What makes a book of Marxist theory so controversial that publishers back out after initially accepting it? The answer takes us deep into the heart of leftist intellectual debates that have shaped revolutionary movements for generations.

"Flowers for Marx" brings together contrasting perspectives on fundamental questions that have divided Marxists since the 19th century. The conversation opens by exploring how platform appearances on shows like Joe Rogan became grounds for publisher rejection, raising crucial questions about whether the left should prioritize ideological purity or audience expansion.

At the core of this discussion lies the tension between humanism and scientific approaches to Marxism. Conrad Hamilton defends Althusser's critique of humanism as potentially undermining revolutionary politics, while pointing to the achievements of actually existing socialist states often overlooked in Western discourse. Ben Burgis pushes back, arguing that core historical materialist insights suggest underdeveloped societies face inherent limitations in building socialism without first developing productive forces.

The global dimension becomes clear when Ernesto Vargas begins examining Mexico's experience, where dependency on international financial institutions undermined development despite significant land redistribution initiatives. These different national contexts reveal how abstract theoretical debates manifest in concrete historical situations, challenging Eurocentric assumptions about revolutionary strategy.

What emerges is a recognition that while these debates recur cyclically, they're not merely academic exercises. They reflect genuine dilemmas revolutionaries face in different contexts, which explains why theories considered settled often resurface with new urgency. Whether discussing the moral dimensions of Marxism or the viability of different development paths, these conversations remain vital precisely because the challenges they address persist.

Tune in to our follow-up panel featuring Matt McManus and Daniel Tutt for additional perspectives on these enduring questions that continue to shape leftist thought and practice worldwide.

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Crew:
Host: C. Derick Varn
Intro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake.
Intro Video Design: Jason Myles
Art Design: Corn and C. Derick Varn

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What if our personal stories are more valuable than we realize? In this thought-provoking conversation, William Welser, founder of LOTIC and innovative technologist, explores how our narratives shape not just our understanding of ourselves but also the artificial intelligence systems we create.

Welser challenges conventional thinking about data, arguing that our stories provide the richest, most authentic information about who we are. "Storytelling is maybe the purest source of data about oneself," he explains, revealing how his background in chemical engineering led him to a surprising focus on behavioral science and human narrative. This perspective offers a refreshing counterpoint to traditional data science approaches that often dismiss narrative as too messy or subjective.

The discussion delves into the capabilities and limitations of large language models, offering clarity amidst often polarized debates. Rather than seeing AI as either humanity's savior or destroyer, Welser presents a nuanced view of technology as a tool that reflects our own values and limitations back to us. His breakdown of the data supply chain—from raw data to information to intelligence to wisdom—illuminates why even advanced AI systems cannot replace human judgment and experience.

Perhaps most compelling is Welser's examination of how modern media environments have transformed storytelling from authentic self-expression to performance. This shift disconnects us from our true values and hampers our ability to make wise decisions. His solution? Creating space for vulnerability and honest self-reflection, whether through journaling, conversation with trusted friends, or even privacy-centered AI tools specifically designed for reflection.

Embrace the mantra that guides Welser's approach to both technology and self-understanding: "Consider that you might be wrong." By remaining open to new information and willing to challenge our own assumptions, we can better navigate an increasingly complex technological landscape while staying connected to our authentic selves.

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Musis by Bitterlake, Used with Permission, all rights to Bitterlake

Support the show

Crew:
Host: C. Derick Varn
Intro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake.
Intro Video Design: Jason Myles
Art Design: Corn and C. Derick Varn

Links and Social Media:
twitter: @varnvlog
blue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.social
You can find the additional streams on Youtube

Current Patreon at the Sponsor Tier: Jordan Sheldon, Mark J. Matthews, Lindsay Kimbrough, RedWolf, DRV, Kenneth McKee, JY Chan, Matthew Monahan, Parzival, Adriel Mixon, Buddy Roark, Daniel Petrovic

What happens when artistic rebellion becomes just another commodity? In this thought-provoking conversation, Adam Turl unpacks his book "Gothic Capitalism: Art Evicted from Heaven and Earth," taking us on a journey through the ruins of revolutionary movements and avant-garde dreams.

The discussion begins with an unexpected Soviet connection—Alexandra Kollontai's gothic novella that serves as a metaphor for revolutionary ideals crumbling under bureaucratization. This sets the stage for exploring what Turrell calls the "gothic dialectic" within capitalism: how class struggles win partial victories only to see them rolled back, creating spaces of loss and nostalgia that haunt our cultural landscape.

Turl brilliantly analyzes Boris Groys' concept of the "weak avant-garde"—how once-revolutionary artistic gestures that sought to democratize art have become institutionalized without the social transformation they once promised. The white cube gallery, intended to elevate art, now often serves as an unwitting accomplice to gentrification. When art galleries moved into Boyle Heights, the conceptual art that once seemed democratizing became, in practice, a force of displacement.

The conversation takes fascinating turns through digital space, AI-generated art, and the false promises of Silicon Valley utopianism. Turl argues that just as cities once offered liberatory potential before becoming commodified "hellscapes," the internet has followed a similar trajectory of enclosure. Meanwhile, AI art burns massive resources to create derivative works—a bizarre form of wasteful consumption that prioritizes replacing human creativity over efficiency.

Throughout, Turl emphasizes that art's meaning emerges not just from the object itself but from its "social performance" in the world. He calls for reconnecting artistic practices to community organizing and mutual aid—not to make all art explicitly political, but to restore meaning in an increasingly alienated world. As both technological and ecological crises deepen, can we create spaces where art serves community rather than capital? Join us for this urgent conversation about finding beauty and solidarity amid the ruins.

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Musis by Bitterlake, Used with Permission, all rights to Bitterlake

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Crew:
Host: C. Derick Varn
Intro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake.
Intro Video Design: Jason Myles
Art Design: Corn and C. Derick Varn

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You can find the additional streams on Youtube

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Money isn't just about personal comfort—it's the foundation of sustainable social change. In this compelling conversation, attorney and business coach Courtney Teasley challenges conventional thinking about the relationship between financial power and justice work.

Teasley introduces her concept of the "DAM community" (Disproportionately Affected Marginalized Minority), explaining how these communities face three critical knowledge gaps: criminal justice literacy, civics, and financial literacy. Without understanding these systems, meaningful change remains elusive. The consequences are devastating—marginalized individuals caught in the criminal justice system face impossible choices between unaffordable legal representation or accepting pleas that permanently damage their economic prospects.

Traditional social justice approaches often fall short because they rely on external funding sources who may not understand community needs or may withdraw support when communities fight in ways donors disapprove of. As Teasley powerfully argues, "If we want to make change on a larger scale, we definitely need money in our pockets to do so." This reality demands new approaches to wealth-building beyond traditional homeownership, which remains inaccessible to most Americans under 50.

The conversation explores practical pathways forward—monetizing expertise through business ownership, strategic investing with newly accessible platforms, and creating multiple income streams. Teasley emphasizes that business ownership allows marginalized individuals to create both profit and impact, similar to socially-conscious companies like Ben & Jerry's or TOMS. By charging their value while incorporating sliding scales and payment plans, business owners can serve their communities without sacrificing sustainability.

For those skeptical of capitalism or concerned about ethical investing, Teasley offers pragmatic wisdom: "Not that we agree with how it is, but this is what it is. We must adapt and create in ways that feel authentic to ourselves." This balance of practical action and principled vision opens possibilities for lasting change that doesn't depend on external control.

Ready to explore how financial power can transform social justice work? Follow Courtney Teasley on YouTube at Black Law Girl, LinkedIn, or Instagram @thecourtneyteasley to learn more about creating sustainable paths to both personal wealth and community empowerment.

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Musis by Bitterlake, Used with Permission, all rights to Bitterlake

Support the show

Crew:
Host: C. Derick Varn
Intro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake.
Intro Video Design: Jason Myles
Art Design: Corn and C. Derick Varn

Links and Social Media:
twitter: @varnvlog
blue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.social
You can find the additional streams on Youtube

Current Patreon at the Sponsor Tier: Jordan Sheldon, Mark J. Matthews, Lindsay Kimbrough, RedWolf, DRV, Kenneth McKee, JY Chan, Matthew Monahan, Parzival, Adriel Mixon, Buddy Roark, Daniel Petrovic

Journey into the often-overlooked intersection of Buddhism and critical theory with Tom Pepper, author of "The Faithful Buddhist" and "Indispensable Goods." Tom challenges conventional Western Buddhist practices by exposing how deeply they're entangled with romantic ideology and capitalist structures.

Pepper argues that Western Buddhism has largely become a way for the alienated modern subject to find emotional compensation without confronting systemic issues. The romantic elements we've imported into Buddhism—prioritizing deep feelings over critical thought, seeking sublime experiences, and focusing on self-development—function as supportive structures for capitalism rather than challenges to it. This explains why popular Western Buddhist practices emphasize mindfulness and emotional regulation while avoiding political engagement and philosophical complexity.

Drawing connections between the historical introduction of Buddhism to the West and our selective interpretation of its teachings, Pepper demonstrates how we've systematically misunderstood concepts like anatman (no-self) and sunyata (emptiness). Our tendency to make ancient philosophies comfortable and compatible with modern thinking robs them of their power to challenge our fundamental assumptions about reality, consciousness, and society.

Perhaps most provocatively, Pepper connects Buddhist practice to political obligation. If Buddhism is genuinely concerned with reducing suffering, it cannot remain apolitical or focused solely on individual practice. The commodification of Buddhism through expensive retreats, books, and membership fees further reveals the contradiction at the heart of Western Buddhist practice.

Whether you're a Buddhist practitioner questioning your tradition, a student of critical theory, or someone interested in how ideologies shape our thinking, this conversation offers profound insights into how we might approach ancient wisdom with fresh eyes—allowing these traditions to genuinely challenge our most basic assumptions about ourselves and our world.

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Musis by Bitterlake, Used with Permission, all rights to Bitterlake

Support the show

Crew:
Host: C. Derick Varn
Intro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake.
Intro Video Design: Jason Myles
Art Design: Corn and C. Derick Varn

Links and Social Media:
twitter: @varnvlog
blue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.social
You can find the additional streams on Youtube

Current Patreon at the Sponsor Tier: Jordan Sheldon, Mark J. Matthews, Lindsay Kimbrough, RedWolf, DRV, Kenneth McKee, JY Chan, Matthew Monahan, Parzival, Adriel Mixon, Buddy Roark, Daniel Petrovic

What happens when you read Lenin completely, chronologically, and in context? You discover a thinker far more complex and pragmatic than most portrayals suggest.

In this illuminating conversation, Professor Alex Herbert shares insights from his ambitious "Lenin in 45 Volumes" project, where he's systematically reading Lenin's complete works in their original Russian. Herbert reveals how Lenin's ideas evolved significantly over time in response to specific historical conditions—a reality often obscured when revolutionaries and critics alike cherry-pick quotes without context.

Contrary to how he's often portrayed, the Lenin that emerges from this chronological reading supported electoral participation throughout much of his early career while maintaining principled socialist positions. His approach to the national question developed in response to concrete debates within the Russian Empire about language rights and cultural autonomy. We learn how Lenin distinguished between theoretical disagreements and personal animosity, maintaining working relationships with those he fiercely criticized in print.

The conversation explores fascinating historical specifics: debates about Ukrainian language in schools, the "liquidationist" trend within the Russian Social Democratic Labor Party, and Lenin's early recognition of China's revolutionary potential. Herbert helps us understand how political positions that might seem contradictory actually reflected a materialist approach to changing circumstances.

Perhaps most valuable for contemporary leftists is the discussion of challenges Lenin couldn't fully anticipate—from modern environmentalism to the transformed nature of class in post-industrial economies. These areas require applying Marxist methods to new conditions rather than searching for ready-made answers in century-old texts.

Join us for this thought-provoking exploration of revolutionary theory, historical context, and the continuing relevance of materialist analysis for today's political struggles.

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Musis by Bitterlake, Used with Permission, all rights to Bitterlake

Support the show

Crew:
Host: C. Derick Varn
Intro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake.
Intro Video Design: Jason Myles
Art Design: Corn and C. Derick Varn

Links and Social Media:
twitter: @varnvlog
blue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.social
You can find the additional streams on Youtube

Current Patreon at the Sponsor Tier: Jordan Sheldon, Mark J. Matthews, Lindsay Kimbrough, RedWolf, DRV, Kenneth McKee, JY Chan, Matthew Monahan, Parzival, Adriel Mixon, Buddy Roark, Daniel Petrovic

What makes human thought distinctive, and can machines ever truly think like us? In this profound conversation with Nicholas Villarreal, author of "A Soul of a New Type: Writings on Artificial Intelligence and Materialist Semiotics," we journey into the heart of what makes intelligence possible—through the often overlooked lens of semiotics.

The discussion begins with a critical examination of how we conceptualize both human and artificial intelligence. Villarreal challenges the dominant frameworks used by today's AI rationalists and humanist critics alike, offering a materialist semiotic approach that provides startling new insights into the nature of thought itself. By exploring how signs and symbols function as the building blocks of cognition, we discover why current AI systems simultaneously impress and disappoint us.

Rather than seeing artificial intelligence as either a potential godlike superintelligence or a mere statistical parlor trick, Villarreal guides us toward understanding AI as a different kind of intelligence altogether—one that interacts with the entire semiotic field in ways fundamentally different from humans. Where human understanding is shaped by individual experience, trauma, and desire, large language models neutrally absorb patterns across the entire spectrum of human communication.

The conversation takes fascinating detours through the philosophy of mind, the nature of narrative, the failures of linguistic policing, and even the unexpected ways social media platforms have trained us to interact with each other. Throughout, we return to a central question: how might semiotics help us create technologies that enhance rather than diminish our humanity?

Whether you're fascinated by artificial intelligence, cognitive science, philosophy of mind, or political theory, this conversation offers fresh perspectives that challenge conventional wisdom and open new avenues for understanding both technology and ourselves. Join us for a thought-provoking exploration that may forever change how you think about thinking.

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Musis by Bitterlake, Used with Permission, all rights to Bitterlake

Support the show

Crew:
Host: C. Derick Varn
Intro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake.
Intro Video Design: Jason Myles
Art Design: Corn and C. Derick Varn

Links and Social Media:
twitter: @varnvlog
blue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.social
You can find the additional streams on Youtube

Current Patreon at the Sponsor Tier: Jordan Sheldon, Mark J. Matthews, Lindsay Kimbrough, RedWolf, DRV, Kenneth McKee, JY Chan, Matthew Monahan, Parzival, Adriel Mixon, Buddy Roark, Daniel Petrovic

What if our bitter political divisions aren't just about policy differences but reflect ancient biological drives hardwired into our DNA? Dr. Melvyn Lurie, Harvard-trained psychiatrist with expertise in genetics, presents a groundbreaking framework for understanding America's current crisis through evolutionary biology.

Drawing from his observation of nesting species and historical civilizations, Dr. Lurie identifies two fundamental drives shaping human societies: survival drives (focused on resource acquisition and protection) and reproductive drives (centered on nurturing the vulnerable). When a civilization becomes successful, it naturally shifts from survival orientation toward reproductive concerns – a transition Dr. Lurie believes marks America's current precarious position.

This biological perspective illuminates why our politics feels so intractable. Those facing economic uncertainty naturally prioritize survival needs, while those with greater security gravitate toward care for the vulnerable. Neither side recognizes these as biological imperatives requiring balance, leading to wild oscillations between administrations rather than healthy equilibrium.

Rome provides a sobering parallel – a civilization that could once mobilize massive armies against Hannibal couldn't defend itself against barbarians centuries later as its survival orientation diminished. Dr. Lurie sees America approaching a similar tipping point as we reach the 200-250 year mark that typically signals civilizational decline.

Yet hope remains if we can recognize these drives for what they are. By developing a new vocabulary that acknowledges both orientations as legitimate and necessary, we might escape the tribal "Red Sox versus Yankees" mentality currently gripping our discourse. As Dr. Lurie explains, "Once people understand what's really going on, things go right."

Join us for this fascinating exploration of the biology behind our political moment and discover how evolutionary science might hold the key to preserving American democracy for generations to come.

You can visit his website here: https://melvynlurie.com/

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Musis by Bitterlake, Used with Permission, all rights to Bitterlake

Support the show

Crew:
Host: C. Derick Varn
Intro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake.
Intro Video Design: Jason Myles
Art Design: Corn and C. Derick Varn

Links and Social Media:
twitter: @varnvlog
blue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.social
You can find the additional streams on Youtube

Current Patreon at the Sponsor Tier: Jordan Sheldon, Mark J. Matthews, Lindsay Kimbrough, RedWolf, DRV, Kenneth McKee, JY Chan, Matthew Monahan, Parzival, Adriel Mixon, Buddy Roark, Daniel Petrovic