Red Horizons
Red Horizons is a podcast that explores leftist thought and revolutionary theory through the lens of science fiction. Hosted by Steve McPhail, each episode blends literary analysis with political philosophy, examining how speculative worlds can illuminate real-world struggles for justice, liberation, and ecological survival. From anarchist utopias to post-capitalist experiments, Red Horizons invites listeners to imagine—and build—radical futures.
Episodes
Jul 24, 2025
Jul 24, 2025
36 min
In the first full episode of Red Horizons, we dive into Kim Stanley Robinson’s Red Mars to explore how revolution begins—on Earth and on Mars. Through a leftist lens, we examine the social, political, and material conditions that lead to uprising on the Red Planet. From labor exploitation to ecological struggle, from the slow build of resistance to the explosive rupture of revolution, we trace the arc of collective action and ask: what does it take to ignite change?
Referencing thinkers like Silvia Federici, Cedric Robinson, Walter Rodney, and Amílcar Cabral, we unpack the layers of ideology, power, and resistance embedded in the novel. This episode challenges the idea that revolution is a single moment—and instead views it as a long, contested process rooted in culture, material conditions, and historical memory.
Whether you’re a sci-fi fan, a leftist thinker, or just curious about how fictional futures reflect our real-world struggles, this episode sets the stage for a season of radical analysis.
Jul 23, 2025
Jul 23, 2025
3 min
Welcome to Red Horizons, where science fiction meets revolutionary critique. In this prologue, host Steve McPhail sets the stage for a podcast that digs into the politics of power, ideology, and resistance in speculative worlds. Get a preview of Season 1’s deep dives—from Martian revolutions to libertarian fantasies—and meet the radical thinkers who’ll help us read sci-fi through a leftist lens.