Best Josiah Sutton Podcasts (2025)

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Evil Blockbuster: Universal Harvester: ft. Josiah Sutton 1:52:02

Play Pause

6d ago1:52:02

1:52:02

It’s Iowa time. Josiah Sutton of Fruitless joins us to discuss John Darnielle’s (of “The Mountain Goats” tame) Midwestern Gothic semi-horror, “Universal Harvester.” Themes: Iowa, corn, VHS tapes, beer, loneliness, more Iowa. If you like our show, you’ll like Fruitless. Check it out now! Episode art is a whole lot going on at a barn…

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Author Spotlight: Copaganda with Alec Karakatsanis 50:35

28m ago50:35

50:35

It’s a bonus episode!! Lenore sat down with Alec Karakatsanis, civil rights lawyer and author of the book, “Copaganda” and a newsletter by the same name, to talk about his writing, the deeply violent nature of the American police state, and the way our media plays an active role in carrying out police terror Get Alec’s book here! Read Alec’s newsle…

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The Sleepers, ft. Josh Boerman 2:03:04

2h ago2:03:04

2:03:04

The Sleepers? Yeah, I sure do feel sleepy trying to get through this damn book! The great Josh Boerman returns to the pod to talk about Matthew Gasda’s truly heinous 2025 novel, “The Sleepers.” We discuss the hack nature of the “post left,” the long 2016, and the strange enduring rage a certain type of guy holds for Chapo Trap House. We also get re…

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We're Just Here For the Bad Guys 1:53:56

1d ago1:53:56

1:53:56

On today's episode, Josh, Alien, and Josiah tackle Matt Johnson's 2013 black comedy, The Dirties. We discuss Matt Johnson's filmmaking career and his unique mockumentary style before exploring what this film has to say about the media environment surrounding school shootings. Become a Fruitless Patron here: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=11922141 C…

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[Preview] Steal This Wildlife (MX #15) 13:38

9d ago13:38

13:38

THIS IS A PREVIEW. IF YOU WANT TO LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE, CHECK OUT FRUITLESS ON PATREON HERE: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=11922141 EPISODE ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/posts/137764349 Josh and I discuss Steal This Album by System of a Down and Wildlife by La Dispute. Also this is the 50th Patreon episode. Music by System of a Down, L…

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Chapter 1: They Called Her Rebel 19:17

16d ago19:17

19:17

Hey! So due to some logistical issues and Covid-19 dunking on Lenore, this week’s episode will be late, but we still wanted to give you something to listen to for your Tuesday. Please enjoy this shameless self promo as Jacob reads the prologue and first chapter of his upcoming novel, “They Called Her Rebel.” Pre-order Jacob’s novel here!…

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[Preview] Gemstones #4. Everything Works Out, Again 10:21

23d ago10:21

10:21

THIS IS A PREVIEW. IF YOU WANT TO LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE, CHECK OUT FRUITLESS ON PATREON HERE: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=11922141 EPISODE ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/posts/gemstones-4-out-137047530 Joseph (@gross_online), Josiah, Josh, and James (@cigarette_liker) all reconvene to run through the house with a pickle in our mouth an…

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MFW No Alternative D: Capitalist Realism ft. Jonathan Kennedy 1:34:51

28d ago1:34:51

1:34:51

More like capitalist fake-ism… This week we take on Mark Fisher’s 2009 philosophical work, “Capitalist Realism,” an explanation of the seeming all-encompassing, eternally-enduring, indestructible nature of capitalism (and the systems that propagate that myth). We are joined by filmmaker, writer, photographer, and Fisher-appreciator Jonathan Kennedy…

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What the Buck (feat. Phil Christman) 2:05:09

24d ago2:05:09

2:05:09

On today's episode, Phil Christman joined Josiah to discuss Sam Tanenhaus' excellent new biography, Buckley: The Life and the Revolution That Changed America Pre-order Why Christians Should Be Leftists here: https://www.eerdmans.com/9780802884053/why-christians-should-be-leftists/ Check out Phil Christman's Substack The Tourist: https://philipchris…

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Roach Dance: Kafka's, "The Metamorphosis" 1:19:11

28d ago1:19:11

1:19:11

We're going roach mode. This week we cover Franz Kafka's 1915 classic, "The Metamorphosis," a story about a man getting straight up turned into a giant cockroach...bro still tries to go to work. We get into the life of Kafka and the challenges of life as a Jewish man in early century Austria-Hungary. We discuss his numerous complexes and obsessions…

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Resistance 2.0 (feat. Luke Savage) 1:17:27

1M ago1:17:27

1:17:27

On today's episode, Luke Savage (Michael & Us, @lukewsavage) joins Josiah to discuss the state of Resistance liberalism under the second Trump administration. Follow today's guest on Twitter @lukewsavage and Bluesky @lukewsavage.bsky.social Check out Luke's Substack: https://www.lukewsavage.com/ Listen to Michael & Us: https://www.patreon.com/c/mic…

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Least Evil Finance Bro: American Psycho 1:35:16

1M ago1:35:16

1:35:16

Disclaimer: killing people is bad actually. Don't try Patrick Bateman's techniques at home. This week we check out Bret Easton Ellis' 1991 work of horror, "American Psycho." Join us as we dive into the absolute horrifying nihilism that is late century Wall Street and its logical conclusion: mass, indiscriminate torture and murder. We get into the e…

1
[Preview] Columbine and Martyrdom 10:44

1M ago10:44

10:44

THIS IS A PREVIEW. IF YOU WANT TO LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE, CHECK OUT FRUITLESS ON PATREON HERE: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=11922141 EPISODE ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/posts/134976204 Content warning for in-depth and detailed discussion of school shootings. On today's episode, Josh and I end Christian Rock Summer 2025 on a somber not…

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Article Brain #1: Frog Slurry 1:43:26

1M ago1:43:26

1:43:26

Welcome to a new subseries of The Socialist Shelf: Article Brain! Once a month, we'll take a break from the books for each of us to bring forward an article specifically designed to drive the other two insane. We'll read them, we'll laugh, we'll weep, we'll rage. This week we talk about: CNN's 2028 Democratic primary predictions, the NYT Opinion Se…

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Holding Out for a !Hero (feat. Brian Alford) 2:41:13

2M ago2:41:13

2:41:13

Christian Rock Summer 2025 continues! On today's episode, Brian Alford (The Worst of All Possible Worlds, @spocksbrian) joined Josiah and Josh to discuss !Hero: The Rock Opera: a 2003 musical attempting to be "Jesus Christ Superstar for the MTV generation," featuring a CCM star-studded cast including Michael Tait, Rebecca St. James, Mark Stuart, an…

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Long Live Queer Socialism! : Rainbow Solidarity, ft. Matéo Penado 1:53:37

2M ago1:53:37

1:53:37

Y'all like socialism? Y'all like queers? Get ready for some...queer socialism!! Matéo Penado of the Rainbow Collective joins us to talk about Leslie Feinberg's 2008 collection, "Rainbow Solidarity: In Defense of Cuba," an analytical, journalistic, and educational analysis of the history of the queer liberation struggle since the socialist Cuban rev…

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His Pod Goes Casting On: Fire on the Mountain 1:47:04

2M ago1:47:04

1:47:04

We've seen plenty of dystopian futures...how about a utopian one? Terry Bisson's 1988, "Fire on the Mountain" explores an alternate timeline where Harriet Tubman was able to join John Brown at the Harper's Ferry raid, and with her tactical skill the raiders made it out and went on to start a nation-wide slave rebellion. How did history go different…

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[Preview] Lost In The Sound of Inner Turmoil: Underoath 11:25

2M ago11:25

11:25

THIS IS A PREVIEW. IF YOU WANT TO LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE, CHECK OUT FRUITLESS ON PATREON HERE: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=11922141 EPISODE ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/posts/133681381 Christian Rock Summer 2025 continues! On today's episode, Josiah, Josh, Nate, and James discuss the kings of Christian post-hardcore/metalcore/screamo:…

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Gays Shouldn't Shut Up: Mélusine, ft. Aysha U. Farah and Lee Mandelo 2:16:37

2M ago2:16:37

2:16:37

Let's read a problematic gay fantasy novel!!! Author Lee Mandelo (Summer Sons, The Woods All Black, Feed Them Silence) and 5 time returning guest, writer, and podcaster, Aysha U. Farah (Life is Strange: Double Exposure, The Sky Left Us, All My Maidens Podcast) join us to discuss "Mélusine," a fantasy novel from 2005 by Sarah Monette (also known as …

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Intro to Christian Rock (feat. Tom O'Mahony) 2:13:46

2M ago2:13:46

2:13:46

Christian Rock Summer is back for 2025! And this time, we're kicking it off with a more general introduction to the history of Christian rock. On today's episode, Josiah and Josh introduce Tom O'Mahony (@gotitatguineys, Beneath the Skin, Lions Led By Donkeys) to the edgier side of CCM. Follow today's guest on Twitter @gotitatguineys and Bluesky @go…

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Hear the Gorilla Out: Ishmael, ft. Jen Big Nasty 1:53:41

2M ago1:53:41

1:53:41

Today, a gorilla will set us straight. This week we're covering "Ishmael," a 1992 philosophical dialogue between a man and a gorilla, written by Daniel Quinn. We are joined by Jen Big Nasty, host of the podcast, "How the Red Was Won" to figure out just what this huge, hairy cousin of humanity has to teach us about life. We go deep into environmenta…

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[Preview] Freak Out, FIDLAR! (MX #14) 11:13

2M ago11:13

11:13

THIS IS A PREVIEW. IF YOU WANT TO LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE, CHECK OUT FRUITLESS ON PATREON HERE: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=11922141 EPISODE ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/posts/132809608 Josh and I discuss FIDLAR by FIDLAR and Freak Out! by The Mothers of Invention. Music by FIDLAR, The Mothers of Invention, and SHADE08 ★ Support this p…

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[Preview] Best Films of the 21st Century 11:30

3M ago11:30

11:30

THIS IS A PREVIEW. IF YOU WANT TO LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE, CHECK OUT FRUITLESS ON PATREON HERE: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=11922141 Alien and Josiah go through their ballots for the New York Times' 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century. Music by SHADE08 ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★By Josiah Sutton

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Saw Gerrera > Fail Organa: Star Wars, the Mask of Fear, ft. Manuclearbomb 2:02:26

3M ago2:02:26

2:02:26

Folks, we're not immune to the Andor hype! This week, we decided to return to the world of Star Wars to cover what can be seen as loosely as an Andor tie-in novel, Alex Freed's 2025 Star Wars novel "Reign of the Empire, the Mask of Fear". We are joined by Manuclearbomb of NotACast and My Brother, My Captain, My Podcast to unpack the rise of fascism…

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Iran & the Logic of Escalation (feat. Keanu Heydari) 57:13

3M ago57:13

57:13

On today's episode, Keanu Heydari joins Josiah to discuss the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran in historical context. Read Keanu’s piece in the New International: https://newintermag.com/iran-israel-the-logic-of-escalation/ Follow Keanu on Bluesky @keanuheydari.bsky.social Find Keanu's work here: https://www.keanuheydari.com/ Become a Fr…

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Episode 100: Cow Tools and Q&A 1:28:39

3M ago1:28:39

1:28:39

We did it, Shelfers. 100 EPISODES OF THE SOCIALIST SHELF!! To honor this beautiful occasion we answer some questions from you, our glorious listeners, and then get into perhaps the our most complex work of literature to date, Gary Larson's 1982 comic, "Cow Tools." If you're not familiar with Cow Tools, take a quick look at it now. Stay tuned during…

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We Finally Talk About Movies: A Discussion with Resistance Cinema ATL 1:16:32

3M ago1:16:32

1:16:32

Don't worry, we're still a literature podcast, but we wanted to have our friends Jason and Ankita from Resistance Cinema ATL on the show to talk about their collective and the role of film (and art more generally) in revolutionary movements. We've got a handful of links here, so bear with us (and click on all of them you know you want to). Pre-orde…

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Weiner Sucked 1:48:38

3M ago1:48:38

1:48:38

On today's episode, Jackal, Alien, and Josiah discuss Weiner (2016) and Anthony Weiner's story since the events of the film. Become a Fruitless Patron here: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=11922141 Check out Fruitless on YouTube Find more of Josiah’s work here: https://linktr.ee/josiahwsutton Follow Josiah on Twitter & Bluesky @josiahwsutton(.bsky.s…

1
No Cop City, No Cop World, Ft. Mariah Parker 58:18

3M ago58:18

58:18

STOP COP CITY! We are honored to be joined by Mariah Parker, editor and writer for the new collection, "No Cop City, No Cop World," a history, recounting, and analysis of the battle around the "Cop City" project in Atlanta's Weelaunee forest that led to global attention, severe local unrest, capitalist panic, and the state murder of a peaceful prot…

1
[Preview] Blue Fuss (MX #13) 15:19

3M ago15:19

15:19

THIS IS A PREVIEW. IF YOU WANT TO LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE, CHECK OUT FRUITLESS ON PATREON HERE: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=11922141 EPISODE ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/posts/130384396 Josh and I discuss Hot Fuss by The Killers and Blue Record by Baroness. Also The Office and re-watch podcasts. Music by The Killers, Baroness, and SHAD…

1
[Preview] This Mushroom Changes Everything 14:09

4M ago14:09

14:09

THIS IS A PREVIEW. IF YOU WANT TO LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE, CHECK OUT FRUITLESS ON PATREON HERE: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=11922141 EPISODE ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/posts/129786888 On today's episode, Jackal, James C. Liker, and Josiah discuss the first season of Common Side Effects. Music by SHADE08 ★ Support this podcast on Patr…

1
Nick, the Birthday Party 1:31:43

4M ago1:31:43

1:31:43

On today's episode, Caleb, Josh, and Josiah discuss the early work of Nick Cave, The Birthday Party, and a Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds concert that both Caleb and Josiah attended. Become a Fruitless Patron here: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=11922141 Check out Fruitless on YouTube Find more of Josiah’s work here: https://linktr.ee/josiahwsutton Foll…

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Terminal Article Brain: Abundance 1:30:32

4M ago1:30:32

1:30:32

Our 100th episode is coming up! If you’ve got any questions, comments, or wisecracks to share with the Shelfers, send them our way at “[email protected]” We want to hear from you! Now for the episode: So, these guys Derek Thompson and Ezra Klein wrote a book about a new liberalism...a liberalism that builds. Everybody in the Democratic pa…

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This Conclave is Like Conclave (2024) (feat. Finch) 1:14:29

4M ago1:14:29

1:14:29

On today's episode, Finch joins Josiah to talk about the 2025 conclave, the Conclave (2024) fandom, and the last few weeks of Vatican news online. Check out Finch's Substack here: https://jmkazmierczak.substack.com/ Read Finch's piece "Death and the Archivist" here: https://jmkazmierczak.substack.com/p/death-and-the-archivist Follow Finch on Twitte…

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The Myth of American Idealism: A Talk with Nathan J. Robinson 57:11

4M ago57:11

57:11

Step one: you're going to want to buy this book. Fortunately you can buy it here! The Shelfers welcome Nathan J. Robinson, editor-in-chief on Current Affairs and co-author with Noam Chomsky of the book, "The Myth of American Idealism: How U.S. Foreign Policy Endangers the World". We know the U.S. foreign policy is destructive, but just how destruct…

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The Future Where We Lose: The Fall of Cadia by Robert Rath 1:49:49

4M ago1:49:49

1:49:49

In the grim darkness of the far future, Jacob has been banished to a desolate realm that knows naught but darkness and depravity, only inhabitable by the twisted creatures of the warp: Italy. In his stead, join Lenore and our tireless, intrepid editor with creative control over the episode caption, Ryan, as they dive into the Black Library with Fal…

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[Preview] The Suburbs Principle (MX #12) 12:44

5M ago12:44

12:44

THIS IS A PREVIEW. IF YOU WANT TO LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE, CHECK OUT FRUITLESS ON PATREON HERE: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=11922141 EPISODE ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/posts/127834866 Josh and I discuss The Pleasure Principle by Gary Numan and The Suburbs by Arcade Fire. Also the Minecraft movie. Music by Gary Numan, Arcade Fire, and…

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Harry Potter and the Petty Rant Against its Own Fanbase: The Cursed Child ft. AJ from WOAPW 1:47:24

5M ago1:47:24

1:47:24

Remember when bumbling Neville knocked over all the time turners? Wasn't that funny and quaint? That should have been the end of it, but all you bothersome Harry Potter fans who made the author unfathomably rich kept asking her about them. So guess what, Cedric's a fascist now. So there. Join us as AJ from the Worst of All Possible Worlds (and of P…

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Retvrn to Rome (feat. Tribunate's Gaius) 1:20:09

5M ago1:20:09

1:20:09

On today's episode, Gaius from Tribunate joins Josiah to talk about Roman history and it's parallels to the present moments. Is the U.S. in a decline like the end of the Roman Republic? Or, perhaps, the end of the Roman Empire? Why are fascists and far right groypers so obsessed with Rome? All this and more. Check out Tribunate on YouTube: https://…

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The City & The City - ft. RevLeft Radio 1:27:29

5M ago1:27:29

1:27:29

We take a break from our series on the wizarding world to talk about a book that definitely has no dementors in it: The City & The City by China Miéville. We are honored to be joined by Breht O'Shea of the RevLeft Radio and Red Menace podcasts to discuss this work of political fiction about what would happen if you lived in a city where it would be…

1
[Preview] You Are a Cinema 10:18

5M ago10:18

10:18

THIS IS A PREVIEW. IF YOU WANT TO LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE, CHECK OUT FRUITLESS ON PATREON HERE: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=11922141 EPISODE ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/posts/126664485 On today's episode, Alien, Josh, and Josiah turn up the dubstep, shotgun their Monster energy drinks, and get party rocking as they talk about Spring B…

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We take umbrage with Rowling: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Ft. Max Graves 2:01:51

5M ago2:01:51

2:01:51

It's Part 2 of our Harry Potter series. Are we having fun yet? This week the Shelfers are joined by returning guest and brilliant web-comic creator, Max Graves, in discussing J.K. Rowling's 2003 fantasy novel, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" as well as the second half of the series, including its YA turn. Rowling's finally getting POLIT…

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The Rise of Rowling: Harry Potter Pt 1, ft Aysha U. Farah 2:06:43

5M ago2:06:43

2:06:43

The Rowling miniseries begins. The Shelfers and honorary Shelfer, Aysha U. Farah, hop on our broomsticks and zoom into the impossibly big world of Harry Potter, and whatever now-notorious bigot J.K. Rowling's whole deal is (Our working theory is that once you cross $100 million in net worth, no matter what you were like before, you lose your mind.)…

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Amused to Death (feat. Phil Christman) 2:01:50

6M ago2:01:50

2:01:50

On today's episode, Phil Christman joins Josiah to discuss Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman. They explore Postman's intellectual trajectory and legacy, as well as the broader media ecology movement. Did Postman predict Donald Trump? Is Postman a conservative? Would Postman have liked podcasts? All this and more on today's episode. Phil Ch…

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[Video Essay] Everyone Else is an NPC 17:15

6M ago17:15

17:15

This is the audio for a video essay on YouTube. If you choose to listen here, you will only get half the experience. For the full experience, check out Fruitless on YouTube. The video essay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8ER82CgPZ0 The Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIZWDsDrQ0XvDQFWzE6s2gg ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★…

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[Preview] The Body, The Blood, The Plagues (MX #11) 11:07

6M ago11:07

11:07

THIS IS A PREVIEW. IF YOU WANT TO LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE, CHECK OUT FRUITLESS ON PATREON HERE: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=11922141 EPISODE ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/posts/125236565 Josh and I discuss Plagues Upon Plagues by Sect and The Body, The Blood, The Machine by The Thermals. Also Josiah is sick. Music by Sect, The Thermals,…

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The Whale Mind Virus: Moby Dick, Ft. Isaac Boa 1:46:08

6M ago1:46:08

1:46:08

Thar she blows! This week, the shelfers unpack The Great American Novel: Herman Melville's 1851 epic, "Moby Dick." Joining us is Isaac Boa, a writer, educator, and revolutionary organizer. Together, we're going to solve just what's going on with this whole whale situation. You can find Isaac's writing here. You can join the PSL Action Network Here.…

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Pierce the Snow (feat. Jacob Dallas-Main) 1:19:21

6M ago1:19:21

1:19:21

On today's episode, Jacob Dallas-Main (The Socialist Shelf) joins Josiah to talk about Bong Joon Ho's masterpiece about how to wage class war on a big train, Snowpiercer (2013). Check out The Socialist Shelf: https://www.socialistshelf.com/ Follow The Socialist Shelf on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/socialistshelf.bsky.social Become a Fruitless…

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2 Parable 2 Talents: Parable of the Talents 1:30:17

6M ago1:30:17

1:30:17

Octavia Butler Round 3 The Shelfers finish the Parable Duology and the hazardous life of Lauren Oya Olamina in Octavia Butler's 1998 masterpiece, "Parable of the Talents." This book is an absolutely brilliant analysis of fascism and the powerful organizing that can arise in the face of it. Octavia is the best to ever do it. What else can we say? CW…

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[Preview] Sportsball 10:58

6M ago10:58

10:58

THIS IS A PREVIEW. IF YOU WANT TO LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE, CHECK OUT FRUITLESS ON PATREON HERE: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=11922141 EPISODE ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/posts/124223975 Imagine the title of this episode being said in the most annoying voice possible. Like, imagine the nerd emoji saying it. On today's episode, Nate Thie…