Political/History podcasts - Recommendations

Carlin also has a real talent for imagery and story that I don't think Duncan quite has to the same extent. But Duncan's style is much better for something like trying to explain the foundations of Marxist thought, which I don't think Carlin could even do, let alone succinctly.

― longtime caller, first time listener (man alive), Thursday, December 19, 2019 12:19 PM (thirty-five minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink

i listened to a few episodes of hardcore history before calling it a day but in one of them he touches upon the frankfurt school and it was like the scene in the 40 year old virgin with steve carrell talking about boobs

lool, didn't catch that one but sounds very otm of his style!

I've really taken to the revolutions podcast, the episode about Bakunin is excellent.

Started this last week and just got to the Bakunin one

just started "Know Your Enemy" -- two chill very smart lefties (one a former conservative intellectual-in-training) discuss the history and provide a sort of field guide to movement conservatism. digging it so far.

I'm a little wary of this type of material as its rarely done well but I may give this one a shot too

That one started out well but has gotten a bit scattered now that they mostly focus on whatever guest they have on—Ross Douthat for instance.

^agreed. but I still really enjoy it.

it’s the only ep i’ve listened to but Marshall Steinbaum ep of know yr enemy goes extremely deep into intellectual history of chicago econ

ketchup re-posting from the brainworms thread:

i'm up to the massacre of champ de mars in the mike duncan revolutions pod (since it's mentioned just upthread for some reason)

i think it's p good but i have to make some kind of comment and/or protest re duncan's french pronunciation, which is in my opinion PECULIAR lol

― mark s, Monday, 27 September 2021 19:08 (seventeen minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink

the radical parisian district of cor-dell-YEE!

― mark s, Monday, 27 September 2021 19:15 (ten minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink

in parallel i'm reading a place of greater safety: a book which loves robespierre much more than duncan seems to

he's best when he just sticks to a detailed narrative history which is what he's good at and doesn't bring in any "as an American" type content, he did that in one of English revolution eps + it was cringe.

actually it was an American Revolution ep he did that in

do people like Blowback? The Iraq material was a little too familiar for me but I'm really enjoying the 2nd season about the Cuban revolution

I thought Blowback was great. The episodes on the missile crisis were riveting.

Looking for politics more than history (although I welcome recommendations for both). I love Know Your Enemy and am almost all caught up on it, what else should I listen to for thoughtful/well-read lefty political takes? Can be historical, for that matter, but especially interested in people doing good things in talking about contemporary Western politics. Not opposed to current events type shows, but something more substantive than drive-by punditry.

“Will Be Wild” about the Jan 6th insurrection was really good?

OK! My first reaction is "do I need to hear more about Jan. 6," but then I just finished listening to two hours on Whittaker Chambers so I shouldn't rule anything out.

i had zero interest going in before it was recommended to me & was impressed by how engaging it was