Revolutionary Left Radio
Rev Left is a podcast that explores political philosophy, history, science, religion, culture, art, and struggle through a socialist lens. Advancing an analysis and vision for the world rooted in egalitarianism, solidarity, compassion, and human freedom.
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Modern China Pt. 2: The Chinese Revolution & Civil War w/ Ken Hammond
04/22/2024
Modern China Pt. 2: The Chinese Revolution & Civil War w/ Ken Hammond
In this episode of we get into part 2 of our 4 part miniseries on modern Chinese history featuring Ken Hammond (and guest host Breht O'Shea of Revolutionary Left Radio) with this absolutely terrific discussion on the Chinese Revolution & Civil War! If you haven't already listened to part 1 of the series, on , be sure to do so because we pick up right where we left off last time. The next two installments will cover the Great Leap Forward and the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, and then the Reform period up to the present day, so be sure to not miss any of those upcoming episodes! Ken Hammond is Professor of East Asian and Global History at New Mexico State University. He has been engaged in radical politics since his involvement in the anti-war movement at Kent State in 1968-70. Ken is also the author of the book .
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All too Human: Niko's Struggle with Alcoholism
04/16/2024
All too Human: Niko's Struggle with Alcoholism
Shoeless in South Dakota: In this of our All Too Human interview series, Breht and Dave welcome Niko into the Shoeless Shed to have an honest conversation about his struggles with alcoholism. With these All Too Human interviews, we aim to highlight and destigmatize the mental health and addiction struggles of regular working class people in hopes that we can provide insight into this type of human suffering, help others who struggle with similar things feel less alone, and deepen our understanding of the modern human condition. Outro music: 'Hundreds of Ways' by Conor Oberst ---------------------- Contact us, support us, follow us, or learn more about the show here:
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Ghosts in the Machines: Artificial Intelligence, Consciousness, & Capitalism
04/10/2024
Ghosts in the Machines: Artificial Intelligence, Consciousness, & Capitalism
In this episode, Alyson and Breht wrestle with the possible rise of artificial general intelligence and its implications. Together they discuss the Silicon Valley Techno-Cult and their dark religious search for immortality, their hubristic attempts to "build god" and escape death, their neoliberal subjectivities and how that manifests in their work, how AI might manifest under the capitalist mode of production, the horrors and contradictions of "capitalism without workers", deflationary critiques of AI, humans as transitional creatures, consciousness and its complexities, intelligence without consciousness (philosophical zombies), Nietzchean nihilism, real religion and what it offers, embracing the inevitability of your own death, and much more! ---------
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All Too Human: Katie's Struggle w/ Alcohol and Gambling
04/08/2024
All Too Human: Katie's Struggle w/ Alcohol and Gambling
: In this first edition of our All Too Human interview series, Breht and Dave welcome "Katie", Breht's sister, into the studio to have an honest conversation about her struggles with alcohol and gambling. With these All Too Human interviews, we aim to highlight and destigmatize the mental health and addiction struggles of normal working people in hopes that we can provide insight into this type of human suffering, help others who struggle with similar things feel less alone, and deepen our understanding of the modern human condition. Learn more about Shoeless in South Dakota: Check out the Inaugural Episode of Shoeless Subscribe to Shoeless in South Dakota on your preferred podcast app.
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On Cuba and Haiti: The Fight for Liberation & Self-Determination in the Caribbean
04/04/2024
On Cuba and Haiti: The Fight for Liberation & Self-Determination in the Caribbean
Musa Springer, Erica Caines, & Onyesonwu Chatoyer from Hood Communist join Breht O'Shea to discuss their participation in in Havana, Cuba before discussing the history and current events playing out in Haiti. Together they converse about their time in Cuba, the various speeches they gave at the event, the ongoing embargo and its impacts, recent protests in Cuba, internationalism, the , US imperialism, the history of colonialism in Haiti, current events in Haiti, how Haiti is portrayed by Western corporate media, and much more! Links:
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Modern China Pt. 1: The Taiping & Boxer Rebellions w/ Ken Hammond
04/01/2024
Modern China Pt. 1: The Taiping & Boxer Rebellions w/ Ken Hammond
In this episode of Guerrilla History, we launch our 4 part miniseries on modern Chinese history featuring Ken Hammond (and guest host Breht O'Shea of Revolutionary Left Radio) with this terrific discussion on the Taiping and Boxer Rebellions! Be sure to go back and listen to the , which serves as a bit of an introductory work for this miniseries. The other three installments will drop every other week (with other episodes in between), and will cover the Chinese Revolution/Civil War, the Great Leap Forward and Cultural Revolution, and the Reform period, so be sure to subscribe to not miss any of those coming episodes! Ken Hammond is Professor of East Asian and Global History at New Mexico State University. He has been engaged in radical politics since his involvement in the anti-war movement at Kent State in 1968-70. Ken is also the author of the book .
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Take Back Your Life & Attention: Why You Should Quit Social Media
03/30/2024
Take Back Your Life & Attention: Why You Should Quit Social Media
This is a small extract from a much larger patreon exclusive episode. To get access to the full episode, and over 300 other patreon exclusive episodes, join our patreon at:
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The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution
03/27/2024
The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution
Listen to the first installment of this four-episode series Kenneth J. Hammond is Professor of History at New Mexico State University. Hammond was a student and Students for a Democratic Society leader at Kent State University from 1967 to 1970. He later (1985) completed his degree in Political Science, then studied Modern Chinese language at the Beijing Foreign Languages Normal School in Beijing. Hammond received an M.A. in Regional Studies - East Asia (1989), and a Ph.D in History and East Asian Languages (1994) from Harvard University. In 2007, Hammond was appointed director of the Confucius Institute, a cultural initiative funded in part by Hanban on the NMSU campus that is dedicated to studying and publicizing China and Chinese culture. He is the editor of the journal Ming Studies. Follow Follow Subscribe to Guerrilla History on your preferred podcast app
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BRG Round 2: Fighting to Win...
03/25/2024
BRG Round 2: Fighting to Win...
Black Red Guard returns to the show for a no-holds-barred, wide-ranging discussion on a multitude of topics, including Palestine, Aaron Bushnell, the DSA, line struggle, party building, Taiwan, revolution, the future, and much more! Check out BRG's YT Channel Follow BRG on Twitter Check out his Twitch Outro Music: To Cause Your Own Death by Mon Rovia ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Get 15% off any book in the Left Wing Books Library
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"The 18th Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte" by Karl Marx
03/19/2024
"The 18th Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte" by Karl Marx
Alyson and Breht explain and explore this famous text from Karl Marx, in the process they discuss French history, class conflict, the peasantry and lumpenproletariat, Bonapartism and Fascism, history, the role of the State under capitalism, and how all of this helps us to make sense of our contemporary moment of crisis in the US and around the world. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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[UNLOCKED] Buddhist Perspectives: Self-Immolation and Political Struggle
03/18/2024
[UNLOCKED] Buddhist Perspectives: Self-Immolation and Political Struggle
This unlocked patreon episode was originally released Feb. 27th 2024 To get access to more bonus episodes like this every month, and support the show, join our patreon at --------------------------------------------- In this patreon exclusive, Breht reads and reflects on Buddhist writings including regarding Buddhist monks in Vietnam engaging in self-immolation and how it differs from suicide, and of so-called Western Buddhism wherein he argues that mindfulness meditation is merely a way to cope with the depravities of capitalism; a new Opium of the Masses. Along the way, Breht takes many detours, and touches on the self-immolation and martyrdom of Aaron Bushnell, the ongoing multi-faceted evolution of the human species, and much more. Check out other Rev Left episodes on Buddhism and related topics, including the ones mentioned in this episode
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Imperialism Abroad, Fascism at Home: GILEE, Cop City, & 1033 Program
03/13/2024
Imperialism Abroad, Fascism at Home: GILEE, Cop City, & 1033 Program
Musa and Tunde from the ATL chapter of the join Breht to discuss the GILEE Program (Georgia International Law Enforcement Exchange) and its implications, the construction of Cop City (and the plans for more), the militarization of police in an era of capitalist and liberal crisis, Israel and its connections to GILEE, the Palestinian Liberation movement, "Black Mecca" and its class contradictions, and what all this means for our near-future... Check out BAP-Atlanta Check out the Groundings Podcast Check out Follow BAP on or on Outro Song by ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Get 15% off any book in the Left Wing Books Library
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The Hands That Crafted the Bomb: The Making of a Lifelong Antifascist
03/12/2024
The Hands That Crafted the Bomb: The Making of a Lifelong Antifascist
joins the show to discuss his new biography "The Hands That Crafted the Bomb: The Making of a Lifelong Antifascist". Together Josh and Breht have a wide ranging conversation on antifascism, teaching, prison, organizing, parenting, drug and alcohol abuse, and much more. Check out the book Check out an article about Josh from The Real News --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Parting Ways (for now): Guerrilla History Bids Farewell to Breht & Dave
03/08/2024
Parting Ways (for now): Guerrilla History Bids Farewell to Breht & Dave
After a wonderful 3 and half years, Breht and Producer Dave are bidding farewell to Guerrilla History. Henry and Adnan will continue the program. In this episode, they all reflect on their time together and promise to keep collaborating when and where possible going forward! Please Subscribe to on your preferred podcast app. Support Guerrilla History and follow them Check out Shoeless in South Dakota Follow Shoeless in South Dakota
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Man on Fire: Aaron Bushnell's Sacrifice for Palestine
02/29/2024
Man on Fire: Aaron Bushnell's Sacrifice for Palestine
Rest in Peace, Aaron. Free Palestine! "To burn oneself by fire is to prove that what one is saying is of the utmost importance. There is nothing more painful than burning oneself. To say something while experiencing this kind of pain is to say it with utmost courage, frankness, determination, and sincerity." - Thich Nhat Hanh in a letter to MLK Jr. regarding the self-immolation of Vietnamese Buddhist monks
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The Ongoing Evolution of the Human Species (teaser)
02/28/2024
The Ongoing Evolution of the Human Species (teaser)
This is a snippet from a much longer patreon exclusive episode. To listen to the full episode and support the show at the same time,
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On Mysticism: Ego, Suffering, & Love
02/20/2024
On Mysticism: Ego, Suffering, & Love
On this episode of Red Menace, Alyson and Breht had some things come up such that they couldn't record their planned episode on Marx's 18th Brumaire (coming soon!), so instead they have a deep, organic and wide-ranging conversation on mysticism; together they explore humanities religious and spiritual traditions and the mystical strain within them, discuss atheism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Sufism, mystical experiences, the role of suffering, holy union and oneness, the dissolution of subject/object duality, the role of psychedelics historically and experientially, dialectics, and whether or not any of this has any relevance for political struggle. Support Rev Left Check out all Red Menace Eps Follow us on IG All Music by
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Friends of the Congo: The Congolese Struggle for Self-Determination
02/15/2024
Friends of the Congo: The Congolese Struggle for Self-Determination
Passy and Maurice from Friends of the Congo join Breht to discuss the history and the present of the Congo. Together, they discuss their organization, Passy's on-the-ground organizing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the history of the Congo, Patrice Lumumba and his legacy, European and Belgian colonialism, King Leopold II, the brutal ongoing violence and displacement occuring in the Eastern DRC, US imperialism and the Kagame Regime in Rwanda, M23, Neo-Colonialism, Colbalt and rare-earth mineral mining, modern day slavery and the industries it serves, the so-called "green capitalist transition" and its rotting underbelly, and much more. Friends of the Congo (FOTC) is a Pan African solidarity organization raising global consciousness about the challenges and potential of the Congo. Become A Friend of the Congo: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Dialectics Deep Dive IIX: Contradiction and Overdetermination (Pt. 1)
02/08/2024
Dialectics Deep Dive IIX: Contradiction and Overdetermination (Pt. 1)
Matthew Furlong returns for another installment of our . Together, they discuss Althusser, Hegel, Dialectical Materialism, Marxism, Palestine, process philosophy, and much more! Get 15% off any book in the Left Wing Books Library Interview referenced in the episode: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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W.E.B. Du Bois Movement School for Abolition and Reconstruction
02/05/2024
W.E.B. Du Bois Movement School for Abolition and Reconstruction
In this fouth installment of our ongoing W.E.B. Du Bois series, Breht and PM sit down with S and from the . Together, they discuss Du Bois, their organization, abolition, the struggle for socialism and communism, the failure of reconstruction, the Palestinian liberation struggle, Cop City in Atlanta, and much more. Follow PM on or ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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"Solaris" by Andrei Tarkovsky: A Cosmic Exploration of the Human Psyche
01/31/2024
"Solaris" by Andrei Tarkovsky: A Cosmic Exploration of the Human Psyche
got invited onto to discuss Soviet filmmaker Andrei Tarkovsky's famous sci-fi film from 1972 "Solaris" with and Amanda. Together, they discuss and analyze the film, exploring the human condition, the subconscious, modernist subjectivity, alienation, our fear of death, the Cold War, spiritual experience, the central importance of Love, Stanley Kubrick, and much more in the process.
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[TEASER] Seeing Red: American Hypocrisy and Unfreedom
01/26/2024
[TEASER] Seeing Red: American Hypocrisy and Unfreedom
This is extracted from a larger patreon bonus episode; to listen to the full episode, hundreds of other bonus episodes, AND support the show, go to: Check out our Instagram
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"Israel" and Its Role in Latin America w/ Alexander Aviña
01/17/2024
"Israel" and Its Role in Latin America w/ Alexander Aviña
In this episode of Guerrilla History, we bring back the official unofficial fourth member of the hosting panel, Alexander Aviña! Here we discuss Alex's freshly released article at Foreign Exchanges titled , which examines some of the role and relationships between "Israel" and the countries and governments in Latin America. This is a really interesting piece of the Zioimperialist story, and one which is frankly very under-discussed. Tune in, learn something, and share with others who you think would also benefit from hearing this history! Alexander Aviña is associate professor of Latin American history at Arizona State University and author of Specters of Revolution: Peasant Guerrillas in the Cold War Mexican Countryside. Alex's website is available at , and he can be followed on twitter Help support the show by signing up to our patreon, where you also will get bonus content:
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Joy James on Du Bois, Liberation Struggles, & Revolutionary Love
01/08/2024
Joy James on Du Bois, Liberation Struggles, & Revolutionary Love
joins Breht and for the third installment of Rev Left's , but this conversation goes well beyond the life and work of Du Bois to cover James' newest book, her long history of organizing, the history of black liberation struggles in the US, and much more. Together, they discuss George Jackson, James' concept of the Captive Maternal, Erica Garner, , Marxism, black history, Ida B. Wells, and much more. Overall its a wide-ranging conversation with an incredibly wise and experienced revolutionary intellectual. Dr. James is Ebenezer Fitch Professor of Humanities at Williams College. Her book is Proceeds from New Bones Abolition: Captive Maternal Agency and the (After)Life of Erica Garner go to Check out Dr. Joy James on Millennials are Killing Capitalism & Outro Music: "Sorrow Tears and Blood" by Fela Kuti ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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UNLOCKED: Revolution and Resolutions
01/06/2024
UNLOCKED: Revolution and Resolutions
If you enjoy these monologue-style episodes and want to support the show and get access to multiple bonus episodes like this every single month, you can do so UNLOCKED: Breht opens this Patreon episode with a discussion of American politics, talks about Lenin's anaysis of what makes for a revolutionary situation, and then he reads, reflects upon, and comments on an article by Ahjamu Umi from titled
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Kwame Nkrumah: The Great Pan-African Revolutionary Leader of Ghana
12/27/2023
Kwame Nkrumah: The Great Pan-African Revolutionary Leader of Ghana
Nicholas Richard-Thompson and Tunde Osazua from the join Breht to discuss the life and legacy of Kwame Nkrumah. Together, they discuss the Ghanaian Marxist and Pan-Africanist politician, political theorist, and revolutionary, his upbringing, his entrance into Ghanaian and African politics, his political ideology, the many assassination attempts on his life, the coup that overthrew him and who backed it (just take a guess...), his life in exile, his continuing legacy on the continent and beyond, and much more! Learn more and support Follow Follow IMPORTANT: As the PAIGC/A-APRP is an active member of BAP's U.S Out of Africa Network (USOAN), and As the PAIGC is facing dire political repression within Guinea Bissau due to its substantial revolutionary gains against neo-colonialism in that country, We therefore call on BAP and the USOAN to mobilize immediate support for the PAIGC/A-APRP. Please read the following for background information: , 4 December 2023 By A-APRP , PRESS RELEASE: December 10, 2023 By National Secretariat ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Napoleon: The Film, The Man, The History
12/18/2023
Napoleon: The Film, The Man, The History
Everett from and Arjun from join Breht to discuss Napoleon Bonaparte. Together they explore and reflect on the new film by Ridley Scott, the actual history involved and what the film got wrong, Napoleon's real personality, the importance of the French Revolution in Napoleon's rise, the reaction to the French Revolution and Napoleon from the rest of Europe, Napoleon's treatment of Haiti, Napoleon's exile and death, and then they grapple with the question of how the socialist left today should view and understand Napoleon. Outro Song: Napoleon's Hat by Bright Eyes ------------------------------------------------------- Support Rev Left Radio:
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Understanding Apartheid: South Africa, Settler Colonialism, and Lessons for Palestine
12/13/2023
Understanding Apartheid: South Africa, Settler Colonialism, and Lessons for Palestine
In this Rev Left Family Annual Collab (Rev Left++), Alyson, Henry, Adnan, and Breht sit down for a deep dive on South African Apartheid. Together they discuss its euro-colonialist origins, explain the significance of the Boer Wars, define and explicate the origins of apartheid, explore the political economy of apartheid and how brutal racism shaped it, examine the multi-faceted indigenous resistance to apartheid, analyze the end of formal apartheid as well as its ongoing legacy in post-apartheid South Africa, and try to extract important lessons from this history to apply to the ongoing struggle in Palestine. ------------------------------------------------------- Support Rev Left Radio: or make a one time donation:
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Black Scare/Red Scare: Theorizing Capitalist Racism in the United States
11/29/2023
Black Scare/Red Scare: Theorizing Capitalist Racism in the United States
This episode is from our sister podcast Guerrilla History, subscribe to it on your preferred podcast app! In this absolutely fabulous episode of Guerrilla History, we bring back on the one and only Dr. CBS, Charisse Burden-Stelly! Here, we discuss her outstanding new book . This work focuses on how anti-radical repression (especially anti-communist repression) is infused and inseparable with anti-Black racial oppression, and vice versa. This is a critical work by one of the most critical voices in our times, and we think that this conversation is a truly important one for everyone to hear! Charisse Burden-Stelly is associate professor of African American studies at Wayne State University. She is the coauthor (alongside Gerald Horne) of W.E.B. Du Bois: A Life in American History and the coeditor (alongside Jodi Dean) of Organize, Fight, Win: Black Communist Women’s Political Writing. Join the , keep up with Dr. CBS's work by checking out her website , and follow her on twitter . Help support the show by signing up to our patreon, where you also will get bonus content:
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Les Misérables: Victor Hugo, Revolution, and French History
11/21/2023
Les Misérables: Victor Hugo, Revolution, and French History
Corey Mohler from Existential Comics returns to the show to discuss the famous novel (and its many adaptations) by Victor Hugo "Les Misérables". Together they discuss the novel, its various adaptations, its political and social themes, 19th Century France, the "Giants of '93", read some passages from the book, and discuss its ongoing legacy and relevance for us today! Check out Existential Comics Check our all our previous episodes with Corey on a wide range of topics ------------------------------------------------------- Support Rev Left Radio: or make a one time donation:
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