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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 weeklyEpisodes392Founded5 years ago
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PoliticsNewsEducation

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Latest Episodes

“Why does life feel poorer when the economy looks rich?” That question drives our talk with Hungarian-born creator and entrepreneur Matt Borka, who has lived and worked across the West, Eastern Europe, and Asia and who tracks real-world conditions th... more

In Part 6 of our series "From Dawn to Decadence," we examine the intellectual trajectory and eventual "decay" of the Aufheben collective. This episode explores the group's early contributions to Marxist theory, their critique of the state, and the in... more

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Romanticism gets treated like a synonym for nostalgia, and German Idealism gets shrunk to a few brand-name thinkers. We push back on both habits by talking with Christopher Satoor, a York University doctoral candidate and founder of the Young Idealis... more

Join hosts as they dive deep into the complexities of modern French politics with guest Henry Wallace. This episode explores the concept of the "new municipalism" and the strategic efforts of the La France Insoumise (France Unbowed) movement to recla... more

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Recent Guests

Matt Borka
Hungarian-born content creator, entrepreneur
Episode: The K-Shaped Decade with Matt Borka
Christopher Satoor
Doctoral candidate specializing in classical German philosophy, German Romanticism, and German Idealism
York University, Department of Humanities; President/Founding member of the Idealist Society of North America (ISNA)
Episode: German Romanticism and Idealism Beyond Nostalgia And Reaction
Henry Wallace
French correspondent
Boassy Institute / Unbowed movement (correspondent)
Episode: Diving Into the Wreckage: The French Left Remains Unbowed
Brandon Lightly
Independent researcher and socialist history buff
Episode: Mapping The United Front Debate with Brandon Lightly
David I. Backer
Associate Professor of Education Policy at Seton Hall University
Seton Hall University
Episode: Wall Street Went To Homeroom And Stole The Whiteboard with David I Backer
Edward Baring
Professor of History and Human Values at Princeton; author on Derrida and continental philosophy
Princeton University
Episode: From Catechism To Class Consciousness: How Marxism Was Taught with Edward Barring
Christoph Schuringa
Associate professor at Northeastern University in London; editor of the Hegel Bulletin
Northeastern University London; Hegel Bulletin
Episode: How Philosophy Lost Its Nerve And How Marx Put It Back To Work with Christoph Schuringa
Nicholas D. Villarreal
Guest expert on post-liberalism and contemporary politics
Episode: Post-Liberalism’s Fade with Nicolas Villarreal
Phil Neel
Marxist geographer and author of Hellworld
Episode: Hellworld And The Broken Labor Map with Phil Neel

Host

C. Derick Varn
Host and curator focusing on philosophy, political economy, history, and geopolitics from a left perspective.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 244 ratings
  • Great show

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bernie 2016
    United States8 months ago
  • Superior

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Hdhfiigehdoshe
    Canadaa year 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 States2 years ago
  • Incredible resource

    Detail dense and incredibly knowledgeable.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    aya_papayaa
    United States2 years ago
  • Very good

    The most intellectually honest show on the left, or anywhere

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    IOC19
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise challenging, thoughtful conversations with expert guests.
Shows deep intellectual rigor and wide-ranging knowledge.
A few critiques note occasional left-leaning bias or focus on non-English perspectives.

Top Education Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
German Romanticism and Idealism Beyond Nostalgia And Reaction
Q: How did you become interested in this period of German philosophy as an academic?
The guest explains that an early exposure to Kant, Hegel, and especially Schelling drew him in, with a personal journey from Kantian and Hegelian study toward Deleuze influence and then a deeper dive into Schelling through the romantic-natural philosophy circle and the idea of nature as a living, productive system.
Mapping The United Front Debate with Brandon Lightly
Q: What is the United Front?
It is a political strategy where different organizations, usually those representing the working class, agree to act together towards a common goal despite having deep ideological disagreements.
From Catechism To Class Consciousness: How Marxism Was Taught with Edward Barring
Q: So I want to ask you though, why did you, why the focus on Marxism? Your prior work is more on continental philosophy.
The author explains that Marxism is a central thread in his work and that understanding its educational and institutional dimensions helps illuminate how ideas spread and influence masses, beyond elite circles.

Audience Metrics

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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 centers on philosophy, political economy, history, culture, and geopolitics from a left-leaning, culturally informed lens. Recent episodes frequently feature academics, theorists, and political commentators who dissect labor, capitalism, imperialism, and social movements, often contextualized through historical analysis. A standout trait is the host's ability to pull in diverse, highly educated guests to challenge conventional narratives and explore long-running structural questions. Listeners likely appreciate rigorous critique, theoretical depth, and connections between global developments and local politics, with a readiness to engage complex ideas.

Noteworthy is the show's willingness to blend theoretical debate with practica... 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. The Regrettable Century
3. What's Left of Philosophy
4. Bungacast
5. Diet Soap - a podcast

How many episodes of Varn Vlog are there?

Varn Vlog launched 5 years ago and published 392 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. Matt Borka
2. Christopher Satoor
3. Henry Wallace
4. Brandon Lightly
5. David I. Backer
6. Edward Baring
7. Christoph Schuringa
8. Nicholas D. Villarreal

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