We've returned to the dark abyss that is the mind of Just Dance Vance.AJ Ditty of The Worst of All Possible Worlds podcast joins us to take on Vice President JD Vance's newest book, "Communion: Finding my way back to faith." Vance tells us all how he totally became an authentic Catholic, definitely believes in God, and certainly isn't merely trying to set up a 2028 presidential run.Topics in this discussion include Vance's quirky millennial-ness, Vance as wife guy, the networks of money behind Vance, and some helpful tips to shut down anyone who tries to say this dude is worth your time.Link to our original episode on JD Vance (Hillbilly Elegy):https://open.spotify.com/episode/0MiUlc8fho79aP1twvVDDzCheck out The Worst of All Possible Worlds: https://www.patreon.com/WorstOfAllGet tickets to see AJ's play, "Heart of Duckness":https://portlandstage.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/#/events/a0SPa00000dFOunMAGGo support Workers' Lit on Patreon!https://patreon.com/workerslit

Grab your three-ringed binders, highlighters, and spellbooks, this week we're talking about "The Incandescent," a 2025 academia fantasy novel by Emily Tesh.We've got schools, and labor concerns, and demons, and bisexuality, and a fantastic guest: Brandon Crilly, author, organizer, and all around cool guy. You may know his novels, such as "Catalyst" and "Castoff," or perhaps his work on The Expanse RPG. Know him or not, you'll be a fan by the end of this episode!You can check out everything Brandon's up to here:https://linktr.ee/brandoncrillyGo support us on Patreon, where we release exclusive content such as author interviews (including an upcoming one with Brandon himself!)https://Patreon.com/workerslit

It’s time to talk about a true living legend: Angela Davis.Educational YouTuber and podcaster RevolutionaryTh0t joins us to talk about the life of one of the greatest thinkers and organizers of our time before we hop into the 1981 book, “Women, Race, and Class.”Fair warning, this book gets into the truly brutal American history of its three titular topics, so please be aware this episode features discussion of sexual and racial violence.RevolutionaryTh0t is a non-binary socialist trying to undo decades of Red Scare propaganda and get people to believe in themselves so we can build a better world - one in which the individual can come to full fruition. Check out their fantastic YouTube Channel, as well as the podcast “Half The Sky,” at the links below.https://www.youtube.com/@revolutionaryth0thttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/half-the-sky-podcast/id6786116578Go support us and get bonus content at our Patreon!https://www.patreon.com/workerslitListen to the eugenics episode of “Ill Conceived” referenced on the pod here:https://open.spotify.com/episode/6Y7D9TuIhTD10Awoa3ZdRr?si=akdhoPwvQ_WZWWYJT42ZWA

Pull up a chair listeners, and heed the tale of a man named Zakalwe…This month’s listener-chosen episode is “Use of Weapons” by Iain M. Banks, a 1990 sci-fi novel and one of the most famous entries in “The Culture” series.Imagine an alien civilization so advanced that they spend all their time trying to help other species develop. Now imagine they have to recruit a mercenary to help them with extremely sticky situations. Now imagine that mercenary is the most obnoxiously try-hard faux cool jerk with deep-seated trauma surrounding cuck chairs.Imagine that and you’ve got this book.Want to suggest and help pick out future episode topics? Want access to weekly bonus content? Check out our Patreon!https://patreon.com/workerslit

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 after, it cannot be denied the Chinese Communists were pretty damn effective at that whole, "changing the world thing." You can read or listen to the essay here:https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/mao/selected-works/volume-1/mswv1_16.htmhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86RIzuWVsYAGo check out ProlesPod! It's a podcast about history, politics, and culture...without the liberalism.https://prolespod.libsyn.com/Go check out Half The Sky, Rae and Lenore's other podcast for communist women (and women adjacent).https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/half-the-sky-podcast/id6786116578And finally, make sure you support us on Patreon!https://patreon.com/workerslit

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 book chapter by chapter, showing how capitalism creates monopoly which chases after greater profits that eventually leads to imperialism and war. It's intense stuff, but it brings great clarity to the world we live in.The entire book is available here:https://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1916/imp-hsc/The USSR is a complex and divisive topic. If you're interested in a primer on Soviet history, check out this video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fb5grDNww6USupport us on Patreon!https://patreon.com/workerslitCheck out "Half The Sky!"https://podcasts.apple.com/ro/podcast/half-the-sky-podcast/id6786116578

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-adjacent folks). If and when those voices are present, they are quite often offset by their dude counterparts. And so (at least on the mic) HTS is a bro-free zone.Our hosts on this very special audio journey (in addition to Lenore and Jen) are Rae of ProlesPod, Luna Oi!, and Revolutionary Th0t.Episode three is a thoughtful yet approachable conversation about beauty standards. What does it look like to be objectified? Are there times that objectification can be leveraged beneficially? How do each of the hosts, with their very separate and unique experiences, view their relationship to what they were taught or socialized as children? Is Toe-Man good? Bad? Is advocating for Toe-Man liberalism? All of these questions and more are answered within...https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/half-the-sky-podcast/id6786116578Find the girlies elsewhereOn socials: Instagram.com/HalftheSkyPod(More are coming, we swear!) Lenore and Jen Big Nasty on Workers’ Lit: Patreon.com/WorkersLitRae on ProlesPod: Patreon.com/ProlesPodLuna Oi YT: Youtube.com/LunaOiRevolutionary Th0t YT: Youtube.com/@revolutionaryth0tJen Big Nasty on How the Red Was Won: Patreon.com/HowtheRedWasWon

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 subversive and beautiful 1956 novel, "Giovanni's Room."What conditions create internalized homophobia, and where does it lead? How does one live as themselves in a world designed to destroy them? What protocol is necessary to handle a thicc baddie in jeans? All will be discussed.We need you to keep this show going! Please go support us on Patreon.www.patreon.com/workerslit

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 episodes to double down on our weekly literature episode, which will still come out every Monday. We will alternate weeks, covering fiction and nonfiction with Aysha and Jen as third mic (along with, as always, Lenore and Jacob) respectively. But don't worry, our news and politics talk isn't going away entirely! For Patrons we will be releasing bonus content several times a month, including our monthly video episode, where we'll get into current political happenings, a monthly installment of Article Brain, where we'll lose our minds at the worst of the worst in modern article technology, regular author interviews, video game episodes, and more!We're sorry to anyone this may disappoint and hope you all continue to stay with us as we work to make Workers' Lit the very best podcast about books for hot, cool, gay, and/or working class people there's ever been.www.patreon.com/workerslit

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 Hemlock. Go get it!https://www.neonhemlock.com/books/bitten-peachSupport us on Patreon!www.patreon.com/workerslitSources and references in this episode:https://strangehorizons.com/wordpress/non-fiction/articles/interview-cecilia-tan/https://www.kaleidoscoperomance.com/post/interview-with-author-cecilia-tanhttps://www.ceciliatan.com/archives/landingpage/homehttps://open.spotify.com/episode/4tDXd9zABFy161jTFaO6zG?si=8YenxOcwSNe5-yli5PpWjQ