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

Proles Pod

Release Date: 11/25/2024

Ep 83 - Reform or Revolution (Part I of II) show art Ep 83 - Reform or Revolution (Part I of II)

Proles Pod

In this two-part Theory Episode, the ProlesPod Squad takes on one of the most influential texts in socialist history: "Reform or Revolution" (1898) by Polish-German Marxist Rosa Luxemburg. Whether you're new to political theory, find socialist texts hard to get through, or just want to hear our unique take—this deep-dive is for you. We break it down, debate its meaning, and explore why this revolutionary classic still matters today. Luxemburgers unite!

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Ep 82 - Guatemalan Guerrillas show art Ep 82 - Guatemalan Guerrillas

Proles Pod

Digging into his own family's background, PhD Candidate, Brandon, is our subject matter expert. He combines archival research with ethnographic interviews to bring us the history of the guerrilla struggle, focusing on the era between the early 1960s and the early 1980s. We learn about tactics, tribulation, and Trotskyite treachery. 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...

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Ep 81 - One Big Blanket and Other Hilarious Anti-Communist Arguments show art Ep 81 - One Big Blanket and Other Hilarious Anti-Communist Arguments

Proles Pod

The ProlesSquad shares and responds to some of the most poorly concieved yet commonly heard anti-communist arguments! 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 on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter  and Tiktok @proles.pod. If you have any questions or comments, email us at...

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Ep 80 - MMT, Austerity, and Imperialism show art Ep 80 - MMT, Austerity, and Imperialism

Proles Pod

Virginia and Steve from / join Justin and Jeremy in a discussion of Modern Monetary Theory, how it can be used as a radicalizing tool, as well as what it means in the grand scheme of global economics. We go even more in depth on our Patreon exclusive bonus episode, so make sure you don't miss it! 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...

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Ep 79 - Soviet Cartoons & Raising Socialist Children show art Ep 79 - Soviet Cartoons & Raising Socialist Children

Proles Pod

The Proles Squad is joined by communist Youtuber to talk about their recent work on soviet children's cartoons, women's liberation in the USSR, and socialist child rearing!  Sign up at  where you can get access to early release episodes, study guides, 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 on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter  and Tiktok @proles.pod. If you have any...

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Ep 78 - The Stalin Eras: Part 6 Conclusions show art Ep 78 - The Stalin Eras: Part 6 Conclusions

Proles Pod

In the FINAL main-feed episode of the Stalin Eras, we sat back and took a look at where we started and where we ended up. Were we successful in what we set out to do? What did we learn? What do we hope listeners learned? How did the process change us? We answer these and more. Please comment what you learned, something that surprised you. We would love to see them. 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...

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

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

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

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

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More Episodes

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 controversial Moscow Trials, the Great Purge, the climax of the Spanish Civil War, and apocalyptically - the beginning of World War II. 

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 Additional Reading

Stalin History & Critique of a Black Legend  by Domenico Losurdo

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

Recommended Additional Listening 

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

How Stalin Tried to Prevent World War II w/ Michael Jabara Carley

Stalin: A Marxist-Leninist Perspective 

Foundations of Leninism 

Sources

Stalin’s Constitution: Soviet Participatory Politics and the Discussion of the 1936 Draft Constituion by Samantha Lomb

The New Soviet Constitution: A Study in Socialist Democracy by Anna Louise Strong

Stalinist Values: The Cultural Norms of Soviet Modernity, 1917–1941

The Bloomsbury Handbook of the Spanish Civil War

Broué, P. (1990). Party opposition to Stalin (1930-1932) and the first Moscow trial. In J. W. Strong (Ed.),

Essays on revolutionary culture and Stalinism. Selected papers from the Third World Congress for Soviet and East European studies. Craig, G. A. (1951).

Documents on German Foreign Policy 1918–1945. Series D (1937–1945). Volume III. Germany and the Spanish Civil War 1936–1939. London: His Majesty's Stationery Office. Volodarsky, B. (2015). Stalin's agent. The life and death of Alexander Orlov. London and New York: Oxford University Press.