Andrew and Ray are back from summer break! In this episode Andrew provides an update on his book before the conversation transitions to the New Deal's legacy as well as sports and our contemporary moment. For this episode we read Michael Kazin's  review of Eric Rauchway's book Why the New Deal Matters and "You can't separate sports and politics," an  interview with Dave Zirin in Jacobin. 

Andrew and Ray are back from summer break! In this episode Andrew provides an update on his book before the conversation transitions to the New Deal's legacy as well as sports and our contemporary moment. For this episode we read Michael Kazin's <a href="https://www.thenation.com/article/society/eric-rauchway-why-the-new-deal-matters/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> review</a> of Eric Rauchway's book Why the New Deal Matters and "You can't separate sports and politics," an <a href="https://www.jacobinmag.com/2021/09/colin-kaepernick-effect-dave-zirin-book-interview" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> interview</a> with Dave Zirin in Jacobin.

EP44: Andrew & Ray Are Back from Break

Andrew &amp; Ray check in about the Biden administration and discuss New Monetary Theory, the strategic objectives of the American military and how Andrew became a lefty. Kim Hjelmgaard's USA Today article "A Reckoning is Near" and Jed Purdy's "A Possible Majority" in Dissent Magazine. 

Andrew &amp; Ray check in about the Biden administration and discuss New Monetary Theory, the strategic objectives of the American military and how Andrew became a lefty. Kim Hjelmgaard's USA Today article "<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/world/2021/02/25/us-military-budget-what-can-global-bases-do-vs-covid-cyber-attacks/6419013002/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A Reckoning is Near</a>" and Jed Purdy's "<a href="https://www.dissentmagazine.org/online_articles/a-possible-majority" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A Possible Majority</a>" in Dissent Magazine.

EP43: Andrew & Ray, unadulterated

Keith Pluymers comes on the show to talk about environmental history, wood in the early modern world, and contemporary environmental politics.

Keith Pluymers comes on the show to talk about environmental history, wood in the early modern world, and contemporary environmental politics.

EP42: Keith Pluymers

Nicole Hemmer

Nicole Hemmer sits down with Ray and Andrew to discuss a range of topics from conservative media and the NYT to public history and "Welcome to Your Fantasy," a podcast about the Chippendales!

Nicole Hemmer sits down with Ray and Andrew to discuss a range of topics from conservative media and the NYT to public history and "Welcome to Your Fantasy," a podcast about the Chippendales!

EP41: Nicole Hemmer

Harvey Kaye

Harvey joins Andrew and Ray to discuss the inaugural address as well as Biden's bipartisan hopes. 

Harvey joins Andrew and Ray to discuss the inaugural address as well as Biden's bipartisan hopes.

EP40: Inauguration, with Harvey Kaye

Ray and Andrew return from a recording hiatus to have a conversation with the historian Harvey Kaye.

Ray and Andrew return from a recording hiatus to have a conversation with the historian Harvey Kaye.

Ep Thirty-Nine: Harvey Kaye

Class reductionism or race reductionism? Listen in as Andrew and Ray speak with Touré Reed about his book Toward Freedom: The Case Against Race Reductionism.

Class reductionism or race reductionism? Listen in as Andrew and Ray speak with Touré Reed about his book <a href="https://www.versobooks.com/books/3166-toward-freedom" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Toward Freedom: The Case Against Race Reductionism</a>.

Ep Thirty-Eight: Reed on Race Reductionism

Derek Catsam

Derek Charles Catsam, professor of history and humanities at University of Texas-Permian Basin, joins Andrew and Ray for a conversation about race, class, and rugby in sports history. For this episode we read Catsam's essays for Africa is a Country. 

Derek Charles Catsam, professor of history and humanities at University of Texas-Permian Basin, joins Andrew and Ray for a conversation about race, class, and rugby in sports history. For this episode we read Catsam's essays for <a href="https://africasacountry.com/author/derek-catsam" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Africa is a Country</a>.

Ep Thirty-Seven: Derek Catsam on Rugby 

Salik Farooqi comes on the show to discuss the pandemic from the perspective of political sociology. For this episode we read: An Organic Crisis is upon Us; On the Concept of History;  Gooseberries;  Pandemic’s Lesson: Global Capitalism is Uneven and Dangerously Particularistic;  The Myth of Sisyphus; and the Wiki on total football. (Links on our website: http://wildorchids.libsyn.com)

Salik Farooqi comes on the show to discuss the pandemic from the perspective of political sociology. For this episode we read: <a href="https://spectrejournal.com/an-organic-crisis-is-upon-us/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">An Organic Crisis is upon Us</a>; <a href="https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/benjamin/1940/history.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">On the Concept of History</a>; <a href="https://www.colorado.edu/globalstudiesrap/sites/default/files/attached-files/gooseberries_by_anton_chekhov_1898.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Gooseberries</a>; <a href="http://chs.asa-comparative-historical.org/pandemics-lesson-global-capitalism-is-uneven-and-dangerously-particularistic/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Pandemic’s Lesson: Global Capitalism is Uneven and Dangerously Particularistic</a>; <a href="http://schmieder.fmp-berlin.info/collectibles/pdf/sisyphos_eng.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> The Myth of Sisyphus</a>; and the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Total_Football" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Wiki on total football</a>. (Links on our website: <a href="http://wildorchids.libsyn.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://wildorchids.libsyn.com</a>)

Ep Thirty-Six: The Pandemic's Social and Psychic Context

Professor Gina Gustavsson from the Department of Government at Uppsala University speaks with Ray and Andrew about Sweden's response to covid19.  Listen in as we consider the meaning of nationalism during a pandemic.

Professor Gina Gustavsson from the Department of Government at Uppsala University speaks with Ray and Andrew about Sweden's response to covid19.  Listen in as we consider the meaning of nationalism during a pandemic.

Ep Thirty-Five: Sweden's Response to Covid19

Two intellectual historians discuss politics, culture, and the history of ideas in the United States.

Easily one of the best podcasts around for anybody interested in American politics, history, and of course intellectual history in particular. One of the rare podcasts that not only has fascinating and deeply thought-out subject matter, but also presents that subject matter in the context of engaging discussion and debate rather than by reciting a script or listening to two people placidly second each others’ every opinion. It’s great!

Fantastic

Great deep conversation surrounding history and the varying debates which shape our world today. It is a great looking glass to assess these crazy times we live in. Also a great way to reawaken your humanities education.

Fascinating and engaging conversation

Trotsky & the Wild Orchids

Andrew and Ray consider the relationship between liberalism and neoliberalism.

Andrew and Ray consider the relationship between liberalism and neoliberalism.

Ep Five: Neoliberalism 

Historian Daniel Bessner joins Andrew and Ray for a discussion of American foreign policy. What would a leftist foreign policy look like? Bessner suggests the ways we might introduce a form of humanitarian intervention without imperial ambitions. See his book Democracy in Exile, and the following essays for more about leftist foreign policy: "Roundtable on Democracy and Exile," "How the Left Should Respond to Ethnic Cleansing in China," "What Does Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Think About the South China Sea," "The Globalist," and a book review titled "Foreign Policy for the Twenty-First Century." Articles linked at our website: http://wildorchids.libsyn.com. 

Historian <a href="http://danielbessner.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Daniel Bessner</a> joins Andrew and Ray for a discussion of American foreign policy. What would a leftist foreign policy look like? Bessner suggests the ways we might introduce a form of humanitarian intervention without imperial ambitions. See his book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Democracy-Exile-Speier-Defense-Intellectual/dp/0801453038/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1509725358&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=democracy+in+exile%20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Democracy in Exile</a>, and the following essays for more about leftist foreign policy: "<a href="https://issforum.org/roundtables/10-18-speier#Introduction_by_Robert_Jervis_Columbia_University" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Roundtable on </a><a href="https://issforum.org/roundtables/10-18-speier#Introduction_by_Robert_Jervis_Columbia_University" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Democracy and Exile</a>," "<a href="https://www.thenation.com/article/left-foreign-policy-china/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">How the Left Should Respond to Ethnic Cleansing in China</a>," "<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/17/opinion/democratic-party-cortez-foreign-policy.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">What Does Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Think About the South China Sea</a>," "<a href="https://nplusonemag.com/online-only/online-only/the-globalist/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Globalist</a>," and a book review titled "<a href="http://bostonreview.net/war-security/daniel-bessner-foreign-policy-twenty-first-century" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Foreign Policy for the Twenty-First Century.</a>" Articles linked at our website: <a href="http://wildorchids.libsyn.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://wildorchids.libsyn.com</a>.

Ep Twenty Three: A Counter-Hegemonic Foreign Policy

Using an article by Touré F. Reed as a springboard, Ray and Andrew discuss Ta-Nehisi Coates, Barack Obama, and the politics of race and class. 

Using an <a href="https://catalyst-journal.com/vol1/no4/between-obama-and-coates" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">article</a> by Touré F. Reed as a springboard, Ray and Andrew discuss Ta-Nehisi Coates, Barack Obama, and the politics of race and class.

Ep Thirteen: Ta-Nehisi Coates, Post-racialism, & Class

In this episode, Ray explains the intellectual appeal of Reinhold Niebuhr. Andrew remains skeptical. For this episode we read Ray's "A Theology of Limits" (Reviews in American History December 2012), the epilogue in David Hollinger's After Cloven Tongues of Fire, chapter 13 from Niebuhr's The Irony of American History, and "Barthianism and the Kingdom" from Niebuhr's Essays in Applied Christianity.

In this episode, Ray explains the intellectual appeal of Reinhold Niebuhr. Andrew remains skeptical. For this episode we read Ray's "A Theology of Limits" (Reviews in American History December 2012), the epilogue in David Hollinger's <a href="https://press.princeton.edu/titles/10008.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">After Cloven Tongues of Fire</a>, chapter 13 from Niebuhr's <a href="https://www.press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/I/bo5864609.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Irony of American History</a>, and "Barthianism and the Kingdom" from Niebuhr's Essays in Applied Christianity.

Ep Twenty Two: Why Niebuhr, Ray?

Bhaskar Sunkara, founder of Jacobin Magazine, comes on the show to discuss his new book The Socialist Manifesto: The Case for Radical Politics in an Era of Extreme Inequality. 

Bhaskar Sunkara, founder of <a href="https://jacobinmag.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jacobin Magazine</a>, comes on the show to discuss his new book <a href="https://www.basicbooks.com/titles/bhaskar-sunkara/the-socialist-manifesto/9781541617391/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Socialist Manifesto: The Case for Radical Politics in an Era of Extreme Inequality</a>.

Ep Twenty-Eight: Sunkara on Socialism

Jefferson Cowie comes on the show to discuss the working class, patriotism, and the state of leftist politics. Ray and Andrew wonder about the American Dream and the resilience of liberalism. For this episode we read Cowie's short essays "Reclaiming Patriotism for the Left" and "How Labor Scholars Missed the Trump Revolt."

Jefferson Cowie comes on the show to discuss the working class, patriotism, and the state of leftist politics. Ray and Andrew wonder about the American Dream and the resilience of liberalism. For this episode we read Cowie's short essays "<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/21/opinion/nationalism-patriotism-liberals-.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Reclaiming Patriotism for the Left</a>" and "<a href="https://www.chronicle.com/article/How-Labor-Scholars-Missed-the/241049" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">How Labor Scholars Missed the Trump Revolt</a>."

Ep Eighteen: The Working Class, the American Dream

Andrew and Ray talk Corbyn, Trump, Bernie, and our political moment. They also provide a short briefing on the annual U-USIH conference in New York.

Andrew and Ray talk Corbyn, Trump, Bernie, and our political moment. They also provide a short briefing on the annual U-USIH conference in New York.

Ep Twenty-Nine: Of Corbyn and Elections 

Andrew and Ray draw from Bethany Moreton's book To Serve God and Wal-Mart as they consider the relationship between neoliberalism and higher education. 

Andrew and Ray draw from Bethany Moreton's book To Serve God and Wal-Mart as they consider the relationship between neoliberalism and higher education.

Ep Three: The Wal-Mart Effect on Higher Education

How did sports get so political? Ray and Andrew discuss the NFL, NBA, NCAA and the ways in which American sports are shaped by patriotism, social activism, pay inequity and much more. Recommended: Howard Bryant's New York Times piece "How Did Our Sports Get So Divisive?" 

How did sports get so political? Ray and Andrew discuss the NFL, NBA, NCAA and the ways in which American sports are shaped by patriotism, social activism, pay inequity and much more. Recommended: Howard Bryant's New York Times piece "<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/12/opinion/sports-colin-kaepernick-9-11.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">How Did Our Sports Get So Divisive?</a>"

Ep Fourteen: The Politics of Sports

Ray and Andrew battle it out over the films The Young Karl Marx (2017) and Lincoln (2012). Read A. O. Scott's  review of The Young Karl Marx after you listen!

Ray and Andrew battle it out over the films The Young Karl Marx (2017) and Lincoln (2012). Read A. O. Scott's <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/22/movies/the-young-karl-marx-review.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> review of The Young Karl Marx</a> after you listen!

Ep Twelve: Marx vs Lincoln!

Andrew and Ray discuss 'quit lit,' the humanities, and the state of higher ed. When was the golden era for training and careers in the humanities? And for whom? For this episode we read Andrew Kay's 'Academe's Extinction Event' and a response essay, 'The Humanities Without Nostalgia' by Devin M. Garofalo, Anna Hinton, Kari Nixon, and Jessie Reeder.

Andrew and Ray discuss 'quit lit,' the humanities, and the state of higher ed. When was the golden era for training and careers in the humanities? And for whom? For this episode we read Andrew Kay's '<a href="https://www.chronicle.com/interactives/20190510-academes-extinction-event" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Academe's Extinction Event</a>' and a response essay, '<a href="https://www.chronicle.com/article/The-Humanities-Without/246323" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Humanities Without Nostalgia</a>' by Devin M. Garofalo, Anna Hinton, Kari Nixon, and Jessie Reeder.

Ep Twenty-Seven: Extinction or Nostalgia for Academe?

Andrew and Ray return to the topic of neoliberalism. What does the term mean and how has that meaning changed? What is its analytical value? They address these questions through a discussion of Lawrence Glickman's essay "Everyone was a liberal" as well as the Dissent forum "Debating the Uses and Abuses of 'Neoliberalism'"

Andrew and Ray return to the topic of neoliberalism. What does the term mean and how has that meaning changed? What is its analytical value? They address these questions through a discussion of Lawrence Glickman's essay "Everyone was a liberal" as well as the Dissent forum "Debating the Uses and Abuses of 'Neoliberalism'"

Ep Eight: Neoliberalism (part two)

Bernie Sanders

Andrew and Ray discuss Super Tuesday and the future of Bernie's movement.

Andrew and Ray discuss Super Tuesday and the future of Bernie's movement.

Ep Thirty-Three: Long Live Bernie Sanders!

On this episode of Trotsky &amp; the Wild Orchids our hosts, Andrew and Ray, talk about Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States. They consider  Michael Kazin's critique of Zinn and the larger implications A People's History has for the profession. Is Zinn a gateway drug for historians?

On this episode of Trotsky &amp; the Wild Orchids our hosts, Andrew and Ray, talk about Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States. They consider <a href="https://www.dissentmagazine.org/article/howard-zinns-history-lessons" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Michael Kazin's critique</a> of Zinn and the larger implications A People's History has for the profession. Is Zinn a gateway drug for historians?

Ep Ten: Zinn and the Art of History

Andrew and Ray discuss millennials, student debt, and the New Socialism. See "I Came of Age During the 2008 Financial Crisis. I’m Still Angry About It" by M. H. Miller, "What Does Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Think About the South China Sea?" by Daniel Bessner and "The New Socialists" by Corey Robin.

Andrew and Ray discuss millennials, student debt, and the New Socialism. See "<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/15/opinion/sunday/financial-crisis-student-loans-recession.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">I Came of Age During the 2008 Financial Crisis. I’m Still Angry About It</a>" by M. H. Miller, "<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/17/opinion/democratic-party-cortez-foreign-policy.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">What Does Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Think About the South China Sea?</a>" by Daniel Bessner and "<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/24/opinion/sunday/what-socialism-looks-like-in-2018.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The New Socialists</a>" by Corey Robin.

Ep Seventeen: The New Socialism

Ray and Andrew discuss our covid19 moment. What are the political implications of this pandemic? How do we understand the CARES Act? And what does all this mean for the future of the left? Listen in as you continue to social distance. 

Ray and Andrew discuss our covid19 moment. What are the political implications of this pandemic? How do we understand the CARES Act? And what does all this mean for the future of the left? Listen in as you continue to social distance.

Ep Thirty-Four: Rona

Is the college campus closed to free speech? Ray and Andrew offer a sober discussion of the free speech controversy that has recently rocked American universities. Andrew's recent Washington Post  essay serves as the springboard for discussion. 

Is the college campus closed to free speech? Ray and Andrew offer a sober discussion of the free speech controversy that has recently rocked American universities. Andrew's recent Washington Post <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/people-always-think-students-are-hostile-to-speech-they-never-really-are/2018/03/15/cc53cc3a-286c-11e8-bc72-077aa4dab9ef_story.html?utm_term=.d98d18893d22" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> essay</a> serves as the springboard for discussion.

Ep Eleven: Free Speech Freakout 

Leo Ribuffo

A special episode of T&amp;TWO, Andrew and Ray discuss the work of recently deceased historian (and Andrew's dissertation adviser) Leo Ribuffo. For this episode we read Leo's essay "Moral Judgments and the Cold War: Reflections on Reinhold Niebuhr, William Appleman Williams, and John Lewis Gaddis" in Cold War Triumphalism edited by Ellen Schrecker. See also the roundtable on Leo's work at the  S-USIH blog.

A special episode of T&amp;TWO, Andrew and Ray discuss the work of recently deceased historian (and Andrew's dissertation adviser) Leo Ribuffo. For this episode we read Leo's essay "Moral Judgments and the Cold War: Reflections on Reinhold Niebuhr, William Appleman Williams, and John Lewis Gaddis" in <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Cold-War-Triumphalism-History-Communism/dp/1595580832" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cold War Triumphalism</a> edited by Ellen Schrecker. See also the roundtable on Leo's work at the <a href="https://s-usih.org/2018/12/retrospective-roundtable-on-leo-ribuffos-old-christian-right-final-entry-from-ribuffo/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> S-USIH blog</a>.

EP Twenty: RIP Leo Ribuffo, Historian Extraordinaire

Andrew, Ray, and Daniel discuss Game of Thrones and Avengers: End Game. Did GoT decline as in the last few seasons? And what message do we take from Thanos and his attempt to dramatically reduce the population in the universe? 

Andrew, Ray, and Daniel discuss Game of Thrones and Avengers: End Game. Did GoT decline as in the last few seasons? And what message do we take from Thanos and his attempt to dramatically reduce the population in the universe?

Ep Twenty-Six: GoT, Avengers

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