Best Vanden Podcasts (2025)

1
The Crisis of the Center and the Contest for the Future w/ Katrina vanden Heuvel 42:05

4d ago42:05

42:05

In this timely conversation, Parallax Views host J.G. Michael sits down with The Nation's editorial director and longtime progressive voice Katrina vanden Heuvel to discuss the mounting political crises shaking both Europe and the United States. Drawing from her recent co-authored piece, "Report from Europe: The Center Does Not Hold," and her Mothe…

1
#41 Danny Goler & Aaron Vanden : This Experiment Proves We're In A Simulation 56:26

7d ago56:26

56:26

What if reality isn’t what it seems — but a high-level simulation running on alien code? In this episode of Acid For Squares podcast, Tanya Dahl and Cody Blue interview documentary filmmaker Aaron Vanden and experimental researcher Danny Goler who reveals the shocking results of his latest experiment using laser beams and consciousness probes. His …

1
Katrina vanden Heuvel on Europe's Far Right, European Rearmament, and the Trump Effect | Ep. 239 45:33

7d ago45:33

45:33

Katrina vanden Heuvel--editorial director and publisher of The Nation magazine--joins Dr. Van Jackson to talk about: Europe's far right; the failure of centrist parties in the UK, France, and Germany; the trouble with European rearmament; Trump's and MAGA's effects on European politics; and the struggle of Europe's fractured left-wing political mov…

1
The Perils and Promise of Trump’s Middle East Gamble | The Time of Monsters with Jeet Heer 42:54

5h ago42:54

42:54

On his latest trip to the Middle East, Donald Trump is making big news. He’s indicating a receptiveness to making a deal with Iran trading normalization for nuclear non-proliferation. He ended the bombing campaign against Yemen and is also pushing for normalization with Syria. Further, the White House has sidestepped Israel in order to have direct …

1
Labor Strategy at the End of the World w/ Eric Blanc | Ep. 240 47:04

2d ago47:04

47:04

Why is the US unlikely to have a manufacturing revival, and who would benefit if it did? What happens to the rest of the world when the US tries to reshore manufacturing? What makes national security and labor power antagonistic to each other? What problems does worker-to-worker organizing solve? Why has organized labor been in decline since 1979? …

1
Trump's Gulf Tour & Deals, Gaza Updates, US Habeas Corpus | American Prestige 52:34

2d ago52:34

52:34

Alex Jordan rejoins the show to see if he can impersonate Danny as well as he impersonated Derek a couple of weeks ago. He and Derek discuss the India-Pakistan ceasefire, Donald Trump’s big Persian Gulf tour (filled with Deals, Bribes, and announcements about Syrian sanctions and Iranian nuclear talks), the latest developments in Gaza, the US-China…

1
Elon Musk is Remaking the US Space Program w/ Tim Fernholz | Tech Won't Save Us 1:00:57

3d ago1:00:57

1:00:57

On this episode of Tech Won't Save Us, Paris Marx is joined by Tim Fernholz to discuss how Elon Musk’s influence in the White House is shaping the US Space Program, why he’s pushing NASA toward Mars instead of the Moon, and whether the Starship rocket is in trouble. Tim Fernholz is a senior reporter at Payload Space and the author of Rocket Billion…

1
Antisemitism and Free Speech, plus Farewell to Musk | Start Making Sense 38:03

4d ago38:03

38:03

What obligations do colleges and universities have to protect students from antisemitism and Islamophobia? What obligations do they have to let students speak freely about issues they care about? David Cole just testified before Congress about that—he’s the former National Legal Director of the ACLU, and The Nation’s legal affairs correspondent. Al…

1
Amy Littlefield on Why We Have to Defend All Abortions | The Nation Podcast 40:14

5d ago40:14

40:14

On this episode of The Nation Podcast, abortion access correspondent Amy Littlefield joins D.D. Guttenplan to discuss the reality of later-term abortions—and how, even though Roe v. Wade may have been overturned, the conservative crusade to eliminate abortion access rages on. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: ht…

1
White American Liberals, Pt 2 w/ Kevin Schultz | American Prestige 51:24

5d ago51:24

51:24

Kevin Schultz, Chair of the Department of History at the University of Illinois-Chicago, returns to the program to continue the discussion of his new book⁠ ⁠Why Everyone Hates White Liberals (Including White Liberals): A History⁠. In this second part of the discussion, Danny, Derek, and Kevin get into the origins and power of the "radical chic" and…

1
Pondless Water Features & More with Ernest Williams from Aquascape 37:48

6d ago37:48

37:48

This week on the podcast, Joanne Shaw speaks with Ernest Williams from Aquascape about the popularity of water features in landscaping, including pondless designs, fountainscapes, and natural swimming ponds. Here are some of the topics discussed in this episode: Pondless Water Features in Landscaping Increasingly popular in landscaping for their lo…

1
How Crypto Corruption Took Over Washington | Time of Monsters with Jeet Heer 48:24

7d ago48:24

48:24

On this episode of The Time of Monsters, Jacob Silverman on why it’s hard to regulate the high tech ponzi economics. Over the last few years, crypto-currency has emerged as a political powerhouse, thanks to tens of billions in campaign donations. As Jacob Silverman reports in a recent feature in The Nation, “crypto, despite being a relative flop co…

1
Jim Londos: The Golden Greek of Professional Wrestling w/ Steven Johnson 1:51:35

8d ago1:51:35

1:51:35

On this edition of Parallax Views, you will hear an incredible story that, on its surface, you may mistake as being just about professional wrestling: the life and career of "The Golden Greek" Jim Londos. He was the biggest star of not only pro wrestling in the 1920s and 1930s, but arguably of sports itself. His popularity eclipsed that of the prof…

1
Why Orthodox Jews Protested Itamar Ben-Gvir's U.S. Visit w/ Rabbi Yaakov Shapiro 1:09:32

9d ago1:09:32

1:09:32

On this edition of Parallax Views, Orthodox Rabbi Yaakov Shapiro — author of The Empty Wagon: Zionism’s Journey from Identity Crisis to Identity Theft — returns to unpack the theological foundations of Jewish anti-Zionism and non-Zionism. Fresh off his participation in a protest against Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's recent U.…

1
US-Houthi Ceasefire, Israel's Gaza Plans, and Global Trade Tensions | American Prestige 53:09

9d ago53:09

53:09

Though Jake is absent for the week, Danny and Derek remain steadfast in their dedication to bring you news. They discuss the U.S.-Houthi ceasefire; the Israeli government's plans for Gaza; Trump’s push for a Gaza ceasefire and Saudi deal on his upcoming Middle East trip; new clashes between India and Pakistan as well as more details from Wednesday …

1
Kashmir Nuke Crisis | Houthi Ceasefire | China's 6th-Gen Fighter | Post-American Asia | Fascist Budgeting | Ep. 238 35:03

10d ago35:03

35:03

Covering the latest in the India-Pakistan military conflict and its nuclear risk; the US tentative ceasefire with the Houthis marks another lost war; why China's tech breakthroughs make arms-racing self-defeating for the US; the shape of a post-American Asia beginning to emerge; what a fascist budget looks like; why Stephen Miller is like that; the…

1
The Roots of Elon Musk’s War On Empathy w/ Julia Carrie Wong | Tech Won't Save Us 52:20

10d ago52:20

52:20

On this episode of Tech Won't Save Us, Paris Marx is joined by Julia Carrie Wong to discuss Elon Musk’s recent opposition to empathy, how it comes out of the Christian right, and the relationship it has to previous discussions of longtermism. Julia Carrie Wong is a features writer at The Guardian. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands…

1
Land Power: Who Has It, Who Doesn’t, and How That Determines the Fate of Societies w/ Michael Albertus 1:01:40

11d ago1:01:40

1:01:40

On this episode of Parallax Views, we’re joined by University of Chicago political scientist Michael Albertus, author of the forthcoming book Land Power: Who Has It, Who Doesn’t, and How That Determines the Fate of Societies (Basic Books, Jan. 14, 2025). Drawing on his expertise in democracy, dictatorship, inequality, property rights, and social co…

1
Sherrod Brown: Winning Back the Working Class, plus ‘the Tide is Turning’ | Start Making Sense 40:43

11d ago40:43

40:43

After serving 18 years in the Senate, and losing last November, Sherrod Brown analyzes what it will take for Democrats to recover from the defeats of 2024, and comments on his own political future – he could run for senator or for governor in 2026. Also on this episode: Dahlia Lithwick explains three key court cases where Trump suffered major defea…

1
White American Liberals, Pt 1 w/ Kevin Schultz | American Prestige 58:32

12d ago58:32

58:32

Kevin Schultz, Chair of the Department of History at the University of Illinois Chicago, joins the program to talk about his new book Why Everyone Hates White Liberals (Including White Liberals): A History. In this first part of the discussion, they get into liberalism’s consistent spirit yet inconsistent character, the transition from progressivis…

1
Frontier Mushrooms with Deb McKee Kelly 52:21

13d ago52:21

52:21

This week, Joanne Shaw speaks with Deb McKee Kelly from Frontier Mushrooms, a leading producer of high-quality, sustainably grown mushrooms. About Deb McKee Kelly Deb is a longtime grower and passionate advocate for reconnecting with the natural world. Based in Grey County, Ontario, she has spent years cultivating gardens, food crops, and for the p…

1
#40 Cody Blue & Tanya Dahl: Leaving Los Angeles 47:59

13d ago47:59

47:59

In this special solo episode of Acid For Squares, Tanya and Cody get real about their decision to leave Los Angeles after 15+ years and move to North Carolina. No guests, no filters — just truth.They break down why LA was draining their souls, how the industry has become toxic, and what finally pushed them to make the leap. They also reveal what’s …

1
The Secret Clubhouse for Reactionary Plutocrat | The Time of Monsters with Jeet Heer 41:57

14d ago41:57

41:57

On this episode of The Time of Monsters, Chris Lehmann joins Jeet Heer to discuss the Group Chats where billionaires scheme and moan. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyBy The Nation Magazine

1
Andor, Episodes 1–3 w/ Jenny G. Zhang | Bang-Bang Podcast Cross-Over | Ep. 237 34:27

16d ago34:27

34:27

Free preview cross-over with the Bang-Bang Podcast. Van and Lyle kick off their Andor series with Slate culture editor Jenny G. Zhang, diving into the show’s slow-burn opening arc where imperial bootlickers, jealous love interests, and rebels in the making collide on the Outer Rim. They discuss what makes Andor—a property of the Star Wars universe—…

1
WFP Out of Food in Gaza, US and Rwanda Negotiate a Migrant Deal, National Security Advisor Waltz Reassigned | American Prestige 52:06

16d ago52:06

52:06

May Day is no more, but the world, sadly, does not revolve around the left. On this week's news roundup: a new report on 2024 global military spending shockingly shows it has increased (2:05); the UN’s World Food Programme is out of food in Gaza (4:05), the IDF herds people into Rafah (5:55), and the PLO creates a vice presidency in anticipation of…

1
The Political Theory of Liberal Socialism w/ Matt McManus 1:05:38

17d ago1:05:38

1:05:38

On this May Day edition of Parallax Views w/ J.G. Michael, political theorist Matt McManus joins us to unpack The Political Theory of Liberal Socialism, his groundbreaking new book. We explore: Liberal Socialism Defined: Why liberal rights and socialist economics aren’t mutually exclusive—and how methodological collectivism and normative individual…

1
How Brainrot AI is Upending the Internet w/ Jason Koebler | Tech Won't Save Us 53:38

17d ago53:38

53:38

On this episode of Tech Won't Save Us, Paris Marx is joined by Jason Koebler to discuss the economy behind AI slop generation, how people are building businesses on AI-generated images, and the wider consequences of their proliferation on social media. Jason Koebler is a cofounder of 404 Media and cohost of the 404 Media Podcast. Advertising Inquir…

1
Remembering Pope Francis and Confronting Authoritarianism w/ William Dowell 38:35

18d ago38:35

38:35

On this edition of Parallax Views, we remember the late Pope Francis in conversation with veteran journalist William Dowell, who recently penned the WhoWhatWhy article “The Passing of a Genuinely Christian Pope.” Dowell reflects on Francis’s lasting spiritual legacy, portraying him as a humble and principled leader who consistently emphasized compa…

1
From the 1950s Red Scare to Trump, Plus the Alger Hiss Case | Start Making Sense 37:58

18d ago37:58

37:58

Donald Trump is "the greatest threat to American universities since the Red Scare of the 1950s"—that’s what Princeton’s president Christopher Eisgruber said. Others say that what Trump is doing is worse. Beverly Gage comments – she wrote “G-Man,” the award-winning biography of J. Edgar Hoover. Also on this episode: In 1948, Alger Hiss, a prominent …

1
The Sino-Soviet Split, Pt. 2 w/ Jeremy Friedman | American Prestige 53:07

19d ago53:07

53:07

Please listen to ⁠⁠our Sino-Soviet primer episode⁠⁠ and ⁠part one of this discussion⁠ for some background! On this episode of American Prestige, Danny and Derek welcome back Jeremy Friedman, assistant professor in the Business, Government, and International Economy at Harvard, to talk about the Sino-Soviet Split. The conversation picks up in the 19…

1
Bull Sales and Duck Tales! 42:25

20d ago42:25

42:25

Send us a text Rebranding, Bull Sales, and Ranching Insights In episode 10 of the newly rebranded 'Cows and Bulls' podcast, hosts Marina and Vanden discuss the origin of their podcast name and share experiences from recent bull sales, including purchasing a bull named Turtle from Turtle Creek Angus. They talk about the facilities and events at vari…

1
Plants Always Win Podcast with Sean Patchett and Erin Alladin 1:10:24

20d ago1:10:24

1:10:24

This week on Down the Garden Path, Joanne speaks with Erin Alladin and Sean Patchett about their podcast, Plants Always Win. Plants Always Win Podcast Plants Always Win is a podcast where two Ontario gardeners dive down plant-fact rabbit holes, answer audience questions, interview intriguing guests, and compete to bring you the most interesting sto…

1
#39 Jimmy Bluff: Surgery Without The Knife 46:26

20d ago46:26

46:26

In this episode of Acid For Squares, Cody Blue & Tanya Dahl sit down with renowned bodywork healer Jimmy Bluff, creator of the revolutionary "Surgery Without the Knife" method. Jimmy shares how years of personal experience, intuition, and deep study of the body's energetic systems led him to develop his groundbreaking approach to releasing trauma, …

1
Trump’s Trade War is Also a Class War | The Time of Monsters with Jeet Heer 43:44

21d ago43:44

43:44

Donald Trump’s tariff war is usually framed in terms of how it would impact consumers and America’s relationship with other countries, but it is also part of a larger project to remake taxation policy. Trump is very explicit that he wants tariffs to replace personal and corporate taxes with tariffs as the main source of revenue. As such, tariffs ar…

1
Nuke-You-Lear Strategy w/ Emma Claire Foley | Ep. 236 54:27

23d ago54:27

54:27

What's wrong with trying to be a Washington insider these days? How different is nuclear thinking under Trump compared to previous Democratic and Republican presidencies? Is Trump's "golden dome" idea just a grift (yes)? What's the best way to raise public consciousness about the danger of nuclear weapons? And what role could film and pop culture p…

1
Kashmir Attack, US Airstrikes in Yemen, Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks Falter | American Prestige 52:54

23d ago52:54

52:54

Derek makes his grand return to the AP newsroom! This week: Pope Francis dies (0:30); India sees the worst attack on civilians in Kashmir in years, prompting fallout on India-Pakistan relations (6:35); the US carries out its deadliest airstrike on Yemen to date (14:39); Qatar and Egypt propose a new ceasefire plan for Gaza (18:07); the US and Iran …

1
Follow the Money: The Think Tank Funding Tracker w/ Ben Freeman & Nick Cleveland-Stout 1:03:00

24d ago1:03:00

1:03:00

You're Listening to Parallax Views https://parallaxviews.podbean.com/ Support the Show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews On this edition of Parallax Views with J.G. Michael, we explore the powerful financial forces behind Washington D.C.’s most influential think tanks—and how those funding streams may shape U.S. foreign policy and d…

1
How Masayoshi Son Shaped the Tech Industry w/ Laleh Khalili | Tech Won't Save Us 52:17

24d ago52:17

52:17

Paris Marx is joined by Laleh Khalili to discuss Softbank CEO Masayoshi Son, the structural factors that allowed him to build an empire, and the many ways he’s shaped the modern tech industry. Laleh Khalili is Professor of Gulf Studies at the University of Exeter and the author of Sinews of War and Trade and her forthcoming book Extractive Capitali…

1
Shoot Pro Wrestling Revives Catch-as-Catch-Can Style w/ Jake Shannon, Pat Miletich & Matt Granahan 57:21

25d ago57:21

57:21

On this special episode of Parallax Views, we enter the world of Shoot Pro Wrestling (SPW)—a new promotion looking to bring the raw intensity and legitimacy of catch-as-catch-can wrestling back to the forefront of combat sports and professional wrestling. Joining the conversation are three key figures behind the SPW movement: – 🧠 Jake Shannon, catc…

1
The Siege (1998) w/ Kevin Fox | Bang-Bang Podcast Cross-Over | Ep. 235 30:08

25d ago30:08

30:08

Free preview cross-over with the Bang-Bang Podcast. Long before the Patriot Act, long before “See Something, Say Something,” long before 9/11—there was The Siege. Released in 1998, this Bruce Willis–Denzel Washington vehicle depicts a post–terror attack New York placed under martial law. The city is bombed, neighborhoods are surveilled, and Arab an…

1
Universities Resisting Trump, and the President Who Was Worse than Trump | Start Making Sense 38:07

25d ago38:07

38:07

J D Vance said it most clearly: for the Trump people, “The universities are the enemy.” That’s why Trump is cutting billions of federal funding and making impossible demands that threaten dozens of universities. But universities have begun to resist. Michael Roth comments-- he's president of Wesleyan, and was the first university president to speak…

1
Israel Ramps Up its Campaigns in Gaza and the West Bank w/ Mohammad Alsaafin | American Prestige 58:56

26d ago58:56

58:56

On this episode of American Prestige, we once again speak with Mohammad Alsaafin, journalist at AJ+, this time to talk about where things stand in Gaza and the West Bank. We discuss the collapse of the January ceasefire, the blockade on Gaza aid, the push for outright ethnic cleansing in Gaza, what country would be willing to aid Israel in that eff…

1
Growing Lettuce, Spinach and Potatoes with Julia Dimakos 52:28

27d ago52:28

52:28

In this episode of Down the Garden Path, Joanne Shaw discusses growing fresh staples like lettuce, spinach and potatoes with “The Gardening Girl” Julia Dimakos. About Julia Dimakos Julia Dimakos’ 7000 square foot kitchen garden is in Mono, Ontario, on 25 acres on the Niagara Escarpment. Julia has been growing vegetables and writing about gardening …

1
John Ganz on The Books of Donald Trump | The Nation Podcast 33:11

27d ago33:11

33:11

On this episode of The Nation Podcast, D.D. Guttenplan and John Ganz discuss the hype, hustle, and collapse embedded in Trump’s ghostwritten canon. "Dog Eat Dog," Ganz's review of Trump's three books, is in the May issue of The Nation. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy…

1
#38 Jessimae Peluso | The Comedy Death Doula 1:41:39

27d ago1:41:39

1:41:39

On this powerful episode of Acid For Squares, hosts Tanya Dahl and Cody Blue sit down with comedian and podcast host Jessimae Peluso to explore the raw and real terrain of grief. Known for her sharp wit and deep heart, Jessimae shares how the loss of both her parents transformed her life—and her podcast. Formerly Sharp Tongue, her show is now being…

1
Zombie Economic Nationalism | Antifascist Protest | Arundhati Roy | Who Tariffs Are Good For Ep. 234 52:37

28d ago52:37

52:37

In this episode, Dr. Van Jackson appears as a guest on A Public Affair, a radio show with a live call-in segment. The conversation ended up being deliciously wide-ranging, including: Why the oligarchs who back Trump want an economic recession; What tariffs are good for, and how Trump’s tariffs impact both global trade and domestic labor; What separ…

1
Trump Upturns Canadian Politics w/ Luke Savage | The Time of Monsters with Jeet Heer 50:36

28d ago50:36

50:36

Even as he imposes authoritarianism on the United States, Donald Trump has given a new lease on life to the center left in many other countries. Canada is holding an election at the end of April under the shadow of the American presidents threat to turn it into the 51st state. Until Trump’s inauguration, the Conservative Party of Canada had a comma…

1
Sudan Rival Government, US Pushing Ukraine-Russia Deal, US-Saudi Nuclear Tech Talks | American Prestige 1:07:44

1M ago1:07:44

1:07:44

One last news roundup without Derek, but Danny and Alex Jordan of the Quincy Institute are on the case! This week: the RSF announces plans to form a parallel government in Sudan (1:33); US-Iran nuclear negotiations continue in Oman (7:21); the US and Saudi Arabia discuss giving the Kingdom access to nuclear technology (14:19); the Trump trade war c…

1
The Four Books Billionaires Think Explain International Relations (and why they're wrong!) | Ep. 233 30:18

1M ago30:18

30:18

The tech billionaires who are part of the Trump-MAGA coalition have repeatedly boosted the same collection of books that they think explain international relations. Dr. Van Jackson--a professor of international relations--explains why these books are not only bad books, but also books with a pessimistic, zero-sum, ethnonationalist, and militarist o…

1
Digital Sovereignty in a Time of Rising Fascism | Tech Won't Save Us 41:12

1M ago41:12

41:12

Paris Marx is doing a solo episode this week to bring together some important issues that have been on his mind lately. This is a recording of a talk Paris gave in Auckland, New Zealand on how Silicon Valley’s alliance with Donald Trump forces us to reassess the politics of the internet and challenge our collective dependence on US tech as it embra…

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Vanden Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen