Theory Underground

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Theory Underground episodes

February 15, 2023 WEEK 6 IN REVIEW | Hannah Arendt on Karl Jaspers + An update on the living situation in Mexico
If 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 / LINKS

Welcome 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/support

Do 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/courses
https://theory-underground.com/support
https://theory-underground.com//events
Also the Theory Underground instagram and TikTok are both where it's happening:
https://www.instagram.com/theory_underground/
https://tiktok.com/@theory_underground
MUSIC CREDITS
Logo sequence music by https://olliebeanz.com/music
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/legalcode
1 hr 16 min
February 15, 2023 LACAN 101: Fundamental Fantasy and Ideology | D&M S1:e10
As a way of launching 2023 Theory Underground is publishing short episodes on introduction to Lacan and Žižek. These conversations are between Michael Downs and David McKerracher AKA Mikey from The Dangerous Maybe Blog and Dave, who formerly went by Theory Pleeb.

Consider this a refresher for the upcoming course Mikey is teaching with Dave on Žižek's For They Know Not What They Do: https://theory-underground.com/courses/FTKNWTD

ABOUT / CREDITS / LINKS Welcome 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/support Do 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/

Check out the courses, patron tiers and books, as well as events listed at these links:
https://theory-underground.com/courses https://theory-underground.com/support https://theory-underground.com//events
Also the Theory Underground instagram and TikTok are both where it's happening: https://www.instagram.com/theory_underground/
https://tiktok.com/@theory_underground

MUSIC CREDITS Logo sequence music by https://olliebeanz.com/music https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/legalcode
7 min
February 15, 2023 Todd McGowan - Why the Left needs Theory - Identity Politics, Universality, and Enjoyment Right and Left
Todd McGowan on why the Left needs theory - Identity Politics, Universality, and Enjoyment Right and Left AKA Todd McGowan on Universal Non-belonging vs. Identity Politics and Right Enjoyment

ABOUT / CREDITS / LINKS
Welcome 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/courses
https://theory-underground.com/support
https://theory-underground.com//events
Also the Theory Underground instagram and TikTok are both where it's happening: https://www.instagram.com/theory_underground
https://tiktok.com/@theory_underground
MUSIC CREDITS Logo sequence music by https://olliebeanz.com/music https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/legalcode Song: Bust Down Artist: 808 DEATH CLUB License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 - http://bit.ly/RFP_CClicense
2 hr 8 min
February 04, 2023 WEEK 5 IN REVIEW | Complications in Mexico + Men in Dark Times preface (Arendt / Jaspers)
If 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 / LINKS

Welcome 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/support

Do 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/courses
https://theory-underground.com/support
https://theory-underground.com//events
Also the Theory Underground instagram and TikTok are both where it's happening:
https://www.instagram.com/theory_underground/
https://tiktok.com/@theory_underground
MUSIC CREDITS
Logo sequence music by https://olliebeanz.com/music
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/legalcode
1 hr 16 min
January 31, 2023 WEEK 4 IN REVIEW - A short one!
Week in review. What you need to know. Keeping it short and to the point.

ABOUT / CREDITS / LINKS
Welcome 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.
The website will be seeing big time improvements every day. If you want to help out, you can try using it and give me feedback at [email protected]
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.
Help beta trial this athttps://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//events
Also the Theory Underground instagram and TikTok are both where it's happening:https://www.instagram.com/theory_underground/https://tiktok.com/@theory_underground
MUSIC CREDITSLogo sequence music by https://olliebeanz.com/musichttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/legalcode
40 min
January 26, 2023 PMC Lectures 1: How progressives tried to save capitalism by dividing the working class
The first two lectures followed by some discussion for the PMC course series.

Sign up for the course that starts tomorrow: https://theory-underground.com/courses/pmc

ABOUT / CREDITS / LINKS Welcome 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/support

Do 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. 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/courses https://theory-underground.com/support https://theory-underground.com//events Also the Theory Underground instagram and TikTok are both where it's happening: https://www.instagram.com/theory_underground/ https://tiktok.com/@theory_underground MUSIC CREDITS Logo sequence music by https://olliebeanz.com/music https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/legalcode
2 hr 33 min
January 26, 2023 Barbara Ehrenreich’s Fear of Falling - PMC course essential (assisted) reading Week 1 excerpt 2
An Ancient Antagonism - section from Barbara Ehrenreich's "Fear of Falling"

Read it for yourself: https://drive.google.com/file/d/12jhMdz3G4FjA4V9pdfaP7jbH3eh53ahs/view?usp=sharing

Sign up for the course that starts tonight: https://theory-underground.com/courses/pmc

ABOUT / CREDITS / LINKS Welcome 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/support Do 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/courses https://theory-underground.com/support https://theory-underground.com//events Also the Theory Underground instagram and TikTok are both where it's happening: https://www.instagram.com/theory_underground/ https://tiktok.com/@theory_underground MUSIC CREDITS Logo sequence music by https://olliebeanz.com/music https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/legalcode
1 hr 9 min
January 25, 2023 Thomas Frank’s Listen, Liberal - PMC course essential (assisted) reading Week 1 excerpt 1
THE HIGH-BORN AND THE WELL-GRADUATED section of Chapter 1 from Listen Liberal, by Thomas Frank. Read it for yourself:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HLeF4Lx5MLT3F763ilPD8ETivTVTO655/view?usp=sharingSign up for the course that starts tomorrow: https://theory-underground.com/courses/pmcABOUT / CREDITS / LINKS Welcome 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/support Do 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/courses https://theory-underground.com/support https://theory-underground.com//events Also the Theory Underground instagram and TikTok are both where it's happening: https://www.instagram.com/theory_underground/ https://tiktok.com/@theory_underground MUSIC CREDITS Logo sequence music by https://olliebeanz.com/music https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/legalcode
1 hr 36 min
January 23, 2023 WEEK 3 IN REVIEW - Dirtbags and Woke PMCs both miss the point
Week in review. What you need to know. Keeping it short and to the point.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.The website will be seeing big time improvements every day. If you want to help out, you can try using it and give me feedback at [email protected] 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. Help beta trial this athttps://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 CREDITSLogo sequence music by https://olliebeanz.com/musichttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/legalcode
2 hr 24 min
January 20, 2023 Week 2 In Review (Theory Underground Community Update)
Week in review. What you need to know. Keeping it short and to the point.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.The website will be seeing big time improvements every day. If you want to help out, you can try using it and give me feedback at [email protected] 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. Help beta trial this athttps://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 CREDITSLogo sequence music by https://olliebeanz.com/musichttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/legalcode
47 min

About Theory Underground

From the publisher's feed

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]