Ep 86 - Anti-Capitalist Sci-Fi Decoded: Andor, Hunger Games, and Severance

Tony abandons the rest of the crew to their devices, and things predictably go off the rails. We talk about the weak chins of continuing series, whether or not there are encoded messages in Rian Johnson movies, and discuss the futility of anti-capitalist messaging without a political program to back it up. You can sign up at Patreon where you get access to early release episodes, study guides, the aforementioned bonus episodes, TheoryBeats, and MORE! YOU CAN DO SO FOR FREE, which will get you the study guides, merch, and other random drops. Please subscribe on your favorite podcast catcher and rate or review to help extend our reach. Like and rate us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @prolespod and Tiktok @proles.pod. If you have any questions or comments, email us at [email protected]. May the spectre haunt your streets, and solidarity forever. Intro Music:  "ProlesPod Theme" by Ransom Notes Outro Music: "Eastern Bloc Beats" by DJ DTA

Tony and Jeremy sit down with Alex Z (Southern Catholic Worker) to talk about John Brown and Co, their raid on Harper's Ferry, the aftermath, and the legacy of John Brown on politics and the Civil War. You can sign up at Patreon where you get access to early release episodes, study guides, the aforementioned bonus episodes, TheoryBeats, and MORE! YOU CAN DO SO FOR FREE, which will get you the study guides, merch, and other random drops. Please subscribe on your favorite podcast catcher and rate or review to help extend our reach. Like and rate us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @prolespod and Tiktok @proles.pod. If you have any questions or comments, email us at [email protected]. May the spectre haunt your streets, and solidarity forever. Sources: John Brown, Abolitionist: The Man Who Killed Slavery, Sparked the Civil War, and Seeded CIvil Rights by David S. Reynolds Midnight Rising: John Brown and the Raid that Sparked the Civil War by Tony Horowitz The Old Man: John Brown at Harpers Ferry by Truman Nelson John Brown by W.E.B. Du Bois Anti-Racism in US History: The First Hundred Years by Herbert Aptheker   Intro Music:  "ProlesPod Theme" by Ransom Notes Outro Music: "Eastern Bloc Beats" by DJ DTA

Tony and Jeremy sit down with Alex Z (Southern Catholic Worker) to talk about John Brown's early life, along with his trials and tribulations as a worker, father, and husband. This episode takes us all the way up to the period before he begins planning for the raid on Harper's Ferry (which means many skirmishes with and some broadsword swinging on pro-slavery dorks). You can sign up at Patreon where you get access to early release episodes, study guides, the aforementioned bonus episodes, TheoryBeats, and MORE! YOU CAN DO SO FOR FREE, which will get you the study guides, merch, and other random drops. Please subscribe on your favorite podcast catcher and rate or review to help extend our reach. Like and rate us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @prolespod and Tiktok @proles.pod. If you have any questions or comments, email us at [email protected]. May the spectre haunt your streets, and solidarity forever. Sources: John Brown, Abolitionist: The Man Who Killed Slavery, Sparked the Civil War, and Seeded CIvil Rights by David S. Reynolds Midnight Rising: John Brown and the Raid that Sparked the Civil War by Tony Horowitz The Old Man: John Brown at Harpers Ferry by Truman Nelson John Brown by W.E.B. Du Bois Anti-Racism in US History: The First Hundred Years by Herbert Aptheker   Intro Quote: An excerpt from a speech given by Malcolm X in 1965.   Intro Music:  "ProlesPod Theme" by Ransom Notes Outro Music: "Eastern Bloc Beats" by DJ DTA

What do Andor, The Hunger Games, and Severance really say about capitalism and socialist revolution? In this episode of Prolespod, we critically examine these popular sci-fi and dystopian series through a socialist lens. We unpack the anti-capitalist themes, revolutionary narratives, and class struggle depicted in each — and ask how far these shows can really go while being produced by profit-driven corporations. Support the show and listen to the bonus episode which focuses on Sinners at patreon.com/prolespod  

In this two-part Theory Episode, the ProlesPod Squad takes on one of the most influential texts in socialist history: "Reform or Revolution" (1898) by Polish-German Marxist Rosa Luxemburg. Whether you're new to political theory, find socialist texts hard to get through, or just want to hear our unique take—this deep-dive is for you. We break it down, debate its meaning, and explore why this revolutionary classic still matters today.

In this two-part Theory Episode, the ProlesPod Squad takes on one of the most influential texts in socialist history: "Reform or Revolution" (1898) by Polish-German Marxist Rosa Luxemburg. Whether you're new to political theory, find socialist texts hard to get through, or just want to hear our unique take—this deep-dive is for you. We break it down, debate its meaning, and explore why this revolutionary classic still matters today.  

In this very special release, Justin talked with Iranian communist and comrade, Araaz, about life in Iran, the effects of the attacks by Israel, and the context of life under the Islamic Revolutionary Government. We weren't sure what we expected this episode to be, but it surpassed those expectations. You can sign up at Patreon where you get access to early release episodes, study guides, the aforementioned bonus episodes, TheoryBeats, and MORE! YOU CAN DO SO FOR FREE, which will get you the study guides, merch, and other random drops. Please subscribe on your favorite podcast catcher and rate or review to help extend our reach. Like and rate us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @prolespod and Tiktok @proles.pod. If you have any questions or comments, email us at [email protected]. May the spectre haunt your streets, and solidarity forever.   Intro Music:  "ProlesPod Theme" by Ransom Notes Outro Music: "Eastern Bloc Beats" by DJ DTA

Digging into his own family's background, PhD Candidate, Brandon, is our subject matter expert. He combines archival research with ethnographic interviews to bring us the history of the guerrilla struggle, focusing on the era between the early 1960s and the early 1980s. We learn about tactics, tribulation, and Trotskyite treachery. You can sign up at Patreon where you get access to early release episodes, study guides, the aforementioned bonus episodes, TheoryBeats, and MORE! YOU CAN DO SO FOR FREE, which will get you the study guides, merch, and other random drops. Please subscribe on your favorite podcast catcher and rate or review to help extend our reach. Like and rate us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @prolespod and Tiktok @proles.pod. If you have any questions or comments, email us at [email protected]. May the spectre haunt your streets, and solidarity forever. Sources: Days of the Jungle: The Testimony of a Guatemalan Guerrilla (1972-1976) by Mario Payeras Turcios Lima: His Biography and Documents by Dulcila Cañizares The Guerrilla Movement in Guatemala by Adolpho Gilly Autobiography of a Guerrilla: Guatemala 1960-1968 by Ricardo Ramirez   Intro Music:  "ProlesPod Theme" by Ransom Notes Outro Music: "Siberian Trails" by DJ DTA

The ProlesSquad shares and responds to some of the most poorly concieved yet commonly heard anti-communist arguments! You can sign up at Patreon where you get access to early release episodes, study guides, the aforementioned bonus episodes, TheoryBeats, and MORE! YOU CAN DO SO FOR FREE, which will get you the study guides, merch, and other random drops. Please subscribe on your favorite podcast catcher and rate or review to help extend our reach. Like and rate us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @prolespod and Tiktok @proles.pod. If you have any questions or comments, email us at [email protected]. May the spectre haunt your streets, and solidarity forever.

Virginia and Steve from Macro N Cheese Podcast/Real Progressives join Justin and Jeremy in a discussion of Modern Monetary Theory, how it can be used as a radicalizing tool, as well as what it means in the grand scheme of global economics. We go even more in depth on our Patreon exclusive bonus episode, so make sure you don't miss it! You can sign up at Patreon where you get access to early release episodes, study guides, the aforementioned bonus episodes, TheoryBeats, and MORE! YOU CAN DO SO FOR FREE, which will get you the study guides, merch, and other random drops. Please subscribe on your favorite podcast catcher and rate or review to help extend our reach. Like and rate us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @prolespod and Tiktok @proles.pod. If you have any questions or comments, email us at [email protected]. May the spectre haunt your streets, and solidarity forever. Sources: Reclaiming the State by Bill Mitchell and Thomas Fazi Seven Deadly, Innocent Frauds of Economic Policy by Warren Mosler Modern Money Theory by L. Randall Wray The Deficit Myth by Stephanie Kelton Global South Perspectives by Fadhel Kaboub Jason Hickel's Substack   Intro Music:  "ProlesPod Theme" by Ransom Notes Outro Music: "Average Folk" by DJ DTA