M…

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Buddha Didn't Want You to Quit Thinking with W. Tom Pepper 1:28:42

2M ago1:28:42

1:28:42

Journey into the often-overlooked intersection of Buddhism and critical theory with Tom Pepper, author of "The Faithful Buddhist" and "Indispensable Goods." Tom challenges conventional Western Buddhist practices by exposing how deeply they're entangled with romantic ideology and capitalist structures. Pepper argues that Western Buddhism has largely…

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Rereading Lenin: Context, Chronology, and Revolutionary Change with Alexander Herbert 1:14:25

2M ago1:14:25

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What happens when you read Lenin completely, chronologically, and in context? You discover a thinker far more complex and pragmatic than most portrayals suggest. In this illuminating conversation, Professor Alex Herbert shares insights from his ambitious "Lenin in 45 Volumes" project, where he's systematically reading Lenin's complete works in thei…

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Signs, Symbols, and Silicon: How AI Changes Our Understanding of Thought with Nicolas D. Villarreal 2:39:45

2M ago2:39:45

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What makes human thought distinctive, and can machines ever truly think like us? In this profound conversation with Nicholas Villarreal, author of "A Soul of a New Type: Writings on Artificial Intelligence and Materialist Semiotics," we journey into the heart of what makes intelligence possible—through the often overlooked lens of semiotics. The di…

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The History of Riots and the Left (feat. C. Derick Varn) 2:16:47

2M ago2:16:47

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C. Derick Varn, host of the Varn Vlog is a Marxist theorist, poet and political commentator. Varn join our show to discuss the protests and riots against ICE in Los Angeles and across the country that popped off in late spring and early summer 2025. We examine the history of riots in the US, the role of the left in the context of a second Trump pre…

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Evolution's Grip on American Politics with Dr. Melvyn Lurie 59:50

2M ago59:50

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What if our bitter political divisions aren't just about policy differences but reflect ancient biological drives hardwired into our DNA? Dr. Melvyn Lurie, Harvard-trained psychiatrist with expertise in genetics, presents a groundbreaking framework for understanding America's current crisis through evolutionary biology. Drawing from his observation…

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A Social History of Analytic Philosophy (feat. Christoph Schuringa) 2:21:52

3M ago2:21:52

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Analytic philosophy is the leading form of philosophy in the English-speaking world and most academic philosophy departments are analytic. But what explains this power and what is the history of analytic philosophy. Where did it begin and how did it rise to such prominence? I am joined by philosopher Christoph Schuringa to explore the social histor…

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Gramsci's Theory of Bonapartism (feat. Francesca Antonini) 1:47:35

3M ago1:47:35

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My guest is Dr. Francesca Antonini, a historian and scholar of Antonio Gramsci. Dr. Antonini teaches at the Ca' Foscari University in Venice Italy. Her latest book is an exhaustive study of Gramsci's theory of Bonapartism, and it is entitled, Caesarism and Bonapartism in Gramsci: Hegemony and the Crisis of Modernity. In this discussion, we examine …

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Analytic Marxism and the Future of Scientific Socialism (feat. Ben Burgis) 2:37:12

3M ago2:37:12

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Ben Burgis joins us for a discussion on the analytic Marxism of G.A. Cohen and the implications of his reading of Marx for 21st century socialism. We discuss Burgis's essay in the new book Flowers for Marx available now with with Revol Press. Support us at https://www.patreon.com/c/emancipationsBy Daniel Tutt

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The Rise of Caudillo Politics in America with Calixto Lopez 2:14:49

3M ago2:14:49

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We explore how American politics has increasingly embraced Bonapartist and Caudillo elements, transforming the executive branch from its original constitutional role into an imperial presidency with vast unchecked powers. • Caesarism and Bonapartism as models for understanding the imperial presidency that has evolved since FDR and Eisenhower • Cong…

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Dollar Dominance in a Fragile World with Emmanuel Daniel 1:28:54

3M ago1:28:54

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What happens when the world's reserve currency faces a crisis of confidence, yet alternatives remain elusive? Emmanuel Daniel, author of "The Great Transition: The Personalization of Finance," offers a fascinating perspective on this paradox that defines our current global economic moment. The dollar's remarkable resilience stems from an unexpected…

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The Revolution in Democracy: Marxist Unity Group's Vision for DSA 2:19:44

3M ago2:19:44

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What does a truly democratic American future require? The Marxist Unity Group believes nothing short of revolution will deliver it. In this compelling conversation, MUG members Cliff Connolly, Amy Wilhelm, Jean Allen, and Aliyah Van Pelt outline their vision for transforming both the Democratic Socialists of America and American politics through pr…

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Taming the Wild: The Complex Story of Animal Domestication with Joy 1:48:42

3M ago1:48:42

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The domestication of plants and animals represents one of the most profound transformations in our species' history—yet few of us understand how dramatically it has reshaped not just the organisms involved, but our entire planet's ecology. In this fascinating conversation with Joy of Zoognosis and Mimbres School, we unpack the complex biological an…

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The Roots of Austerity and 20th Century Fascism (feat. Clara Mattei) 1:08:14

4M ago1:08:14

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My guest Clara Mattei has written about austerity’s dark intellectual origins in her important new book The Capital Order: How Economists Invented Austerity and Paved the Way for Fascism. We discuss the main ideas of this book and how the historical roots of austerity emerge as a response by the ruling class to the social democratic gains of the wo…

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Organizing the Working Class (feat. Sudip Bhattacharya) 1:24:52

4M ago1:24:52

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My guest Sudip Bhattacharya studies and organizes the working class in New Jersey and he joins me to discuss the findings of his work. We explore some practical strategies for organizing the working class, the future of socialist politics and ways to overcome some of the main limitations to class politics in our time. This conversation is inspired …

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Liberal Socialism and the Challenge of Right-Wing Politics with Matt McManus 1:20:51

4M ago1:20:51

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Professor Matthew McManus joins us to explore liberal socialism, the right's evolution, and the shifting global political landscape. • Carlo Rossellini's work articulates a socialism that confronts both Marxist determinism and fascism • Rossellini criticized Italian leftists for failing to understand fascism's emotional appeal • Liberal socialism a…

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From Dawn To Decadence, part 4: Aufheben's Decline of Theory 2:06:23

4M ago2:06:23

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Capitalism's crisis theories reveal more about leftist political failures than economic reality, as deterministic approaches miss the cultural dimensions of decay while simultaneously failing to deliver the promised revolutionary outcomes. • Examining Aufheben's' "Decadence, the Theory of Decline or Decline of Theory" as a framework for understandi…

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Restoring the Revolutionary Thought of Karl Kautsky (feat. Ian Szabo) 1:43:30

4M ago1:43:30

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I am joined by Marxist historian Ian Szabo to discuss the revival of Karl Kautsky's revolutionary thought among contemporary Marxists. We discuss a recent article on Kautsky's theory of the dictatorship of the proletariat, and we address the predominant misreadings and misinterpretations that exist about Kautsky, and how his thought speaks to our p…

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The Social Formation of the Far Right (The Archimedean Point) 1:56:39

4M ago1:56:39

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Welcome to The Archimedean Point, a new series on the current political situation from a Marxist perspective. In our second episode, Daniel Tutt and Conrad Hamilton discuss the inadequacies of left-liberal accounts of racism and bigotry and why only a Marxist analysis can address the ideology of the far right. We also discuss new work by Daniel on …

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The Politics of Work and Class in Michael Mann's Thief (feat. Mtume Gant) 2:02:41

4M ago2:02:41

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Welcome to a special crossover podcast discussion on Michael Mann's first major feature film Thief (1981). While Michael Mann is best known for films like HEAT and Last of the Mohicans, Thief is by far his most political film. The film explores themes of labor, exploitation, class and the inner lives of criminals and convicts. We discuss the Marxis…

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The Poetry of Diasporic Memory with Ben Meyerson 1:43:06

4M ago1:43:06

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Flamenco's haunting rhythms carry centuries of suppressed memories—the echoes of Spain's Jewish and Muslim communities, expelled and erased through centuries of ethnic cleansing. Yet somehow, these cultural memories persist through sound and verse, creating what poet Ben Meyerson calls "diasporic memory." In this conversation that spans continents …

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End of Liberal Dreams with Nicolas Villarreal 3:32:54

4M ago3:32:54

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The foundations of modern liberal democracy weren't forged in the ideals of freedom and equality alone, but in the disciplined halls of Prussian military academies. In this wide-ranging conversation, Nicolas Villarreal reveals how the professional military education system that emerged in 19th century Germany created the bureaucratic apparatus that…

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Marx's American Journey with Andrew Hartman 1:50:00

5M ago1:50:00

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America's hidden Marxist history reveals a country where radical ideas took root in ways we've deliberately forgotten. Dr. Andrew Hartman takes us on a journey through this erased past, uncovering how deeply Marx's ideas penetrated American society from the Civil War through today. Marx himself was surprisingly connected to America, writing hundred…

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The Angels and the Poets: Rilke, Celan, and DA Levy with Alexander Benedict 1:31:19

5M ago1:31:19

1:31:19

What happens when we trace the unexpected influences between seemingly unrelated poetic traditions? In this exploration of German poetry's impact on American counterculture, we discover the fascinating connections between renowned German-language poets Rainer Maria Rilke and Paul Salon with Cleveland's underground literary icon DA Levy. Levy, a Cle…

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The Fascist Foundations of Heideggerian Thought: A Marxist Critique with Colin Bodayle 2:05:16

5M ago2:05:16

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What if I told you one of the most influential philosophers of the 20th century wasn't just a Nazi sympathizer, but that fascism was fundamental to his entire philosophical project? In this profound conversation with Colin Bodayle, doctoral student in philosophy at Villanova University, we peel back the sanitized layers of Martin Heidegger's legacy…

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The Echoes of General Boulanger: When Leftists Flirt With Right-Wing Populism with Donald Parkinson 2:35:26

5M ago2:35:26

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As normie conservatives casually throw around terms like "Bonapartist" to describe Trump's new administration, we've entered a peculiar moment where Marxist terminology has infiltrated mainstream political discourse—often without its theoretical underpinnings. This wide-ranging conversation explores the historical parallels between today's politica…

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Genius After Psychoanalysis (feat. Daniel Cho) 1:32:54

5M ago1:32:54

1:32:54

I am joined by K. Daniel Cho to discuss his provocative new book Genius After Psychoanalysis: Freud and Lacan which argues that genius is not exceptional talent or intelligence but is related to and illuminated by the psychological concept of sublimation. Beginning with a close examination of Freud's work on Leonardo da Vinci, Cho analyzes film, ar…

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Economic Imperialism and Global Working Class Struggle (feat. Immanuel Ness) 1:51:21

5M ago1:51:21

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My guest is Dr. Immanuel Ness, one of the foremost scholars of contemporary imperialism, workers’ social organization, Global South political economy, socialism and migration. We discuss the concept of economic imperialism in today's time and how the theory of imperialism has changed since the time of Lenin. We also discuss the theory of the labor …

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Ethics Unbound: Marx's Revolutionary Framework with Vanessa Wills 2:03:47

5M ago2:03:47

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Dr. Vanessa Wills takes us on an intellectual journey through the heart of Marx's ethical vision – perhaps the most misunderstood aspect of his revolutionary philosophy. As we trace her path from anti-war activism to Marxist scholarship, Dr. Wills demolishes the persistent myth that Marx had no ethics or moral framework. Instead, she reveals how hi…

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Breaking Constitutional Boundaries with Elijah Emery 2:05:47

6M ago2:05:47

2:05:47

America's constitutional foundation is buckling under the weight of executive fiat, with a president governing almost exclusively through executive orders while Congress passes fewer bills than at any point in history. Elijah Emery comes back to discuss the following: • Executive power has been expanding since WWII, but the current administration r…

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The Dark Side of Jimmy Carter with Robert Buzzanco 1:00:49

6M ago1:00:49

1:00:49

Behind the celebrated image of Jimmy Carter as a Nobel Peace Prize-winning humanitarian lies a presidential legacy that demands closer examination. This revealing conversation with historian Robert Buzzanco challenges the sanitized narrative of Carter's presidency, exposing how he functioned as a crucial transitional figure between postwar liberali…

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The Journey of Freedom: Unpacking Hegel's Philosophy with Borna Radnik 1:31:01

6M ago1:31:01

1:31:01

The episode explores Hegel's complex understanding of freedom as self-determination and its historical evolution through time, juxtaposed with Kant and Rousseau's perspectives. It emphasizes that freedom is a relational and collective struggle that necessitates recognition and social action, questioning the practical implications of Hegel's thought…

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From Cold War Legacies to Modern Political Challenges with Daniel Bessner 1:10:18

6M ago1:10:18

1:10:18

Is U.S. foreign policy under President Biden really different from Trump's approach? Join us as we welcome Daniel Bessner from the American Prestige podcast to unravel this and other pressing questions, with a bold examination of leftist perspectives on international relations. We scrutinize the position of Palestine within American leftist discour…

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Navigating Socialist Strategy and Tensions in the Post-Trump Era with Sudip Bhattacharya 1:22:52

6M ago1:22:52

1:22:52

Sudip Bhattacharya joins us to unravel the post-Trump landscape of socialist strategy, wading through the murky waters of political transitions and internal leftist tensions. How can we nurture class consciousness and fight against anti-DEI rhetoric that threatens to strip away essential rights? Together, Sudip and I confront these urgent questions…

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Rumors and Philosophy (feat. Mladen Dolar) 1:09:25

6M ago1:09:25

1:09:25

I am joined by the philosopher Mladen Dolar, one of the most important Lacanian philosophers working today. A founder of the Ljubljana school of psychoanalysis, Mladen Dolar has written important works on Hegel, Marx and numerous works on Lacanian thought. In this podcast, we discuss his experience studying with Lacan in Paris and the legacy of the…

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From Dawn to Decadence, Part 3: Is Samir Amin's Challenge to Eurocentric Narratives About Decadence? 1:52:35

6M ago1:52:35

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What if the concept of decadence holds the key to understanding our societal and political structures today? This episode challenges traditional narratives by dissecting Samir Amin's unfinished work on revolution and decadence through a Marxist lens. We navigate through Afibung's critique of decadence theory, contrasting Marxist views with more coh…

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The Working Class vs. Neofeudalism (feat. Jodi Dean) 1:31:21

6M ago1:31:21

1:31:21

I am joined by political theorist Jodi Dean to discuss her provocative new book Capital's Grave: Neofeudalism and the New Class Struggle. Jodi Dean is one of the most vocal proponents of the "neofeudal thesis", the idea that capitalism has regressed to a neofeudal arrangement characterized by the delinking of capitalist accumulation from production…

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Why Marxists Should Be Public Intellectuals (feat. Russell Jacoby) 1:12:15

6M ago1:12:15

1:12:15

My guest Russell Jacoby is credited with coining the concept "public intellectual." He has written extensively on socialism in America, western Marxism and Freudian Marxism. We begin with a discussion of his criticism of Domenico Losurdo's recently translated work Western Marxism, we then discuss his recent Jacobin article "American Marxism Got Los…

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Althusser and the Problem of the Petty Bourgeoisie (feat. Nicolas Villarreal) 1:57:28

6M ago1:57:28

1:57:28

We welcome socialist thinker and writer Nicolas D. Villarreal for a discussion on the thought of Louis Althusser, and how to navigate the political and ideological problems of the petty bourgeoisie. We begin with a discussion into whether professionals qualify as a class and what their precise function is for the perpetuation of the bourgeois state…

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The Critique of Class Abstractionism (feat. Mike McCarthy) 1:38:02

6M ago1:38:02

1:38:02

My guest Michael A. McCarthy joins me to discuss his critique of "class abstractionism" or the tendency to theorize the working class in ways that result in vulgar and reductive conclusions. While McCarthy directs his critique to Vivek Chibber and his work The Class Matrix, we also discuss class abstractionism more broadly and how it appears on tod…

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Doomscolling Through Fandom to Politics: Unraveling the Digital Influence on Ideologies with Joshua Citarella 3:01:01

6M ago3:01:01

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Exploring the intersection of fandom culture and political engagement reveals a new landscape of activism and ideology. Our discussion with Joshua Citarella of Doomscroll emphasizes how passionate fandoms are shaping today's political climate, shifting the nature of activism beyond traditional frameworks and leading to a more dynamized political id…

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Cultural Shifts in the Age of Social Media from Art Bell to TikTok with Katherine Dee 1:37:29

7M ago1:37:29

1:37:29

Katherine Dee, the writer behind the "Default Blog" on Substack, joins us to explore the unexpected legacy of Art Bell and how his non-political, free-form radio style contrasts with today's charged conspiracy culture. Discover the intriguing intersections between Bell's approach and modern figures like Joe Rogan and Alex Jones, and how these dynam…