Varn Vlog

Abandon all hope ye who subscribe here. Varn Vlog is the pod of C. Derick Varn. We combine the conversation on philosophy, political economy, art, history, culture, anthropology, and geopolitics from a left-wing and culturally informed perspective. We approach the world from a historical lens with an eye for hard truths and structural analysis.

Podcasting since 2021 • 395 episodes

Varn Vlog

Latest Episodes

The Quest for Narrative From World Travels to Technology with Miles Spencer

Is our digital legacy the final frontier of storytelling?In this episode, we sit down with Miles Spencer, a serial entrepreneur, world traveler, and the founder of Reflecta AI. Spencer, who co-created the long-running PBS series Money H...

May 14, 2026 • Season 2 • Episode 73 • 48:15

The Castaneda Con with Ru Marshall

Is it anthropology or a high-stakes hoax?In this episode of the Varn Vlog, we dive deep into the enigmatic life of Carlos Castaneda with author and visual artist Ru Marshall. Marshall’s expansive new biography, A...

May 11, 2026 • Season 2 • Episode 72 • 1:16:08

The Left-Wing Deadbeat with Nurse John

A lot of people can quote the right theory, wear the right shirt, and post the right meme. Then the moment arrives when you have to sit down with a coworker, ask what they need, and move them toward collective action and suddenly they vanish. W...

May 04, 2026 • Season 2 • Episode 71 • 1:17:03

The K-Shaped Decade with Matt Borka

“Why does life feel poorer when the economy looks rich?” That question drives our talk with Hungarian-born creator and entrepreneur Matt Borka, who has lived and worked across the West, Eastern Europe, and Asia and who tracks real-world conditi...

April 27, 2026 • Season 2 • Episode 70 • 1:38:11

From Dawn To Decadence, Part 6: Aufheben's Decay

In Part 6 of our series "From Dawn to Decadence," we examine the intellectual trajectory and eventual "decay" of the Aufheben collective. This episode explores the group's early contributions to Marxist theory, their critique of the state, and ...

April 20, 2026 • Season 2 • Episode 69 • 1:33:46