Best Robin Tran Podcasts (2025)

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Trans Search for Meaning: Robin Tran 1:15:17

Play Pause

12d ago1:15:17

1:15:17

CW: self harm In this new miniseries, Ada interviews guests on the big questions. In this inaugural episode, she talks with stand-up comedian Robin Tran on the subjects of fascism, family, shootings, offensive jokes, comedy, optimism, and the controversial notion that trans people might actually be brave after all. Note: This episode was recorded o…

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Everyone Can Screw Us Now Thanks to Trump, with Julie Morgan 1:09:13

4d ago1:09:13

1:09:13

Everyone in their right mind already knows the gift: Trump ran on helping working people, then immediately threw working Americans to the wolves in favor of helping the ultra-wealthy. But it’s not just Trump who is screwing us; he’s made it easier for businesses to exploit the average American as well. He recently eviscerated the Consumer Financial…

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Tran's Talk - Ambition (Revamp Episode!) 42:52

4d ago42:52

42:52

Tran's Talk gets a VIDEO REVAMP! I'm in a podcast studio! In this episode, I take an in-depth look at how my suppressed ambition finally burst out of my body which ignited a fire that resulted in my entire life exploding. Sounds dramatic right? Because it IS. Please like and subscribe and support my journey into finally taking myself and my career …

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Big Robot Feelings 18: Life and Death Decisions/Ambivalence 42:45

5d ago42:45

42:45

We continue our series about the 90s anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion. Much to discuss! Katie, Gia and Ada talk about Kaji's first ride as an Eva pilot, the transness of piloting a giant monster body around the world, wonder if Kaji is based?? And the issue of the Dong Gobble Tunnel. Support the show…

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America is Addicted to Cars, with Sarah Goodyear and Doug Gordon 1:31:18

10d ago1:31:18

1:31:18

While we think of automobiles as an integral part of American life, the fact is that they’re just objectively a bad form of transportation. They’re costly, they don’t scale well, and they’re a leading cause of death in the country. The oil and automobile lobbies have done a lot of work to make it feel like there’s no way we could live without cars,…

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Stand Up Comedy with Tourette's with Benny Feldman 1:40:19

17d ago1:40:19

1:40:19

Benny Feldman is one of the funniest new comics working today. He also has Tourette Syndrome, a neurological condition characterized by involuntary vocalizations and tics. Not only does this give Benny a unique rhythm to his performances, it also has helped him develop a fascinating personal understanding of how humor even works. This week, Adam ta…

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Big Robot Feelings 17: The Fourth Children 33:27

19d ago33:27

33:27

We continue our deep dive into the 90s anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion! This week, Katie, Ada and Gia discuss who does and doesn't believe in rehabilitation, the poor Class Rep, watch as Toji is just days away from retirement and wonder who could the fourth pilot be? I wonder? Hmmmmm. Support the show…

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The Ensh*ttification of Everything with Cory Doctorow 1:45:55

24d ago1:45:55

1:45:55

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The Labor Movement Refuses to Be Destroyed By Trump with Julie Su 1:20:27

1M ago1:20:27

1:20:27

Trump despises the average worker and has spent the past several months doing everything he can to demolish the labor protections that Americans of previous generations fought and died to win. We’re at an inflection point for the future of American labor, with our very livelihoods in the balance. Julie Su has been a civil rights attorney, Californi…

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Big Robot Feelings 16: The sickness unto death, and then... 36:03

1M ago36:03

36:03

In this Episode: Gia, Ada and Katie discuss Kierkegaard, but only how to pronounce his name, Shinji remains a loser, nobody has played CS:GO we promise, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, naked mom ghosts, and positrons! Support the showBy Katie Coleman, Henry Giardina, and Ada-Rhodes Short

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Will A.I. Slop Replace the Internet? with Jason Koebler 1:27:21

1M ago1:27:21

1:27:21

A.I. slop is competing for space all across the web, and it’s starting to edge out actual human creators. The internet, once rife with possibility, is rapidly turning into a depressing wasteland of mind numbing garbage. Despite the massive volume of brain-waste being sludged out every day, there are still some brilliant human minds trying to turn t…

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Consequences and Free Speech 42:50

1M ago42:50

42:50

I incorrectly called this "episode 8" on the show! Whoops. On this episode, I discuss the gift of finally suffering real consequences. I also talk about how much I love talking! And then I seamlessly transition into talking about SPEECH, and go into detail about Jimmy Kimmel getting pulled off the air and my thoughts on the first amendment (and Ame…

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Being Funny in Deeply Unfunny Times with Gianmarco Soresi 1:53:11

2M ago1:53:11

1:53:11

Comedy has changed as an art form. On top of social media fundamentally reconfiguring the expectations of the audience for what the role of a comedian is meant to be, we live in deeply unfunny times. Despite these challenges, we still all need to laugh. This week, Adam talks with comedian Gianmarco Soresi about how to adapt to the times without com…

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What Labubus Say About Our F-d Up Economy 12:56

2M ago12:56

12:56

(In addition to your weekly Factually! episode, this week we're bringing you a monologue from Adam. This short, researched monologue originally aired on the Factually! YouTube page, but we are sharing audio versions of these monologues with our podcast audience as well. Please enjoy, and stay tuned for your regularly scheduled episode of Factually!…

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Big Robot Feelings 15: Weaving a Story/ Seele, the Seat of the Soul 32:49

2M ago32:49

32:49

Funny story. You're going to laugh. I (Katie) mixed up the order of these two episodes (14 & 15). Luckily, as this one is a mostly a clip show, it shouldn't be a huge problem for those of you watching along with us. So this is actually episode 14, and should be watched before the previous episode, "They longed for others' lips..." Terribly sorry ab…

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White People Condemning Political Assassinations 34:16

2M ago34:16

34:16

Did you wanna hear a break from me talking endlessly about myself? Today's your lucky day! In this impromptu episode based off recent events, I mock conservative activists and then I go on a half-hour rant about white people's desperate need to feel like they're good people and why political violence terrifies them. Do you love America? Then this e…

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Mourning Unhealthy Dynamics and Fairy Tales 36:41

2M ago36:41

36:41

In episode 5 of Tran's Talk, I talk to my phone while lying down in bed because I'm so exhausted that I can barely get up. But I still wanted to talk to you all! In this episode, I discuss why I mourn things that were unhealthy for me and messing up my life, as well as the fairy tales I needed to give up on. "Feelings don't care about your facts!" …

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Genocide Scholar: I Know It When I See It, with Omer Bartov 1:33:26

2M ago1:33:26

1:33:26

The Palestinian people are being killed en masse, they are being starved, and many are dying of preventable disease. More and more people are beginning to understand that it’s Israel’s intention to eliminate the entire Palestinian population of Gaza. Yet as untold thousands are dying, there are still people who insist that this is not “genocide” de…

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Why Strength Training Kicks Dieting’s Ass with Casey Johnston 1:19:10

2M ago1:19:10

1:19:10

Being in “good shape” doesn’t just mean changing your diet in pursuit of unrealistic standards of thinness; it means challenging your body to be more capable today than it was yesterday. In recent years, weight lifting has been catching on as a primary exercise focus for both men and women who are trying to live healthier lifestyles. This week, Ada…

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Big Robot Feelings 14: Those Women Longed for the Touch of Others' Lips, and thus Invited their Kisses. 35:56

2M ago35:56

35:56

Fallout Boy-ass title aside, this is a pretty eventful episode! Katie, Ada and Gia manage to derail the conversation anyway, though. We talk Jaws! Cellos! Kaji Shenanigans! Kissing! Pen-Pen is there! What's Rei's whole deal?! Watch along with us! Support the showBy Katie Coleman, Henry Giardina, and Ada-Rhodes Short

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The Consequences of Blowing Up Your Whole Life on Purpose 54:24

2M ago54:24

54:24

In episode 4 of Tran's Talk, I talk about blowing up my entire life and the moment I hit rock bottom which finally made me let go of lifelong childish fantasies. All of my life, I've clung onto "woe is me" as an escape, but I learned the hard way that what I'm experiencing is just life and I need to actually live it, so I'm saying goodbye to learne…

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How The Naked Gun Saved Comedy 1:34:15

2M ago1:34:15

1:34:15

The world is getting less funny. Not just out there in the geopolitical hellscape of every day life, but at the movie theater as well. While comedy films once dominated the box office, in recent years there’s been a sharp drop-off in theatrical comedies. The communal experience of sitting in a room with people and sharing one of the most fundamenta…

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Vivian Wilson Bullies Adam Conover for 74 Minutes 1:10:03

2M ago1:10:03

1:10:03

One of Elon Musk’s most insightful critics is his own daughter. Vivian Wilson came into the limelight last year after her father deadnamed her in an interview with Jordan Peterson, and she responded by systematically dismantling Musk in a now infamous post. Having publicly rejected her father, Wilson suddenly found herself as an icon of trans visib…

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Tran's Talk Episode 3 - Robin is Single and Homeless! 39:38

2M ago39:38

39:38

So much has happened in such a short period of time in Robin's life that she can barely hold on! But she wanted to release this episode while the revelations and epiphanies were fresh. Why am I talking in third person?? In this episode, I discuss the breakup, complacency, living life without a safety net, realizing why I never made money before, le…

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Big Robot Feelings 13: Lilliputian Hitcher 30:23

3M ago30:23

30:23

Katie, Ada and Gia continue their discussion of Neon Genesis Evangelion with a bottle episde mostly about Dr. High Heels and her complicated relationship with Momputer. Also, if anyone wants to write a Modernist novel called "Gideon's Wank," you could probably make us do an episode on it. Support the show…

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Everything in America is a Pyramid Scheme Now with Bridget Read 1:26:21

3M ago1:26:21

1:26:21

Pyramid schemes have been a comedic punchline for ages now, but they’ve never been more relevant. Not only is there still a thriving culture of multi-level exploitation in this country, but the dark spirit of pyramid schemes has wormed its way into countless aspects of American life. This week, Adam speaks with Bridget Read, writer at New York Maga…

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Tran's Talk Episode 2 - Triggered by Downtime and Money! 55:04

3M ago55:04

55:04

In the second installment of this show, Robin talks about the triggers of downtime, comedians regretting their Trump vote, what kind of person it takes to join ICE, and wonders how the hell people make money? She also answers a question about which wrestler she would love to have dinner with and gets into how this person accidentally made her trans…

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What’s Wrong with Capitalism? with John Cassidy 1:16:21

3M ago1:16:21

1:16:21

While we’re certainly in a uniquely bad time for our capitalist society, we’re definitely not the first people to be having the thought, “what if things weren’t quite so terrible for 99% of people?” From the beginning, capitalism has justifiably had critics. Today Adam is joined by John Cassidy, New Yorker writer and author of Capitalism and Its Cr…

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Tran's Talk Episode 1 - The Difference Between Podcasts and Standup 53:35

3M ago53:35

53:35

Oh my god! Robin Tran has a solo podcast? And she's writing this description in third person? In the first official episode, Robin talks about the difference between podcasts and standup, complains about unoriginal comedians talking about Epstein, talks about how she actually doesn't have ADHD, and tells us all what happened to the Skin Suit Podcas…

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Zohran Is Teaching the Left How to Win 17:21

3M ago17:21

17:21

(In addition to your weekly Factually! episode, this week we're bringing you a monologue from Adam. This short, researched monologue originally aired on the Factually! YouTube page, but we are sharing audio versions of these monologues with our podcast audience as well. Please enjoy, and stay tuned for your regularly scheduled episode of Factually!…

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Big Robot Feelings 12: She said "Don't Make Others Suffer for your Personal Hatred." 42:29

3M ago42:29

42:29

Ada, Gia and Katie continue watching Neon Genesis Evangelion, meet a rad new Angel, learn some Misato backstory, talk sea slugs, Tarot, and some keys, oohh-ohhhh your ring of keeeeeeysssss Support the showBy Katie Coleman, Henry Giardina, and Ada-Rhodes Short

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Spotify Is Even Worse Than You Think with Liz Pelly 1:24:00

3M ago1:24:00

1:24:00

It’s no secret that Spotify pays artists extremely poorly, but it turns out they don’t treat their customers much better. Author and journalist Liz Pelly’s new book, Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist, investigates how Spotify has accelerated the collapse of the music industry, along with their shady practices s…

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Tran's Talk Episode 0 - The Origins of a Troll 34:24

3M ago34:24

34:24

In the unofficial first episode of Tran's Talk, I (Robin Tran) discuss South Park, dark humor as a kink, the origins of being a troll, and why right-wingers are so bad at comedy. This was meant to be episode 3, but due to how topical the subject is, I decided to release it first. Subsequent episodes will have more of a format. Hope you like it! IG:…

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We’re not ready for what’s coming. 19:04

3M ago19:04

19:04

(In addition to your weekly Factually! episode, this week we're bringing you a monologue from Adam. This short, researched monologue originally aired on the Factually! YouTube page, but we are sharing audio versions of these monologues with our podcast audience as well. Please enjoy, and stay tuned for your regularly scheduled episode of Factually!…

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The Secret Agent Organizer of the Starbucks Union with Jaz Brisack 1:24:57

3M ago1:24:57

1:24:57

Companies are infamous for their union busting tactics, but that doesn’t mean union organizers don’t have their own strategies. This week, Adam speaks with Jaz Brisack, an undercover organizer, or union “salt”, who took a job as a barista in a Starbucks in Buffalo, NY with the explicit intention of organizing Starbucks employees. Thanks to the effo…

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Is Pride Dead? 20:23

3M ago20:23

20:23

(In addition to your weekly Factually! episode, this week we're bringing you a monologue from Adam. This short, researched monologue originally aired on the Factually! YouTube page, but we are sharing audio versions of these monologues with our podcast audience as well. Please enjoy, and stay tuned for your regularly scheduled episode of Factually!…

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Big Robot Feelings 11: The Day Tokyo-3 Stood Still 40:00

3M ago40:00

40:00

Ada, Gia, and Katie discuss another episode of Neon Genesis Evangelion, digress on Sailor Moon and some Gundams, and shriek in terror at the horror of the Saddy Blonglegs. Note: Due to some lag, there's a bit more overtalk in this episode than usual. I edited what I could, but sorry if that's a bother to you. It will be better next episode Support …

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Lina Khan: How to Fight Corporate Power Under Trump 1:19:42

4M ago1:19:42

1:19:42

Until recently, Lina Khan was the chair of the Federal Trade Commission. Under her leadership, the FTC went after the anti-competitive tactics of tech giants, finalized rules to ban non-compete clauses, enforced the right to repair, and even took on ever-loathsome junk fees. Despite the limit resources of her department, Chair Khan made such undeni…

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RFK is Shortening Our Lifespans, with Dr. Eric Topol 1:15:34

4M ago1:15:34

1:15:34

When it comes to medical science, there’s never been a better time to be alive than now… other than maybe a few months ago before the new Trump administration. Americans today are living longer than ever before, and that’s owed in no small part to the National Institutes of Health—a government organization that has been responsible for some of the …

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Big Robot Feelings 10: Magmadiver 48:37

4M ago48:37

48:37

Gia, Katie and Ada discuss episode 10 of Neon Genesis Evangelion, and also Drinking, What the Kids are Doing These Days, school trips, speculation on the various fetishes of Anno-san, more questionable Japanese geography/language, and more Gundam/ Sentai talk Support the showBy Katie Coleman, Henry Giardina, and Ada-Rhodes Short

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How Zohran Humiliated the Democrats with David Roth 1:21:09

4M ago1:21:09

1:21:09

Last week, Zohran Mamdani shattered the notion that a New York City mayor has to be some craggy-faced, man-shaped stack of disappointments who’d sooner die than be seen on the subway. The young, energetic Democratic Socialist ran on a platform of making New York City a more livable place for average residents, which—surprise!—went over well with av…

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AI Is Making You Dumber 21:52

4M ago21:52

21:52

(In addition to your weekly Factually! episode, this week we're bringing you a monologue from Adam. This short, researched monologue originally aired on the Factually! YouTube page, but we are sharing audio versions of these monologues with our podcast audience as well. Please enjoy, and stay tuned for your regularly scheduled episode of Factually!…

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The Right is Wrong About Latin America with Greg Grandin 1:14:42

4M ago1:14:42

1:14:42

Trump has long expressed racism and vitriol toward immigrants, particularly those from Latin America. As he deploys the National Guard to Los Angeles to quash pro-immigrant protesters, it’s important to remember that Latin America is still part of the Americas. To understand how we arrived at a moment where the right holds such a bitter and hateful…

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Big Robot Feelings 9: Both of You, Dance Like You Want to Win! 35:57

4M ago35:57

35:57

Katie, Ada & Gia coninue our discussion of Neon Genesis Evangelion as Shinji crossdresses (again) Dr. High Heels acts suspicious (again) and more sex crimes are committed (again again). Watch along with us! Support the showBy Katie Coleman, Henry Giardina, and Ada-Rhodes Short

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Selina Thompson: On Getting Braver and Other Durational Practices 1:01:46

4M ago1:01:46

1:01:46

Performance artist Selina Thompson’s work exemplifies how working on oneself can be harnessed to change the world. Thompson began making autobiographical solo performances about stereotypically feminine concerns before moving on to political topics with a capital ‘P’, e.g., racism and democracy, topics that “men write books about”, as she puts it. …

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America Has No Left Wing with Vivek Chibber 1:30:24

5M ago1:30:24

1:30:24

At the No Kings protests this past weekend, millions of Americans demonstrated against the fascist right wing. Despite the staggering number of people willing to take to the streets, why does it still seem like the left is powerless to stop the right on a political level? This week, Adam sits with NYU professor Vivek Chibber to discuss how America …

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How D&D Took Over Sports Arenas with Brennan Lee Mulligan 1:26:38

5M ago1:26:38

1:26:38

In the past several years, the tabletop roleplaying game Dungeons & Dragons has firmly made the leap from subculture to pop culture. Massively popular “actual play” shows like Dimension 20 now sell out arenas like Madison Square Garden, a feat which would have been unheard of not so long ago. This week, Adam speaks with Dimension 20 creator and gam…

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Big Bug Feelings: Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind 1:23:51

5M ago1:23:51

1:23:51

Ada, Katie & Gia take a quick break from Evangelion to look at Hideaki Anno's first work as an animator on this classic Miyazaki film from 1984. There's big bugs, and they definitley have feelings. Watch along with us! Support the showBy Katie Coleman, Henry Giardina, and Ada-Rhodes Short

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The End of Women's Rights with Mary Ziegler 1:10:18

5M ago1:10:18

1:10:18

The Dobbs Decision is one of the biggest blows to human rights in our lifetimes, and it’s just the beginning. Ending access to abortion is only the first step in the pro-life movement’s war on bodily autonomy. This week Adam sits with Mary Ziegler, law professor and author of Personhood: The New Civil War over Reproduction, to discuss the devastati…

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Did Elon Tell Grok to Promote “White Genocide”? 15:07

5M ago15:07

15:07

(In addition to your weekly Factually! episode, this week we're bringing you a monologue from Adam. This short, researched monologue originally aired on the Factually! YouTube page, but we are sharing audio versions of these monologues with our podcast audience as well. Please enjoy, and stay tuned for your regularly scheduled episode of Factually!…