Episodes
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As we are VERY busy working on the Stalin Eras series which premiers as early release for paid Patreon subscribers on September 18, and for the main feed September 23, we did not feel that we could do a typical episode justice. Instead, we decided to put together an episode of short clips from almost all of our bonus content that is available to paid subscribers over on the Patreon page. There are timestamps below in case you have already heard some of the content or want to easily reference/skip something. The bits on media (particularly the X-Men 97 episode) contain spoilers, so be mindful of that also.
We tried to collect a mixture of humorous clips, serious clips, and thoughtful clips. Some of this content was recorded before Rae and Martín got decent microphones, so many apologies for the terrible audio quality on some of their parts.
We have all dedicated a lot of time and energy to this podcast and first and foremost we hope that you are enjoying it and finding it helpful in your lives. It takes a lot to bring bi-weekly content, as well as a constant stream of bonus content, and our hope is that we can eventually move away from full-time wage labor toward full-time revolutionary education and entertainment but we cannot do that without your help.
If it is within your means, please find a tier that interests you over at the ProlesPod Patreon page and smash that subscribe button. If you are unable to support financially, that's okay. We get it! We also have a free tier with study guides to accompany the main feed episodes, as well as occasional exclusive content and announcements. If you're an absolutely dedicated comrade, it really helps us reach more people if you post reviews on any of the sites like Spotify, Apple, or any other place that it might be available, and comment on our YouTube episodes!
Check out the Stalin Eras trailer, which drops today, and make sure to follow so that you can get notifications when the genre-bending episodes premier! It will be Soviet history as you've never heard it before...
0:35.5 - 3:11.5 Introduction 3:17.8 - 4:56.3 The Secret Speech Ep 6 - Ukraine: Birth of Nationalism 5:10.7 - 6:47.1 The Non-Politics of HBO's The Sympathizer (2024) 6:54.4 - 9:39.7 The Secret Speech Ep 3 - The CIA, MK Ultra, and U.S. Psychopathy 9:53.2 - 13:56.8 The Secret Speech Ep 8 - Foundations of Leninism (Theory Explained) 14:03.5 - 15:35.6 The Secret Speech Ep 2: Latvia's Red Partisans of World War II 15:44.8 - 17:28.7 The Secret Speech Ep 7 - Ukraine: Descent to Fascism 17:40.9 - 19:18.6 The Secret Speech Ep 3 - The CIA, MK Ultra, and U.S. Psychopathy 19:29.7 - 23:13.0 The Non-Politics of HBO's The Sympathizer (2024) 23:31.5 - 24:46.9 The Secret Speech Ep 1 - X-Men 97: A Marxist Perspective 25:04.0 - 28:03.0 Kids Who Die by Langston Hughes 28:04.8 - 28:48.4 The Sadistic Exploitation of America's Sweethearts 29:12.6 - 32:25.8 The Secret Speech Ep 8 - Foundations of Leninism (Theory Explained) 32:42.6 - 36:04.7 The Secret Speech Ep 3 - The CIA, MK Ultra, and U.S. Psychopathy 36:33.3 - 37:22.4 The Secret Speech Ep 6 - Ukraine: Birth of Nationalism 37:42.3 - 40:38.8 *SPOILERS* The Secret Speech Ep 1 - X-Men 97: A Marxist Perspective 40:54.0 - 48:36.8 Q & Rae #1: Family, Ethics of Socialist Content Creation, and Life Abroad 49:08.0 - 57:28.7 The Secret Speech Ep 4 - Taiwan: A Short Long History 57:49.4 - 1:00.1 The Secret Speech Ep 3 - The CIA, MK Ultra, and U.S. Psychopathy -
Join the Proles and friend of the pod, Joel, for our first ever episode focused solely on a theory text. If you’ve been following along with the TheoryBeats project on Patreon, you already know the text. It is the the monumental "Foundations of Leninism" by Joseph Stalin. Rae takes the lead on this one.
We’ll take you through each of the nine sections of this text, unpacking the history and context while making connections to other thinkers, theorists, and movements both historically and today.
You can find the full text freely available to read at:
https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/stalin/works/1924/foundations-leninism/
Thank you to our (actual and legitimate, not a joke) sponsor, "Quotations from Michael Parenti" published by Red Prints Publishing through Marxist-Leninist Reading Hub. To learn more and to get a copy of the book, head here: https://www.mlreadinghub.org/books/quotations-from-michael-parenti
If you’d like to listen to the TheoryBeats, find studyguides, surprise drops, and more, don’t forget to head to Patreon.com/ProlesPod to subscribe. (Even the free tier has special stuff for you!)
If you like our work and want to support it, don’t forget to rate and review us on any of the podcast catchers, follow us on social media @ProlesPod and make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss our Stalin Eras series that’s coming up.
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Missing episodes?
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CW: This episode contains frank discussions of murder, torture, and sexual assault of both adults and children, primarily in the context of anti-semitic pogroms against Jewish people. Please proceed carefully through the episode or skip it entirely if any of these things may be difficult for you to hear.
Justin picks up where Jeremy left off to cover the development of OUN/UPA, Stepan Bandera's insecure self-promotion, and how the Ukrainian Nationalists were no better than the Nazis. Slava Ukraini bad. As last time, we try to bring some levity to the discussion, but it is a disgusting period for Eastern Europe and we couldn't sugar coat it.
Sign up at Patreon 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 @prolespod and Tiktok @proles.pod
If you have any questions or comments, email us at [email protected]. May the spectre haunt your streets, and solidarity forever.
Sources:
Ukrainian Nationalists and the Holocaust by John-Paul Himka
Stepan Bandera: The Life and Afterlife of a Ukrainian Nationalist by Grzegorz Rossolinski-Liebe
Intro Music:
"ProlesPod Theme" by Ransom Notes
Midroll Ad:
Written and read by Jeremy
Music "Macho Man Reagan Sandwich" by DJ DTA
Outro Music:
Eastern Bloc Beats by DJ DTA
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CW: This episode contains frank discussions of murder, torture, and sexual assault of both adults and children, primarily in the context of anti-semitic pogroms against Jewish people. Please proceed carefully through the episode or skip it entirely if any of these things may be difficult for you to hear. To signal the depravity of racist language in quotes used in this episode we have used a bleep instead of "contextually stating" the slur or "n-wording" it.
Jeremy leads us in a discussion of the early history of what we now know as Ukraine, all the way through the early twentieth century, before taking a depressing turn into the brief period in which nationalists controlled the region from 1918-1921. This brief and tragic era of Ukraine is dominated by a “civil war” and countless pogroms, primarily perpetrated against Jewish residents of the area. We do our best to lighten the material in the first half of the episode, but honestly, there’s nothing to be joked about in the latter half.
Sign up at Patreon 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 @prolespod and Tiktok @proles.pod.
If you have any questions or comments, email us at [email protected]. May the spectre haunt your streets, and solidarity forever.
Resource Links - Soviet Books:
Ismail Badiou Soviet Book Archive (over a thousand soviet era books!)
Lazy Izdihar Soviet Book Archive
Sources:
The Gates of Europe by Serhii Plokhy
In the Midst of Civilized Europe by Jeffrey Veidlinger
Medieval Ukraine by Charles River Editors
Intro Music:
"ProlesPod Theme" by Ransom Notes
Midroll Ad
Written and read by Jeremy
Music "Gyro Maidan" by DJ DTA
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For this episode we’re joined by guest expert Beth Pitts for a journey into the heart of the Ecuadorian Amazon. We’re talking about the past, present, and future of indigenous resistance in Ecuador to begin to think about what their struggle can teach us, the benefits and limitations of taking legal action against the imperial nation-state, and the ways in which we can broaden our understanding of the frontline of struggle.
For our full interview with members of the Siekopai Remolino community, head over to the Patreon. (Don’t worry; we translated it into English.)
For information on the communities mentioned, access to their fundraisers, and our guest expert’s book:
Siekoya Remolino website: https://www.siekoyaremolino.org/ and Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/siekoyaremolino
Siekopai social media: Twitter: @Siekopai, Facebook: @Siekopai, Instagram: @Nacion.Siekopai
Sëra Foundation crowdfunding campaign: https://www.gofundme.com/f/siekopai-indigenous-amazonian-youth-foundation
Native People of Sarayaku website: https://sarayaku.org/
Children of the Jaguar documentary (Sarayaku): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ma1QSmtuiLQ
Interview Alexandra Narvaez (Sinangoe): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwmQMdGuBMc
Under Rich Earth documentary (Intag): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRinnhejBIw
Moon Guide to Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands: https://www.moon.com/?s=bethany+pitts
Don’t forget to subscribe to ProlesPod on your favorite podcast catcher. Rate, review, and share with your friends. It really helps us a lot.
If you want to keep the party going, make sure you’re subscribed to our Patreon where you can find the companion study guide to every episode (even at the free tier!!), TheoryBeats, early release of main feed episodes, The Secret Speech (bonus content), surprise drops, and you can be the first to know about our limited run merch.
If you have any questions or feedback, please email us at [email protected]. Find and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, TwitterX, and Tiktok.
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Charles Xu joins the show to give us a whirlwind tour of the history of Taiwan starting from about 15,000 years ago to the late 1980s to explain to us the origins of the current tensions between China and the West (led by the United States of America, ofcourse) that has been recklessly escalating to a war!
The history covered here is covered in much more detail on the Qiao Collective website which hosts their outstanding Taiwan: An Anti-Imperialist Resource.
Charles Xu is a member of the Qiao Collective. The Qiao Collective is a diaspora Chinese media collective challenging U.S. aggression in China.
Sign up at Patreon 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 @prolespod and Tiktok @proles.pod.
If you have any questions or comments, email us at [email protected]. May the spectre haunt your streets, and solidarity forever.
Intro Music:
"ProlesPod Theme" by Ransom Notes
Midroll Ad
Written and read by Jeremy
Music "Monstertruck Meow" by DJ DTA
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CW - This episode, almost from start to finish, tells a lot of horrific stories of both physical and mental abuse and mutilation of some of the most marginalized and at-risk types of folks. If this is something that will be difficult to get through for you, please skip the episode or take it slow.
In this episode, we discuss a topic that is widely known but often skimmed. Instead of focusing on the people involved or the "funny" cases, we talked more about the monstrous nature of the project and the blatant disregard for human life and wellbeing. All for a made up thing that they never even got close to figuring out.
Sign up at Patreon 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 @prolespod and Tiktok @proles.pod.
If you have any questions or comments, email us at [email protected]. May the spectre haunt your streets, and solidarity forever.
Intro Music:
"ProlesPod Theme" by Ransom Notes
Jolly West Music:
"Tusko's Last Parade" by DJ DTA
Vitamin midroll:
Written by Rae and read by Jeremy
Music "Mind Melters" by DJ DTA
Outro Music:
"Eastern Bloc Beats" by DJ DTA
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We are joined by Iskolat to discuss the heroric struggle of Latvia's Red Partisans during World War II - also known as the Great Patriotic War. For years this communist resistance stifled and sabotaged the Nazi occupation of Latvia. Focusing on the rarely discussed era of the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic, we connect it's past to it's present working class struggles.
Note: This episode was filmed before before Rae and Martín joined the Prolespod.
Sign up at Patreon 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 @prolespod and Tiktok @proles.pod.
If you have any questions or comments, email us at [email protected]. May the spectre haunt your streets, and solidarity forever.
Intro Music:
"ProlesPod Theme" by Ransom Notes
Baltic Air midroll:
Written and read by Rae
Music "Baltic Dreams" by DJ DTA
Outro Music:
"Eastern Bloc Beats" by DJ DTA
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The unveiling of TheoryBeats, a new project by ProlesPod and DJ DTA. Let us know what you think!
To get all future TheoryBeats, you can sign up for any paid tier at the Patreon. There are a number of other cool perks and more on the way!
FoL Pt 1 Read by - Jeremy
Music by - DJ DTA
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In this episode of the podcast, we are joined by Evan from Left of the Projector Podcast to delve into a Marxist analysis of the new animated series X-Men '97. We explore the show's portrayal of the mutant struggle through a Marxist lens, examining characters like Magneto and Professor X as representations of different revolutionary strategies. We discuss the complex dynamics of Genosha, a nation of mutants, as it transitions from slavery to liberation, drawing parallels to real-world post-colonial struggles. We also analyze the show's depiction of the exploitation of mutant labor and the justification for their oppression, mirroring the dynamics of class struggle in capitalist societies. Additionally, we critique the show's portrayal of international relations and the hypocrisy of organizations like the UN. Finally, we touch upon the challenges faced by the mutant state after the revolution, including the constant threat of counter-revolution and the complexities of governance.
Sign up at Patreon where you can get access to early release episodes, study guides, limited-drop merch, 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 @prolespod and Tiktok @proles.pod.
If you have any questions or comments, email us at [email protected]. May the spectre haunt your streets, and solidarity forever.
Sources:
"Letter to American Workers" V.I. Lenin
https://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1918/aug/20.htm
Intro Music:
"X-men 97 Theme" by The Newton Brothers
Outro Music:
"Eastern Bloc Beats" by DJ DTA
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In this episode, we're joined by our two newest co-hosts, Rae and Martín, to take the Proles' first trip to Mexico. In this wide-ranging episode, we cover a (brief) workers' history of Mexico, the rise of the current president AMLO, what his presidency has meant for Mexican people, and some insight on the upcoming presidential election.
There were a shocking number of resources consulted for this episode, but those specifically referenced (in English) are here:
https://jacobin.com/2023/08/amlo-presidency-mexico-morena-pri-neoliberalism https://ausm.community/the-4t/ https://www.dissentmagazine.org/article/the-contradictions-of-amlo/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4C4O2WlWPHwA note that several of our sources are in Spanish, but if you're a Spanish speaker interested in the resource list, don't hesitate to reach out.
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 @prolespod and Tiktok @proles.pod. Keep your eyes and ears peeled for updates on the re-launch of our Patreon.
If you have any questions or comments, email us at [email protected]. May the spectre haunt your streets, and solidarity forever.
Intro Music:
"Proles Pod Theme" by Ransom Notes
Outro Music:
"Eastern Bloc Beats" by DJ DTA
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In this episode, the Scottish comrades return to discuss the revolutionary life of John Maclean. No, not that one... or that one. The Scottish revolutionary that spent his entire life fighting for the proletariat and who was in jail when British fascist Winston Churchill rolled tanks on Glasgow during the Battle of George Square to destroy the voice of the oppressed.
Please subscribe on your favorite podcast catcher and rate or review to help extend our reach. Like and rate us on Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok, and Twitter @prolespod.
If you have any questions or comments, email us at [email protected] May the spectre haunt your streets, and solidarity forever.
Intro and Outro Music:
"Proles Pod Theme" by Ransom Notes
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In this episode, El discusses the birth and development of the proletariat within Scottland, as well as the ways in which the nobility and the British empire sabotaged them time and again.
Thank you for listening!
Please rate and review to help us extend our reach. You can follow us on the socials. If you'd like, you can sign up for free at our patreon. We have some cool stuff on the way, as well as some posts we make only there. You can email us at [email protected].
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In this long awaited return of the show the gang revisits East Germany, with new Proles co-host and host of Actually Existing Socialism - Tony - giving us a guide through attempts by Western capitalist nations to subvert the East German state from the post-war period to the installation of the Berlin Wall. Spoiler alert: It all goes back to the 5 Ds!
Please subscribe on your favorite podcast catcher and rate or review to help extend our reach. For early and exclusive content, sign up for free at www.patreon.com/prolespod. Like and rate us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @prolespod.
If you have any questions or comments, DM us on those platforms or email us at [email protected] All episodes prior to episode 4 can be found on YouTube, so go check that out as well! May the spectre haunt your streets, and solidarity forever.
Intro and Outro Music:"Proles Pod Theme" by Ransom Notes
Episode Sources:
"Exploiting and Securing the Open Border in Berlin: the Western Secret Services, the Stasi, and the
Second Berlin Crisis, 1958–1961""Drawing the Line: The American Decision to Divide Germany, 1944–1949"
The Prelude to Nationwide Surveillance in East Germany"
“Spying On Science: Western Intelligence in Divided Germany 1945-1961”
"Address given by Nikita Khrushchev on the GDR and Berlin (Moscow, 10 November 1958)"
"GDR: An Historical Outline"
"Britain and the Occupation of Germany, 1945-49"
"Killing Hope" -
In this episode, the new gang (so far) introduces themselves, and Jeremy briefly recounts the history of Proles as well as what we're doing differently this time, based on lessons we learned.
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 @prolespod.
If you have any questions or comments, DM us on those platforms or email us at [email protected] All episodes prior to episode 4 can be found on YouTube, so go check that out as well! May the spectre haunt your streets, and solidarity forever.
Intro and Outro Music:"Proles Pod Theme" by Ransom Notes
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...wait for it.
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In this episode, the gang collaborates with Breht O'Shea of RevLeft Radio on an analysis of the Marxist understanding of history, how we as human beings relate to history, and how we can see through the veil of bourgeois historiography. It is my personal favorite episode we ever recorded, and it is the one people have most requested that we re-upload. It was taken down with good reason, but there are good reasons for it to come back. It is certainly one of the most positive and affirming episodes we ever made, and I feel like people need that right now.
If you have any questions or comments, DM Jeremy at facebook.com/mambono17 or Instagram @mambono17 or email [email protected]. All episodes prior to episode 4 can be found on YouTube, so go check that out as well!
Suggested Reading and Resources:
I don't have a way to reach out to Hayder to ask him about his sources, and unfortunately, I have forgotten a lot of the works I was referencing, but I will do my best to reconstruct what I can recall.
Silencing the Past - Michel-Rolphe Trouillot
Caliban and the Witch - Silvia Federici
Chulmun Neolithic Inensification, Asian Perspectives, Spring 2012 - Sook-Chung Shin, Song-Nai Rhee, and C. Melbin Aikens
The Lifeways of Hunter-Gatherers: The Foraging Spectrum - Robert L. Kelly
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In this episode, the gang revisits Argentina with the help of Joel and Homer, learning how it escaped Spanish colonialism only to become prey to British and US imperialism. And coups. So many coups.
If you have any questions or comments, DM Jeremy at facebook.com/mambono17 or Instagram @mambono17 or email [email protected]. All episodes prior to episode 4 can be found on YouTube, so go check that out as well!
Suggested Reading and Resources:
Documentaries:
Ver la Historia by Felipe Pigna
Seré Millones by Fernando Krichmar, Omar Neri, Mónica Simoncini
Book:
Todo o Nada by Maria Seoane
Intro music:"Proles Pod Theme" by Ransom Notes
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The next-to-the-last PRT episode, recorded before the collapse. Justin and Ethan discuss the history of Romania as Alekx hosts.
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At several listeners' requests, we're uploading the January patreon-exclusive episode, which is Ethan's performance of Wallace Shawn's 1990 play The Fever.
The Fever is about capital and class struggle and commodity fetishism and liberalism and guilt, and about someone coming to terms with the injustice in the world and his own role within that injustice.
"I feel like this play covers most if not all the important points of capital, state/rev, and a lot of wretched of the earth somehow in 1hr." -dblizz66
Music: Phill Niblock -Works for Hurdy Gurdy and Voice
Sarah Davachi - For Voice - Show more
