Support the Podcast – Patreon.com/sensiblesocialist In this episode I talk with a listener who reached out with some questions for me. We have a wide ranging discussion on a number of different topics. I hope you find it interesting.
Episode Archive
Operation Wall Guardian
In this episode legal scholars and human rights advocates Thamil Ananthavinayagan and Wasem Ahmad join Kevin to discuss the hum costs of the current hostilities in Gaza, the rules of International Humanitarian Law, and how they apply in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. To learn more about Al Haq check out their website: https://www.alhaq.org/
Discussion with Destiny (#69)
The audio of my chat with popular streamer Destiny about socialism and cooperatives.
Leninism in the 21st Century (#68)
In this episode I talk with Brandon Madsen about Leninism and it’s applicability in the 21st century. If you like this podcast, please support it at patreon.com/sensiblesocialist Download: .mp3
A Left Critique of International Law (#67)
In this episode I speak with Dr. Thamil Ananthavinayagan about international law and what a eft critique looks like. Thamil is a proponent of the Third World Approaches to International Law perspective, which aims to put international law in its proper place – as the well spring of imperialism and colonization. In our conversation we […]
Interview With Noah Hutton – Director, Editor, and Writer of Lapsis (#66)
In this episode host Kevin Gustafson talks with Noah Hutton, the writer, director, editor and score composer of the new film Lapsis. Lapsis was selected to premiere at SXSW in the narrative feature competition and has since won the grand jury prize at BIFAN in South Korea. At its core, the film is political, both […]
A Socialist Rebuttal of Sam Harris and Jack Goldstone (#65)
On January 26, 2021 Sam Harris released an episode of his podcast Making Sense about Inequality and Revolutions with George Mason University professor Jack Goldstone. In this video, Sensible Socialist host Kevin Gustafson talks with Brett O’Shea of Rev Left Radio, Cinar Ackin of All Things Coop, and Veteran Guest Aaron Firouz discuss the shortcomings […]
Episode 64 – Biden, Guaidó, and the Bolivarian Revolution
Anya Parampil, Max Blumenthal, and Brandon Madsen join Kevin to discuss the Biden Administration’s continued recognition of Juan Guaidó as president of Venezuela, the history of the Bolivarian revolution, and a bit of a debate about how socialists should view it and the government headed by Maduro and the PSUV.
Episode 63 – DSA and the Dirty Break
In this episode Brandon Madsen and Aaron Firouz join host Kevin Gustafson to discuss the DSA and the Dirty Break Strategy. The strategy, as the name suggests, that rather than making a clean break from the Democratic Party, DSA should begin to move towards becoming a party itself, or at least more party-like and begin […]
Episode 62 – What Socialists Should Think About The Capitol Riots and Biden
Welcome back! We’ve returned now and we’re on video. In this return episode Kevin sits down with DSA member Brandon Madsen and CPUSA member Josh Morris to discuss the January 6th Putsch, the state and big tech crackdown, the growing strength of tech workers and unionization efforts at Google, as well as looking at the […]
Episode 61 – Voting for Joe Biden with Aaron Firouz
In this episode I debate with my friend and comrade Aaron Firouz about voting for Joe Biden. I cannot bring myself to do so, but Aaron makes compelling arguments why, despite understandable reservations, one would be right to vote for Sleepy Joe. Haven’t decided yet how you’re gonna vote? Listen to this. .mp3
Episode 60 – The F Word – With Ashton Rome
In this episode we talk with Ashton Rome. Ashton is a long time leftist organizer and activist who was active in organizing in Ferguson Missouri after the death of Michael Brown. Ashton recently wrote an article in Left Voice discussing the potential fascist backlash from the social, political, and economic unrest currently going on. We discussed the […]
Episode 59 – A Socialist Perspective on the George Floyd Protests
In this episode I discuss my thought son the George Floyd protest, the connection of white supremacy to capitalism in America, the role of the police in a capitalist system, and the prospects for abolition of police under the current system. Download: .mp3
Episode 58 – The Youth (with Caden Metcalf)
In this episode I talk with Caden Metcalf about the interest in Socialism and radical ideas by young people. We talk about the impact of Bernie Sander’s campaign, a looming economic crisis, the cost of higher education, lies and propaganda still taught in schools and the impact of Coronavirus on young people. Download: .mp3
Episode 57 – Why You Should Join DSA
In this episode I talk with Brandon Madsen, a long time socialist revolutionary, about why socialist should join DSA. We talk DSA’s history, Democratic Centralism, DSA’s big tent, and the potential of a new party representing the working class, among other things. Download: .mp3
Episode 56 – Albert Lee for Congress
In this episode we talk with Albert Lee, a socialist candidate for office in Oregon’s 3rd district. We talk about the 3rd district, the incumbent, his polices, running a campaign during COVID, running as a Socialist and Bernie Sander’s dropping out. Download: .mp3
Episode 55 – Marxism-Leninism-Maoism
In this episode we talk to Hex from Red State Radio about Marxism-Leninism-Maoism. We talk about what differentiates Leninism from Marxism, and Maoism from Leninism. We talk about China’s communist experiment, Mao-Tse-Tung thought, the revolutionary potential of the peasantry, and more. Download: .mp3
Episode 54 – Understanding Socialism with Richard Wolff (Part 2)
In this episode I continue my discussion with Richard Wolff about his book Understanding Socialism. We talk about Yugoslavia, Milovan Djilas, the lengths to which the ruling class will go to shut down socialist movements, and how the Nazi’s were not socialists. Download: .mp3
Episode 53 – Understanding Socialism With Richard Wolff (Part 1)
In this episode I talk with Dr. Richard Wolff about his new book Understanding Socialism and the three socialism’s of the twentieth century. Download: .mp3
Episode 52 – Bernie is Out, What Now
What do we do now? Hint: A lot
Episode 51 – COVID Capitalism
In this episode we talk about COVID capitalism, and the consequences of the unfolding crisis. Download .mp3
Episode 51 – COVID Capitalism
In this episode we talk about COVID capitalism, and the consequences of the unfolding crisis. Download .mp3
Episode 50 – Super Tuesday
In this episode we talk about Super Tuesday. How did we get here? What is Elizabeth Warren Doing? Joe Biden, really? And what are the scenarios with which we can look forward? Download: .mp3
Episode 49 – Socialism 101
In this episode I play back the audio of a lecture I did for a high school class introducing them to socialism. Download: .mp3
Episode 48 – Iran and US Imperialism (With Ben Norton)
In this episode I speak with Ben Norton about US/Iranian relations that lead us up to the 2020 attacks in Iraq and potential opening of a new war between these powerful countries. Ben Norton is a journalist, writer, and filmmaker. He is the assistant editor of The Grayzone, and the producer of the Moderate Rebels podcast, […]
Episode 47 – India’s Anti-CAA Protests
In this episode we talk with New Socialist Alternative member Naveen Angamuthu from Bangalore, India. In this episode we talk about Indian political history, the Rise of RSS and BJP, The neo-liberal policies of Narendra Modi, and the failure of the the Indian Left to lead the rising militancy of the Indian working class. Download: […]
Episode 46 – The Monroe Doctrine
In this episode we review the history of interventions in Latin America by the United States via the longest tenant of US foreign policy – The Monroe Doctrine. Download: .mp3
Episode 45 – Marx’s Conception of History (with Josh Morris)
In this episode we speak with Josh Morris about history as a subject, teaching history, Hegel, Francis Fukuyama, Marx, the Materialist Conception of History, and more.
Episode 44 – Class Consciousness (With Rev Left Radio)
In this episode I talk with Brett from Rev Left Radio about the role of class consciousness, raising consciousness, ideology, hegemony, and a little bit about leftist podcasts. Download: .mp3
Episode 43 – A Talk With Spencer Schecht
In this episode I talk with environmentalist and co-founder of Green Drinks DC Spencer Schecht about a bunch of different stuff. It is a fairly wide ranging and winding conversation, but I think it is the kind of conversation many of us on the left have with friends and colleagues. Download: .mp3
Episode 42 – The Agricultural Question (with Ben Stewart)
What about the Peasants?
Episode 41 – Engel’s Socialism Utopian And Scientific
In this episode I read Engel’s Socialism: Utopian and Scientific and allow it to prove for itself why it needs little additional discussion. Download: .mp3
Episode 40 – Mass Shootings
In this episode we talk about mass shootings in the US – the causes and why it only seems to happen here. Download – .mp3
Episode 39 – Julian Assange
In this episode I speak with Davey Heller about Julian Assange as we discuss how the left should view this important figure. Download: .mp3
Episode 38 – Reform or Revolution
In this episode I talk with Alka Mysore about Rosa Luxemburg’s answer to Eduard Bernstein on the question of reform or revolution. Download .mp3 Red Rosa Graphic Novel by Kate Evans
Episode 37 – Anti-Fascism with Michael Shallal
In this episode I talk with Michael Shallal, an organizer with DC United Against Hate, about the rise of fascism in America and around the world and what we can do to fight it. Download: .mp3
Episode 36 – Jordan Peterson’s Critique of Marxism
In this episode we go through Jordan Peterson’s critique of Marxism in the recent debate he had with Slavoj Zizek. Download – .mp3
Episode 35 – Capitalism and Mental Health
In this episode we talk about the links between the mental health crisis and capitalism. Download: .mp3
Episode 34 – Bernie Sanders
In this episode I talk about the man of the hour: Bernie Sanders. Download: .mp3
Episode 33 – Sam Harris the Socialist
In this episode I dive into my critiques of Sam Harris. While there is a lot of bad-faith criticism of Sam, I wanted to try to do so in good faith. Download: .mp3
Episode 32 – It Doesn’t Matter If You’re Black or White with Delonte Wilkins
In this episode I talk with Delonte Wilkins, an activist and organizer in the Washington D.C. Area with Link Up. We discuss his experience in the (formerly) Chocolate City and the links between gentrification and mass incarceration. Download: .mp3
Episode 31 – Venezuela
In this episode we talk about developments in Venezuela. On January 23, 2019, the anniversary of a 1958 uprising that overthrew military dictatorship, Venezuela’s National Assembly President Juan Guaido gave a speech to a crowd during a mass opposition rally against recently re-elected president Nicolas Maduro in which he declared himself the country’s “acting president” […]
Episode 30 – An Honest Conversation with Stephan Molyneux
In this episode I present to you a conversation I had with Stephan Molyneux a few years back. Some if it helpful to see the difference, some is a lesson in how not to argue. Either way. Enjoy. Download: .mp3
Episode 29 – Libertarian Socialism
In this episode we talk about Libertarian Socialism with serious help from Noam Chomsky over the years. DSA Libertarian Socialist Caucus The Libertarian Socialist Thought of Noam Chomsky Download: .mp3
Episode 28 – Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the Green New Deal
In this episode we discuss Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the Green New Deal and discuss the positives and negatives of her approach and the proposal itself. Text of Proposal for Select Committee for a Green New Deal. Download: .mp3
Episode 27 – Mondragon (with Michael Peck)
In this episode I discuss Mondragon, the worlds largest cooperative corporation, with US Delegate Michael Peck. Since 2000, Michael has served as the North American delegate for Mondragon, the world’s largest industrial worker cooperative with USA 2013 sales at the $250 million level. On March 26th, 2012, the United Steelworkers Union (USW – North America’s largest […]
Episode 26 – Brazil (with Douglas McRae)
In this episode we talk about Brazil with Douglas McRae. With the election of Bolsonaro I thought it important to talk about the history of Brazil. Douglas is a PhD Candidate in the Department of History at Georgetown University with a focus on the history of modern Latin America, with an emphasis on Brazil, particularly […]
Kevin in RT’s In Question on GM Layoffs
Episode 25 – Diaspora Blues
In this special episode of the Sensible Socialist, Kevin talks to someone very dear, his wife Alka Mysore. Alka is originally from India and moved to the US about ten years ago where she studied Management information systems at Iowa State University. She is an organizer and member of Socialist Alternative in Washington DC where […]
Episode 24 – Bourgeois Healthcare (with Mike Pappas)
In this episode I talk with Mike Pappas. Mike a graduate of Georgetown Medical School and currently a Resident Physician in New York City. He is also a revolutionary Marxist, and brings a unique, and much needed perspective to medicine. In this interview, we talk about American healthcare, what Mike calls “sick-care”, and about socialized […]
