Episode #199 - A conservative communist’s take on global capitalism and desire. (Zizek, Marx, Hegel)
Episode #198 - The truth is in the process. Zizek Pt. 3 (Ideology, Dialectics)
This episode explores how political labels like “left” and “right” oversimplify the complex and evolving ways people relate to society, especially in a globalized world. It uses this as a starting point to understand Slavoj Žižek, whose ideas don’t fit into traditional categories. Drawing on thinkers like Marx, Hegel, and Lacan, Žižek views identity as shaped by desire and contradiction, arguing that our sense of self is driven by what we lack and shaped by ideological systems we often don’t notice. He sees global capitalism not just as an economic model, but as a powerful force that teaches people how to desire, keeping them locked into patterns that feel like freedom but reinforce the system. While Žižek supports improvements like healthcare and housing, he believes democratic socialism only softens capitalism without challenging its core antagonisms. He calls himself a “moderately conservative communist” to express a cautious, deeply critical stance toward both capitalism and unexamined revolutionary thinking—urging people to think more clearly before rushing to change the world.
Further Reading:
The Sublime Object of Ideology – Slavoj Žižek (1989)
First as Tragedy, Then as Farce – Slavoj Žižek (2009)
Zero Point (Žižek's Essays) – Slavoj Žižek (2025)
See the full transcript here
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Episode #198 - The truth is in the process. Zizek Pt. 3 (Ideology, Dialectics)
Episode #198 - The truth is in the process. Zizek Pt. 3 (Ideology, Dialectics)
This episode explores Zizek’s view of ideology as an invisible structure that shapes how people interpret the world and act within it, often without realizing it. It begins with a listener’s question about whether dismantling ideology is even worthwhile, given how much we rely on it just to function and do good. Zizek’s response complicates this by showing how ideology doesn’t just offer shortcuts—it can distort efforts, like fighting climate change, by keeping people focused on small gestures while ignoring deeper systemic problems. Through examples from politics, social institutions, and consumer behavior, the episode argues that liberal democratic capitalism has become so dominant that it frames nearly all thought and action, even those meant to oppose it. Drawing on dialectical thinking, Zizek challenges the idea that history is progressing toward an ideal system and instead emphasizes the constant tension and transformation that define reality. The episode ends by suggesting that even when people become aware of ideology, they still cling to it as a way of coping with the complexity and pain of the world.
Further Reading:
The Sublime Object of Ideology by Slavoj Žižek (1989)
Zizek's Politics by Jodi Dean (2006)
Slavoj Žižek and Dialectical Materialism edited by Agon Hamza and Frank Ruda (2016)
See the full transcript here
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Episode #197 - New Atheists and cosmic purpose without God (Zizek, Goff, Nagel)
Episode #197 - New Atheists and cosmic purpose without God (Zizek, Goff, Nagel)
This episode explores how seemingly objective worldviews—particularly scientific materialism—can function as ideologies, just like more overtly religious belief systems. Drawing from the work of Slavoj Žižek, Thomas Nagel, and Philip Goff, it challenges the idea that truth must be limited to what can be empirically verified. It highlights how even the scientific method depends on unprovable philosophical assumptions, such as the rational coherence of the universe or the reliability of induction. By tracing material reductionism’s historical roots and contrasting it with alternative perspectives, like Nagel’s teleological framework or Goff’s value-selection hypothesis, the episode invites listeners to question whether science alone can fully explain consciousness, meaning, and purpose. Rather than rejecting science, it proposes a more reflective approach—one that integrates scientific rigor with a broader philosophical awareness, recognizing that the frameworks we use shape the truths we find.
Further Reading:
The Sublime Object of Ideology by Slavoj Žižek (1989)
Mind and Cosmos: Why the Materialist Neo-Darwinian Conception of Nature Is Almost Certainly False by Thomas Nagel (2012)
Why? The Purpose of the Universe by Philip Goff (2023)
See the full transcript here
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Episode #196 - The Improbable Slavoj Zizek - Pt. 1
Episode #196 - The Improbable Slavoj Zizek - Pt. 1
This episode introduces the complex and polarizing philosopher Slavoj Žižek, focusing less on his individual claims and more on the form and function of his philosophy. The discussion opens by acknowledging Žižek’s reputation for provocative and sometimes outrageous statements, but reframes these moments as deliberate rhetorical tactics meant to disrupt ideological complacency. Drawing from thinkers like Hegel, Marx, and Lacan, Žižek sees human subjectivity as shaped by layers of ideology we often can’t see. Rather than positioning himself as a truth-teller with a new ideology, Žižek tries to expose the symbolic structures through which we all interpret the world—language, rituals, cultural norms—and highlight how they narrow our field of vision. The goal isn’t to offer neat solutions, but to awaken listeners to the frameworks they take for granted. By disorienting his audience, Žižek hopes to inspire deeper reflection about what we assume to be self-evident. His style may appear chaotic, but it serves a purpose: to shake us from dogmatic slumber and provoke better questions about progress, ethics, and ideology itself.
Further Reading:
The Sublime Object of Ideology by Slavoj Žižek (1989)
Looking Awry: An Introduction to Jacques Lacan through Popular Culture by Slavoj Žižek (1991)
Violence: Six Sideways Reflections by Slavoj Žižek (2008)
See the full transcript here
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Episode #195 - Could Anarcho-Capitalism be the solution to our problems? - Anarchism Pt. 4 (Rothbard, Friedman, Malice)
Episode #195 - Could Anarcho-Capitalism be the solution to our problems? - Anarchism Pt. 4 (Rothbard, Friedman, Malice)
This episode breaks down a key divide within anarchist thought: anarcho-communists versus anarcho-capitalists. It examines why historical anarchist movements have often failed and argues that lack of support—not failure of the ideas themselves—played a major role. The show then explores anarcho-capitalism through thinkers like David Friedman and Murray Rothbard, who propose free markets and private services as alternatives to state power, grounded in the non-aggression principle. Critics like Noam Chomsky and anarcho-communists argue that capitalism itself creates coercive hierarchies, concentrating power through wealth and media control. The episode ends by asking whether real change is still possible and encourages small, values-based actions as a way to push toward liberty, equality, and solidarity—setting up a future discussion with philosopher Slavoj Žižek.
Further Reading:
The Machinery of Freedom: Guide to a Radical Capitalism by David D. Friedman (1973)
For a New Liberty: The Libertarian Manifesto by Murray N. Rothbard (1973)
On Anarchism by Noam Chomsky (2013)
See the full transcript here
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Episode #194 - Do we really need the police? - Anarchism Pt. 3 (Gelderloos, Security)
Episode #194 - Do we really need the police? - Anarchism Pt. 3 (Gelderloos, Security)
This episode revisits the ideas of Byung-Chul Han, who sees modern life as increasingly self-centered and disconnected. He argues that today’s world pushes even well-meaning people to focus on themselves rather than others. The episode connects this to anarchist thought, suggesting that many of our biggest problems—violence, inequality, addiction—are shaped by systems built on hierarchy and disconnection. It looks at the 1919 Seattle General Strike as proof that communities can self-organize without top-down authority. While skeptics say anarchism is unrealistic, the show suggests it may be better understood as an ethical framework to guide how we live, not a blueprint to enforce overnight. It closes by asking whether imagining new ways of living is really naive—or whether not imagining them is the real danger.
Further Reading:
Anarchy Works by Peter Gelderloos (2010)
The Burnout Society by Byung-Chul Han (2015)
Anarchy by Errico Malatesta (1891)
See the full transcript here
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Episode #193 - The main export of the western world is trash. - Anarchism Pt. 2 (Bookchin, Social Ecology)
The main export of the western world is trash. - Anarchism Pt. 2 (Bookchin, Social Ecology)
This episode introduces the ideas of Murray Bookchin, a self-described social ecologist whose work reshaped how anarchist philosophy might respond to today’s ecological crisis. Bookchin argued that the world’s environmental problems are not just technical or scientific, but social—reflecting deeply embedded hierarchies in how people relate to one another and to nature. Building on last episode’s foundation of anarchist values like liberty, equality, and solidarity, this episode shows how Bookchin saw modern society’s obsession with domination and growth—especially under capitalism—as the root of ecological collapse, social unrest, and global inequality. He critiqued common environmental solutions like green consumerism and futurist techno-fixes, calling them superficial responses that fail to address deeper systemic issues. Instead, Bookchin called for decentralized, directly democratic communities grounded in mutual care, ecological responsibility, and human-scale relationships. The episode ends by revisiting a recurring historical theme: when enough people recognize that existing power structures no longer serve them, demands for new forms of freedom and solidarity emerge. Listeners are invited to send in their questions about real-world challenges and historical examples, which will be explored in the next episode.
Further Reading:
Social Ecology and Communalism by Murray Bookchin (2007)
Ecology or Catastrophe: The Life of Murray Bookchin by Janet Biehl (2015)
Ecology and Socialism: Solutions to Capitalist Ecological Crisis by Chris Williams (2010)
See the full transcript here
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I could never do this without your support! :)