Varn Vlog

Abandon all hope ye who subscribe here. Varn Vlog is the pod of C. Derick Varn. We combine the conversation on philosophy, political economy, art, history, culture, anthropology, and geopolitics from a left-wing and culturally informed perspective. We approach the world from a historical lens with an eye for hard truths and structural analysis.

Podcasting since 2021 • 412 episodes

Varn Vlog

Latest Episodes

The Cultural Marxism Myth with A.J.A. Woods

Where did the "Cultural Marxism" talking point actually originate? How did obscure 20th-century sectarian group battles evolve into the foundation of today's right-wing culture wars? In this episode of Varn Vlog, we sit down with Dr. A.J.A. Woo...

August 06, 2026 • Season 2 • Episode 90 • 3:39:40

A People’s History of the Mets: Urban Planning, Labor, and Radical Politics with A.M. Gittlitz

Why are the New York Mets the ultimate team of the working-class underworld? Author A.M. Gittlitz joins the channel to discuss his new book, Metropolitans, and pitch why leftists should actually care about sports.In this episode, we div...

August 03, 2026 • Season 2 • Episode 89 • 1:22:55

Cold War Cinema — History, Propaganda, and Left-Wing Film Analysis with Jason Christian & Tony Ballas

How did decades of geopolitical paranoia, nuclear anxiety, and state-sponsored propaganda completely reshape the landscape of global filmmaking? In this episode of Varn Vlog, we dive deep into the intersection of history and film with Jason Chr...

July 27, 2026 • Season 2 • Episode 88 • 2:32:55

Gerontocracy in America: Samuel Moyn on Aging Wealth and Shifting Power

Welcome back to the Vlog. Today, we are joined by acclaimed legal scholar and historian Dr. Samuel Moyn (Chancellor Kent Professor of Law and History at Yale University) to discuss his critical book, Gerontocracy in America.While the pu...

July 23, 2026 • Season 2 • Episode 87 • 1:19:36

Why Jordan Peterson is Wrong About Jung with Rob Faure Walker

Why are so many political activists crashing into severe burnout and depression? Can the deep psychology of Carl Jung provide a radical toolkit for modern survival without retreating from the fight? In this episode of Varnblog, we sit down with...

July 20, 2026 • Season 2 • Episode 86 • 2:31:51

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Fan Mail

Hey there human-I-assume-is-on-the-other-side-of-this, I'm listening in from West Virginia and while I get a good doompilling when I listen in about the wider world, I'm wondering if there's a focus on the periphery i.e. in the rural areas or the rust belt specifically especially regarding farming in any past or upcoming episode. Passing references have been made to a "rural strategy" that should be adopted by either a movement or current political entity so it isn't left to rot like it currently is. Anything in the works that shines a light on my little corner of the world?

Wheeling, West Virginia