The Sensible Socialist

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 […]

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 […]

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, […]

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, […]

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

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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.

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/

The audio of my chat with popular streamer Destiny about socialism and cooperatives.

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

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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.

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 […]

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 […]

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

 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 […]

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

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

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

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

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  

In this episode I continue my discussion with Richard Wolff about his book Understanding Socialism. We talk about Yugoslavia, Milovan Djilas, the lengths to which the ruling class will go to shut down socialist movements, and how the Nazi’s were not socialists. Download: .mp3

In this episode I talk with Dr. Richard Wolff about his new book Understanding Socialism and the three socialism’s of the twentieth century. Download: .mp3

What do we do now? Hint: A lot

In this episode we talk about COVID capitalism, and the consequences of the unfolding crisis. Download .mp3

In this episode we talk about COVID capitalism, and the consequences of the unfolding crisis. Download .mp3

In this episode we talk about Super Tuesday. How did we get here? What is Elizabeth Warren Doing? Joe Biden, really? And what are the scenarios with which we can look forward? Download: .mp3

In this episode I play back the audio of a lecture I did for a high school class introducing them to socialism. Download: .mp3

In this episode I speak with Ben Norton about US/Iranian relations that lead us up to the 2020 attacks in Iraq and potential opening of a new war between these powerful countries. Ben Norton is a journalist, writer, and filmmaker. He is the assistant editor of The Grayzone, and the producer of the Moderate Rebels podcast, […]

In this episode we talk with New Socialist Alternative member Naveen Angamuthu from Bangalore, India. In this episode we talk about Indian political history, the Rise of RSS and BJP, The neo-liberal policies of Narendra Modi, and the failure of the the Indian Left to lead the rising militancy of the Indian working class. Download: […]

In this episode we review the history of interventions in Latin America by the United States via the longest tenant of US foreign policy – The Monroe Doctrine. Download: .mp3

In this episode we speak with Josh Morris about history as a subject, teaching history, Hegel, Francis Fukuyama, Marx, the Materialist Conception of History, and more.

In this episode I talk with Brett from Rev Left Radio about the role of class consciousness, raising consciousness, ideology, hegemony, and a little bit about leftist podcasts. Download: .mp3

In this episode I talk with environmentalist and co-founder of Green Drinks DC Spencer Schecht about a bunch of different stuff. It is a fairly wide ranging and winding conversation, but I think it is the kind of conversation many of us on the left have with friends and colleagues. Download: .mp3 

What about the Peasants?

In this episode I read Engel’s Socialism: Utopian and Scientific and allow it to prove for itself why it needs little additional discussion. Download: .mp3

In this episode we talk about mass shootings in the US – the causes and why it only seems to happen here. Download – .mp3

In this episode I speak with Davey Heller about Julian Assange as we discuss how the left should view this important figure. Download: .mp3

In this episode I talk with Alka Mysore about Rosa Luxemburg’s answer to Eduard Bernstein on the question of reform or revolution. Download .mp3 Red Rosa Graphic Novel by Kate Evans

In this episode I talk with Michael Shallal, an organizer with DC United Against Hate, about the rise of fascism in America and around the world and what we can do to fight it. Download: .mp3

In this episode we go through Jordan Peterson’s critique of Marxism in the recent debate he had with Slavoj Zizek. Download – .mp3

In this episode we talk about the links between the mental health crisis and capitalism. Download: .mp3