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Theory Underground
Theory Underground episodes
- ŽIŽEK 101: The function of LAW (protect me from the other’s enjoyment) | D&M S2:e09Mikey is back to teach Dave the basics of Žižek’s theory of ideology.If you have been learning Lacan 101 and now Žižek through Mikey and Dave’s conversations, you might want to dive into the deep end.Check out the course on Žižek’s For They Know Not What They Do, which starts on February 25th: https://theory-underground.com/courses/ftknwtd/ABOUT / CREDITS / LINKSWelcome to the Theory Underground. Theory Underground aims to make challenging philosophical and theoretical work accessible, not by summarizing, but by aiding those who seek to engage in this work as a way of life. Interested in getting involved?Join the Theory Underground open forum today. Most of the forums are closed until certain readings or courses have been completed, but this is the one that is open! Welcome.https://theory-underground.com/forums/forum/MAIN Help beta trial this at https://theory-underground.com/Check out the courses, patron tiers and books, as well as events listed at these links:https://theory-underground.com/courseshttps://theory-underground.com/supporthttps://theory-underground.com//eventsAlso the Theory Underground instagram and TikTok are both where it's happening: https://www.instagram.com/theory_underground/https://tiktok.com/@theory_undergroundMUSIC CREDITS Logo sequence music by https://olliebeanz.com/music https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/legalcodeSong: Bust Down Artist: 808 DEATH CLUB License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 - http://bit.ly/RFP_CClicense22 min
- Week 7 In Review + IN DEFENSE OF LECTURESIf you cannot keep up with the forums week to week, and you did not get a chance to watch or listen to whatever Theory Underground has put out recently, then these weekly streams are meant to keep you in the loop.ABOUT / CREDITS / LINKSWelcome to the Theory Underground.Theory Underground aims to make challenging philosophical and theoretical work accessible, not by summarizing, but by aiding those who seek to engage in this work as a way of life.SUPPORT this work at https://theory-underground.com/supportDo you have questions, comments, or something to share that would be better off on the community site? Join the public forum here: https://theory-underground.com/forums/forum/main/If you take a course or join a discussion, there will be a group with dedicated forums on the website. Because fuck Discord. We want to honor quality questions, not bury them. We want to honor people who actually read as opposed to staying glued to their phones all day, so we aren't going to become reliant on a "community" app that is so attention-demanding.Forums give people time to think and come back later to ask questions or add to discussions.Check out the courses, patron tiers and books, as well as events listed at these links:https://theory-underground.com/courseshttps://theory-underground.com/supporthttps://theory-underground.com//eventsAlso the Theory Underground instagram and TikTok are both where it's happening:https://www.instagram.com/theory_underground/https://tiktok.com/@theory_undergroundMUSIC CREDITSLogo sequence music by https://olliebeanz.com/musichttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/legalcode2 hr 11 min
- ŽIŽEK 101: ”LOVE YOURSELF” the Superegoic Injunction to Enjoy (Kat from Euphoria example) | D&M S2:e08Mikey is back to teach Dave the basics of Žižek’s theory of ideology.If you have been learning Lacan 101 and now Žižek through Mikey and Dave’s conversations, you might want to dive into the deep end.Check out the course on Žižek’s For They Know Not What They Do, which starts on February 25th: https://theory-underground.com/courses/ftknwtd/ABOUT / CREDITS / LINKSWelcome to the Theory Underground. Theory Underground aims to make challenging philosophical and theoretical work accessible, not by summarizing, but by aiding those who seek to engage in this work as a way of life. Interested in getting involved?Join the Theory Underground open forum today. Most of the forums are closed until certain readings or courses have been completed, but this is the one that is open! Welcome.https://theory-underground.com/forums/forum/MAIN Help beta trial this at https://theory-underground.com/Check out the courses, patron tiers and books, as well as events listed at these links:https://theory-underground.com/courseshttps://theory-underground.com/supporthttps://theory-underground.com//eventsAlso the Theory Underground instagram and TikTok are both where it's happening: https://www.instagram.com/theory_underground/https://tiktok.com/@theory_undergroundMUSIC CREDITS Logo sequence music by https://olliebeanz.com/music https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/legalcodeSong: Bust Down Artist: 808 DEATH CLUB License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 - http://bit.ly/RFP_CClicense19 min
- ŽIŽEK 101: The Function of Ideology and The big Other vs. the superego | D&M S2:e07Mikey is back to teach Dave the basics of Žižek’s theory of ideology.If you have been learning Lacan 101 and now Žižek through Mikey and Dave’s conversations, you might want to dive into the deep end.Check out the course on Žižek’s For They Know Not What They Do, which starts on February 25th: https://theory-underground.com/courses/ftknwtd/ABOUT / CREDITS / LINKSWelcome to the Theory Underground. Theory Underground aims to make challenging philosophical and theoretical work accessible, not by summarizing, but by aiding those who seek to engage in this work as a way of life. Interested in getting involved?Join the Theory Underground open forum today. Most of the forums are closed until certain readings or courses have been completed, but this is the one that is open! Welcome.https://theory-underground.com/forums/forum/MAIN Help beta trial this at https://theory-underground.com/Check out the courses, patron tiers and books, as well as events listed at these links:https://theory-underground.com/courseshttps://theory-underground.com/supporthttps://theory-underground.com//eventsAlso the Theory Underground instagram and TikTok are both where it's happening: https://www.instagram.com/theory_underground/https://tiktok.com/@theory_undergroundMUSIC CREDITS Logo sequence music by https://olliebeanz.com/music https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/legalcodeSong: Bust Down Artist: 808 DEATH CLUB License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 - http://bit.ly/RFP_CClicense20 min
- ŽIŽEK 101: Lacanian theory applied to thinking about social change | D&M S2:e06Mikey is back to teach Dave the basics of Žižek’s theory of ideology.If you have been learning Lacan 101 and now Žižek through Mikey and Dave’s conversations, you might want to dive into the deep end.Check out the course on Žižek’s For They Know Not What They Do, which starts on February 25th: https://theory-underground.com/courses/ftknwtd/ABOUT / CREDITS / LINKSWelcome to the Theory Underground. Theory Underground aims to make challenging philosophical and theoretical work accessible, not by summarizing, but by aiding those who seek to engage in this work as a way of life. Interested in getting involved?Join the Theory Underground open forum today. Most of the forums are closed until certain readings or courses have been completed, but this is the one that is open! Welcome.https://theory-underground.com/forums/forum/MAIN Help beta trial this at https://theory-underground.com/Check out the courses, patron tiers and books, as well as events listed at these links:https://theory-underground.com/courseshttps://theory-underground.com/supporthttps://theory-underground.com//eventsAlso the Theory Underground instagram and TikTok are both where it's happening: https://www.instagram.com/theory_underground/https://tiktok.com/@theory_undergroundMUSIC CREDITS Logo sequence music by https://olliebeanz.com/music https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/legalcodeSong: Bust Down Artist: 808 DEATH CLUB License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 - http://bit.ly/RFP_CClicense21 min
- ŽIŽEK 101: The role of prohibition in socialization + The importance of Todd McGowan | D&M S2:e05Mikey is back to teach Dave the basics of Žižek’s theory of ideology.If you have been learning Lacan 101 and now Žižek through Mikey and Dave’s conversations, you might want to dive into the deep end.Check out the course on Žižek’s For They Know Not What They Do, which starts on February 25th: https://theory-underground.com/courses/ftknwtd/ABOUT / CREDITS / LINKSWelcome to the Theory Underground. Theory Underground aims to make challenging philosophical and theoretical work accessible, not by summarizing, but by aiding those who seek to engage in this work as a way of life. Interested in getting involved?Join the Theory Underground open forum today. Most of the forums are closed until certain readings or courses have been completed, but this is the one that is open! Welcome.https://theory-underground.com/forums/forum/MAIN Help beta trial this at https://theory-underground.com/Check out the courses, patron tiers and books, as well as events listed at these links:https://theory-underground.com/courseshttps://theory-underground.com/supporthttps://theory-underground.com//eventsAlso the Theory Underground instagram and TikTok are both where it's happening: https://www.instagram.com/theory_underground/https://tiktok.com/@theory_undergroundMUSIC CREDITS Logo sequence music by https://olliebeanz.com/music https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/legalcodeSong: Bust Down Artist: 808 DEATH CLUB License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 - http://bit.ly/RFP_CClicense19 min
- ŽIŽEK 101: Inherent Transgression and Activism Today | D&M S2:e04Mikey is back to teach Dave the basics of Žižek’s theory of ideology.If you have been learning Lacan 101 and now Žižek through Mikey and Dave’s conversations, you might want to dive into the deep end.Check out the course on Žižek’s For They Know Not What They Do, which starts on February 25th: https://theory-underground.com/courses/ftknwtd/ABOUT / CREDITS / LINKSWelcome to the Theory Underground. Theory Underground aims to make challenging philosophical and theoretical work accessible, not by summarizing, but by aiding those who seek to engage in this work as a way of life. Interested in getting involved?Join the Theory Underground open forum today. Most of the forums are closed until certain readings or courses have been completed, but this is the one that is open! Welcome.https://theory-underground.com/forums/forum/MAIN Help beta trial this at https://theory-underground.com/Check out the courses, patron tiers and books, as well as events listed at these links:https://theory-underground.com/courseshttps://theory-underground.com/supporthttps://theory-underground.com//eventsAlso the Theory Underground instagram and TikTok are both where it's happening: https://www.instagram.com/theory_underground/https://tiktok.com/@theory_undergroundMUSIC CREDITS Logo sequence music by https://olliebeanz.com/music https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/legalcodeSong: Bust Down Artist: 808 DEATH CLUB License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 - http://bit.ly/RFP_CClicense19 min
- ŽIŽEK 101: The Sublime Object/Jouissance/Real of Ideology | D&M S2:e03Mikey is back to teach Dave the basics of Žižek’s theory of ideology.If you have been learning Lacan 101 and now Žižek through Mikey and Dave’s conversations, you might want to dive into the deep end.Check out the course on Žižek’s For They Know Not What They Do, which starts on February 25th: https://theory-underground.com/courses/ftknwtd/ABOUT / CREDITS / LINKSWelcome to the Theory Underground. Theory Underground aims to make challenging philosophical and theoretical work accessible, not by summarizing, but by aiding those who seek to engage in this work as a way of life. Interested in getting involved?Join the Theory Underground open forum today. Most of the forums are closed until certain readings or courses have been completed, but this is the one that is open! Welcome.https://theory-underground.com/forums/forum/MAIN Help beta trial this at https://theory-underground.com/Check out the courses, patron tiers and books, as well as events listed at these links:https://theory-underground.com/courseshttps://theory-underground.com/supporthttps://theory-underground.com//eventsAlso the Theory Underground instagram and TikTok are both where it's happening: https://www.instagram.com/theory_underground/https://tiktok.com/@theory_undergroundMUSIC CREDITS Logo sequence music by https://olliebeanz.com/music https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/legalcodeSong: Bust Down Artist: 808 DEATH CLUB License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 - http://bit.ly/RFP_CClicense24 min
- ŽIŽEK 101: Jouissance, death drive, and social change | D&M S2:e02Mikey is back to teach Dave the basics of Žižek’s theory of ideology.If you have been learning Lacan 101 and now Žižek through Mikey and Dave’s conversations, you might want to dive into the deep end.Check out the course on Žižek’s For They Know Not What They Do, which starts on February 25th: https://theory-underground.com/courses/ftknwtd/ABOUT / CREDITS / LINKSWelcome to the Theory Underground. Theory Underground aims to make challenging philosophical and theoretical work accessible, not by summarizing, but by aiding those who seek to engage in this work as a way of life. Interested in getting involved?Join the Theory Underground open forum today. Most of the forums are closed until certain readings or courses have been completed, but this is the one that is open! Welcome.https://theory-underground.com/forums/forum/MAIN Help beta trial this at https://theory-underground.com/Check out the courses, patron tiers and books, as well as events listed at these links:https://theory-underground.com/courseshttps://theory-underground.com/supporthttps://theory-underground.com//eventsAlso the Theory Underground instagram and TikTok are both where it's happening: https://www.instagram.com/theory_underground/https://tiktok.com/@theory_undergroundMUSIC CREDITS Logo sequence music by https://olliebeanz.com/music https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/legalcodeSong: Bust Down Artist: 808 DEATH CLUB License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 - http://bit.ly/RFP_CClicense25 min
- ŽIŽEK 101: Chomsky’s Error and The Fichtean Anstoss | D&M S2:e01Mikey is back to teach Dave the basics of Žižek’s theory of ideology.If you have been learning Lacan 101 and now Žižek through Mikey and Dave’s conversations, you might want to dive into the deep end.Check out the course on Žižek’s For They Know Not What They Do, which starts on February 25th: https://theory-underground.com/courses/ftknwtd/ABOUT / CREDITS / LINKSWelcome to the Theory Underground. Theory Underground aims to make challenging philosophical and theoretical work accessible, not by summarizing, but by aiding those who seek to engage in this work as a way of life. Interested in getting involved?Join the Theory Underground open forum today. Most of the forums are closed until certain readings or courses have been completed, but this is the one that is open! Welcome.https://theory-underground.com/forums/forum/MAIN Help beta trial this at https://theory-underground.com/Check out the courses, patron tiers and books, as well as events listed at these links:https://theory-underground.com/courseshttps://theory-underground.com/supporthttps://theory-underground.com//eventsAlso the Theory Underground instagram and TikTok are both where it's happening: https://www.instagram.com/theory_underground/https://tiktok.com/@theory_undergroundMUSIC CREDITS Logo sequence music by https://olliebeanz.com/music https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/legalcodeSong: Bust Down Artist: 808 DEATH CLUB License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 - http://bit.ly/RFP_CClicense22 min
About Theory Underground
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Thanks for listening! Please review us on your favorite podcast app so that the haters don't win.
Become a member of Theory Underground here: https://theoryunderground.com/subscribe
Tier 1 and higher get access to the courses and seminars going monthly throughout 2026:
Intro to Theory, The Philosophy of Stewardship, and The Philosophy of Religion with David McKerracher.
Tier 2 and higher get access to a monthly writers or speaking workshop.
Tier 3 includes the book or thesis writer's cohort. All members get access to the monthly Post Duopoly (de)Radicalization Starter Pack reading group, which is a collaboration between TU and 1Dime. https://theoryunderground.com/subscribe
David McKerracher is an organizer, theorist, husband and father (not in that order), and the founder of Theory Underground. McKerracher is the author of Timenergy: Why You Have No Time or Energy (Foreword by Slavoj Žižek), as well as the chief editor of Underground Theory (Volumes one and two are available now, with volume three in the works).
Office hours: The first Monday of every month at 10 a.m. Pacific Time, or if you wait around after lectures/seminars.
Theory Underground (TU) is dedicated to making challenging philosophical and theoretical work accessible for a non-college audience. TU emphasizes audio-based learning for real-world application of big ideas, operating both online and through an international tour that has hosted events in over 20 U.S. cities, 9 countries throughout Europe, as well as cities in Canada and Mexico.
Mission: To provide accessible, rigorous, and wide-ranging educational material for three types of people:
- dropout workers with earbuds getting into big ideas during daily routines
- burnt-out postgrads seeking to supplement their journey
- parents who take a deliberate role in their children's education through keeping alive their sense of wonder.
Vision: A world that is timenergy-rich, meaning that parents and teachers have large, energy-infused, and reliably repeatable blocks of time throughout their day, week, and month. Such a world would construct and cultivate a culture of active leisure for the sake of discovering and stewarding one’s own talent and the talents of future generations.
Lectures: Ongoing and archived sessions on key thinkers and topics, including:
📚Intro courses: Intro to Theory (monthly throughout 2026), Intro to Marx, Intro to Heidegger, Political Theory, Intro to The Idea of the University, Intro to Žižek, Intro to Lacan, Intro to Land, Intro to Illich, The Philosophy of Nature, Intro to the PMC, Intro to Critical Social Theory, and The Philosophy of Religion (2026).
📚Advanced courses: Martin Heidegger's Being and Time, Emmanuel Levinas' Totality and Infinity, and Slavoj Žižek's For They Know Not What They Do, The Autistic Subject and the Clinical Structures of Psychoanalysis.
📚Seminars: Critical Media Theory (2 years), Critical Doxology & Timenergy (1 year), The Philosophy of Stewardship and Home Economics (monthly throughout 2026).
Publishing: Underground Theory Volumes 1 and 2, Timenergy: Why You Have No Time or Energy, as well as serial releases of chapters, original thoughts, and upcoming books.
Community: Conferences, retreats, and international tour. TU’s hybrid and experimental grassroots (self-funded) tour events have occurred in prestigious private universities as well as people's garages and backyards, on campus quads or downtown in busy urban areas, as well as deep in the wilderness. TU is virtually everywhere and always on tour, but physically it is based on a small regenerative farm in North Idaho.
Renowned professors at Theory Underground have included Slavoj Žižek, Benjamin Studebaker, Nina Power, John D. Caputo, Peter Rollins, Chris Cutrone, Iain Thomson, Alenka Zupančič, Leon Brenner; Todd McGowan, as well as lesser-known but nonetheless amazing lecturers such as Tony Chamas, Bryan Weeks, Michael Downs, and Elton L.K. of the Working Class Intelligentsia and the Democratic Socialists of America education podcast called CLASS.
Music Logo Sequence Music is always either by https://olliebeanz.com/music https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/legalcode or “What's Left” Adam Leher. Thanks! If you are an artist who has something that might be good for TU's unique vibe, you can always send it to us a [email protected]
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