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
Feb 2, 2026 • 51min
WTW112: How the Right Convinced Everyone There Was a Free Speech Crisis: A Case Study
We watched No Safe Spaces with our friends over at God Awful Movies this month and there was SO MUCH from the anti-woke archive featured in that "documentary" that we couldn't possibly take over GAM to debunk it all. For this episode, we're focusing on one particular story that we hadn't covered yet involving Dennis Prager being allegedly SILENCED at the University of Wyoming. **If you enjoy our work, please consider leaving a 5-star review! You can always email questions, comments, and leads to lydia@seriouspod.com.**
Feb 1, 2026 • 47min
WTW111: Antifa Is Good and Effective, Actually
After nearly 10 years of covering the far right after Charlottesville, Chris Mathias has written an important book called "To Catch a Fascist, The Fight to Expose the Radical Right." In addition to modern efforts to out the fascists and racists, Chris takes us through some fascinating history of that as well. It is inspiring work at a time when we all could use some inspiration and uplift! Also check out his article in the Nation, Liberals Think Antifa Isn't Real. But It Is—and It Knows How to Win.
Jan 28, 2026 • 2h 4min
WTW110: America Fest 3 - Tucker Carlson Hits Back at Ben Shapiro
Time to dig into the keynote speaker from Day 1 of AmFest 2025. That's right, folks! We FINALLY get to (have to) listen to Tucker Carlson! Tune in to hear how he handles the call out from Ben Shapiro earlier in the day, and stick around for some crazy Q&A - what seems to be a hallmark of TPUSA. Be sure to listen through to the end to hear the craziest attempt at an intro for a podcast that we've probably ever done. 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!
Jan 14, 2026 • 1h 6min
WTW109: Russell Brand Is Reallllllly Into Jesus. Oh and Michael Knowles Is Realllly Into White Nationalism.
Part 2. We continue working through the lineup of AmericaFest 2025, and this one's jam-packed! Kicking it off with Ben Shapiro and the SHADE he lays down against other folks on the Right, we then hear what upcoming criminal defendant Russell Brand has to say, and close out with quite a fashy character from The Daily Wire we've yet to cover in detail on WTW: Michael Knowles. 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!
Jan 12, 2026 • 50min
WTW108: AmericaFest Showed Turning Point's Massive Influence (and Bottomless Budget)
Part 1. Thomas watched the entirety of Turning Point USA's AmericaFest 2025 so the rest of us didn't have to! In this episode, in addition to talking about what was going on at this entire event, we listen to the most ridiculous National Anthem presentation and hear words from America's Widow, Erika Kirk. In this day and age, we deserve to laugh. 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!
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!
