They say, "Preparation gets you through the process." While it's not glamorous and sometimes tedious work, being prepared can be the difference between succeeding and not. It's a tough lesson that both co-hosts had to learn over time. In this episode, Eddie and Gabriel discuss all things related to preparation. They first define what it is, the ben…

Gabriel Birnbaum has been in love with music for as long as he can remember. Whether it was his early work on saxophone making free jazz, playing Ethiopian music in Debo Band, his more “pop” leaning work with Wilder Maker, or his career as one of the best music publicists in the business, he’s spent his life positively immersed in sound. On this ed…

"I realized I didn't love myself when I would be by myself but not at peace" Things are about to get real. This is the final episode of a two-part series focused on love and all its intricacies. Eddie and Gabriel start the conversation with an interesting twist that transitions into a discussion on self-love, how to measure love, different types of…

Mike Harmeier, singer and chief-songwriter for the band Silverada (formerly known as Mike and The Moonpies) has a knack for crafting country songs that feel timeless (think the heyday of 90’s country/Outlaw Country) but never retro. On Silverada, the group’s new self-titled album, Mike and the band a re continuing in this tradition while managing t…

Love is...complicated. At least it can be. However, the reality is that most people don't understand what true love is. In this episode, the fellas dive into all the things the world gets wrong. They talk about how their understanding of love has progressed. Fallacies they once believed in. The impact social media and digital content have on standa…

We welcome Marxist philosopher John McClendon to the show for an in-depth conversation on his philosophical outlook, his work on African American philosophy, and the role of philosophy in Marxist thought and practice. We then discuss McClendon's important book on C.L.R. James's Notes on Dialectics and its implications for Marxist philosophy in our …

The postwar period witnessed a renaissance in Nietzschean thought and interpretation, most notably with the French postmodernist readings generated by Michel Foucault, Gilles Deleuze and Jacques Derrida. But what drove the French Nietzschean renaissance was in many ways supported by the work of two Italian philologists Giorgio Colli and his former …

We are joined by scholar and socialist thinker Tony, creator of @1Dimee, an important YouTube channel that offers educational videos for a mass popular audience. In this discussion, Tony and host Daniel Tutt discuss his research, writing and video work around The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution in China from 1966 - 67. We examine what gave ri…

Mike Ruth, a long-time staple of the Nashville indie rock scene, made a career playing in other people’s bands before he stepped into the spotlight with his own material in 2019 under the moniker Rich Ruth. Over the course of four albums, his sound and identity as a composer has continued to evolve and on his latest release, Water Still Flows (out …

Comparison is the thief of joy. If you aren't careful, you can rob yourself of the opportunity to unlock the power within your story. Oftentimes, we get caught up in where we should be, how things should look, and what others are doing, that we forget to appreciate where we currently stand. It's the difference between staying stagnant and making pr…

On this episode of Discologist, Eduardo and Kevin are spinning new-to-you tracks from Chicago singer/songwriter Lillian King, free jazz from revered saxophonist Alan Braufman, and modern folk by way of Arkansas from Willi Carlisle. PLUS! DOJ is telling Live Nation and Ticketmaster that they just can’t be that into each other anymore, Apple Music dr…

Distractions are inevitable. They are everywhere and can be destructive at any time. In this episode, Eddie and Gabriel discuss the keys to making progress even when interruptions arise. The two pull from their experiences to give insight into how to be successful even when things are working against you. They cover the proper mindset, how to reset…

We welcome the poet laureate of Vermont, Bianca Stone to the show for a conversation on poetry and psychoanalysis. In recent years, Bianca has turned to psychoanalysis as a way to teach poetry and as a method to better understand the process of writing poetry. In this wide-ranging conversation, we discuss how poetry relates to philosophy and politi…

We are joined by political theorist Benjamin Studebaker to discuss his book, The Chronic Crisis of American Democracy: The Way Is Shut, a sharp and accessible work on the political deadlocks of our present. The American economic system is slowly subjecting Americans to enormous amounts of stress, and the United States lacks the state capacity requi…

We are joined by writer and literary scholar Tyler Austin Harper, whose writing in The Atlantic and New York Times has raised debates on class, race and the meaning of the left in ideologically turbulent times. In this conversation, we discuss the meaning of the left, how Marxism is to be interpreted in terms of class analysis, the merits of differ…

"There's nothing like the joy that comes from being you" Eddie is back, and together the co-hosts dive into what it takes to embrace your story. This is a masterclass on being bold, confident, and walking in purpose. The fellas discuss the difference between embracing who you are and being confident. They also cover why it's important, how to go ab…

Over the past few years, Milwaukee’s Ladybird have been refining their sound on stages all over town and with the release of their debut album Amy Come On Home, it’s clear that all hard work has paid off. With roots firmly and unashamedly planted in the sounds of Uncle Tupelo and Drive-By Truckers, and a wit that echoes the work of John Prine, the …

With Eddie out again, we welcome another guest to the show, and this one is even more special than the last. It happens to be one the who birthed our co-host. Yes, Gabriel sits down and has a conversation with his mother. In episode eight, the two discuss the process and necessity of finding things that pour back into us. We live in a world where i…

On this episode of Discologist, Eduardo and Kevin explore fresh neo-soul vibes from Raye, indie-pop from Washington, D.C.'s The North Country, innovative classical sounds from Michael Cormier-O’Leary’s musical collective Hour, and the electrifying Dungeons and Dragons-inspired rock of Castle Rat. PLUS! Eduardo experienced Phish at Las Vegas’s Spher…

We are joined by historian Gabriel Raeburn to discuss the thought of Eugene Genovese, a firebrand Marxist historian who fundamentally transformed the academic study of slavery in the United States and who, with Christopher Lasch, attempted to launch Marxist Perspectives, a serious Marxist-centered journal that brought together the entirety of the g…

In this episode, we introduce a special guest. With Eddie out due to an illness, in steps a new co-host who has actually been a part of this thing all along. Together, the duo dives into what it means to establish a community. They discuss what makes a community, why it's important, and how to find your own. Furthermore, they tackle the different s…

Originally recorded on February 3rd, 2024, Eddie & Gabriel recap how they feel a month into the new year. They discuss their progress, wins, losses, and lessons. The conversation quickly shifts to the topic of manhood. As they navigate their 20s, they enter into new territory, and the hosts discuss the struggles they face developing into men. They …

On this edition of Discologist, Eduardo and Kevin sit down with music legend Bill Frisell to discuss his latest release on Blue Note Records, Orchestras. Conceived with his longtime friend and collaborator Michael Gibbs, Orchestras sees Frisell and his trio (Thomas Morgan on bass and Rudy Royston on drums) teaming up with the 60-piece Brussels Phil…

We are pleased to welcome longtime friend of the show Scribe Wolf, aka A. H. Ra. In this discussion we focus on the book Noise: The Political Economy of Music by theorist Jacques Attali, a highly influential work that crosses disciplinary borders from history, music, to critical theory and Marxism. This is a wide-ranging and improvisational convers…

We welcome Dr. Mohammed Sulaiman for a follow-up interview on the situation in Gaza where as of the time of recording (March 13, 2024) Israel has killed over 30,000 Palestinians. Building off our first discussion, this interview explores a number of questions listeners have wanted to raise with Mohammed about the war on Gaza. We discuss the legacy …

On this edition of Discologist, Eduardo and Kevin are checking in on new music from Aaron Abernathy, Prefuse 73, The Messthetics with James Brandon Lewis, The Mad Archaic, and more. PLUS! Is AI about to take over music? The launch of Suno may cause to sound the alarm so we’re taking a look at what exactly it does, how it may disrupt the industry, a…

We welcome Marxist scholars Sara Nadal-Melsió & Eduardo Cadava for a discussion on their new book "Politically Red". If as Brecht said "reading is class struggle" what does that mean for us as Marxists? How are we to orient ourselves in reading groups? How is reading political? Politically Red focuses on the work of Walter Benjamin, Frederic Jameso…

We welcome philosopher Carlos Garrido for a conversation on the theoretical and practical challenges facing the left in America. Garrido is the author of The Purity Fetish and the Crisis of Western Marxism and he specializes in Marxist theory, the history of socialism in America and pragmatist philosophy. He is a director and philosopher at the @Mi…

I'm joined by Sudip Bhattacharya for a discussion on how to navigate debates on identity politics and class on the left. What are the best ways for socialists to engage in these debates without risking they end up in unproductive division and hostility? This is a productive conversation full of helpful social and political analysis. Sudip Bhattacha…

In this edition of Discologist, Eduardo and Kevin take a look at the dynamics of protests surrounding South By Southwest, dissect the implications of the Living Wage For Musicians Act, a fresh initiative in Congress aimed at reshaping streaming and artist compensation, explore the latest from jazz maestro Charles Lloyd, introduce you to the alt-cou…

In this episode, come along with Eduardo and Kevin as they embark on a bit of a jazz odyssey. Discussions of new music from guitar virtuoso Julian Lage, the manic and masterful funk of LA’s Knower, Brazilian pianist Amarao Freitas’ latest sonic excursion, and more. PLUS we’re world premiering “Down By The Lake” the first single from Kevin’s upcomin…

"When you embrace the journey, every dark moment becomes an opportunity to shine your light." Life gets tough. But you don't have to be down in the dumps forever. There's always a light at the end of the tunnel. In this episode, we take our listeners on a journey to uncover what it takes to turn low points into bright moments. Struggles aren't mean…

In this episode, Eduardo and Kevin dive into the unforgettable Grammy performances by Tracy Chapman and Joni Mitchell, Beyoncé's groundbreaking foray into Country music domination, the evolving landscape of AI in the arts, and much more! Tune in now to hear all about it PLUS some killer new tracks from Brittany Howard, Chris Rosenau, Time In The Wi…

Losses come in different forms. Some you can see, some you can't see. But regardless of the form they take, it doesn't change the impact on our lives. Failure, heartbreak, and tragedy can hurt us in places we didn't know it could reach. And the worst part is, the battle is against things we can't see. In this episode, the hosts of the show get vuln…

We are joined by scholar Benjamin Fong to discuss his excellent new book Quick Fixes: Drugs in America from Prohibition to the 21st Century Binge. We discuss the history of drug policy, the role of the state in enforcing and distributing drugs, and we focus on the history of alcohol, opioids, psychedelics and marijuana. We conclude with a conversat…

Self-confidence is something we all need. In a world full of comparison and attachment to superficial ideologies, it's important to be rooted in who you are and what you believe in. On this episode, co-hosts Eduardo and Gabriel walk listeners through their journies to find themselves in a chaotic world. They discuss the significance of understandin…

On the fourteenth season premiere of Discologist, Eduardo and Kevin are cranking up the volume on the issues facing the music industry, imagining a world without Pitchfork, and spinning new tracks that they love from the debut of Milwaukee’s The Breadmen, “country witch” Kitty Coen’s latest spell, Katy Kirby’s stunning new album Blue Raspberry, and…

Co-hosts Eddie & Gabriel are very familiar with how easy it is to get lost in your own mind. The difference between a cautious person and an overthinker is one's ability to progress. Overthinkers become stuck by the overwhelming amount of thoughts running through their heads. Overcoming this trait isn't as easy as one may think. It takes a lot of e…