Libsyn Directory

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

Release Date: 03/21/2025

Ep 94 - A Textual Foundation for Aspiring Marxists (ft. Andre from Weeb Revolution)

Proles Pod

This is a bit of a departure from our usual format. Rather than having a specific topic, our guest Andre will give brief summaries and reviews of a number of texts which they recommend as a foundation for anyone who is interested in Marxism or Marxism-Leninism. I would say that this is a great episode for you to share with left-n00bs who you don't want to go down any dark paths of tendency, but it's also great for those who are looking for things to read on the specific subtopics addressed. We're talking overcoming anti-AES propaganda, decolonial theory and history, as well as what Andre...

Ep 93 - Soviet Law: From Lenin to Stalin (ft. The Leninist Lawyer)

Proles Pod

In this whirlwind episode, The Leninist Lawyer (@LovelyLeninist) takes us deep into the world of Soviet law from the 1917 Revolution to end of Stalin's life in 1953. What exactly is socialist law? Did the USSR have a jury system? And how did the Soviet legal apparatus differ from so-called Western justice? We answer all and more in this intriguing episode. Support the show: Join us on for early-release episodes, study guides, bonus content, TheoryBeats, and more! You can even sign up for free to access study guides, merch updates, and surprise drops. Stay connected: Subscribe on your...

Ep 92 - Anti-intellectualism, Empathy, and Hand Tattoos w/ Schizophrenic Reads

Proles Pod

Rae and Jeremy sit down with Nathan from to talk about anti-intellectualism, radical empathy, and the ways in which our consumer culture turns us into hedonistic assholes. 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...

The Stalin Eras: One Year Anniversary Message

Proles Pod

The Stalin Eras: Sources & Supplemental Material: The Stalin Eras: Bonus Episodes: The Stalin Eras: Link Tree with Playlist

Ep 91 - Kollontai's "Make Way for Winged Eros" (w/ Jen [Big Nasty] from How the Red Was Won)

Proles Pod

ATTENTION THEORY HEADS: this one's for you. Tony is subjected to misandry (JK, JK) as he, Rae, and Jen do a deep dive into Alexandra Kollontai's 1923 essay, "Winged Eros." They discuss misconceptions about Kollontai as a person, dating under capitalism vs socialism, the family unit, and much more. 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...

Ep 90 - Radical Psychology

Proles Pod

In this episode, we sit down with Jon and Frank to talk about their newly published edited collection, The Revolutionary Psychologist’s Guide to Radical Therapy. We explore what “radical psychological practice” means, the ways capitalism undermines mental health, and why therapy without a class analysis risks hitting a dead end. Along the way, we touch on the possibilities and limitations of mainstream therapy, how radical approaches can open up new paths to collective well-being, and much more. Sources: Gruba-McCallister, F. P. (2019). Embracing disillusionment: Achieving...

Ep 89 - White Lotus, Knives Out, and Glass Onion: An Analysis of Anti-Capitalist "Real World" Media

Proles Pod

Tony abandons the rest of the crew to their devices, and things predictably go off the rails. We talk about the weak chins of continuing series, whether or not there are encoded messages in Rian Johnson movies, and discuss the futility of anti-capitalist messaging without a political program to back it up. 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...

Ep 88 - John Brown: Part Two

Proles Pod

Tony and Jeremy sit down with Alex Z (Southern Catholic Worker) to talk about John Brown and Co, their raid on Harper's Ferry, the aftermath, and the legacy of John Brown on politics and the Civil War. 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...

Ep 87 - John Brown: Part One

Proles Pod

Tony and Jeremy sit down with Alex Z (Southern Catholic Worker) to talk about John Brown's early life, along with his trials and tribulations as a worker, father, and husband. This episode takes us all the way up to the period before he begins planning for the raid on Harper's Ferry (which means many skirmishes with and some broadsword swinging on pro-slavery dorks). 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 86 - Anti-Capitalist Sci-Fi Decoded: Andor, Hunger Games, and Severance

Proles Pod

What do Andor, The Hunger Games, and Severance really say about capitalism and socialist revolution? In this episode of Prolespod, we critically examine these popular sci-fi and dystopian series through a socialist lens. We unpack the anti-capitalist themes, revolutionary narratives, and class struggle depicted in each — and ask how far these shows can really go while being produced by profit-driven corporations. Support the show and listen to the bonus episode which focuses on Sinners at

More Episodes

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 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

East Germany: Stasi State or Socialist Paradise? w/Bruni de la Motte

The Rise of, Life In, and Fall of the German Democratic Republic

The Subversion of East Germany (1945-1961)

The American Soldier Who Defected to East Germany (Part 1) w/ Victor Grossman

The Czechoslovak Socialist Republic (1948-1990) w/ Julia Mead

Critiquing Stalin's Black Legend w/ Henry Hakamäki & Salvatore Engel-Di Mauro

Class Based Affirmative Action in Socialist Poland w/ Agata Zysiak

Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic 101: Pre-history to World War II w/ Iskolat

Was the Soviet Union Totalitarian w/ Robert Thurston

Understanding Siege Socialim w/ Gabriel Rockhill