Episodes

  • Halloween 2025 w/ Christopher Jason Bell

    Halloween 2025 w/ Christopher Jason Bell
    Oct 31 2025
    Filmmaker Christopher Jason Bell (Failed State, Miss Me Yet) joins me for a special Halloween edition of Struggle Session. We delve into some of our favorite horror films and recent releases including Weapons, Hellraiser, Saw, Cure, Ganja & Hess, The Exorcist, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and more.

    We also talk about Chris' short film The Confection starring Alex Ptak and Simone Norman, free to watch here: https://vimeo.com/816045136/42279aaa29https://linktr.ee/christopherjasonbell

    Films mentioned:
    1. The Confection
    2. Saw series
    3. Spiral (Saw)
    4. Twilight series
    5. Hellraiser series
    6. Hellraiser 2: Leviathan
    7. Piranha 3D
    8. Weapons
    9. Barbarian
    10. Eddington
    11. The Exorcist
    12. The Exorcist III
    13. Silence of the Lambs
    14. Deep Red
    15. Tenebrae
    16. Suspiria
    17. Mother of Tears
    18. Dracula (Argento)
    19. Ganja &Hess
    20. Da Sweet Blood of Jesus
    21. Cure
    22. Longlegs
    23. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre


    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/struggle-session--5842028/support.

    Subscribe at http://patreon.com/strugglesession

    Please leave us a 5 star review at Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/struggle-session/id1265384284

    Send an email or voicemail to thestrugglesession@gmail.com

    Keep up with and contact Leslie: https://msha.ke/lleeiii
    Show More Show Less
    44 mins
  • We Want them Infected with Dr. Jonathan Howard

    We Want them Infected with Dr. Jonathan Howard
    Oct 22 2025
    Dr. Jonathan Howard chief of the neurology service at Bellevue Hospital joins us to discuss his book We Want Them Infected: How the Failed Quest for Herd Immunity Led Doctors to Embrace the Anti-vaccine Movement and Blinded Americans to the Threat of COVID.













    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/struggle-session--5842028/support.

    Subscribe at http://patreon.com/strugglesession

    Please leave us a 5 star review at Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/struggle-session/id1265384284

    Send an email or voicemail to thestrugglesession@gmail.com

    Keep up with and contact Leslie: https://msha.ke/lleeiii
    Show More Show Less
    35 mins
  • Fetishized w/ Kaila Yu

    Fetishized w/ Kaila Yu
    Oct 22 2025
    Writer Kaila Yu joins me to discuss her new book Fetishized: A Reckoning with Yellow Fever, Feminism, and Beauty.








    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/struggle-session--5842028/support.

    Subscribe at http://patreon.com/strugglesession

    Please leave us a 5 star review at Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/struggle-session/id1265384284

    Send an email or voicemail to thestrugglesession@gmail.com

    Keep up with and contact Leslie: https://msha.ke/lleeiii
    Show More Show Less
    19 mins
  • Ezra Klein vs Ta-Nehisi Coates w/ Briahna Joy Grey

    Ezra Klein vs Ta-Nehisi Coates w/ Briahna Joy Grey
    Oct 6 2025
    Support the show and get hundreds of bonus episodes ad free at http://patreon.com/strugglesession

    Ezra Klein has been on a roll with a series of podcasts defending Charlie Kirk's legacy, arguing for Democrats to run more anti-abortion candidates to win in pro-abortion states, & and making the case for a value-free politics to Ta-Nehisi Coates. Briahna Joy Grey of Bad Faith joins me to to break it all
    down.
    This was a live stream on the Bad Faith Youtube Channel recorded 9/20/254

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/struggle-session--5842028/support.

    Subscribe at http://patreon.com/strugglesession

    Please leave us a 5 star review at Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/struggle-session/id1265384284

    Send an email or voicemail to thestrugglesession@gmail.com

    Keep up with and contact Leslie: https://msha.ke/lleeiii
    Show More Show Less
    2 hrs and 56 mins
  • Sinners w/ Briahna Joy Gray and Josh Olson [Unlocked]

    Sinners w/ Briahna Joy Gray and Josh Olson [Unlocked]
    Sep 19 2025
    Now unlocked is this special crossover with Briahna's podcast Bad Faith. Get bonus episodes like this when they drop at http://patreon.com/strugglesession

    ------------------------------------------

    A Brief History of Violence screenwriter & co-host of The Movies that Made Me Josh Olson and Struggle Session co-host Leslie Lee III join the show to discuss the movie everyone's talking about: Ryan Coogler's Jim Crow vampire film Sinners. In a spoiler-filled episode (you are warned), the trio debate what the movie is trying to say about race, freedom, religion, and vampirism before delving into the media controversy surrounding Variety's coverage of the film's box office earnings.

    Produced by Armand Aviram. Bad Faith Theme by Nick Thorburn (@nickfromislands).

    Visit our website at http://sesh.show

    Please leave us a 5 star review at Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/struggle-session/id1265384284

    Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thestrugglesession

    Check out our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@StruggleSessionpodcast

    Send an email or voicemail to thestrugglesession@gmail.com

    Keep up with and contact Leslie: https://msha.ke/lleeiii

    Struggle Session Theme by Brendan James: https://thegreatvorelli.bandcamp.com/

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/struggle-session--5842028/support.

    Subscribe at http://patreon.com/strugglesession

    Please leave us a 5 star review at Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/struggle-session/id1265384284

    Send an email or voicemail to thestrugglesession@gmail.com

    Keep up with and contact Leslie: https://msha.ke/lleeiii
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 27 mins
  • 1999: The Year Low Culture Conquered America w/ Ross Benes

    1999: The Year Low Culture Conquered America w/ Ross Benes
    Sep 13 2025
    Support the show and get hundreds of bonus episodes ad free at http://patreon.com/strugglesession

    Ross Benes joins us to discuss his book 1999: The Year Low Culture Conquered America and Kickstarted Our Bizarre Times. We explore the cultural landscape of the late 90s including the impact of The Jerry Springer Show on reality TV, the influence of Vince McMahon on politics, how Juggalos defined outsider culture, Nu metal's MTV-sponsored angst, and the rise of video games from kiddie hobby to big business.

    Guest Link:https://www.rossbenes.com/

    Chapters
    00:00 Introduction
    02:46 What is Low Culture?
    05:28 The Impact of Jerry Springer on Modern Culture
    08:27 Kayfabe and Professional Wrestling's Influence
    17:34 Trump's Pro Wrestling Persona and Kayfabe
    25:27 The Insane Clown Posse
    28:09 The Evolution of Fan Culture in Music
    36:05 Video Games: From Low Culture to Mainstream
    41:37 Was 1999 The Peak?

    Upcoming episodes:

    Fetishized: A Reckoning with Yellow Fever, Feminism, and Beauty w/ Kaila YuLeave us a 5 star review at Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/struggle-session/id1265384284

    Check out our friends: https://www.instagram.com/loudoun_palestine/

    Check out our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@StruggleSessionpodcast

    Send an email or voicemail to thestrugglesession@gmail.com

    My GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/lleeiii

    Stay safe and mask up: https://maskbloc.org/

    Keep up with and contact Leslie: https://msha.ke/lleeiii

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/struggle-session--5842028/support.

    Subscribe at http://patreon.com/strugglesession

    Please leave us a 5 star review at Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/struggle-session/id1265384284

    Send an email or voicemail to thestrugglesession@gmail.com

    Keep up with and contact Leslie: https://msha.ke/lleeiii
    Show More Show Less
    42 mins
  • Strange Days w/ Aaron Thorpe [Preview]

    Strange Days w/ Aaron Thorpe [Preview]
    Aug 29 2025
    Hear the full episode at http://patreon.com/strugglesession

    On today's patron exclusive bonus episode Leslie and Aaron jack in to Strange Days, an underappreciated sci fi cult classic directed by Kathryn Bigelow and co-written by James Cameron.

    Chapters
    00:00 Intro
    00:59 Strange Days Review
    04:49 Character Analysis and Performances
    07:51 Exploring Squid Technology
    11:44 Would You Jack In?
    15:57 Racial Commentary
    22:29 Soundtrack Discussion
    27:02 Visual Style
    32:08 Angela Bassett as Mace
    35:53 LAPD Death Squads
    56:36 Cyberpunk Reading Recommendations

    Upcoming episodes:1
    999: The Year Low Culture Conquered America and Kickstarted Our Bizarre Times w/ Ross Benes
    Fetishized: A Reckoning with Yellow Fever, Feminism, and Beauty w/ Kaila Yu

    Leave us a 5 star review at Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/struggle-session/id1265384284

    Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thestrugglesession

    Check out our friends: https://www.instagram.com/loudoun_palestine/

    Check out our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@StruggleSessionpodcast

    Send an email or voicemail to thestrugglesession@gmail.com

    My GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/lleeiii

    Stay safe and mask up: https://maskbloc.org/

    Keep up with and contact Leslie: https://msha.ke/lleeiii

    Beats by King Koeth: linktr.ee/andrewkoeth

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/struggle-session--5842028/support.

    Subscribe at http://patreon.com/strugglesession

    Please leave us a 5 star review at Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/struggle-session/id1265384284

    Send an email or voicemail to thestrugglesession@gmail.com

    Keep up with and contact Leslie: https://msha.ke/lleeiii
    Show More Show Less
    10 mins
  • Ed Wood: Made In Hollywood USA w/ Will Sloan + Voicemails

    Ed Wood: Made In Hollywood USA w/ Will Sloan + Voicemails
    Aug 11 2025
    Subscribe at http://patreon.com/strugglesession

    Is Ed Wood worst director of all time? Not a chance says our guest. On today's Struggle Session writer WIll Sloan joins us to discuss is new book Ed Wood: Made In Hollywood USA. We talk about the infamous director’s artistic legacy, how his films challenge the concept of “bad” movies, the enduring charm of Plan 9 from Outer Space, and the shockingly progressive Glen or Glenda.Plus voicemails on brand movies, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Sam Raimi.


    Guest Links: https://www.willsloan.ca/

    Upcoming episodes:

    Strange Days with Aaron Thorpe
    1999: The Year Low Culture Conquered America and Kickstarted Our Bizarre Times w/ Ross Benes
    Fetishized: A Reckoning with Yellow Fever, Feminism, and Beauty w/ Kyla Yu

    Leave us a 5 star review at Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/struggle-session/id1265384284

    Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thestrugglesession

    Check out our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@StruggleSessionpodcast

    Send an email or voicemail to thestrugglesession@gmail.com

    My GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/lleeiii

    Keep up with and contact Leslie: https://msha.ke/lleeiii

    Struggle Session Theme by Brendan James: https://thegreatvorelli.bandcamp.com/

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/struggle-session--5842028/support.

    Subscribe at http://patreon.com/strugglesession

    Please leave us a 5 star review at Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/struggle-session/id1265384284

    Send an email or voicemail to thestrugglesession@gmail.com

    Keep up with and contact Leslie: https://msha.ke/lleeiii
    Show More Show Less
    27 mins