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Karl Marx
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Financial Literacy
Climate Change
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Abandon all hope ye who subscribe here. Varn Vlog is the pod of C. Derick Varn. We combine the conversation on philosophy, political economy, art, history, culture, anthropology, and geopolitics from a left-wing and culturally informed perspective. We approach the world from a historical lens with an eye for hard truths and structural analysis.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes423Founded5 years ago
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EducationNewsPolitics

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Artwork for Varn Vlog

Latest Episodes

Welcome back to the Vlog. Today, we are joined by acclaimed Egyptian journalist, activist, and labor historian Hossam el-Hamalawy to discuss his vital text out from Verso Books, Counter-Revolution in Egypt: State and Barracks.

A common mistake among... more

Welcome back to the Vlog. Today, we are joined by Dr. Annie McClanahan (Associate Professor of English at UC Irvine) to discuss her groundbreaking book, Beneath the Wage: Tips, Tasks, and Gigs in the Age of Service Work.

While some spaces on the int... more

Welcome back to VarnVlog. Today, we are joined by James of Prole Kult for an extensive, two-hour interrogation of eco-socialist strategy, environmental geopolitics, and the escalating ecological costs of the modern tech economy. Our theoretical basel... more

Welcome back to the vlog. Today, we are staging an exhaustive, macro-analytical conversation with political theorist and author Benjamin Studebaker to unpack his recent landmark intervention in Isonomia Quarterly: "Trade Wars or Social Wars?"

While ... more

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Recent Guests

Sam Badger
Author of Karl Marx and the Ethics of Human Flourishing; writes on Marxist ethics
Independent scholar / author
Episode: Karl Marx’s Ethics of Human Flourishing with Sam Badger
Max Wade
Doctor of Philosophy in Philosophy from Boston College; focus on Plotinus and ancient metaphysics
Boston College
Episode: The Stranger Side of Ancient Philosophy: Materialism & Metaphysics with Max Wade
Travis Misurell
Founder of Fink, The Future is Now Coalition
Fink
Episode: Up vs. Down: Bypassing the Two-Party Sorting Mechanism with Travis Misurell
Dr. Chris Knight
British anthropologist and activist
(mentioned)
Episode: Decoding the Tragedy of Noam Chomsky with Dr. Chris Knight
Cliff Connolly
Member of Marxist Unity Group, NPC Steering Committee
Marxist Unity Group
Episode: The Prospects of DSA: Party Building, Power, and the Marxist Unity Group
Gene Allen
Member of Marxist Unity Group Central Committee, editor
Marxist Unity Group
Episode: The Prospects of DSA: Party Building, Power, and the Marxist Unity Group
Amy Wilhelm
Member of the National Public Committee at large
Marxist Unity Group
Episode: The Prospects of DSA: Party Building, Power, and the Marxist Unity Group
Miles Spencer
Co-created and co-hosted Money Hunt; founder and CEO of Reflecta AI
Reflecta AI
Episode: The Quest for Narrative From World Travels to Technology with Miles Spencer
Ru Marshall
Writer and visual artist, author of Separate Reality (2006)
Author of upcoming American Trickster: Carlos Castaneda and the Making of a Legend
Episode: The Castaneda Con with Ru Marshall

Host

Derick Varn
Host of Varn Vlog; engages in philosophy, political economy, art, history, and geopolitics from a left-wing, historically informed perspective.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 249 ratings
  • Great show

    Lots of lots of great information - do an episode on operismo plz

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bernie 2016
    United Statesa year ago
  • Superior

    A real treasure. Varn’s erudite musings are essential listening.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Hdhfiigehdoshe
    Canada2 years ago
  • 50/50

    Sometimes very interesting and enlightening. Especially enjoy episodes that go into something the host or interviewees are knowledgeable about.

    Unfortunately it goes into leftist hipsterism often where people show off how pure or knowledegeabled they are for hours.

    Their takes on anything outside of the anglo culture (specially latin America) aren’t very good, so I wouldn’t recommend paying attention to that.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    gerech
    United States3 years ago
  • Incredible resource

    Detail dense and incredibly knowledgeable.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    aya_papayaa
    United States3 years ago
  • Very good

    The most intellectually honest show on the left, or anywhere

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    IOC19
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Guests are consistently high-caliber, offering deep, nuanced insights.
Some feedback notes occasional heavy emphasis on leftist theory and geopolitics might be dense for casual listeners.
Listeners praise the host's breadth of knowledge and thoughtful, rigorous dialog.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Quest for Narrative From World Travels to Technology with Miles Spencer
Q: What did you observe in Cuba that challenges common narratives?
Spencer notes the warmth of Cuban people toward Americans, the depth of education, and the resilience of a society operating under long-term embargoes, which complicates simplistic geopolitical characterizations.
The Quest for Narrative From World Travels to Technology with Miles Spencer
Q: What are the differences between a memoir and Reflecta's interactive format?
A memoir is a fixed narrative; Reflecta creates an ongoing, interactive dialogue where descendants can ask questions and get responses grounded in a curated knowledge base.
The Quest for Narrative From World Travels to Technology with Miles Spencer
Q: And I wanted to ask you, like, how did you get into narrative as such?
Narrative for Spencer grows from a family history of storytelling, a curiosity-driven path in digital media, and the belief that data can contextualize history by capturing personal perspectives and experiences.
German Romanticism and Idealism Beyond Nostalgia And Reaction
Q: What can contemporary readers take away about Schelling's role as a bridge between Romanticism and German Idealism?
Schelling is seen as a bridge figure who challenges rigid disciplinary boundaries, emphasizes the organic, interdiscursive development of ideas, and offers tools to rethink nature, freedom, and social organization beyond strict state-centric or economic paradigms.
German Romanticism and Idealism Beyond Nostalgia And Reaction
Q: What are the big concepts from Schelling that arise from his engagement with sim philosophy, and what are common misconceptions?
Key concepts include nature as an active, self-organizing process; the unity of nature and mind; the idea of the unconditioned or absolute as a driving force; and the notion that art and philosophy are interconnected. Misconceptions often stem from Beiser's caricatures and the tendency to view Schelling through a Hegelian lens or as purely mystical, rather than as a thinker of freedom and ontology.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Varn Vlog

What is Varn Vlog about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show spans philosophy, political economy, and leftist history through long-form, principled conversations with scholars, organizers, and thinkers. Episodes frequently explore Marxist ethics, ancient philosophy, socialist strategy, and modern political reform—from DSA dynamics to digital democracy and labor organizing—while peppering in sharp critiques of mainstream frameworks. Notable strengths include rigorous, wide-ranging interviews, a willingness to challenge established orthodoxies, and a knack for connecting theory to practical organizing and current events. Listeners looking for deep analysis, accessible philosophical discussion, and historically informed critique of politics and culture are likely to find this program especiall... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Varn Vlog?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Varn Vlog:

1. This Wreckage
2. What's Left of Philosophy
3. American Prestige
4. This Machine Kills
5. Acid Horizon

How many episodes of Varn Vlog are there?

Varn Vlog launched 5 years ago and published 423 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 Varn Vlog?

Recent guests on Varn Vlog include:

1. Sam Badger
2. Max Wade
3. Travis Misurell
4. Dr. Chris Knight
5. Cliff Connolly
6. Gene Allen
7. Amy Wilhelm
8. Miles Spencer

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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