In this episode Kevin sit talks to Dr. Benjamin Studebaker to discuss, Plato, comparisons of modern politics to the Roman Empire, Trotsky’s theory of permanent revolution, questiosn of legitimization of politial systems, the potential for revolution or reform, fascism and whether it a useful term in today’s political dynamics, and more. Guest Biography: Benjamin Studebaker holds a PhD in Politics and International Relations from Cambridge. He is a political thinker and commentator on a wide rang...
Jan 24, 2023•2 hr 21 min
In this episode Kevin talks to Eva Putzova of ROC United about the Restaurant Workers Bill of Rights (RWBR) . About the RWBR: The early weeks of the COVID pandemic gave us a glimpse into the necessity for widespread solidarity with restaurant and other essential workers. The last few years, if not before then, showed all of that a systemic change across a myriad of policies affecting women, mothers, people of color, and immigrants who comprise the vast majority of restaurant workers is not only ...
Dec 03, 2022•1 hr 4 min
We’re back! In the last several month Kevin, the Host of the Sensible Socialist has taken a step back and done a deep dive into the philosophy of Buddhism. In this return episode, Kevin talks with Graham Priest. Graham Priest is Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at the CUNY Graduate Center in New York. Hailing originally from South London, Graham moved to Australia to take a position at the University of Western Australia and stayed in Australia until he came to CUNY in 2009. With a primary ...
Oct 18, 2022•1 hr 43 min
In this episode Kevin talks with Chris Cutrone about the thesis that the left is dead. They discuss the Platypus Affiliated Society, what he means by the death of the left, a brief history of the left in the 20th century, a discussion of the Millennial left, the question of DSA and the gradualist approach, and much more. To learn more about the Platypus Affiliated Society go to https://platypus1917.org/ If you like this content and want to support it, go to http://www.patreon.com/sensiblesociali...
Mar 05, 2022•1 hr 42 min
In this episode Thamil Ananthavinayagan comes back on to discuss the topic of Economic, Social, and Cultural rights from a TWAILer’s perspective. If you like this channel, please consider subscribing on YouTube, liking this video, or support us at http://www.patreon.com/sensiblesocialist
Feb 12, 2022•1 hr 16 min
In this episode Kevin talks to Breht O’Shea of Rev Left Radio to talk about anti-communist pseudo-intellectual James Lindsay’s misunderstandings, bad faith takes, and overall hilariously juvenile perspective on Marxism. Lindsay rose to prominence in the Grievance Studies affair, but has since moved on to criticism Critical Race Theory and Marxism, just the latest in a long line of anti-communist “intellectuals” who either haven’t actually read Marx or only read Marx for the purposes of discredit...
Feb 03, 2022•1 hr 53 min
Hans-Gerog Moeller is professor of Philosophy at the University of Macau. His research focuses on Social and Political Thought and on Chinese and Comparative Philosophy. He is author of You and Your Profile: Identity after Authenticity, The Moral Fool: A Case for Amorality and several book on Daoist philosophy. He his own YouTube channels Carefree Wandering and Philosophy in Motion. In this conversation we talk about Moeller’s The Theory of Identity, The Dialectical Nature of Identity, The Conti...
Jan 26, 2022•1 hr 37 min
If you like this content, please support us at patreon.com/sensiblesocailist In this episode Kevin talks to Michael Sturza a life-long socialist political activist about his book and the events, class dynamics and long shadow of the London Revolution of 1640-43. They talk about the rise of capitalism in England, the role of free trade and the merchant class, the Puritans, the levelers, and the diggers. Download: .mp3...
Jan 19, 2022•52 min
In this second conversation with a listener of the Sensible Socialist, we focus on issues specifically related to worker cooperatives and a cooperative society. We discuss issues of scaling, funding, ideology, wishful thinking, and the role of efficiency and in inefficiency. you like this podcast and want to support it go to Patreon.com/sensiblesocialist
Jan 12, 2022•1 hr 31 min
If you enjoy this content please support us at ww.patreon.com/sensiblesocialist In this episode Kevin talks to Batya Ungar-Sargon, Deputy Opinion Editor at Newsweek about the topic of her most recent book Bad News: How Woke Media Is Undermining Democracy ( https://www.encounterbooks.com/books/bad-news/ ). They talk about what each means when they call themselves a socialist, the phenomenon of wokeism, the conservatism of the American working class, political hypocrisy and more. Batya is the depu...
Jan 04, 2022•56 min
If you like this show please like, subscribe, and got to http://www.patreon.com/sensiblesocialist to support us directly. In this episode Kevin brings back Brandon Madsen (DSA- Reform and Revolution Caucus) to review the current state of things. They discuss Dialectics, Class Struggle, Using Historical Materialism, the role of Technology, The Modern American Class Structure, America’s failed political system, identity politics, America’s Economic system, including the movement away from consumer...
Dec 27, 2021•2 hr 27 min
If you enjoy the show, please support it by donating on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/sensiblesocialist In this episode we talk to Allyson Kim, a Cultural Entrepreneur and Social Designer, currently studying Social Design at the Center for Social Design at the Maryland Institute College of Art. Allyson Kim, like Kevin, is interested in the social design of a future Martian Settlement. In their discussion they talk about the unique situation on Mars, what the means for the social, political, cu...
Dec 19, 2021•59 min
In this return episode of the Sensible Socialist, Kevin talks to Ben Burgis about his background and some fairly nerdy philosophic issues, and the inimitable Christopher Hitchens. Ben Burgis is philosophy professor, a columnist for Jacobin Magazine, among others. He hosts his own podcast called Give Them An Argument, and he is stating a new gig on Callin’ Give ME An Argument. He was a regular guest on the also inimitable Michael Brooks show, and has written several book published by Zero Books i...
Dec 06, 2021•1 hr 40 min
Support the Podcast – Patreon.com/sensiblesocialist In this episode I talk with a listener who reached out with some questions for me. We have a wide ranging discussion on a number of different topics. I hope you find it interesting.
Jun 16, 2021•3 hr 16 min
In this episode legal scholars and human rights advocates Thamil Ananthavinayagan and Wasem Ahmad join Kevin to discuss the hum costs of the current hostilities in Gaza, the rules of International Humanitarian Law, and how they apply in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. To learn more about Al Haq check out their website: https://www.alhaq.org/...
May 25, 2021•2 hr 10 min
The audio of my chat with popular streamer Destiny about socialism and cooperatives.
May 12, 2021•3 hr 1 min
In this episode I talk with Brandon Madsen about Leninism and it’s applicability in the 21st century. If you like this podcast, please support it at patreon.com/sensiblesocialist Download: .mp3
Apr 17, 2021•1 hr 41 min
In this episode I speak with Dr. Thamil Ananthavinayagan about international law and what a eft critique looks like. Thamil is a proponent of the Third World Approaches to International Law perspective, which aims to put international law in its proper place – as the well spring of imperialism and colonization. In our conversation we discuss the role of the state, the problem with enforcement, the Great Powers, the Security Council, and issues with Human Rights. Download: .mp3...
Mar 27, 2021•1 hr 52 min
In this episode host Kevin Gustafson talks with Noah Hutton, the writer, director, editor and score composer of the new film Lapsis. Lapsis was selected to premiere at SXSW in the narrative feature competition and has since won the grand jury prize at BIFAN in South Korea. At its core, the film is political, both in style and substance and has been compared to Boots Riley’s Sorry to Bother You and Ken Loach’s Sorry We Missed You. Lapsis comments on the already dystopian gig economy by imagining ...
Mar 09, 2021•54 min
On January 26, 2021 Sam Harris released an episode of his podcast Making Sense about Inequality and Revolutions with George Mason University professor Jack Goldstone. In this video, Sensible Socialist host Kevin Gustafson talks with Brett O’Shea of Rev Left Radio, Cinar Ackin of All Things Coop, and Veteran Guest Aaron Firouz discuss the shortcomings of the views presented in the episode.
Mar 01, 2021•1 hr 41 min
Anya Parampil, Max Blumenthal, and Brandon Madsen join Kevin to discuss the Biden Administration’s continued recognition of Juan Guaidó as president of Venezuela, the history of the Bolivarian revolution, and a bit of a debate about how socialists should view it and the government headed by Maduro and the PSUV.
Feb 18, 2021•1 hr 35 min
In this episode Brandon Madsen and Aaron Firouz join host Kevin Gustafson to discuss the DSA and the Dirty Break Strategy. The strategy, as the name suggests, that rather than making a clean break from the Democratic Party, DSA should begin to move towards becoming a party itself, or at least more party-like and begin running it’s own candidates were possible, but remain open to running as Democrats where advantageous. In the recent edition of Reform and Revolution Magazine, from the caucus of D...
Feb 04, 2021•1 hr 50 min
Welcome back! We’ve returned now and we’re on video. In this return episode Kevin sits down with DSA member Brandon Madsen and CPUSA member Josh Morris to discuss the January 6th Putsch, the state and big tech crackdown, the growing strength of tech workers and unionization efforts at Google, as well as looking at the new Biden administration and what that means for left organizing after Trump. This was the first of what I hope to be many conversations with Brandon and Josh as well as a slate of...
Jan 28, 2021•1 hr 34 min
In this episode I debate with my friend and comrade Aaron Firouz about voting for Joe Biden. I cannot bring myself to do so, but Aaron makes compelling arguments why, despite understandable reservations, one would be right to vote for Sleepy Joe. Haven’t decided yet how you’re gonna vote? Listen to this. .mp3
Aug 11, 2020•1 hr 31 min
In this episode we talk with Ashton Rome. Ashton is a long time leftist organizer and activist who was active in organizing in Ferguson Missouri after the death of Michael Brown. Ashton recently wrote an article in Left Voice discussing the potential fascist backlash from the social, political, and economic unrest currently going on. We discussed the calls to defund and/or abolish police, the role of the police in capitalist society, the deflationary role played be the democratic party, and the ...
Jul 19, 2020•1 hr 6 min
In this episode I discuss my thought son the George Floyd protest, the connection of white supremacy to capitalism in America, the role of the police in a capitalist system, and the prospects for abolition of police under the current system. Download: .mp3
Jun 11, 2020•32 min
https://sensiblesocialist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/episode-58-the-youth.mp3 In this episode I talk with Caden Metcalf about the interest in Socialism and radical ideas by young people. We talk about the impact of Bernie Sander’s campaign, a looming economic crisis, the cost of higher education, lies and propaganda still taught in schools and the impact of Coronavirus on young people. Download: .mp3...
May 28, 2020•56 min
https://sensiblesocialist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/episode-57-why-you-should-join-dsa.mp3 In this episode I talk with Brandon Madsen, a long time socialist revolutionary, about why socialist should join DSA. We talk DSA’s history, Democratic Centralism, DSA’s big tent, and the potential of a new party representing the working class, among other things. Download: .mp3...
May 13, 2020•1 hr 38 min
https://sensiblesocialist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/episode-56-albert-lee-for-congress.mp3 In this episode we talk with Albert Lee , a socialist candidate for office in Oregon’s 3rd district. We talk about the 3rd district, the incumbent, his polices, running a campaign during COVID, running as a Socialist and Bernie Sander’s dropping out. Download: .mp3...
May 05, 2020•52 min
https://sensiblesocialist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/episode-55-marxism-leninism-maoism.mp3 In this episode we talk to Hex from Red State Radio about Marxism-Leninism-Maoism. We talk about what differentiates Leninism from Marxism, and Maoism from Leninism. We talk about China’s communist experiment, Mao-Tse-Tung thought, the revolutionary potential of the peasantry, and more. Download: .mp3...
Apr 27, 2020•59 min
