Best C Derick Varn Podcasts (2025)

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Burnout & the Online Left (Ft. Sisyphus 55) 1:23:49

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3h ago1:23:49

1:23:49

Get access to The Backroom (70+ exclusive episodes) and support 1Dime Radio: https://www.patreon.com/OneDimeIn this episode of 1Dime Radio, I’m joined by Ben Tomas of Sisyphus55 - a major philosophy YouTube channel that has been around for quite a long time. Ben and I discuss the online Left, audience capture, and creator burnout. We dive into how …

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

16h ago1:22:50

1:22:50

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

8d ago1:32:23

1:32:23

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

15d ago1:05:58

1:05:58

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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Is LeftTube Dead? (Ft. Yugopnik) 1:06:15

20d ago1:06:15

1:06:15

Get access to THE BACKROOM (70+ exclusive episodes) and support 1Dime Radio: https://www.patreon.com/OneDime In this week’s episode of 1Dime Radio, I am joined by the one and only Yugopnik - Marxist YouTuber, Streamer, and co-host of The Deprogram Podcast with JT Chapman from Second Thought and Hakim. In this episode we discuss the state of so-call…

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

22d 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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Socialist Unity (Ft. Chris Cutrone) 1:53:51

27d ago1:53:51

1:53:51

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

29d ago1:14:25

1:14:25

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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Christianity and Socialism (Ft. Michael Burns) 1:31:28

1M ago1:31:28

1:31:28

Get access to The Backroom (70+ exclusive episodes) by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/OneDime In this episode, I sit down with philosophy professor turned YouTube star Michael Burns (formerly part of the channel “Wisecrack," which recently was disbanded) to discuss the relationship between Christianity and Socialism and whether a Christ…

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

1M ago2:39:45

2:39:45

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

1M ago2:16:47

2:16:47

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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A Fractured Mass Without Class (Ft. Theory Undergound) 1:22:54

1M ago1:22:54

1:22:54

Get access to The Backroom (70+ exclusive episodes) on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/OneDime Is the Marxist conception of class outdated? In this episode of 1Dime Radio, I’m joined by Dave from Theory Underground to unpack the “Post-Class Fractured Mass” (PCFM): why the working class, the “proletariat” no longer coheres the way Marxists imagined…

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

1M ago59:50

59:50

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

2M ago2:21:52

2:21:52

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

2M ago1:47:35

1:47:35

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

2M ago2:37:12

2:37:12

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

2M ago2:14:49

2:14:49

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

2M ago1:28:54

1:28:54

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

2M ago2:19:44

2:19:44

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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Sigmund Freud: The Most Misunderstood Man (Ft. Todd McGowan) 1:59:41

2M ago1:59:41

1:59:41

Get access to The Backroom Exclusive episodes on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/OneDime In this episode of 1Dime Radio, I am joined by Professor Todd McGowan, philosopher and author of "Emancipation After Hegel" and "Capitalism and Desire," to debunk some misconceptions about Sigmund Freud: The Father of Psychoanalysis. Todd breaks down major mis…

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

2M ago1:48:42

1:48:42

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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From Zohran to Tehran—The War Is Real (Ft. Benjamin Studebaker) 2:41:27

2M ago2:41:27

2:41:27

Get access to The Backroom exclusive podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/OneDime In this episode of 1Dime Radio, I am joined by political theorist Benjamin Studebaker, a PhD at Cambridge and author of the books "The Chronic Crisis of American Democracy" and "Legitimacy in Liberal Democracies," to break down the Iran-Israel conflict, Zohran …

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

3M ago1:08:14

1:08:14

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

3M ago1:24:52

1:24:52

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

3M ago1:20:51

1:20:51

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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Fascism vs Bonapartism Vs Caesarism (Ft. C. Derick Varn) 2:04:53

3M ago2:04:53

2:04:53

Get access to The Backroom Exclusive podcast on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/OneDime.⁠ In this week's episode of the 1Dime Radio podcast, friend of the show C. Derick Varn (@VarnVlog) returns to discuss whether America under Trump is heading towards fascism and, more importantly, what the differences are between Fascism, Caesarism, and Bonap…

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

3M ago2:06:23

2:06:23

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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Zionism and The Left (Ft. Overzealots ) 2:09:08

3M ago2:09:08

2:09:08

Get access to The Backroom Exclusive podcast on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/OneDime.⁠ In this week’s episode, I am joined by Isaac Zale of the rising socialist YouTube channel “Overzealots” who has most recently gained traction for his videos critiquing “commentary” YouTubers like Ethan Klein and Streamers like Destiny, who are currently “a…

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

3M ago1:43:30

1:43:30

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

3M ago1:56:39

1:56:39

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

3M ago2:02:41

2:02:41

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

3M ago1:43:06

1:43:06

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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The Economy is Rigged & Economics is Wrong (Ft. Unlearning Economics) 1:39:51

3M ago1:39:51

1:39:51

In this week’s episode, I am joined by Dr. Cahal Moran, the man behind the YouTube channel “Unlearning Economics,” and author of the recent book “Why We're Getting Poorer: A Realist’s Guide to the Economy and How We Can Fix It.” In this podcast, I ask Cahal how he went from being an economist to debunking “Basic Economics” on YouTube. We also talk …

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

3M ago3:32:54

3:32:54

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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Art in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (Ft. Adam Turl) 1:21:01

3M ago1:21:01

1:21:01

Get access to The Backroom Exclusive episodes on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/OneDime.⁠ In this week’s episode, I am joined by Adam Turl, author of the book “Gothic Capitalism,” Published by Revol Press (where I am also going to be publishing my book): https://www.revolpress.com/gothic-capitalism Adam and I debate the hot topic of AI Art, wh…

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

4M ago1:50:00

1:50:00

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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Modern Monetary Theory: The Fundamentals (Ft. L. Randall Wray) 2:03:55

4M ago2:03:55

2:03:55

Get access to The Backroom Exclusive episodes on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/OneDime.⁠ In this episode of 1Dime Radio, I am joined by Professor L. Randal Wray, a heterodox economist and a Pioneer of Modern Monetary Theory. In this episode, we demystify the history of money, what money is, and how modern money works in the economy today (how…

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

4M 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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Accelerationism: The Philosophy of Nick Land and Curtis Yarvin (Ft. Michael Downs) 2:53:36

4M ago2:53:36

2:53:36

Get access to The Backroom Exclusive episodes on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/OneDime.⁠ In this episode of 1Dime Radio, I am joined by Michael Downs (known for his Blog “The Dangerous Maybe”) - a working-class intellectual autodidact philosopher who recently published the book “Capital VS Timenergy: A Žižekian Critique of Nick Land.” In this…

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

4M ago2:05:16

2:05:16

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 End of Neoliberalism? (Ft. Benjamin Studebaker) 2:00:23

4M ago2:00:23

2:00:23

Get access to The Backroom Exclusive episodes on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/OneDime.⁠ In this episode of 1Dime Radio, I am joined by political theorist Benjamin St. Studebaker, a PhD at Cambridge and author of the books “The Chronic Crisis of American Democracy” and “Legitimacy in Liberal Democracies,” on we are witnessing the “end of neol…

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

4M ago2:35:26

2:35:26

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

4M 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

4M ago1:51:21

1:51:21

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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Why Economists are CLUELESS (Ft. Steve Keen) 1:29:37

4M ago1:29:37

1:29:37

Get access to The Backroom Exclusive episode on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/OneDime.⁠ In this episode of 1Dime Radio, I am joined by economist Steve Keen to discuss the many myths of “Basic Economics” (Neo-Classical Economics), the end of Neoliberalism, the Trade Wars, Trump Tariffs, Marxism, and MMT (Modern Monetary Theory. In The Backroom…

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

4M ago2:03:47

2:03:47

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

5M 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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Socialism With American Characteristics (Ft. JT Chapman) 2:07:24

5M ago2:07:24

2:07:24

In this episode of 1Dime Radio, I am joined by JT Chapman, the man behind Second Thought, the largest socialist YouTube channel at the moment, and The Deprogram Podcast. JT and I discuss the experiences and challenges in producing independent media, the importance of optics, and what Socialism in America could look like. In The Backroom on Patreon,…

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

5M 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

5M 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…