Best Living In Bizarro World Podcasts (2024)

1
Coleman Hughes, “colourblindness”, and the contentious politics of race 53:24

14h ago53:24

53:24

In democracies with a history of racial injustice, are “colourblindness” and recognition of a “common humanity” — which were at the heart of the moral philosophy of Martin Luther King, Jr. — desirable as expressions of our commitment to justice as equality?By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

1
Harris v. Trump. Progressives in the Wind. 1:10:02

3h ago1:10:02

1:10:02

UNFTR is back in the swing of things with a snapshot of where the election stands just 80 days from decision time. We look at trends in each of the swing states, how Congressional races are stacking up and which presidential candidate has the advantage in the swing states and on key issues. Max also tackles the media’s breathless pursuit to portray…

1
“We live in a society!”: Seinfeld’s “Bizarro” comedy of morals 53:48

13h ago53:48

53:48

When the first episode of Seinfeld went to air in 1989, it faced stiff competition from a packed field of American sitcoms. By its finale in 1998, the “show about nothing” had redefined the sitcom genre and conquered comedy. Critical to its success was the unlikely alchemy of the four central characters — their navigation of the interpersonal confl…

1
“I don’t want to join any club that would have me as a member”: How funny is irony meant to be? 53:21

6d ago53:21

53:21

Humour can often be a response to the sense of being ill-at-home in society — perhaps even ill-at-home in the world. But whether it takes the form of fatalism or self-deprecation, all such forms of ironic self-distancing have a sting in the tail.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

1
Unf*cking Flashback: What’s the deal with Peter Thiel? Sociopathic billionaire man-child wants to eat the world. 47:21

18d ago47:21

47:21

In October of 2022, we released this episode on Peter Thiel. The last line of the story is that he’s a monster. At the time, we were focused on his personal selections and funding of Congressional candidates, one of whom was none other than JD Vance. Far from his purported hillbilly roots, the country quickly came to know that JD is little more tha…

1
“Time now for just a bit of fun”: Shaun Micallef on the importance of being silly 54:01

24d ago54:01

54:01

In one form or another, comedy often proceeds from a certain exaggeration of life — exaggerated bodily movements, or facial expressions, or scenarios, or reactions. These exaggerations have an unreality to them, but still maintain an uncanny relationship to more “normal” life. Put another way: sometimes comedy is just plain silly, the art of relish…

1751
Phone A Friend: Shane Burley and Ben Lorber, authors of Safety through Solidarity: A Radical Guide to Fighting Antisemitism. 1:00:21

27d ago1:00:21

1:00:21

This week, Max welcomes Ben Lorber and Shane Burley to the program, co-authors of Safety Through Solidarity: A Radical Guide to Fighting Antisemitism. Resources Melville House: Safety through SolidarityA Radical Guide to Fighting Antisemitism Bookshop: Safety Through Solidarity: A Radical Guide to Fighting Antisemitism Ben Lorber on Twitter Ben Lor…

1
A Progressive Take on the Harris Coronation. 14:30

20d ago14:30

14:30

The Democratic Party finally took the all important step of convincing Joe Biden to drop his bid for re-election. In a matter of hours, the party elites, donors, elected officials and DNC members coalesced around Kamala Harris, and according to The New York Times, she has already secured the delegates required to run the table at the convention. De…

1
“And now for something completely different”: Why do surprises provoke laughter? 53:34

22d ago53:34

53:34

Immanuel Kant called laughter a form of the disappointment of the understanding — which is to say, surprise — for which the body then compensates: “Whatever is to arouse lively, convulsive laughter must contain something absurd … Laughter is an affect that arises if a tense expectation is transformed into a nothing.” But surprises, it turns out, co…

1
Phone A Friend: Lee Camp. Comedian, author, commentator and activist. 1:10:46

24d ago1:10:46

1:10:46

This week I spoke with an old friend and inspiration—comedian, author, commentator and activist Lee Camp. We’re all over the place in a cathartic conversation about independent media, censorship, Supreme Court antics, Julian Assange, the presidential election and more. Resources Lee Camp Online Lee Camp on Twitter Lee Camp on Instagram Lee Camp on …

1
Political violence — why is it so corrosive to democratic life? 53:49

1M ago53:49

53:49

The attempted assassination of former US President Donald Trump, while undeniably shocking, was not altogether surprising. It was just the latest blow in a steady drumbeat of political violence that has only grown louder over the last decade. This reflects the fact that political violence is “in the air”, and is increasingly being regarded by many …

1
A Contested Convention: Building the Progressive Bench (Project 500). 43:06

1M ago43:06

43:06

Despite his assurances to the contrary, Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee is far from a lock. What happens if the DNC winds up hosting a contested convention? In this episode we delve into a brief history of contested conventions and draw upon prior examples to demonstrate how progressives can use a contested convention to their advantage and get…

1
“There’s a crack in everything”: Richard Fidler on the art of absurdity 53:21

1M ago53:21

53:21

Comedy happens when something occurs that makes visible just how futile are our most earnest efforts, and how superficial are our solemnities, our moments of greatest seriousness and decorum — hence the deep connection between comedy, absurdity and tragedy.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

1
DNR The DNC: Propping up the Cadaver-in-Chief. 21:08

1M ago21:08

21:08

After Joe Biden’s historically bad debate performance, many Americans were left wondering how the Democratic Party could allow him to remain in the race. The answer is a corrupt and wholly inept corporation called the DNC Services Corporation—Democratic National Committee or DNC for short. This episode looks at the DNC’s failures over time and how …

1
Show Notes [The United States Postal Service + Europe Slides to the Right + Pharmacy Benefit Managers.] 1:02:32

1M ago1:02:32

1:02:32

In this week's Show Notes Max and 99 catch up from a few episodes past, and dive into some news items. They also hatch a plan to celebrate 99's birthday month. Enjoy! Chapters Intro: 00:20:00 Emails: 00:23:39 Memberships: 00:58:29 Reviews: 00:59:17 Outro: 01:00:53 -- If you like the pod version of #UNFTR, make sure to check out the video version on…

1
In a bespoke and individualistic age, are we losing a sense of “the common”? 53:35

2M ago53:35

53:35

Because our lives are increasingly tailor-made, we are constantly seeking ways of distinguishing ourselves from others. What is being lost through is our sense of a humanity whose inherent vulnerability to misfortune, malfeasance and violence makes us dependent on one another.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

1
Phone A Friend: Yanis Varoufakis. 1:00:44

2M ago1:00:44

1:00:44

In this UNFTR Phone A Friend we speak with economist, political leader and bestselling author Yanis Varoufakis about his latest book Technofeudalism: What Killed Capitalism. Max and Yanis cover a wide array of topics from the release of Julian Assange, the thesis behind Technofeudalism, the future of labor and the post-capitalism reality we already…

1
Beatlemania at 60: Why was the band so popular before they were even great? 54:01

2M ago54:01

54:01

The Beatles composed their best music in the years after 1965 — so what could account for the ecstatic response the band received in the United States and Australia in 1964? Why were they “big” before they were “good”?By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

1
The United States Postal Service: How it can truly deliver. 35:27

2M ago35:27

35:27

The United States Postal Service is one of the most derided institutions in the country. Also, it’s one of the most highly regarded according to every poll conducted on government agencies. This episode digs into our complicated relationship with the Postal Service and examines the historical challenges facing this institution. We cover the controv…

1
Right verdict, wrong case? The political dangers of Trump’s felony conviction 53:59

2M ago53:59

53:59

On 30 May 2024, after two days of deliberation following a five-week trial and hearing the testimony of 22 witnesses, a jury of 12 New Yorkers found former President Donald Trump guilty of 34 felony charges. But do the facts of the case brought against him, and the overriding fact it was brought in an election year, present insurmountable political…

1
Europe Slides to the Right: Unpacking the EU Parliamentary elections. 44:28

2M ago44:28

44:28

Parliamentary elections were held in the European Union last week. It did not go well. Check that. It went very well for the right-wing movement in Europe. Most Americans caught wind of some kind of election in the EU but it’s fair to say that few really understand what it was all about. And with good reason. This stuff is really confusing. Scores …

1
Is the rise of the far right in Europe inevitable? It’s complicated 54:30

2M ago54:30

54:30

The results of the recent European Parliament elections have only fuelled the growing concern across the member nations of the European Union that far-right, radical right, Eurosceptic and otherwise anti-immigrant parties are, once again, on the rise.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

1
Show Notes [Pause. Reset. Where do we go from here?] 1:23:16

2M ago1:23:16

1:23:16

Max and 99 are back after a few week Show Notes hiatus. In this episode they catch up on the most recent episodes and the latest news. Enjoy! Chapters Intro: 00:00:20 Emails: 00:27:35 Memberships: 01:21:50 Reviews: 01:22:16 Outro: 01:22:45 Resources UNFTR TikTok -- If you like the pod version of #UNFTR, make sure to check out the video version on Y…

1
Pharmacy Benefit Managers: The American Drug Cartel. 1:17:35

3M ago1:17:35

1:17:35

In this episode, Max breaks down the biggest scandal in the healthcare industry (and that’s saying a lot). We walk through how a bunch of pencil pushing pharmacy middlemen became so powerful they bought out the biggest health insurance companies and pharmacy chains, and did it through hiking up drug prices, kickbacks and taking advantage of governm…

1
Is it wrong to "rank" works of art? 54:30

3M ago54:30

54:30

Apple Music recently released its list of the “100 Best Albums”. It was, without question, a clever marketing technique — but one that raises the problem of whether it’s appropriate to rank works of high human achievement in the first place.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Living In Bizarro World Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

1
The Minefield

ABC listen

1
Unf*cking The Republic

UNFTR Media

1
Living in Bizarro World

Jenny & Alex

1
FREAKINYAYA88 UNFILTERED

Miguel

1
Coleman Hughes, “colourblindness”, and the contentious politics of race 53:24

1
Harris v. Trump. Progressives in the Wind. 1:10:02

1
“We live in a society!”: Seinfeld’s “Bizarro” comedy of morals 53:48

1
“I don’t want to join any club that would have me as a member”: How funny is irony meant to be? 53:21

1
Unf*cking Flashback: What’s the deal with Peter Thiel? Sociopathic billionaire man-child wants to eat the world. 47:21

1
“Time now for just a bit of fun”: Shaun Micallef on the importance of being silly 54:01

1751
Phone A Friend: Shane Burley and Ben Lorber, authors of Safety through Solidarity: A Radical Guide to Fighting Antisemitism. 1:00:21

1
A Progressive Take on the Harris Coronation. 14:30

1
“And now for something completely different”: Why do surprises provoke laughter? 53:34

1
Phone A Friend: Lee Camp. Comedian, author, commentator and activist. 1:10:46

1
Political violence — why is it so corrosive to democratic life? 53:49

1
A Contested Convention: Building the Progressive Bench (Project 500). 43:06

1
“There’s a crack in everything”: Richard Fidler on the art of absurdity 53:21

1
DNR The DNC: Propping up the Cadaver-in-Chief. 21:08

1
Show Notes [The United States Postal Service + Europe Slides to the Right + Pharmacy Benefit Managers.] 1:02:32

1
In a bespoke and individualistic age, are we losing a sense of “the common”? 53:35

1
Phone A Friend: Yanis Varoufakis. 1:00:44

1
Beatlemania at 60: Why was the band so popular before they were even great? 54:01

1
The United States Postal Service: How it can truly deliver. 35:27

1
Right verdict, wrong case? The political dangers of Trump’s felony conviction 53:59

1
Europe Slides to the Right: Unpacking the EU Parliamentary elections. 44:28

1
Is the rise of the far right in Europe inevitable? It’s complicated 54:30

1
Show Notes [Pause. Reset. Where do we go from here?] 1:23:16

1
Pharmacy Benefit Managers: The American Drug Cartel. 1:17:35

1
Is it wrong to "rank" works of art? 54:30

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