In this episode Kevin talks with Chris Cutrone about the thesis that the left is dead. They discuss the Platypus Affiliated Society, what he means by the death of the left, a brief history of the left in the 20th century, a discussion of the Millennial left, the question of DSA and the gradualist approach, […]
Socialism
A Chat with Ben Burgis (#72)
In this return episode of the Sensible Socialist, Kevin talks to Ben Burgis about his background and some fairly nerdy philosophic issues, and the inimitable Christopher Hitchens. Ben Burgis is philosophy professor, a columnist for Jacobin Magazine, among others. He hosts his own podcast called Give Them An Argument, and he is stating a new […]
A Talk With A Listener (Part 1) – Episode 71
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 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 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 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 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 18 – Dialectical Materialism
In this episode I briefly go over the idea of dialectical materialism. So often a buzzword is Marxist circles, the idea off dialectics and materialism to understand history is a fundamental idea to understand if one is to ever understand what Marx was really saying and how he thought. At the same time, the notions […]
Episode 13 – Myths, Misunderstandings, and Strawmen (Ft. Ben Shapiro)
In this episode we discuss Ben Shapiro’s “arguments” against socialism. What we find is that he is a disingenuous interlocutor when it comes to socialism – and much else. However, Shapiro’s arguments are quite common and mainstream, so in this episode we try to dispel some myths, misunderstandings and straw men, as displayed by Ben […]
Thoughts on a Recent Trip to Russia
Since I was young, perhaps 15 or 16, I have had an affinity for Russia. The wide area of the Earth on which it stretches, its vast diversity yet uniformity, its long, twisted, and tumultuous history spoke to a young radical demanded to be explored. When I first read about the Trans-Siberian Railroad I was […]
The Unintentional Contrarian
I tend to find myself on the least popular side of most arguments. It is not by choice mind you. I am not the kind of person who likes to pick a fight. I am, though, not opposed to a debate. From this unenviable place I find myself in a rather precarious position in the […]
The Impotence of the Socialist Movement
The compulsion to outline the central problems of the Socialist movement has brewed inside me for years. Having been witness to several events, and a member of several organizations of the modern movement, I have come to see its sad state. Great upheaval was and still is possible given the Great Recession, but our struggle, […]
The Sensible Socialist 