Rephonic
Artwork for Diet Soap

Diet Soap - a podcast

Douglas Lain
Capitalism
Socialism
Donald Trump
Marxism
Neoliberalism
Democratic Party
Kamala Harris
Trump
Iran
Israel
Republican Party
Sublation Media
Israel-Palestine Conflict
Class Struggle
Anti-Imperialism
Identity Politics
Hamas
Gaza
Critical Theory
Palestine

The Diet Soap podcast began in 2009 in response to the economic crisis of 2008. Since then it has gone through many transformations, including becoming the podcast for a critical theory imprint out of the UK. Today the Diet Soap podcast is running under its original name for Sublation Media.Sublation Media includes a book publishing effort for critical theory and left politics, a magazine that cov... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes100Founded17 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PhilosophySociety & Culture

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Artwork for Diet Soap

Latest Episodes

Christopher Norris discusses his contribution to the 2007 collection "Adventures in Realism" entitled "Realism and Anti-Realism in Contemporary Philosophy: What's Truth Got to Do With It?"

Rather than rehearse the philosophical arguments in the pape... more

In this episode of the CutroneZone, everyone's favorite contrarian discusses the meaning of the MOU, Israel's future decline, and the contemporary moment of post-neoliberalism.

Support Sublation Media

patreon.com/dietsoap

Werner Rügemer discusses his book "Fatal Friendship: First Phase: From World War I to II."

From the book jacket:

Rising US capitalism presented itself to the world with freedom, democracy, and prosperity. However, the practices of America First-ge... more

As we approach the Semiquincentennial of the American Revolution, Spencer Leonard reflects on why we seem to be forgetting what it means. Spencer is a collaborator on the Sublation Media film in production now:

Forgetting The American Revolution.

more

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Recent Guests

Chris Knight
Author of Decoding Chomsky, Science and Revolutionary Politics
Author
Episode: Episode 692: Decoding Chomsky and Epstein
Benjamin Studebaker
Guest on the show, author of The Credit Crisis of American Democracy and other works
Author; The Credit Crisis of American Democracy, The Way is Shut, Legitimacy in Liberal Democracies
Episode: Episode 687: Project Freedom? (War is Politics by Other Means)
Spencer Leonard
Guest, co-founder of the Platypus Affiliated Society and commentator on Rousseau
Platypus Affiliated Society
Episode: Episode 685: Spencer Leonard on Why Rousseau Still Matters
Ashley Frawley
Editor and podcaster, author of Jeffrey Epstein's Necrophilia and Ours
Compact Magazine
Episode: Episode 684: Jeffrey Epstein's Necrophilia
Ethan Linehan
Writer and scholar; contributor to Sublation Magazine; discussed his piece Wrong Life and Abortion
Sublation Magazine / Sublation Media
Episode: Episode 678: Reproductive Freedom in a Wrong Life?
Dan Davison
An independent scholar based in the UK
Episode: Episode 653: The Left is Stuck in a Time Loop with Zohran
Chris Cutrone
Genius track coach, the last Marxist
Platypus Review
Episode: Episode 646: Bonapartism is not Bonaparte
Stanley Sharpey
The author of The Discreet Charm of the PMC
Episode: Episode 645: The Discreet Charm of the PMC
Philip Cunliffe
Associate Professor of International Relations at University College London, author, and co-host at Afabungabunga podcast
University College London
Episode: Episode 641: Trump Wins Again and Again?

Hosts

Douglas Lane
Host of the Diet Soap and related programs; guides conversation and introduces guests; affiliated with Sublation Media / Diet Soap.
Douglas Lain
Host and interview facilitator; co-host in several segments and known for cross-podcast appearances; associated with Sublation Media and related projects.
Chris Cutrone
Philosopher and Marxist theorist; frequent guest and co-host contributor; central to regime-change and imperial policy discussions.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 357 ratings
  • Mixed bag but not clearly trying to brand itself as “controversial” like Compact

    Very eclectic and often seeming to be purposefully contrarian. Weird mix of so-called “Marxist humanism “, Moishe Postone, lots of Christopher Lasch, and being anti-woke for the sake of being anti-wokeness. There are some good episodes, like the debate over GA Cohen and analytical Marxism a few years ago, recent interview with JA Smith, and the recent discussion on afterlives of the Frankfurt School.

    A lot of it is just too confusing and peripatetic for me to handle. I was on oxycodone yesterd... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    shd345
    United States2 years ago
  • Great work

    Thanks for putting all the work in. This podcast has improved my morning shift 100 fold!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    teesmi
    Canada2 years ago
  • Good example of conservative style Marxism

    This is an entertaining view of Marxist/ Hegelian philosophy.just be aware that it comes from a questionable conservative place that place’s identity politics in opposition to Marxism, specifically often in a quite transphobic way.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Jill Lloyd Flanagan
    United States3 years ago
  • Still Marxist after all these years(?)

    Stubbornly representing Marxist, Marxian, and Marx-ish ideas. I hold out hope that one day, Lain and Varn will read Rerum Novarum, Quadragesimo Anno, and Centesimus Annus and see the light.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    L. Blownapart
    United States3 years ago
  • Very good podcast. Sometimes I feel like the hosts don't do enough to contextualise for the audience, but I appreciate the content nonetheless.

    Podcast Addict
    xolotlll
    3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise strong guest choices and the host's willingness to push provocative ideas.
Some reviews note dense, arcane discussions that can be hard to follow but are rewarding for deep thinkers.
A few critics describe certain episodes as esoteric, but overall reception highlights rigorous analysis and engaging debate.
Listeners value long-form, theory-rich conversations that challenge conventional wisdom.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 684: Jeffrey Epstein's Necrophilia
Q: How do Fromm and Pareto illuminate today's tech-driven economy and AI developments?
Fromm shows necrophilia as a longing to bend life to will and to separate life from its organic basis, while Pareto demonstrates how beautiful the system can seem on the surface but relies on impure inputs—humans—to function; together they contextualize AI as both a disruptive force and a potential tool for emancipation, contingent on human-centered use.
Episode 684: Jeffrey Epstein's Necrophilia
Q: What did you mean by the term necrophilia in the context of culture and economy?
It's about the craving for control over life, the fetishization of decay and dead labor in systems that operate like machines, and the way that such attitudes permeate culture, technology, and economic organization, often at the expense of human vitality.
Episode 659: Forming a Socialist Cult, Forming a Socialist Strategy
Q: What do you see as the primary problem for would-be socialists today that organizing might overcome?
There are many presuppositions that people get as leftists that need to be unlearned, necessitating a different kind of contact with reality and disciplined practice.
Episode 648: The Last Marxist Explains the conflict with IRAN
Q: What are your thoughts about the war with Iran that appears to have broken up?
It raises concerns about regional dynamics and U.S. involvement.
Episode 647: How Socialists Should Understand American Conservatism
Q: What is American conservatism?
American conservatism is historically defined as a reactionary movement arising around the time of the Gilded Age, characterized by opposition to progressive forces and a desire to preserve traditional political structures and free-market capitalism.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Diet Soap

What is Diet Soap about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A sharp, theory-forward discussion style that blends political theory, Marxism, and contemporary geopolitics with culture and media analysis. Episodes frequently probe imperial power, state strategy, and leftist critique, while hosting guests who contribute historical, philosophical, and sociopolitical perspectives. Listeners are likely drawn to rigorous dialogue, dense ideas, and a willingness to challenge mainstream narratives, with a tendency toward the academic, activist, and intellectually curious. A few notable traits include patchwork conversations that mix theory with current events, a habit of lively, contrarian exchanges, and a consistent, left-leaning critical stance that seeks to rethink capitalism and democracy.

Potential list... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Diet Soap?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Diet Soap:

1. Bungacast
2. Why Theory
3. Jacobin Radio
4. This Wreckage
5. Acid Horizon

How many episodes of Diet Soap are there?

Diet Soap launched 17 years ago and published 100 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Diet Soap?

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What guests have appeared on Diet Soap?

Recent guests on Diet Soap include:

1. Chris Knight
2. Benjamin Studebaker
3. Spencer Leonard
4. Ashley Frawley
5. Ethan Linehan
6. Dan Davison
7. Chris Cutrone
8. Stanley Sharpey

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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