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Dr. Jonathan Howard chief of the neurology service at Bellevue Hospital joins us to discuss his book We Want Them Infected: How the Failed Quest for Herd Immunity Led Doctors to Embrace the Anti-vaccine Movement and Blinded Americans to the Threat of COVID. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit strugglesession.substack.com/subscribe

Ezra Klein has been on a roll with a series of podcasts defending Charlie Kirk’s legacy, arguing for Democrats to run more anti-abortion candidates to win in pro-abortion states, & and making the case for a value-free politics to Ta-Nehisi Coates. Briahna Joy Grey of Bad Faith joins me to to break it all down.This was a live stream on the Bad Faith YouTube Channel recorded 9/20/25 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit strugglesession.substack.com/subscribe

Is Ed Wood worst director of all time? Not a chance says our guest. On today's Struggle Session writer Will Sloan joins us to discuss is new book Ed Wood: Made In Hollywood USA. We talk about the infamous director’s artistic legacy, how his films challenge the concept of “bad” movies, the enduring charm of Plan 9 from Outer Space, and the shockingly progressive Glen or Glenda.Plus voicemails on brand movies, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and Sam Raimi.Guest Links: https://www.willsloan.ca/Upcoming episodes:Strange Days with Aaron Thorpe1999: The Year Low Culture Conquered America and Kickstarted Our Bizarre Times w/ Ross BenesFetishized: A Reckoning with Yellow Fever, Feminism, and Beauty w/ Kyla YuLeave us a 5 star review at Apple podcasts: Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thestrugglesessionCheck out our friends: https://www.instagram.com/loudoun_palestine/Check out our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@StruggleSessionpodcastSend an email or voicemail to thestrugglesession@gmail.comMy GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/lleeiiiKeep up with and contact Leslie: https://msha.ke/lleeiiiStruggle Session Theme by Brendan James: https://thegreatvorelli.bandcamp.com/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit strugglesession.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit strugglesession.substack.comThis episode is a special crossover with Briahna's podcast Bad Faith. Enjoy!------------------------------------------A Brief History of Violence screenwriter & co-host of The Movies that Made Me Josh Olson and Struggle Session co-host Leslie Lee III join the show to discuss the movie everyone's talking about: Ryan Coogler's Jim Crow vampire film Sinners. In a spoiler-filled episode (you are warned), the trio debate what the movie is trying to say about race, freedom, religion, and vampirism before delving into the media controversy surrounding Variety's coverage of the film's box office earnings.Produced by Armand Aviram.Bad Faith Theme by Nick Thorburn (@nickfromislands).Visit our website at http://sesh.show Please leave us a 5 star review at Apple podcasts: Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thestrugglesessionCheck out our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@StruggleSessionpodcastSend an email or voicemail to thestrugglesession@gmail.comKeep up with and contact Leslie: https://msha.ke/lleeiiiStruggle Session Theme by Brendan James: https://thegreatvorelli.bandcamp.com/

On today's action-packed episode Trevor Beaulieu of Champagne Sharks joins Leslie to discuss Captain America: Brave New World! From the reshoots to the surprisingly radical comic series that inspired it, we cover it all. We also talk about Sam Raimi's M.A.N.T.I.S. starring Carl Lumbly, a Black superhero show so far ahead of it's time that the studio destroyed it.Guest Links: http://champagnesharks.blubrry.net/M.A.N.T.I.S. TV Movie: ‘M.A.N.T.I.S.’ Undergoes Pilot-to-Series Changes : New Producers of TV Series About an African American Super-Hero Cite Creative Reasons; Others Claim Racism https://archive.ph/ACaqgVisit our website at http://sesh.showPlease leave us a 5 star review at Apple podcasts: Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thestrugglesessionCheck out our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@StruggleSessionpodcastSend an email or voicemail to thestrugglesession@gmail.comKeep up with and contact Leslie: https://msha.ke/lleeiiiStruggle Session Theme by Brendan James: https://thegreatvorelli.bandcamp.com/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit strugglesession.substack.com/subscribe

On today's terrifying episode, Leslie is joined by Alexander Chatziioannou for a deep dive into the world of horror video games. We discuss Alex's book From Ants to Zombies: Six Decades of Video Game Horror, the evolution of horror games, the significance of iconic titles like Resident Evil, and the impact of remakes and indie games on the genre.Guest Links: https://www.bitmapbooks.com/products/from-ants-to-zombies-six-decades-of-video-game-horror | https://bsky.app/profile/alexanderhad1.bsky.socialVisit our website at http://sesh.showSupport the show by subscribing: http://patreon.com/strugglesessionPlease leave us a 5 star review at Apple podcasts: Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thestrugglesessionCheck out our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@StruggleSessionpodcastSend an email or voicemail to thestrugglesession@gmail.com Keep up with and contact Leslie : https://msha.ke/lleeiiiStruggle Session Theme by Brendan James: https://thegreatvorelli.bandcamp.com/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit strugglesession.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit strugglesession.substack.comOn today's all new episode of Struggle Session Leslie is joined by Aaron Casias & Carlee Gomes, the hosts of the hit podcast Hit Factory. We discussed the best and worst films of the year including Furiosa, Nickel Boys, Gladiator II, The Substance, Do Not Expect to Much From the End of the World and more. We also shared our favorite performances last year, the most surprisingly good films, and the worst trends in Hollywood.Fill out your own ballot here or by sending us an email. We'll discuss the results on an upcoming show: https://forms.gle/iAFTDFsbv4HtcVBi9Guest Links: https://www.patreon.com/hitfactorypodVisit our website at http://sesh.showSupport the show by subscribing: http://patreon.com/strugglesession

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit strugglesession.substack.comWe misunderstimated him. On today's episode filmmaker Christopher Jason Bell joins us to discuss his documentary series Miss Me Yet? which takes a year by year view of what it was like to live through the George W. Bush administration.Guest Links: Miss Me Yet - https://means.tv/programs/missmeyethttps://linktr.ee/christopherjasonbellLeslie's appearance …

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit strugglesession.substack.comOn this special crossover episode Jamie is joined by Jamie Peck (@jamie_elizabeth) of the podcast Party Girls to discuss two cult classic zombie movies from the father of the genre, George A. Romero: "Night of the Living Dead" (1968) and "Day of the Dead" (1985). In these two spine-chilling films, the left-leaning director interrogates racism, the milit…

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit strugglesession.substack.comWE AIN'T GOT TIME TO BLEED! On today's episode Aaron Thorpe is back and jacked to discuss the Predator series, including the sequels, reboots, and crossovers. Predator (1987), Predator 2 (1990), Predators (2010), The Predator (2018), Prey (2022), Alien vs. Predator (2004), Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007).Also, quick reviews of Salem's Lot (2024), Th…

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit strugglesession.substack.comCOVID-19! It's everywhere. Let's talk about it with Julia Doubleday of The Gauntlet (https://www.thegauntlet.news/).Thank you so much for your subscriptions, support, and kind words. Send an email or voicemail to thestrugglesession@gmail.com Leslie would love to hear from you!Guest links: Additional reading: From Long COVID Odds to Lost IQ Points: Ongoi…

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit strugglesession.substack.comOn today's special two-part episode Leslie chats with Josie Riesman, author of the New York Times Best Seller Ringmaster: Vince McMahon and the Unmaking of America about the apparent downfall of Vince McMahon. Ringmaster was one of my favorite books of last year and you don’t have to know or care about wrestling to enjoy our conversation.After that, in …