Swampside Chats

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"The best goddamn communist podcast, period." —Tom O'Brien, From Alpha to Omega This is Swampside Chats. The podcast where, every week, communists shoot the s**t about current events, history, political economy, and theory. "You are free not only to invite us, but to go yourselves wherever you wil…

Swampside Chats


    • Jul 4, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 11m AVG DURATION
    • 184 EPISODES

    4.8 from 72 ratings Listeners of Swampside Chats that love the show mention: marxist, communist, insightful, funny, best, good, great.


    Ivy Insights

    The Swampside Chats podcast is a remarkable gem in the world of communist podcasts. As a listener for a couple of years now, I have been consistently impressed with the quality and depth of the discussions that take place on this show. It is undoubtedly the best communist podcast out there, offering a perfect blend of humor, insightfulness, and earnest analysis that keeps me coming back for more. What sets it apart from other similar podcasts is its ability to deliver a Marxist perspective without getting bogged down in sectarian allegiances. This allows for a refreshing and open-minded approach to discussions, making it highly worthwhile to support them on Patreon if one has the means.

    One aspect that I particularly appreciate about The Swampside Chats is their "In the enemy camp" series. As someone who often lacks both the time and stomach to engage with right-wing literature directly, this series provides a valuable service by dissecting and critiquing the various fascist groups' ideologies. It saves me from having to wade through their garbage while still staying informed about their dangerous ideas. Additionally, The Swampside Chats consistently offers an insightful analysis of notable Marxist texts. Their reading recommendations are always on point and serve as a great resource for those looking to further develop their understanding of Marxism.

    However, there are some minor criticisms worth noting. Occasionally, there is a tendency to disregard the political or historical context of certain texts during discussions. An example of this was observed in an episode discussing Lenin's "Infantile Disorder." While this may not be a significant drawback for most listeners, it would be beneficial if they took these factors into consideration more frequently.

    In conclusion, The Swampside Chats is an invaluable podcast for anyone interested in Marxism or left-wing politics in general. It stands out among its peers due to its ability to deliver complex ideas in an accessible manner without sacrificing depth or intellectual rigor. With hosts who are extremely well-read and knowledgeable, the conversations are engaging, lively, and often sprinkled with humor. It is a perfect blend of theory and entertainment that keeps listeners coming back for more. I highly recommend it to anyone seeking thought-provoking discussions and a refreshing take on communist ideas.



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    Latest episodes from Swampside Chats

    #161 - Critique of the Gotha Program (Part 6)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 4, 2024 82:00


    We wrap up our read through and discussion of Critique of the Gotha Program with Constance.

    The Martinaise Excursion 3: What Is Book?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 29, 2024 64:58


    We get nauseous talking to a bookshop owner during our playthrough of Disco Elysium.

    #160 - Critique of the Gotha Program (Part 5)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2024 68:54


    We continue our reading and analysis of the new translation of Critique of the Gotha Program with special guest Constance.

    The Martinaise Excursion 2: Felix Chanting “Right to Work”

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2024 125:08


    We continue our playthrough of Disco Elysium and existentially grapple with the game's (now deprecated) dirtbag left voiceover era. http://patreon.com/swampsidechats http://swampside.chat

    #159 - Critique of the Gotha Program (Part 4)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2024 86:18


    We continue our reading and analysis of the new translation of Critique of the Gotha Program with special guest Constance.

    The Martinaise Excursion 1: Egoist Necktie

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2024 73:04


    Swampside Chats rings in the new year with a visit to the fantastic land of Martinaise where we wake up disoriented in a hotel room and completely forget who we are. http://patreon.com/swampsidechats

    #158 - Close Reading: Critique of the Gotha Program (Part 3)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 28, 2023 77:50


    We continue our reading and analysis of the new translation of Critique of the Gotha Program with special guest Constance.

    #157 - Close Reading: Critique of the Gotha Program (Part 2)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2023 77:50


    We continue our reading and analysis of the new translation of Critique of the Gotha Program with special guest Constance.

    #156 - Close Reading: Critique of the Gotha Program (Part 1)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2023 85:19


    We begin our close examination of the Critique of the Gotha Program with Constance.

    #155 - Close Reading: Critique of the Gotha Program (Prologue)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 24, 2023 80:47


    We are bringing back the Close Reading series. This time we are joined by Constance to tackle a much larger text: Critique of the Gotha Program. We are working off of the new edition published by Spectre. This episode we review the Gotha Program itself and the 1875 letter from Marx to Bracke concerning the "marginal notes" he sent for private circulation. Letter from Marx to Bracke: https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1875/gotha/

    #154 - The Logic of Political Survival (Part 2)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2023 99:40


    We conclude our discussion of "The Logic of Political Survival" and touch a little bit on current events along the way.

    logic political survival
    #153 - "The Logic of Political Survival" (Part 1)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2023 54:03


    Ezri and Jake revisit the selectorate theory of politics and discuss the first half of "The Logic of Political Survival" by Bruce Bueno de Mesquita, Alastair Smith, Randolph M. Siverson, and James D. Morrow.

    logic mesquita ezri bruce bueno alastair smith political survival
    #152 - The Gulf War Did Not Take Place

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2022 105:58


    This episode we are joined again by C Derick Varn for another holiday episode on Jean Baudrillard. With the post-modern fog of war surrounding conflicts like the Ukraine and Syria in mind, we decided to revisit his collection of essays first published in 1991 "The Gulf War Did Not Take Place." And what we found there was maybe less than what we were hoping for.

    #151 - The Joy of Sects VI: The IMT

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2022 99:49


    We are joined by Jamie, a former member of the Canadian section of the IMT (International Marxist Tendency), to discuss the organization and a recent scandal within it, Trotskyism in general, and a few articles by Alan Woods. "Alan Woods' new year's message 2022: I saw it in the movies " https://www.marxist.com/alan-woods-new-year-s-message-2022-i-saw-it-in-the-movies.htm "Marxism vs Identity Politics" https://www.marxist.com/marxist-theory-and-the-struggle-against-alien-class-ideas.htm "Trotsky's suppressed letter: an introduction by Alan Woods" https://www.marxist.com/trotsky-s-suppressed-letter-an-introduction-by-alan-woods.htm

    #150 - "Error" and "Feeding the Infant" w/ Rob Lucas

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2022 138:27


    We're joined by Rob Lucas to discuss two of his essays: "Error" and "Feeding the Infant" https://endnotes.org.uk/articles/error.pdf Also please consider supporting: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/DNAISNTDESTINY

    #149 - Anti-Tech Revolution: Why and How

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2022 95:36


    Accompanied by Arnold from Fight Like an Animal, we head once more Into the Enemy Camp, returning to the work of one Theodore John Kaczynski. This time we examine his guide for revolutionary action: Anti-Tech Revolution: Why and How.

    #148 - Class Consciousness

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 3, 2022 69:24


    We sit down with special guest Viv, to tackle selections from History and Class Consciousness. In the episode, we struggle to get a handle on Lukacs and do justice to the complex (and problematic) theory and legacy of this figure.

    #147 - The Shadow

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2022 73:59


    We return to the Enemy Camp with Tyler from New Zealand to discuss "The Shadow" by Lionel Terry.

    #146 - "The Housing Question" (Part 2)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2022 60:50


    We talk a little bit about Ukraine and then move on to finish our look at Fredrich Engels 1872 pamphlet "The Housing Question." https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1872/housing-question/

    #145 - Antiwork

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2022 109:46


    This episode we sit down to discuss the recent antiwork internet phenomenon, its detachment from its more pointed ideological origins, and the growth of online spaces where people vent their frustrations with the nature of contemporary work. This discussion was spurred by a recent appearance by an r/antiwork moderator on Fox News, that lead to a viral backlash against it that, by the time you're hearing this you may well have forgotten about. Joining us are a few ex-mods from the anti-work discord.

    #144 - "The Housing Question" Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2022 74:09


    In light of recent developments in the housing market, we are starting another Close Reading series. This time, we are looking at "The Housing Question" by Frederick Engels. https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1872/housing-question/

    housing close reading frederick engels
    #143 - Farewell to the Working Class

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2021 111:53


    We are joined by C Derick Varn for another listener request. This time we're tackling "Farewell to the Working Class" by André Gorz.

    #142 - The Dictator's Handbook

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2021 72:13


    We go on yet another forced march, this time we learn the rules of the game from "The Dictator's Handbook," by Bruce Bueno De Mesquita and Alastair Smith.

    handbook dictator alastair smith bruce bueno de mesquita
    #141 - News Roundup

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2021 76:29


    We are joined by guests Victoria and Gravesend for a News Roundup. Recorded in September, we reflected on the anniversary on 9/11, the Afghanistan pull out, and their implications for American Imperialism.

    #140 - In the Enemy Camp - Gender Acceleration

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2021 58:21


    On a forced march, this time through the enemy camp, we are joined by Ro to look at Gender Acceleration: A Blackpaper by Nyx Land.

    #139 - "The DisCO Manifesto and Elements"

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2021 82:09


    We sit down with guest Xur to learn about blockchain and discuss our latest patron request: two pamphlets by the Distributed Cooperative Organization "If I Only Had a Heart: a DisCO Manifesto" and "Groove is in the Heart: The DisCO Elements."

    #138 - "The Soviet Union and Eastern Europe"

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 27, 2021 64:37


    We discuss another patron request, this time it's a two part essay by Robert Brenner, written as the Soviet Union was beginning to unravel: "The Soviet Union and Eastern Europe - The Roots of The Crisis." https://www.versobooks.com/blogs/2490-the-soviet-union-and-eastern-europe-the-roots-of-the-crisis

    #137 - "Reinventing Organizations"

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 13, 2021 98:30


    On another forced march from a patron, we attempt to ascend up the mountain of history to tier teal, and review "Reinventing Organizations" by Frederic Laloux.

    #136 - "Right to the City"

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2021 81:05


    We are joined by Tiberius to discuss "Right to the City" from "Writings on Cities" by Henri Lefebvre.

    #135 - Fundamental Principles of Communist Production and Distribution (Part 3)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2021 124:12


    We conclude our discussion with Tom O'Brien about "Fundamental Principles of Communist Production and Distribution" by the Group of International Communists. https://www.marxists.org/subject/left-wing/gik/1930/index.htm

    #134 - Fundamental Principles of Communist Production and Distribution (Part 2)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2021 92:09


    We continue our discussion with Tom O'Brien about "Fundamental Principles of Communist Production and Distribution" by the Group of International Communists. https://www.marxists.org/subject/left-wing/gik/1930/index.htm

    #133 - Fundamental Principles of Communist Production and Distribution (Part 1)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2021 109:44


    We're joined by Tom O'Brien from 'From Alpha to Omega' to break down another Not One Step Back listener request: "Fundamental Principles of Communist Production and Distribution" by the Group of International Communists. https://www.marxists.org/subject/left-wing/gik/1930/index.htm

    #132 - "Really Existing Nationalisms" (Part 2)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2021 122:42


    We conclude our conversation with listener Nick about Erica Benner's "Really Existing Nationalisms." https://www.versobooks.com/books/2672-really-existing-nationalisms

    #131 - “Really Existing Nationalisms” (Part 1) w/ Nick

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2021 99:30


    Listener Nick joins us to tackle Erica Benner’s 1995 Marxian treatise on nationality and nationalist politics, “Really Existing Nationalisms: A Post-Communist View from Marx and Engels”. http://patreon.com/swampsidechats http://swampside.chat http://emancipation.network

    #130 - Century of the Self: The Meaning of Tony Blair

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2021 99:39


    We conclude our discussion on the Adam Curtis essay film series and review part 4: "Eight People Sipping Wine in Kettering."

    #129 - In the Enemy Camp: “Leviathan and Its Enemies”

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 25, 2020 94:15


    We’re back In the Enemy Camp w/ C Derick Varn, and we would like to speak to the (((managers))). On the forced march from a generous patron, we read a mid-90s reactionary pseudo-class analysis from Pat Buchanan’s main man Sam Francis entitled “Leviathan and Its Enemies”, published in 2016. Special thanks to Stevie for additional editing. http://patreon.com/swampsidechats http://emancipation.network

    #127 - The Communist Party of New Zealand

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2020 96:47


    We bring on Tyler from New Zealand to discuss the history of the party and class struggle in the 20th century there, with an eye towards examining the party's relationship to the native Maori people.

    #127 - Century of the Self: Kill the Cop in Your Head

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2020 100:46


    We talk about part 3 of the Adam Curtis video essay series.

    ≋2≋0≋2≋1≋ ≋P≋a≋t≋r≋e≋o≋n≋ ≋U≋p≋d≋a≋t≋e≋

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2020 3:20


    new Patron tiers announced, starting 12 AM EST 1/1/2021 $1/mo: Discord access $5/mo: live-streamed recordings & early episodes $10/mo: monthly reading group $25/mo: custom episodes (we will read 10 pages per month subscribed) you have just under 2 months to take advantage of the old custom episode rate! http://patreon.com/swampsidechats

    #126 - “The Divine Left”

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2020 120:17


    On A Very Special Episode of Swampside Chats, Jake, Ezri & Grant jack back into The Simulation with Jean Baudrillard for one last trio adventure in "The Divine Left", and come back one member short. Remember: if you die in The Simulation, you die in real life. http://patreon.com/swampsidechats http://swampside.chat http://emancipation.network

    #125 - Century of the Self: The Freuds Meet Capital

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2020 102:45


    Jake and Ezri recap and discuss the first two episodes of Adam Curtis 2002 documentary essay series The Century of the Self: "Happiness Machines" and "The Engineering of Consent."

    #124 - "The Human Use of Human Beings" (Part 3) w/ General Intellect Unit

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2020 64:01


    We conclude our discussion with Shane & Kyle of G̸e̴n̶e̴r̷a̷l̸ ̸I̴n̴t̷e̶l̴l̷e̵c̵t̷ ̸U̷n̶i̶t̴ ̸r̷e̸t̴u̵r̴n̴ ̷t̸o̶ ̶c̵͈̅o̵̪̽ñ̶̠t̶̬̋i̸͍͛n̴̘͑u̶̺̚e̷̦̎ ̵̹̇ó̷̬u̵͖͑r̶̎͜ ̸͈̃N̷͍͋o̸̫̽r̸̻̈́b̶̫͝e̶̗͑ṙ̶̗t̷́͜ ̶̛͚Ẇ̷̦í̴͚e̴̬̊n̸̛͎ḙ̶͗r̷̗͑ ̸̦͂(̷̨̉1̴̛̫9̴̹̅5̴͓͑0̶̢̋)̸͉͠.̶̤̀ ̴̻̊d̵̝͋í̵̦s̷̟̃c̵̫̚u̷͍̐s̴͇̒ș̶͛ị̵͠o̴̺̓ń̴̞ ̸̪͠E̸̤̊d̶̤̒ǐ̶̭t̸̗́ỉ̷̧o̷̱̕n̵̯̚F̵̠̕i̵̳͒r̸̲͠s̴̺͋t ̴̫̮͗͌̿͆͝ŕ̸͈̪̝͙̘̈́ͅͅé̷̥̥̬̺̩͙̆͐̾̓͠d̵̢͚̗̞̫̑a̷͍͚̣͕̥̬̗̋̂͛͂c̵̛̥̯ͅt̴̛̬̞̘̦͕̦̏͌̃̓e̶̥̜͒̈́͜d̵̛͉͇̖̈́̏͋̄͋̔ ̷̧̘̮̖̫͆̔̄̈́̈́̆U̴̡̜̯̔̈́̒̕̚ṉ̵̖̗̙̦̎̉̈́̄̊i̶̢͊́͝t̴̻̫̦͖͚͌̆̇̆͝ẏ̴̰͊̾́̓̂̎ ̴̢̝̳̲͆̈͛̐Ḩ̸̼̗̗̲͇͖̾͝u̴̞͖͇̦͍̮̝͝m̸̥̤̩̩̿͜á̷̡̤̣̅̉͆̏ṇ̶̢̢͓͖̯̌͐̇̇̃̔ ̸̗̿́B̷̧̛̞̜͚̱̜́ͅě̸̹͙̋̒͊i̴͕͂̑n̸̡͙̬̋g̷̛̳̱̩̖̜̏̉͌̃͐̍͜s̸̳̟͖̀̄͛̾͋̑"̸̡͕̼̼̋̾͊ ̴͙͕̇̀̂H̶̙̺͗ű̴͙̪̭͊̐̈m̴̡͖̠̦̊̔̈́ā̸̳̞̞̼͂͊̇n̵͚̜͛̇͂̀̍̅ ̴̥͈͙̟̠̪͌̐Ư̵̩͎͕̊̅́̔͊̏s̸̝̽̉͗̈͗͑ȩ̵̳̲̥͐̆̊̀ ̴̮͖̲̦̜̀̾̈̔̈͋ǫ̸̥͔̫̦̐͐͒̊̒ͅf̷̢̛̹̹̝̫̱͛͠"̸̡̳̪̱̗͎̆̓̄̾̔͝ͅT̸̝̦͔̦̦̾͑̋́̄h̴̰͆̇̾̿́̉̚e̵̼̳̱̫͈͒̌̂̏̕ ̷̞̯̜͈̔̈́̍͛͠b̴̞͂y̷̟̲̘̓̀̔͊ U̵N̵I̷T̶Y̷ ̵S̶E̵E̴S̸ ̷A̷L̸L̶.̵ ̵U̷N̶I̵T̴Y̶ ̷K̵N̷O̶W̵S̸ ̸A̸L̴L̸.̶ http://patreon.com/generalintellectunit http://patreon.com/swampsidechats http://emancipation.network

    #123 - "The Human Use of Human Beings" (Part 2) w/ General Intellect Unit

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2020 58:10


    Kyle & Shane return to continue our discussion of the spicy First Edition of "The Human Use of Human Beings" by Norbert Wiener (1950). http://patreon.com/generalintellectunit http://patreon.com/swampsidechats PDF of the rare First Edition: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1h589Ul_c7ZsTjUl5kRraMDEVPwmy5d7K/view?usp=drivesdk

    #122 - “The Human Use of Human Beings” (Part 1) w/ General Intellect Unit

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2020 62:25


    PDF: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1h589Ul_c7ZsTjUl5kRraMDEVPwmy5d7K/view?usp=drivesdk

    #121 - "Toward a New Beginning…” & "The Myth of Lenin's Concept of the Party"

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2020 90:48


    In another installment of our "Not One Step Back" reading series, we discuss two pieces by Hal Draper, "Toward a New Beginning, on Another Road," and "The Myth of Lenin's Concept of the Party."

    #120 - CHOP Autopsy w/ C

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 14, 2020 36:00


    Show Notes by C: Charleena Lyles, a pregnant black woman murdered in front of her children by Seattle Police in 2017; here's a recent article about her family's demands as they seek justice for Charleena: https://www.realchangenews.org/2020/06/24/seattle-police-killing-charleena-lyles-localizes-blacklives-protest-and-amasses-similar Decriminalize Seattle https://decriminalizeseattle.com/ Recall Durkan https://www.recalldurkan.org/ No New Youth Jail https://nonewyouthjail.com/ King County Equity Now: https://www.kingcountyequitynow.com/ - Decrim Seattle one of the main coalitions fighting to defund Seattle Police Department - Recall Durkan is the effort to recall the mayor - No New Youth Jail I did not mention but meant to - it's what it sounds like - King County Equity Now is a coalition that includes the Africa Town initiative(s) I mentioned

    #119 - Swampside CHAZ w/ Ben Lain

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2020 66:06


    Jake and Ezri sit down with Ben Lain, who recently visited Seattle's Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone, to get his impressions and talk about the phenomenon of occupational protests.

    chaz lain ezri swampside
    Bonus - The George Floyd Rebellion

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2020 96:37


    Ezri and Jake sit down with listener Cole from Minneapolis to talk about the recent wave of riots, rebellions, and mutual aid efforts following the police murder of George Floyd.

    #117 - Joy of Sects V: Red Guards

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2020 99:58


    In the latest installment of our Joy of Sects series, we sit down with Luke to talk about the Kansas City Red Guards.

    #116 - Ecology and Historical Materialism

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2020 86:08


    We sit down to discuss "Ecology and Historical Materialism" by Jonathan Hughes.

    #115 - Swamp Trek: "Past Tense (Part II)" w/ The Antifada

    Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2020 69:00


    May the Fourth Be With You as Jamie & Andy return to finish up a superior sci-fi saga: The Bell Riots! Find out what happens when you accidentally get Lenin killed and have to Riot. Strike. Riot your way back to the original timeline. Are you still watching? Put up a Vulcan salute and let's conclude our Netflix & chill lockdown with "Past Tense (Part II)"!

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