The Podcast for Social Research podcast

The Podcast for Social Research

From Plato to quantum physics, Walter Benjamin to experimental poetry, Frantz Fanon to the history of political radicalism, The Podcast for Social Research is a crucial part of our mission to forge new, organic paths for intellectual work in the twenty-first century: an ongoing, interdisciplinary series featuring members of the Institute, and occasional guests, conversing about a wide variety of intellectual issues, some perennial, some newly pressing. Each episode centers on a different topic and is accompanied by a bibliography of annotations and citations that encourages further curiosity and underscores the conversation's place in a larger web of cultural conversations.

From Plato to quantum physics, Walter Benjamin to experimental poetry, Frantz Fanon to the history of political radicalism, The Podcast for Social Research is a crucial part of our mission to forge new, organic paths for intellectual work in the twenty-first century: an ongoing, interdisciplinary series featuring members of the Institute, and occasional guests, conversing about a wide variety of intellectual issues, some perennial, some newly pressing. Each episode centers on a different topic and is accompanied by a bibliography of annotations and citations that encourages further curiosity and underscores the conversation's place in a larger web of cultural conversations.

 

#100

Podcast for Social Research, Episode 93: Nature's Value — Alyssa Battistoni in Conversation with Naf...

Episode 93 of the Podcast for Social Research is a live recording of an event held at BISR... more

26 Nov 2025

1 HR 39 MINS

1:39:21

26 Nov 2025


#99

(Pop) Cultural Marxism, Episode 19: Ghost of Yotei - A Specter is Haunting Ezo

In episode 19 of (Pop) Cultural Marxism, Isi and Ajay are joined by fellow BISR faculty Jo... more

31 Oct 2025

2 HR 51 MINS

2:51:45

31 Oct 2025


#98

Podcast for Social Research, Episode 92.5: Hangmen Also Die! — a Brief Film Guide

In this shortcast edition of the Podcast for Social Research, BISR's Isi Litke and Jude We... more

24 Oct 2025

53 MINS

53:34

24 Oct 2025


#97

(Pop) Cultural Marxism, Episode 18: I Don't Know What You Did Last Summer

In episode 18 of (Pop) Cultural Marxism, Isi and Ajay spend some time with a handful of bi... more

19 Sep 2025

2 HR 30 MINS

2:30:02

19 Sep 2025


#96

Podcast for Social Research, Episode 92: No Borders: Folk, Fusion, and Tradition — Ghost Peppers in ...

Episode 92 of the Podcast for Social Research features fusion folk trio <a href= "https://... more

29 Aug 2025

1 HR 40 MINS

1:40:37

29 Aug 2025


#95

Faculty Spotlight: Alfred Lee and Xafsa Ciise on AI, Big Tech, Race, and Histories of Trauma

In this episode of Faculty Spotlight, hosts Mark and Lauren sit down with faculty Alfred L... more

21 Aug 2025

1 HR 11 MINS

1:11:40

21 Aug 2025


#94

Podcast for Social Research, Episode 91: The Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki 80 Years Late...

Episode 91 of the Podcast for Social Research is a live recording of an event marking the ... more

15 Aug 2025

1 HR 28 MINS

1:28:16

15 Aug 2025


#93

Podcast for Social Research, Episode 90: TRANSgressions — Rights, Wrongs, and Liberal Pieties

Episode 90 of the Podcast for Social Research—TRANSgressions: Rights Wrongs, and Liberal P... more

25 Jul 2025

1 HR 48 MINS

1:48:41

25 Jul 2025


#92

Practical Criticism No. 72: Brian Wilson (God Only Knows What We'll do Without You...)

In episode 72 of Practical Criticism, Ajay takes the somber occasion of Brian Wilson's rec... more

04 Jul 2025

1 HR 19 MINS

1:19:49

04 Jul 2025


#91

(Pop) Cultural Marxism, Episode 17: I Have Friends Everywhere

In episode 17 of (Pop) Cultural Marxism, Ajay and Isi once again find themselves in the re... more

27 Jun 2025

2 HR 02 MINS

2:02:19

27 Jun 2025


#90

Podcast for Social Research, Episode 89: Eyes Wide Shut — a Film Guide

In episode 89 of the Podcast for Social Research, recorded live at BISR Central, BISR facu... more

02 May 2025

1 HR 21 MINS

1:21:49

02 May 2025


#89

(Pop) Cultural Marxism, Episode 16: Shine Bright Like a TIE Fighter

In episode 16 of (Pop) Cultural Marxism, Isi and Ajay discuss the return of Tony Gilroy's ... more

25 Apr 2025

1 HR 52 MINS

1:52:47

25 Apr 2025


#88

Podcast for Social Research, Episode 88: The Sound of Lispector

For episode 88 of the Podcast for Social Research, BISR's Rebecca Ariel Porte welcomed spe... more

18 Apr 2025

1 HR 15 MINS

1:15:31

18 Apr 2025


#87

Podcast for Social Research, Episode 87: Deviant Matter

In episode 87 of the Podcast for Social Research, recorded live at BISR Central, BISR's Re... more

03 Apr 2025

1 HR 30 MINS

1:30:25

03 Apr 2025


#86

Practical Criticism No. 71: Neko Case

In episode 71 of the Podcast for Social Research's Practical Criticism series, Rebecca Ari... more

28 Mar 2025

1 HR 33 MINS

1:33:18

28 Mar 2025


#85

(Pop) Cultural Marxism, Episode 15: Vampires!

In episode 15 of (Pop) Cultural Marxism, Ajay, Isi, and Joseph explore vampires in media, ... more

21 Mar 2025

2 HR 30 MINS

2:30:38

21 Mar 2025


#84

Podcast for Social Research, Episode 86: The Cancer-Industrial Complex: a Book Launch and Conversati...

In episode 86 of the Podcast for Social Research, live-recorded at BISR Central, BISR's Aj... more

14 Mar 2025

2 HR 19 MINS

2:19:24

14 Mar 2025


#83

Podcast for Social Research, Episode 85.5: Mulholland Drive — a Brief Film Guide

In this shortcast edition of the Podcast for Social Research, BISR's Rebecca Ariel Porte, ... more

28 Feb 2025

39 MINS

39:07

28 Feb 2025


#82

Practical Criticism, No. 70: Roy Hargrove and the RH Factor

In episode no. 70 of Practical Criticism, Ajay surprises Rebecca with Roy Hargrove and the... more

21 Feb 2025

1 HR 08 MINS

1:08:27

21 Feb 2025


#81

Faculty Spotlight: Nazism is Not the Past — Hannah Leffingwell on Dagmar Herzog, Sex After Fascism, ...

What does sexual morality have to do with genocidal politics? In this episode of Faculty S... more

14 Feb 2025

1 HR 03 MINS

1:03:43

14 Feb 2025