

Proles Pod
Proles Pod
A podcast about history, politics, and culture... without the liberalism
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 27, 2025 • 1h 42min
Ep 88 - John Brown: Part Two
Tony and Jeremy sit down with Alex Z (Southern Catholic Worker) to talk about John Brown and Co, their raid on Harper's Ferry, the aftermath, and the legacy of John Brown on politics and the Civil War. You can sign up at Patreon where you get access to early release episodes, study guides, the aforementioned bonus episodes, TheoryBeats, and MORE! YOU CAN DO SO FOR FREE, which will get you the study guides, merch, and other random drops. Please subscribe on your favorite podcast catcher and rate or review to help extend our reach. Like and rate us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @prolespod and Tiktok @proles.pod. If you have any questions or comments, email us at prolespod@outlook.com. May the spectre haunt your streets, and solidarity forever. Sources: John Brown, Abolitionist: The Man Who Killed Slavery, Sparked the Civil War, and Seeded CIvil Rights by David S. Reynolds Midnight Rising: John Brown and the Raid that Sparked the Civil War by Tony Horowitz The Old Man: John Brown at Harpers Ferry by Truman Nelson John Brown by W.E.B. Du Bois Anti-Racism in US History: The First Hundred Years by Herbert Aptheker Intro Music: "ProlesPod Theme" by Ransom Notes Outro Music: "Eastern Bloc Beats" by DJ DTA

Aug 13, 2025 • 1h 38min
Ep 87 - John Brown: Part One
Tony and Jeremy sit down with Alex Z (Southern Catholic Worker) to talk about John Brown's early life, along with his trials and tribulations as a worker, father, and husband. This episode takes us all the way up to the period before he begins planning for the raid on Harper's Ferry (which means many skirmishes with and some broadsword swinging on pro-slavery dorks). You can sign up at Patreon where you get access to early release episodes, study guides, the aforementioned bonus episodes, TheoryBeats, and MORE! YOU CAN DO SO FOR FREE, which will get you the study guides, merch, and other random drops. Please subscribe on your favorite podcast catcher and rate or review to help extend our reach. Like and rate us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @prolespod and Tiktok @proles.pod. If you have any questions or comments, email us at prolespod@outlook.com. May the spectre haunt your streets, and solidarity forever. Sources: John Brown, Abolitionist: The Man Who Killed Slavery, Sparked the Civil War, and Seeded CIvil Rights by David S. Reynolds Midnight Rising: John Brown and the Raid that Sparked the Civil War by Tony Horowitz The Old Man: John Brown at Harpers Ferry by Truman Nelson John Brown by W.E.B. Du Bois Anti-Racism in US History: The First Hundred Years by Herbert Aptheker Intro Quote: An excerpt from a speech given by Malcolm X in 1965. Intro Music: "ProlesPod Theme" by Ransom Notes Outro Music: "Eastern Bloc Beats" by DJ DTA

Jul 29, 2025 • 1h 27min
Ep 86 - Anti-Capitalist Sci-Fi Decoded: Andor, Hunger Games, and Severance
What do Andor, The Hunger Games, and Severance really say about capitalism and socialist revolution? In this episode of Prolespod, we critically examine these popular sci-fi and dystopian series through a socialist lens. We unpack the anti-capitalist themes, revolutionary narratives, and class struggle depicted in each — and ask how far these shows can really go while being produced by profit-driven corporations. Support the show and listen to the bonus episode which focuses on Sinners at patreon.com/prolespod

Jul 15, 2025 • 1h 2min
Ep 85 - Reform or Revolution (Part II of II)
In this two-part Theory Episode, the ProlesPod Squad takes on one of the most influential texts in socialist history: "Reform or Revolution" (1898) by Polish-German Marxist Rosa Luxemburg. Whether you're new to political theory, find socialist texts hard to get through, or just want to hear our unique take—this deep-dive is for you. We break it down, debate its meaning, and explore why this revolutionary classic still matters today.

20 snips
Jul 15, 2025 • 1h 10min
Ep 84 - Reform or Revolution (Part I of II)
Dive into Rosa Luxemburg's groundbreaking work, exploring the clash between reform and revolution. The hosts unravel her revolutionary legacy, contrasting her views with Lenin's and dissecting misconceptions. They examine the challenges of capitalism, labor exploitation, and the limits of union power, illustrated by real worker experiences. Also discussed are the struggles of small producers in Vietnam navigating organic certification amidst bureaucratic hurdles. Tune in for a thought-provoking analysis of socialist theory and its relevance today.

Jun 29, 2025 • 41min
Ep 83 - Iran: Draw a Line
In this very special release, Justin talked with Iranian communist and comrade, Araaz, about life in Iran, the effects of the attacks by Israel, and the context of life under the Islamic Revolutionary Government. We weren't sure what we expected this episode to be, but it surpassed those expectations. You can sign up at Patreon where you get access to early release episodes, study guides, the aforementioned bonus episodes, TheoryBeats, and MORE! YOU CAN DO SO FOR FREE, which will get you the study guides, merch, and other random drops. Please subscribe on your favorite podcast catcher and rate or review to help extend our reach. Like and rate us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @prolespod and Tiktok @proles.pod. If you have any questions or comments, email us at prolespod@outlook.com. May the spectre haunt your streets, and solidarity forever. Intro Music: "ProlesPod Theme" by Ransom Notes Outro Music: "Eastern Bloc Beats" by DJ DTA

Jun 11, 2025 • 1h 16min
Ep 82 - Guatemalan Guerrillas
Digging into his own family's background, PhD Candidate, Brandon, is our subject matter expert. He combines archival research with ethnographic interviews to bring us the history of the guerrilla struggle, focusing on the era between the early 1960s and the early 1980s. We learn about tactics, tribulation, and Trotskyite treachery. You can sign up at Patreon where you get access to early release episodes, study guides, the aforementioned bonus episodes, TheoryBeats, and MORE! YOU CAN DO SO FOR FREE, which will get you the study guides, merch, and other random drops. Please subscribe on your favorite podcast catcher and rate or review to help extend our reach. Like and rate us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @prolespod and Tiktok @proles.pod. If you have any questions or comments, email us at prolespod@outlook.com. May the spectre haunt your streets, and solidarity forever. Sources: Days of the Jungle: The Testimony of a Guatemalan Guerrilla (1972-1976) by Mario Payeras Turcios Lima: His Biography and Documents by Dulcila Cañizares The Guerrilla Movement in Guatemala by Adolpho Gilly Autobiography of a Guerrilla: Guatemala 1960-1968 by Ricardo Ramirez Intro Music: "ProlesPod Theme" by Ransom Notes Outro Music: "Siberian Trails" by DJ DTA

May 28, 2025 • 1h 6min
Ep 81 - One Big Blanket and Other Hilarious Anti-Communist Arguments
The ProlesSquad shares and responds to some of the most poorly concieved yet commonly heard anti-communist arguments! You can sign up at Patreon where you get access to early release episodes, study guides, the aforementioned bonus episodes, TheoryBeats, and MORE! YOU CAN DO SO FOR FREE, which will get you the study guides, merch, and other random drops. Please subscribe on your favorite podcast catcher and rate or review to help extend our reach. Like and rate us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @prolespod and Tiktok @proles.pod. If you have any questions or comments, email us at prolespod@outlook.com. May the spectre haunt your streets, and solidarity forever.

May 14, 2025 • 1h 21min
Ep 80 - MMT, Austerity, and Imperialism
Virginia and Steve from Macro N Cheese Podcast/Real Progressives join Justin and Jeremy in a discussion of Modern Monetary Theory, how it can be used as a radicalizing tool, as well as what it means in the grand scheme of global economics. We go even more in depth on our Patreon exclusive bonus episode, so make sure you don't miss it! You can sign up at Patreon where you get access to early release episodes, study guides, the aforementioned bonus episodes, TheoryBeats, and MORE! YOU CAN DO SO FOR FREE, which will get you the study guides, merch, and other random drops. Please subscribe on your favorite podcast catcher and rate or review to help extend our reach. Like and rate us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @prolespod and Tiktok @proles.pod. If you have any questions or comments, email us at prolespod@outlook.com. May the spectre haunt your streets, and solidarity forever. Sources: Reclaiming the State by Bill Mitchell and Thomas Fazi Seven Deadly, Innocent Frauds of Economic Policy by Warren Mosler Modern Money Theory by L. Randall Wray The Deficit Myth by Stephanie Kelton Global South Perspectives by Fadhel Kaboub Jason Hickel's Substack Intro Music: "ProlesPod Theme" by Ransom Notes Outro Music: "Average Folk" by DJ DTA

Apr 30, 2025 • 1h 38min
Ep 79 - Soviet Cartoons & Raising Socialist Children
The Proles Squad is joined by communist Youtuber RevolutionaryTh0t to talk about their recent work on soviet children's cartoons, women's liberation in the USSR, and socialist child rearing! RevolutionaryTh0t's Youtube Channel RevolutionaryTh0t's Instagram Sign up at Patreon where you can get access to early release episodes, study guides, bonus episodes, TheoryBeats, and MORE! YOU CAN DO SO FOR FREE, which will get you the study guides, merch, and other random drops. Please subscribe on your favorite podcast catcher and rate or review to help extend our reach. Like and rate us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @prolespod and Tiktok @proles.pod. If you have any questions or comments, email us at prolespod@outlook.com. May the spectre haunt your streets, and solidarity forever. Intro Music: "ProlesPod Theme" by Ransom Notes