You Can't Win

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We're Tom and Donald. We are two trolls that are trying to make sense of the world through conversations about the traps and scams that surround us.

Donald Hughes


    • Jun 3, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 17m AVG DURATION
    • 161 EPISODES

    4.5 from 143 ratings Listeners of You Can't Win that love the show mention: listen at 1, speed, felt, highly, good, show, listening, great.


    Ivy Insights

    The You Can't Win podcast, hosted by Don Hughes and Tom, is a refreshing take on the world of podcasts. From the very beginning, I was drawn in by the insightful and serious contribution of guest Khaled. His perspective added depth to the conversation and left me wanting more. Additionally, I couldn't help but notice the awkwardness that Khaled felt during the Q&A, which made the episode feel more authentic and relatable.

    One of the best aspects of this podcast is host Don Hughes himself. Not only is he consistently incisive and funny on Twitter, but he brings those same qualities to the podcast. His wit and humor shine through in every episode, making for an enjoyable listen. Furthermore, his genuine nature and good-heartedness make him a likable host who you can't help but root for. Additionally, his co-host Tom may not be as well-known, but their dynamic is strong, creating a balanced conversation that keeps listeners engaged.

    While there are many positive aspects to The You Can't Win podcast, there are a few drawbacks worth mentioning. One such drawback is the slow pace at which they speak. While it's great to have thoughtful conversations, sometimes it feels like the hosts could pick up the pace a bit to add more energy and liveliness to the episodes. However, this issue can easily be remedied by listening at 1 1/2 speed for those looking for a quicker tempo.

    In conclusion, The You Can't Win podcast is definitely worth tuning into. With its insightful guests like Khaled and its genuinely engaging hosts Don Hughes and Tom, this podcast offers a unique blend of humor and intellectual discourse that keeps listeners coming back for more. Despite its minor flaws in pacing, this podcast has great potential and I look forward to hearing what they have in store for future episodes.



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    Latest episodes from You Can't Win

    Episode 154 - Soul Corn

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2024 68:04


    We chat about the failing Dream Port, the peace plan, paying off our debts, soul corn, some books and elections. Mentioned: Harland's Half Acre by David Malouf. My Struggle Book 1 by Karl Ove Knausgaard. Historical Capitalism by Immanuel Wallerstein. Language and Myth by Ernst Cassirer. Our Bloc by James Schneider.

    Episode 153 - Tom and Don Go to White Castle

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2023 69:23


    Tom and Don chat about some books and shows, including Robert Musil, Orhan Pamuk's The White Castle, Karamustafa, J.M. Coetzee, Joan Robinson, Wolf Hall, Copenhagen Cowboy and The Last of Us.   Mentioned: The Confusions of Young Törless by Robert Musil The White Castle by Orhan Pamuk God's Unruly Friends by Ahmet T. Karamustafa The Childhood of Jesus by J.M. Coetzee Economic Philosophy by Joan Robinson

    Premium Episode 183 - Muslim History, pt 3 UNLOCKED

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2023 109:17


    Tom tells the history of the Crusades, the Mongol invasions, and the rise of the Mamluks in part 3 of a series on Muslim history. The full series is available on Patreon.

    Premium Episode 179 SNEAK PEEK - Muslim History, pt 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2022 19:01


    An excerpt from a premium episode available through a Patreon subscription, in which Tom provides a history of the rise and fall of the original Islamic state, and a description of the Muslim world's social structure at the time, including the institution of slavery and transformations that came about as a result of the Islamic movement. (re-uploaded to fix some audio issues)

    Episode 152 - Evil Russia Q&A

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2022 54:05


    A quick and casual Q&A in which we field questions from the Discord about Russia/Ukraine, our military vehicles of choice, UFOs, the future of VR, and our astrological signs.

    Episode 151 - The Franklin Scandal recap

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2022 75:59


    We chat about our reactions to Tom's series on the Franklin Scandal, from the plausibility of the crimes to the political implications. What sorts of evidence should we focus on? How do we account for average people's reactions to such crimes? We sum up our feelings on the case as we prepare for future episodes on related topics.

    Episode 150 - The Franklin Scandal pt VI

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2022 46:06


    In the conclusion to our series on the Franklin Scandal, Tom tells the fate of the investigation and lead investigator Caradori, and the results of the grand jury trial. He then takes a look at the life of one of King's associates, Craig Spence, a CIA-connected blackmailer who paid visits to the White House. Source: The Franklin Scandal by Nick Bryant

    Episode 149 - The Franklin Scandal pt V

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2022 40:03


    A continuation of Tom's telling of the Franklin Scandal as part of our ongoing PTK (Programmed to Kill) series. In this episode, Tom describes the backlash the investigation suffers after producing videotaped statements of the victims.

    Episode 148 - The Bikes of Jacob

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2022 52:47


    We begin with a short chat about Don's burgeoning interest in bicycling before we dive into Tom's extended review of Olga Tokarczuk's The Books of Jacob.

    Episode 147 - The Franklin Scandal Pt IV

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2022 29:48


    In this episode, Tom introduces the Franklin Committee's replacement investigator Gary Caradori and the testimony of Alisha Owen. Source: The Franklin Scandal by Nick Bryant

    Episode 146 - The Franklin Scandal Pt III

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2022 32:23


    In this episode, Tom continues covering the Franklin Scandal, focusing on the tensions between the investigatory committee and law enforcement.

    Episode 145 - The Franklin Scandal Pt II

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2022 27:20


    Tom continues the tale of the Franklin Credit Union scandal, this time taking a look at the initial investigations into Larry King after reports begin to emerge about his alleged criminal activities. Source: The Franklin Scandal by Nick Bryant

    Episode 144 - The Franklin Scandal Pt I

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2022 42:52


    A new episode in our PTK series where Tom sketches out some details of the Franklin Scandal, a case with many mysterious connections. Source: The Franklin Scandal by Nick Bryant.

    Episode 143 - Dutroux Affair Deep Dive ft. "Ghost Stories" Matt

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2022 92:25


    We continue our PTK series by closely examining the Dutroux Affair, a notorious criminal case involving kidnapping, child abuse and sex trafficking that implicated the Belgian government and high society.

    Episode 142 - Bad Bad Belgium ft. "Ghost Stories" Matt

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2022 65:39


    Our friend Matt from the Ghost Stories for the End of the World podcast joins us to discuss Belgium in this first part of a series on the Dutroux Affair and similar cases. We discuss the place of Belgium in great power struggles and the associated political culture that developed. Matt's Twitter account is @GhostStoriesEnd

    Episode 141 - The Mystic Orient ft. Sean Moorhead

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2021 78:45


    Our friend Sean joins us to discuss the history and practices of Shinto and related Japanese beliefs. We work through some common misconceptions about Shinto and the difficulties of easy comparisons to Western ideas of religion. Also Sean wanted us to note that he misspoke and meant to say "Horii Mitsuoshi," not "Horii Mitsuo". Intro by auntie004. Outro by reiyashi.

    Episode 140 - State of the Pod Update + Q&A

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2021 71:24


    After a State of the Pod update of where we're at and where we hope to go, we work through your questions. Intro by auntie004. Outro by reiyashi.

    Episode 130 - Fly Into the Sun

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2021 83:20


    Four hour episode about the Eternals! All Eternals! All the time! Okay so in reality we chat about content for a bit and then settle some controversies for you. Intro by auntie004. Outro by reiyashi.

    Episode 138 - Dune ft. AgileTablet

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2021 73:49


    Tom, Don and AgileTablet give you the Dune opinions you asked for, mostly focused on the new movie but also about the saga as a whole and the future of humanity. Intro by auntie004. Outro by reiyashi.

    Episode 137 - Clifford

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2021 81:52


    We open with our mixed feelings about the new Dave Chappelle special and related issues. Then we dive into your questions for the remainder. Intro by auntie004. Outro by reiyashi.

    Episode 136 - All is Clouded by Desire

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2021 68:04


    Tom introduces Don to the book "All is Clouded by Desire" by Alan Block and Clarence Weaver, which discusses transnational crime networks and financial flows. We discuss how crime often seems to dwarf the traditional economy in importance and how it can overwhelm surface political institutions. We also get into some of the operators who seem to facilitate these enormous flows. Intro by auntie004. Outro by reiyashi.

    Episode 135 - Watching Stuff ft. AgileTablet

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2021 71:45


    Beloved third mic AgileTablet joins us to talk about Squid Game and Midnight Mass. We also discuss recent movies like The Green Knight, No Time to Die, The Card Counter and several comic ones. Just a fun laid-back episode. Intro by auntie004. Outro by reiyashi.

    Episode 134 - Gamestop Money ft Big Keven

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2021 71:39


    Our friend Big Keven returns to tell us how he became fabulously wealthy through stock trading. Along the way we learn about how life is in Alaska, the struggles of bald men, and the joys of acting. Intro by auntie004. Outro by reiyashi.

    Episode 133 - Normal ft. Cyd and AgileTablet

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2021 94:20


    We're joined by our friend Cyd and beloved third mic AgileTablet to joke about various topics, including Cyd's life in Los Angeles and suicide. Intro music by auntie004. Outro by reiyashi.

    Episode 132 - September Q&A

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2021 66:18


    Tom and Don answer your questions and chat about topics like the vaccine rollout, pornography, Maoism and more. Intro music by auntie004. Outro by reiyashi.

    Episode 131 - Big Dave Knocked Down the Towers ft. Big Dave

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2021 74:44


    Our wonderful friend Big Dave drops by to talk about Nine Eleven, hate crimes and India. We get a nice discussion about contentment in between the more controversial points. Apologies for the bootleg audio. Mentioned: Streams of Gold, Rivers of Blood: The Rise and Fall of Byzantium, 955 A.D. to the First Crusade Book by Anthony Kaldellis. Intro by auntie004. Outro by reiyashi.

    Episode 13 - Taliban Takeover ft. Ibrahim

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2021 90:19


    Our friend Ibrahim returns to discuss the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan from his well-informed perspective. We talk about the relative speed of the recent offensive, the diplomatic challenges facing the Taliban and the balance of internal forces - among other topics. Intro by auntie004. Outro by reiyashi.

    Episode 129 - Marx, Morality and Car Talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2021 80:10


    We talk about driving tests, the pros and cons of car ownership and public transportation, the future of car use, and then transition into a discussion of Marx and his conception of morality. We also get into some of your questions about vaccine passports, Islamic biker gangs and rolling around town blaring YCW.

    Episode 128 - Living in China ft. Niko

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2021 66:05


    Our friend Niko joins us from Nanjing to discuss living through the pandemic in China and the contrast in responses worldwide. We also get into learning the language and managing cultural divides, from the funny to the bureaucratic. Intro by auntie004. Outro by reiyashi.

    Episode 127 - No Justice, Peace Q&A

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2021 72:48


    It's the August Q and A episode, where we culled your anonymous questions and work through them for your pleasure and edification. From the Dao De Jing to heroin, from the 12th Imam to the IWW, we give quick answers to a bunch of your topics. Intro by auntie004. Outro by reiyashi.

    Episode 126 - EdTV ft. Ed Buck

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2021 93:24


    Seinfeld voice: "What's the deal with television?" Beloved curmudgeon 'Ed Buck' returns to talk about his TV-watching experiment and the prestige TV boom. Intro by auntie004. Outro by reiyashi.

    Episode 125 - Three Great Spices ft. AgileTablet

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2021 93:54


    Our beloved third mic AgileTablet returns to answer your questions about food and life. We talk about Central Asian cooking, personal goals and even our favourite spices. Intro by auntie004. Outro by reiyashi.

    Episode 125 - Fort Hood Murder Mysteries ft. Goatstein

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2021 79:03


    Our pal Goatstein returns to discuss language learning as a hobby before we get back to our common disgust at the US military. We talk about a recent Vanity Fair article about murders at Fort Hood in Texas and the conspiracy of silence around the Troops. Article: “The Only Thing I Knew How to Do Was Kill People”: Inside the Rash of Unexplained Deaths at Fort Hood. (Vanity Fair: July 6, 2021) Link: https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2021/06/inside-the-rash-of-unexplained-deaths-at-fort-hood Intro by auntie004. Outro by reiyashi.

    Episode 123 - The Problem of Evil ft. Freddy

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2021 76:43


    Our pal Freddy returns to discuss the classic theological and philosophical problem of evil. Often used as a knockdown argument against belief in God, we talk about the contours of the debate and how thinking about the problem helps us think through our concept of God. Intro music by auntie004. Outro by reiyashi.

    Episode 122 - Hajj ft. Akh

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 5, 2021 88:42


    Our friend Akh joins us to talk about his journey to Mecca to participate in the Muslim pilgrimage of Hajj. We work through the basics of what's expected of the millions of people who travel there in a typical year, from the heat to the religious fellowship. We also discuss a bit about the city of Medina and other aspects of Saudi life. Intro music by auntie004. Outro by reiyashi.

    Episode 121 - Summer Poddin' Had Me a Blast

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2021 78:59


    Tom and Don chat about the news - the life of John McAfee, the release of Bill Cosby, rising prices and the recovery, the heat wave, and Donald Rumsfeld. Then some questions about Islamic crypto, the future and struggling with faith. Intro by auntie004. Outro by reiyashi.

    Episode 120 - Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2021 82:31


    Increasing freedom is the official reason for almost every policy offered by both the right and the left. We tend to agree that more choice is better, but that's not always enough. We discuss how this rhetoric can be pretty flimsy as a way to make social decisions. This takes us into topics like socialist planning and the decision of some Catholic Bishops to possibly deny Joe Biden communion. Intro by auntie004. Outro by reiyashi.

    Episode 118 - June Q&A

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 14, 2021 72:17


    Tom catches us up with his move and then we get into your questions. We get into lapsed Catholics, the corrupting influence of power, superstitions, regrets, time travel, professional comedians, Palestinian health care and a few more. Intro by auntie004. Outro by reiyashi.

    Episode 118 - UNLOCKED - Palestine - Israel

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2021 78:41


    We had a slew of technical and health problems this weekend so we are uploading a bonus to keep the content flowing. Apologies. We open with Tom's (limited) experience in Palestine and his personal impressions of the people there, from how the occupation works to the uniqueness of Jerusalem. Then we move into a broader discussion of current events and Israeli politics - using the somewhat silly example of Gal Gadot to describe contemporary liberal Zionism. Intro music by auntie004. Outro by reiyashi.

    Episode 117 - Vaccine Cowboys Ride Again ft. Mike

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2021 92:44


    Our friend Mike returns to the show to sort through the rumors around vaccines and why he is being cautious about the whole thing. How does big pharma try to shape public messaging to avoid regulatory control? And does the focus on wilder theories mislead away from more reasonable criticisms? Intro music by auntie004. Outro by reiyashi.

    Episode 116 - The Yankee-Cowboy War ft Khalid and Dimitri of Subliminal Jihad

    Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2021 93:50


    Khalid and Dimitri of Subliminal Jihad join us to discuss the book The Yankee and Cowboy War. The book suggests that shocking events like the JFK assassination and resignation of Nixon can only be understood as the product of deep rivalries at the top of American power. We discuss those rivalries and how they might be relevant to thinking about things today. Mentioned: The Yankee and Cowboy War by Carl Oglesby. How the West was Won: Last Shootout for the Yankee-Cowboy Theory by Stephen Johnson (https://zero.sci-hub.se/5309/6663b80df93d0dfed05cf50acc05ba17/johnson1976.pdf) Intro by auntie004. Outro by reiyashi.

    Episode 115 - In the Zone ft. Roy

    Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2021 76:10


    Our friend Roy - Twitter's @chiweethegod - stops by to talk about the damage done to us all by the slow grind of violence and poverty and how to stay positive through it. Our discussion ranges from the repressive chaos of conspiracies to cultivating an artistic mindset.   Intro by auntie004. Outro by reiyashi.

    Episode 114 - A Utopia but More Sinister ft. AgileTablet

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2021 68:30


    AgileTablet joins us once again to discuss what the heck rich people are up to these days. There are 2,600 or more billionaires around the world and a lot of them have wild ideas about how to fix everything. We discuss what this means for things like climate change and the paralysis of politics, and how the wealthy cultivate an image as building the future. Intro music by auntie004. Outro by reiyashi.

    Episode 113 - 30 Seconds Flat ft. AgileTablet

    Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2021 97:07


    Beloved third mic AgileTablet returns to catch us up and chat about vaccines, moving and the Mayans. Mentioned: Shabir Ally's YouTube channel: Let the Quran Speak. National Geographic's Lost World of the Maya. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MFKy7DJsCY

    Episode 112 - No Country for Old Men ft Goatstein

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2021 77:10


    Our old friend Goatstein returns to riff on recent events such as the reaction to the Derek Chauvin verdict, the sickos who populate military forums, the cruelty of Trump, being appropriately cynical about politics, and more. Intro by auntie004. Outro by reiyashi.

    Episode 111 - The 2021 Baseball Season ft. White Sox Lex

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2021 76:33


    Our friend White Sox Lex returns to talk the new baseball season, starting with pandemic craziness and conservative outrage. Then we get into doping scandals and superhuman baseball mutants and a roundup of Awful Pundits. You can check out Lex's Awful Pundits tournament at https://www.patreon.com/awfulpundits or on Twitter at @AwfulPundits Intro music by auntie004. Outro by reiyashi.

    Episode 110 - Fresh NEET ft. Harvey

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2021 84:03


    Our friend Harvey returns to talk about ending up in the hospital, leaving his job and beginning a new life as a lockdown NEET. We talk about getting healthier, confession and our experiences with Lent and Ramadan. Intro by auntie004. Outro by reiyashi.

    Episode 109 - In the Grey Area

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2021 81:10


    Tom and Don catch up about the holidays. Then we get into our changing relationship with posting, as silly as it is, and what we're looking forward to in the near future. Intro music by auntie004. Outro by reiyashi.

    Episode 108 - Housing and Living Spaces

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2021 75:08


    Laid back episode where we discuss Tom's apartment-hunting plans. We get into the negatives of cheap places we've lived and how wild prices can get these days. Then we dip into some Discord questions. Intro music by auntie004. Outro by reiyashi.

    Episode 107 - Suffering, Jesus and the Purpose of Religion ft. Freddy

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2021 91:13


    Our friend Freddy, a student in the philosophy of religion, opens the episode with the description of a man's long suffering in a Moroccan prison and the ways he managed to keep his sanity. This leads to a wide-ranging discussion about enduring pain, dreams and visions, the place of Jesus in the Islam and the purpose of religion. Mentioned: Understanding the Qur’anic Miracle Stories in the Modern Age by Isra Yazicioglu. Intro music by auntie004. Outro by reiyashi.

    Episode 106 - Humor and Faith ft. Felix Biederman

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2021 68:34


    Chapo's Felix Biederman joins Tom and Don to chat about making jokes that get us into trouble, growing out of that (or not) and how humor relates to faith.  Intro music by auntie004. Outro music by reiyashi. Also check out Felix's new project Time for My Stories on Stitcher.

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