<p>In this episode of <em>Psyche Podcast</em>, I sit down with philosopher and Lacanian theorist <strong>Todd McGowan</strong> for a deep exploration of <strong>Frantz Fanon’s engagement with G.W.F. Hegel</strong>. Together, we unpack how <em>Black Skin, White Masks</em>reimagines Hegel’s master–slave dialectic through the lens of colonialism, race, and psychic struggle.</p><p><br></p><p>Todd explains how thinkers like <strong>Alexandre Kojève</strong> shaped the 20th-century obsession with recognition and how Fanon both inherits and critiques that legacy. We explore Fanon’s bold claim that <strong>freedom must be won through struggle</strong>, not simply mutual understanding—and how his universalism sets him apart from later postcolonial and identity-based readings.</p><p><br></p><p>Our conversation also moves into <strong>psychoanalysis</strong>, examining Fanon’s dialogue with Freud and Lacan, his implicit engagement with the <strong>death drive</strong>, and his view of colonialism as a system driven by disavowed self-destruction. We also touch on Fanon’s reflections on violence, alienation, and the tension between theory and political action.</p><p><br></p><p>This is a wide-ranging discussion about <strong>freedom, universality, and the cost of liberation</strong>, and why Fanon’s work still speaks urgently to our moment.</p>