Michael Burns left academia and made a name for himself writing and hosting comedic educational videos for the popular YouTube channel, Wisecrack. After the company laid everyone off, he started his own channel Burns Theory, where he continues to make content about philosophy, media criticism, and radical politics that is smart, funny, and respects the viewer's intelligence.

We talk about the comedic edutainment that was popular in our youth on History Channel, TLC, Discovery, et al before those channels became 24/7 reality networks, which were eventually killed altogether by entertainment mergers.

In Hollywood, I've seen a lot of negative attitudes on YouTube –– claiming it's all lowest-common-denominator slop like MrBeast trapping obese people in a cage for a year for $100k. But in this era of instability and mergers, creators should be putting their work out on widely accessible platforms. It's a great time right now, in that creators don't have to water down their message or take unnecessary network notes. Working independently of course requires time and/or money, but if creators work together instead of competing over scraps, creative solutions can be found.

Check out Michael's new film, "Leave a Comment" which is available online and at select live screenings.

Timestamps:

[00:00:00] Trailer

[00:00:40] Intro

[00:01:01] How to Become a YouTube Star: Watch MrBeast, Take Notes

[00:02:25] The MrBeast Industries Job Interview and the Train Through a Brick Wall

[00:07:21] Playing YouTube: Packaging, Thumbnails, and People Getting Sick of AI

[00:12:55] Unionizing YouTube, IATSE, and HBO's Nonunion First 15 Years

[00:18:53] Leave a Comment, Online Trolls, and Googling Depersonalization

[00:28:12] Entertainment People Should Not Be the Face of Socialist Movements

[00:29:47] What Actually Made Zohran Win, and It Was Not the Celebrities

[00:37:13] The Pope's New Encyclical and Communion Centered Communism

[00:39:07] Pete Hegseth's Tattoo, Greg Bovino, and Unequal Coverage of Fascism

[00:43:23] Mary Emailed a Convent to Ask If She Could Be a Nun

[00:48:25] Comedians as the Real Philosophers, and How Gaza Broke Corporate News

[00:52:35] Why He Stopped Saying Progressive and Still Says Communist

[01:00:04] Mary the Catholic Anarchist Who Still Wants State Health Insurance

[01:12:25] Taking a Sketchy Sponsorship and Paying People Union Wages

[01:16:16] Outro

Follow Michael:

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Threads - https://www.threads.net/@michael_o_burns

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Comedian and longtime Redacted Tonight correspondent John F. O'Donnell discusses Trump's new domestic terrorism directive, the 2016 sabotage of Bernie Sanders' primary run, and why working comedians need to let go of careerism and use their talents to fight fascism. They cover NSPM-7 and the draconian sentences like 30 years for possession of zines, organizing with About Face Veterans Against Fascism, Kshama Sawant's Congress run against AIPAC-funded incumbent Adam Smith, Gavin Newsom blocking a billionaire tax, and John's upcoming video series "Radical Analysis."

Timestamps:

[00:00:00] Trailer

[00:00:00] Intro

[00:00:26] NSPM-7: Trump's Domestic Terrorism Directive Explained

[00:05:42] Draconian Prison Sentences Under NSPM-7

[00:06:40] About Face: Organizing With Veterans Against Fascism

[00:10:11] How the DNC Sabotaged Bernie Sanders in 2016

[00:13:49] Gavin Newsom Blocking a Billionaire Tax

[00:15:23] Shyama Sawant's Fight Against AIPAC-Funded Adam Smith

[00:16:56] DSA, Third Parties, and the Limits of Electoral Politics

[00:20:43] Making Radical Political Satire on Redacted Tonight

[00:31:25] Comedians Need to Let Go of Careerism

[00:34:30] Joking About Career Woes While Israel Ethnically Cleanses Gaza

[00:36:58] Launching Radical Analysis, a New Political Satire Show

[00:47:58] The Trans-Pacific Partnership, Obama, Hillary, and Corporate Trade Deals

[00:49:30] AOC, Medicare for All, and the Iron Dome Vote

[00:51:22] Claudia de la Cruz Added to the Domestic Terrorist List

[00:52:08] Outro

Follow John:

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jfodlovesyou/

X - https://x.com/jfodlovesyou

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/johnfodonnell/

Follow Mary:

YouTube - youtube.com/maryhoulihan

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X - https://x.com/themaryhshow

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Greg Roque joins Mary Houlihan to discuss roast comedy, disability representation, and left-wing politics. They cover the Kevin Hart roast, accessibility barriers in comedy venues, how Latinos joining ICE mirrors Irish immigrants joining the police force, and how Greg's love of books led him to radical politics.

Timestamps

00:00:00 Trailer

00:00:42 Intro

00:01:26 Irish and Mexican Identity: Becoming White Through Policing

00:02:45 ICE Raids and Latino Agents Deporting Latinos

00:08:11 Roast Comedy, Kevin Hart, and the Culture War

00:11:59 Dark Woke Comedy and Edgy vs. Sanctimonious

00:14:00 Wheelchair as a Throne of American Conquest

00:15:02 Accessibility, ADA Loopholes, and Performing in LA

00:22:00 LA vs. New York Comedy Scenes

00:31:00 Alt Scene, TV Casting, and Comedy Diversity

00:37:05 Catholicism, Judaism, and Palestine

00:39:00 Howard Zinn, Chomsky, and Getting Politicized

00:41:00 Battalion of Saint Patrick and Irish-Mexico Solidarity

00:42:59 Outro

Follow Greg:

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/gregroqueislame/

Website - http://gregroque.com/

Follow Mary:

YouTube - youtube.com/maryhoulihan

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/maryhoulie/

twitch - twitch.tv/maryhoulie

TikTok - tiktok.com/@maryhoulie

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Christian Polanco (The Cooligans podcast) talks the 2026 FIFA World Cup, sportswashing, and how teams getting punished (or not punished) for their government's behavior. We discuss the growth of American soccer, equal pay in the women's game, FIFA's treatment of Russia and Iran, the Maccabi Tel Aviv riots in Amsterdam, efforts to ban Israel from FIFA, and how fan-owned clubs in Germany approach inclusivity and identity.

Support the show as a free or paid subscriber at https://www.patreon.com/maryhoulihan.

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Trailer

00:00:43 Intro

00:01:05 World Cup 2026 and What Brought Him to LA

00:02:27 How The Hooligans Podcast Started

00:04:00 American Soccer's Growth Since 1994

00:06:41 Playing Soccer at 29 and the $1M Tournament

00:07:17 Interviewing David Beckham and US Women's Players

00:11:20 Equal Pay Fight: US Women's National Team

00:15:00 Athlete Activism and Press Conference Culture

00:22:00 Maccabi Tel Aviv Riots in Amsterdam

00:26:20 Ireland's "Show Israel the Red Card" Campaign

00:57:00 Fan-Owned Clubs, Germany's 50+1 Rule, and FC St. Pauli

01:01:00 Sports Teams, Dodgers, and Compromised Values

01:06:22 Outro

Follow Christian:

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/christian_polanco/?hl=en

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/christianpolanco/

X - https://x.com/chrispolanco?lang=en

Follow Mary:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@maryhoulie

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Ron Placone talks the forgotten left-wing history of Italian Americans, and why immigrant diaspora groups in the U.S. should reclaim their radical history, whether your family's been here for ten years or two-hundred years.

If you're liking the show, please consider supporting at patreon.com/maryhoulihan as a paid or free member.

Timestamps

00:00:00 Trailer

00:00:36 Intro

00:01:00 Anti-Fascist Pasta Night: The Show Explained

00:02:00 Mussolini, Pasta, and RFK Jr. Parallels

00:06:10 Italian American Left-Wing History

00:08:00 Open Letter to Italian American Organizations

00:11:00 Columbus Day Myths and the Lynching Lie

00:11:50 Israel Day Parade and Palestine

00:16:00 Union Organizing Against Weapons Shipments

00:19:00 Left vs. Right: Finding Common Ground

00:35:00 RFK Jr.: Raccoons, Lawsuits, and Grifting

00:40:09 Outro

Follow Ron:

Website - https://www.ronplacone.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ronplacone/?hl=en

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/RonPlaconeComedy/

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/user/RonPlacone

Follow Mary:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/maryhoulihan

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Rod Benson talks about his varied career as a professional basketball player, fine artist, muralist, and writer. Rod has painted 84 Luigi murals across LA, including one outside our podcast studio. Rod and Mary speak freely about LA fire theories, frustrations with mainstream media, celebrity silence, abolishing NDA's, and why speaking out is an act of resistance.

Timestamps

00:00:00 Trailer

00:00:38 Intro

00:01:52 From Yahoo Blogger to SF Gate Columnist

00:02:27 Why Rod Left Mainstream Journalism

00:04:13 Painting Luigi Murals Across LA

00:08:00 Celebrity Silence

00:14:30 LA Fires, Displacement, and Corruption in Local Government

00:22:00 Famous People, Palestine, and Speaking Out

00:30:00 The NDA Problem in Sports and Hollywood

00:39:10 Harvey Weinstein and the Pressure on Women to Stay Silent

00:43:07 Why Rod Left the Hollywood Hustle

00:45:19 Outro

Follow Rod:

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/zsorryon/?hl=en

Follow Mary:

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/maryhoulihan

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See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jamie Loftus talks her journey as a gonzo-style journalist turned podcast maker, covering her deep-dive series on Mensa, Lolita, viral fame, and hot dogs. They share the challenges of building a career while corporate media consolidates.

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Trailer

00:00:41 Intro

00:01:07 Journalism-as-Podcast and the Mensa Project

00:06:24 Mensa, IQ Tests, and Right-Wing Overlap

00:11:14 16th Minute Podcast and Viral Fame's Dark Side

00:17:50 The "Leech Period" and Early Career Content

00:20:02 Lolita Podcast and Nuance Online

00:23:46 Creative Time, Deep Dives, and Algorithm Pressure

00:26:33 Raw Dog: The Hot Dog Eating Book

00:33:46 Independent Filmmaking and Ownership

00:37:17 Warner Bros Mergers and Content Disappearing

00:44:28 Mensa's Main Lesson: Anyone Can Be Hateful

00:45:21 Outro

Follow Jamie:

Website - https://www.jamieloftus.xyz/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jamiechristsuperstar/?hl=en

X - https://x.com/jamieloftusHELP?lang=en

Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@jamieloftus8

Follow Mary:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/maryhoulihan

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/maryhoulie/

twitch - twitch.tv/maryhoulie

TikTok - tiktok.com/@maryhoulie

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Lexi Plata, a 63-year-old trans Ecuadorian-American comedian from Queens, joins Mary Houlihan for a wide-ranging conversation covering her life story, trans identity, and growing up in pre-gentrified New York City. They discuss the anti-trans media narrative, working for the Gambino family as a teenager, Lexi's complicated relationship with Catholicism, immigration, ICE, and why she has checked out of politics entirely.

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Trailer

00:00:44 Intro

00:01:02 Trans People Under Attack and Media Representation

00:04:29 TikTok, Trans Visibility, and Censorship

00:09:26 Trans Sports and Identity from Age Five

00:10:33 Catholic School, Altar Boy, and the Gambinos

00:15:42 Mom's Reaction and Coming Out Later in Life

00:17:53 Immigration, Spanish in Schools, and Full Circle

00:20:16 Immigrants and the "Taking Our Jobs" Myth

00:21:58 Running Errands for the Mob at 16

00:27:05 Both Sides of Politics and Checking Out

00:51:23 Religion, God, and Historical Christ

00:57:54 Outro

Follow Lexi: www.instagram.com/lexicomic60/

Follow Mary:

YouTube - www.youtube.com/maryhoulihan

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/maryhoulie/

twitch - twitch.tv/maryhoulie

TikTok - tiktok.com/@maryhoulie

YouTube SEO Tags:

Lexi Plata, trans comedian, trans woman comedian, Ecuadorian American comedian, trans identity podcast, coming out later in life, trans representation media, Catholic school trans, immigration ICE, New York Queens comedian, Mary Houlihan Show, LGBTQ comedy podcast, trans over 60, funny trans woman

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Maebe Pudlo, candidate for California State Senate District 26, joins Mary Houlihan to discuss their political journey from challenging Adam Schiff to running for state senate. They cover the Palestine ceasefire resolution Maebe passed on the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council, trans representation in government, ICE raids in LA, and their platform on housing, policing, and how to fund it all.

Timestamps

00:00:00 Trailer

00:00:41 Intro

00:00:59 Running for Office in Drag

00:02:27 California State Senate District 26

00:02:58 Ceasefire Resolution and Jewish Identity

00:08:20 Challenging Adam Schiff for Congress

00:12:00 Trans Visibility in Government

00:14:27 Anti-LGBTQ Legislation and Running Anyway

00:20:16 LAPD Budget and Police Reform

00:21:10 ICE Raids: Eyewitness Account in LA

00:27:05 Advice for People Running for Office

00:29:58 Housing, Wealth Tax, and Funding the Platform

00:33:47 Outro

Follow Maebe:

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/maebeagirl/?hl=en

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/maebeagirl/

Follow Mary:

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/maryhoulihan

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/maryhoulie/

twitch - twitch.tv/maryhoulie

TikTok - tiktok.com/@maryhoulie

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Amber Flannery Field is a tour guide, video essayist, community organizer, and big on TikTok. We talk doing comedy in New York in the 2010's, what trans activists can learn from previous civil rights movements, and why you should come out of the closet already.

Subscribe to The Mary Houlihan Show on YouTube for more videos, including my Cuba travel vlog: https://www.youtube.com/maryhoulihan

Follow Amber Flannery Field on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AmericasComic. She has an upcoming video about Contrapoints that isn't really about Contrapoints.

If you'd like to support the show, sign up at Patreon as either a free or paid member: https://www.patreon.com/maryhoulihan

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.