Brian Kemp Is Out! Sci-Fi Revolution And The Consumerization Of Voting (with Aubrey Sitterson)

·1 hr 19 min·5 clips

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp just announced he's not running for Senate, making Democrat John Ossoff the prohibitive favorite.

The episode begins with host Justin Robert Young announcing schedule changes due to his jury duty, then immediately pivots to the political news of Georgia Governor Brian Kemp deciding not to challenge Senator John Ossoff. Young analyzes this as a significant setback for Republicans, making Ossoff a strong favorite and potentially leading to a matchup against Marjorie Taylor Greene. The main interview features comic book writer Aubrey Sitterson, author of the new Image Comics series 'Free Planet'. Sitterson describes the series as a 'geopolitical space opera' about the first completely free planet in human history grappling with nation-building after a revolution. He explains his extensive research process, drawing from real-world histories like the Spanish Civil War, the Cuban Revolution, and Trotsky's writings. A key theme discussed is why revolutionaries often make poor leaders, as the traits needed to win a revolution—staunch conviction, autonomy—conflict with the compromise required to govern. Sitterson also shares his creative approach, emphasizing comics as 'graphic design put to narrative ends' and his use of thumbnails before scripting. The conversation shifts to broader cultural analysis, with Sitterson discussing his decision to quit social media, describing it as a gamified system that encourages unhealthy engagement. He and Young explore how consumer capitalism leads people to form identities around what they consume, including politics, which becomes a transactional, team-sport activity. They then draw parallels between professional wrestling and politics, focusing on concepts like 'kayfabe' (the portrayal of staged events as real) and 'working yourself into a shoot' (believing your own act). They discuss how both fields require performers to fully inhabit their roles, and how audiences participate in the spectacle. The episode concludes with a brief discussion on the current state of professional wrestling, noting an oversaturation of content, before Young promotes Sitterson's comic and the show's bonus content.

As heard by us

A Senate-race headline opens into a candid talk about social media, creative work, and a pro-wrestling detour.

Brian Kemp's decision not to run for Senate gives the episode its news peg, though the stronger stretch comes when Aubrey Sitterson, author of Free Planet, joins for a relaxed conversation about creative work and life around social media.

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Why you'd press play

You get Brian Kemp out of the Senate race, Aubrey Sitterson on the pull of social media, and a little pro wrestling waiting at the end.

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