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This Is Hell!

This Is Hell!
Capitalism
Climate Change
Gaza
Neoliberalism
Democracy
United States
Israel
Trump Administration
Inequality
Colonialism
Racism
Fascism
White Supremacy
Venezuela
George Floyd
Donald Trump
Disability
Public Education
Social Justice
Christian Nationalism

Manufacturing Dissent since 1996

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes515Founded21 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
News

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Latest Episodes

Brian Mier returns to discuss the upcoming Brazilian election and the prospects for another right-wing coup. Check out Brian's Substack, "De-Linking Brazil": bmier.substack.com/ and his new Latin American news portal, "Panamerican Dispatch": ... more

Sonali Kolhatkar returns to discuss her new book, "Breaking ICE: Community Defense against State Terror and MAGA Fascism," just published by Seven Stories Press: www.sevenstories.com/books/4889-breaking-ice "The Moment of Truth" with Jeff Dor... more

Ill Will Editions editor Nick Smolek joins us to discuss the forthcoming book, "Depose: Luigi Mangione, the Right to Health, and the Unfinished American Revolution": www.deposebook.com/ "Rotten History" from Renaldo Migaldi follows the interv... more

Robin Steinberg and Camilo Ramirez return to discuss their new book, "The Bail Trap: A Scandal at the Heart of American Justice" from The New Press: thenewpress.org/books/the-bail-trap/ "The Moment of Truth" with Jeff Dorchen follows the inte... more

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Recent Guests

Brian Mier
Sociologist and Brazil correspondent for Telusir English, co-host of Globalistas
Telusir English; Globalistas
Episode: Another Brazilian Coup Attempt Underway / Brian Mier
Clarissa Redwine
Co-authors of Against Tech Oligarchy, Worker Resistance in the World's Most Powerful Industry
Against Tech Oligarchy
Episode: Another Brazilian Coup Attempt Underway / Brian Mier
JS. Tan
Co-authors of Against Tech Oligarchy, Worker Resistance in the World's Most Powerful Industry
Against Tech Oligarchy
Episode: Another Brazilian Coup Attempt Underway / Brian Mier
Sonali Kolhatkar
Award-winning multimedia journalist, racial justice editor at Yes Magazine, author of Breaking ICE
Yes Magazine; Rising Up with Sonali
Episode: Breaking ICE / Sonali Kolhatkar
Nick Smolek
Editor at Ill Will Editions, Depose, Luigi Mangione, The Right to Health and the Unfinished American Revolution
Ill Will Editions / Depose
Episode: 15 Million Excess Deaths from US For-Profit Health Insurance / Nick Smolek
Robin Steinberg
Public defender and activist, co-author of The Bail Trap
The Bail Project; Bronx Defenders; UCLA Law
Episode: The Bail Trap / Robin Steinberg & Robin Camilo
Camilo Ramirez
Co-author of The Bail Trap
The Bail Project; Center for Constitutional Rights; Center for Policing Equity
Episode: The Bail Trap / Robin Steinberg & Robin Camilo
Kim Phillips-Fein
Historian and author
Columbia University
Episode: The Long Fight Against Equality in the United States / Kim Phillips-Fein
Raúl Pérez
Co-author of Genocidal Enjoyment, associate professor of sociology at the University of La Verne
University of La Verne
Episode: "Genocidal Enjoymment" on Display in IDF Social Media from Gaza / Raúl Pérez

Host

Chuck Mertz
Host of This Is Hell

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 1.3k ratings
  • True stuff about compelling earth-based events that you're very unlikely to hear elsewhere

    Podcast Addict
    5
    RuminatingStoic
    9 months ago
  • True stuff about compelling earth-based events that you're very unlikely to hear elsewhere

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Ruminating_Stoic
    9 months ago
  • my favourite interview show

    seriously, incredible guests from across the left, and chuck is the best interviewer out there, insightful and probing questions that engage deeply with the work. the show has a fun, irreverent, only slightly jaded diy vibe i very much enjoy, and it’s completely listener supported, so no ads ever!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tnbuddy
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Did Some Episodes Get Deleted?

    It seems like a lot of episodes from 2020/21 that i saved for listening to later has vanished. can someone let me know if they’ll be added back or if they’ve been stored/saved somewhere else. please let me know.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ob4cl95
    United States2 years ago
  • Burley interview c. 11:11–

    Podchaser
    articolate
    3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Long-form, deeply researched interviews with principled, skeptical hosts.
Sound quality and organizational consistency occasionally raised by some listeners.
Guests across the left with insightful questions and probing interviews.
Listeners praise the show's courage, breadth of topics, and impact on public discourse.

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The HeadlinesThe New York Times

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Another Brazilian Coup Attempt Underway / Brian Mier
Q: So how seriously is the mainstream media in Brazil taking these reports?
The mainstream media is now worried a little, but the coverage remains heavily biased and chaotic, with significant emphasis on sensational or scandal-driven narratives rather than clear, sourced analysis about the election and judicial dynamics.
15 Million Excess Deaths from US For-Profit Health Insurance / Nick Smolek
Q: How do the authors envision universal health care differently from traditional state-led models?
They propose a concept of health that is protected as a natural right beyond state control, emphasizing mutual aid, community care, and social determinants, with the government's role being to facilitate these practices rather than directly delivering care as a service.
15 Million Excess Deaths from US For-Profit Health Insurance / Nick Smolek
Q: What is the central moral problem the authors identify with for-profit health insurance?
They argue that for-profit health insurance monetizes illness and uses denial of care and bureaucratic hurdles to maximize profits, creating a parasitic relationship with social solidarity and causing preventable suffering and deaths, which challenges the very idea of health as a human right.
The Long Fight Against Equality in the United States / Kim Phillips-Fein
Q: What makes the US approach to democracy vulnerable to inequality, and why do the egalitarian claims endure despite wealth concentration?
Phillips-Fein explains that American democracy blends a national myth of equality with a material reality of inequality, and the tension between democratic ideals and the actual economy creates ongoing debates about how much equality is feasible or desirable, while elites have historically crafted narratives to defend wealth and power.
The Bail Trap / Robin Steinberg & Robin Camilo
Q: How close are we to having a fully fleshed out alternative to the bail system?
The guests argue that substantial progress has been made, and a fully fleshed alternative is within reach, with ongoing bipartisan reform and measurable, data-backed improvements from jurisdictions that have reduced or eliminated cash bail.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Is Hell!

What is This Is Hell! about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A long-running, left-leaning interview show that features deep-dive conversations with academics, journalists, activists, and policy experts on topics like democracy, inequality, imperialism, immigration, and technology. Episodes typically center on rigorous historical context, data, and critical perspectives on power, with the host asking probing questions and giving guests ample room to develop complex arguments. Notably, guests come from think tanks, universities, advocacy groups, and journalism, often challenging mainstream narratives and connecting global issues to domestic policy. The format tends to be long-form and analytical, with a mix of historical analysis, policy critique, and cultural commentary that appeals to listeners seeki... more

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1. Behind the News with Doug Henwood
2. Jacobin Radio
3. The Dig
4. Politics Theory Other
5. Citations Needed

How many episodes of This Is Hell! are there?

This Is Hell! launched 21 years ago and published 515 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on This Is Hell!?

Recent guests on This Is Hell! include:

1. Brian Mier
2. Clarissa Redwine
3. JS. Tan
4. Sonali Kolhatkar
5. Nick Smolek
6. Robin Steinberg
7. Camilo Ramirez
8. Kim Phillips-Fein

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