Diet Soap - a podcast - podcast cover

Diet Soap - a podcast

Douglas Lainwww.podomatic.com
The Diet Soap podcast began in 2009 in response to the economic crisis of 2008. Since then it has gone through many transformations, including becoming the podcast for a critical theory imprint out of the UK.

Today the Diet Soap podcast is running under its original name for Sublation Media.

Sublation Media includes a book publishing effort for critical theory and left politics, a magazine that covers current events and theoretical issues, youtube videos on theory and politics, and finally the Diet Soap podcast. The podcast is where we continue to interrogate the left and each other while having a good time.
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Episodes

Episode 630: Understanding the Marxist Revisionism Dispute

William Stratford discusses the dialectics and the revisionism dispute. What lessons can we learn from it today, after the long defeat of the 20th century and the Millennial left? Support Sublation Media https://patreon.com/dietsoap

Apr 18, 20251 hr 5 minEp. 630

Episode 629: Do Young Americans Have a Manifest Destiny?

Hamilton Craig is a Compact columnist and a doctoral student at CUNY researching farmers’ movements in the United States. In this episode of Diet Soap, he discusses his recent essay for Compact entitled "The Democratic Promise of Manifest Destiny" with Douglas Lain and tries to consider just how seriously to take Trump's effort to revitalize and reinvent our Manifest Destiny and discuss Cutrone's essay "The Future Belongs to America. So Should Greenland." Support Sublation Media: https://patreon...

Apr 17, 202551 minEp. 629

Episode 628: Trump is ENDING Neoliberalism as the Left WATCHES

Chris Cutrone and Douglas Lain discuss the meaning of the term "neoliberalism" and the ignominious end of the previous regime of accumulation. Cutrone takes Studebaker to task over their differences in conceptualizing neoliberalism, highlighting contrasting interpretations of its historical and ideological implications. Support Sublation Media on Patreon https://patreon.com/dietsoap

Apr 11, 20251 hr 27 minEp. 628

Episode 627: Experiencing the Symptoms of the Left

Benjamin Studebaker and Douglas Lain discuss the Platypus Affiliated Society convention and a few of the questions raised on our panels: What was neoliberalism? Why does Society have Politics? Join the Sublation Patreon for a second hour of discussion: https://patreon.com/dietsoap

Apr 07, 20251 hrEp. 627

Episode 626: Horkheimer on Reason, Egoism, and Freedom

Spencer Leonard discusses the Frankfurt School's Marxism, how these Marxists are still relevant to us today, and explains Horkheimer's "Egoism and Freedom Movements: On the Anthropology of the Bourgeois Epoch." Support Sublation Media and Listen to the Second Half: https://patreon.com/dietsoap

Apr 03, 20251 hr 36 minEp. 626

Episode 625: From FAKE NEWS to a FAKE WORLD

David Shields, author of "How We Got Here," returns to discuss how Trump has destroyed our reality and how our sensemaking institutions are in crisis. How can we educate ourselves and get a grip on the world if everything is FAKE NEWS? Get a copy of Shield's book "How We Got Here" https://sublationmedia.com/product/how-we-got-here-melville-plus-nietzsche-divided-by-the-square-root-of-allan-bloom-times-zizek-squared-equals-bannon-by-david-shields/ Support Sublation Media https://patreon.com/diets...

Mar 21, 202554 minEp. 625

Episode 624: A New World Order or a New Chaos?

Chris Cutrone assuages Douglas Lain's fears as they survey the wreckage of Trump's first 50 days in office. Is Trump an amateur just throwing spaghetti against the wall to see what sticks? Yes? Is he a world historic figure who aims to rearrange the world order? Yes again? Watch the second half of this podcast on Patreon, and join a Zoom call afterparty conversation with other socialists and thinkers. https://pareon.com/dietsoap Chris Cutrone's "Marxism and Politics" was paused for a time as we ...

Mar 14, 20251 hr 35 minEp. 624

Episode 622: Arturo Vs. Grok 3- Fact Checking Redux!

In this week's Diet Soap podcast, Arturo Desimone returns to set the record straight about the Monroe Doctrine and the character of American power while Doug fact checks him again in real time using Elon's newest wonder: Grok 3! Support Sublation Media on Patreon https://patreon.com/dietsoap

Mar 06, 20251 hr 14 minEp. 622

Episode 621: Should the Democrats Cooperate with RFK Jr?

Zaid Jilani joins Douglas Lain to discuss his two recent articles for Compact: The Democrats’ RFK Dilemma https://www.compactmag.com/article/the-democrats-rfk-dilemma/ Democrats Should Work with Trump https://www.compactmag.com/article/democrats-should-work-with-trump/ Patrons are invited to discuss these podcasts by Zoom every week.Support Us on Patreon to join the conversation. https://patreon.com/dietsoap

Feb 20, 20251 hr 3 minEp. 621

Episode 620: Information Overload and Demagoguery

This episode of the Sublation Magazine show will attempt to sort through the questions and narratives that are bombarding those of us who are trying to pay attention to the political situation, especially in America. Is Trump a dictator, after all? Is Elon any good with computers? Did Vance make a speech in support of Nazis and Fascists? Are the Democrats rebooting the resistance, and if so, what does that mean for the left? Support Sublation Media on Patreon https://patreon.com/dietsoap...

Feb 18, 20251 hr 7 minEp. 620

Episode 619: On Trump's Plan for Gaza

Chris Cutrone returns to discuss his recent essay for COMPACT entitled " Mar-a-Gaza." How should socialists understand Trump's proposal? How should the ethnic cleansing of Gaza be resisted now that it is uninhabitable? What went wrong with the pro-Palestinian protest movement? Support Sublation Media https://patreon.com/dietsoap

Feb 14, 202559 minEp. 619

Episode 618: A Marxist Platypus?

Erin Hagood is the president of the Platypus Affiliated Society and in this episode she explains how this growing Marxist group is intervening on the left. Are they up to no good? Are they saving the world and our collective memory?

Feb 13, 20251 hr 22 minEp. 618

Episode 617: Elon Musk and His Lost Boys Take Over the World

This week's Sublaton Magazine stream will include a discussion with Benjamin Studebaker about Elon Musk's takeover of the Federal Government. Are we now entering an era of high-tech feudalism? Do we like the taste of it? We will also be discussing Rob McCleary's Short Story "Nixon in Space" https://electricliterature.com/nixon-in-space-rob-mccleary/ Support Sublation Media https://patreon.com/dietsoap

Feb 11, 20251 hr 3 minEp. 617

Episode 616: On Marx's Critique of Political Economy

Following up on Reid Kane's podcast discussing the Marxist Value Critics, Spencer Leonard discusses Marx's critique of political economy and its relevance today. Support Sublation Media on Patreon https://patreon.com/dietsoap

Feb 07, 20251 hr 29 minEp. 616

Episode 615: Trump, Tariffs, and Executive Orders

Douglas Lain and Benjamin Studebaker discuss the prospects for the US and Canada. Who will win the coming trade war? What is the point of blaming Canada? Story of the Week: Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" https://fullreads.com/literature/the-lottery/ Support Sublation Media on Patreon https://patreon.com/dietsoap

Feb 04, 202558 minEp. 615

Episode 614: Quentin S Crisp Remembers Hamsters

Nina Power and Douglas Lain discuss Quentin S. Crisp's novel "Hamster Dam," Neo-Decadence, and the life of the writer in the 21st century. Questions asked include: Do we misremember ourselves? What is frightening today? Do the seventies live on? Support Sublation Media https://patreon.com/dietsoap

Jan 27, 20251 hr 5 minEp. 614

Episode 613: Why Are Conservatives so WOKE for Israel?

Joseph (Jake) Klein explains the history of DEI and how riots in the 60s led to redefinitions of racism. A conservative libertarian, Klein also criticizes his colleagues for their hypocrisy. They are WOKE for Israel. Patrons are invited to a follow-up discussion on Zoom at 2:30pm Pacific. Support Sublation Media https://patreon.com/dietsoap

Jan 23, 20251 hr 8 minEp. 613

Episode 612: Curtis Yarvin, JD Vance, and the New Trump Era

Benjamin Studebaker and Douglas Lain discuss the meaning of the "left's" fear of a Yarvinized America. Will Trump realize "neo-feudalism?" Is this the dawning of the Dark Enlightenment? Were the Democrats correct when they argued that Trump was going to be a DICTATOR? Support Sublation Media and Join the Conversation https://patreon.com/dietsoap

Jan 20, 20251 hr 6 minEp. 612

Episode 611: Did Chris Cutrone Jump the Shark?

Amid renewed calls for his cancellation, Chris Cutrone addresses his critics about an essay that was to be entitled "Why Not Greenland?" Also discussed: How can we understand this moment without tailing any capitalist party? What about the Labor Theory of Value? And did Fonzie even "jump the shark" in the sense the phrase is usually meant? Support Sublation Media on Patreon https://patreon.com/dietsoap

Jan 18, 20251 hr 39 minEp. 611

Episode 610: Jacob Shell talks Geography and Trump

Jacob Shell is a professor of geography and urban studies at Temple University. He is also addicted to X (Twitter) and a critic of the left and the Democrats. Shell insists he's not a leftist, but if the left were alive, I believe he would be. Support Sublation Media https://patreon.com/dietsoap

Jan 16, 20251 hr 2 minEp. 610

Episode 609: Greenland, Canada, Panama and the MAGA Monroe Doctrine

In this episode of Sublation Magazine, we discuss Trump's intention to expand America. Is he trolling? Is he serious? How seriously should we take Chris Cutrone's defense of Trump's plans? Is there a chance for an "Empire of Liberty?" What does it take to be a Marxist (first or last) in the age of Trump? Also, what is the meaning of a Vanishing Elephant? Story of the Week: The Elephant Vanishes by Haruki Murakami https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1991/11/18/the-elephant-vanishes Chris Cutrone's...

Jan 13, 20251 hr 7 minEp. 609

Episode 608: What is "Bonapartism"?

Spencer Leonard joins Douglas Lain for the first "Spencer Leonard Hour." Spencer will be appearing on the channel monthly going forward in order to educate us about the misunderstood and neglected history of Marxism. Support Sublation Media on Patreon https://patreon.com/dietsoap

Jan 10, 20251 hr 15 minEp. 608

Episode 606: Recapping 2024 with Derick Varn

Doug's old co-host joins him to think over the last year and the prospects for a new new left in 2025. Support Sublation Media https://patreon.com/dietsoap

Dec 31, 20241 hr 40 minEp. 606

Episode 605: Leaving Woke, Finding Peace

Umut Özkýrýmlý reveals how the Left has been sucked into a spiral of toxic hatred and outrage-mongering, retreating from the democratic ideals of freedom and pluralism that it purports to represent. Exploring the similarities between right-wing populism and radical identity politics, he sets out an alternative vision. It is only by focusing on our common humanity and working across differences that the Left will find a constructive and consensual way back from "woke". Support Sublation Media htt...

Dec 25, 202457 minEp. 605

Episode 604: Lukács, Literature, and Cutrone

Douglas Lain and Chris Cutrone discuss György Lukács' "The Theory of the Novel: A Historico-philosophical Essay on the Forms of Great Epic Literature," which provides Doug an opportunity to reminisce on his long-lost vocation as a novelist. Link to Lukacs' Theory of the Novel https://analepsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/georg-lukacs-the-theory-of-the-novel.pdf Support Sublation Media on Patreon https://patreon.com/dietsoap

Dec 20, 20241 hr 40 minEp. 604

Episode 603: Drones, Assassins, and Pseudo-Events

Benjamin Studebaker takes on the co-host role in this first of the new Sublation Magazine streams. In this episode, we'll discuss the idea of the pseudo-event, the assassination of the UnitedHealthcare CEO, and the meaning of the East Coast drone invasion while also covering Toby Green and Thomas Fazi's essay for Sublation Magazine entitled: "A Victory for the Covid Policy Skeptics?" Is Neofeudalism ending, or is it merely rebranding? We will also discuss Donald Barthleme's short story, "Some of...

Dec 16, 20241 hr 2 minEp. 603

Episode 602: Is Transgender a Sexual Orientation?

Phil Illy is the author of the book "Autoheterosexual: Attracted to Being the Other Sex" and in this week's podcast, he discusses the theory that the transgender phenomenon is best understood through the lens of human sexuality. He argues that by covering up what he calls "autoheterosexuality" the culture is harming trans people. Support Sublation Media https://patreon.com/dietsoap

Dec 12, 20241 hr 5 minEp. 602

Episode 601: Spencer Leonard asks "Is Capitalism Ending Itself?"

The Sublation Magazine Show will be moving to Mondays starting on the 16th of December as we transition from the era of Ashley Frawley and welcome Benjamin Studebaker as the new co-host. In this Tuesday transition episode, Spencer Leonard and Doug will discuss the ideas of Henryk Grossman, the Marxist radical who believed that capitalism would eventually lead to a terminal crisis. Support Sublation Media https://patreon.com/dietsoap

Dec 11, 20241 hr 26 minEp. 601
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