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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 weeklyEpisodes400Founded5 years ago
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PoliticsEducationNews

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Latest Episodes

The working class is everywhere now. So why does it keep slipping out of view the moment we try to talk about power, strategy, and organization? We sit down with Marco from the Angry Workers Collective to dig into a question that quietly haunts moder... more

Is American democracy broken, or is it just rigged? In this episode of VarmBlog, we sit down with Travis Misurell, founder of the Think: The Future is Now Coalition (Fink), to discuss a radical new framework for political engagement: moving beyond th... more

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In this episode of Varn Vlog, we welcome back British anthropologist and activist Dr. Chris Knight, author of Decoding Chomsky, to discuss the startling revelations surrounding Noam Chomsky’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. We go beyond the headli... more

Approximately two years into the second Trump administration, the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) is at a critical crossroads. In this semi-annual check-in, we sit down with members of the Marxist Unity Group (MUG)—Cliff Connolly, Gene Allen, ... more

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Recent Guests

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
Nurse John
Long-time friend of the show, workplace nurse and organizer
Episode: The Left-Wing Deadbeat with Nurse John
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

Host

C. Derick Varn
Host of Varn Vlog, central host and primary interviewer, known for rigorous leftist critique and historical analysis.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 246 ratings
  • Great show

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bernie 2016
    United States10 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.

Intellectually rigorous and deeply informed discussion.
Consistently high-quality guests and thoughtful critique of established narratives.
Long-form conversations; sometimes dense but rewarding for serious listeners.
Challenging, encourages listeners to rethink assumptions.

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?

The show functions as a deeply analytical left-leaning humanities and social sciences discussion space, blending philosophy, political economy, history, and geopolitics through rigorous interviews and long-form conversations. Episodes frequently dissect ideological currents, historical movements, and current organizing strategies, often tying theory to real-world politics, labor, and education policy. Noteworthy is the strength of guests who are scholars, activists, and practitioners, along with a host who steers conversations with a blend of erudition and confrontational critique. Potential listeners who enjoy dense analysis, cross-disciplinary thinking, and materialist critiques will likely find this program highly engaging and challengin... 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. Bungacast
3. What's Left of Philosophy
4. Jacobin Radio
5. Acid Horizon

How many episodes of Varn Vlog are there?

Varn Vlog launched 5 years ago and published 400 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. Dr. Chris Knight
2. Cliff Connolly
3. Gene Allen
4. Amy Wilhelm
5. Miles Spencer
6. Ru Marshall
7. Nurse John
8. Matt Borka

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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