Workers' Lit

We are joined once again by Rae of the phenomenal ProlesPod, this time to discuss a deeply influential work of philosophy: Mao Zedong's 1937 essay, "On Practice." Perhaps one day we'll do our big Mao deep dive episode. This isn't that. Instead, this is a close look at a particular aspect of practical theory for changing the world...and regardless of your take on what came aft...

Let's get into some THEORY (don't worry, we make it fun)! Lenore, Jacob, and Jen are discussing the revolutionary Vladimir Lenin's famous 1916 text, "Imperialism, The Highest Stage of Capitalism." Despite being more than 100 years old, this book feels deeply relevant in 2026...terrifyingly so. We talk about the life of Lenin, leader of the Bolsheviks, before going through the...

Hey Lit Ladies and Lads (but especially ladies for this one!) Today's episode is episode three of a new show featuring both Jen Big Nasty and Lenore. Episodes of Half The Sky won't typically go up on the Workers' Lit feed, but we figured, why not give you a sample? Half the Sky is an attempt to provide a perspective often lacking from the podcast space: that of women (and women-adjacen...

We've had queer joy, it's time for some queer suffering. Jacob and Lenore dive into the life of one of the greatest to ever do it, the legendary James Baldwin. A pioneer, artist, and leader for Black liberation and Gay liberation alike, Baldwin is among the finest of all American writers and public intellectuals. First, we cover his life story, and incredible legacy. Then, we discuss his s...

It's an important podcast announcement! Folks, the numbers don't lie. While we appreciate all the good feedback and interest we've received for our political/news episodes, Workers' Lit is very much a podcast about literature, first, foremost, and entirely. As such, we've elected to change what our release schedule looks like. We will be ending our Thursday news/politics episod...

A lesbian bottom is on a time traveling adventure in ancient China. We know y’all love this stuff. It’s the most recent book we’ve ever covered: Cecilia Tan’s 2026 novella, “The Mystery of the Bitten Peach.” Follow a young woman with the power to travel through time navigate her feelings of disconnect with her culture, identity, and sexuality. It’s good. And it’s published by our friends at Neon H...

Today we’re joined by Greg Stoker, anti-imperialist activist, journalist, host of the Colonial Outcasts podcast, and independent candidate for U.S. House Texas District 31. Greg talks to us about a range of topics such as his campaign, the role of veterans in liberation movements, Graham Platner’s whole deal, and the (possible?) end of the Iran War. Support Greg’s Campaign and check out his podcas...

We put out the call to Patreon, and Patreon answered! Patreon decided on today’s topic: Suzanne Collins’ 2003 middle grade fantasy novel, “Gregor the Overlander.” This is Suzanne’s first novel, and she gets into themes about poverty, futurelessness, family, war, and changing diapers. It’s cute! It’s good! You’ll like this one. To help choose future episode topics go check out our Patreon! Www.patr...

The American left has a LOT of work to do. We’re joined in this episode by Black Red Guard, an organizer with the DSA, YouTuber, and that guy who made the excellent “cracker control” tweet you’ve probably seen. BRG joins us for a vital conversation about the work ahead of any liberatory movement in the United States, how to build principled left unity, the American labor movement, the Iran war, an...

We’re talking about THE evangelical author once again. The man known as Jacksie, the drunken Inkling terror, the OG Christian furry, the most miserable convert in all of England. It’s C.S. Lewis!! In this episode we learn how all adventures in Narnia began as we cover the 1955 prequel, “The Magician’s Nephew.” Lewis will answer questions you never asked such as: where did the lamp post and wardrob...

Nothing says “declining empire” like an all-out show of ruling class decadence! In this episode Jen, Lenore, and Jacob discuss Trump’s increasingly wild vanity projects, Republican (and one very big and very dumb Democrat) attempts to defend them, and what it means to live in a country that couldn’t care less about its 250th birthday. Go support us on Patreon! Also, shout out to RXKNephew for his...

Y’all loved the Neon Hemlock episode, so here’s yet another episode where we sit down with someone in weird, queer, independent publishing! Eric Raglin of Cursed Morsels press talks to us about why us queers love horror, the definition of antifascist art (and how it differs from/intersects with action), and the ongoing battle of writing versus slop. Go support Cursed Morsels’ incredible work below...

What do you do when the video game comedy website you write for is bought out and you stop getting paid and everything gets a lot worse? You start your own worker-run, people-first, video game comedy website that rules, that's what! We are joined by the founders of the GG Tribune to discuss the horrific behavior of the new owner of Hard Drive Magazine, their break from it, and the work they&#3...

Yes, THAT Wallace Shawn wrote a play about reckoning with capitalism’s horrors as a privileged person in the imperial core. Written in 1990, it hits like a dozen punches to the gut. Ethan of People’s New Republic and The Sandcastle Business joins us to discuss his own staging of this show, the impacts it’s had on him, and the brutality of the challenge it poses. Listen to Ethan read the entirety o...

Buy the book you goofballs you know you want to. Buy Adam Johnson's "How to Sell a Genocide: The Media's Complicity in the Destruction of Gaza" today! Brilliant media analyst and host of the "Citations Needed" podcast Adam Johnson joins the pod to discuss his book about the media's truly criminal coverage of Israel and Palestine, as well as the U.S. (and its proxies...

How do you feel about gay trauma? How about getting disabled because of your annoying twink brother? How about some mild, one-sided incest? How about two of the best ladies in podcasting on their absolute A-game? If you answered yes to any of these questions, listen to our episode on Sarah Monette's 2006 fantasy novel, "The Virtu." If you want the backstory before you proceed, we did...

The White House has rolled out a new counter-terrorism strategy. It’s nuts. Are you Muslim? How about trans? Are you an immigrant, or related to one? How about on the left in any way? How about opposed to fascism? If you answered yes to any of these questions, I’ve got bad news: you’re on the list. We get into Trump’s bizarre counter-terrorism czar, Sebastian Gorka, the narratives involved in just...

It’s our first Patron chosen episode! Shout out to all who submitted and voted, especially Dark Jackal who submitted Ursula K. Le Guin’s 1974 work of political sci-fi, “The Dispossessed.” Want to suggest and vote on an episode for next month? Become a Patron and support our work! Imagine an imperfect but noble anarchist utopia in space, now imagine it’s orbiting a capitalist world. Can you imagine...

We’re gonna shoot straight: we had a guest drop out a few hours before we recorded. So we made the best of it, turned on our webcams, and talked about…everything. The MET Gala, Cuba, King of the Hill, Final Fantasy, the Supreme Court, Iran, Being Gay. All of it. We decided to make a video episode out of this, which you can watch on our Youtube. If you want more video episodes of us chatting (and a...

What if you were a giant mosquito in a climate hell future, and the mosquito was trans, and the trans mosquito destroyed the stock market and also a school bully, and the school bully possessed a VR headset that allowed him to be the guy that runs the stock market, and the guy that runs the stock market is responsible for your mosquito-fication, so you have to confront him as you bring about a new...

It’s time for more BONUS CONTENT! We are joined by host of the “Lions Led By Donkeys” podcast, Joe Kassabian, to discuss his upcoming gunpowder fantasy novel, “The Highlands Burn.” What is gunpowder fantasy? Where are all the Armenians in sword and sorcery? How do you build an interesting magic system? All this and more in this fantastic interview! Pre-order “The Highlands Burn” Listen to Lions Le...

Sure, we have our beefs with the internet, but did you know a lot of powerful people are working extremely hard to make the internet even worse? On today’s episode Cameron, aka Much Like Your Posting joins us to discuss efforts to repeal internet protection law Section 230 and other attempts at online censorship. It’s a tricky issue, but that’s never stopped us from yapping before! Check out MLYP’...

We’re back to talk about EVEN MORE QUEER HORROR. We are joined by brilliant author and returning guest Lee Mandelo to discuss Dolki Min’s 2023 novel, “Walking Practice.” If you’re queer, this book will be highly relatable to you. If you’re a shapeshifting monster from space who eats humans it will also seem familiar. All others will have to imagine. We discuss the challenges and beauty of translat...

After a brief check-in at the top with Tehran Taylor, Jen and Jacob launch into Palantir CEO Alexander Karp's Manifesto, "The Technological Republic: Hard Power, Soft Belief, and the Future of the West." More specifically, we look at Palantir's 22 point summary of the text it put out, to a concerning amount of praise from the liberal and conservative establishment alike.

Do you want it? If by “it” you mean Gretchen Felker-Martin’s 2025 queer horror novel, “Black Flame,” the answer is 100% yes! We are joined by Jon Greenaway, writer, co-host of the “Horror Vanguard” podcast, and certified gothic literature understander. Together we enter this story about being so horny it warps reality, trauma-haunted art, supernatural resistance against patriarchal violence, and R...