The Sensible Socialist

By Kevin Gustafson

News & Politics Society & Culture Government & Organizations

What's The Sensible Socialist about?

A podcast for the sane and rational left to discuss important topics relevant and accessible to all.

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The Sensible Socialist episodes:

01.24.2023
A Conversation with Benjamin Studebaker (#84)
In this episode Kevin sit talks to Dr. Benjamin Studebaker to discuss, Plato, comparisons of modern politics to the Roman Empire, Trotsky’s theory of permanent revolution, questiosn of legitimization of politial systems, the potential for revolution or reform, fascism and...
12.03.2022
The Restaurant Workers Bill of Rights with Eva Putzova (#83)
In this episode Kevin talks to Eva Putzova of ROC United about the Restaurant Workers Bill of Rights (RWBR) . About the RWBR: The early weeks of the COVID pandemic gave us a glimpse into the necessity for widespread solidarity...
10.18.2022
The Synthesis of Marxism and Buddhism
We’re back! In the last several month Kevin, the Host of the Sensible Socialist has taken a step back and done a deep dive into the philosophy of Buddhism. In this return episode, Kevin talks with Graham Priest. Graham Priest is...
03.05.2022
The Death of the Left (#81)
In this episode Kevin talks with Chris Cutrone about the thesis that the left is dead. They discuss the Platypus Affiliated Society, what he means by the death of the left, a brief history of the left in the 20th...
02.12.2022
Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights with Thamil Ananthavinayagan (#80)
In this episode Thamil Ananthavinayagan comes back on to discuss the topic of Economic, Social, and Cultural rights from a TWAILer’s perspective. If you like this channel, please consider subscribing on YouTube, liking this video, or support us at http://www.patreon.com/sensiblesocialist
02.03.2022
James Lindsay Doesn’t Understand Marxism (#79)
In this episode Kevin talks to Breht O’Shea of Rev Left Radio to talk about anti-communist pseudo-intellectual James Lindsay’s misunderstandings, bad faith takes, and overall hilariously juvenile perspective on Marxism. Lindsay rose to prominence in the Grievance Studies affair, but...
01.26.2022
Identity, Marxism, Systems Theory, And Eastern Philosophy With Hans-Georg Moeller (#78)
Hans-Gerog Moeller is professor of Philosophy at the University of Macau. His research focuses on Social and Political Thought and on Chinese and Comparative Philosophy. He is author of You and Your Profile: Identity after Authenticity, The Moral Fool: A...
01.19.2022
The London Revolution 1640 -1643 with Michael Sturza (#77)
If you like this content, please support us at patreon.com/sensiblesocailist In this episode Kevin talks to Michael Sturza a life-long socialist political activist about his book and the events, class dynamics and long shadow of the London Revolution of 1640-43....
01.12.2022
A Talk with a Listener Part 2 – Sensible Socialist (#76)
In this second conversation with a listener of the Sensible Socialist, we focus on issues specifically related to worker cooperatives and a cooperative society. We discuss issues of scaling, funding, ideology, wishful thinking, and the role of efficiency and in...
01.04.2022
Wokeism, Elitism, and Media with Batya Ungar-Sargon (Episode 75)
If you enjoy this content please support us at ww.patreon.com/sensiblesocialist In this episode Kevin talks to Batya Ungar-Sargon, Deputy Opinion Editor at Newsweek about the topic of her most recent book Bad News: How Woke Media Is Undermining Democracy (https://www.encounterbooks.com/books/bad-news/)....
12.27.2021
Where we are and where to go with Brandon Madsen (#74)
If you like this show please like, subscribe, and got to http://www.patreon.com/sensiblesocialist to support us directly. In this episode Kevin brings back Brandon Madsen (DSA- Reform and Revolution Caucus) to review the current state of things. They discuss Dialectics, Class...
12.19.2021
Thoughts on Martian Social Design with Allyson Kim (#73)
If you enjoy the show, please support it by donating on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/sensiblesocialist In this episode we talk to Allyson Kim, a Cultural Entrepreneur and Social Designer, currently studying Social Design at the Center for Social Design at the Maryland...
12.06.2021
A Chat with Ben Burgis (#72)
In this return episode of the Sensible Socialist, Kevin talks to Ben Burgis about his background and some fairly nerdy philosophic issues, and the inimitable Christopher Hitchens. Ben Burgis is philosophy professor, a columnist for Jacobin Magazine, among others. He...
06.16.2021
A Talk With A Listener (Part 1) – Episode 71
Support the Podcast – Patreon.com/sensiblesocialist In this episode I talk with a listener who reached out with some questions for me. We have a wide ranging discussion on a number of different topics. I hope you find it interesting.
05.25.2021
Operation Wall Guardian
In this episode legal scholars and human rights advocates Thamil Ananthavinayagan and Wasem Ahmad join Kevin to discuss the hum costs of the current hostilities in Gaza, the rules of International Humanitarian Law, and how they apply in the Occupied...
05.12.2021
Discussion with Destiny (#69)
The audio of my chat with popular streamer Destiny about socialism and cooperatives.
04.17.2021
Leninism in the 21st Century (#68)
In this episode I talk with Brandon Madsen about Leninism and it’s applicability in the 21st century. If you like this podcast, please support it at patreon.com/sensiblesocialist Download: .mp3
03.27.2021
A Left Critique of International Law (#67)
In this episode I speak with Dr. Thamil Ananthavinayagan about international law and what a eft critique looks like. Thamil is a proponent of the Third World Approaches to International Law perspective, which aims to put international law in its...
03.09.2021
Interview With Noah Hutton – Director, Editor, and Writer of Lapsis (#66)
In this episode host Kevin Gustafson talks with Noah Hutton, the writer, director, editor and score composer of the new film Lapsis. Lapsis was selected to premiere at SXSW in the narrative feature competition and has since won the grand...
03.01.2021
Episode 65 – A Socialist Rebuttal of Sam Harris and Jack Goldstone
On January 26, 2021 Sam Harris released an episode of his podcast Making Sense about Inequality and Revolutions with George Mason University professor Jack Goldstone. In this video, Sensible Socialist host Kevin Gustafson talks with Brett O’Shea of Rev Left...
02.18.2021
Episode 64 – Biden, Guaidó, and the Bolivarian Revolution
Anya Parampil, Max Blumenthal, and Brandon Madsen join Kevin to discuss the Biden Administration’s continued recognition of Juan Guaidó as president of Venezuela, the history of the Bolivarian revolution, and a bit of a debate about how socialists should view...
02.04.2021
Episode 63 – DSA and the Dirty Break
In this episode Brandon Madsen and Aaron Firouz join host Kevin Gustafson to discuss the DSA and the Dirty Break Strategy. The strategy, as the name suggests, that rather than making a clean break from the Democratic Party, DSA should...
01.28.2021
Episode 62 – What Socialists Should Think About The Capitol Riots and Biden
Welcome back! We’ve returned now and we’re on video. In this return episode Kevin sits down with DSA member Brandon Madsen and CPUSA member Josh Morris to discuss the January 6th Putsch, the state and big tech crackdown, the growing...
08.11.2020
Episode 61 – Voting for Joe Biden with Aaron Firouz
In this episode I debate with my friend and comrade Aaron Firouz about voting for Joe Biden. I cannot bring myself to do so, but Aaron makes compelling arguments why, despite understandable reservations, one would be right to vote for...
07.19.2020
Episode 60 – The F Word – With Ashton Rome
In this episode we talk with Ashton Rome. Ashton is a long time leftist organizer and activist who was active in organizing in Ferguson Missouri after the death of Michael Brown. Ashton recently wrote an article in Left Voice discussing the potential...
06.11.2020
Episode 59 – A Socialist Perspective on the George Floyd Protests
In this episode I discuss my thought son the George Floyd protest, the connection of white supremacy to capitalism in America, the role of the police in a capitalist system, and the prospects for abolition of police under the current...
05.28.2020
Episode 58 – The Youth (with Caden Metcalf)
In this episode I talk with Caden Metcalf about the interest in Socialism and radical ideas by young people. We talk about the impact of Bernie Sander’s campaign, a looming economic crisis, the cost of higher education, lies and propaganda...
05.13.2020
Episode 57 – Why You Should Join DSA
In this episode I talk with Brandon Madsen, a long time socialist revolutionary, about why socialist should join DSA. We talk DSA’s history, Democratic Centralism, DSA’s big tent, and the potential of a new party representing the working class, among...
05.05.2020
Episode 56 – Albert Lee for Congress
In this episode we talk with Albert Lee, a socialist candidate for office in Oregon’s 3rd district. We talk about the 3rd district, the incumbent, his polices, running a campaign during COVID, running as a Socialist and Bernie Sander’s dropping...
04.27.2020
Episode 55 – Marxism-Leninism-Maoism
In this episode we talk to Hex from Red State Radio about Marxism-Leninism-Maoism. We talk about what differentiates Leninism from Marxism, and Maoism from Leninism. We talk about China’s communist experiment, Mao-Tse-Tung thought, the revolutionary potential of the peasantry, and...
04.22.2020
Episode 54 – Understanding Socialism with Richard Wolff (Part 2)
In this episode I continue my discussion with Richard Wolff about his book Understanding Socialism. We talk about Yugoslavia, Milovan Djilas, the lengths to which the ruling class will go to shut down socialist movements, and how the Nazi’s were...
04.17.2020
Episode 53 – Understanding Socialism With Richard Wolff (Part 1)
In this episode I talk with Dr. Richard Wolff about his new book Understanding Socialism and the three socialism’s of the twentieth century. Download: .mp3
04.10.2020
Episode 52 – Bernie is Out, What Now
What do we do now? Hint: A lot
03.23.2020
Episode 51 – COVID Capitalism
In this episode we talk about COVID capitalism, and the consequences of the unfolding crisis. Download .mp3
03.23.2020
Episode 51 – COVID Capitalism
In this episode we talk about COVID capitalism, and the consequences of the unfolding crisis. Download .mp3
03.05.2020
Episode 50 – Super Tuesday
In this episode we talk about Super Tuesday. How did we get here? What is Elizabeth Warren Doing? Joe Biden, really? And what are the scenarios with which we can look forward? Download: .mp3
02.09.2020
Episode 49 – Socialism 101
In this episode I play back the audio of a lecture I did for a high school class introducing them to socialism. Download: .mp3
01.12.2020
Episode 48 – Iran and US Imperialism (With Ben Norton)
In this episode I speak with Ben Norton about US/Iranian relations that lead us up to the 2020 attacks in Iraq and potential opening of a new war between these powerful countries. Ben Norton is a journalist, writer, and filmmaker....
01.06.2020
Episode 47 – India’s Anti-CAA Protests
In this episode we talk with New Socialist Alternative member Naveen Angamuthu from Bangalore, India. In this episode we talk about Indian political history, the Rise of RSS and BJP, The neo-liberal policies of Narendra Modi, and the failure of...
12.15.2019
Episode 46 – The Monroe Doctrine
In this episode we review the history of interventions in Latin America by the United States via the longest tenant of US foreign policy – The Monroe Doctrine. Download: .mp3
11.24.2019
Episode 45 – Marx’s Conception of History (with Josh Morris)
In this episode we speak with Josh Morris about history as a subject, teaching history, Hegel, Francis Fukuyama, Marx, the Materialist Conception of History, and more.
11.10.2019
Episode 44 – Class Consciousness (With Rev Left Radio)
In this episode I talk with Brett from Rev Left Radio about the role of class consciousness, raising consciousness, ideology, hegemony, and a little bit about leftist podcasts. Download: .mp3
10.27.2019
Episode 43 – A Talk With Spencer Schecht
In this episode I talk with environmentalist and co-founder of Green Drinks DC Spencer Schecht about a bunch of different stuff. It is a fairly wide ranging and winding conversation, but I think it is the kind of conversation many...
10.11.2019
Episode 42 – The Agricultural Question (with Ben Stewart)
What about the Peasants?
09.15.2019
Episode 41 – Engel’s Socialism Utopian And Scientific
In this episode I read Engel’s Socialism: Utopian and Scientific and allow it to prove for itself why it needs little additional discussion. Download: .mp3
08.18.2019
Episode 40 – Mass Shootings
In this episode we talk about mass shootings in the US – the causes and why it only seems to happen here. Download – .mp3
08.04.2019
Episode 39 – Julian Assange
In this episode I speak with Davey Heller about Julian Assange as we discuss how the left should view this important figure. Download: .mp3
06.09.2019
Episode 38 – Reform or Revolution
In this episode I talk with Alka Mysore about Rosa Luxemburg’s answer to Eduard Bernstein on the question of reform or revolution. Download .mp3 Red Rosa Graphic Novel by Kate Evans
05.13.2019
Episode 37 – Anti-Fascism with Michael Shallal
In this episode I talk with Michael Shallal, an organizer with DC United Against Hate, about the rise of fascism in America and around the world and what we can do to fight it. Download: .mp3
04.21.2019
Episode 36 – Jordan Peterson’s Critique of Marxism
In this episode we go through Jordan Peterson’s critique of Marxism in the recent debate he had with Slavoj Zizek. Download – .mp3

What's The Sensible Socialist about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

The Sensible Socialist episodes:

A Conversation with Benjamin Studebaker (#84)

The Restaurant Workers Bill of Rights with Eva Putzova (#83)

The Synthesis of Marxism and Buddhism

The Death of the Left (#81)

Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights with Thamil Ananthavinayagan (#80)

James Lindsay Doesn’t Understand Marxism (#79)

Identity, Marxism, Systems Theory, And Eastern Philosophy With Hans-Georg Moeller (#78)

The London Revolution 1640 -1643 with Michael Sturza (#77)

A Talk with a Listener Part 2 – Sensible Socialist (#76)

Wokeism, Elitism, and Media with Batya Ungar-Sargon (Episode 75)

Where we are and where to go with Brandon Madsen (#74)

Thoughts on Martian Social Design with Allyson Kim (#73)

A Chat with Ben Burgis (#72)

A Talk With A Listener (Part 1) – Episode 71

Operation Wall Guardian

Discussion with Destiny (#69)

Leninism in the 21st Century (#68)

A Left Critique of International Law (#67)

Interview With Noah Hutton – Director, Editor, and Writer of Lapsis (#66)

Episode 65 – A Socialist Rebuttal of Sam Harris and Jack Goldstone

Episode 64 – Biden, Guaidó, and the Bolivarian Revolution

Episode 63 – DSA and the Dirty Break

Episode 62 – What Socialists Should Think About The Capitol Riots and Biden

Episode 61 – Voting for Joe Biden with Aaron Firouz

Episode 60 – The F Word – With Ashton Rome

Episode 59 – A Socialist Perspective on the George Floyd Protests

Episode 58 – The Youth (with Caden Metcalf)

Episode 57 – Why You Should Join DSA

Episode 56 – Albert Lee for Congress

Episode 55 – Marxism-Leninism-Maoism

Episode 54 – Understanding Socialism with Richard Wolff (Part 2)

Episode 53 – Understanding Socialism With Richard Wolff (Part 1)

Episode 52 – Bernie is Out, What Now

Episode 51 – COVID Capitalism

Episode 51 – COVID Capitalism

Episode 50 – Super Tuesday

Episode 49 – Socialism 101

Episode 48 – Iran and US Imperialism (With Ben Norton)

Episode 47 – India’s Anti-CAA Protests

Episode 46 – The Monroe Doctrine

Episode 45 – Marx’s Conception of History (with Josh Morris)

Episode 44 – Class Consciousness (With Rev Left Radio)

Episode 43 – A Talk With Spencer Schecht

Episode 42 – The Agricultural Question (with Ben Stewart)

Episode 41 – Engel’s Socialism Utopian And Scientific

Episode 40 – Mass Shootings

Episode 39 – Julian Assange

Episode 38 – Reform or Revolution

Episode 37 – Anti-Fascism with Michael Shallal

Episode 36 – Jordan Peterson’s Critique of Marxism