Filmmaker Christopher Jason Bell (Failed State, Miss Me Yet) joins me for a special Halloween edition of Struggle Session. We delve into some of our favorite horror films and recent releases including Weapons, Hellraiser, Saw, Cure, Ganja & Hess, The Exorcist, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and more. We also talk about Chris’ short film The Confection starring Alex Ptak and Simone Norman, free to watch here:

https://linktr.ee/christopherjasonbell

Films mentioned:

* The Confection

* Saw series

* Spiral (Saw)

* Twilight series

* Hellraiser series

* Hellraiser 2: Leviathan

* Piranha 3D

* Weapons

* Barbarian

* Eddington

* The Exorcist

* The Exorcist III

* Silence of the Lambs

* Deep Red

* Tenebrae

* Suspiria

* Mother of Tears

* Dracula (Argento)

* Ganja &Hess

* Da Sweet Blood of Jesus

* Cure

* Longlegs

* The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit strugglesession.substack.com

Dr. Jonathan Howard chief of the neurology service at Bellevue Hospital joins us to discuss his book We Want Them Infected: How the Failed Quest for Herd Immunity Led Doctors to Embrace the Anti-vaccine Movement and Blinded Americans to the Threat of COVID.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit strugglesession.substack.com

Writer Kaila Yu joins me to discuss her new book Fetishized: A Reckoning with Yellow Fever, Feminism, and Beauty.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit strugglesession.substack.com

Ezra Klein has been on a roll with a series of podcasts defending Charlie Kirk’s legacy, arguing for Democrats to run more anti-abortion candidates to win in pro-abortion states, & and making the case for a value-free politics to Ta-Nehisi Coates. Briahna Joy Grey of Bad Faith joins me to to break it all down.

This was a live stream on the Bad Faith YouTube Channel recorded 9/20/25

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit strugglesession.substack.com

Ross Benes joins us to discuss his book 1999: The Year Low Culture Conquered America and Kickstarted Our Bizarre Times. We explore the cultural landscape of the late 90s including the impact of The Jerry Springer Show on reality TV, the influence of Vince McMahon on politics, how Juggalos defined outsider culture, Nu metal's MTV-sponsored angst, and the rise of video games from kiddie hobby to big business.

Guest Link:

https://www.rossbenes.com/

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

02:46 What is Low Culture?

05:28 The Impact of Jerry Springer on Modern Culture

08:27 Kayfabe and Professional Wrestling's Influence

17:34 Trump's Pro Wrestling Persona and Kayfabe

25:27 The Insane Clown Posse

28:09 The Evolution of Fan Culture in Music

36:05 Video Games: From Low Culture to Mainstream

41:37 Was 1999 The Peak?Upcoming episodes:

Fetishized: A Reckoning with Yellow Fever, Feminism, and Beauty w/ Kaila Yu

Leave us a 5 star review at Apple podcasts:

Check out our friends: https://www.instagram.com/loudoun_palestine/

Check out our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@StruggleSessionpodcast

Send an email or voicemail to [email protected]

My GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/lleeiii

Stay safe and mask up:

https://maskbloc.org/

Keep up with and contact Leslie: https://msha.ke/lleeiii

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit strugglesession.substack.com

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit strugglesession.substack.com

On today's patron exclusive bonus episode Leslie and Aaron jack in to Strange Days, an underappreciated cyberpunk cult classic directed by Kathryn Bigelow and co-written by James Cameron.

Chapters

00:00 Intro

00:59 Strange Days Review

04:49 Character Analysis and Performances

07:51 Exploring Squid Technology

11:44 Would You Jack In?

15:57 Racial Commentary

22:2…

Is Ed Wood worst director of all time? Not a chance says our guest. On today's Struggle Session writer Will Sloan joins us to discuss is new book Ed Wood: Made In Hollywood USA. We talk about the infamous director’s artistic legacy, how his films challenge the concept of “bad” movies, the enduring charm of Plan 9 from Outer Space, and the shockingly progressive Glen or Glenda.

Plus voicemails on brand movies, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and Sam Raimi.

Guest Links:

https://www.willsloan.ca/

Upcoming episodes:

Strange Days with Aaron Thorpe

1999: The Year Low Culture Conquered America and Kickstarted Our Bizarre Times w/ Ross Benes

Fetishized: A Reckoning with Yellow Fever, Feminism, and Beauty w/ Kyla Yu

Leave us a 5 star review at Apple podcasts:

Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thestrugglesession

Check out our friends: https://www.instagram.com/loudoun_palestine/

Check out our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@StruggleSessionpodcast

Send an email or voicemail to [email protected]

My GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/lleeiii

Keep up with and contact Leslie: https://msha.ke/lleeiii

Struggle Session Theme by Brendan James:

https://thegreatvorelli.bandcamp.com/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit strugglesession.substack.com

On today's Struggle Session Joshua Gooch joins us to talk his new book Capitalism Hates You: Marxism and The New Horror Film. We discuss what modern horror has to offer horror, and vice versa. We also analyze some recent horror films including Hereditary, Gaia, The Witch and more. Joshua also gives his picks for essential horror classics for all young radicals.

_______________________

Guest Links:

https://joshuagooch.com/

Leave us a 5 star review at Apple podcasts:

Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thestrugglesession

Check out our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@StruggleSessionpodcast

Send an email or voicemail to [email protected]

My GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/lleeiii

Keep up with and contact Leslie: https://msha.ke/lleeiii

Struggle Session Theme by Brendan James: https://thegreatvorelli.bandcamp.com/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit strugglesession.substack.com

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit strugglesession.substack.com

This episode is a special crossover with Briahna's podcast Bad Faith. Enjoy!

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A Brief History of Violence screenwriter & co-host of The Movies that Made Me Josh Olson and Struggle Session co-host Leslie Lee III join the show to discuss the movie everyone's talking about: Ryan Coogler's Jim Crow vampire film Sinners. In a spoiler-filled episode (you are warned), the trio debate what the movie is trying to say about race, freedom, religion, and vampirism before delving into the media controversy surrounding Variety's coverage of the film's box office earnings.

Produced by Armand Aviram.

Bad Faith Theme by Nick Thorburn (@nickfromislands).

Visit our website at

http://sesh.show

Please leave us a 5 star review at Apple podcasts:

Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thestrugglesession

Check out our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@StruggleSessionpodcast

Send an email or voicemail to [email protected]

Keep up with and contact Leslie: https://msha.ke/lleeiii

Struggle Session Theme by Brendan James: https://thegreatvorelli.bandcamp.com/

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit strugglesession.substack.com