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Ep 77 - The Stalin Eras: Part 5 Criticisms and Contradictions

Release Date: 04/02/2025

Ep 77 - The Stalin Eras: Part 5 Criticisms and Contradictions

Proles Pod

The much anticipated criticisms and contradictions episode of The Stalin Eras! In this episode we wrestle with the following controversies during Stalin’s leadership of the USSR: the Gulag, anti-homosexuality laws, anti-abortion Laws, the “Final” Contradiction, and more! You don’t want to miss this one! The Stalin Eras, inspired by the classic RevLeft Radio episode “Stalin: A Marxist-Leninist Perspective, mixes both narrative history (ala Blowback) and discussion (like classic Prolespod) to provide the most comprehensive English overview of the life and impact of Soviet...

Ep 76 - The Stalin Eras Part 4 Discussion (1939-1953)

Proles Pod

As "The Stalin Eras” draws to a close, we discuss, in more granular detail, Joseph Stalin’s placement within the context of Soviet history, focusing on the years 1939 up to his death in 1953. Our host for this episode is (also) Jeremy, from Intervenciones Gringas! We talk accusations of imperialism, the final results of Stalin's theory of Socialism in One Country, and the contradiction of "orthodox" Marxism. The Stalin Eras, inspired by the classic RevLeft Radio episode “Stalin: A Marxist-Leninist Perspective, mixes both narrative history (ala Blowback) and discussion (like...

Ep 75 - The Stalin Eras: Part 4.5 Narrative (1943-1953)

Proles Pod

In this final narrative of "The Stalin Eras”, we detail Joseph Stalin’s life within the context of Soviet history through the years 1943-1953. This narrative, titled “Long Live Comrade Stalin!" covers viscerally the experience of the Soviet people during the Great Patriotic War as well as the key ingredients to their victory, the early days of the cold war, and Stalin's final years. The Stalin Eras, inspired by the classic RevLeft Radio episode “Stalin: A Marxist-Leninist Perspective, mixes both narrative history (ala Blowback) and discussion (like classic Prolespod) to...

Ep 74 - The Stalin Eras: Part 4.0 Narrative (1939-1942)

Proles Pod

In the narrative for Part 4.0 of "The Stalin Eras”, we detail Joseph Stalin’s life within the context of Soviet history through the years 1939-1942. This narrative, titled “Enemy at the Gates" highlights the pivotal years leading to the Nazi invasion of the USSR: the invasion of Poland, Soviet influence over the Baltics, the death of Leon Trotsky, and the start of Operation Barbarossa! Stay tuned for the next episode which will continue the narrative through from 1943-1953, Stalin's final years. The Stalin Eras, inspired by the classic RevLeft Radio episode “Stalin: A...

Ep 73 - January: 2025 Is It Over Yet?

Proles Pod

In this episode, we switched it up a bit to discuss some of the wild events that have been happening and analyze their impact, what we think about them etc. From the "Roman Salute" to the California wildfires, we got it all here. With silliness throughout. You can sign up at where you get access to early release episodes, study guides, the aforementioned bonus episodes, TheoryBeats, and MORE! YOU CAN DO SO FOR FREE, which will get you the study guides, merch, and other random drops. Please subscribe on your favorite podcast catcher and rate or review to help extend our reach. Like and rate us...

Ep 72 - Palestine Will Be Free

Proles Pod

Ameed and Cody from join Rae and Jeremy in a Q&A on the conditions and complications related to the struggle of the Palestinian people. Questions were collected from you, the listener. We did our best to condense similar questions together but also to give a solid variety, across multiple topics. Some are covered in the main feed episode. Some in the Patreon bonus. You can sign up at where you get access to early release episodes, study guides, the aforementioned bonus episodes, TheoryBeats, and MORE! YOU CAN DO SO FOR FREE, which will get you the study guides, merch, and other random...

Ep 71 - The Stalin Eras: Part 3.5 Narrative (1936-1939)

Proles Pod

Our longest and most controversial episode. This narrative, titled “War Is Already Here” (using the latest archival scholarship) details the legitimacy of the controversial Moscow Trials, the origins of the “Great Terror”, the climax of the Spanish Civil War, war with Japan and apocalyptically - the beginning of a second globe spanning conflict! The Stalin Eras, inspired by the classic RevLeft Radio episode “Stalin: A Marxist-Leninist Perspective", mixes both narrative history (ala Blowback) and discussion (like classic Prolespod) to provide the most comprehensive...

Ep 70 - The Stalin Eras: Part 3.0 Discussion (1935-1939)

Proles Pod

In the Part 3 Discussion, we cover evidence for the Moscow Trials (more to come in the Part 3.5 Narrative), The Spanish Civil War, Molotov-Ribbentrop, and more. Our host is Legacy Prole, Taylor! The Stalin Eras, inspired by the classic RevLeft Radio episode “Stalin: A Marxist-Leninist Perspective, mixes both narrative history (ala Blowback) and discussion (like classic Prolespod) to provide the most comprehensive English overview of the life and impact of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin in podcast format. Whether you’re a socialist history enthusiast, someone who’s just curious to...

Ep 69 - The Stalin Eras: Part Three Narrative (1935-1936)

Proles Pod

In the narrative for Part Three of "The Stalin Eras”, Tony and Jeremy detail Joseph Stalin’s life within the context of Soviet history through the years 1935-1936. This narrative, titled “Triumph and Tribulations” highlights the USSR as a rising star to both the global proletariat and colonized peoples, the utter triumph of socialist construction during the Great Depression, the highly progressive 1936 Soviet Constitution, and finally the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War! Stay tuned for the next episode which will continue the narrative through from 1936-1939 focusing mostly on the...

Ep 68 - An Intermission

Proles Pod

Comrades! We are hard at work on the Stalin Eras, as you all know. Part 3 in particular, given the Moscow Trials, The Military Trial, Ezhovchina, and other major topics, this episode in particular has taken a LOT of work. We have also uncovered a bunch of archival material that we hope will create context that we believe has never been presented in the English language. On top of that, a few listeners have given us feedback that, particularly given the very dense nature of the material, that they feel like they are falling behind and thus unable to engage with the discussion online and...

More Episodes

The Stalin Eras, inspired by the classic RevLeft Radio episode “Stalin: A Marxist-Leninist Perspective, mixes both narrative history (ala Blowback) and discussion (like classic Prolespod) to provide the most comprehensive English overview of the life and impact of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin in podcast format.

Whether you’re a socialist history enthusiast, someone who’s just curious to learn more than what you got in school about the Soviet Union, or even a total hater who just wants to rage, this series has something for everyone.

Support the show at www.patreon.com/prolespod

Recommended Supplemental Listening

Was the Soviet Union Totalitarian w/ Robert Thurston

Stalin's Constitution & Life in 1930s Soviet Union w/ Samantha Lomb

Understanding Siege Socialim w/ Gabriel Rockhill

Recommended Supplemental Reading

Western Marxism: How it was Born, How it Died, How it can be Reborn by Domenico Losurdo

For a Few Canards More: Counter Inquiry on Stalin and the Soviet Union by Aymeric Monville

Episode Sources

Love - Family Life - Career: Behind the Soviet Law Limiting Abortions and Increasing Aid to Mothers 1936

Sexuality and Socialism: History, Politics, and Theory of LGBT Liberation by Sherry Wolf

Lavender and Red by Leslie Feinberg