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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 weeklyEpisodes438Founded5 years ago
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EducationNewsPolitics

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Artwork for Varn Vlog

Latest Episodes

In this episode of VarnVlog, C. Derick Varn is joined by veteran sociologist, author, and activist Dr. Charles Derber (Boston College) to discuss his book Wired for Authoritarianism: American Oligarchies and How to Rewire America for the People (Rout... more

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In this episode of VarnVlog, C. Derick Varn is joined by psychiatrist, writer, and political commentator Dr. Tad Tietze (co-author of Left Flank) to unpack the evolving dynamics of anti-politics and hyperpolitics across the Western world.

Tietze rev... more

In this episode of VarnVlog, C. Derick Varn is joined by Howard Polskin, veteran media analyst, journalist, and founder/chief curator of The Righting.

Polskin details his daily work monitoring, curating, and analyzing the headlines, narratives, and ... more

In this episode of VarnVlog, C. Derick Varn is joined by political scientist and author Dr. Matt McManus (Spelman College) to discuss his books What Is Liberal Socialism? (Repeater Books) and Analytical Marxism and Democratic Socialism in the 21st Ce... more

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Recent Guests

Tad Tietze
Psychiatrist, writer, political commentator, and co-author of Left Flank
Left Flank
Episode: Anti-Politics Still Explains Politics with Tad Tietze
Howard Polskin
Veteran media analyst, journalist and founder and chief curator of The Righting
The Righting
Episode: How Conservative Media Moved From Magazines To Platforms with Howard Polskins
Matt McManus
Political scientist, author, and assistant professor of political science at Spelman College
Spelman College
Episode: Liberal Socialism Explained with Matt McManus
Max Wade
Scholar of ancient and medieval philosophy with academic articles and popular writing
Episode: Neoplatonism For Real People with Max Wade
Keri Leigh Merritt
Historian, writer, and independent scholar; author of Masterless Men and An Inconvenient Woman
Episode: An Inconvenient Woman and the Reactionary South with Keri Leight Merritt
Thomas Zeitzoff
Professor at American University's School of Public Affairs and author of No Option But Sabotage.
American University
Episode: Green Scare And The Radical Environmental Movement with Scott Parkin and Thomas Zietzoff
Scott Parkin
Environmental and climate justice organizer, organizing director at Rainforest Action Network and co-host of Green & Red Podcast.
Rainforest Action Network
Episode: Green Scare And The Radical Environmental Movement with Scott Parkin and Thomas Zietzoff
Nick Srnicek
Political economist, academic and author; senior lecturer in digital economy
King's College London
Episode: Silicon Empires: How Big Tech Is Re-Mapping Geopolitics and Labor with Nick Srnicek
PK Gandakin
Communist writer, organizer, and editor-in-chief of Geese Magazine
Geese Magazine
Episode: Leninism in the Age of Populism: Anti-Economism, Strategy & The Left with PK Gandakin

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 257 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.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How Conservative Media Moved From Magazines To Platforms with Howard Polskins
Q: How much of this narrative about election viability do you see amping up in the next few months?
Polskin expects election-fraud claims to ramp up if Democrats have a strong midterm election, and says he believes Trump may intervene in some way.
How Conservative Media Moved From Magazines To Platforms with Howard Polskins
Q: How has the structural landscape of right-wing media changed?
Polskin says the growth of platforms has broadened the ways people get information and opinion. He describes journalists turning to Substack and notes increased conservative activity on TikTok, YouTube, Rumble and podcasts.
Anti-Politics Still Explains Politics with Tad Tietze
Q: Why do you think that is?
In response to the question of why populist figures can lose support when they become governing projects, Tietze says the pattern is not automatic. Their prospects depend on wider political conditions, including the collapse of older parties, and governing can gradually integrate them into the institutions people oppose.
Anti-Politics Still Explains Politics with Tad Tietze
Q: Why do you think anti-political analysis is still very explanatory?
Tietze says anti-politics describes several distinct dynamics, from grassroots rejection of an unresponsive system to political entrepreneurs exploiting that sentiment and movements that may push beyond conventional politics. He argues that the framework can help explain why politics feels omnipresent even as many people disengage.
Neoplatonism For Real People with Max Wade
Q: Why did Plotinus and the Neoplatonists polemicize against the Gnostics?
Wade explains that Plotinus objected to views that devalued the cosmos and celestial gods, and criticized Gnostic accounts for multiplying metaphysical principles beyond what he believed the Platonic tradition supported.

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. Jacobin Radio
5. Rev Left Radio

How many episodes of Varn Vlog are there?

Varn Vlog launched 5 years ago and published 438 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. Tad Tietze
2. Howard Polskin
3. Matt McManus
4. Max Wade
5. Keri Leigh Merritt
6. Thomas Zeitzoff
7. Scott Parkin
8. Nick Srnicek

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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