Get access to The Backroom (80+ exclusive episodes) on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/OneDime

In this week's episode, I sit down with philosopher Isabel Millar, author of The Psychoanalysis of Artificial Intelligence, to analyze ChatGPT and large language models (LLMs) through the lens of Psychoanalytic theory (Lacan, Zizek, etc). As we will see, much of the AI/AGI hype regarding AI "thinking" and "becoming conscious" is a byproduct of a limited understanding of the human psyche itself, which psychoanalysis is key for unpacking.

In The Backroom on Patreon, Isabel and I talk about love in the age of Artificial Intelligence, AI girlfriends, sexbots, and how OnlyFans, online porn, and prostitution relate to the psychoanalytic understanding of sex. Why psychoanalysis treats sex less as “biology” and more as a knot of desire, lack, and fantasy.

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Sexbotification, AI Girlfriends, & more (The Backroom Preview)

00:03:55 The Importance of Psychoanalysis, Lacan & Freud

00:14:45 The Stupidity of Intelligence, The Unconscious, Drive vs Desire

00:20:43 Can AI "think"? Can AI "enjoy"? Desire, Lack & Enjoyment

00:45:43 Can AI become "Conscious" according to Psychoanalysis?  

00:54:56 Are ChatGPT and large language models becoming a 'Big Other' or an oracle of authority?

01:04:52 Can AI be creative or "original" in the psychoanalytic sense?

01:13:43 Love in The Age of Artificial Intelligence

GUEST:

Isabelle Millar, philosopher, author of The Psychoanalysis of Artificial Intelligence

• Website: https://www.isabelmillar.com/

FOLLOW 1Dime:

• Substack (Articles and Essays): https://substack.com/@tonyof1dime

• X/Twitter: https://x.com/1DimeOfficial

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonyof1dime

• Check out my main channel videos: https://www.youtube.com/@1Dimee

Outro Music by Karl Casey.

Leave a like, drop a comment, and give the show a 5-star rating on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you listen to this.

Get access to The Backroom (80+ exclusive episodes) on Patreon): https://www.patreon.com/OneDime

In this episode of the 1Dime Radio podcast, I interview Yves Engler, “Canada’s Noam Chomsky” - an activist, academic who ran for the leadership of the New Democratic Party of Canada (The NDP). We discuss the problems with the NDP today (and when it was under the leadership of Jagmeet, Layton, and Mulcair), and Yves’s vision of radical democratic socialism. 

In The Backroom, Yves and I  debate his controversial takes on NATO, the Russia–Ukraine war, and Canadian foreign policy. Become a Patron at Patreon.com/OneDime

Timestamps:

0:01   The Backroom Preview (debate on NATO/Ukraine/Russia)

5:15  Why Yves Engler is Running for the NDP

8:16  Jagmeet Singh/leadership discussion

12:22  Problems with the NDP and alternative proposals

32:58  Solution to Housing Crisis & Affordability

41:06  NDP–Liberal agreement

1:15:33  Healthcare, Pharmacare, Dental

1:44:14  NATO/Ukraine/Russia Debate (The Backroom)

GUEST:

Yves Engler — Canadian author & activist; critic of Canadian foreign policy; NDP leadership hopeful.  

• Website: https://yvesengler.com  

• X/Twitter: https://x.com/EnglerYves  

• NDP leadership: https://yvesforndpleader.ca  

FOLLOW 1Dime:

• Substack (Articles and Essays): https://substack.com/@tonyof1dime

• X/Twitter: https://x.com/1DimeOfficial

• Instagram: instagram.com/tonyof1dime

• Check out my main channel videos: https://www.youtube.com/@1Dimee

Outro Music by Karl Casey

Leave a like, drop a comment, and give the show a 5-star rating on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you listen to this.

Tags: #NDP #CanadaPolitics #DemocraticSocialism #YvesEngler #1DimeRadio #NATO #Ukraine #Housing #Pharmacare #Labour

Get access to The Backroom (80+ exclusive episodes) and support 1Dime Radio: https://www.patreon.com/OneDimeIn this episode of 1Dime Radio, I’m joined by Conrad Hamilton for a debate on the big questions: Is Marxism still relevant? Is Marxism-Leninism a failed ideology—or are critics misreading its history and aims? Most of all, we DEBATE the history of "actually existing socialism" (Marxist-Leninist governments like USSR, China, Cuba, and Vietnam), and wheather these paths communists took were "inevitable."

In The Backroom (on Patreon), Conrad and I continue the debate on the history of Marxism-Leninism where things get.. a bit heated (in a comradely way). Become a Patron at Patreon.com/OneDimeTimestamps:00:00 Actually Existing Socialism Debate01:50 Is Marxism Still Relevant? 15:56 China, Vietnam, vs the Eastern Bloc37:40 Leninism & Vanguardism47:22 The Family & Gender 48:24 Collectivization vs China's Development Model53:34 Markets Under Socialism?01:02:37 The Socialist Transition Debates01:13:59 The Role of Religion in Marxist Movements01:21:05 Identity Politics vs. Class-Based Organizing01:25:17 Social Democracy vs Marxism-Leninism vs Democratic Socialism01:36:40 Historical Lessons from Socialist Movements01:52:42 Reflections on Socialist Governance02:03:03 Conclusion & The Backroom TransitionGUEST:Conrad Hamilton — postdoctoral research fellow (East China Normal University); co-author of Myth & Mayhem: A Leftist Critique of Jordan Peterson; contributor to Flowers for Marx.• X/Twitter: https://x.com/bongardconrad • Flowers for Marx book (Revol Press): https://www.revolpress.com/flowers Revol PressFOLLOW 1Dime:• My Substack (Articles and Essays): https://substack.com/@tonyof1dime• X/Twitter: https://x.com/1DimeOfficial• Instagram: instagram.com/1dimeman• Check out my main channel videos: https://www.youtube.com/@1DimeeOutro Music by Karl CaseyLeave a like, drop a comment, and give the show a 5-star rating on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you listen to this.

Get access to The Backroom (75+ exclusive episodes of 1Dime Radio) on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/OneDime

In this episode of 1Dime Radio, I’m joined again by regular guest Benjamin Studebaker—we now have a monthly show together. We break down Trump’s Gaza plan: what it is, which countries are involved and what incentives they have (Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United States), and whether Israel will actually abide by it. We then weigh the pros and cons and tackle the long-term question re: What would be a better resolution to the Israel-Palestine Conflict—a two-state solution or a one-state solution? How would either work? Is it realistic over the long run, and what would it take to get there?

In The Backroom (on Patreon), Benjamin and I have a nuanced discussion on immigration—what the left gets wrong, and what leftists & liberals don't understand about the rise of the far-right in Europe.

Timestamps

00:00 The Backroom Sneak Peek

04:07 Trump’s Gaza Plan Breakdown

08:12 Tony Blair's Role, The New Plan Vs the Mara Gaza Proposal 

14:24 Hamas, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, & Saudi Arabia

20:48 The Role of Other States in the Region

27:22 Motives of European Union Countries and Refugee Management

36:24 The Future of Israel-Palestine: Two-State vs One-State Solution

55:15 Why Countries (Aside from the US) Still Support Israel 

01:29:27 Third Worldism and Global Capitalism

01:37:05  Conclusion & Backroom preview (immigration)

GUEST:

Benjamin Studebaker — political theorist, PHD at Cambridge University, author of Legitimacy in Liberal Democracies and The Chronic Crisis of Liberal Democracy.

• Website: https://benjaminstudebaker.com/about/

• Follow Benjamin Studebaker on X: https://x.com/BMStudebaker

FOLLOW 1Dime:

• Substack (Articles and Essays): https://substack.com/@tonyof1dime

• X/Twitter: https://x.com/1DimeOfficial

• Instagram: instagram.com/1dimeman

• Check out my main channel videos: https://www.youtube.com/@1Dimee

Outro Music by Karl Casey

Leave a like, drop a comment, and give the show a 5-star rating on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you listen to this

Get access to The Backroom (75+ exclusive episodes) and support 1Dime Radio: https://www.patreon.com/OneDime

Chris Cutrone— “the last Marxist”—returns to 1Dime Radio to discuss his “Campaign for a Socialist Party” and lays out, in plain terms, what it would actually take to build a socialist party today.    

In The Backroom on Patreon, Chris and I discuss the distinction between Socialism vs Communism and why we both have always rejected the “Communist” label. We also discuss how Chris’s views on Trump changed in the past year, Geopolitics and where modern “anti-imperialism” goes wrong.

Timestamps

00:00 The Backroom Preview

01:16  Democratic Socialism vs. Social Democracy

03:21  Campaign for a Socialist Party

12:24  The Bernie Sanders & Trump Phenomenon

19:58  Fascism and Capitalism

36:42  Politics Outside of the State

53:21  Debating Capitalism and Socialism

56:59  Contradictions of Capitalism & The Role of the Socialist Party

01:00:59  The Role of Intellectuals

01:25:14  Timeline and Structure of the Party

01:34:50  Base Building & Civil Social Organizing

01:38:02  Challenges and Realities of Organizing

01:41:34  Party Structure and Organizing Tactics  

01:48:01  Practical Steps for Building a Socialist Party

02:18:40  Call to Action & The Backroom Transition

GUEST

Chris Cutrone — founder of the Platypus Affiliated Society; Marxist theorist, teacher, & lecturer.  

• “Socialist unity!” (essay + the 11 Theses) — https://chriscutrone.platypus1917.org/?p=4269
• Campaign coverage hub (reports/interviews) — https://sublationthejournal.substack.com/s/campaign-for-a-socialist-party
• Video explainer — A Call for Socialist Unity — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kmvfUH24DE
• The Last Marxist (Cutrone’s site) — https://chriscutrone.platypus1917.org/

Get involved/contact The Campaign for a Socialist Party: 

Onboarding email: campaignforasocialistpartyusa@gmail.com

Platypus Affiliated Society (reading groups / chapters): platypus-inquiries@googlegroups.com
• Platypus Chapters page: https://platypus1917.org/chapters/
• Research/Reports (Sublation): reportsandresearch@sublationmedia.com

FOLLOW 1Dime:

• Substack (Articles and Essays): https://substack.com/@tonyof1dime

• X/Twitter: https://x.com/1DimeOfficial

• Instagram: instagram.com/1dimeman

• Check out my main channel videos: https://www.youtube.com/@1Dime

Outro Music by Karl Casey

If this episode made you think, drop a like, leave a comment, and give 1Dime Radio a 5-star rating on Spotify or Apple. 

Get access to The Backroom (75+ exclusive episodes) and support 1Dime Radio: https://www.patreon.com/OneDime

In this episode of 1Dime Radio, I am joined by Dr. Jane Hayward, a lecturer in Chinese Studies at the Lao China Institute at King's College. Dr. Hayward specializes in explaining China's political economy and misconceptions surrounding it.

We discuss the specifics of how China's political system works, its mix of meritocracy, democracy, technocracy, & dictatorship, and the very different systems of competing provinces, like Guangdong and Chongqing.

She also explains the inner workings of the Chinese Communist Party-state and its political economy. In The Backroom on Patreon, the Trump Tariffs, Jane's experience living in China, the prospects for China's future, and much more. Become a Patron at Patreon.com/OneDime if you haven’t already.

In The Backroom on Patreon, we discuss Trump’s new tariffs, Jane’s firsthand experience living in China, where the model is headed, and more.

Timestamps
00:00 The Backroom Preview
02:38 1Dime Radio Introduction
03:52 China’s Decentralized Political System
08:12 Local vs Provincial Governments
16:43 Democracy in China?
20:00 Party Membership, Hierarchy, and Controlled Opposition
34:20 Barriers to Entry and Party Membership
39:30 Technocracy and Meritocracy
49:44 Chongqing vs. Guangdong: Experiments in Socialist vs Capitalist Governance
01:06:39 The Labor Movement in China
01:17:34 The Gender Divide in China
01:30:15 Conclusion and The Backroom Transition

GUEST: Dr. Jane Hayward's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@janehaywardchina/videos

FOLLOW Me:

1Dime:• Substack (Articles and Essays): https://substack.com/@tonyof1dime•

X/Twitter: https://x.com/1DimeOfficial• Instagram: instagram.com/1dimeman•

Check out my main channel videos: https://www.youtube.com/@1Dimee.

Outro Music by Karl Casey

If you learned something, leave a like, comment, 5-Star Rating, and share it with a friend.

Get access to The Backroom (75+ exclusive episodes) and support 1Dime Radio: https://www.patreon.com/OneDime

In this episode of 1Dime Radio, I am joined by friend of the show C. Derick Varn to unpack the Charlie Kirk assassination (which happened in Utah, Varn's state) and MAGA’s reaction, Trump vs Jimmy Kimmel, implications for Free speech, the question of political violence, nihilism, and the reality of a Civil War Scenario in America. 

In The Backroom on Patreon, Varn and I discuss what “communism” means today, whether Varn still considers himself a Marxist, socialism vs communism, and the truth about “actually existing socialism”—especially China—plus updates on Tony’s upcoming video projects. Become a Patron at Patreon.com/OneDime if you haven't already

Timestamps:

00:00:00  Introduction: Is China Socialist? (The Backroom Preview)

00:06:04 Charlie Kirk, Jimmy Kimmel, & MAGA’s Reaction

00:15:28  The Shooter’s Background and Radicalization

00:38:13  Political Violence and Historical Context

00:45:39  Liberal Responses and Gun Control Debates

00:51:34  Shifts in Political Ideologies Among Young Men

01:08:09  The Prospect of Civil War

01:27:08  The US Military and Political Dynamics

01:32:57  The Danger of Nihilism

01:58:52  Nationalism as an Anti-Racist Force?

02:02:36  The Backroom Transition

GUEST:

C. Derick Varn — writer & host of Varn Vlog

• YouTube (Varn Vlog): https://www.youtube.com/@VarnVlog/videos

FOLLOW 1Dime:

• Substack (Articles and Essays): https://substack.com/@tonyof1dime

• X/Twitter: https://x.com/1DimeOfficial

• Instagram: instagram.com/1dimeman

• Check out my main channel videos: https://www.youtube.com/@1Dimee

Outro Music by Karl Casey

Leave a like, drop a comment, and share the episode if you found it helpful.

Get access to The Backroom (75+ exclusive episodes) on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/OneDime

In this episode, we ask a blunt question: Is it still worth joining a union? The answer is yes, but the reasons why most people don’t are valid, and rooted in material realities of the globalized economy, not just lack of “class consciousness.” We then pivot to political strategy: what counts as politics?  How can countries solve problems that are beyond the scope of the nation-state? What are some key issues that can be realistic organizing footholds (like healthcare and housing)? 

In The Backroom on Patreon, we discuss the viral assassination of Charlie Kirk, the state of political violence in America, the Trump administration’s response, and how panic often gets used to justify the centralization of state power & the curtailment of civil liberties.

Timestamps:

00:00 The Charlie Kirk Event (The Backroom Preview)

05:46 Guest Introduction: Benjamin Studebaker

07:41 Discussion on Labor Unions and Worker Organization

58:52 Politics as Intervention and the Role of Zeitgeist

01:01:39 The Nature of Political Decisions and Cooperation

01:04:53 Challenges in International Political Systems

01:13:37 The Role of Healthcare in Political Movements

01:17:26 Building Effective Coalitions for Change

01:31:56 Nationalism vs. Internationalism in Political Movements

01:50:49 What can be done now: (healthcare & Housing)

02:00:36 The Left's Power Block

02:04:29 Late Stage vs Middle Capitalism 

02:08:54 The Role of The Military

02:12:06  Anti-Civilizational Politics

02:32:15 Transition to The Backroom

GUEST:
Benjamin Studebaker — political theorist; author of Legitimacy in Liberal Democracies and The Chronic Crisis of Liberal Democracy.
• Website: https://benjaminstudebaker.com/about/
• Follow Benjamin Studebaker on X: https://x.com/BMStudebaker

FOLLOW 1Dime:
• Substack (Articles and Essays): https://substack.com/@tonyof1dime
• X/Twitter: https://x.com/1DimeOfficial
• Instagram: instagram.com/1dimeman
• Check out my main channel videos: https://www.youtube.com/@1Dimee.

Outro Music by Karl Casey

If this episode helped, please leave a like, comment, and 5-star rating, and share it with a friend.

Get access to The Backroom (70+ exclusive episodes) and support 1Dime Radio: https://www.patreon.com/OneDimeIn this episode of 1Dime Radio, I’m joined by Ben Tomas of  Sisyphus55  - a major philosophy YouTube channel that has been around for quite a long time. Ben and I discuss the online Left, audience capture, and creator burnout. We dive into how the platform economy shapes political discourse, why “LeftTube” often functions like a brand, and what it takes to create thoughtfully without becoming a hot-take machine. We explore burnout vs. purpose, streaming as pseudo-activity, theory vs. practice, and get a little bit into psychoanalysis & political philosophy. In The Backroom on Patreon, Ben and I discuss our political maturations, psychoanalysis as a toolkit for left politics, and how postmodern theory became an entry point for many while class analysis got sidelined. We also chat about the Canadian political landscape (Quebec and Alberta Separatism), on what a constructive, civic-minded nationalism could look like. Last but not least, we talk about the so-called “masculinity crisis.” Timestamps:00:00:00 The Backroom Preview: Fascist Phisyogamy00:02:32 Backroom teaser & what we dig into behind the paywall00:03:41 Who is Sisyphus 55?00:04:57 Content craft & workflow — scripts, editing, and avoiding the hot-take grind00:06:52 Grad school & clinical psych insights for creators00:10:52 Audience capture and algorithm pressure00:13:11 The online Left as “brand” — incentives, identity, and discourse00:18:22 Creator burnout on YouTube00:33:41 The Revolution Will Not Be Uploaded 00:40:23 Desire & repression 01:23:05 where to go from here & The Backroom transitionGUEST:Ben Tomas (Sisyphus 55) — philosophy/psychology YouTuber; clinical psychology PhD student; creator of The Revolution Won’t Be Livestreamed series• YouTube: @Sisyphus55• Patreon / socials: search “Sisyphus 55”• Recommended starting point: The Revolution Won’t Be Livestreamed (series)FOLLOW 1Dime:• X/Twitter: https://x.com/1DimeOfficial• Instagram: instagram.com/1dimeman• Main channel: https://www.youtube.com/@1Dimee• Substack: https://substack.com/@tonyof1dimeOutro Music by Karl CaseyGIve 1Dime a 5-Star Rating if you enjoy the show!

Get access to THE BACKROOM (70+ exclusive episodes) and support 1Dime Radio: https://www.patreon.com/OneDime

In this week’s episode of 1Dime Radio, I am joined by the one and only Yugopnik - Marxist YouTuber, Streamer, and co-host of The Deprogram Podcast  with JT Chapman from Second Thought and Hakim. In this episode we discuss the state of so-called “LeftTube” and “The Left YouTube Pipeline.”  We discuss Yugopniik’s funnel theory, whether he still believes in it, drama within The Online Left, Leftist infighting, and balancing theory with real-life organizing.

In the two-hour Backroom episode on Patreon, Yugopnik and I dive deep into the Contrapoints drama with regard to Israel-Palestine and the left. We discuss how progressives are not always necessarily socialists, and how, in many cases, progressivism can sometimes be a barrier to socialism.  We also discuss the technicalities of the socialist strategy and how the Separation of Powers and multi-party democracy could function under socialism in order to avoid the pitfalls of past Marxist-Leninist Regimes, and what MLs today in general miss. Oh, and we also dispel some dumb rumors circulating on Reddit with regard to me and the Deprogram boys.

Timestamps: 

00:00 Envisioning a Socialist Society

01:35 Division of Power in Socialism

06:37 Stereotypes, Incels, and Feminism Under Capitalism

21:51 The Left YouTube Pipeline

36:08 Fascism and the Military

37:33 Leftist “Radicalization” and Organizing

43:16 Ideology and Self-Criticism

51:04 Religion, Socialism, and Conservatism

01:01:24 The Contrapoints Israel Drama  (The Backroom Transition)

GUEST:

Yugopnik — YouTube creator, political commentator & co‑host of The Deprogram

• YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/@YUGOPNIK 

• The Deprogram Podcast — https://www.youtube.com/@thedeprogram9999 

• X/Twitter — @yugopnik 

FOLLOW 1Dime:

• X/Twitter: https://x.com/1DimeOfficial

• Instagram: instagram.com/1dimeman

• Main channel videos: https://www.youtube.com/@1Dimee

Outro music by Karl Casey.

Give 1Dime Radio a 5-star rating if you enjoy the show!

Get access to The Backroom (70+ exclusive episodes) on Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/OneDime

In this episode of 1Dime Radio, I’m joined by Chris Cutrone, a Marxist intellectual and founder of the Platypus Affiliated Society, to discuss his recent article making a case for “socialist unity”—not “left unity” but a socialist unity based on class unity, including working people with progressive and conservative views. 

In the Backroom, I get Chris Cutrone to elaborate on what he means by his claim that “the Left is dead—long live the Left” which begs the question:  When Did the Left Die?  

Timestamps:

00:00 The Backroom Preview

03:50 Chris Cutrone’s article on Socialist Unity

06:08 The Failure of The Millennial Left

08:11 The Role of Marxist and Socialist Unity

12:22 Challenges of Leftist Organizations

29:35 The Need for a Socialist Party

38:20 Class Unity vs. Ideological Unity

01:03:02The Working Class Vote

01:07:41 Electoral Politics and Movement Building

01:11:06 The Left's Identity Crisis

01:13:33 Fascism and Popular Frontism

01:19:47 Class Politics vs. Identity Politics

01:29:10 Progressive Capitalism and Its Contradictions

01:35:14 Rebuilding a Socialist Left

01:52:39 The Backroom Transition

FOLLOW 1Dime:

• X/Twitter: https://x.com/1DimeOfficial

• Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/1dimeman

• Check out my main channel videos: https://www.youtube.com/@1Dimee

Outro Music by Karl Casey

Give 1DIme Radio a 5-Star Rating if you enjoy the show!

Get access to The Backroom (70+ exclusive episodes) by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/OneDime

In this episode, I sit down with philosophy professor turned YouTube star Michael Burns (formerly part of the channel “Wisecrack," which recently was disbanded) to discuss the relationship between Christianity and Socialism and whether a Christian Socialism synthesis is possible in the modern day.

In The Backroom aftershow, Michael and I talk about the new Pope Leo XIV, Liberation Theology, and socialist strategy in America. Become a patron at Patreon.com/OneDime if you haven't already!

Timestamps:

00:00 The New Pope Leo XIV (The Backroom Preview)

03:43 Michael Burns of Wisecrack

04:56 How Christianity made Michael Socialist

07:45 New Atheism

09:20 Evangelicalism vs. Catholicism

12:37 Christianity on the left and right

20:00 Building a Socialist Coalition with Religious and Secular People

34:28 Christian Arguments for Socialism

44:40 Was Marx wrong about Religion?

49:50 Christian Atheism and Deism

59:47 Moral Relativism and Universal Truths

01:11:13  Faith and Anxiety

01:29:38 Transition to The Backroom

GUEST:Michael Burns – philosopher & creator, ex-Wisecrack host• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MichaelOBurns• Twitter/X: https://x.com/michaeloburns

FOLLOW 1Dime:

• X/Twitter: https://x.com/1DimeOfficial

• Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/1dimeman

• Check out my main channel videos: https://www.youtube.com/@1Dimee

Outro Music by Karl Casey

Leave a like, a comment, and a 5-star rating if you enjoyed the show! 

#Christianity #Socialism #MichaelBurns #1DimeRadio #liberationTheology

Get access to The Backroom (70+ exclusive episodes) on Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/OneDime

Is the Marxist conception of class outdated? In this episode of 1Dime Radio, I’m joined by Dave from Theory Underground to unpack the “Post-Class Fractured Mass” (PCFM): why the working class, the “proletariat”  no longer coheres the way Marxists imagined, how media + schooling carve us into niches and swarms, and what this means for organizing today. We talk about why the decline of working-class power is due to real material factors in the economy, and not just due to ideology and “class consciousness.”  This brings us to the pivotal question: in the age of the gig economy, is the working class obsolete as the agent of revolutionary change? If so, who is the revolutionary subject today? 

In the backroom, we discuss the issues with the term “Post-Left”, how people burn out from politics, and how bourgeois pseudoprogressive libertine attitudes bleed into leftist circles (like polyamory, non-monogamy, etc). Become a patron at Patreon.com/OneDime if you haven’t already!

Timestamps: 

00:00:00 The Backroom Preview

05:15  The Post-Class Fractured Mass (PCFM)  

07:08 Jobs, Careers, & Time-energy

10:33 “Progressive” schooling as sorting/gatekeeping  

25:54 From Class Power to Popular Front of "The Vulnerable"

30:14 Outsourcing, deindustrialization & Stratification  

36:35  The “Dictatorship of the Proletariat”  

42:27 Can the Democratic Party be “reformed”?  

50:10 The Gig Economy and The Breakdown of Solidarity 

01:02:08  Ideological Gerrymandering

01:21:45 AI & Transition to The Backroom 

GUEST:

Dave — Theory Underground

• Check out the Theory Underground YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@theory_underground

• Check out the Underground Theory Book (Im in it too!) : https://www.amazon.com/Underground-Theory-David-McKerracher/dp/B0CH2CXSGN

• Check out the Dave’s Timenergy Book: https://www.amazon.com/Timenergy-Why-Have-Time-Energy/dp/B0D285C1TV/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.uWMeog7v0Fzxa2o7vYK7_OuDzbW0mXjpYddGDa84LDHzaHN7WUeL3O_T1zrzPCEr4Tw75Pn1KD82Jmmdem3hjQKq0TW4WLFIA3DIhDNVaV4.mgTh5f1Lm2lcEPI24AzA_GwBr-Gs5nOCIyzU_5-BfEg&dib_tag=se&qid=1753806927&refinements=p_27%3ADavid+McKerracher&s=books&sr=1-1&text=David+McKerracher

FOLLOW 1Dime:

• X/Twitter: https://x.com/1DimeOfficial 

•  Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/1dimeman 

•Check out my main channel videos: https://www.youtube.com/@1Dimee 

Outro Music by Karl Casey

Give the Podcast a 5-star Rating if you enjoyed the show!

Get access to The Backroom Exclusive episodes on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/OneDime

In this episode of 1Dime Radio, I am joined by Professor Todd McGowan, philosopher and author of "Emancipation After Hegel" and "Capitalism and Desire," to debunk some misconceptions about Sigmund Freud: The Father of Psychoanalysis.

Todd breaks down major misconceptions about Freud's ideas, from the real meaning behind "penis envy" and hysteria to why the phallus represents fraudulent symbolic power rather than actual authority. We dive deep into the crucial distinction between drive and desire, how fantasy structures our reality (and why realizing our fantasies would be the worst thing that could happen), and why repression actually manifests on the surface rather than buried deep within. We also discuss how these insights help us understand everything from capitalism's engine of perpetual dissatisfaction to why shows like Mad Men and The Sopranos perfectly illustrate psychoanalytic concepts.

In The Backroom on Patreon, Todd and I discuss Hegel's most misunderstood yet popular concept—dialectics—and how it connects to psychoanalytic thinking. Become a Patron at Patreon.com/OneDime if you haven't already!

Timestamps:

00:00 The Backroom Preview: Materialism vs Idealism

02:48 Why Psychoanalysis? 

06:17 The Relevance of Freud Today

09:43 The Unconscious

32:41 Freud the Feminist?

46:50 Repression and Civilization

51:04 Penis Envy and the Phallus

54:55 Desire vs The Death Drive

01:13:28 Fantasy and Reality in Psychoanalysis

01:24:11 Capitalism, Socialism, & Communism

01:28:04 Embracing Alienation 

01:31:17 Mad Men and Taxi Driver

01:43:07 Freudian Dream Theory and Its Critics

01:50:43 Freud's Political Views

01:58:06 Transition to the Backroom

Check out Todd McGowan’s books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B001IU0F3I

Todd McGowan’s Why Theory Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6YAQf8Tg8Da7QRBx9vKWgs?si=863cdf40265b4620

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In this episode of 1Dime Radio, I am joined by political theorist Benjamin Studebaker, a PhD at Cambridge and author of the books "The Chronic Crisis of American Democracy" and "Legitimacy in Liberal Democracies," to break down the Iran-Israel conflict, Zohran Mamdani's surprising NYC mayoral primary victory, and the recent LA protests over immigration.

We also discuss the historic election of Zohran Mamdani—a socialist, Muslim, pro-Palestine candidate who beat AIPAC in the most Jewish city outside of Israel—and why local electoral wins may not translate to broader socialist strategy. The conversation takes a controversial turn as we examine the left's embrace of subsidized childcare, with Benjamin arguing that this merely accommodates capitalism's dissolution of the family.

Timestamps:00:00 Preview: Zohran Mamdani’s Victory03:08 War with Iran, NYC Election, & the LA Protests05:06 Iran-Israel War: What Most People Miss 10:12 The Role of Arab States and Turkey11:37 Why the US May Not Want Regime Change in Iran14:34 Challenges of Regime Change in Iran27:38 Egypt, Turkey, & The Gulf States54:34 Likelihood of Revolutions in the Middle East?01:09:55 Why Russia Dosent Hell Iran01:15:58 A New Era of American Hegemony?01:26:40 The Election of Zohran Mamdani01:31:24 Lessons for The Left01:50:49 Rent Control, Housing Market and the problem with Urban Growth02:09:52 The LA protests: Immigration and Public Perception02:18:34 Childcare and The Decline of The Family02:32:25 The Abundance Movement

In The Backroom segment on Patreon, Benjamin and I talk about Ezra Klein’s “abundance” movement. Become a Patron and get access to 65 exclusive podcast episodes at Patreon.com/OneDime if you haven’t already!

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Outro music by Karl Casey.

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Get access to The Backroom Exclusive podcast on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/OneDime.⁠In this week's episode of the 1Dime Radio podcast, friend of the show C. Derick Varn (@VarnVlog) returns to discuss whether America under Trump is heading towards fascism and, more importantly, what the differences are between Fascism, Caesarism, and Bonapartism.In The Backroom exclusive segment on Patreon, Varn and I talk about The Politics of Dating, sex dating apps, and what I call "Neoliberal Sexual Politics," Become a Patron at ⁠Patreon.com/OneDime⁠ if you haven’t already!Timestamps: 00:00 The Backroom Preview03:06 Is America becoming Fascist under Trump?06:15 Defining Fascism and Its Misconceptions 13:36 Fascism's Unique Characteristics25:03 Bonapartism and Caesarism47:12 Fascism's "Socialistic" Component53:02 Fascism as "Neither Left Nor Right"59:52 Conservatism vs Fascism divisions among the right'01:27:11 Conservative shifts in China01:34:03 Historical Comparisons and Critiques01:35:30 The USSR's Changing Position on Fascism01:37:55 Marxism-Leninism vs Fascism01:48:01 The Western Left02:02:45 The Sexual Politics of the Left02:04:11 Transition to The BackroomC. Derick Varn is a theorist, writer, and leftist podcast veteran who runs the show Varn Vlog on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VarnVlogFollow me on X: https://x.com/1DimeOfficial: Follow me on Instagram: ⁠instagram.com/1dimeman⁠Check out my main channel videos: https://www.youtube.com/@1DimeeOutro Music by Karl CaseyLeave a like and a comment if you enjoy the show!

Get access to The Backroom Exclusive podcast on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/OneDime.⁠

In this week’s episode, I am joined by Isaac Zale of the rising socialist YouTube channel “Overzealots” who has most recently gained traction for his videos critiquing “commentary” YouTubers like Ethan Klein and Streamers like Destiny, who are currently “at war” with pro-Palestine leftist figures like Hasan Piker (Hasanabi). 

In this episode, I ask Issac about his journey from a conscious rapper to “LeftTuber”, how he was “radicalized” and how being loudly critical of Israel made him isolated in the music industry. Most importantly, we discuss the ongoing genocide in Gaza, the untold history of Israel, why America really supports Israel, and the myths of “liberal zionism.” 

In The Backroom on Patreon, Issac and I talk about The Global Gender Political Divide, in which I pitch my theory of what is causing it, what most leftists miss, and how this contributes to Men moving to the right.  Become a Patron at ⁠Patreon.com/OneDime⁠ if you haven’t already!

Timestamps: 

00:00 Liberal Imperialism and “Progressivism” (The Backroom Preview)

03:36 Meet Overzealots

05:32 Journey from Music to YouTube

15:37 Radicalization moment 

31:13 The Left’s Relationship with Zionism  

47:14 The Untold History of Israel

01:04:11 Right-Wing Infighting 

01:10:54 The Downfall of Bernie Sanders 

01:23:07 Why America Supports Israel (They Didn’t Always!)

01:56:20 Why Men Are Turning Right-Wing. 

02:07:34  Transition to The Backroom (on The Gender Divide)

Check out overzealots on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@unlearningeconomics9021/featured

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Outro Music by Karl Casey

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In this week’s episode, I am joined by Dr. Cahal Moran, the man behind the YouTube channel “Unlearning Economics,” and author of the recent book  “Why We're Getting Poorer: A Realist’s Guide to the Economy and How We Can Fix It.” 

In this podcast, I ask Cahal how he went from being an economist to debunking “Basic Economics” on YouTube. We also talk about modern China, the future of capitalism, what the left and right get wrong when it comes to Economics,   “Marxism without the rubbish bits,” and possible solutions to our chronic crisis. 

In The Backroom exclusive podcast on Patreon, Cahal and I discuss Modern Monetary Theory (MMT), UBI vs the Job Guarantee, the prospects of Economic Planning, Worker-Co-ops, and the question of “socialist” alternatives to capitalism. Become a Patron at ⁠Patreon.com/OneDime⁠ if you haven’t already!

Timestamps: 

00:00 Why Succession is Anti-Capitalist (The Backroom Preview)

03:15 Cahal Moran: The Mind Behind Unlearning Economics

05:35 Breaking from Mainstream Economics

08:20 What “LeftTube” Lacks 

12:43 The Myths of “Basic Economics”

17:22 The Impact of YouTube on Economic Discourse

25:34 Has Capitalism Made Us Richer or Poorer? 

33:40 China's Economic Model and Global Comparisons

44:40 Germany's Economic Model vs the UK: Challenges

47:36 The EU and Brexit

52:17  Modern Monetary Theory (MMT)

01:03:27 Land Value Tax: A Viable Policy 

01:20:20 Addressing Inflation

01:27:49 How Does Cahal Identify Politically? 

01:39:08 Transition to The Backroom

Check Out Cahl’s Book:  https://www.amazon.com/Why-Were-Getting-Poorer-bestelling-ebook/dp/B0DD26S8VR

Check out Unlearning Economics on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@unlearningeconomics9021/featured

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Outro Music by Karl Casey

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Get access to The Backroom Exclusive episodes on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/OneDime.⁠

In this week’s episode, I am joined by Adam Turl, author of the book “Gothic Capitalism,” Published by Revol Press (where I am also going to be publishing my book): https://www.revolpress.com/gothic-capitalism

Adam and I debate the hot topic of AI Art, what counts as art, the democratization of art, and how capitalism fundamentally limits the potential of art & human creativity. 

In The Backroom on Patreon, Adam and I discuss some tough questions with regard to how Art should be treated in a socialist society, where the Soviet Union went wrong, human nature, Machiavell, and a bunch of other stuff! Become a Patron at ⁠Patreon.com/OneDime⁠ if you haven’t already!

Timestamps: 

00:00 The Backroom Preview: Art Under Socialism 

03:24 “Gothic Capitalism” 

07:46 Defining Art: What Counts as Art? 

28:06 AI Art Debate

42:15 AI & The Democratization of Artistic Labor

59:46 Avant-Garde Art and Modernism

01:11:42 What is “Gothic Capitalism”?

01:19:11 Art Under Socialism 

Check Out Adam Turl’s Book: https://a.co/d/bo5a50w

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Outro Music by Karl Casey

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Get access to The Backroom Exclusive episodes on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/OneDime.⁠

In this episode of 1Dime Radio, I am joined by Professor L. Randal Wray, a heterodox economist and a Pioneer of Modern Monetary Theory. In this episode, we demystify the history of money, what money is, and how modern money works in the economy today (how it is created and how the mechanics of government spending work, and the REAL function of Taxes. Most importantly, we discuss why MMT economists tend to prefer the "L. Randall Wray" over a Universal Basic Income (UBI). 

In The Backroom, Randy and I discuss tariffs, degrowth, reindustrialization, and get into the "tough questions" when it comes to the transition to a socialist society.  Become a Patron at ⁠Patreon.com/OneDime⁠ if you haven’t already!

Timestamps: 

00:00 Trump Tariffs (The Backroom Preview)

02:47 Discovering Modern Monetary Theory (MMT)

07:14 The Basics of MMT Explained

14:26 Central vs Private Banks

17:44 Historical Context of Money and Banking

30:03 The Evolution of Money and Markets

44:49 Gold, Cryptocurrency vs Fiat Money

01:01:17 The History of Central Banking

01:14:22 Inflation, the 1970s Stagflation, and the rise of Neoliberalism

01:39:33 The Job Guarantee vs. Universal Basic Income

02:01:55 Transition to The Backroom segment

Check out L.Randal Wray's "MMT for beginners" book: https://www.amazon.ca/Money-Beginners-Illustrated-Randall-Wray-ebook/dp/B0BXQS7SS6?ref_=ast_author_mpb

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Check out my main channel videos on MMT: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyytc2-LIrN7kIRyPXghWjeb4MV_DDqBK&si=JyWw9QWw5TK_3LVO

Outro Music by Karl Casey

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