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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 weeklyEpisodes431Founded5 years ago
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EducationNewsPolitics

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Latest Episodes

In this episode of VarnVlog, host C. Derick Varn sits down with political economist, academic, and author Dr. Nick Srnicek (King's College London) to cut through the extreme hype and knee-jerk dismissals surrounding artificial intelligence.

Together... more

In this episode of VarnVlog, C. Derick Varn sits down with PK Gandakin, editor-in-chief of Geese Magazine and communist organizer, to discuss the state of the American left, the limits of modern economism, and the strategic relevance of Lenin today. more

In this episode of VarnVlog, C. Derick Varn is joined by Bram Geiben, editor at Revol Books and host of Strange Exiles, to discuss the evolving crisis of masculinity, the limits of modern identity politics, and how theory gets transformed into rigid ... more

Welcome to a special, long-form collaboration: The Regrettable Century and VarnVlog combined in our Captain Planet team of pessimism. Today, we are opening up a comprehensive multi-part investigation into New York Times columnist Ross Douthat's landm... more

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Recent Guests

Julie Suk
Legal scholar, author, and professor of law at Fordham University School of Law
Fordham University School of Law
Episode: The Shadow Court and Protecting Democracy with Julie Suk
Matthew Vernon Whalan
Independent journalist and oral historian focused on prison system crises
Independent
Episode: Alabama Prisons At A Breaking Point with Matthew Vernon Whalan
Hossam el-Hamalawy
Egyptian journalist, scholar, activist, photographer and socialist
Egyptian Revolutionary Socialists
Episode: Egypt After The Revolution with Hossam el-Hamalawy
Annie McClanahan
Author and Professor of English; Associate Professor at University of California, Irvine
University of California, Irvine
Episode: What Happens To Class Politics In A Service Economy with Annie McClanahan
James Prokult
Guest; author and commentator on eco-socialism and green politics
Episode: Green Politics After The AI Boom with James of Prole Kult
Black Red Guard
Maoist activist and DSA-associated commentator in the Maoist spectrum
DSA orbit, Maoist circles
Episode: Maoism Without The Myths with Black Red Guard
Freddie DeBoer
Author and commentator on education and society
Author (The Cult of Smart; All in Your Head)
Episode: Education, Literacy, and the Limits of Reform with Freddie deBoer
Gautham Rao
Professor of History at American University; Editor-in-Chief at Law and History Review.
American University
Episode: Policing American Slavery: How the Slave Power Weaponized Society and the State with Gautham Rao
Andrew Rowen
Historian and historical novelist
Independent researcher and author
Episode: Rewriting Columbus From The Taino View with Andrew Rowen

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 254 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.

Policing American Slavery: How the Slave Power Weaponized Society and the State with Gautham Rao
Q: In your introduction you distinguish white power as a capture story rather than the origin of modern policing—how do early English norms about public order become retooled for slavery-based labor regimes?
The guest explains that old norms about public order were repurposed to fit a labor system where enslaved people were treated as property, leading to a continuum from colonial policing to state enforcement that centers wealth and racial domination.
The Shadow Court and Protecting Democracy with Julie Suk
Q: And how does this shift threaten popular sovereignty and the democratic legitimacy of the Court's role?
She explains that when a non-democratically representative body like the Court wields power to define constitutional guarantees, especially on polarizing issues, it can undermine the will of the people and diminish faith in representative institutions, prompting calls for institutional reforms such as a shadow court or constitutional amendments.
The Shadow Court and Protecting Democracy with Julie Suk
Q: One, how long do you think this transition of the Supreme Court from a case decider to the primary constitutional maker has been going on?
Suk argues it has been a gradual process with early roots in Marbury v. Madison and the 1920s Judges' Bill, and it has continued to evolve as the Court selectively expands or constrains power, often reflecting broader political dynamics and norms.
A People’s History of the Mets: Urban Planning, Labor, and Radical Politics with A.M. Gittlitz
Q: Why did the Mets position themselves as the people's team, and how did that branding emerge?
The branding emerged from strategic marketing by Branch Rickey and owner Joan Payson to compensate for perpetual on-field weakness by appealing to younger fans with a colorful, nontraditional image and a DIY baseball culture that felt more approachable and countercultural than the Yankees.
Trade Wars As Social Wars with Benjamin Studebaker
Q: How do you reinterpret trade wars beyond traditional mercantilist narratives?
Trade conflicts should be viewed as mechanisms to recalibrate political and economic integration, not merely as tariff skirmishes; they can be used to push for common regulatory structures and a more inclusive, rules-based order that benefits multiple regions rather than a single hegemon.

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 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. Bungacast
4. Turbulence
5. American Prestige

How many episodes of Varn Vlog are there?

Varn Vlog launched 5 years ago and published 431 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. Julie Suk
2. Matthew Vernon Whalan
3. Hossam el-Hamalawy
4. Annie McClanahan
5. James Prokult
6. Black Red Guard
7. Freddie DeBoer
8. Gautham Rao

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