The Chauncey DeVega Show

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Ep. 120: Kelly Baker on "The Good White People" Problem Jan 14, 2017

Show notes

Kelly Baker is the guest on this week's episode of The Chauncey DeVega Show. She is the author of Gospel According to the Klan: The KKK's Appeal to Protestant America, 1915-1930, as well as The Zombies Are Coming!: The Realities of the Zombie Apocalypse in American Culture. In this week's episode of the podcast, Kelly and Chauncey talk about the "good white people" problem and racism, white identity politics and Donald Trump, the history of the Ku Klux Klan, as well as the various genres of hate mail and white toxic masculinity. Chauncey and Kelly also talk about their shared love of zombies and the not so hidden gender and racial politics of The Walking Dead TV series. During this week's podcast, Chauncey talks about going to see Barack Obama's farewell address as a member of the press, shares a fun story about the naming practices of the ghetto underclass, and gives his thoughts on what is really going on with Donald Trump's golden shower scandal. At the end of this week's episode, Chauncey also shares some thoughts on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s radicalism and the inauguration of the American fascist Donald Trump.

Ep. 119: Lester Spence on Neoliberalism and Black Politics Jan 06, 2017

Show notes

The guest, for this, the first official podcast episode of 2017, is Lester Spence. He is the author of several great books including Stare in the Darkness: The Limits of Hip-hop and Black Politics and is a frequent contributor to news outlets such as MSNBC, the BBC, and National Public Radio. Dr. Spence is also an Associate Professor of Political Science at Johns Hopkins University.

In this far ranging and broad conversation, Lester and Chauncey talk about race and popular culture, neoliberalism and black politics, why Beyonce is not "politically resistant", social media "activism", police thuggery, and the role of "black public intellectuals" at the end of the Age of Obama and through to the nightmare that will be the Age of Trump. Lester and Chauncey also talk about analog vs. digital culture and the art of being a master of the turntables.

During this week's episode of The Chauncey DeVega Show, Chauncey answers some questions sent in by friends and listeners of the show and also reads some hate mail.

Ep. 118: A Special New Year's Eve 2017 Episode Jan 01, 2017

Show notes

Happy New Year!

On this week's impromptu podcast episode, Chauncey Devega offers up some personal reflections on the year past and hopes for the upcoming 2017. What was Chauncey grateful for last year? What are his hopes for the future? On this week's podcast, Chauncey also calls up Mama DeVega on the telephone and she offers up her thoughts on Donald Trump, what we need to do going forward, what she is grateful for this past year, and the best attitude to have in life. Hint: Stay positive and do something!

Ep. 117: Ben Winters talks "Underground Airlines" Dec 24, 2016

Show notes

This week's special fundraising podcast guest is Ben Winters, author of the New York Times bestselling book "Underground Airlines". In this expansive conversation, Ben and Chauncey talk about the "what if?" scenario of how white on black chattel slavery continues into present-day America that drives "Underground Airlines", writing race and the color line as a white author, as well as the rise of Donald Trump and what the popularity of his bigotry says about America. Ben and Chauncey also discuss their mutual love of comedy, Ben's time trying to be a stand up comedian, and of course, the nuts and bolts about the craft of writing.

During this week's Christmas and holiday season episode of The Chauncey DeVega Show, per the tradition of Festivus, Chauncey airs his grievances, talks about the Christmas Card industrial complex, and shares a clip of what happens when Jean Shepherd of "A Christmas Story" fame meets the Ku Klux Klan.

Ep. 116: 1968 Olympic Legend Tommie Smith Dec 17, 2016

Show notes

This week's special fundraising podcast guest is the civil rights icon, educator, and 1968 Olympic gold medalist Dr. Tommie Smith. He is most widely known for his iconic "Black Power" salute with John Carlos. Dr. Smith has spent the decades after that iconic moment traveling the country and world sharing his life wisdom about human rights, dignity, and the power of education.

Chauncey and Dr. Smith discuss Colin Kaepernick and how he has inspired political awareness and activism among his fellow athletes, what moved Dr. Smith to sacrifice so much by speaking truth to power during the 1968 Olympics, why some people choose action and others inaction, and a lack of national moral leadership in today's America.

During this week's podcast, Chauncey also shares his initial thoughts on Rogue One: A Star Wars Story after seeing it Thursday night, reflects on "fake news" and his recent essay on Trump and America as a banana republic, and offers some comments on Barack Obama's final press conference of 2016.

Ep. 115: Van Jones Explains "The Messy Truth" About Trumplandia Dec 09, 2016

Show notes

For this month's fundraiser, I have four special guests for the podcast. This week's very special fundraising podcast features Van Jones. He has served as President Barack Obama's special adviser for green jobs and is a frequent guest commentator for news outlets such as CNN. He is also the author of Rebuild the Dream" and "The Green Collar Economy" in addition to leading several nonprofits such as Dream Corps.

In this week's episode, Van and Chauncey talk about the 2016 presidential election, "identity politics", Jones' experience talking with Trump supporters during the campaign, how the so-called "smart people" got it wrong, and his new CNN special "The Messy Truth". During this week's podcast Chauncey also shares the wisdom of George Takei on how the imprisonment of Japanese-Americans during World War 2 echoes the anxieties of the present, reads some hate mail from a Trumpthuglican troglodyte, and has an epic Cornel West moment.

Ep. 114: Zach Schonfeld Ponders Donald Trump and Andy Kaufman Dec 06, 2016

Show notes

This week's episode of The Chauncey DeVega Show features two great guests.

Documentary filmmaker Steven Okazaki stops by to discuss his new documentary 'Mifune: The Last Samurai' and to also share what his documentary about drug addiction in America's rural and suburban communities can tell us about the election of the American Il Duce Donald Trump.

Zach Schonfeld is the second guest on this week's episode of The Chauncey DeVega Show. He is a culture and politics writer for Newsweek Magazine.

In this week's episode of the podcast, Zach and Chauncey talk about the genius of Andy Kaufman, Donald Trump and political performance art, how best to fake one's own death, and "political correctness", and the business that is writing about culture and politics for a living.

During this week's podcast Chauncey explains why he was "thankful" on Thanksgiving for Donald Trump's victory, gives a soft start to the December fundraiser for the podcast and his other online work, and previews his conversation with Van Jones and the other great guests he has spoken to for the show this month. Chauncey also tells the truth about the stupid mouth breathers in places like Kentucky who hate Obama so much that they voted for Donald Trump and other Republicans who will take away their health insurance.

Ep. 113: Joe Lansdale and William Astore Ponder Trump's Victory Nov 22, 2016

Show notes

This week's episode of The Chauncey DeVega Show features two great guests. Author, writer extraordinaire, and friend of the podcast "Champion" Joe Lansdale stops by to share his thoughts on Donald Trump's winning the White House, if Trump's voters are stupid, ignorant, racist or all three, and updates us on Season Two of Hap and Leonard on SundanceTV. William Astore is the second guest on this week's episode of The Chauncey DeVega Show. He is a history professor and retired Air Force Lt. Colonel. Astore is also a contributor to TomDispatch, The Nation, Truthout, and PomfThe Huffington Post where he writes about military affairs and international relations.

In this week's episode of the podcast William and Chauncey talk about Donald Trump's "foreign policy", our shared love of Star Wars and science fiction, what it was like to be stationed at Cheyenne Mountain during the Cold War, and what real national security would look like in the United States. During this week's podcast Chauncey comes out of his media detox post-Trump period of reflection and mourning, reads a letter from someone who will be personally impacted by Trump's meanness and fascism, makes a public promise, and shares some wisdom from the political theorist and philosopher Sheldon Wolin. Chauncey also discovers a new favorite animal friend--the echidna.

Ep. 112: A Special Trump v. Clinton Election Night 2016 Episode Nov 09, 2016

Show notes

This week's very special episode of The Chauncey DeVega Show focuses on the 2016 presidential election and Donald Trump's victory over Hillary Clinton. Historian, writer, and friend of Chauncey DeVega, the one and only "Werner Herzog's Bear" aka Jason Tebbe stopped by the show Sunday night to soothe Chauncey's nerves about what could--and did--transpire on Election Day. As the horrible outcome that was Donald Trump's victory became readily apparent, Mama DeVega called in to share her analysis and thoughts. Hint: like Chauncey, she too thought that Trump would win the presidency. And like Chauncey, she too is mighty upset at the stupidity of white American voters who backed the fascist racist Donald Trump. During this week's special Election Day podcast, Chauncey cuts a promo on the Trumpthuglicans, curses the black and Latino idiots who voted for Donald Trump, and ponders the future of the United States. Chauncey also tries to resist saying "I told you so" about how he and Michael Moore predicted Trump's victory more than a year ago.

Ep. 111: Jared Yates Sexton on Violence and Donald Trump's Rallies Oct 28, 2016

Show notes

There are two guests on this week's episode of The Chauncey DeVega Show. Psychiatrist David Reiss returns to analyze Donald Trump's behavior during presidential debates and to offer his thoughts on the Republican nominee's love of sexually harassing women and other noxious behavior. Writer and New York Times guest columnist Jared Yates Sexton also returns to the show. He shares some stories about violence and vitriol at Trump's rallies, his insights about what happens on Election Day, and ideas about how we should keep the lines of communication open with the Trumpthuglicans.

During this week's podcast, Chauncey talks about Negan and the season premiere of The Walking Dead. Chauncey also shares some thoughts on the new smut film We are the Flesh that he had the misfortune of recently viewing at The Chicago International Film Festival. And Chauncey offers up some on the spot audio of the great late night mayhem at Friday's restaurant and reads some hate mail.

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