Where There's Woke
Thomas Smith
Every single time the right, or even center-left, goes ballistic over a "woke" controversy, the slightest bit of investigation shows the scandal is almost entirely bogus. This is not a new phenomenon; it dates back decades. It's an intentional tool used to protect the powerful and preserve the status quo, while further scapegoating and otherizing those who push for political progress. This podcast digs into not just today's fake scandals, but those of yesterday and yesteryear. The terminology has changed some, but the pattern has not. Listen in as host Thomas Smith shines a light on the panic, the fragility, the overreaction, and the lying that ignites 'Where There's Woke.'
Episodes
Mentioned books
10 snips
Dec 24, 2025 • 50min
WTW107: Hello Mr. President I Got a Bad Grade Can You Fix It Pwease
Eli Bosnick, a witty commentator known for his sharp takes, joins to delve into the University of Oklahoma controversy sparked by a student's grade complaint. The discussion critiques the absurdity of a culture war ignited over a Bible citation, humorously tackling academic self-censorship and political pressures in higher education. They explore the fallout from initial administrative responses, the peculiarities of grading standards, and the broader implications for graduate students facing scrutiny. With Bosnick's humor, the conversation offers both insight and levity on a complex issue.
8 snips
Dec 24, 2025 • 53min
WTW106: Oklahoma Christian Idiot Gets a 0, Then Uses Christian Privilege to Get Teacher Fired
Eli Bosnick, a commentator with teaching experience, dives into the controversy surrounding an Oklahoma student’s poorly graded Christian essay. He critiques the paper for lacking evidence and adherence to assignment guidelines. The discussion reveals how the student's reaction spiraled into a campaign against her teacher, raising questions about privilege and meritocracy in education. Eli’s insights shed light on the clash between personal belief and academic standards, making for a thought-provoking conversation.
10 snips
Dec 16, 2025 • 1h 10min
WTW105: A 2019 DSA Convention Was a Little Weird and Now Bill Maher Can't Possibly Support Mamdani
The hosts dive into Bill Maher's critique of socialism, exposing his exaggerated examples and misleading claims. They dissect Maher's portrayal of the Democratic Socialists and clarify the differences between welfare and true socialist policies. A discussion on city-run grocery stores highlights practical solutions to food insecurity, countering fears with successful precedents. They also address immigration policies, revealing nuances often overlooked in mainstream discussions. Ultimately, the episode dismantles Maher's narrow views, defending Mamdani's platform with robust arguments.
Dec 9, 2025 • 56min
WTW104: Bill Maher Tries Comedy. It Doesn't Go Well.
Part 2 of the latest Bill Maher debunk. Well, we couldn't help ourselves and this part mainly focuses on how unbelievably terrible Maher's "comedy" is. We also do a little debunking along the way, but the bulk of the remaining debunking is going to have to come in, that's right, part 3. We tried. We tried to make it only 2 parts but he's just so... dumb. If you enjoy our work, please consider leaving a 5-star review! You can always email questions, comments, and leads to lydia@seriouspod.com. Please pretty please consider becoming a patron at patreon.com/wherethereswoke!
Dec 5, 2025 • 1h 7min
WTW103: You'll Never Guess What Bill Maher and the NYT Think Democrats Should Do
Sorry, wokies. Guess we have to close up shop. Bill Maher and The New York Times have said that the Left needs to moderate. Thomas guides us through the ridiculous source material that takes this position and we get plenty of debunks along the way! Also, chime in: Should we do a recurring Bill Maher segment? And: Is Maher Thomas's arch nemesis? Of course we barely scratched the surface, so we'll be back soon with additional parts on this one! If you enjoy our work, please consider leaving a 5-star review! You can always email questions, comments, and leads to lydia@seriouspod.com. Please pretty please consider becoming a patron at patreon.com/wherethereswoke!
Dec 3, 2025 • 55min
WTW102: What It's Like Being the Center of a Culture War
Logan was an out trans man serving children of servicemembers overseas as their pediatrician until the Trump Administration targeted trans folks in the military. Now that Logan has safely discharged, we're honored to have him join us to talk about the entire experience. If you enjoy our work, please consider leaving a 5-star review! You can always email questions, comments, and leads to lydia@seriouspod.com. Please pretty please consider becoming a patron at patreon.com/wherethereswoke!
Dec 1, 2025 • 57min
WTW101: Prof. Josh Fernandez Started an Anti-Fascist Club. Then He Was Investigated for Over a Year.
Professor Josh Fernandez was accused of soliciting students for violent activities because of an antiracist club he helped start on his community college campus, and his administration investigated him for a year and a half. The Hands That Crafted the Bomb: The Making of a Lifelong Antifascist **If you enjoy our work, please consider leaving a 5-star review! You can always email questions, comments, and leads to lydia@seriouspod.com.**
Nov 29, 2025 • 1h 2min
WTW100: The TP USA Event That Was More Important Than Your Freedom of Speech
We return for an update to our ACTUAL-THREATS-TO-FREE-SPEECH series for our 100th episode! Lydia shares what's been happening with the various cases we discussed in Episodes 98 and 99, and then she walks us through some "highlights" from Auburn University's Turning Point USA event that seemed to be in the middle of the termination of one of our cases. **If you enjoy our work, please consider leaving a 5-star review! You can always email questions, comments, and leads to lydia@seriouspod.com.**
Nov 24, 2025 • 57min
WTW99: The Biggest Attack on Free Speech in Our Lifetime and Hardly Anyone Cares
Part 2 in our Kirk's Free Speech series. The cases of teachers being suspended, investigated, and/or terminated based on their comments about Charlie Kirk never seem to dry up. We continue our examination of some of these instances. If you enjoy our work, please consider leaving a 5-star review! You can always email questions, comments, and leads to lydia@seriouspod.com. Please pretty please consider becoming a patron at patreon.com/wherethereswoke!
Nov 24, 2025 • 58min
WTW98: Your Free Speech "Rights" as a Teacher in the Wake of Charlie Kirk's Murder
Part 1. We dive headfirst into stories in which a teacher's First Amendment rights appear to have been violated. It seems clear to us how wrong this all is after reading the complaint, but how will these cases play out in court? If you enjoy our work, please consider leaving a 5-star review! You can always email questions, comments, and leads to lydia@seriouspod.com. Please pretty please consider becoming a patron at patreon.com/wherethereswoke!
