Diet Soap Podcast

Wave of Mutilation (a novella): Part One

Douglas Lain — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 19:51:09 GMT

This is an audio excerpt from my upcoming book entitled "Wave of Mutilation." Excerpts will be included at the end of each episode of Diet Soap and on their own in an attempt to promote the October release of the book from Fantastic Planet Press which is an imprint of Eraserhead Press. Here is some advance praise for "Wave of Mutilation": "In Wave of Mutilation, you will find echoes and shadings of J.G. Ballard, Philip K. Dick, Tim Powers and Walker Percy (which is stepping in some high cotton). Lain shares an obsessive fascination with the interface between technology and psychology, and has a keen eye for sharp juxtapositions (as in the contrast between eroticism and hygiene). But what I admire especially is his grasp of the subtle and pervasive mood of paranoia and melancholy that haunts our digitalized era—an elusive sense of spiritual desolation complicated by the ghostly infestation of forces and presences we can never really understand. An intellect and a questioner of literary forms, Lain is also a husbanding, fathering advocate for the Everyman in us all. The result is curiously human and intimate—down to earth, even as the universe falls apart in our hands." -Kris Saknussemm, author of Zanesville and Enigmatic Pilot

Diet Soap Podcast #119: Anarchism is Not Enough

Douglas Lain — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 08:06:45 GMT

The guest this week is professor Jodi Dean. Ms. Dean is the author of Blog Theory, the force behind a lecture entitled the Communist Horizon, and a blogger herself at the blog icite.com. She was nice enough to make the time to discuss her hypothesis that Democracy, Anarchism, and Liberalism are the three impediments we face during a time when Capitalism is in crisis. I want to thank Brian R, and Thomas J for donating to the podcast in the last week. And let them and Martin F and Chris M know that copies of my surrealist memoir entitled Pick Your Battle: Your Guide to Urban Foraging, Hollywood Movies, Late Capitalism, and the Communist Alternative will be sent out in tomorrow's mail. There are still plenty of copies of the memoir left and anyone who would like a copy and who has yet to get one should consider donating, but the big news in terms of books associated with the podcast is that starting with this episode I'll be reading excerpts from my next book, a book entitled Wave of Mutilation at the end of each episode. In mid October that book will be out from Fantastic Planet Press. That's an imprint of the Bizzarro publisher known as Eraserhead press and available through various online vendors such as Barnes and Noble and Amazon. I hope to make signed copies of that novella available through the podcast as well. I should point that you can follow me on twitter and facebook, and that my own blog douglaslain.com is now the official blog of the Diet Soap podcast (I'm retiring dietsoapcast.com). You can email me through the blog.

Diet Soap #118: The World on a String Theory

Douglas Lain — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 18:39:52 GMT

The guest this week is the author Anthony Peake. Mister Peake is the man behind the book The Daemon and this week we discuss String Theory, the Holographic Universe, Philip K. Dick, and his upcoming book the Out of Body Experience. I want to thank Martin F and Christopher M for donating to the podcast and let you both know that your copies of my surrealist memoir Pick Your Battle will be out the door soon. I should also mention that I've got a new book coming out next month. This one is a novella and it's being released from Eraserhead Press, but I hope to make signed copies available through the podcast as well. That book will be released in late October, and you'll also get to hear it on this podcast. I'll be reading excerpts from Wave of Mutilation (a novella about losing unreality) starting either next week or a week after that. Please follow me on facebook, twitter, google plus, stumbleupon, or a social media network that you make up yourself and sketch out with crayons on the back of a receipt from JC Pennys. Or go to douglaslain.com for updates for the dietsoap podcast and other stuff too.

Diet Soap Podcast #117: The Democracy of the Proletariat?

Douglas Lain — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 07:23:09 GMT

The guest this week is the Marxist and academic expert on post-Marxism Geoffrey Boucher. Professor Boucher wrote an essay criticizing Zizek's rejection of direct democracy for the Journal of Zizek Studies, and he was very kind to come to Diet Soap and discuss it. I want to thank a listener for sending me a handmade pipe (I feel it adds to my pseudointellectual persona) in exchange for a copy of my book Pick Your Battle, and also thank Nicholas J and Sam Q for donating to the podcast. Those copies of my surrealist self-help (that's PIck Your battle Your guide to Urban Foraging, Hollywood Movies, Late Capitalism, and the Communist ALternative) will be arriving in your mailboxes soon. I also want to tell everyone to find Diet Soap on Facebook, find me under douglain on twitter, to find my blog douglaslain.com, to find the dietsoapcast.com blog (and I promise I'll update it really soon, it's been dead for a month), and if you're wanting to read very odd short stories you can find me on amazon. The music in this week's episode includes the instrumental track from the Who's "Who Are You," and an acoustic guitar cover of the Spice Girls Wannabe performed by the youtube star Sam Westphalen on the AIMTVSYDNEY channel.

Diet Soap Podcast #116: Creating a New Myth?

Douglas Lain — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 22:37:34 GMT

The guest this week is professor and philosopher Ted Friedman and we discuss his essay on Jung and myth for the journal Flow. The essay is entitled Myth, the Numinous, and Cultural Studies and Ted's position is that the Marxist concept of the Myth as described by Roland Barthes in his book Mythologies is not very far from Jung's Myth as he outlined it in books such as "Flying Saucers: A Modern Myth of Things Seen in Skies." There were no donations this week, but I've still got 12 copies of my book "Pick Your Battle" sitting an empty cardboard box and I encourage listeners who enjoy the show to visit douglaslain.com or dietsoap.podomatic.com and donate $6 or more to receive a copy. Diet Soap is now available on Stitcher which is a company that streams podcasts on mobile devices and in cars, so if you're a new listener through Stitcher and you've been enjoying what you're hearing on this show consider getting a copy of the book. According to one review of the book on Amazon the book presents its own kind of myth. Sarah wrote: "this is the crossroads of Lain's experience, where theory, pop culture, and personal life meet." That's what you need, yeah? I should also tell you to follow me on Twitter , facebook, linkedin, netlog (does anybody understand what that is?), stumbleupon, and google plus. My email is douglain at gmail dot com. You should read my blog at douglain.com, check out the dietsoapcast.com blog, look for the Diet Soap facebook page, and build a shrine made of dial soap and weight watcher's happy meal in your front lawn so that the UFO people know to skip your house during the coming plagues and tribulations. The music in this episode include a cover of the Rolling Stone's You Can't Always get What You Want by the youtube star monkaholic100, a bluegrass version of PInk Floyd's Another Brick in the Wall from the album Pickin' on Pink Floyd, and the Fortress Theme from the Gameboy cartridge "Kid Icarus: of Myth and Monsters." Also: clips from the movie Zizek! and Professor Paul Fry's iTunes U lecture on Lacan and critical literary theory.

Diet Soap Podcast #115: Our Beautiful Speech Bubbles

Douglas Lain — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 07:55:14 GMT

The guest this week is the author and literature professor Timothy Morton. Timothy Morton's books include The Ecological Thought and Ecology Without Nature. I want to thank Peter K for pledging to the podcast and remind everyone that donations of six dollars or more will send a copy of my surreal memoir Pick Your Battle to you. So, before the book gets made into animated feature for Pixar you can still get a paperback copy by donating to this little podcast. The donate button is on douglaslain.com, dietsoap.podomatic.com, and dietsoapcast.com You can also follow me on facebook, twitter, google plus, stumbleupon, netlog, podomatic, and on foot. My email is douglain at gmail dot com. And I'm a Capricorn.

Diet Soap Podcast #114: Bageant's Hologram

Douglas Lain — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 07:24:18 GMT

The guest this week is the podcaster KMO and we pay tribute to the late Joe Bageant in this episode. KMO is the host of the popular C-Realm podcast, and I was glad to talk to him again as his podcast was one of the inspirations behind Diet Soap. Joe Bageant was the author of Deer Hunting with Jesus and Rainbow Pie. Joe had been kind enough to be a guest on both the C-Realm and Diet Soap before he was struck down by cancer earlier this year. You'll hear clips from episode 149 of the C-realm entitled the Stockholm Syndrome of the Soul, as well as clips from Diet Soap #68 which entitled America's Psychedelic Marxist as KMO and I talk about just what Joe's style of class war meant for us both. Before we begin I want to thank Nicholas N and Stuart P for donating to the podcast in the last week and let you both know that your copies of my strange memoir about Urban Foraging, Philosophy, and Hollywood movies will be jetting your way next week. And I still have quite a number of copies left for people who would like to donate. You can find the paypal button at dietsoap.podomatic.com, at douglaslain.com, and at dietsoapcast.com. I'm also on Facebook, twitter, google plus, and my email is douglain at gmail if you'd like to reach me.

Diet Soap #113: The US and Pakistan are Allies?

Douglas Lain — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 18:26:50 GMT

The guest this week is the freelance journalist Jed Bickman and we discuss the relationship between the US and Pakistan. This conversation was recorded a few days after the July 13th bombings in Mumbai. Those bombings have receded from the headlines, but twenty-four people were killed and more than 120 injured on that Wednesday, and the situation in Pakistan is still of vital significance. I want to thank Holly T, Thomas S, Richard B, and Babafemi M for donating to the podcast and let you know that, excluding Richard, everyone's copies of Pick Your Battle are jetting your way. Richard already has two copies and says he doesn't need a third. In fact the first person who emails me and mentions Richard's donation will get his copy instead. And I should encourage everyone who is listening who wants to make a donation that the paypal button is at douglaslain.com, dietsoapcast.com, and dietsoap.podomatic.com. Also I'm on twitter, facebook, stumbleupon, google plus, something called netlog even though I have no idea what that is, and I even have a dusty old livejournal account.

Diet Soap Podcast #112: Reaching a Limit

Douglas Lain — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 08:01:23 GMT

The guest this week is another regular for Diet Soap, the freelance journalist Margaret Kimberley. Ms. Kimberley's freedom rider column appears every Wednesday on the Black Agenda Report website, and this time we discuss this manufactured debt ceiling crisis and the bipartisan austerity agenda. The Republicans and Democrats can't agree on much, but one thing they can agree on is that Medicare and Social Security should be cut. Margaret Kimberley and I discuss how we need to cut our reliance on the Democrats and think about some third way. Just like in AA it all starts by admitting that you have a problem. I want to thank Anthony Y and Davinder B for donating to the podcast over the last week, and let you know that your copies of Pick Your Battle, my zany Situationist memoir and self-help guide to Lacan, Hollywood Movies, and Urban foraging is in the mail and jetting your way. Listeners who would like a copy need donate $6 or more to receive a copy. Also in this episode are show clips from December 2010, clips of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Louisiana Republican David Vitter describing how the debt ceiling limit was going to be a battle in 2011. Harry Reid admitted that the Democrats had chosen not to raise the debt ceiling at the same time that they voted through a spending increase. Glenn Greenwald explained the significance of that decision in April of this year.

Diet Soap Podcast #111: The Beach Beneath the Street

Douglas Lain — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 07:03:54 GMT

The guest this week would probably not call himself a philosopher, but he is the man behind the books the Hacker Manifesto, Gamer Theory, and now The Beach Beneath the Street: The Everyday Life and Glorious Times of the Situationist International. The guest? McKenzie Wark. I want to thank Tyson C for donating to the podcast this week. There are still 40 copies of my Urban Foraging, Situationist, Commie memoir "Pick Your Battle" and Mister C will be receiving his copy in the mail very soon. Those listeners to the podcasts who haven't yet contributed but who would like to read the book, a six dollar donation is the minimum. If you'd like to just write to me you can send email to me through my website which is douglaslain.com. Also I'm on twitter, facebook, google plus, linked in, youtube, amazon, stumbleupon, and my usenet group is alt.footfetish.philosophy The clips you heard in the podcast included the the for the video game Myst, the most ancient song in the world which is entitled Seikilos and which was written about 2000 years ago in ancient greece. You also heard clips from Rick Roderick, an old Columbo episode, and a random youtube clip describing the difference between strategy and tactics.

Diet Soap Podcast #110: The Partially Examined Life

Douglas Lain — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 08:35:30 GMT

The guest this week is the Musician and podcaster Mark Linsenmayer. Mark is one of the three voices behind the Partially Examined Life podcast, which is a philosophy podcast that digs in on specific philosophical texts on a regular basis. We discuss what philosophy is and what it is for. Thanks to Richard L, Paul H, John Y, and John E for donating to the podcast over the last week, and I want to remind everyone that those who donate $6 or more receive my strange philosophical memoir Pick Your Battle as a thank you gift. I should also remind everyone that there is a Facebook Community page for Diet Soap, that the Diet Soap blog is at dietsoapcast.com. Also a quick shout out to Nigel B who stopped by the Diet Soap compound last week and who watched me drink martinis at the Delta Cafe. He's the man behind the Ancient Gallery.

Diet Soap Podcast #109: Philosophical Anarchism in the USA

Douglas Lain — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 08:02:18 GMT

The guest this week is the author and comedian Dennis Perrin. Dennis is a regular guest to the podcast and this week we discuss the philosophy of Anarchism and its role on the American Left. I want to thank Adam R, Kevin S, Anthony R, and Richard L for donating to the podcast last week and let you know that a signed copy of the book Pick Your Battle is in the mail. I also want to thank Jon Meade for putting me up in Olympia last weekend after a reading at the Last Word bookstore. I met an acquistions librarian at that reading. I still have just over 50 copies left that I've set aside for people who donate to the podcast, and if you'd like to get a signed copy a $6 donation (in the US) will bring that book your way in dead tree form. Music and clips this week includes Maxence Cyrin Hong Kong Smell like teen spirits along with a song from Jim Henson's Cube.

Diet Soap Podcast #108: Writing Like It's 1999

Douglas Lain — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 07:23:10 GMT

The guest this week is Kristine Kathryn Rusch and we talked about the way publishing is changing and the challenges and opportunities that are presenting themselves to writers in this wondrous digital age. Kristine Kathryn Rusch is a prolific professional writer of all different kinds of novels and a blogger. Her blog post Writing Like It's 1999 was the blog post that motivated me to contact her for this episode. I want to thank Peadar L, Marvin B, Nigel B, and McKenzie Wark for donating to the podcast and let you know that your copies of my book "Pick Your Battle" are in the mail. McKenzie Wark is the author of The Beach Beneath the Street: The Everyday Life and Glorious Times of the Situationist International.

Diet Soap #107: The Déjà Experience

Douglas Lain — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 07:33:33 GMT

The guest this week is Anthony Peake, the author of several books including Cheating the Ferryman. Peake is a sufferer of migrane headaches, explorer of altered states of consciousness, near death experiences, deja experiences, and proponent of what I'll risk characterizing as a mystical perspective on reality who is, at the same time, grounded and quite open intellectually and philosophically. I look forward to having him back on the show to discuss German idealism and specifically Fichte alongside the lucid dreaming phenomena. This means I'll have to read some Fichte first, and I'll be reading this icon of German idealism at Peake's suggestion. This episode serves as a sort of introduction to the ideas that Anthony Peake and I will work to find the time to chew over in upcoming episodes. Facebook has shown itself to be something more than a timewaster here.

Diet Soap Podcast #106: The Holy Mountain is a Movie

Douglas Lain — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 08:29:30 GMT

The guests this week are Michael Richardson and Marty Hollingsworth, the two voices behind the Flickers from the Cave podcast, which is actually not a philosophy podcast about Plato but a podcast mostly about B-grade movies. However, Micahel, Marty and I discuss the Jodorowsky's cult classic "Holy Mountain" which is a film that Jodorowsky later claimed fell outside of the history of cinema and was beyond criticism.

Diet Soap Podcast #105: Television on the Wire

Douglas Lain — Fri, 27 May 2011 07:46:08 GMT

The guest this week is the philosopher and rhetor Daniel Coffeen and we discuss one of his favorite television programs: David Simon's the Wire. We also discuss the nightmare of David Lynch, Deleuze, and the concept that Capital might be the one supposed to know. I want to thank Benjamin W and Thom K for donating to the podcast. Five boxes of my Pick Your Battle book, weighing a total of 168 lbs are on their way to me as of today. They are scheduled to arrive on June 2nd, which is a week later than I'd anticipated, but they are on their way. The sound collage includes music from Minecraft, sounds from Pacman, an old tv commercial featuring Mr. Hooper from Seasame street as Grandpa, as well as clips of Negativland, qbert, Computer Space, and of course my conversation with Ben about the Production of Space. In the next few days a video version of that collage will be going up on Thought Catalog, as well as a separate essay on the subject that approaches the same idea from a different direction.

Diet Soap Podcast #104: To Dream of Falling Upwards

Douglas Lain — Wed, 18 May 2011 09:19:46 GMT

The guest this week is Antero Alli, the paratheatrical director and author of Angel Tech. Antero Alli will be in Portland on May 19th and May 20th to present his new film To Dream of Falling Upwards. I want to thank Kim h and Penny R for donating to the podcast over the last week, and remind everyone that a donation of $6 or more will get you a copy of my new book Pick your Battle. I also want to thank Jason Rizos for creating a fantastic youtube video to help promote the book. The collage essay at the end included clips from Symbiopsychotaxiplasm and Adam Sandler's click. That was an essay I wrote for Thought Catalog and in order to help promote my other new book, a short story collection called Fall Into Time.

Diet Soap #103: My Chicken Believes in the Revolution

Douglas Lain — Thu, 12 May 2011 08:31:40 GMT

The returning guest this week is the philosopher and psychoanalyst Adrian Johnston, and we discuss his book Badiou, Zizek, and Political Transformations. This is part two of a two part conversation. Thank you Andrew M, Kurt O, Penny R, Michael S, and Lukas M for donating to the podcast and getting the Pick Your Battle book. The book is at the printers now and should be arriving here around the 26th. Those of you who haven't already ordered a copy can get one by donating to the podcast. The minimum donation is $6 to receive the book in the mail, but I should tell you the book is now available in the Amazon Kindle store for $5.95 as well, so if you prefer to read on a Kindle and save a nickle that's an option too. I should also announce that my second short story collection entitled "Fall Into Time" was recently released from Eraserhead Press and is also available on Amazon.

Diet Soap Podcast #102: How to Act In Case of an Event

Douglas Lain — Thu, 05 May 2011 07:57:49 GMT

The philosopher and psychoanalyst Adrian Johnston returns this week to discuss his book Badiou, Zizek, and Political Transformations. The conversation lasted two hours so this episode will be part one of a two part examination of the act, the event, and how to strive for both. Also, in case you're wondering, Osama bin Laden is still dead. The Pick Your Battle guide to Urban Foraging, Critical Theory and groping towards a Praxis is still available to everyone who donates $6 or more to the podcast, and I want to thank Andrew M, Sami R, Richard B, and James L for making a donation in exchange for a copy of the book.

Diet Soap Podcast #101: A Shaman in Plato's Cave

Douglas Lain — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 08:18:23 GMT

Niall Murphy, also known as Opaque Lens, is the host of the psychedelic podcast Shamanic Freedom Radio and the guest this week. In keeping with the philosophical outlook of Diet Soap, Niall and I discuss Plato's Allegory of the Cave, and the impossibility of living with absolute knowledge. Orson Welles narrates the allegory of the cave, I edit like a silly madman, and the excerpt from the Pick Your Battle book at the end is a bit that didn't make the final cut in the actual book. Also, Miriam reads a poem for this week's Titanic factoid.

Diet Soap Podcast #100: Analytic vs Continental Philosophy

Douglas Lain — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 08:18:53 GMT

The guest this week is Ben Burgis. An American analytic philosopher working in South Korea, Burgis is a fiction writer and a doctor...in philosophy. We discuss the difference between Continental and Analytic philosophy, but what are these different philosophies? According to Wikipedia: Analytic philosophy is a generic term for a style of philosophy that came to dominate English-speaking countries in the 20th century. Analytic philosphers generally hold the positivist view that there are no specifically philosophical truths and that the object of philosophy is the logical clarification of thoughts. Many analytic philosophers have considered their inquiries as continuous with, or subordinate to, those of the natural sciences. Analytic philosophers also frequently hold the view that the logical clarification of thoughts can only be achieved by analysis of the logical form of philosophical propositions. On the other hand Continental philosophy, in contemporary usage, refers to a set of traditions of 19th and 20th century philosophy from mainland Europe. Continental philosophers generally reject scientism, the view that the natural sciences are the only or most accurate way of understanding phenomena. Continental philosophers often argue that science depends upon a "pre-theoretical substrate of experience" a form of the Kantian conditions of possible experience, and that scientific methods are inadequate to understand such conditions of intelligibility. Continental philosophy usually considers these conditions of possible experience as variable: determined at least partly by factors such as context, space and time, language, culture, or history. Continental philosophy typically holds that conscious human agency can change these conditions of possible experience: "if human experience is a contingent creation, then it can be recreated in other ways. Ben Burgis holds a PHD in philosophy, teaches philosophy, and is an analytic philosopher. I have a Bachelor's degree in philosophy that I earned well over a decade ago and am just a fanboy of Continental philosophers like Zizek, Marx, Guy Debord and hopefully one day Hegel.

Diet Soap #99: After the Revolution?

Douglas Lain — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 22:30:55 GMT

The guest this week is the Marxist economist Andrew Kliman, and we discuss Parecon, computer overlords, mining, and how to conceptualize the possibility of life after a socialist or communist revolution. Kliman is a member of the Marxist Humanist Initiative, and here is a link to his essay What Happens After the Revolution? This coming Saturday, April 16th will mark the beginning of the third year of the Diet Soap podcast, and I'm starting a funding drive for the podcast. Donations of $6 or more will entitle you to a copy of my new book Pick Your Battle: Your Guide to Urban Foraging, Hollywood Films, Late Capitalism, and the Communist Alternative (a memoir). There is not a maximum amount a person can donate, and people who enjoy the podcast and want Diet Soap to continue are encourage to donate just exactly as much as they feel they can afford.

Diet Soap Podcast #98: A Schizophrenic Revolution

Douglas Lain — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 19:45:17 GMT

The writer and blogger Jed Bickman is the guest this week. Jed responded to my conversation with Daniel Coffeen on twitter with a complaint. We hadn't covered what was most radical, most hopeful, about Gilles Deleuze. So Jed is here this week to add to our understanding, and we discuss the Body without Organs and Schizophrenia as well as the molecular revolution. Other voices on the podcast include Philip K. Dick, Rick Roderick, and RD Laing. Also the music of Britney Spears, the Four Lads, and Marilyn Monroe as well as the theme from the original Star Trek can be heard. Last week I mentioned the Counter-Counter Insurgency conference that will be taking place on the Reed College campus, but I was mistaken about the date. That conference is this weekend. I'll be attending. If anyone wants to meet up there please send me an email through douglaslain.com.

One Thousand Words #5: Manet's A Bar at the Folies-Bergère

Douglas Lain — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 03:08:33 GMT

Now that the Pick Your Battle book is completed I'll hopefully have more time to spend creating the One Thousand Words podcast. Benjamin and I discuss Manet's "A Bar at the Folies-Bergere", as well as the 80's (1880s) phenomenon of the Café-chantant (or the Singing Cafe.) Zizek, Neo, and Liza Manelli stop in to help elaborate on the irregularities and mysteries of the new petite bourgeois and their refined tastes. (I thought I'd share this one here as well as over on the regular Libsyn page.)

Diet Soap Podcast #97: Capitalism's Cycles of Crisis

Douglas Lain — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 07:31:33 GMT

Brendan Cooney returns for the second part of a two part conversation about the economic crisis, the declining rate of profit, underconsumption, and the economic philosophy of our best pal Karl Marx. We also discuss Net Neutrality and the great Comcast/Apple Computer conspiracy (the name of that conspiracy is of course Capitalism.) We say goodbye to Joe Bageant this week. Joe was taken by cancer, and I like to think he's up in heaven tripping balls with Tim Leary and Terence McKenna. Joe was a true working class hero and a terrific writer. His books Deer Hunting With Jesus and Rainbow Pie put the Red in Red Neck, while his spirit and humor put heart and soul back into politics. Listen for a homage sound montage at the end of the podcast. I'll miss you, Joe. There is a Counter-Counter Insurgency Convergence at Reed College this weekend. That's my neighborhood so if you're in Portland and want to meet up for this contact me through douglaslain.com.

Diet Soap Podcast #96: Marxism and Value

Douglas Lain — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 07:56:36 GMT

The Marxist autodidact, youtube star, and blogger Brendan Cooney discusses the economic philosophy of that big German guy Karl Marx. Cooney is a very accessible and entertaining thinker and pedagogue. In other Lain related news my short story "The Last Apollo Mission" is available at flurb. What is flurb? It's an online 'zine of astonishing tales usually edited and published by Rudy Rucker but, this month, edited by Eileen Gunn. Also there are Cooney clips about Kapitalism this week, and Miriam warns us about the card sharps on the Titanic.

Diet Soap Podcast #95: Wisconsin Workers Struggle On

Douglas Lain — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 07:43:44 GMT

Independent journalist Margaret Kimberley returns to discuss the labor struggle in Wisconsin, to argue for the need to get out from under the Democratic Party, and to consider the US scene in the context of the Tunisian and Egyptian victories. The last collaged essay from my urban foraging/critical theory book entitled Pick Your Battle is featured, as well as a Titanic Factoid. My best goes out to the people in Japan.

Diet Soap Podcast #94: Acting Out Wildfire

Douglas Lain — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 22:29:37 GMT

Literary Theory, embodied philosophy, writing fiction, and the sub-alternative uprising are all topics for this week's discussion with the novelist Andrea Hairston. We also discuss her new book Redwood and Wildfire, Bertolt Brecht, the performance artist Anna Deavere Smith, and how the struggle in Wisconsin makes us hopeful and glad. The music and sounds this week include Laurie Anderson's Zero and One, Anna Deavere Smith channeling Studs Turkel, Scott Joplin's Swipsey, as well as clips from the television program Fridays, a documentary on Bertolt Brecht, and a prank call to the Apple Store.

Diet Soap Podcast #93: The Dialectical Imagination

Douglas Lain — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 09:17:42 GMT

Critical Theory and the Frankfurt School is the subject of discussion with guest professor Martin Jay in this philosophy podcast. Professor Martin Jay is the author of The Dialectical Imagination, and this book written in 1968 was a philosophical history outlining the critical theories of the Frankfurt School philosophers. The conversation especially focuses on the ideas of Theodor Adorno. The music in this episode includes clips from the 1910 Fruitgum Factory's Simon Says, Schoenberg's String Quartet No 2, the Icelandic band Mum's composition They Made Frogs Smoke Until They Exploded, and Theodor Adorno's Streichquartet. Also featured is Miriam's Titanic Factoid.

Diet Soap Podcast #92: Winter Journey

Douglas Lain — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 21:00:07 GMT

There are two guests this week, the tenor Kenneth Beare, and the pianist Maria Choban. We discuss their interpretation of Schubert's most celebrated song cycle, Die Winterreise (or Winter Journey). Also in this episode: Chris Isto White singing Mozarts Non Piu Andrai along with Andy Kaufman reading F Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby.

Diet Soap Podcast #91: Coffeen on Deleuze

Douglas Lain — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 20:50:15 GMT

Philosopher and rhetor Daniel Coffeen returns and repeats on the podcast this week and we discuss the french philosopher Gilles Deleuze. Also featured this week are clips from a Carlos Castaneda interview circa 1969 and sound collages about Bishop George Berkeley and perception. Miriam presents a Titanic factoid. In Lain household news the chickens are laying again.

Diet Soap Special: Revolution and Representation

Douglas Lain — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 07:19:34 GMT

This is a special edition of Diet Soap podcast, a follow-up episode to #90 that fits in with the themes in the last One Thousand Words podcast about Edouard Manet's Luncheon on the Grass. If you recall in that episode Ben and I ended up discussing Henri Lefebvre's idea of the Production of Space, and that same idea is the subject we take on in this episode.

Diet Soap #90: Walk Like an Egyptian

Douglas Lain — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 10:01:29 GMT

Radical geographer and professor Neil Smith is the guest this week as we discuss Egypt, revolution, Kant, Lefebvre, and revolution again. Also this week you'll hear an excerpt from my book Pick Your Battle. The excerpt is entitled the Limbo of a Firing. Chris Isto White provides a song, and Miriam provides a Titanic factoid.

Diet Soap #89: Stayin' Alive

Douglas Lain — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 09:03:51 GMT

The guest this week is the author and historian Jefferson Cowie and we discuss his book Staying Alive, the 1970s and the last days of the working class. I want to mention the mass movement to depose Hosni Mubarak in order to clearly state my support for the people of Egypt. There are those on both sides of the political spectrum, left and right, who simply can't imagine that oppressed people might organize collectively to change their circumstances...Yes we might, and yes we can. Check out the Diet Soap blog which is now at dietsoapcast.comThere is a link to a survey on the blog right now. If you would like to let me know what you think of the podcast participating in the survey is one way to do it.

Diet Soap #88: Being Who You Pretend to Be

Douglas Lain — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 08:28:28 GMT

The author and former podcaster Jason Horsley is the guest this week. Jason recently stopped blogging, stopped podcasting, and suspended the online encounter group SWEDA. One of the reasons behind these moves has been some uncomfortable revelations about a spiritual teacher Jason had been following, and this week we discuss gurus, anti-gurus, and pretending. You are who you pretend to be? A listener to the podcast reminded me to remind you that you can subscribe to the Diet Soap podcast through iTunes. Also this week another excerpt from the Pick Your Battle Book as well as another Titanic factoid.

Episode #87: Dennis Perrin's Mentors

Douglas Lain — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 16:59:36 GMT

Blogger, comic, and media critic Dennis Perrin discusses his relationship with Christopher Hitchens, Michael O'Donoghue, Jeff Cohen, and his army Drill Sergeant. Music includes Harry and Sandra Chapin's hit Cat's in the Cradle as played on the piano by the youtube star frajen86, and the youtuber pachacamacs covering Neil Young's hit Old Man. Also there is a Titanic factoid.

One Thousand Words #3: Manet's Luncheon in the Grass

Douglas Lain — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 05:33:18 GMT

After a long hiatus the One Thousand Words podcast is revived. Benjamin and I discuss Manet's Dejeuner sur l'herbe (Luncheon in the Grass), as well as Clement Greenberg's take on Manet, John Berger's comments on the nude, Arthur Danto on photography and modernism, and Henri Lefebvre's concept of social space. (I thought I'd share this revival here as well as over on the regular Libsyn page.)

Diet Soap #86: Yarn

Douglas Lain — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 08:20:56 GMT

The guest this week is the author and podcaster Jon Armstrong. Jon discusses his novel Yarn which was recently released from Night Shade Books, the baffling qualities of our highly designed and completely disposable landscape, and his podcast If You're Just Joining Us. Everyone who is socially mediated should find the Diet Soap community page on facebook, follow me douglain on twitter, check out the new dietsoapcast.com blog, and read my blog at douglaslain.com.

Diet Soap #85: The Federal Reserve and the Circle of Cash

Douglas Lain — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 02:35:18 GMT

The guest this week is the freelance journalist Mike Whitney, and we discuss his essay for Counterpunch "Bernanke's Dollar Policy,"which amounted to discussing quantitative easing and the Federal Reserve. Friend of the Diet Soap podcast Jason Rizos is running a Kickstarter campaign. He's asking for help publishing a short story collection entitled The Chrysalis of Matter. My best goes out to Joe Bageant.

Diet Soap Podcast #0: Philosophy, Ideology, and Mister Rogers

Douglas Lain — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 08:41:11 GMT

This week's podcast is numbered Zero. After nearly a month on hiatus I felt it would be appropriate to put together a reintroduction to the podcast for both new and old listeners. The subject this week is the Ideology of Mister Rogers and both Benjamin and Miriam chime in with comments. This essay/collage is an excerpt from the Pick Your Battle book that is tentatively scheduled to be released in late January of 2011. Also featured this week is Chris Isto White's "Footsteps in My Head" off his album "Let's Get Friendly" which is available on iTunes.

Diet Soap Flucast- Masters of Suspicion

Douglas Lain — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 06:48:04 GMT

The 85th episode of this podcast has been postponed by a week due to illness. Everyone in the Lain family except for the youngest child has been laid low by a stomach flu virus recently. So instead of an interview, collage, and Titanic factoid this week features another lecture by the philosopher Rick Roderick. According to Wikipedia Rick Roderick "lived from 1949 to 2002 was born in Abilene, Texas, son of a 'con-man' and a 'beautician'. He was a teacher of philosophy at several universities, where he was much revered by many students for a socratic style of teaching combined with a brash and often humorous approach. His breakthrough into wider circles came with his engagement with The Teaching Company where he recorded several memorable lecture series." The Title of the Lecture is "Masters of Suspicion."

Diet Soap Podcast #84: You Should've Heard Just What I Seen

Douglas Lain — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 23:06:38 GMT

The guest this week is the author and rock critic Bill Brown whose new book "You Should've Heard Just What I Seen" is now available on Lulu. The book is a collection of newspaper articles and concert reviews written between 1981 and 1984. Bill Brown is a rock critic and pro-situationist 'zine editor. His underground radical 'zine Not Bored has been around since 1983 and is still appearing regularly online and by mail. Also featured this week an excerpt from my Pick Your Battle book project as well as a Thanksgiving Titanic Factoid.

Diet Soap Podcast #83: The Right to the City

Douglas Lain — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 10:08:36 GMT

The guest this week is Professor Neil Smith. Professor Smith is a Distinguished Professor of Anthropology and Geography at the Graduate Center department of the City University of New York and the author of the book Uneven Development: Culture, Capital, and the Production of Space We discuss Henri Lefebvre, the Production of Space, and the Right to the City Movement.

Diet Soap Podcast #82: Beyond Foreclosure

Douglas Lain — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 08:46:09 GMT

The guest this week is the freelance journalist Margaret Kimberley whose Freedom Rider column appears weekly in the Black Agenda Report. Ms Kimberley is a returning guest to the podcast and this time we mostly discuss the Foreclosure crisis and housing as a human right Chris Isto White returns this week with two songs: Ubermensch #438 Metro-Police State and Clockwork Isto. His newest album is Slackjaw Dr. Straw and is available on iTunes.

Diet Soap Podcast #81: Experiencing Synchronicity

Douglas Lain — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 08:17:09 GMT

Mike Clelland is the guest this week. Clelland is a comic strip artist, blogger, and experiencer. What has Clelland experienced? Among other thing Mike has known synchronicities, missing time, and UFOs. This week also features a short excerpt from Chris Floyd's reaction to the US mid-term election, an excerpt from my Pick Your Battle book, and an update on the final Diet Soap print edition which is now available through Lulu.

Diet Soap Ghostcast: Nietzche's Progeny

Douglas Lain — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 06:55:56 GMT

This ghostcast of Diet Soap features Rick Roderick's lecture Nietzche's Progeny which was originally a video lecture for the Teaching Company. From his bio at the Teaching Company's website: Professor Roderick held teaching positions at Baylor University, the University of Texas, Duke University and National University in Los Angeles. His areas of specialization were Marx and Marxism, Social and Political Philosophy, Critical Theory (Habermas and the Frankfurt School), 19th-Century Philosophy, and Contemporary Continental Philosophy. He also taught Ethics, Logic, History of Modern Philosophy, Aesthetics, and Existentialism. Roderick died in 2002.

Diet Soap Podcast #80: Zizek's Ontology (pt. 2)

Douglas Lain — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 19:06:35 GMT

This week you'll be hearing the second half of a conversation with Professor Adrian Johnston the author of Zizek's Ontology: A Transcendental Materialist Theory of Subjectivity. We'll discuss the various ways philosophy can intersect with and help reshape everyday life and attempts to change it. Part two of my essay on the ontology of Project Blue Beam, which is an excerpt from the Pick Your Battle book project, some excerpts from Zizek's lectures, along with a Titanic factoid can also be heard.

Diet Soap Podcast #79: Zizek's Ontology

Douglas Lain — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 07:42:48 GMT

The guest this week is Professor Adrian Johnston the author of the book Zizek's Ontology: A Transcendental Materialist Theory of Subjectivity. We discuss Zizek's ontology, along with the ontological and epistemological ideas in the works of John Locke, Immanuel Kant, Bishop George Berkeley, and that big German guy Hegel. My son Benjamin appears briefly to discuss the movie Tron, and Miriam presents the Titanic factoid.

Diet Soap Podcast #78: Native Star

Douglas Lain — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 07:21:57 GMT

The guest this week is the author MK Hobson and we discuss her new book Native Star, the anxiety of authorship, and marketing as a form of magic. MK Hobson's novel is a steampunk romance, a fantasy novel, and a secret complaint against marketing. The music this week includes Chris Isto White's songs "Satan's Working Overtime" and "Why Spend the Day Looking for a PIck When You can Just Play fingerstyle)."

Diet Soap Podcast #77: The Lacan Hour

Douglas Lain — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 20:46:48 GMT

The guest this week is the writer, editor, and filmmaker Erich Kuersten. Erich is the editor of the film journal Acidemic, and the filmmaker behind the youtube hit the Lacan Hour. Although I forgot to mention it in the episode, the music this week includes Tom Lehrer's theme for the film "Oedipus Rex," and the Titanic factoid this week is a rerun. In episode 61 Miriam and I discussed Slavoj Zizek's understanding of the Titanic as a symptom and this week that Factoid returns.

Diet Soap Podcast #76: Needs, Limits, and Control

Douglas Lain — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 19:54:48 GMT

The guest this week is Frank Rotering, whose project is the development of an economic logic based on needs and limits rather than on manufactured desires. This is Franks' second appearance on the podcast. Also this week Miriam answers the question, "How many pounds did it cost to purchase a first class ticket on the Titanic?"

Diet Soap Podcast #75: Dangerous Laughter

Douglas Lain — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 18:32:04 GMT

The stand-up comic, author, and blogger Dennis Perrin returns this week and we discuss comedy for comedy's sake, Steve Martin's descent, and Dennis's own confessional comedy. Music heard in this episode includes Sid Vicious of the Sex Pistols singing Paul Anka's "My Way." Chris Isto White singing Lesley Gore's "It's My Party," A synthesizer version of "The Candy Man," Hari Krishna from the blissful Spring of 1967, the theme for the videogame Roblox, Alan Watts on Nothingness, clips from the Aries Music Synthesizer Demo Record circa 1971, Rick Roderick talking about our postmodern culture, the Blade Runner theme, the theme to the New Age film entitled "The Power," Terry Riley's In C, A Hip Hop Remix of Scobby Doo, and an excerpt from Leonard Bernstein's Mass.

Diet Soap Podcast #74: The Dialectics of Stand-Up

Douglas Lain — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 20:52:51 GMT

The guest this week is the blogger, author, and comedian Dennis Perrin. We make a game out of the history of stand-up comedy in the United States. This week's episode also features an excerpt from the Pick Your Battle book.

Diet Soap Podcast #73: Noise

Douglas Lain — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 03:40:35 GMT

The guest this week is the novelist Darin Bradley whose novel Noise tells the story of society's collapse as seen through the eyes of a confused individualist anarchist middle class college student. Darin and I discuss his PHD in literature, cognitive theory, structuralism, anarchism, and collapse. The music you'll hear inlcudes the song "It's the Real Thing" from a 1970s Coca Cola commercial, Hussalonia's "Rossums Universal Ragtime Robots." A Piano Roll version of the Al Jolson's "Me and My Shadow," Zygmaunt Krauze's "The Star," a 1960s advertisement for Colt 45 malt liquor, the theme song for the movie the Burbs, an instrumental guitar version of the Beatles' "Strawberry Fields" forever, and Philip Glass's Geometery of Circles for Seasame Street.

Diet Soap Podcast #72: Ways of Knowing

Douglas Lain — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 22:17:44 GMT

The guest this week is podcaster, seer, author, and leader of SWEDA (the Stormy Weather Existenstial Detective Agency) Jason Horsley. We discuss Gustave Courbet, William Blake, and ways of knowing. His new podcast Warts and Storms can be found at aeoluskephas.com. The music this week includes the instrumental pop hit Cissy Strut by the Meters, the disco hit Moonboots by Orlando Riva Sound, Luigi Russolo's Macchina Tipografica , Danny Elfman's Breakfast Machine (also known as the theme to Pee Wee Herman's Big Adventure), and the sound from a beautiful machine advertisement for Coca Cola as lifted from youtube. The episode also features clips from lectures by the late Rick Roderick.

Diet Soap Podcast #71: Dolls Eyes in the Supercenter

Douglas Lain — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 22:09:33 GMT

The guest this week is author and professor Jason Rizos, and we discuss his novel Supercenter, predictive programming, the movie the Last Starfighter, and our anxieties around writing fiction. You'll also hear his very funny short story Doll Eyes.

Diet Soap Podcast #70: Boundary Dissolution

Douglas Lain — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 17:07:10 GMT

Musician and podcaster Jon Meade is the guest this week and we discuss his ideas about boundary dissolution, psychedelics, black bloc politics, being a teenager after the events of 911, and the pros and cons of dualisms. A different edit of this same conversation will be featured on his Boundary Dissolution podcast in the near future. On another note, don't forget to check out my new podcast with my 13 year old son Benjamin: One Thousand Words where we'll be discussing the history of avant garde art and modern art painting every week.

Diet Soap Podcast #69: Fighting the Control System with a Northern Song

Douglas Lain — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 19:03:25 GMT

Neil Kramer of the blog the Cleaver is the guest this week and we discuss class, accents, the Transitional Alchemy tour, and the control system. The music this week includes Art Tatum's Ain't Misbehavin', Daft Punk's Around the World, a mantra to Ganesh, the Beatles song Only a Northern Song (with vocals removed), Bang on a Can's "Stroking Piece," and the Kronos Quartet's "Four for Tango."

Diet Soap Podcast #68-Joe Bageant:A Psychedelic American Marxist

Douglas Lain — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 08:05:49 GMT

Joe Bageant is the guest this week and we discuss psychedelics, Marxist theory, and the collapse of the American dream. Ginsburg's Howl is also mentioned and featured. Also this week you'll hear Terry Riley's "In C," Chris Isto White's "Spirit in a Bottle," and a Titanic Facoid. Don't forget to check out my new podcast with my 13 year old son Benjamin: One Thousand Words where we'll be discussing the history of avant garde art and modern art painting every week.

One Thousand Words: Episode One

Douglas Lain — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 20:56:02 GMT

I'm posting this premiere on the Diet Soap RSS feed in order to let you know about this new podcast called One Thousand Words. Ben and I explore the entirety of art history starting with cave paintings and running through to a statue of George Washington. Benjamin will be helping with a podcast focusing on Art History. Starting next week we'll pick a new painting every week and talk about the meaning and context around each work. The aim is to cover 100 years of Avant Garde or modern art. From the Paris Commune to the birth of postmodernism. (1870-1970)

Diet Soap #67: Seeing Red Radio

Douglas Lain — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 06:54:20 GMT

The guest this week is a controversial figure. Anthony Udell is the host of a podcast and radio program called Seeing Red Radio, and he's an out and out Marxist. You'll hear the music of Red Shadow, Albino, Faith Petric, and Kokolo, along with an anti-New Age essay/rant and a collage about psychedelics and placebos.

Diet Soap Podcast #66: Transcending Capitalism

Douglas Lain — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 09:20:52 GMT

Author and podcaster Eileen Workman is the guest this week as I close out the "Pick Your Battle" book funding campaign and get to work. We discuss her book "Sacred Economics: Transcending Capitalism" and her hope for a society based on maturity and natural systems of indirect giving. I was recently a guest on a movie review/discussion podcast "Flickers from the Cave|" along with KMO. We discussed the film "They Live." Chris Isto White is back this week offering his cover of "If You Wish Upon a Star" and his original song "I Always See Rainbows." Thank you to everyone who backed my book project. One way to get updates about my progress would be to sign up for the free Diet Soap Newsletter. You can find the form for that at dietsoap.podomatic.com.

Diet Soap Podcast Supplement: A Potluck/Dérive

Douglas Lain — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 05:51:42 GMT

This final supplemental episode is a mash-up. A Potluck/Psychogeographic wander is blended with an essay about the danger of rerunning the past. The "Pick Your Battle" Kickstarter project was successfully funded on Friday when Eileen Workman made a huge pledge to get the project to 6000 exactly. If you'd like to preorder the book you still have 48 hours to do so, but this campaign is now 104% funded. Thank you, Eileen! And thank you to the other 162 people who pledged. That just about wraps up "Picking a Battle." All that's left is a Titanic factoid, and an attempt to start a revolution and alchemical transition.

Diet Soap Podcast #65: The Lain Family and the Problem of Ideology

Douglas Lain — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 09:16:31 GMT

The guest this week is professor Ron Strickland whose youtube videos on Cultural Theory and Althusser provided the jumping off point for our conversation. Also featured this week are Benjamin, Emma, Noah, and Simon Lain. After Ben's guest appearance on last weekend's podcast the entire Lain family wanted to get in on the act. There are five days left to my "Pick Your Battle" book project and Kickstarter campaign, we're 84% to the goal, and pledges now are most welcome.

Diet Soap Podcast Supplement: What is the Spectacle?

Douglas Lain — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 21:26:48 GMT

My 13 year old son is the last minute guest this time and I lecture him on the subject of the Spectacle for 35 minutes or so. Unschooling at work? The music of Bad Plus is featured prominently in this episode, as are the ideas of Freud, Debord, and eventually Zizek. The Kickstarter "Pick Your Battle" Campaign is 71% funded and there are 9 days left. Consider pledging?

Diet Soap Podcast #64: The Question of How

Douglas Lain — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 08:54:34 GMT

Rhetor and philosopher Daniel Coffeen is a returning guest, a guest less interested in what is said than how one goes about saying it. The F-word and other cusses from the 80s get thrown around like we're the stars from Hot Tub Time Machine in this instant classic. Coffeen's UC Berkeley lectures on Rhetoric are available on iTunes U. The music on the podcast includes Charles Ives' the Unanswered Question, Erik Satie's Gymnopédies, Kurt Weill's Speak Low, and Stravinsky's A Soldier's Tale. The Pick Your Battle/New Age/Self Help/Marxist tract or book project is currently 65% funded with 12 days left to the deadline. Please chip in if you can.

Diet Soap Podcast Supplement: A Bizarro Dérive

Douglas Lain — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 07:57:00 GMT

Bizarro author Cameron Pierce is the guest for this supplemental podcast for the "Pick Your Battle" Kickstarter book project. Cameron and I discuss how he attempts to service the virus called language through his literary efforts, the concept of psychogeography, and more specifically the concept of the Dérive. You'll also hear clips of Laurie Anderson, My Dinner with Andre, and the Justice League cartoon show.

Diet Soap Podcast #63: Radical Unschooling

Douglas Lain — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 09:04:20 GMT

Author and unschooling advocate Dayna Martin is the guest this week and we discuss her book Radical Unschooling - the revolution has begun, the idea of an intellectual or literary canon, the pros and cons of television, and Captain Von Trapp's whistle. This episode also contains ignorant chickens, vanished messengers, and reminiscences about family life with a Titanic fanatic. Also I thank everyone who has backed my "Pick Your Battle" Kickstarter project. There are 19 days left.

Diet Soap Podcast Supplement: Real Food

Douglas Lain — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 17:34:20 GMT

Barth Anderson is known as the blogger El Dragón at the Fair Food Fight, he is also a novelist and short story writer. Barth and I discuss farms, chickens, and the real food movement. Also featured in this episode is my collaged version of a blog entry about my children's trip to Disneyland and a song and letter of complaint regarding Breakfast Cereals performed by and written to Hussalonia. And, of course, I urge you to pledge to my Kickstarter campaign. Finally, I forgot to mention but want to dedicate this episode to our now deceased chicken Amber, a chicken who clung to life inside her cardboard box.

Diet Soap Podcast # 62: God and His Demons

Douglas Lain — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 08:06:26 GMT

Michael Parenti is the guest this week and we discuss his book "God and His Demons." Cornel West has said of Parenti "[He] is a towering prophetic voice in American life. We need him now more than ever.” Also featured is Pete Seeger singing Joe Hill's "The Preacher and the Slave," the theme from the film Skidoo, and a youtube piano cover of REM's Losing My Religion. And let's not forget a factoid about religion aboard the Titanic.

Diet Soap Podcast Supplement: Ideology and Consciousness

Douglas Lain — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 00:36:42 GMT

KMO gets me to admit that the Diet Soap podcast is really just a strange reflection of his podcast the C-Realm. It is, in fact, through its identification with the distorted mirror image that is Diet Soap that the C-Realm forms its subjectivity. Follow? We also discuss his book and Kickstarter campaign Conversations on Collapse, politics, and collapse. Ron Strickland, Number 6, Terrel Seltzer (from the Situationist film Call it Sleep), Neo, Rowdy Roddy Piper, and Mandy Patinkin can be heard on the collages that feature the music of Sondheim, Tears for Fears, and the Bad Plus. If you'd like attend a Pick Your Battle/Psychogeographic wander and potluck in the Woodstock neighborhood send an email to douglain at dietsoap dot org and let me know. I'm planning to wander en masse on July 10th.

Diet Soap Podcast #61: A Post-Traumatic Age?

Douglas Lain — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 10:01:01 GMT

Artist and activist Daniel Shea is the guest this week and we discuss the Vietnam war, post-traumatic stress, and the need for social change. You'll also hear the themes from the Mickey Mouse Club, MASH, and Foxtrot Tango Alpha. Jane Fonda and Slavoj Zizek can be heard in this podcast. I also read aloud the names of those who have pledged to the writing of my psychogeographic, foraging, (anti)self-help book and Kickstarter campaign, and I show up for the Titanic factoid and describe our overdetermined Titanic dream.

Diet Soap Podcast Supplement: Ideology and Fruit Trees

Douglas Lain — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 06:19:34 GMT

In this Diet Soap supplemental podcast I talk to Bob Hatton from the Portland Fruit Tree Project and edit together a collage featuring talk of manufactured consent and ideology. I want to encourage people to pledge to my kickstarter campaign for the writing, printing, and distribution of a radical self-help book on how to "Pick a Battle." Music in this podcast includes Chris Isto White's cover of Moonglow, Tibet2Timbuk2's Lotus Born, and Ani DiFranco and Utah Phillip's cover of the internationale.

Diet Soap Podcast #60: Romanticism is a Noun

Douglas Lain — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 16:44:44 GMT

Short story writer Brett Cox is the guest this week as we discuss publishing, 'zines, and romanticism. Also this week is music from Steve Reich and theme music from the PBS children's program Reading Rainbow and the BBC's Rainbow. The voices of Philip K. Dick, Robert Crumb, and Isaiah Berlin can be heard. In the end I thank those who have pledge to my Kickstarter campaign in Romper Room fashion, and introduce Miriam with her Titanic Factoid.

Diet Soap Podcast Supplement: Ideology and Nature

Douglas Lain — Sun, 30 May 2010 18:11:41 GMT

Urban Scout is the guest on this Pick Your Battle Supplemental to the Diet Soap podcast. As I move along in the project of writing a radical self-help book that uses urban foraging efforts as a jumping off point for organizing and joining in conversation with the permaculture efforts here in Portland I'll be uploading these supplements to the main Diet Soap podcast to keep you updated on my thinking and progress. Also I want to urge everyone to help out with a pledge to the Kickstarter campaign to fund this project. If you can comfortably pledge a few dollars to this project then I urge you to do so, if not then your moral support is much appreciated.

Diet Soap Podcast #59: Radical Homemakers

Douglas Lain — Thu, 27 May 2010 08:06:50 GMT

The guest this week is the author Shannon Hayes and we discuss her book Radical Homemakers which leads to more conversation about the need to make real world connections as we seek community as a solution to the multi-dimensional crisis we find ourselves enmeshed in. Also featured are sound collages set to television theme songs from the 70s. You'll hear the theme to Wonder Woman, Rhoda, and Laverne and Shirley along with a Titanic Factoid from the boiler room. Donations to the Pick Your Battle Kickstarter campaign are still welcome and encouraged, and I want to say hello to the Vanished Messenger and to the people behind the Fifth Estate. In the weeks to come keep your ipods tuned to this station as I will be releasing a few supplemental podcasts on the subject of urban foraging, fruit trees, and the politics of an escape pod.

Diet Soap Podcast #58: Afraid to Fight the Powers That Be?

Douglas Lain — Thu, 20 May 2010 08:50:22 GMT

Journalist Margaret Kimberly from blackagendareport.com is the guest this week and we discuss her essay "Americans afraid to fight the powers that be". Also this week you'll hear the voice of Slavoj Zizek, the music of Hussalonia, and the pop hit "Simon Says" from the 1910 Fruitgum Company. Can we escape from the ideology of capitalism? Simon Says put your hands on your head. Put your hands on your hips. The Kickstarter campaign for my radical self-help book "Pick Your Battle" is coming right along, and if you're interested in getting out from under the taker/extractive/capitalist economy that dominates you then pitch in. Perhaps I'll come up with something at the last minute. Donating a buck will still get you a copy of my short story Noam Chomsky and the Timebox. Also this week Miriam discovers that the managers of the Titanic disaster were money grubbing pigs.

Diet Soap Podcast #57: Dream

Douglas Lain — Thu, 13 May 2010 08:40:03 GMT

Stephen Duncombe, the author of the book Dream: Re-imagining Progressive Politics in an Age of Fantasy is the guest this week and we discuss the notion of ethical spectacles, progressive dreams, and the imagination as a political tool. The music of Chris Isto White is featured again this week, including the surreal nonsense song Ceci N'est Pas L'Isto. You'll also hear collaged up versions of Fame and Dream a little Dream. Plus a child's view of the Titanic disaster. The Kickstarter campaign for my surreal, new age, fantastical, fruity, transitional, self-help book Pick Your Battle is coming right along. If you look to your right you'll see it's almost 30% funded. Pledges are most welcome.

Diet Soap Podcast #56: The Church of Life After Shopping

Douglas Lain — Thu, 06 May 2010 08:03:09 GMT

Reverend Billy from the Church of Life After Shopping is the guest this week, and I end up putting my hands on my computer screen and receiving the spirit of real life as Billy speaks in tongues. The music this week includes the Beatitudes of Buylessness by the Stop Shopping Gospel Choir and the Not Buying It Band, kokoro86's Amazing Grace on the harmonica with feeling, Hussalonia's Everybody Should Stop Doing Everything and his song Buy Me, and the theme song for the Price is Right. You'll also hear an excerpt from Martin Luther King's prophetic last speech, and Reverend Billy push praying to Mickey Mouse. Miriam answers the question, "Could passengers shop on the Titanic?"

Diet Soap Podcast #55: The Economics of Needs and Limits

Douglas Lain — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 08:30:36 GMT

Frank Rotering is the guest this week and we discuss his Economics of Needs and Limits, the limits of Marxism, and the timidity of the intellectual class especially in regards to the official story of 911. Along with a Zulu, Tuvan, and Utah Phillips/Ani DiFranco version of the Internationale, the music this week includes a collaged up version of Xanadu, Chris "Isto" White's "Hitler Masturbating in a Tub," and Hussalonia's "Song of Interactive Voice Response Answering Service." I also mention my appearance on Jon Armstrong's If You're Just Joining Us Podcast, the De-Growth conference in Vancouver, BC, my story Noam Chomsky and the Time Box, and my Pick Your Battle Kickstarter project. If you'd like a copy of the Chomsky short story you can pledge a dollar or more to the Pick Your Battle Project. And Miriam is on hand to tell us the story of Titanicat.

Diet Soap Podcast #54: Just a Gorilla Suit?

Douglas Lain — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 08:56:07 GMT

Abduction Researcher and Abstract Expressionist painter Budd Hopkins is on again this week as we conclude our discussion of his book Art, Life, and UFOs. We delve into the abduction subject this time, and even discuss some of my own unusual dreams from childhood. Chris Isto White's "Let's Build a Sandcastle to the Moon" is heard, along with Steve Reich's Violin Phase, the Blue Danube, and the theme from the original Day the Earth Stood Still. I have taken down the paypal button and direct those who want to help out with a few dollars to my kickstarter campaign instead. Anyone who pledges a dollar or more to the "Pick Your Battle" project will receive a copy of the story "Noam Chomsky and the Time Box" (or if you prefer to get a story about alien abductions I'll send you my story "Music Lessons" if you email me the request). If you'd like to call the Diet Soap hotline and get heard on the podcast ring me at 971-285-4604. This week during the Titanic Factoid Miriam answers listener mail.

Diet Soap Podcast #53: The Collage Aesthetic

Douglas Lain — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 08:36:49 GMT

Abduction Researcher and Abstract Expressionist painter Budd Hopkins is the guest this week. We discuss his book Art, Life, and UFOs and focus on art for the first part of what turned into a two part interview. We talk about Jackson Pollack, Robert Motherwell, Mark Rothko, Franz Kline, Piet Mondrian, the Suprematists, Surrealists, and more. After receiving a great response to my offer to give my story "Noam Chomsky and the Time Box" as a thank you for donations I have taken down the paypal button and direct those who want to help out with a few dollars to this kickstarter proposal instead. Anyone who pledges a dollar or more to the "Pick Your Battle" project will receive a copy of the story. If you'd like to call the Diet Soap hotline and get heard on the podcast ring me at 971-285-4604. Also please listen to this week's Titanic Factoid.

Diet Soap Podcast #52: The Compass of Pseudo-Enlightenment (Life After Oil Crash?)

Douglas Lain — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 08:51:18 GMT

KMO of the the C-Realm Podcast is the guest this week, and we discuss my recent conversation with Dmitry Orlov, our prospects for life after our oil crash, and the continuing question of social vs. natural systems. The compass of pseudo-enlightenment itself is the invention of author Kevin Dole, and is explained in this livejournal entry. The points on the compass are these: Neil Kramer to the North, James Howard Kunstler to the South, KMO to the East, and I'm to the left. Also this week I offer a copy of my newest short story, Noam Chomsky and the Time Box to everyone who donates any amount to the podcast. Music includes Chris Isto White, the Original Dixieland Jazz Band, and clips of R.E.M. And the Titanic factoid includes dragonblood.

Diet Soap Podcast #51: Hope and Faith are Good For Walking

Douglas Lain — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 07:41:54 GMT

Author Robert Jensen is the guest this week and we discuss his essay Getting Rid of Hope and Faith, his relationship with Abe Osheroff, and the possible uses of utopian visions. The music in this episode includes Woody Guthrie singing Jarama Valley, Wayne King's cover of Dream a Little Dream of Me, the Bill Murray Experience's cover of Bill Murray's "Shine on Harvest Moon", Robert Crumb's cover of the Wall Street Rag, and Chris 'Isto' White's cover of "When You Wish Upon a Star." The Titanic Factoid this week is a warning: Thinking about the Titanic can drive you insane.

Diet Soap Podcast #50: Is There No Alternative?

Douglas Lain — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 07:42:26 GMT

Dmitry Orlov is a blogger, author of books and essays comparing the collapse of the Soviet Union to the current US collapse, and he's the guest this week. Also featured is music from Chris "Isto" White whose new album Let's Get Friendly is available on iTunes. George Bush and the Vitamin String Quartet offer up covers of REM's hit It's the End of the World as We Know It. We also hear from KMO who wishes the podcast a happy 50th, and the Titanic Factoid comes with quotes from Emma Goldman.

Diet Soap Podcast #49: Late Capitalist Blues (or Big Slide)

Douglas Lain — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 07:47:31 GMT

Self described centrist James Howard Kunstler is this week's guest and we discuss capitalism, collapse, suburbs, Jim's play Big Slide, and how the American public may or may not be to blame. There is no free lunch, unless you work for Goldman Sachs. If you work for Goldman Sachs there may be such a thing as a free luncheonette. Also featured this week is music from the Bill Murray Experience, Chris 'Isto' White, Scott Joplin, Antonio Quijano and Edgar Abraham, MIA, and Fabian Andre.

Diet Soap #48: Isto's Beautiful Kazoo

Douglas Lain — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:09:56 GMT

Chris "Isto" White is this week's guest, and we discuss his superpower, the children's performer Raffi, Mister Rogers, and the importance (or lack of importance) of philosophical ideas and music lessons. This week's episode is laden with music and song including Cartoon Music from Isto's latest album Let's Get Friendly. Also this week you'll hear about the Mummy aboard the Titanic.

Diet Soap Podcast #47: How to Stand Up?

Douglas Lain — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 08:36:19 GMT

Dennis Perrin is a blogger, author, stand-up comic, and the guest this week. We discuss his return to the stage, the state of politics in the US, and the reality of living in Obama's America. Turns out it's very much the same as living in Bush's America, which was more similar to Clinton's America than most admit. The music of John Cage, Scott Joplin, Chet Atkins, Silvertone Records, and the Kazoo are featured this week, along with an excerpt from The Coming Insurrection, and a Titanic factoid.

Diet Soap Podcast #46: Radical Permaculture

Douglas Lain — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 20:25:05 GMT

Frank Aragona, the host of the Agroinnovations podcast is the guest this week and we discuss the word "radical," permaculture as a radical approach to life, and briefly the ideas of Stanislav Grof. Also featured this week is the Vitamin String Quartet's cover of REM's Shiny Happy people, the voices of Slavoj Zizek and Stanislav Groff, and the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. And let us not forget Miriam's Titanic Factoid.

Diet Soap Podcast #45: Close Encounters of the Everyday Kind (part 2)

Douglas Lain — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 18:48:21 GMT

Author and podcaster Jason Horsley is the guest again this week as we continue to discuss the film Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Also this week is a collage about JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, God, and the State. There is a song by Chris Isto White entitled "Transcendentalisto," some truly terrible disco versions of John William's theme to Close Encounters, and a Titanic factoid as well.

Diet Soap Podcast #44: Close Encounters of the Everyday Kind

Douglas Lain — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 08:10:01 GMT

Author and podcaster Jason Horsley is the guest this week, and we discuss the concept of the second matrix and the fascist character of the film Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Also this week I received a missive from the Better Bad News panel correcting last week's characterization of the "Occupy Everything" student movement at UC Berkeley and we hear a message in support from the international space station. Miriam chimes in with a Titanic factoid.

Diet Soap Podcast #43: Pleasure vs. Consumption

Douglas Lain — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 08:39:04 GMT

Daniel Coffeen is back this week for the second part of our conversation about Rhetoric, the image, finding gaps, and how Capitalism may be a virus set to destroy its human host. Also featured this week is a collage tribute to JD Salinger and Howard Zinn. Chris Isto White sings "Open the Door," the Infernal Noise Brigade drums away, Santos and Johnny play their hit "Sleepwalk" and Miriam presents another factoid. Send email to douglain@dietsoap.org.

Diet Soap Podcast #42: A Virus Called Capitalism

Douglas Lain — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 08:32:59 GMT

Rhetor and former professor at UC Berkeley Daniel Coffeen is the guest this week and we discuss the idea that capitalism may be a language virus that is quickly destroying its human host. Daniel comes to what he describes as a revolutionary perspective through his own experiences as a worker in some of the hippest digital corporations in the new info crunching capitalist economy. As a postmodern rhetor Daniel seeks pleasure and enjoyment, but has to fight the virus in order to find moments to savor his life. Also this week is a reading about the Truman show which was paraphrased at last week's Transitional Alchemy event in Portland, and a Titanic factoid.

Diet Soap Podcast #41: On A Human Scale

Douglas Lain — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 01:24:49 GMT

Takis Fotopoulos is a libertarian socialist, an economist, and this week's guest on the Diet Soap podcast. He is also the founder of the Inclusive Democracy movement, the author of many books, and the editor of the Inclusive Democracy journal. KMO of the C-Realm Podcast and Neil Kramer of the Cleaver join in this week as they are in Portland for their Transitional Alchemy Tour. The music this week includes Brian Eno's "Ambient Music," East Forest's "York City" and Chris Isto White's "The Sky is Not a Ceiling." Listen carefully for a revelation in this week's Titanic Factoid.

Diet Soap Podcast #40: The Crisis and The Growth Economy

Douglas Lain — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 11:09:55 GMT

Takis Fotopoulos is a libertarian socialist, an economist, and this week's guest on the Diet Soap podcast. He is also the founder of the Inclusive Democracy movement, the author of many books, and the editor of the Inclusive Democracy journal. The Music this week includes Gill Scott-Heron's "The Revolution Will Not be Televised," Tibet2Timbuk2's "Dawey Wola," and "Colonel Bogey" and "the Blue Danube" performed on a Calliope. Also you hear a reading from "the Coming Insurrection," and Miriam's Titanic Factoid.

Diet Soap Podcast #39: Process This-"Utopia Now!"

Douglas Lain — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 09:43:02 GMT

Chris Carlsson the former editor of the 'zine Processed World and author of the book Nowtopia is the guest on this week's podcast. Also featured is the music of Tibet2Timbuk2, Peggy Lee, John Sebastian Bach, and 3 Leg Torso. There is also a reading from the book "The Coming Insurrection." We are two weeks out from KMO and Neil Kramer's arrival in Portland for their Transitional Alchemy Tour, and we have a confirmed space for the two day event at the Lucky Lab Brew Pub on January 20th. The second night will most likely take place at Portland State University and will likely be hosted by Students for Unity.

Diet Soap Podcast #38: Goodbye to the Zero Years

Douglas Lain — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 12:00:21 GMT

Mystic blogger Neil Kramer of the blog thecleaver, is this week's guest for the last episode in the zero years, and we talk about time speeding up, the fifth dimension, and the importance of finding your true being. The music of Tibet2Timbuk2 and Chris Isto White are both featured, along with Jimmi Hendrix's cover of Auld Lang Syne. Neil and KMO of the C-Realm podcast will be visiting Portland, Oregon on January 20th and 21st, and there will be an event and presentation on Peak Oil, Collapse, Control Systems, Transdimensional Shifts, and Revolution. Email douglain@dietsoap.org if you need or want more information or just have something to say, or call Diet Soap at 971-285-4604 and leave a voicemail message to get your voice on the podcast. Miriam talks about fireworks.

Diet Soap Podcast #37: The Control System and the Cosmic Christ

Douglas Lain — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 11:39:30 GMT

Mystic blogger Neil Kramer is this week's guest for a Christmastime episode of Diet Soap. Neil and KMO of the C-Realm podcast will be visiting Portland, Oregon on January 20th and 21st, and there will be an event and presentation on Peak Oil, Collapse, Control Systems, Transdimensional Shifts, and Revolution. Email douglain@dietsoap.org if you need or want more information or just have something to say, or call Diet Soap at 971-285-4604 and leave a voicemail message to get your voice on the podcast. Miriam says hello and hopes you get a lifejacket this Christmas.

Diet Soap Podcast #36: The Mechanism that I Am

Douglas Lain — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 10:41:01 GMT

Cyberpunk author and Fourth Way practitioner John Shirley is the guest this week on the podcast, and we discuss his new novel Bleak History along with the teaching of the mystic Gurdjieff, Situationalist ideas (whatever those are), and our Star Trek future. This week's podcast also features clips from Videodrome, Johnny Mnemonic, Meetings with Remarkable Men, and a BBC documentary about Postmodernism and the Bonaventure Hotel. A reading from the Coming Insurrection is also included. This week Miriam talks about the dogs on the Titanic.

Diet Soap Podcast #35: Are We Nobodies?

Douglas Lain — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 10:49:17 GMT

Freelance journalist and author John Bowe discusses his book Nobodies: Modern American Slave Labor and the Dark Side of the New Global Economy on this week's podcast. This week also features the collaged voices of Slavoj Zizek, Noam Chomsky, Groucho Marx, and Frank Rottering. Miriam chimes in with a Titanic Factoid. Send email to douglain at dietsoap dot org, or call 971-285-4604 and leave a voicemail.

Diet Soap Podcast #34: How to Cut Your Life to Pieces

Douglas Lain — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:05:20 GMT

This week's episode does not feature an interview, but instead features my short story "How to Cut Your Life to Pieces," which was originally published at Farrago's Wainscot. Also this week we hear from Scott from Tokyo on the Surrealist Project. Kevin G sent me a link to an art exhibit at Yale last week called "The Postwar Avant-Garde and the Culture of Protest", and Terry I sent a link to the All in the Mind Podcast. Music this week includes Wendy Carlos' theme from Tron, pop songs from Nirvana, Janes Addiction, Cyndi Lauper, Matthew Wilder, Steve Reich's composition for 18 musicians, and Moog Synthesizer music by Johann Sebastian Bach. Send email to douglain at dietsoap dot org, or call 971-285-4604 and leave a voicemail.

Diet Soap Podcast #33: Indigo Springs

Douglas Lain — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:52:39 GMT

Novelist AM Dellamonica is the guest this week. Alyx's first book "Indigo Springs" is out from Tor Books this month and we discuss magic, perception, gender, and the wonders of the female phallus. Her website is www.amdellamonica.com. Also featured this week is Ben Burgis' short story/Thanksgiving Parable "The True Meaning of K-Day," as well as songs such as "Think of All the Things You Can Do with a Chair" from Chris "Isto" White, "Penis Envy" by Uncle Bonsai, "Give Peace a Chance" by John Lennon, and many different versions of Arlo Guthrie's "Alice's Restaurant." Also featured this week is Miriam's Titanic factoid. Happy Thanksgiving! (Remember to email me at douglain at dietsoap dot org, or call 971-285-4604 and leave a voicemail to contribute your voice to the podcast.)

Diet Soap Podcast #32: The New Normal

Douglas Lain — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:41:55 GMT

This week's conversation is with 911 Truth Activist Jon Gold. We discuss what Jon considers the best evidence suggesting that elements within the US Government should be investigated as possible suspects in the crime of 911, the reasons behind some of the disinterest in examining this evidence, problems inside the Truth movment, and the possibility that the 911 Truth movement has been infiltrated by agents of disinformation and disruption. Gold's essay The Facts Speak for Themselves is frequently referenced and worth checking out. There are also two listener voicemail messages included this week, collaged material, a reading from Guy Debord's "Comments on the Society of the Spectacle," and a Titanic factoid.

Diet Soap Podcast #31: Surrender, Self, and Stormy Weather

Douglas Lain — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:02:08 GMT

This episode features an interview with Jason Horsley, host of the Warty Theorems podcast, leader of the Stormy Weather Existential Detective Agency (SWEDA), and proponent of paranoid awareness. Jason and I discuss whether the Universe needs us to create social change, whether or not we can shut down the factory or tear down the wall, the story of Osho Rajneesh, John De Ruiter, and what it means to surrender. A segment from this podcast was posted as a youtube video called "A Conversation about Gurus." Chris "Isto" White is back with a song entitled "The Incredible Shrinking Isto," and I read from Larry Law's chapbook "Revolutionary Self Theory." Also there is a factoid about cold water and the Titanic from Miriam.

Diet Soap Podcast #30: A New Logic?

Douglas Lain — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:01:55 GMT

This week I talk about resistance to the capitalist order and the possibility of a new logic for society with KMO who is the host of the C-Realm podcast. KMO and I discuss his recent interview with Frank Rotering whose economic work aims to go beyond the logic of capitalism and instigate and conceptually support humankind's shift to a new mode of civilization-one characterized by sustainability and global well-being. KMO and I also discuss Alex Jones, conspiracies, and the pros and cons of the paranoid perspective. Chris "Isto" White sings "Clockwork Isto," "The Sky is not a Ceiling," and covers "Young at Heart." Also the Diet Soap phone number is given out. Leave a message at 971-285-4604 and let me know what you think of our collective situation.

Diet Soap Podcast #29: Lightbreaker

Douglas Lain — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:18:01 GMT

This week's podcast features a conversation with the fantasist and novelist Mark Teppo on the subject his book Lightbreaker, and the occult themes to be found in his book. Mark's Codex of Souls series starts with the two books Lightbreaker and Heartland, both of which are out now from Night Shade Books. Also this week Miriam reads Barbara Tannert's story "OOGA-BOOGA AND THE WRITING LIFE" from the Diet Soap website, and the voices of Jason Horsley, Alan Watts, Noam Chomsky, Ariana Huffington, and others are juxtaposed in yet another podcast collage.

Diet Soap Podcast #28: Better Bad News

Douglas Lain — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 08:28:08 GMT

This week's podcast features an interview/panel discussion with the fine people at Better Bad News. It also features a podcast sound collage with Slavoj Zizek, Jason Horsley, Robert Scheer from Truthdig, and his holiness Osho Rajneesh. Mother Teresa should jump in a lake. Also there is Gracie Coates singing Twisted Truths, Chris "Isto" White singing Black Orpheus, and a Titanic factoid from Miriam.

Diet Soap Podcast #27: The Bardo of Waking Life

Douglas Lain — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:20:37 GMT

This week's podcast features an interview with author and publisher Richard Grossinger, and we discuss his books Waiting for the Martian Express, and the Bardo of Waking Life. We also discuss President Obama, President Bush, Yeats, the American Avant Garde of the 40s and 50s, and Zest Soap. This week also features a voicemail from listener and organic dairy farmer Terry I, music from Negativland, and a Titanic factoid. Check out the new dietsoap youtube videos. Oh. And France.

Diet Soap Podcast #26: The Spectacle/A Skeleton Key

Douglas Lain — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 10:25:55 GMT

This week's episode does not feature an interview with a guest, but instead is a collaged plea to reject Capitalism. I read from Larry Law's chapbook series from the early 80s entitled the Spectacular Times and collage together several voices from several podcasts including NPR's Planet Money, KMO's C-Realm, the Alan Watt's podcast, and Dennis Perrin's video blog among others. The Music ofChris "Isto" White is featured, once again, as well as a Titanic Factoid from Miriam.

Diet Soap Podcast #25: This Podcast is a Lie

Douglas Lain — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 09:59:22 GMT

Author and philosopher Ben Burgis is this week's guest on episode # 25 of the Diet Soap podcast. Burgis discusses paraconsistent logic and the recent alien invasion. His story "Sing, Goddess, Sing Me to the Stars" is presented in a condensed form, and this week's collage includes cuttings from the Jerry Lentz podcast and the C-Realm. Music from Chris "Isto" White is included, along with Chopin, Idle, Seeger, and many other composers and musicians.

Diet Soap Podcast #24: Revolution Brings Sunlight

Douglas Lain — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 08:58:00 GMT

Len Bracken is a writer of fiction and nonfiction, the author of one of the first widely distributed books published in the United States suggesting that the 9/11 attacks were an inside job--Shadow Government: 9-11 and State Terror. He is also the author of the first biography on Guy Debord in any language entitled Guy Debord Revolutionary. This week Len discusses the financial crisis, conspiracies, and the possibility (or lack thereof) for revolutionary change in the US. Also featured this week is the music of Chris “Isto” White, a montage of podcasts and youtube videos from the last week along with a Titanic factoid.

Diet Soap Podcast #23: Dreams and Everyday Life

Douglas Lain — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 07:51:17 GMT

Penelope Rosemont, the co-founder of the Chicago Surrealist Group, is the guest on this week's podcast. She discusses her book Dreams and Everyday Life, Andre Breton, the Chicago Surrealist Group, and the culmination of forty years of progressive struggle in the personage of Obama. Also this week features a multiple podcast montage featuring the C-realm, Electric Politics, and Shamanic Freedom Radio.

Diet Soap Podcast #22: C stands for C-Realm

Douglas Lain — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 08:13:24 GMT

KMO of the C-Realm podcast joins us this week to discuss WTC 7, agnosticism as a survival strategy, the need for structural rather than personal change, and podcasting. KMO's C-Realm podcast is one of the handful of independently produced podcasts that inspired the Diet Soap podcast and conversing with him directly rather than through collages and guests was enjoyable. Also on the podcast is the music of Chico Marx, Harpo Marx, Utah Phillips, and Ani DiFranco. Listen for the Asch Experiment and see if you conform.

Diet Soap Podcast #21: Life as Advertising

Douglas Lain — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 07:42:30 GMT

Commercial filmmaker Jon Kane joins the Diet Soap podcast this week to discuss his work with Godfrey Reggio on the nonnarrative film "Naqoyqatsi." Also included this week is Genevieve Valentine's story "Synergy" as read by MK Hobson. Sound Collage's featuring clips from Pepsi ads, Mountain Dew ads, and the pro-situationist film Call it Sleep are also featured. And Miriam pops up in the end with another Titanic factoid.

Diet Soap Podcast #20: An American Colossus and other Spectacular Monsters

Douglas Lain — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 08:23:11 GMT

Bill Brown, author of American Colossus: The Grain Elevator from 1843-1943 and editor of the 'zine Not Bored, joins the Diet Soap podcast to discuss, among other things, the idea of workers councils as an alternative to State power and Corporate power. Also in the podcast are works by Erik Satie, the Infernal Noise Brigade, an excerpt from Guy Debord's film "In girum imus nocte et consumimur igni," (click here for a transcript in English), the Internationale, and an excerpt from a 1976 interview with Noam Chomsky on the subject of Anarchism. Also included is this week's Titanic factoid.

Diet Soap Podcast #19: The Dream Years

Douglas Lain — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 09:17:09 GMT

Author Lisa Goldstein joins the podcast this week to discuss her 1985 book "The Dream Years," along with her feelings about surrealism, cultural appropriation, Barack Obama, and the proposal of marriage she received from Philip K. Dick. Also in this episode are Bessie Smith's "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out," an excerpt from Todd Machover's operatic adaptation of Philip K. Dick's novel "Valis," and the Titanic factoid of the week.

Diet Soap Podcast #18: The Headline Trick Rag

Douglas Lain — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 10:04:23 GMT

David Laibman is back for the second half of our conversation about how Capitalism always leads to crises and also about his early days as a folk musician with dreams of stardom. Also in this episode are some rags by David Laibman and Eric Shoenberg from their 1970 album New Ragtime Guitar, a song by Phil Och's, and an abridged version of my own short story "The Headline Trick" which you can find in it's entirety in "Last Week's Apocalypse."

Diet Soap Podcast #17: Marxian Ragtime

Douglas Lain — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 09:07:16 GMT

Marxist Economist and fingerstyle guitarist David Laibman joins the podcast this week to discuss the Great Depression II and the inherent faults of Capitalism. David Laibman is the editor of Science and Society which is the longest continuously published journal of Marxist scholarship, in any language, in the world. You can check out his 1971 album The New Ragtime Guitar which also features Eric Schoenberg, as well as his book Deep History at Amazon. You'll also hear the music of Nigel Kennedy and Beethoven. Send email to douglain@dietsoap.org if you've been listening.

Diet Soap Podcast #16: Dennis Perrin's Obama Blues

Douglas Lain — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 08:25:03 GMT

Blogger and author Dennis Perrin of dennisperrin.blogspot.com is this week's guest, and we discuss the problem of Barack Obama, the impact of 9/11, Perrin's relationship with Noam Chomsky, and the phenomena of the suburban lawn. Also mentioned in this episode would be the Evolver Teleseminars from Reality Sandwich, a half remembered news report from the 1993 WTC bombings, and the Titanic. If you are interested in participating in the Evolver Teleseminars for free write me an email. The first two to ask will get to participate for free.

Diet Soap Podcast #15: Wheels Fall off of Recovery

Douglas Lain — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 17:22:47 GMT

David Lindorff is the guest on this week's episode. Lindorff is a journalist, a regular contributor to Counterpunch, and a folk musician. His website This Can't Be Happening features many of his articles including Where's the Anger: The Wheels are Coming off the Recovery. Also included in this episode are Bob Ferguson's 1931 hit Bank Failures and Miriam's Titanic factoid.

Diet Soap Podcast #14: Anarchism and Art

Douglas Lain — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 08:14:45 GMT

Allan Antliff is this week's guest on the Diet Soap podcast. Antliff is the author of the book "Anarchy and Art" and a self described anarchist. We discuss art history and the possibility of an anarchist future. Also included are clips from Negativland, Philip Glass, Noam Chomsky, and a Titanic factoid.

Diet Soap Podcast #13-Synchromysticism Jam

Douglas Lain — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 09:42:14 GMT

Jake Kotze of the blob coined the phrase Synchromysticism, and seeks out sublime connections lost in our kibble culture. We discuss Surrealism, Robin Tunney, 9/11 as Stargate, and the Titanic. Also featured are the voices of Chico Marx, George C Scott, Marlon Brando, Rip Torn, and Crosley Bendix. Plus I respond to listener email. Next week's podcast may be late.

Diet Soap Podcast #12: The Psychedelic Jetpack

Douglas Lain — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 07:15:37 GMT

This week's episode features the final piece of my conversation with Neil Kramer of the blog the Cleaver. Neil discusses the metaphor of the Psychedelic Jetpack, Salvia Divinorum, the Psychedelic Salon, and the book DMT: The Spirit Molecule. The podcast also features brief excerpts from Joseph Nechvatal's Viral Symph0ny, Lorenzo's Psychedelic Salon, Lazenbee Industries Delusion Report, and Terence McKenna on the Archaic Revival. In the end Miriam gives us our weekly Titanic factoid. A partial transcript of the interview with Neil is available at examiner.com.

Diet Soap Podcast #11: Sex Collectors and the Commodity Fetish

Douglas Lain — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 10:14:47 GMT

Geoff Nicholson joins in with the Diet Soap Podcast project this week and discusses his 2006 book "Sex Collectors" as well as the role the commodity plays in his work more generally. My wife Miriam reads aloud from Geoff's first novel "Street Sleeper," a book published in 1987. For a partial transcript of the interview check out what I've posted over at examiner.com. Future transcripts of future episodes of Diet Soap will also appear at examiner.com, a site that pays per view and which hopefully will generate the pennies needed for the USB microphone fund.

Diet Soap Podcast #10: Peter Dale Scott on Social Change

Douglas Lain — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 09:00:37 GMT

This week's Diet Soap podcast features the second part of a conversation with Peter Dale Scott on the subject of his book "The Road to 9/11." Peter also discusses his views on the pros and cons of Noam Chomsky, his admiration and impatience with anarchism and other revolutionary strategies for social change, and the necessary difficulties involved with attempts to understand deep politics. Phil Och's song "Love Me I'm Liberal" along with a factoid on the Titanic are also featured.

Diet Soap Podcast #9: The Road to 9/11 with Peter Dale Scott

Douglas Lain — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 07:43:17 GMT

I interview author and scholar Peter Dale Scott about his book "The Road to 9/11" this week. Peter is well known for investigating what he calls "deep politics." His website is www.peterdalescott.net. Also in this episode are the voices of KMO of the C-Realm (reading from Lewis Carroll's "Through the Looking Glass"), Michael Parenti, Noam Chomsky, and the members of the SWP. If you enjoy this episode send me an email, or consider contributing to the Diet Soap USB microphone fund by clicking the donate button.

Diet Soap Podcast #8: Darin Bradley Explains Consciousness

Douglas Lain — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 10:16:35 GMT

This week the editor of the weird online 'zine Farrago's Wainscot explains consciousness, recommends the books of Daniel Dennett and describes his first novel Amaranth which is due out from Bantam next year. The episode also features Darin Bradley's story "Basement Borges" which was published in the first issue of Diet Soap in 2007. If you enjoy this episode please visit dietsoap.org, or write me a note and send it electronically (wow!) to info at dietsoap.org.

Diet Soap Podcast #7: Transcending the Ego

Douglas Lain — Wed, 27 May 2009 15:41:57 GMT

Neil Kramer is back for the second half of a conversation about the control system and the self. This episode also features a reading of Gary Snyder's "Buddhist Anarchism," and the voices of Krishnamurti, Alan Watts, Jill Bolte Taylor, and Slavoj Zizek. If you've been listening and have a comment write to info@dietsoap.org and your comment will be read in the next podcast.

Diet Soap Podcast #6: Neil Kramer Unplugged (from the Matrix)

Douglas Lain — Wed, 20 May 2009 09:08:58 GMT

The sixth episode of the Diet Soap podcast features Neil Kramer of the blog the Cleaver. Neil is a mystic and gnostic and he discusses the Matrix with me in what turned out to be a two part interview. Neil is a frequent guest of the fine podcast the C-Realm and other interesting podcasts such as Stormy Weather. Also in this episode is Kaolin Fire's story "Keep to the Fringe." Kaolin Fire is the editor of GUD Magazine (Greatest Uncommon Denominator) and this story originally appeared at the How to Write Stories about Writers webpage at dietsoap.org. Please send feedback on this episode and others to info@dietsoap.org.

Diet Soap Podcast #5: Barth Anderson, the Swine Flu, and the Voices in My Head

Douglas Lain — Wed, 13 May 2009 21:49:54 GMT

In this episode I interview Barth Anderson about the Swine Flu pandemic. Barth is the author of the bio-tech thriller "The Patron Saint of Plagues." My wife Miriam reads an excerpt from Mr. Anderson's second novel "The Magician and the Fool" in this episode, and the voices in my head make an appearance as well, as does a Polar Bear Nose and a wumple.

Diet Soap Promo

Douglas Lain — Mon, 11 May 2009 15:28:27 GMT

This is a minute long promo for the Diet Soap podcast. If you have a podcast and would be so kind to run this promo I'd appreciate it. Also if you're a listener without a podcast of your own this might serve as reminder to tell people about Diet Soap. We've got a variety of good interviews and fiction lined up for future episodes. Check the dietsoap website for more information http://www.dietsoap.org

Diet Soap Podcast #4: Good News From Outer Space

Douglas Lain — Wed, 06 May 2009 19:10:54 GMT

In this episode of the Diet Soap podcast you'll hear an excerpt from John Kessel's 1989 novel "Good News from Outer Space," and listen in on a conversation with this Nebula award winning writer. Also included are ambient sounds from the freesoundproject and Alfred Bryan's 1910 hit "Come Josephine on my Flying Machine."

Diet Soap Podcast #3-Life with Klima

Douglas Lain — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 07:17:04 GMT

This episode features writer and editor John Klima from Electric Velocipede, his story "Life's Simple Pleasures," a short piece entitled "Editors Never Sleep," and George Cohan's "Life's a Very Funny Proposition After All" circa 1909. Consider emailing info@dietsoap.org if you've been listening.

Diet Soap Podcast #2: Titanic

Douglas Lain — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 07:47:51 GMT

This episode includes the story "A Mouth is a Hole is a Vista" by John Schumate, Ken Knabb's letter to a Spanish contact on the subject of peak oil, a Goldman Sach's conspiracy collage, a tribute to JG Ballard, and an interview with Miriam M. Lain about the Titanic.

Diet Soap Podcast #1: Sabotage

Douglas Lain — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 08:54:41 GMT

In this first Episode of the Diet Soap podcast I read excerpts from the 3rd issue of Diet Soap on the theme of Sabotage and play and replay the Internationale.