Best C Derick Varn Podcasts (2025)

1
Ep 332 - The Red Thread: A History of Socialist Tradition with C. Derick Varn - Part 2 1:07:14

3d ago1:07:14

1:07:14

**On Tuesday evening, C. Derick Varn will join us AGAIN for Macro ‘n Chill, our weekly community gathering. While listening to this episode, we will have the opportunity to ask questions and engage in discussion about Part Two. June 17th, 8 pm ET/5 pm PT Click HERE to register The second half of Steve’s conversation with Derick Varn goes into the h…

1
From Dawn To Decadence, part 4: Aufheben's Decline of Theory 2:06:23

1d 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…

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

8d 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 …

1
Ep 331 - The Red Thread: A History of Socialist Tradition with C. Derick Varn - Part 1 1:04:39

10d ago1:04:39

1:04:39

**This Tuesday evening, C. Derick Varn will join us for Macro ‘n Chill, our weekly community gathering. While listening to this episode, folks will have the opportunity to ask questions and engage in discussion. June 10th, 8 pm ET/5 pm PT Click HERE to register This episode is the first of a two-part discussion delving into historical splits within…

1
End of Liberal Dreams with Nicolas Villarreal 3:32:54

15d 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…

1
Ep 330 - Money, Power, and the People with Christopher Shaw 1:08:05

17d ago1:08:05

1:08:05

There's an oft-repeated Chris Hedges quote that goes: “I do not fight fascists because I will win. I fight fascists because they are fascists.” Well, that’s how we feel about the banks. Revolutionary change is only possible when people understand the institutions of power. The banking system plays a huge role in perpetuating class division and disc…

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

22d 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…

1
Ep 329 - Stage IV Terminal Capitalism with Hamza Hamouchene 1:14:17

24d ago1:14:17

1:14:17

The podcast focuses on the critical need to address the root causes of health and environmental crises, emphasizing that many diseases, including cancer, are largely influenced by environmental factors and capitalism's exploitative nature. Hamza Hamouchene talks about his reasons for leaving a career in cancer research, highlighting the disillusion…

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

29d 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…

1
Ep 328 - Trade Route China with Carl Zha 56:55

1M ago56:55

56:55

This episode features sharp commentary on the current geopolitical landscape, exploring why China continues to thrive despite the chaotic shifting of US policies. Our friend Carl Zha brings his vast knowledge of China and delves into the shifting global dynamics with the US. He and Steve examine the absurdity of the US government's approach to trad…

1
The Fascist Foundations of Heideggerian Thought: A Marxist Critique with Colin Bodayle 2:05:16

1M 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…

1
Ep 327 - Isolation with Bill Mitchell 55:34

1M ago55:34

55:34

As difficult as it is to get a handle on the chaos and confusion of Trump’s shifting policies, we continue to ask wise friends for their perspective. This week Steve is speaking with Australian economist Bill Mitchell, a founder of MMT and a regular guest of this podcast. Bill helps us unpack the capitalist contradictions driving global instability…

1
The Echoes of General Boulanger: When Leftists Flirt With Right-Wing Populism with Donald Parkinson 2:35:26

1M 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…

1
Ep 326 - AI in the Sky: Modern Warfare with Peter Byrne 58:58

2M ago58:58

58:58

The past year has seen lots of discussion of the ‘human’ nature of AI. Programs like ChatGPT were writing poetry, engaging in debates, and roasting users with witty retorts. Educators have been facing more serious concerns as they navigate a world in which students no longer need to learn to do their own research, writing, or thinking. But the mili…

1
Ethics Unbound: Marx's Revolutionary Framework with Vanessa Wills 2:03:47

2M 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…

1
Ep 325 - Tariffs, Tooth Fairies & Trade with Fadhel Kaboub 1:03:58

2M ago1:03:58

1:03:58

“When you are a dominant empire like the US, economically, militarily, geopolitically, and you make bets that are exclusively based on power rather than technology, innovation, research and development, education, a growing prosperous middle class, history tells us that you will eventually fail. And that's the ugly reality.” Like most media nowaday…

1
Breaking Constitutional Boundaries with Elijah Emery 2:05:47

2M 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…

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

2M 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…

1
Ep 324 - Modern Money Awakenings with Tracy Carson 1:08:10

2M ago1:08:10

1:08:10

This week’s episode comes from Steve’s recent appearance on The Tracy Show, where he was invited to talk about MMT with host Tracy Carson, who had some questions. Tracy: Okay, I'm going to tell you what I think I understand about Modern Monetary Theory or MMT. I'm just going to go with MMT. The federal government can pretty much generate money out …

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

2M 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…

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

2M ago1:10:18

1:10:18

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

1
Ep 323 - The Physics of Capitalism with Erald Kolasi 1:17:45

2M ago1:17:45

1:17:45

“Humanity... is at a critical moment in history where the decisions that we make could have massive, massive implications, for our future trajectory, for the future trajectory of human civilization over the next two centuries. Those decisions can either ensure that we have a prosperous millennium or that we have a disastrous one.” Erald Kolasi join…

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

2M ago1:22:52

1:22:52

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

1
Ep 322 - Eggsploitation with Basel Musharbash 52:33

2M ago52:33

52:33

Crazy things have been going on with the price of eggs, especially in the US. If you think this is happening because of the avian flu, you’ve been hoodwinked. Again. Basel Musharbash, an antitrust and trade regulation attorney, joins Steve to pull back the curtain on the monopoly forces within the egg supply chain. The discussion reveals crucial an…

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

3M ago1:52:35

1:52:35

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

1
Doomscolling Through Fandom to Politics: Unraveling the Digital Influence on Ideologies with Joshua Citarella 3:01:01

3M ago3:01:01

3:01:01

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

1
Ep 321 - Modern Money with L. Randall Wray 1:12:13

3M ago1:12:13

1:12:13

Steve’s guest is noted economist L. Randall Wray, one of the early developers of modern money theory. As many times as this podcast has talked about MMT, it’s always topical. In fact, just last week, Elon Musk discovered 14 magic money computers in government agencies! So, Trump had to hire the richest man in the world who hired who knows how many …

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C Derick Varn Podcasts

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