Proles Pod

Rae and Tony sit down with Holly High—frequent guest on Tony's other podcast, Actually Existing Socialism—to discuss the present-day realities of Laos' socialist people's democracy. Holly is an anthropologist whose fieldwork in Laos uses ethnographic methods and anthropological analysis to explore everyday human experience. Check out Holly's Substack, Revolutions in Reproduction, and subscribe for a chance to win a free copy of one of her books. Support the show Join us on Patreon 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 favorite podcast app, and don't forget to rate and review it helps the show reach more comrades.Follow us on: Twitter/X: @prolespod Instagram & Facebook: @prolespod Upscrolled: @prolespod Have questions or comments? Email us at [email protected] Have questions, comments, or ideas that are too spicy for the FBI? Email us at [email protected]

*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id= "request-WEB:46689808-d0dc-4eed-be4c-a712e949e949-0" data-testid= "conversation-turn-2" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> Luna Oi and EJ join the show for a grounded, hilarious, and wide-ranging conversation on what socialist construction actually looks like in Vietnam today—the wins, the contradictions, the setbacks, and yes, a bit of extra beef along the way. They also dive into their ambitious translation project, bringing Vietnamese Marxism-Leninism textbooks to a broader audience and unpacking why that work matters right now. Access Free Vietnamese Marxist Leninist Textbook PDF Here Buy Vietnamese Marxist-Leninist Textbook Physical Copy Here Support the show Join us on Patreon 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 favorite podcast app, and don't forget to rate and review it helps the show reach more comrades.Follow us on: Twitter/X: @prolespod Instagram & Facebook: @prolespod Upscrolled: @prolespod Have questions or comments? Email us at [email protected] Have questions, comments, or ideas that are too spicy for the FBI? Email us at [email protected]

Where Are the Girls?! In honor of International Working Women's Day, Rae is joined by several girls (and girls adjacent) to ask and answer a question that weighs heavily on left spaces: Where are the girls?! Why are so many communist spaces male dominated, what are the impediments to getting women and people of other genders to join, and once they've joined, are there specific considerations that make it difficult for them to stay? Joining Rae are Pame Ledesma of Y Las Palabras and correspondent of Means Morning News, Lenore and Jen Big Nasty of Workers' Lit and How the Red Was Won, Revolutionary Th0t, and Princess Marx. And don't forget to head over to Patreon.com/ProlesPod for the bonus episode Slumber Party Edition.

Back in the summer of 2024, back in the BSE (Before Stalin Eras) period of the Proles reboot - Rae, Tony, and Jeremy joined Breht on RevLeft Radio to talk Marxism. If you haven't heard it! Check it out. If you have, listen again! Support the show: Join us on Patreon 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 favorite podcast app, and don't forget to rate and review it helps the show reach more comrades.Follow us on: Twitter/X: @prolespod Instagram & Facebook: @prolespod Upscrolled: @prolespod Have questions or comments? Email us at [email protected] Have questions, comments, or ideas that are too spicy for the FBI? Email us at [email protected]

We did it! Somehow. And somehow there are now more episodes post-comeback than in the original run. It doesn't really feel that way. These past two years have flown by. It feels like only yesterday that Justin was saying, "I think we should invite the guy who does the AES podcast to join Proles." We're grateful to Tony and Rae for putting up with the brothers J, and for adding insight we wouldn't have. But we also want to thank all of you, our listeners, without whom we would just be four people with ADHD screaming into the void. We love you, comrades. We love you so much we decided to forgo our typical format and answer your burning questions about soup and other serious matters. We hope you enjoy. And we hope we last to episode 200 without being taken out by the US State Department. Intro Music: "ProlesPod Theme" by Ransom Notes Outro Music: "Eastern Bloc Beats" by DJ DTA

This episode, which was recorded toward the end of November 2025, nonetheless tells an intersting story that gives context to the historical moment we have found ourselves in. It adresses the role of the left in latin american movements, the future, philosophy, and the failure of social democracy. We are joined by Dr Marc Becker and Dr Brandon Sanchez who are experts on these areas and histories. Support the show: Join us on Patreon 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 favorite podcast app, and don't forget to rate and review it helps the show reach more comrades.Follow us on: Twitter/X: @prolespod Instagram & Facebook: @prolespod Upscrolled: @prolespod Have questions or comments? Email us at [email protected] Have questions, comments, or ideas that are too spicy for the FBI? Email us at [email protected] May the spectre haunt your streets and solidarity forever.

Andre is back! This time they join Rae and Jeremy for a conversation on how to study and read theory. The discussion covers recommended readings, practical reading tips, and other useful guidance to help listeners better undersand and engage with Marxism-Leninism. Andre's Beginner Communist Resource Video Beginner Friendly Theory Primers: Georges Politzer, Elementary Principles of Philosophy (ProleWiki Link) (Foreign Language Press version) Maurice Cornforth, Dialectical Materialism: An Introduction (Volumes 1-3) PDF Hosted On Prolewiki, Buy a physical copy from Aakar Books Basic Curriculum of the Principles of Marxism Leninism (Translated by Luna Nyugun) Potential Reading Lists For Getting Into The Classics ML Reading Hub's List ProleWiki's Absolute Beginner's List Marxist Internet Archive's List Recommended Auxiliary Theory Texts: J.M Blaut, Marxism And Eurocentric Diffusionism Domenico Losurdo, Flight From History? The Communist Movement between Self-Criticism and Self-Contempt Two Members of the Bolshevik Tendency, Nationhood Or Genocide: The Struggle of the Native People Against Canadian and American Imperialism Leslie Feinberg, Lavender & Red Love Is Law: Cuba's Queer Rights Revolution Miscellaneous Mentioned Or Cited Texts for Part 2: Vladimir Lenin, The Three Sources and Three Component Parts of Marxism Kim Jong-Il, Giving Priority To Ideological Work Is Essential For Acomplishing Socialism Kim Jong-Il, On The Juche Idea George Jackson, Blood In My Eye Audiobook reading of the Losurdo essay

On this very special (clip show) espisode, we bring you three separate types of cOnTeNt you can access on Patreon if you so choose. Card Carrying Communist is a bit more fun and less structured--we came up with several dozen bonkers questions which end up randomized for our guests. The Secret Speech allows us to address topics we didn't get to on the main feed. And Q&Rae is pretty much what it sounds like: Rae asks whichever Proles are available at the time a bunch of listener-submitted (and Rae-submitted) questions. If you like what you hear, you can sign up at Patreon 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 @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.

The gang's all here! On the first classic Proles episode in a while, the crew reads through texts written by Kim Il-Sung and Kim Jong-Il. We unpack what makes Juche and the DPRK unique inheritors of the tradition of Marxism-Leninism as well as dialectical and historical materialism. Jeremy covers the Juche Idea, Tony talks governance and reuinification, and Rae gives us a look at Korean theater, music, and art. We've started including a short preview of our bonus episodes at the end of the main feed, so stay around for those! You can sign up at Patreon 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 @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: Kim Il sung (1948-1994) Reminiscences: With the Century Let Us Create South-South Cooperation On Eliminating Dogmatism and Formalism and Establishing Juche in Ideological Work On Achieving the National Reunification by the Great Unity of the Nation Ours is the Socialism of Juche Kim Jong Il (1994-2011) On the Art of the Drama On the Art of Music Abuses of Socialism Are Intolerable On the Juche Philosophy Kim Jong Un (2011-present) Let Us Brilliantly Accomplish the Revolutionary Cause of Juche Dissecting Kim Jong Un's Plenum Speech on North Korea's 2024 Plans DPRK news http://www.rodong.rep.kp/en/index.php?MUBAMkAxQA== http://www.pyongyangtimes.com.kp/ https://www.nknews.org/ Intro Music: "ProlesPod Theme" by Ransom Notes Outro Music: "Eastern Bloc Beats" by DJ DTA

Rae and Jeremy are joined by returning guest, Frank Gruba-McCallister, for a meander through the philosophy that drives Frank's own, expanding on the role of capitalism in the human experience, as well as the ways in which Marx overlaps and applies to interpretations of mental health and healing. Frank is the co-author of The Revolutionary Psychologist's Guide to Radical Therapy, and runs the r/counterpsych page. Support the show: Join us on Patreon 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 favorite podcast app, and don't forget to rate and review it helps the show reach more comrades.Follow us on: Twitter/X: @prolespod Instagram & Facebook: @prolespod TikTok: @proles.pod Have questions or comments? Email us at [email protected]. May the spectre haunt your streets and solidarity forever.

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 calls "the endless Cold War." Reading and Viewing Recommendations: Andre's Beginner Communist Resource Video Quote Reading From The Russians Are Coming Quote Reading From Socialism Betrayed Main Books And Their Respective Follow-Ups: Anna Louise Strong, This Soviet World V.L Allen, The Russians Are Coming: The Politics of Anti-Sovietism Roger Keeran and Thomas Kenny, Socialism Betrayed: Behind the Collapse of the Soviet Union Aimé Césaire, Discourse On Colonialism Walter Rodney, How Europe Underdeveloped Africa Eduardo Galeano, Open Veins of Latin America: Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent A.B Abrams, Atrocity Fabrication And Its Consequences: How Fake News Shapes World Order Samir Amin, The Liberal Virus: Permanent War And The Americanization Of The World A.B Abrams, Power And Primacy: A History of Western Intervention in the Asia-Pacific (2023 Updated Edition) Other Cited Texts: Stuart Hall, When We Are All Enemies of the State Karl Marx, Theses On Feuerbach Basic Curriculum of the Principles of Marxism Leninism (Translated by Luna Nyugun) Georges Politzer, Elementary Principles of Philosophy (ProleWiki Link) (Foreign Language Press version) Maurice Cornforth, Dialectical Materialism: An Introduction (Volumes 1-3) PDF Hosted On Prolewiki Vincent Bevins, If We Burn: The Mass Protest Decade And The Missing Revolution Domenico Losurdo, Flight from History? The Communist Movement between Self-Criticism and Self-Contempt Agustín Lage Dávila, The Knowledge Economy And Socialism: Science And Society In Cuba Kyle Ferrana, Why The World Needs China: Development, Environmentalism, Conflict Resolution & Common Prosperity Douglas Valentine, The CIA As Organized Crime: How Illegal Operations Corrupt America And The World Albert Szymanski, Human Rights In The Soviet Union: Including Comparisons With The U.S.A Extra Recommended Readings: E.H Carr, The Soviet Impact On The Western World Anna Lousie Strong, In North Korea: First Eye-Witness Report Albert Szymanski, Is The Red Flag Flying? The Political Economy of the Soviet Union Today Support the show: Join us on Patreon 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 favorite podcast app, and don't forget to rate and review it helps the show reach more comrades.Follow us on: Twitter/X: @prolespod Instagram & Facebook: @prolespod TikTok: @proles.pod Have questions or comments? Email us at [email protected]. May the spectre haunt your streets and solidarity forever. Find Weeb Revolution on YouTube.

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 Patreon 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 favorite podcast app, and don't forget to rate and review it helps the show reach more comrades.Follow us on: Twitter/X: @prolespod Instagram & Facebook: @prolespod TikTok: @proles.pod Have questions or comments? Email us at [email protected]. May the spectre haunt your streets and solidarity forever. Follow The Leninist Lawyer: @LovelyLeninist

Rae and Jeremy sit down with Nathan from Schizophrenic Reads 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 Patreon 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 @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. You can find Nathan HERE! Intro Music: "ProlesPod Theme" by Ransom Notes Outro Music: "Eastern Bloc Beats" by DJ DTA

The Stalin Eras: Sources & Supplemental Material: https://www.patreon.com/posts/141308561 The Stalin Eras: Bonus Episodes: https://www.patreon.com/collection/798550 The Stalin Eras: Link Tree with Playlist https://linktr.ee/thestalineras

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 Patreon 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 @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. Text Version of Winged Eros Audio Version of Winged Eros Intro Music: "ProlesPod Theme" by Ransom Notes Outro Music: "Eastern Bloc Beats" by DJ DTA

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. CounterPsych Reddit Jon's Other Project: The TTRPG Surreal Punk Sources: Gruba-McCallister, F. P. (2019). Embracing disillusionment: Achieving liberation through the demystification of suffering.University Professors Press. Gruba-McCallister, F. P. (2025). Radical healing: No wellness without justice. University Professors Press. Hook, J., & Gruba-McCallister, F. P. (Eds.) (2025). The revolutionary psychologist's guide to radical therapy. Palgrave Macmillan. To be released 11-30-25. Available for pre-order on Amazon. Link to Order Book Friere, P. (1970). Pedagogy of the oppressed. Herder and Herder. Fromm, E. (1955). The sane society. Fawcett Publications, Inc. Parker, I. (2018). Marxist theory and psychotherapy. In B. Cohen (Ed.), Routledge international handbook of critical mental health (pp. 244-250). Routledge.

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 Patreon 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 @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 Outro Music: "Eastern Bloc Beats" by DJ DTA

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 Patreon 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 @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: John Brown, Abolitionist: The Man Who Killed Slavery, Sparked the Civil War, and Seeded CIvil Rights by David S. Reynolds Midnight Rising: John Brown and the Raid that Sparked the Civil War by Tony Horowitz The Old Man: John Brown at Harpers Ferry by Truman Nelson John Brown by W.E.B. Du Bois Anti-Racism in US History: The First Hundred Years by Herbert Aptheker Intro Music: "ProlesPod Theme" by Ransom Notes Outro Music: "Eastern Bloc Beats" by DJ DTA