My guest is Julian Feeld, an author, journalist and co-host of the QAA podcast. This summer, he launched a new show called Superstructure, co-hosted by comedian Jon Gabrus, to explore current events, history and politics for a mass audience.
Over his many years of podcasting, Julian has become one of the most knowledgeable sources on conspiracy lore and crank internet ideologies. These previously niche belief systems now thrive in today’s online environment.
Our conversation explores the impact of media, free speech and “influence” in our extremely-online society. What do we hope to accomplish through content? When does education and information begin to impact real material forces in the world?
Clearly, far right media has had a massive impact on shaping political ideation. Can this process be utilized by the left? From differing viewpoints, Julian and I explore the theory and practice of political-education and the ways in which our current media landscape has distorted democratic society.
Are American workers part of a “labor aristocracy”; counter-revolutionaries bought off by the material privileges of the first world? I think it’s hard to say that the people who have suffered under forty years of neoliberalism are also somehow the beneficiaries of empire.
This episode stakes out some important positions for what exactly we are trying to do with media. Longtime readers will appreciate this next one lol— Posters have only interpreted the world through content. The point, however, is to change it.
Julian Feeld: Can Media Shape Politics? | Doomscroll
Our conversation continues in Part 2 of this episode:
Lastly, a quick plug — I’m down to the last few copies of Class Fantasy, an action RPG card game that I made in 2024. I’m having a sale this week, so if you want to pick up a copy to play with friends over summer: you can get Class Fantasy using this link.
Inspired by games like Dungeons & Dragons and World of Warcraft, Class Fantasy pairs character classes with political ideologies. The game accommodates 2 - 12 players. Your goal is to defeat other characters in battle and achieve utopia. It’s the perfect gift for your Maoist-Third Worldist nephew, doomsday prepper divorced dad or Q Anon yoga mom.
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Tell him I hate his website
This guy is pathetic. Thanks for pointing me towards someone I can skip listening to. Must be nice not to have to work a job every day and have such a dumb attitude.