Critical Babe Theory

Former pro wrestler and natural bodybuilder Max Barsky comes on the show to talk about wrestling, labor organizing, and patriotism. Plus we have an honest conversation about getting cancelled—and how it doesn’t have to make you swing to the right. Also discussed: bodybuilding categories, “cancellation doesn’t exist,” the moral obligation to run for office, the #speakingout movement, labor organizi...

The first half of my conversation with writer and organizer Caroline Debnam about the recent hit pieces on Graham Platner in the NY Times —their questionable sources, AIPAC-awarded journalists, and the real issue: legacy media is terrified of a viable populist candidate. Also discussed: the liberal discourse on the insurgent left, standing for the real America, letting go of “believe women,” DC te...

The first half of my conversation with Rev. Dr. Andrew Blume—the rector of Saint Ignatius of Antioch in New York City—about what it’s like to be part of a church community grounded in traditional worship while also having an inclusive, open-door policy—and how angry that makes the tradcath trolls online. Also discussed: Francesca forsakes frivolity for more serious concerns, defining Anglo-Catholi...

The first half of my conversation with guest Zoe Dubno—author of the novel  Happiness & Love —on her recent article for  NY Mag  about whether we’ve gone too far in celebrating plastic surgery & extreme beauty routines. Also discussed: there's nothing new under the sun, corporate slop gyms, parents who force their ED on their kids, being allergic to cheap things vs being a snob, the obviou...

My conversation with porn historian Noelle Perdue on the censorious attempt to regulate pornography today—and our heated debate about what a moral society owes its citizens. Also discussed: “pornography is neutral but our sexual culture is not,” box dye heritage, wanting to see things you can never unsee, “The Entertainment” in Infinite Jest , choking in porn is now illegal in the UK (!), vibes-ba...

A wide-ranging conversation with writer and filmmaker Sean Wilsey about literature, the left, and his film IXXI that’s premiering at Tribeca this week. We discuss how hard it is to hold on to your values, orthodoxy as a means to protect yourself, and how radicals have lost the ability to cooperate. Also discussed: translations that are funnier than the original, “it’s really easy to throw people u...

The first half of my conversation with health and wellness journalist Leigh Weingus about GLP-1’s—and what it means for Americans to empty themselves of desire in pursuit of a fix-all miracle drug. Also discussed: optimization culture, Francesca’s time as a fat girl, how our food system is set up to be addictive, drug use in the UC system, thriving in moderation (Leigh is the human GLP-1), a hard...

Native New Yorker Alex Brook Lynn comes on the show to talk about the city in the 90’s—and what’s lost when only the rich can afford to live and work in NYC. We discuss the demise of rent controlled apartments, marking art when the stakes aren’t high, and how close to life Larry Clark’s Kids was (pretty close). Also discussed: middle class drug dealers, how the out-of-towners are the city’s own mi...

My very fun and very discursive talk with Sam Adler-Bell, journalist and host of leftist podcast “Know Your Enemy.” We discuss his recent viral article “The Women Leaving the New Right” in New York Mag , liberalism’s lack of meaning, the (more) vile aspects of the New Right—and how the left drove women into their arms in the first place. Also discussed: “It’s China over here,” nebbish-maxxing, inf...

A surrealist interview with sign-based comedian and beloved internet denizen Alan Wagner (@truewagner) about the critically reviled Ari Aster film Eddington —and how it exposes the berserk heart of America.  Also discussed: the (unofficial) Eddington Preservation Society, a direct plea to Donald J Trump, basketweaving, Eddington as lighthearted romp, unwitting consumption of art, the final word: a...

In commemoration of Earth Day, climate activist Matthew Menzies comes on the show to discuss his nonviolent protest and civil disobedience with the climate group Extinction Rebellion—and how we can avert climate crisis, build community, and envision a better life. Also discussed: how climate change is not your fault, whether podcasts steal your soul, permaculture, how oil=corn=flesh, chimpanzee ci...

***This is our 50th episode*** The utterly delightful Monique Gabriel comes on the show to discuss the power of the bitch—which becomes a conversation about spiritual living and integrates into the timeless question: how can I be a spiritual bitch? Also discussed: adult tantrums, competitive crafting, alphas who like to be alphaed, girls school aura, “a friend to all is a friend to no one,” animus...

Novelist Andrew Ridker comes on the show to discuss the paradox of privilege and persecution at the heart of the Jewish-American experience (and literary canon)—and how it’s time to shift the plot. Also discussed: Birthright sex romps, the cure for ambiguity, how the medium is the message in social media comment fights, the intellectual inconsistencies of Holocaust denialism, Portlandia passover s...

Political consultant and strategist Charlie Goldensohn—aka @chez.chuck—comes on the show to discuss the Democratic Party and all its stumbling blocks. Also discussed: innate SF degeneracy, dip preferences, Gavin Newsom (again), the gender wars, how we all become our parents, American gerontocracy, “the people who are winning are populists,” the DL on Biden’s White House mental state, who’s really...

Léonie Weerakoon—human ecologist and founder of Kinetik Ventures, a bioeconomy investment firm—comes on the show to discuss her work, sustainability, and how nature is the highest form of intelligence. Also discussed: what it’s like to work for F1, living the globalist dream, extreme sports of sustainability, a hard pitch on moving to Luxembourg, nature as a peer, Francesca’s new conspiracy theory...

Johnny Gaffney—founder of Senior Centertainment ( https://seniorcentertainment.org ) — comes on the show to talk about his work with seniors and how we all can be good neighbors — and finally do away with the modern illusion of self-sufficiency.  Also discussed: always hailing yellow, the value of scrumming around, growing our capacity for non-romantic intimacy, VHI Behind the Music as spiritually...

Author and journalist EJ Dickson comes on the show to discuss her new book One Bad Mother and the impossible trap American mothers are put in—be they hot moms, influencer moms, MAHA moms or really any mom at all. Also discussed: ER vacations, how the kids-on-airplanes discourse points to the erosion of Judeo-Christian values, therapy as emotional prostitution, what we owe each other as a communal...

Simon van Zuylen-Wood—journalist and features writer at New York Magazine —comes on the show to talk about the battle for the soul of American conservatism and the battleground of elite inboxes (ie the prodigious emailing of Jeffrey Epstein). Nota bene: first half of the episode we discuss Charlie Kirk and Nick Fuentes, Epstein in the second half. Candace floats throughout, as is her wont. Also di...

Writer Nicole Treska comes on the show to talk about growing up in blue collar Boston under the aegis of the Winter Hill Gang—and how the left (maybe, if they stop being corporate sell outs) can win back the white working class. Also discussed: boomer greed, the authoritarian personality, ancestral goat programming, how when people say they want to be rich what they mean is they want to be middle...

Cult comic and beloved online denizen Lauren Servideo comes on the show to discuss her favorite characters (hint: it’s like choosing your favorite child), old-hat internet, and what we talk about when we talk about influencers. Also discussed: eldest daughter discourse, Billy Crystal and the female fear of death, crust punks with a TikTok presence, how men don’t like to be propositioned to be a mu...

The first half of every episode of CBT is free wherever you get your podcasts. If you'd like to become a subscriber and hear the second half, please go to www.patreon.com/criticalbabetheory. Thank you for your support xo Brian Wood, founder of Panodime, comes on the show to discuss what the AI overlords really want (hint: it’s not to make your workflow more efficient) and what we need to do to...

Nota bene: starting today, the first half of every episode of CBT will be free wherever you get your podcasts. If you'd like to become a subscriber and hear the second half, please go to www.patreon.com/criticalbabetheory. Thank you for your support xo I talk with Reuben Barsky—raconteur & denizen of the diamond district—about the myth of the urban American male and pursuit of the good life. A...

Actress and impresario Ruby McCollister and I discuss Camille Paglia’s Sexual Personae —the resurrection of the work post-Trump, Paglia’s thrilling/exhausting prose styling, the fundamental immorality and amorality of art, and the inherent tackiness of sexuality. Also discussed: Ruby’s theory on how JFK started the culture war (with his hotness), safe spaces at Vogue, being an emotional slut, the...

Activist and comic Davidson Boswell returns and we discuss Venezuela, ICE and the murder of Renee Good. We debate material conditions vs the flawed nature of man, what follows post-white supremacy and the eschatological possibility of saving ICE agent’s souls. Also discussed: Almond moms, socialist footwear, how Trump accidentally made Maduro look cool, Jonathan E Ross as the new Franz Ferdinand,...

Comic and activist Davidson Boswell comes on the show to talk about his radicalization post October 7th and the mass marketing of revolution. We discuss the sins of moderate liberals and Davidson's disruptions with Climate Defiance, including their interruption of the opening night of Carmen at the Met. Also discussed: how to get a pervert to put their dick away on the subway, the ego-wound of...