ORIGINALLY RELEASED Apr 4, 2020

In this solo episode, Breht breaks down Karl Marx's powerful concept of alienation from his Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844. He walks listeners through the four types of alienation Marx identified—alienation from the product, the labor process, our human essence, and from each other—and bring them crashing into the present with real, relatable examples from contemporary working-class life. From soul-crushing jobs to the feeling of life slipping through your fingers, we connect Marx's 19th-century analysis to the 21st-century reality of exploitation and isolation under capitalism. In the process, Breht demonstrates how alienation is rooted in private property and capitalist social relations and explicates Marx's concept of species-being: our natural human capacity for conscious, creative, purposeful activity—which is reduced to a mere means of survival under capitalism, rather than a free expression of our humanity.

This is Marxism made urgent, raw, relatable, and personal.

Also: Happy International Worker's Day!

Listen to the full Red Menace episode (from which this segment was extracted) here: https://redmenace.libsyn.com/economic-and-philosophic-manuscripts-of-1844-karl-marx

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ORIGINALLY RELEASED Apr 26, 2023

In this episode, Matthew Furlong and Breht dive into Mao Zedong's seminal 1957 speech-turned-text "On the Correct Handling of Contradictions Among the People" - a critical text for any revolutionary serious about navigating the complexities of socialist construction. We break down Mao's dialectical method, his distinction between antagonistic and non-antagonistic contradictions, and how this framework helps us understand internal struggle within a revolutionary movement versus conflict with class enemies. From mass line to ideological struggle, from unity-struggle-unity to combating dogmatism and liberalism - we unpack Mao's sharp insights with a focus on applying them to today's political terrain. This is Marxism in motion. Theory as a weapon. Revolution as a science.

Further Resources: - Mao Zedong - Five Essays on Philosophy (1957) - Ai Siqi - "Antagonistic and Non-Antagonistic Contradictions" (1957) - Jones Manoel - "Western Marxism Loves Purity and Martyrdom, But Not Real Revolution" (2020) - Radhika Desai & Michael Hudson: Geopolitical Economy Hour (2023 -) - World Association for Political Economy ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mi'kmaw learning resources:

Atlantic First Nations Tech Services - Mi'kmaw Learning The Language of this Land, Mi'kma'ki (2012)

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ORIGINALLY RELEASED Aug 29, 2022 The rallying cry of liberty, equality, and fraternity echoed through the streets of revolutionary France—and still reverberates through history. In this episode, we examine the French Revolution as a foundational rupture in world history, one that shattered the old feudal order and set the stage for modern capitalism, liberal democracy, and the revolutionary tradition from which subsequent socialist and communist movements would draw inspiration. From the class uprising of the sans-culottes to the radical egalitarian vision of the Jacobins, and from the fall of the monarchy to the rise of Napoleon, we follow the dialectical unfolding of hope and horror, progress and betrayal. What did the revolution achieve, where did it fall short, and what lessons can today's revolutionaries draw from the fire that consumed the Ancien Régime? Stella joins Breht to discuss (and put a unique communist spin) on the great French Revolution! Check out our Haitian Revolution episode HERE Check out our Paris Commune episode HERE

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ORIGINALLY RELEASED Feb 24, 2019

Chuka Ejeckam joins Breht to discuss and pay homage to the Black Panther Party leader and Marxist Revolutionary, Fred Hampton.

Fred Hampton was more than a charismatic leader—he was a revolutionary force of nature. In this episode, we explore the life, work, and assassination of the legendary Black Panther Party leader who united poor and working-class people across racial lines, organized tirelessly for liberation, and paid the ultimate price for daring to challenge the power structure. From the Free Breakfast Program to the Rainbow Coalition, we reflect on the enduring relevance of Hampton's organizing, his dialectical brilliance, and the fire he lit that continues to burn in struggles for liberation today.

Find and support Chuka and his work here: http://www.chukaejeckam.com/

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ORIGINALLY RELEASED Sep 17, 2021

In this episode of Guerrilla History, we bring on Professor Jose Maria Sison, better known as Comrade Joma, to talk about his life, how it impacted his ideology, the history of the Communist Party of the Philippines, and more! Comrade Joma is an absolute legendary figure, and it was a pleasure and an honor to be able to talk with him. A must listen conversation for anyone interested in proletarian struggles and People's War in the Global South, especially the Philippines!

Jose Maria Sison is the Founding Chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines, Chair Emeritus of the International League of People's Struggle, and the Chief Political Consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines. Our friends at Foreign Languages Press have several of his works available for free as pdfs or for affordable print copies on their website https://foreignlanguages.press/. Comrade Joma passed away in Dec. of 2022, a year after this interview, at the age of 83.

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ORIGINALLY RELEASED Dec 13, 2023

In this Rev Left Family Annual Collab (Rev Left+Red Menace+Guerrilla History), Alyson, Henry, Adnan, and Breht sit down for a deep dive on South African Apartheid. Together they discuss its euro-colonialist origins, explain the significance of the Boer Wars, define and explicate the origins of apartheid, explore the political economy of apartheid and how brutal racism shaped it, examine the multi-faceted indigenous resistance to apartheid, analyze the end of formal apartheid as well as its ongoing legacy in post-apartheid South Africa, and try to extract important lessons from this history to apply to the ongoing struggle in Palestine.

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ORIGINALLY RELEASED Sept 2019

David Swanson of Radical Reflections invites Breht on his show to tackle myths, lies, slanders, and popular criticisms wielded against communism by its (often times lazy and unimpressive) opponents.

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ORIGINALLY RELEASED Dec 7, 2020

In this episode of Guerrilla History, Breht, Adnan, and Henry reflect on the life and legacy of John Brown - the fiery, uncompromising abolitionist who took up arms against slavery and shook the foundations of the United States. From Bleeding Kansas to the fateful raid on Harpers Ferry, Brown's life was one of moral clarity and militant action. We explore his revolutionary ethics, his deep religious conviction, and his belief that slavery would only be ended through bloodshed. Revered by revolutionaries, reviled by reactionaries, John Brown remains one of the most polarizing and prophetic figures in American history. This episode is a tribute to a man who refused to wait for justice—and instead tried to bring it crashing down.

Documentary audio clips from "John Brown's Holy War" here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWS_Jrjh11s&feature=emb_logo

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ORIGINALLY RELEASED Feb 4, 2023

In this episode of Guerrilla History, we unpack Gerald Horne's explosive and essential work The Counter-Revolution of 1836: Texas Slavery & Jim Crow and the Roots of U.S. Fascism. Horne dismantles the romanticized mythology of Texas independence, revealing it instead as a pro-slavery revolt against Mexico's abolitionist policies. We trace how white settler colonialism, racial capitalism, and the violent defense of human bondage shaped the formation of Texas—and, more broadly, the reactionary trajectory of U.S. history. This episode challenges the lies we were taught, connecting the dots between the foundation of Texas, the rise of Jim Crow, and the enduring roots of American fascism. A must-listen for anyone serious about confronting the true history of empire.

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Nicholas Richard-Thompson and Tunde Osazua from the Black Alliance for Peace join Breht to examine the life and legacy of Kwame Nkrumah—anti-colonial revolutionary, Pan-African visionary, and the first president of an independent Ghana. From leading the charge against British colonial rule to his bold attempts to unify the African continent under a socialist banner, Nkrumah's story is one of profound courage, political brilliance, and unfinished dreams. We explore his writings, his revolutionary vision for a liberated and united Africa, and the forces—both foreign and domestic—that sought to dismantle his project. Nkrumah's legacy still burns in the hearts of those fighting imperialism today, and this episode brings his voice back to the forefront of revolutionary memory. Learn more and support Black Alliance for Peace Follow Nicholas on Twitter Follow Tunde on Twitter BAP Chicago's Twitter

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