The Skeptical Leftist Podcast

The Enlightenment promised liberty, equality, and justice—but did it ever fully deliver? In this episode, we dive into The Political Theory of Liberal Socialism by Matt McManus to explore how socialism isn’t a rejection of Enlightenment ideals but their fulfillment. We break down the tensions between liberalism and socialism, the failures of left-liberalism, and why expanding democracy beyond politics is the next step.You can get a copy of the book herehttps://z-library.sk/book/115586502/7c858b/the-political-theory-of-liberal-socialism.htmlOr purchase a copy herehttps://www.routledge.com/The-Political-Theory-of-Liberal-Socialism/McManus/p/book/9781032647234Check out Justin's links and follow himhttps://www.justinclark.org/https://www.instagram.com/justinclarkph/https://www.tiktok.com/@justinclarkphhttps://bsky.app/profile/justinclarkph.bsky.socialhttps://www.threads.net/@justinclarkphhttps://www.in.gov/history/https://blog.history.in.gov/https://newspapers.library.in.gov/And check out my linktreehttps://linktr.ee/SkepticalleftistIf you enjoyed the show, consider supporting us on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/skepticalleftist  to help keep the content coming. You can also subscribe to my Substack https://theskepticalleftist.substack.com/  for updates and extra content or get bonus episodes through Spotify https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/skepticalleftist/subscribe . Every bit makes a difference! If that’s not your thing, sharing the episode with friends or on social media goes a long way too. Thanks for listening and for your support!And please, if you can, support the Cathedral Community Fridge https://www.cathedralcommunityfridge.com/  or your local community fridge. Mutual aid matters—let’s help each other thrive!

Misinformation is everywhere, but why do we keep falling for it? Social scientist Matthew Facciani joins me to explain how our beliefs are shaped by identity, bias, and the media we consume. We discuss the psychology of misinformation, why both the left and right fall into their own traps, and how bad actors exploit these weaknesses. We also discuss the role of AI, fact-checking, and whether we can ever really fix this problem.You can find Matthew’s podcast and writing at these linkshttps://www.matthewfacciani.com/https://matthewfacciani.substack.com/https://www.youtube.com/@misguidedthepodcasthttps://open.spotify.com/show/6EJnW3I0KCi17Zi1LmOISj?si=3fe15105a0334f95https://www.threads.net/@matthewfaccianihttps://bsky.app/profile/matthewfacciani.bsky.socialhttps://www.instagram.com/matthewfacciani/And check out my linktreehttps://linktr.ee/SkepticalleftistIf you enjoyed the show, consider supporting us on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/skepticalleftist  to help keep the content coming. You can also subscribe to my Substack https://theskepticalleftist.substack.com/  for updates and extra content or get bonus episodes through Spotify https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/skepticalleftist/subscribe . Every bit makes a difference! If that’s not your thing, sharing the episode with friends or on social media goes a long way too. Thanks for listening and for your support!And please, if you can, support the Cathedral Community Fridge https://www.cathedralcommunityfridge.com/  or your local community fridge. Mutual aid matters—let’s help each other thrive!

Dive into the world of Christian nationalism as it reshapes American politics, fueled by billionaire funding and strategic maneuvers. Discover how the erosion of rights, especially regarding abortion, intertwines with aggressive religious ideologies. The podcast critiques the fusion of faith and nationalism, revealing the historical dangers behind it. It also explores the complexities of democracy, emphasizing minority rights in the face of majority rule. Unpack the consequences for marginalized communities and the political manipulation of religious narratives.

Journalism is dying—so what comes next? I sat down withBig Shiny Takes co-host Marino Greco to talk about the collapse of mainstream media, the rise of independent journalism, and why the Canadian political landscape is stuck in neutral. We get into media critique, class struggle, and why corporate control over the press is killing real reporting. Plus, Marino shares why he’s stepping away from journalism to focus on creative work—and what that says about the state of the industry.Here is where you can here Marino on Big Shiny Takeshttps://bigshinytakes.com/And check out his social mediahttps://bsky.app/profile/marinogreco.bsky.socialhttps://www.instagram.com/brorino/https://x.com/marinogrecoAnd check out Press Progress and Tech Won’t Save Ushttps://pressprogress.ca/https://www.techwontsave.us/And check out my linktreehttps://linktr.ee/SkepticalleftistIf you enjoyed the show, consider supporting us on Patreonhttps://www.patreon.com/skepticalleftist  to help keep the content coming. You can also subscribe to my Substackhttps://theskepticalleftist.substack.com/  for updates and extra content or get bonus episodes through Spotifyhttps://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/skepticalleftist/subscribe . Every bit makes a difference! If that’s not your thing, sharing the episode with friends or on social media goes a long way too. Thanks for listening and for your support!And please, if you can, support the Cathedral Community Fridgehttps://www.cathedralcommunityfridge.com/  or your local community fridge. Mutual aid matters—let’s help each other thrive!

The US has spent decades trying to crush Cuba, but why does this small island nation still stand? In this episode, we dive intoThe Declarations of Havana, exploring Fidel Castro’s most radical ideas, how his speeches shaped the Cuban Revolution, and why the empire still fears them. From anti-imperialism to mass mobilization, we break down how Castro framed Cuba’s struggle for independence and what made his vision so dangerous to US interests.Here’s where you can get the bookhttps://z-lib.gs/book/5206735/0ff530/the-declarations-of-havana.html?ts=2221Or you can buy it herehttps://www.versobooks.com/en-ca/products/2055-the-declarations-of-havana?_pos=1&_sid=be5041e5b&_ss=rhttps://redemmas.org/titles/41395-the-declarations-of-havana/https://pilsencommunitybooks.com/item/byaBWPmPb52by_Rvq3hByg Referenceshttps://daily.jstor.org/cuba-annexation-nation/Here is what we talked about in the post showhttps://z-library.sk/book/30095239/cc3439/on-cuba.htmlhttps://thenewpress.com/books/on-cubaCheck out Justin's links and follow himhttps://www.justinclark.org/https://www.instagram.com/justinclarkph/https://www.tiktok.com/@justinclarkphhttps://bsky.app/profile/justinclarkph.bsky.socialhttps://www.threads.net/@justinclarkphhttps://www.in.gov/history/https://blog.history.in.gov/https://newspapers.library.in.gov/And check out my linktreehttps://linktr.ee/SkepticalleftistIf you enjoyed the show, consider supporting us on Patreonhttps://www.patreon.com/skepticalleftist  to help keep the content coming. You can also subscribe to my Substackhttps://theskepticalleftist.substack.com/  for updates and extra content or get bonus episodes through Spotifyhttps://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/skepticalleftist/subscribe . Every bit makes a difference! If that’s not your thing, sharing the episode with friends or on social media goes a long way too. Thanks for listening and for your support!And please, if you can, support the Cathedral Community Fridgehttps://www.cathedralcommunityfridge.com/  or your local community fridge. Mutual aid matters—let’s help each other thrive!

In this episode, I talked to Siobhan O'Connor, who has lived through it all—growing up in a hardcore evangelical environment, serving in the military, coming out as trans later in life, and watching the world turn more hostile toward people like her. We get into her story, the right’s relentless attacks on trans people, and how even so-called allies keep failing the community. She shares what it’s like to keep moving forward, even when the odds are stacked against you.Links for Siobhan’s content and social mediahttps://www.amazon.com/stores/Erin-Greene/author/B00BT9H586?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=truehttps://bsky.app/profile/theangrywrench.comhttps://bsky.app/profile/thewriterscottage.bsky.social https://www.youtube.com/@The_Angry_Wrench_Speakshttps://linktr.ee/siobhancreations2025And check out my linktreehttps://linktr.ee/SkepticalleftistIf you enjoyed the show, consider supporting us on Patreonhttps://www.patreon.com/skepticalleftist  to help keep the content coming. You can also subscribe to my Substackhttps://theskepticalleftist.substack.com/  for updates and extra content or get bonus episodes through Spotifyhttps://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/skepticalleftist/subscribe . Every bit makes a difference! If that’s not your thing, sharing the episode with friends or on social media goes a long way too. Thanks for listening and for your support!And please, if you can, support the Cathedral Community Fridgehttps://www.cathedralcommunityfridge.com/  or your local community fridge. Mutual aid matters—let’s help each other thrive!

Capitalism is dead… but it just won’t stay buried. This episode, we’re diving into Mark Fisher’s Capitalist Realism—one of the most influential leftist texts of the last 20 years. Why does it feel like nothing ever changes, even when everything is constantly in crisis? How does capitalism keep itself alive, even as it rots? And most importantly, how do we break out of this nightmare? Let’s get into it. You can get Capitalist Realism here https://z-library.sk/book/1007165/822c41/capitalist-realism-is-there-no-alternative.html https://z-library.sk/book/3362634/10f03f/capitalist-realism-is-there-no-alternative.html Or you can buy it at these bookstores https://redemmas.org/titles/10491-capitalist-realism-is-there-no-alternative/ https://bookshop.org/p/books/capitalist-realism-is-there-no-alternative-mark-fisher/703f190ad15ef851?ean=9781846943171&next=t&affiliate=3323 https://pilsencommunitybooks.com/item/WepMITbQuyf6hXho7u4Tvw Here is a link for Justin’s notes to the show https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nmQrra8PJZSB3X0yVWy8c1uvxAvWg4j8yM3K3CeWw6Y/edit?usp=sharing Here are some links for stuff we covered in the post-show chat https://youtu.be/aCgkLICTskQ?si=D58h5ddsSSUhELBI https://issuu.com/bouvet0716/docs/the_slow_cancellation_of_the_future Check out Justin's links and follow him https://www.justinclark.org/ https://www.instagram.com/justinclarkph/ https://www.tiktok.com/@justinclarkph https://bsky.app/profile/justinclarkph.bsky.social https://www.threads.net/@justinclarkph https://www.in.gov/history/ https://blog.history.in.gov/ https://newspapers.library.in.gov/ And check out my linktree https://linktr.ee/Skepticalleftist If you enjoyed the show, consider supporting us on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/skepticalleftist  to help keep the content coming. You can also subscribe to my Substack https://theskepticalleftist.substack.com/  for updates and extra content or get bonus episodes through Spotify https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/skepticalleftist/subscribe . Every bit makes a difference! If that’s not your thing, sharing the episode with friends or on social media goes a long way too. Thanks for listening and for your support! And please, if you can, support the Cathedral Community Fridge https://www.cathedralcommunityfridge.com/  or your local community fridge. Mutual aid matters—let’s help each other thrive!

This week, we’re wrapping up our trilogy on Anton Pannekoek with a deep dive into his classic work, Workers’ Councils. What’s the real alternative to capitalism and state socialism? Pannekoek argued it’s workers themselves taking control—no bosses, no bureaucracy, just collective power. We unpack his critiques of unions, the state, and nationalism, and explore his vision for a society run by workers' councils. From strikes to direct action, we look at how this theoretical framework can inspire real-world change. Don’t miss this one as we explore what it really means to build a world run by workers. You can get Workers’ Councils here https://www.marxists.org/archive/pannekoe/1947/workers-councils.htm https://z-library.sk/book/904599/4b0c87/workers-councils.html Or you can buy it here https://www.akpress.org/workerscouncils.html https://redemmas.org/titles/2101-workers-councils/ https://pilsencommunitybooks.com/item/AEIoziCvS29UOEzwW3fxZQ Check out Justin's links and follow him https://www.justinclark.org/ https://www.instagram.com/justinclarkph/ https://www.tiktok.com/@justinclarkph https://bsky.app/profile/justinclarkph.bsky.social https://www.threads.net/@justinclarkph https://www.in.gov/history/ https://blog.history.in.gov/ https://newspapers.library.in.gov/ And check out my linktree https://linktr.ee/Skepticalleftist If you enjoyed the show, consider supporting us on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/skepticalleftist  to help keep the content coming. You can also subscribe to my Substack https://theskepticalleftist.substack.com/  for updates and extra content or get bonus episodes through Spotify https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/skepticalleftist/subscribe . Every bit makes a difference! If that’s not your thing, sharing the episode with friends or on social media goes a long way too. Thanks for listening and for your support! And please, if you can, support the Cathedral Community Fridge https://www.cathedralcommunityfridge.com/  or your local community fridge. Mutual aid matters—let’s help each other thrive!

In this episode Justin and I dive into Adolph Reed’s Class Notes to tackle the failures of performative politics and the rise of identity-driven activism. We break down Reed’s critique of neoliberalism, symbolic gestures, and the commodification of struggle while making the case for class-based organizing as the only path to real solidarity and change. It’s a deep and fiery conversation about how the left can get back on track by focusing on material issues and collective action. You can get a copy of Class Notes here https://z-library.sk/book/2563117/c11bd1/class-notes-posing-as-politics-and-other-thoughts-on-the-american-scene.html Or you can buy it here https://redemmas.org/titles/3895-class-notes-posing-as-politics-and-other-thoughts-on-the-american-scene/ Check out Justin's links and follow him https://www.justinclark.org/ https://www.instagram.com/justinclarkph/ https://www.tiktok.com/@justinclarkph https://bsky.app/profile/justinclarkph.bsky.social https://www.threads.net/@justinclarkph https://www.in.gov/history/ https://blog.history.in.gov/ https://newspapers.library.in.gov/ And check out my linktree https://linktr.ee/Skepticalleftist If you enjoyed the show, consider supporting us on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/skepticalleftist  to help keep the content coming. You can also subscribe to my Substack https://theskepticalleftist.substack.com/  for updates and extra content or get bonus episodes through Spotify https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/skepticalleftist/subscribe . Every bit makes a difference! If that’s not your thing, sharing the episode with friends or on social media goes a long way too. Thanks for listening and for your support! And please, if you can, support the Cathedral Community Fridge https://www.cathedralcommunityfridge.com/  or your local community fridge. Mutual aid matters—let’s help each other thrive!

In this episode of The Skeptical Leftist, I talk with Damien Marie at Hope about axiology—the philosophy of value and worth—and its relevance to how we make ethical decisions. We break down the concepts of intrinsic and extrinsic value, look at how capitalism distorts our understanding of human worth, and explore how axiology can clarify morality in practical ways. The conversation also touches on justice versus care ethics, the nuances of the free will debate, and why understanding value is key to navigating ethical challenges in a complex world. For more reading on Axiology https://www.academia.edu/126349221/Moral_fear_and_Moral_love_which_together_motivate_my_axiological_ethics_ https://blog.ttisi.com/what-is-axiology-in-assessments#:~:text=There%20are%20three%20primary%20value,a%20broader%20framework%20or%20structure https://spot.colorado.edu/~heathwoo/Phil220/axiology.html https://philarchive.org/archive/EDWTAA-3 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axiological_ethics https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/value-theory/#:~:text=Axiology%20can%20be%20thought%20of,objective%20states%20of%20the%20world https://damienmarieathope.com/2018/09/i-am-a-scientific-axiology-minded-philosophic-axiologist-theorist-and-my-conclusion-is-axiological-atheism/ https://damienmarieathope.com/2017/09/moral-fear-and-moral-love/ https://damienmarieathope.com/2022/06/i-am-an-axiologist-anti-nihilism-value-theorist/ https://damienmarieathope.com/2020/08/my-general-thinking-in-relation-to-my-axiology-assumptions-intrinsic-extrinsic-and-systemic-value/ https://www.researchgate.net/publication/378151954_Formal_Axiology_Another_Victim_in_Religions_War_on_Science Make sure to follow Damien on social media https://x.com/AthopeMarie https://bsky.app/profile/damienmarieathope.bsky.socialAnd subscribe to his channel https://www.youtube.com/@DamienAthope  And check out my linktree https://linktr.ee/Skepticalleftist If you enjoyed the show, consider supporting us on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/skepticalleftist  to help keep the content coming. You can also subscribe to my Substack https://theskepticalleftist.substack.com/  for updates and extra content or get bonus episodes through Spotify https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/skepticalleftist/subscribe . Every bit makes a difference! If that’s not your thing, sharing the episode with friends or on social media goes a long way too. Thanks for listening and for your support! And please, if you can, support the Cathedral Community Fridge https://www.cathedralcommunityfridge.com/  or your local community fridge. Mutual aid matters—let’s help each other thrive!