Samples:
Rotem Hecht - Workers's March
Blacksmith - Sound Effects

The Workers

In this episode, Grade 12 Student Liam Short takes a deep dive into the rise and fall of the Communist Eastern Bloc from 1945 to 
1989 and beyond. In this episode, Liam will cover several Eastern Bloc countries and their 
history; a brief Pros and Cons list of being part of the Eastern bloc; World Views; Ways of Protest 
against the Soviets; Economic Stability; and lastly how it ended and the effects of its collapse.

This episode was researched and produced by Liam for his CHY4U World History RST. 

Sources used for this episode: 
“The GDR - what life was like for people in East Germany from 1949 to 1990.” 
deutschland.de, 4 March 2025, https://www.deutschland.de/en/topic/culture/gdr-
east-germany. Accessed 30 May 2025.
Institute of National Remembrance. “Brief History of Poland.” Institute of National
Remembrance, eng.ipn.gov.pl/en/brief-history-of-poland#1945.
Research Guides: Polish-American Relations, 1918 to Present: Manuscript 
Resources at the Library of Congress: A Brief Timeline of Modern Polish History. 
guides.loc.gov/poland-manuscripts/timeline. 
History | Embassy of the Czech Republic in Ottawa. 
mzv.gov.cz/ottawa/en/general_information_on_the_czech/history/index.html. 
“Hungary.” Hungary | Communist Crimes, 
communistcrimes.org/en/countries/hungary.
Alphahistory. “Romania Under Ceausescu.” The Cold War, 21 Mar. 2018, 
alphahistory.com/coldwar/romania-under-ceausescu. 
“Bulgaria.” Bulgaria | Communist Crimes, 
communistcrimes.org/en/countries/bulgaria. 
Milestones in the History of U.S. Foreign Relations - Office of the Historian. 
history.state.gov/milestones/1961-1968/soviet-invasion-czechoslavkia. 
Nelsson, Richard. “The Birth of Solidarity in Poland - Archive 1980.” The 
Guardian, 10 Nov. 2021, 
www.theguardian.com/world/from-the-archive-blog/2019/sep/18/the-birth-of-
solidarity-in-poland-archive-1980. 
“Eastern Europe - Econlib.” Econlib, 27 May 2022, 
www.econlib.org/library/Enc/EasternEurope.html. 
“Romania Thirty Years After the Fall of Communism: Retrospect and Prospect.” 
Training Leaders International, trainingleadersinternational.org/jgc/120/romania-
thirty-years-after-the-fall-of-communism-retrospect-and-prospect. 
---. “The Fall of Communism in Romania – Archive, December 1989.” The 
Guardian, 11 Dec. 2024, www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/11/the-fall-of-
communism-in-romania-archive-december-1989. 
British Broadcasting Corporation. BBC World Service - Special Reports - 1989 
Timeline. 6 Oct. 2009, 
www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/specialreports/2009/10/091006_1989_timeline_nonf
lash.shtml?utm. 
British Broadcasting Corporation. BBC World Service - Special Reports - 1989 
Timeline. 6 Oct. 2009, www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/specialreports/2009/10/091006_1989_timeline_nonf
lash.shtml?utm. 
Academic Block. “Fall of Soviet Union: Collapse, Cold War and Timeline | 
Academic Block.” Academic Block, 29 Jan. 2025, 
www.academicblock.com/history/cold-war/fall-of-soviet-union?utm. 
Rimi, Aisha. “A Timeline of the Gorbachev Era and the Collapse of the Soviet 
Union.” The Independent, 31 Aug. 2022, 
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/gorbachev-death-soviet-union-
collapse-timeline-b2156330.html?utm. 
“Consequences of the Collapse of the Soviet Union.” Norwich University - Online,
online.norwich.edu/online/about/resource-library/consequences-collapse-soviet-
union.

Episode 437: CHY4U - RST - The Rise and Fall of the Eastern Bloc (1945-89)

A Concerned Socialist

This episode is the first of a two-part discussion delving into historical splits within socialism. C. Derick Varn, the host of Varn Vlog, has an extensive background in philosophy, anthropology, and history. He takes us from the First and Second Internationals to the ideological divergences of Trotskyism and Stalinism. He also discusses the factions within Leninism, the impact of World War I on socialist strategies, and the emergence of Trotskyist and Marxist-Leninist thought. The episode navigates through key historical figures, including Lenin, Trotsky, and Stalin. Of course it wouldn’t be Macro N Cheese without a look at Modern Monetary Theory and its place in a discussion of socialist theory.  

C. Derick Varn is a poet, teacher, and political theorist. He is the host of Varn Vlog. He was a reader at Zer0 books from 2015 to 2021. He spent most of the 2010s outside the U.S. in the Republic of Korea, Mexico, and Egypt. He is the author of the poetry collections, Apocalyptics and Liberation and All the Bright Etcetera.  

https://varnblog.substack.com 

Find all his links at https://allmylinks.com/dionysuseatsyou  

The Red Thread: A History of Socialist Tradition with C. Derick Varn, Part 1

P38 è un collettivo rap-trap completamente indipendente con un'assetto punk, nato con l'obiettivo di dare una svolta di estrema sinistra al genere.
Sono attualmente sotto inchiesta per istigazione al terrorismo, esclusivamente a causa dei loro testi.
I tre membri del gruppo – Astore, Jimmy Pentothal e YUNG STALIN – rimangono anonimi e si esibiscono indossando passamontagna bianchi.

BRIGATE POSSE RMX (feat. Egreen)

The second half of Steve’s conversation with Derick Varn goes into the history of the socialist movement from the 1960s to the present.  

Derick traces some of the current factionalism back to the ideological battles between Trotsky and Stalin covered in Part One of this series. This includes the debates on ‘socialism in one country’ versus international socialism. He covers further divisions within Trotskyism, the Red Scare’s successful suppression of the CPUSA, and the formation of the Black Panthers. He describes the rise of Maoism, its influence on student movements in the West, and further ideological splits. 

Steve and Derick emphasize that historical developments are always connected to the material conditions of their time. Even the Bernie Sanders movement. They talk of the struggles intrinsic to past and present socialist organizations and reflect on the modern implications of these ideologies and the challenges of organizing under current capitalist conditions. 

“In the ‘Eighteenth Brumaire,’ Marx talks about how all great revolutions play-act a revolutionary moment of the past. So, for him... he talked about the English Civil War and the Bible, and the French Revolution, and the Roman Empire.  

“We are stuck LARPing the past because we don't know what the future is.” 

C. Derick Varn is a poet, teacher, and political theorist. He is the host of Varn Vlog. He was a reader at Zer0 books from 2015 to 2021. He spent most of the 2010s outside the U.S. in the Republic of Korea, Mexico, and Egypt. He is the author of the poetry collections, Apocalyptics and Liberation and All the Bright Etcetera.  

https://varnblog.substack.com 

Find all his links at https://allmylinks.com/dionysuseatsyou

The Red Thread: A History of Socialist Tradition with C. Derick Varn, Part 2

The provided text explores a controversial perspective on Karl Marx, suggesting he was not merely a revolutionary but a figure strategically connected to powerful elites. It asserts that Marx maintained familial ties to Prussian ruling circles and later formed a partnership with British Crown agent David Urquhart, aligning his work with British geopolitical interests, specifically against Russia. The text argues that Marx's theoretical works, like "Das Kapital" and "The Communist Manifesto," were abstract and served to pacify revolutionary fervor rather than ignite it. Furthermore, it claims Marx actively undermined rival revolutionary movements, ultimately functioning as a tool for controlling dissent and reinforcing existing hierarchies rather than challenging them.

Marx - Britain's Unlikely Imperial Agent

In this podcast, grade 12 student Angelina Ilievska provides a brief abstract into the
complexities of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, also known as North Korea. Since
the Korean War, often dubbed ‘’the Forgotten War’’, by the media, North Korea has founded one
of the most longstanding dictatorships in modern history. In this podcast, Angelina goes into
detail on the creation of North Korea, the dynasty that plays the strings of its people, the history
behind each leader, and the impact they’ve each had on the nation’s domestic and international
conditions.

Sources used for this episode:
Link - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1l249j-O1Tb2ZlXLr6BCjH7Uh6JvC_O5D/view

Episode 440: CHY4U - RST - The Tumultuous Imperialism of the Kim Dynasty, the Korean War, and its Impact on North Korea

The collapse of the Berlin Wall was more than just a wall coming down; it was the beginning of the end for the Cold War and a new chapter for Europe. Join Grade 12 student Tristan Addison-Rodriquez as he explores the factors that led to this monumental event, its immediate impact on Germany and the Soviet Bloc, and its enduring legacy on global politics and the human spirit.

Sources used for this episode were not provided by the student. 

Episode 444: CHY4U - RST - The Fall of the Berlin Wall

Echoes of Vietnam: A War That Changed Everything
The Vietnam War was a defining moment of the 20th century. In this short listen, we touch upon the major events, the challenging terrain, and the deep divisions it caused at home and abroad, leaving a lasting legacy on politics, society, and the way future conflicts were viewed. Join Grade 12 student  Taiki Mossman as he walks us through this important conflict during the Cold War. 

No sources were submitted by the student for this episode. 

Episode 446: CHY4U - RST - A Brief Look at the Vietnam War

This bilingual podcast channel is an on-the-ground look from inside the classroom linked to the outside world. It is the daily explorations of our students on how learning takes place, heard from their voices. These podcasts are unscripted and represents authentic students' reflections. 

It is produced by St. Peter Catholic High School in Orléans, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

**All comments are moderated and read. Inappropriate comments will be removed. Formely ASH Reflections.**
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Cette chaîne bilingue de balados offre un regard unique et expérientiel du processus d’apprentissage se déroulant à l'intérieur de la salle de classe tout en étant tourné et ouvert vers le monde extérieur. Ces balados ne sont pas scénarisés et représentent les réflexions authentiques des élèves.

Cette chaîne est produite par l’école secondaire catholique St. Peter à Orléans, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

**Tous les commentaires sont gérés et lus. Les commentaires inappropriés seront supprimés. Anciennement ASH Réflexions.**

Macroeconomics has never been so ... delish!  Macro and Cheese explores the progressive movement through the lens of Modern Monetary Theory, with hot and irreverent political takes, spotlights in activism, and the razor sharp musings of Real Progressives Founder and host Steve Grumbine.  The cheese will flow as experts come in for a full, four course deep dive into the hot queso. 

Comfort Food for Thought!

New tracks tagged #communism​​

New tracks tagged #communism