Parallax Views w/ J.G. Michael
Society & Culture
On this edition of Parallax Views, Vince McMahon, the former chairman and CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), was the most powerful man in all of professional wrestling (or, as he likes to call it, "sports entertainment"). Now though McMahon is completely out of WWE after horrific allegations of sex trafficking and abuse of a former employee, Janel Grant. It's not the first time controversy has follow McMahon or WWE. There's also the case of Rita Chatterton, a former WWE referee who accused McMahon of rape, and the ring boys scandal, in which WWE employees Mel Phillips and Terry Garvin (as well as Pat Patterson) were accused of being involved in a pedophile sex ring within the company.
In lieu of the latest accusations, I reached out to Josie Riesman, author of the book Ringmaster: Vince McMahon and the Unmaking of America, to discuss McMahon and the wrestling empire he built over the years as well as how it relates to issues like robber baron-style capitalism and labor exploitation. We'll also, of course, discuss the sex scandals mentioned above as well as diving into the early history of Vince McMahon, who initially grew up in poverty with an abusive stepfather. Moreover, we'll delve into the relationship between Vince and his biological father Vince McMahon Sr. and how the book is also about father/son relationships. Other issues discussed include:
- Vince McMahon Sr. (Vince's father) and the FBI tapes in which he threatens pro wrestler Dr. Jerry Graham
- The issue of "independent contractor" status in pro wrestling and how it could be seen as labor exploitation
- The wrestling term "kayfabe" and why Josie believe the concept needs to be studied outside of a pro wrestling cotnext; Josie's concept of neokayfabe, omerta in pro wrestling, and the "protect the business" dictum
- Tom Cole and the ring boys scandal
- Vince McMahon's wife, Linda McMahon
- And much, much more!
The Passport as Home: Comfort in Rootlessness w/ Andrei Markovits
Architecture, Illness, Inequity, & World Trade Center Designer Minoru Yamasaki w/ Justin Beal
Alt Media Hawks and Neocons in Populist Clothing? w/ Robbie Martin and Connor Freeman
James Woolsey‘s Operation Dragon & the Triumph of ”Crackpot Realism” in U.S. Foreign Policy w/ Jim DiEugenio
Is Afghanistan Really Just the ”Graveyard of Empire”? w/ Alexander Hainy-Khaleeli
The Legacy of Osama bin Laden and the Forever Wars w/ James M. Dorsey
9/11 & Saudi Arabia Plot Thickens as Documents Declassified w/ Russ Baker
Texas Abortion Law Creates Secret Police, Weaponizes Snitch Culture w/ Spike Cohen
20 Years of the War on Terror w/ Scott Horton
9/11 and Saudi Arabia w/ Journalist Dan Christensen
Have Forever Wars Become Forever Policy? w/ Karen J. Greenberg
Release the Last of the JFK Records w/ Larry Schnapf and Jacob Hornberger
EXCLUSIVE: Sirhan Sirhan‘s Attorney Speaks w/ Angela Berry
The Afghanistan Blunder Boogie and D.C. Arrogance w/ Jim Bovard
Afghanistan, Hubris, and U.S. Foreign Policy w/ Ret. Lt. Col. Daniel Davis + Ted Galen Carpenter
U.S. Foreign Policy Needs to Change w/ Trita Parsi + The U.S.'s Afghanistan Endgame w/ Nadia Ahmad
Reflections on Afghanistan w/ Karen Kwiatkowski PLUS Ron Paul
Reflections on Afghanistan w/ Eric Margolis
Iran, Islam, and the Green Uprisings w/ Dr. Pouya Alimagham
Reflections on Afghanistan w/ Matthew Hoh and JP Sottile
Join Podbean Ads Marketplace and connect with engaged listeners.
Advertise Today
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Maverick Show with Matt Bowles
The Jeff Does Vegas Podcast
Urban Lady Prepper
Now You Know One Autistic! Podcast
Stuff You Should Know
Timcast IRL