PODCAST · news
Critical Wade Theory
by Wade Wainio
I'll talk about everything from politics to entertainment and philosophy. I'm also a part-time entertainment writer and working-class from the UP of Michigan, so that might come up occasionally. Oh, and I make weird experimental music and sometimes host a college radio show.
Episodes
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CWT818: Tammy and the T-Rex (1994) The Greatest Killer Dinosaur Robot Romantic Comedy Ever Made?
Today I'm talking about one of the strangest cult movies ever made—a film that asks a question nobody else thought to ask: What if your boyfriend died, or was perhaps going to die... and a mad scientist put his brain inside a robotic Tyrannosaurus rex?
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CWT817: Reply To: '[You] don't really exude the aura of any financial or economic literacy'
Replying to a comment on one of my podcast episodes titled " The Myth of the Anti-Tax Republican." Someone said: "Dude, you don't really exude the aura of any financial or economic literacy." Is that a "savage burn" or just another vacuous right-wing attempt at a critique?
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CWT816: AI, Jobs, and the Future of Money
Will AI eliminate jobs? And if it does, how will people make money? Also, will AI destroy us all?
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CWT815: Foghat's Scott Holt On 'Live & Loud Across the U.S.A.,' Buddy Guy, Slow Ride, Foghat's Future
For VENTS Magazine online (and this podcast), I talked with Foghat's Scott Holt about the new live album, how the band works, his time with Buddy Guy, and the future of Foghat. Fun fact: I was recording the interview in my mom's kitchen as she watched Young & the Restless with the volume low (no…
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CWT814: Guest Susanne Rostock on 'Following Harry,' Her Harry Belafonte Documentary
Following Harry is an intimate documentary chronicling the final twelve years of legendary artist and activist Harry Belafonte's life, highlighting his commitment to social justice and inspiring future generations to continue the work. Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clKZHOheLZ0 Directed...
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CWT813: 'Behind the Lines' (2024) Andrew Carroll, John B. Benitz Discuss War Letter Documentary
Produced by Sypher Studios, Behind the Lines will be released by Matter Collective on Amazon, Apple TV, and YouTube on October 22. Narrated by four-time Oscar nominee Annette Bening, the documentary features an impressive lineup of performers including Laura Dern, Gary Cole, Michael C. Hall…
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CWT812: Why 'Transhumanism' (Probably) Won't Really Work
Transhumanism promises one of humanity's oldest dreams: escaping the limits of the body and perhaps even death itself. But if technology could preserve your memories, your personality, or even your mind, would it really preserve you?' In this episode, I criticize Peter Thiel (and he deserves it),...
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CWT811: The Botched Execution of Christa Pike
My thoughts on the botched execution of Christa Pike.
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CWT810: 'B*A*P*S' (1997): From Critical Punching Bag to Cult Favorite
Today we're taking a look at a movie that had one of the biggest reputation turnarounds of the 1990s: BAP*S, the 1997 comedy directed by Robert Townsend and starring Halle Berry and Natalie Desselle-Reid.
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CWT809: 'Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' (1976): A Debut That Changed American Rock
I bungle through this review / overview of Tom Petty's debut album, thanks partly to my allergies, or my cold, or whatever the hell this thing is. Gah!
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CWT808: Les Leopold on Billionaires, AI, Activism, Anger, and Surprising Poll Results
I talk with Les Leopold. As his bio says, he is "the co-founder and executive director of the Labor Institute. He is a graduate of Oberlin College and the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University."Topics discussed: What working-class Americans actually…
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CWT807: 'Dirk Wears White Sox': Adam and the Ants Before the Glitter
Today, we’re going back to 1979, when Adam and the Ants released a debut album that sounded nothing like the tribal pop bombast they’d become famous for. This is the story of "Dirk Wears White Sox"
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CWT806: 'Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag' (2007): A Remake That Went Up in Flames
Today we're talking about one of the most infamous films in Bollywood history — a movie so spectacularly unsuccessful that it's become the gold standard for discussing cinematic disasters. It's "Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag."
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CWT805: The Velvelettes, AKA Motown's Most Underrated Girl Group
When people think about Motown's golden age, a handful of legendary names immediately come to mind. The Supremes. Martha and the Vandellas. The Temptations. Smokey Robinson and the Miracles. But Motown's success wasn't built solely on its biggest stars. Beneath those household names was an...
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CWT804: Cinematographer C. Kim Miles on Visual Style of Netflix's 'Little House on the Prairie
C. Kim Miles discusses developing the look of Netflix's "Little House on the Prairie," shooting on the unpredictable Manitoba prairie, collaborating with various filmmakers throughout his career, and the moments from the show that he's most proud of.
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CWT803: The Synth-y Depths of Project Pitchfork (Musical Bio)
Just a little musical biography, or a brief overview/suggestion. Whatever you want to call it, my intentions are good!
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Dimwits, Dipsh*ts, Dufuses, and Dullards (E73, pt. 2): Melania and Donald, Epstein, Robin Leach Sex Parties, etc.
A wild and disturbing episode exploring the Trumps, Epstein, and clear evidence that Robin Leach indeed had sex parties (information somewhat pertinent to an allegation in the Epstein files). Citations: Relationship of Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein - Wikipedia...
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Dimwits, Dipsh*ts, Dufuses, and Dullards (E73, pt. 1): More Trump Idiocracy at the UN
Trump makes the US look really bad (again) at the UN.
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CWT802: 'Elevation' (2024): Does This Post-Apocalyptic Thriller Reach New Heights?
In this episode I'm taking a look at "Elevation, " the 2024 post-apocalyptic science fiction action thriller directed by George Nolfi and starring Anthony Mackie, Morena Baccarin, and Maddie Hasson.
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CWT801: Wait… 'Y tu mamá también' (2001) Isn't Just a Smut Film?
Review of "Y tu mamá también" [ee too mah-MAH tahm-BYEN]. Released in 2001, the title translates to "And Your Mother Too," and while that might sound like the setup for a raunchy comedy, the movie turns out to be something much richer. It's actually not that smutty.
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CWT800: Is Europe Really Rich? The Economic Divides Hidden Behind a Wealthy Continent
When people picture Europe, they often imagine prosperity. They think of gleaming Scandinavian cities, German engineering, French cafés, Swiss banks, and high-speed rail connecting wealthy capitals. Compared to much of the world, Europe certainly enjoys extraordinary levels of wealth, long life...
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CWT799: The Rationalizations for Death and Destruction Change on a Whim
“There’s a lot more fighting that’s going to be done,” Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said. “There are more people [who] are going to be killed; let there be no doubt. This is not over, despite all the celebrations on the street.” The rationalizations for this death and destruction seemed…
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CWT798: Guest Agata Trzebuchowska Discusses Her Film 'Sick'
From publicist: AGATA TRZEBUCHOWSKA is a director and screenwriter. She first gained international recognition for her lead role in IDA, directed by Paweł Pawlikowski, which won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and earned her an EFA nomination. Her short film debut, HEAT…
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CWT797: Remembering Janie Bradford: A Woman Who Helped Write the Sound of Motown
In this episode, I'm taking a look at one of the most influential figures in popular music that many listeners may not immediately recognize by name — but they've almost certainly heard her work. I'm talking about legendary Motown songwriter Janie Bradford, one of the architects behind the…
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CWT796: 'Emancipation' (2022) MOVIE REVIEW + The True Story Behind One of History's Most Powerful Photographs
Review of "Emancipation," the 2022 historical survival thriller directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Will Smith.
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CWT795: In 2025, Talking Heads' ‘Psycho Killer’ Finally Got the Music Video It Deserved
"You're talking a lot, but you're not saying anything."
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CWT794: Reply To: 'Sales tax is a state tax'... Well, Until It Isn't
My response to a YouTube comment that “Sales tax is a state tax.” That comment was somehow intended as a rebuttal to my argument that Republicans are not actually bold rebels who wish to abolish taxes, but instead just want to shift the tax burden further away from the rich and much more onto the...
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CWT793: Interview: Kurt Deimer Discusses Upcoming ‘HELLBILLY HOLLOW’ Franchise
Interview: Kurt Deimer Discusses Upcoming ‘HELLBILLY HOLLOW’ Franchise. I figured I should upload this interview before I forget all about it.
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CWT792: The Polyglot Dividend: Why Diversity Makes Us Smarter and Stronger
Accepting immigrants and multilingualism is actually a net benefit to society.
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CWT791: Front 242 – 'Geography' ALBUM REVIEW/OVERVIEW
Today I'm going to talk about a record that quietly changed electronic music. It’s called Geography. Released in September 1982, it was the debut album by the Belgian group Front 242.
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CWT790: System of a Down’s 'Toxicity' — An Album That Defined a Generation
Today, I'm talking (perhaps gushing) about one of the most important and influential metal albums of the early 2000s: System of a Down’s "Toxicity", released on September 4, 2001.
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CWT789: Fact-Checking Meghan McCain: A Dark History of Dogs as Weapons of State Terror
The main image used for this episode is of Ingrid Olderock, a Chilean-German agent known as "The Dog Lady"., or "Woman of the Dogs," who trained dogs to sexually attack prisoners. This is something Meghan McCain claimed is impossible; "You cannot train a dog to do anything like that," she said.…
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CWT788: Beyond Command and Obey - Anarchic Visions of Freedom...But How Realistic is It?
Anarchism is often misunderstood as a rigid ideology devoted simply to chaos or the rejection of all forms of organization. In reality, anarchism is better understood as a method of analyzing power and human relationships rather than a fixed doctrine demanding strict adherence to a universal...
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CWT787: Smut Star Profile #1: Iggy Amore
I finally did it: I recorded a little episode about a smut film star. Details are scarce, so what can I tell you about Iggy Amore? Listen and find out as I riff on what I discovered! Recoil in horror as a lose my innocence discussing the immoral world of "adult content"!
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CWT786: I Still Know What You Did Last Summer’ End- of-Summer Horror Review 😎🩳🔪😨
Today we're revisiting one of the most recognizable horror sequels of the late 1990s, "I Still Know What You Did Last Summer." It's a bit of a review, but also a simple reminder that this movie exists.
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Dimwits, Dipsh*ts, Dufuses, and Dullards (E72, pt. 1): Toddler-Brained Trump Threatens to Bulldoze Kennedy Center!
What is our toddler-brained President up to now regarding the Kennedy Center? Throwing one of the ultimate man-baby tantrums this country has ever seen!
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🎙️CWT785: Radical Critique of the 2026 TSA Shutdown (and What a Local Donation Drive Reveals)
What would a silly-billy anarchic critique of the 2026 TSA shutdown look like?
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🎙️CWT784: What a Riff-Off! 'Barracuda,' 'Jessica,' 'Thunderstruck,' 'Day Tripper,' 'Beat It,' 'Stairway to Heaven'
'Barracuda,' 'Jessica,' 'Thunderstruck,' 'Day Tripper,' 'Beat It,' 'Stairway to Heaven' Which of those 6 riffs is the best, most powerful, most iconic riff?
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🎙️CWT783: Looking Back at Harassment, OR: Reflections on the #MeToo Thing
Thoughts on allegations of physical assault and inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace. Remember when #MeToo was seemingly the biggest trend in the world?
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🎙️CWT782: Why My Comedy Routine Trial Run Series is DEAD (Roasting Ribert Frost?!!)
I am changing my approach to standup comedy...at least significantly. It especially hit me after trying to memorize elements of my "Roast of Robert Frost." If I have to memorize it, how funny is it? How authentic is it? It might not be the best style and approach.
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🎙️CWT781: OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes S1E1 REVIEW – "Let's Be Heroes"
I'm talking about "Let's Be Heroes," the very first episode of OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes.
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🎙️CWT780: 'X' (2022) Smut Flick(?!) Review #1: Sex, Slaughter, and the Fear of Growing Old
When "X" hit theaters in March 2022, many horror fans expected little more than another throwback slasher — a bloody love letter to the grindhouse films of the 1970s. After all, the marketing promised a group of young people isolated on a rural Texas farm, an unsettling elderly couple, and plenty...
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🎙️CWT779: Guest Casey Carter Talks 'To Use a Mountain,' Nuclear Waste, and Activism
For VENTS Magazine Online: In To Use a Mountain, filmmaker Casey Carter examines America's decades-long search for a permanent nuclear waste repository and the communities that found themselves caught in the middle. Through government documents and firsthand accounts, the documentary explores the...
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🎙️CWT778: Empire, Nationalism, and the Logic of Trump's Iran War
From missile strikes to aircraft carriers, from nationalist propaganda to campaign rhetoric, the same political logic emerges repeatedly: ordinary people bear the costs while governments compete for dominance.
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🎙️CWT777: Reply To: Does Ending the Income Tax Shift the Burden to the Poor? YES!
In responding to a YouTube comment, I dismantle the arguments around flat taxes, sales taxes, and progressive tax brackets. I examine how shifting from income tax to consumption tax impacts everyday buying power, what happens to tax credits like the EITC, and the concept of "marginal utility."…
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🎙️CWT776: From Shock to Familiar: How Repetition Changes Society
How does something once considered shocking eventually become ordinary? Repetition matters.
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🎙️CWT775: The Egyptian Infant Prince (Supposedly) Buried in Vermont
Imagine walking through a quiet cemetery in Middlebury, Vermont. The gravestones surrounding you belong to local families from the nineteenth century. Then, suddenly, one marker stops you in your tracks...
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🎙️CWT774: Abdul El-Sayed vs. AIPAC (2026 Primary Elections: Updated Strategy & a Key Result)
AIPAC and its primary political arms — led by the so-called United Democracy Project (UDP) — have deployed an unprecedented political war chest exceeding $100 million in the 2026 election cycle. Their core focus has been backing pro-Israel candidates and unseating or defeating progressive critics...
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🎙️CWT773: Forgotten Cartoons: 'Leapin' Lion' + the Strange World of 'Tales of the Wizard of Oz' (1961)
Today we're taking a trip down one of the strangest side roads in animation history: the 1961 "Tales of the Wizard of Oz" cartoon, specifically Season 1, Episode 3, "Leapin' Lion."
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🎙️CWT772: Animaniacs S1E1 REVIEW: 'De-Zanitized / The Monkey Song / Nighty-Night Toon'
Executive produced by Steven Spielberg, the landmark first episode, serves as both the pilot and the mission statement for everything "Animaniacs" would become. In just over twenty minutes, it establishes the show's mythology, introduces its unforgettable cast, and demonstrates its unique blend…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
I'll talk about everything from politics to entertainment and philosophy. I'm also a part-time entertainment writer and working-class from the UP of Michigan, so that might come up occasionally. Oh, and I make weird experimental music and sometimes host a college radio show.
HOSTED BY
Wade Wainio
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Critical Wade Theory have?
Critical Wade Theory currently has 929 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Critical Wade Theory about?
I'll talk about everything from politics to entertainment and philosophy. I'm also a part-time entertainment writer and working-class from the UP of Michigan, so that might come up occasionally. Oh, and I make weird experimental music and sometimes host a college radio show.
How often does Critical Wade Theory release new episodes?
Critical Wade Theory releases new episodes frequently with a large back catalog of 929 episodes. Check the episode list for recent publication dates.
Where can I listen to Critical Wade Theory?
You can listen to Critical Wade Theory on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Critical Wade Theory?
Critical Wade Theory is created and hosted by Wade Wainio.
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