The Skeptical Leftist Podcast

Nov 17 2024 138 ep. 72 mins 174

The Skeptical Leftist Podcast artwork

Become a Paid Subscriber: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/skepticalleftist/subscribe Promoting critical thinking, social justice, and left wing politics by covering current events and talking to a variety of people. Include the Red Reviews podcast where Justin Clark talks about a book relevent to leftist theory or practice

Copy RSS

Subscribe on Podcast Addict

Where Marxism Meets Anarchism

Nov 17 2024 70 mins

In this episode of Red Reviews, Justin and I tackle one of the biggest questions for leftists: where do Marxism and Anarchism actually meet? Inspired by Daniel Guérin’s For a Libertarian Communism, we explore how these two ideologies—often seen as opposing forces—come together in their shared goal of dismantling state control and capitalist exploitation. Guérin’s work is

Bridging The Gap Between Gender and Trauma

Nov 10 2024 60 mins

In this episode, I chat with psychoanalysts Avgi Saketopoulou and Ann Pellegrini about their new book, Gender Without Identity. We dig into how gender isn’t some fixed core identity but something shaped by cultural interactions, and yeah, sometimes trauma. Avgi and Ann take apart the mainstream ideas of gender, questioning the whole "core identity" thing, and instead offer a way

Stuck In Election Chaos

Nov 03 2024 130 mins

In this stream, we gather a diverse group of progressives to discuss the U.S. election—an event we all wish was over but can't ignore. Our panel, including Foxy Jazzabelle, my usual cohost Justin Clark, Steve Shives, Chrisi from Chrisiousity, and SomeRandomG33k (who organized the stream), dive into the messy reality of the election and its consequences. With varied perspectives b

The Radical Founding Father

Oct 27 2024 91 mins

In this episode of Red Reviews, Justin and I take a deep dive into Christian Parenti’s Radical Hamilton to explore the side of Alexander Hamilton that mainstream history often overlooks. Far from the establishment figure he’s made out to be, Hamilton had some truly radical ideas about how to structure the American economy. We break down his bold vision for a powerful state, how

Are We Digital Serfs?

Oct 20 2024 73 mins

In this episode, we dig into Technofeudalism by Yanis Varoufakis and ask: Are we just digital serfs in today’s world? We break down how tech giants have created a new kind of feudalism, controlling our data and our lives without us even realizing it. From social media to cloud services, these corporations are the new lords, and we're left doing the work to keep their platforms r

Breaking the System with Jessa Mclean

Oct 13 2024 63 mins

In this episode, I sit down with Jessa McLean, a political organizer turned grassroots activist, to explore her journey from running with the NDP to embracing direct action. We dive into the realities of party politics, the power of tenant organizing, and why Jessa believes real change has to come from the ground up. She shares candid insights on the failures of the political sys

Was Lenin a Revolutionary or a Reactionary?

Oct 06 2024 93 mins

In this episode, Justin and I take a critical look at Lenin through the lens of Anton Pannekoek’s Lenin as Philosopher. We dig into whether Lenin was the revolutionary he claimed to be or if his vision ended up reinforcing the authoritarian systems he was supposedly against. We break down Pannekoek’s arguments, challenge some common ideas about Lenin, and explore what all this

The Power of Degrowth

Sep 29 2024 89 mins

In this episode of Red Reviews, Justin and I dig into Less is More by Jason Hickel. We break down the core ideas behind degrowth, challenge the myth that endless growth is necessary, and explore how ditching growth-obsessed capitalism could create a fairer, more sustainable world. We also talk about how the public wouldn’t need to sacrifice as much abundance if the wealthy gave u

Finding Hope in Anarchism with Lucretia Mcevil

Sep 22 2024 60 mins

In this episode, I talked to Lucretia McEvil to dive deep into anarchist and leftist theory, exploring how these ideas shape our worldview and guide us in a world that often feels like it's falling apart. We discuss the challenges of staying positive when it seems like the world resists change at every turn, and reflect on how we navigate the struggle for a better future. Wheth

Can Science and Religion Coexist?

Sep 15 2024 87 mins

In this episode, we dive into Stephen J. Gould’s Rocks of Ages and explore his compelling argument for "Non-Overlapping Magisteria" — the idea that science and religion each have their own domains and don’t need to clash. Join us as we unpack how Gould’s perspective offers a refreshing take on the age-old conflict between fact and faith, and what it means for our