In this riveting conversation with Dave Stockdale of Nightmare Masterclass, we dive deep into the crumbling foundations of media trust and how dark money shapes our information landscape. The discussion begins with a critical examination of the recent "Chorus" controversy, where progressive influencers took billionaire funding while decrying criticism as "misinformation" – adopting the very tactics they once condemned from the right.

What makes this conversation particularly compelling is how it connects these media credibility issues to broader cultural trends in film and entertainment. We explore how modern horror directors like Ari Aster are creating sophisticated works with complex social commentary, only to have critics mischaracterize them through simplistic political lenses. Films like "Eddington" and "Weapons" aren't straightforward propaganda but artistic expressions designed to generate meaningful discourse about society's challenges.

The fragmentation of media extends beyond news into entertainment, with streaming services oversaturating the market while younger generations increasingly disconnect from traditional formats entirely. Many Zoomers report they simply don't watch movies, creating separate cultural universes where shared reference points become increasingly rare. This disconnection mirrors the broader social atomization affecting everything from politics to personal relationships.

Perhaps most fascinating is our examination of how parasocial relationships are replacing genuine social connections, a trend that Dave describes as potentially "Armageddon-like" in its implications. When people claim "there is no more social, only parasocial," they're describing a fundamentally broken society incapable of collective action or shared understanding.

Whether you're concerned about media manipulation, fascinated by horror cinema's evolution, or simply trying to make sense of our increasingly fragmented culture, this conversation offers valuable insights into how we might navigate these challenging times with greater awareness and intentionality.

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Crew:
Host: C. Derick Varn
Intro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake.
Intro Video Design: Jason Myles
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Current Patreon at the Sponsor Tier: Jordan Sheldon, Mark J. Matthews, Lindsay Kimbrough, RedWolf, DRV, Kenneth McKee, JY Chan, Matthew Monahan, Parzival, Adriel Mixon, Buddy Roark, Daniel Petrovic

What makes a radical left movement actually succeed in the 21st century? In this deeply illuminating conversation, Henry Wallis of New International Magazine breaks down how France Unbowed has become one of Europe's most significant left formations while avoiding the collapse that befell similar movements.

Unlike traditional leftist organizations fixated on ideological purity or social democratic parties comfortable with existing institutions, France Unbowed has pioneered a "radical left" approach that combines electoral participation with revolutionary aims. At its core lies a sophisticated theory recognizing our era's unique material conditions: unprecedented urbanization, ecological crisis, and complete dependence on networks capitalism controls.

Wallace reveals how France Unbowed's organizational model builds power through osmosis rather than rigid party structures. Their "action groups" federate across France, creating an accessible movement where anyone can participate without ideological litmus tests. Most critically, they maintain unwavering commitment to their program, holding elected officials strictly accountable - something American movements like DSA have failed to achieve.

The conversation explores urgent questions facing left movements globally: How do we balance electoral strategy with systemic transformation? Can we build internationalism without retreating into nationalism? What organizational forms actually deliver victories rather than moral posturing? And perhaps most importantly, how do we create movements that speak to people's immediate needs while maintaining revolutionary integrity?

For anyone frustrated by the American left's fragmentation, France Unbowed offers practical lessons. Their focus on programmatic unity over ideological purity, their strategic electoral engagement, and their ability to address 21st-century crises like climate change provide a roadmap for building mass movements capable of challenging power.

Whether you're a seasoned organizer or simply seeking alternatives to our broken political system, this episode offers rare insights into a movement that's actually winning. The question remains: can we learn from their example?

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Musis by Bitterlake, Used with Permission, all rights to Bitterlake

Support the show

Crew:
Host: C. Derick Varn
Intro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake.
Intro Video Design: Jason Myles
Art Design: Corn and C. Derick Varn

Links and Social Media:
twitter: @varnvlog
blue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.social
You can find the additional streams on Youtube

Current Patreon at the Sponsor Tier: Jordan Sheldon, Mark J. Matthews, Lindsay Kimbrough, RedWolf, DRV, Kenneth McKee, JY Chan, Matthew Monahan, Parzival, Adriel Mixon, Buddy Roark, Daniel Petrovic

This episode was released patreon's only in 2021. Mario Tronti and Antonio Negri stand as towering figures in the forgotten history of Italian radical Marxism. Their theoretical frameworks - operaismo and autonomia - emerged from the unique contradictions of post-war Italy: a strong Communist Party trapped in parliamentary politics while workers sought more direct forms of resistance.

What made these movements revolutionary wasn't just their militancy but their methodological breakthrough. Rather than lecturing workers about theory, intellectuals like Raniero Panzieri entered factories to listen and learn through "co-research." From this engagement came Tronti's profound insight: contrary to orthodox Marxism, workers' struggles drive capitalist development, not vice versa. Capital constantly recomposes itself in response to labor's resistance - a perspective that brilliantly anticipated neoliberalism's fragmentation of the working class decades before it became obvious to others.

The movements diverged when Tronti returned to parliamentary politics while Negri pursued increasingly militant autonomia, arguing that capitalism had shifted from development to pure control, requiring immediate resistance rather than long-term organization. This split reflected broader tensions within radical movements worldwide: reform versus revolution, patience versus urgency, institutions versus direct action. Their theoretical extensions were equally significant - connecting factory struggles to unwaged domestic labor and laying groundwork for social reproduction theory.

Whether you're interested in Italian political history, Marxist theory, or the roots of contemporary social movements, this discussion illuminates how these forgotten radical thinkers anticipated our present predicaments with uncanny accuracy. Their legacy reminds us that revolutionary theory emerges not from abstract philosophizing but from genuine engagement with workers' lived experiences.

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Musis by Bitterlake, Used with Permission, all rights to Bitterlake

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Crew:
Host: C. Derick Varn
Intro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake.
Intro Video Design: Jason Myles
Art Design: Corn and C. Derick Varn

Links and Social Media:
twitter: @varnvlog
blue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.social
You can find the additional streams on Youtube

Current Patreon at the Sponsor Tier: Jordan Sheldon, Mark J. Matthews, Lindsay Kimbrough, RedWolf, DRV, Kenneth McKee, JY Chan, Matthew Monahan, Parzival, Adriel Mixon, Buddy Roark, Daniel Petrovic

What if blockchain technology could emancipate us rather than just enrich speculators? In this wide-ranging conversation with Victor Vernissage, researcher, economist, and founder of Humanode.io, we explore how emerging technologies might transform our economic systems if deployed with democratic values rather than purely capitalist structures.

"Crypto is mostly about speculation. It's the main use case right now," Victor explains, cutting through the hype to address fundamental issues with current blockchain implementations. He argues that most systems remain "purely plutocratic, oligarchic, capitalistic structures where the more money you have, the more power you have," despite revolutionary potential for something entirely different. The discussion challenges widespread economic illiteracy underlying many blockchain projects, with Victor boldly stating that "neoclassical economics is complete bullshit" that fails to model real-world complexity.

We venture into fascinating territory when discussing how blockchain and AI technologies intersect. Victor outlines four major possibilities: decentralized AI computation keeping conversations private rather than corporate-controlled; autonomous AI agents that can trade independently; governance systems for artificial intelligence; and new economic structures for a world where AI displaces human workers. Humanode specifically focuses on creating "one human, one vote" governance systems using biometrics to verify unique identities without compromising privacy.

Perhaps most revolutionary is the potential for wealth redistribution through technology. Victor describes how AI agents conducting transactions generate fees, which typically flow to wealthy validators. However, with systems like Humanode, these fees could instead be distributed equally among participants, creating "not money for nothing, but money for something" – a new economic model beyond traditional UBI concepts.

The conversation ultimately reveals that our technological future isn't predetermined. While current implementations often reinforce existing power structures, these technologies could create more democratic, equitable systems if implemented differently. The question isn't whether technology will transform society, but whether we'll allow that transformation to serve humanity or exploit it.

Ready to rethink everything you thought you knew about economics and technology? Listen now, then join the conversation about building a more democratic digital future.

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Musis by Bitterlake, Used with Permission, all rights to Bitterlake

Support the show

Crew:
Host: C. Derick Varn
Intro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake.
Intro Video Design: Jason Myles
Art Design: Corn and C. Derick Varn

Links and Social Media:
twitter: @varnvlog
blue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.social
You can find the additional streams on Youtube

Current Patreon at the Sponsor Tier: Jordan Sheldon, Mark J. Matthews, Lindsay Kimbrough, RedWolf, DRV, Kenneth McKee, JY Chan, Matthew Monahan, Parzival, Adriel Mixon, Buddy Roark, Daniel Petrovic

What happens when grief becomes inheritance? When poet Miller Oberman became a father himself, he suddenly understood something that had shaped his entire life: he had been parented by someone traumatized by the loss of a child. This revelation sparked an extraordinary poetic journey, driving him toward his father's unfinished memoir about the drowning death of his two-year-old son Joshua in 1972.

"Impossible Things," Oberman's second collection, emerges from this intersection of personal and inherited trauma. Through his meticulous craft, Oberman transforms fragments of his father's prose into erasure poems, creating a dialogue between father and son that transcends death. The collection explores how tragedy ripples through generations, manifesting in unexpected ways—like the single small shoe belonging to Joshua that his father kept among his own shoes, a haunting presence throughout Oberman's childhood.

Formal constraints become crucial tools for approaching unbearable subjects. Oberman employs "the beautiful outlaw," a form that systematically omits letters, making it impossible to directly name what's being described. This technique brilliantly mirrors the experience of absence itself, forcing creative circumlocution that often leads to more profound expressions than straightforward language could achieve. As Oberman notes, "I go to therapy to write poems, not the other way around"—a reminder that while poetry may heal, its purpose extends beyond therapeutic release.

Readers familiar with loss will find recognition in these pages, while those intimidated by poetry will discover accessible entry points through the collection's clear narrative framework. Oberman's mission echoes his father's original intention in writing his memoir: to tell others experiencing profound grief that they are not alone. Through exquisite craft and unflinching honesty, "Impossible Things" accomplishes something remarkable—it makes the unspeakable not only speakable but beautiful.

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Musis by Bitterlake, Used with Permission, all rights to Bitterlake

Support the show

Crew:
Host: C. Derick Varn
Intro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake.
Intro Video Design: Jason Myles
Art Design: Corn and C. Derick Varn

Links and Social Media:
twitter: @varnvlog
blue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.social
You can find the additional streams on Youtube

Current Patreon at the Sponsor Tier: Jordan Sheldon, Mark J. Matthews, Lindsay Kimbrough, RedWolf, DRV, Kenneth McKee, JY Chan, Matthew Monahan, Parzival, Adriel Mixon, Buddy Roark, Daniel Petrovic

From theoretical battles to publishing controversies, this episode dives deep into the fault lines dividing today's left through the lens of "Flowers for Marx," a new collection exploring Marxist humanism and scientism. Contributors Daniel Tutt and Matt McManus share the book's tumultuous journey—rejected by its original publisher because contributors appeared on Joe Rogan's podcast and wrote for Compact Magazine, revealing how cancel culture operates even within leftist publishing.

At the heart of our conversation lies a crucial question: can Marxists ground their politics in universal ethical principles, or should they focus solely on structural critique and historical analysis? This isn't merely academic—it shapes how leftists communicate, strategize, and build coalitions. While McManus approaches this through analytical philosophy (Cohen and Rawls), Tutt draws on Lukácsian traditions emphasizing class struggle as the source of moral orientation.

The discussion takes unexpected turns as we explore how American puritanical tendencies have infected leftist discourse, creating what Irving Howe identified as a moralistic withdrawal from strategic engagement. Both guests argue passionately that the left must overcome its tendency toward fragmentation and internal policing if it hopes to address today's urgent crises. Against emerging anti-freedom tendencies on parts of the left, they advocate for maintaining solidarity across theoretical divides while engaging in "comradely debate" that avoids personalizing disagreements.

Whether you're navigating factional disputes in your own organizing or trying to understand why the left seems perpetually divided, this episode offers both theoretical depth and practical wisdom. As ecological collapse accelerates and far-right movements gain strength, can the left move beyond purity politics toward a more strategic unity? The answer may determine whether socialism remains a viable alternative to our current predicament.

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Musis by Bitterlake, Used with Permission, all rights to Bitterlake

Support the show

Crew:
Host: C. Derick Varn
Intro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake.
Intro Video Design: Jason Myles
Art Design: Corn and C. Derick Varn

Links and Social Media:
twitter: @varnvlog
blue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.social
You can find the additional streams on Youtube

Current Patreon at the Sponsor Tier: Jordan Sheldon, Mark J. Matthews, Lindsay Kimbrough, RedWolf, DRV, Kenneth McKee, JY Chan, Matthew Monahan, Parzival, Adriel Mixon, Buddy Roark, Daniel Petrovic

What makes a book of Marxist theory so controversial that publishers back out after initially accepting it? The answer takes us deep into the heart of leftist intellectual debates that have shaped revolutionary movements for generations.

"Flowers for Marx" brings together contrasting perspectives on fundamental questions that have divided Marxists since the 19th century. The conversation opens by exploring how platform appearances on shows like Joe Rogan became grounds for publisher rejection, raising crucial questions about whether the left should prioritize ideological purity or audience expansion.

At the core of this discussion lies the tension between humanism and scientific approaches to Marxism. Conrad Hamilton defends Althusser's critique of humanism as potentially undermining revolutionary politics, while pointing to the achievements of actually existing socialist states often overlooked in Western discourse. Ben Burgis pushes back, arguing that core historical materialist insights suggest underdeveloped societies face inherent limitations in building socialism without first developing productive forces.

The global dimension becomes clear when Ernesto Vargas begins examining Mexico's experience, where dependency on international financial institutions undermined development despite significant land redistribution initiatives. These different national contexts reveal how abstract theoretical debates manifest in concrete historical situations, challenging Eurocentric assumptions about revolutionary strategy.

What emerges is a recognition that while these debates recur cyclically, they're not merely academic exercises. They reflect genuine dilemmas revolutionaries face in different contexts, which explains why theories considered settled often resurface with new urgency. Whether discussing the moral dimensions of Marxism or the viability of different development paths, these conversations remain vital precisely because the challenges they address persist.

Tune in to our follow-up panel featuring Matt McManus and Daniel Tutt for additional perspectives on these enduring questions that continue to shape leftist thought and practice worldwide.

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Musis by Bitterlake, Used with Permission, all rights to Bitterlake

Support the show

Crew:
Host: C. Derick Varn
Intro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake.
Intro Video Design: Jason Myles
Art Design: Corn and C. Derick Varn

Links and Social Media:
twitter: @varnvlog
blue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.social
You can find the additional streams on Youtube

Current Patreon at the Sponsor Tier: Jordan Sheldon, Mark J. Matthews, Lindsay Kimbrough, RedWolf, DRV, Kenneth McKee, JY Chan, Matthew Monahan, Parzival, Adriel Mixon, Buddy Roark, Daniel Petrovic

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, arguing that our stories provide the richest, most authentic information about who we are. "Storytelling is maybe the purest source of data about oneself," he explains, revealing how his background in chemical engineering led him to a surprising focus on behavioral science and human narrative. This perspective offers a refreshing counterpoint to traditional data science approaches that often dismiss narrative as too messy or subjective.

The discussion delves into the capabilities and limitations of large language models, offering clarity amidst often polarized debates. Rather than seeing AI as either humanity's savior or destroyer, Welser presents a nuanced view of technology as a tool that reflects our own values and limitations back to us. His breakdown of the data supply chain—from raw data to information to intelligence to wisdom—illuminates why even advanced AI systems cannot replace human judgment and experience.

Perhaps most compelling is Welser's examination of how modern media environments have transformed storytelling from authentic self-expression to performance. This shift disconnects us from our true values and hampers our ability to make wise decisions. His solution? Creating space for vulnerability and honest self-reflection, whether through journaling, conversation with trusted friends, or even privacy-centered AI tools specifically designed for reflection.

Embrace the mantra that guides Welser's approach to both technology and self-understanding: "Consider that you might be wrong." By remaining open to new information and willing to challenge our own assumptions, we can better navigate an increasingly complex technological landscape while staying connected to our authentic selves.

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Musis by Bitterlake, Used with Permission, all rights to Bitterlake

Support the show

Crew:
Host: C. Derick Varn
Intro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake.
Intro Video Design: Jason Myles
Art Design: Corn and C. Derick Varn

Links and Social Media:
twitter: @varnvlog
blue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.social
You can find the additional streams on Youtube

Current Patreon at the Sponsor Tier: Jordan Sheldon, Mark J. Matthews, Lindsay Kimbrough, RedWolf, DRV, Kenneth McKee, JY Chan, Matthew Monahan, Parzival, Adriel Mixon, Buddy Roark, Daniel Petrovic