(300th Episode) Hungry Ghosts in the Capitalist Machine: Unraveling Consumerism, Politics, and Activism with Mike Watson

The episode dives deep into the connection between capitalism and our digital identities, exploring themes of addiction, anxiety, and the pursuit of validation in the online realm. Mike Watson articulates the detrimental effects of social media on mental health while highlighting the need for authentic community engagement beyond mere digital expressions.  Mike Watson is an editor at Revol Press and the co-host of Theorize And Be Damned. He is the author of Hungry Ghosts in the Machine: Digital Capitalism and the Search for Self (Revol Press 2023) and many other books about capitalism and culture. • Examination of capitalism’s role in shaping digital identities • The emotional voids filled through social media engagement • Discussion of Mark Fisher’s concept of depressive hedonia • The intersection of addiction and spirituality online • How social media exacerbates feelings of loneliness • The perils of empty activism and horror posting • Call for genuine action and community building beyond digital platformsSend us a text Musis by Bitterlake, Used with Permission, all rights to BitterlakeSupport the showCrew:Host: C. Derick VarnIntro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake.Intro Video Design: Jason MylesArt Design: Corn and C. Derick VarnLinks and Social Media:twitter: @varnvlogblue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.socialYou can find the additional streams on YoutubeCurrent Patreon at the Sponsor Tier: Jordan Sheldon, Mark J. Matthews, Lindsay Kimbrough, RedWolf, DRV, Kenneth McKee, JY Chan, Matthew Monahan, Parzival, Adriel Mixon, Buddy Roark, Daniel Petrovic

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