Explorations of topics through interviews with experts, to educate you and me. So far mostly just economics and economic policy. Expand your horizons, open your mind. "Science is the great antidote to the poison of enthusiasm and superstition." - Adam Smith
Kristi Kendall on Filmmaking and Documenting Our Divisions
Kristi Kendall is the director of the documentary Undivide Us, about the toxic polarization in America and practical steps to solving it through deep, face to face conversations in our communities. Today, we talk about the production of the documentary and how to communicate ideas through film. She tells us about how her career led her to directing the documentary and why she did it, all while explaining the roles in the filmmaking industry to us. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
2/23/2024 • 45 minutes, 44 seconds
Alice Temnick on Teaching, Learning, and Adam Smith's Education
Alice Temnick teaches IB Economics for the United Nations International School in Manhattan and is an education consultant with Liberty Fund’s Adam Smith Works and Econlib. Today, we begin what is going to be a long conversation about Adam Smith and education. We begin with Adam Smith’s upbringing and education and talk about our own. We discuss how important being a student is to being a teacher. Stay tuned for more! Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
2/16/2024 • 45 minutes, 5 seconds
Alain Bertaud on Urban Planning and Cities
Alain Bertaud is an urbanist and a senior research scholar at the NYU Marron Institute of Urban Management. He is the author of a book about urban planning that is titled Order Without Design: How Markets Shape Cities. He has worked as an urban planner in a multitude of cities around the world. Today, we talk about his view of a city and what he’s observed as an urban planner. He gives us examples and draws connections between how culture and regulation shape cities --- he means literally; cities shaped by regulation are shaped like donuts. We discuss the problems with central planning from old Soviet cities to today's urban sprawl caused by zoning regulation. He explains how being a "free market urban planner" is not a contradiction and shares personal stories about how he came to this career.Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
2/9/2024 • 57 minutes, 20 seconds
Undivide Us: Ben Klutsey on Exploring and Confronting Polarization
Ben Klutsey is the Director of Academic Outreach and the Director of the Program on Pluralism and Civil Exchange at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. He is also one of the masterminds behind a recent documentary, Undivide Us, which tackles the affective polarization in America and how to remedy it through thoughtful conversation. We talk about Ben’s journey and how it led him to this project, the findings of the Undivide Us documentary, and potential solutions to the divisions in society today. Near the end, we discuss the relationship between technology and affective polarization, and the limitations of virtual interactions. Ben gives advice to individuals and institutions longing for deeper connections across perceived boundaries and divisions. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
2/2/2024 • 53 minutes, 44 seconds
Robert Lawson on Educating for Economic Freedom: James Gwartney's Legacy
Robert Lawson is the Jerome M. Fullinwider Centennial Chair in Economic Freedom and is director of the Bridwell Institute for Economic Freedom in the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University. Today, we talk about James Gwartney, a great economist who recently passed but leaves a significant legacy, from accessible and interesting textbooks to the creation of the Economic Freedom of the World index. Unlike many academics, he even left his desk to pursue his ideas! We discuss Gwartney’s life and how his work has transformed the teaching of and measurement in economics. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
1/26/2024 • 49 minutes, 46 seconds
Adam White on the American Judiciary
Adam White is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and the Co-Director of the C. Boyden Gray Center for the Study of the Administrative State at George Mason University. He also leads seminars with the Hertog Foundation, one of which I had the chance to attend this summer. Today we talk about the American judicial system, from its structure to its founding to its role in American society. We address whether courts function differently today than we have in the past, looking at the issues debated like court-packing and precedent. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
1/19/2024 • 51 minutes, 9 seconds
Brent Orrell on Dignity and Work
Brent Orrell is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, where his research lights the path in job training, workforce development, and criminal justice reform. Today, we talk about the state of work in the United States and the main issues that the labor market faces. We talk about the importance of meaning and dignity in one’s work and how it is tied to economic growth. Tune in for some good advice and good conversation! Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
12/15/2023 • 52 minutes, 4 seconds
Lauren Hall on Radical Moderation
Lauren Hall is the author of several books, the author of the wonderful Substack The Radical Moderate’s Guide to Life, and a professor at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Today, we talk about radical moderation, what that is, and why it's important. We talk about the importance of breaking away from the political binaries and models we currently have and how to do so. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
12/8/2023 • 46 minutes, 47 seconds
Cheryl Miller on Hertog and the Humanities
Cheryl Miller is the executive director of the Hertog Foundation, an educational philanthropy organization in Washington, DC. Today, we talk about the mission of the foundation and the importance of the humanities in policy making and being a human more generally. We talk about the state of the youth, optimism, and Edith Wharton! The Independent RiotDeep dives with experts and madmen into life's most interesting topics. If you're an...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifyNever miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
12/1/2023 • 47 minutes, 19 seconds
Kerianne Lawson on Equal Economic Freedoms
Kerianne Lawson is a faculty scholar at the Challey Institute for Global Innovation and Growth as well as an assistant professor of economics at North Dakota State University. Today, we talk about a lot of different topics including the implementation of property rights in South Africa through the Khaya Lam project and the realities of differences of economic freedom by gender. We talk about finding your career path and what economics is as well! Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
11/27/2023 • 47 minutes, 55 seconds
Bob Ewing on Communicating
Bob Ewing is the founder of the Ewing School, which helps clients with public speaking and listening skills, and writes the Substack Talking Big Ideas. Today we talk about communication, breaking it down into the components of speaking and listening. We discuss why communication is so important and how it can bring value and guide success, and what success might mean. Give the Gift of Podcasting This SeasonHelp someone you care about start a podcast this season with a gift card from RSS.com.Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
11/17/2023 • 44 minutes, 30 seconds
Albert Zambone on Historical Inquiry
Albert Zambone is the author of Daniel Morgan: A Revolutionary Life. He is also the host of the podcast Historically Thinking, where he teaches listeners not only history but how to do it. Go check it out if you haven’t. He also has a doctorate in history from the University of Oxford. Today, we talk about what history is, why it’s so important, how to do it, and what it tells us. We touch on culture and narratives, and the education system as well. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
11/10/2023 • 55 minutes, 13 seconds
John Bitzan on the Culture at Universities
John Bitzan is the Menard Family Director of the Sheila and Robert Challey Institute for Global Innovation and Growth at North Dakota State University. Today we are talking about the findings of their annual survey on American College Student Freedom, Progress and Flourishing, which has some shocking and non-shocking results. Tune in for more as we look at the statistics, try to find causes, and look for solutions. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
10/27/2023 • 48 minutes, 16 seconds
Vincent Geloso on Global Inequality
Today, I am excited to welcome on Vincent Geloso. He is an assistant professor at George Mason University, specializing in the measurement of living standards. We talk about his new study with Chelsea Follet of the Cato Institute titled “Global Inequality in Well-Being Has Decreased across Many Dimensions” , which discusses a new way of measuring global inequality, the Inequality of Human Progress Index. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
10/20/2023 • 46 minutes, 42 seconds
Chelsea Follett on Cities that Changed the World
I am excited to have Chelsea Follett on to talk to us about her new book Centers of Progress: 40 Cities that Changed the World. The title speaks for itself. She is a policy analyst at the Cato Institute’s center for global liberty and prosperity and the managing editor of humanprogress.org. We talk about a few key characteristics of centers in progress, the connection between cities and progress, and some interesting cases of progress! Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
10/13/2023 • 46 minutes, 29 seconds
Lawrence Reed on Best and Worst American Presidents
Lawrence Reed is the president emeritus of the Foundation for Economic Education and of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. He is currently the Humphreys family senior fellow at FEE. Visit his website lawrencewreed.com. Today we talk about the best and worst presidents in American history and the reasons why. We start with the role of the presidency, which informs the rest of the discussion. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
10/6/2023 • 44 minutes, 55 seconds
Pete Boettke on Mainline Economics
Peter Boettke is a professor of economics and philosophy at George Mason University, as well as the author of several books. Today we talk about a book called Mainline Economics, which is a collection of Nobel lectures from what he defines as “mainline economists”. A mainline economist’s methodology of economics falls in the tradition and lineage of Adam Smith. We talk about the benefits of this type of economics and how it diverges from mainstream economics, along with when and why that happens. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
9/29/2023 • 1 hour, 2 minutes, 36 seconds
Phil Gramm on How Government Biases Policy Debate
Former Senator Phil Gramm began as a professor of economics at Texas A&M, then became a representative in the House, later becoming a senator. And now, he’s written a book with John Early and Robert Ekelund called The Myth of American Inequality: How Government Biases Policy Debate. We talk today about his book and observations of the system during his time in office, identifying problems with the way the census and other measuring tools bias the data and conversations that follow. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
9/21/2023 • 48 minutes, 55 seconds
Jeremy Horpedahl on The Real Cost of Thriving Index
Jeremy Horpedahl is the director of the Arkansas Center for Research in Economics and an associate professor at the University of Central Arkansas . Today we talk about American Compass’s Cost of Thriving Index (COTI), what it says and why it is wrong. The COTI shows that Americans today have a higher cost of thriving than ever before, but in a paper with AEI’s Scott Winship, Horpedahl corrects the index and shows that the cost of thriving has instead decreased. Some of the corrections are essential to the average American’s life, for example accounting for changes in taxation in the past few decades. Listen in to hear more about the cost of thriving today, why it has decreased, and how I cannot pronounce COTI for the life of me. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
9/15/2023 • 1 hour, 45 seconds
Jeremy Lott on Comics, Adam Smith, and More
Jeremy Lott is the managing editor at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, but he also has written several Adam Smith comics for Adam Smith Works, and written an impressively wide range of books, from a novel about William F. Buckley Jr.’s faith to children's books like Growlilocks to comics like Movie Men. Today, we talk about his experience creating in so many different mediums and the purpose of art, as well as the ideas of Adam Smith and their place in America today. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
9/8/2023 • 42 minutes, 28 seconds
Lawrence White on Currencies and Better Money
Today, I host Lawrence White on the podcast. He is an economics professor at George Mason University with a specialty in the history and theory of banking and money and is the author of several books including Better Money: Gold, Fiat, or Bitcoin. We talk about why on earth money and monetary policy come across as so intimidating, then he takes us on a tour of the different currencies we’ve used. We talk about federal banks, the debate between Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson, and the use of cryptocurrencies. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
9/1/2023 • 51 minutes, 24 seconds
Aaron Ross Powell on Visions of Liberty - Rerun
Aaron Ross Powell, formerly of the Cato Institute (at the time of this interview), and currently the host of podcasts ReImagining Liberty and Zooming In, talks to us about his new book with Paul Matzko called Visions of Liberty.Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
8/25/2023 • 44 minutes, 45 seconds
Arnold Kling on The Three Languages of Politics - Rerun
The Great Antidote is on a break from recording new content right now, but please enjoy this rerun of one of our favorites in the meantime. Happy Summer and catch you soon with new content!Arnold Kling is an economist and the author of the book The Three Languages of Politics: Talking Across Political Divides. His substack, In My Tribe, explores many areas of economics and policy. Today, he talks to us about the divide in politics, explaining the need for his book and giving current examples. We explore affective polarization and the rise of polarization generally. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
8/18/2023 • 45 minutes, 44 seconds
Scott Winship on Poverty & Welfare - Rerun
The Great Antidote is on a break from recording new content right now, but please enjoy this rerun of one of our favorites in the meantime. Happy Summer and catch you soon with new content!Scott Winship, resident scholar and the director of poverty studies at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), joins us this week to discuss the United States's "War on Poverty", the welfare state, and the future of anti-poverty policy.Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
8/11/2023 • 45 minutes, 3 seconds
William B. Allen on The State of Black America - Rerun
The Great Antidote is on a break from recording new content right now, but please enjoy this rerun of one of our favorites in the meantime. Happy Summer and catch you soon with new content! William B. Allen, resident scholar and former chief operating officer of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education, talks to us today about the book he recently edited, The State of Black America. He tells us about his upbringing and the current narrative about racism and policy in the United States. Is it a problem? What should we do about it? Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
8/4/2023 • 53 minutes, 14 seconds
Emily Hamilton on Housing Deregulation
Emily Hamilton is a senior research fellow and the director of the Urbanity Project at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. Today, we talk about the current housing market and the regulations that prevent the building of more affordable, diverse, and abundant types of housing. Hamilton tells us the story of DC and similar areas, where deregulation of housing has begun, explaining the effects. We talk about NIMBY arguments against deregulation, her responses to them, and what deregulation would mean for Americans. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
7/28/2023 • 43 minutes, 31 seconds
TGA Special: Enquiry Concerning Hereafter, Part 2
This week is going to be a little different. Today I am excited to share with you a recording of the play Enquiry Concerning Hereafter by Duane Kelly. (You can also read the script here.)The play is about the friendship between (and deaths of) Adam Smith and David Hume. Enjoy! Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
7/21/2023 • 48 minutes, 20 seconds
TGA Special: Enquiry Concerning Hereafter, Part 1
This week is going to be a little different. Today I am excited to share with you a recording of the play Enquiry Concerning Hereafter by Duane Kelly. (You can also read the script here.)The play is about the friendship between (and deaths of) Adam Smith and David Hume. Enjoy! Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
7/14/2023 • 56 minutes, 50 seconds
Steven Teles on Liberaltarianism
Steven Teles is a professor of political science at Johns Hopkins University and a senior fellow at the Niskanen Center. Today he defines and talks to us about a few words, including “liberaltarianism” – explaining how it diverges from libertarianism with an intellectual history and why – and “kludgeocracy”. We talk about the complexities of government organization and the causes- including regulatory capture, and he tells us what he envisions to be potential solutions. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
7/7/2023 • 48 minutes, 26 seconds
Dan Klein on Hayek and The Band Man
Dan Klein is a professor of economics at George Mason University. Today he talks to us about F. A. Hayek’s conception of the Band-Man and our political psychology today. He explains to us that although our modern world looks a lot different from the world in 10,000 BC, that human beings are the same, with similar tendencies and desires. He talks to us about the implications of this idea for politics and the search for meaning in one’s life. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
6/30/2023 • 1 hour, 6 minutes, 16 seconds
Christine McDaniel on Trade: A Tale of Two Presidents
Christine McDaniel is a senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University with a focus on international trade and globalization. Today we talk about the different trade actions undertaken by recent presidents and what that means for the American public. We discuss tariffs, NAFTA, the WTO, and more. McDaniel also lays out the different trade relationships between the US and various geographic regions and countries. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
6/23/2023 • 48 minutes, 36 seconds
David Henderson on Economists’ Nobels, Obitz, and More
David Henderson is a research fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution and the editor of the Concise Encyclopedia of Economics. He is also an emeritus professor of economics with the naval postgraduate school. He is the Wall Street Journal’s go-to writer for pieces on Nobel prizes and deaths in economics, which we talk about today, exploring a list of favorites. He tells us of their contributions to the field and some stories. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
6/16/2023 • 44 minutes, 52 seconds
John Cochrane on Monetary Versus Fiscal Policy
John Cochrane is a renowned economist and senior fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. He writes a popular blog called The Grumpy Economist. He is also a former professor of economics and finance at the University of Chicago. He is the author of a recent book called The Fiscal Theory of the Price Level. Today we talk about the monetary and fiscal theories of the price level, or inflation, discussing what inflation is, how it’s caused, and how to fix it. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
6/9/2023 • 48 minutes, 13 seconds
Brian Hooks on Believe in People
Brian Hooks is the CEO and chairman of Stand Together, the president of the Charles Koch Foundation, and the co-author of Believe in People: Bottom-up Solutions for a Top-Down World. Today, we talk about the principles that guide Stand Together and the work that Stand Together does. He talks to us about how and why Stand Together is different from other philanthropic organizations, giving us the success story of one of their partners, The Phoenix, a drug rehabilitation organization. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
6/2/2023 • 45 minutes, 11 seconds
Emily Chamlee-Wright on the Liberal Sensibility
Emily Chamlee-Wright is the president and CEO of IHS, the Institute for Humane Studies. Today we talk about the liberal sensibility, what it is and what happened to it. She explains to us the four corners of the liberal project and why they are important to a liberal society such as ours. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
5/26/2023 • 52 minutes, 37 seconds
Marian Tupy on Superabundance
Marian Tupy is a senior fellow at the Cato Institute and the coauthor of two books: Ten Global Trends Every Smart Person Should Know, with Ron Bailey, and Superabundance, with Gale Pooley. Today we talk about Superabundance to address the doom and gloom, often environmentalist concerns about overpopulation. He talks to us about his research that shows why this is not the case, and explains what factors contribute to a state of superabundance. Also, check out Human Progress, edited by Tupy, which is an innovative and successful version of the Good News Network, which relates to part of our later conversation about the relationship between media and superabundance. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
5/19/2023 • 50 minutes, 39 seconds
Yesim Sayin on the DC Life and Policy
Yesim Sayin is the executive director and the founder of the DC Policy Center, a non-partisan, independent think tank that produces research and analyses on the local economy, workforce, education, housing, and other policy issues in the District of Columbia. She talks to us about what makes DC unique compared to other cities, and how that makes the DC Policy Center unique as a think tank. We also talk about DC-specific policy issues and what we can learn from the center. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
5/12/2023 • 43 minutes, 26 seconds
Stephanie Slade on Fusionism
Stephanie Slade is a senior editor at Reason, the magazine of "free minds and free markets" and a fellow in liberal studies at the Acton Institute. Today we talk about fusionism, the fusion of freedom and virtue. We talk about the necessary relationship between seemingly contradictory ideals and the importance of civil society. She explains to us the history of fusionism and the need for it in today’s current political environment. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
5/5/2023 • 43 minutes, 54 seconds
Samuel Gregg on The Next American Economy
Dr. Samuel Gregg is a distinguished fellow in political economy and senior research faculty at the American Institute for Economic Research. He recently wrote a book called The Next American Economy: Nation, State, and Markets in an Uncertain World. We talk about the current consensus about the American economy and how it’s changed over time. He explains to us the renewal of enthusiasm for industrial policy, and what classical liberals can do to better the defense of free markets. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
4/28/2023 • 51 minutes, 16 seconds
Scott Lincicome on the New American Worker
Scott Lincicome is the vice president of general economics and trade at the Cato Institute. He recently coauthored and edited Empowering the New American Worker: Market Based Solutions for Today’s Workforce, which we talk about today. In light of “Buy America” and continuous calls for bettering the position of the American worker, what really is the state of the American worker today? Who is the American worker? Lincicome answers these questions and more as we explore policy areas that hinder workers when they were intended to help. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
4/21/2023 • 49 minutes, 45 seconds
Mark Calabria on Shelter from the Storm
Mark Calabria was the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and the director of Financial Regulation Studies at the Cato Institute. Today, he is a senior advisor to the Cato Institute, and recently wrote a book on his experiences in the Agency, called Shelter From the Storm. Today, he talks to us about the book, and saving the United States from a 2008-like financial crisis by respecting congressional statutes in agency behavior and resisting calls for bailouts. He explains what the agency is and what it looks like “on the inside”. He addresses free market skepticism about being in government and influencing change. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
4/14/2023 • 48 minutes, 49 seconds
Troy Senik on Grover Cleveland
Troy Senik is the author A Man of Iron: The Turbulent Life and Improbable Presidency of Grover Cleveland. He also was a white house speech writer and is the cofounder of kite and key media. Today, he talks to us about his new book and the life of Grover Cleveland. We talk about how Cleveland became president and the political scene of the time, as well as how and why he is often forgotten today. Senik characterizes Cleveland’s principled nature and his time in office. He also gives politicians and Americans both advice on what can be learned from this amazing yet inconspicuous figure in history. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
4/7/2023 • 46 minutes, 11 seconds
Nico Perrino on Individual Rights and Free Expression
Nico Perrino is FIRE's Executive Vice President and the creator and host of FIRE’s So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast. He is also the codirector of the 2020 documentary Mighty Ira, which is about the life and career of former ACLU executive director Ira Glasser.Today, he talks to us about FIRE’s name change and mission expansion. What changed and why? What is going on with civil liberties today? He responds to some criticisms of free speech, we explore social media and censorship. We also talk about his optimism for the future. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
3/31/2023 • 48 minutes, 36 seconds
Eli Dourado on Energy Abundance
Eli Dourado, a senior research fellow at the Center for Growth and Opportunity at Utah State University, talks to us today about energy abundance. We discuss at the most basic level what energy is and why it is significant to human life, making the clear case that we should aim for energy abundance. He responds to climate change worries and explains the regulatory barriers in the way of that future, and what that future would bring. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
3/24/2023 • 42 minutes, 35 seconds
Timothy Sandefur on Freedom's Furies
Timothy Sandefur is the vice president for litigation at the Goldwater Institute and the author of six books, including Frederick Douglass: Self Made Man and Freedom’s Furies: How Isabel Paterson, Rose Wilder Lane, and Ayn Rand Found Liberty in an Age of Darkness. These three women all lived during the Great Depression, so he talks to us about the literary, historical, and political scenes of the time, painting a picture of their works and relationships in context. We discuss the parallels between their time and ours, and his optimism for the future. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
3/17/2023 • 49 minutes, 30 seconds
Chris Freiman on Consequentialism
Chris Freiman, a professor of philosophy at William and Mary and the author of several books, talks to us about another philosophy of liberty: consequentialism. First, he talks to us about the importance of philosophy in defending liberty. Then he talks to us about the differences between consequentialism and other liberty philosophies, and we discuss the strengths and weaknesses in its defense of liberty. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
3/10/2023 • 48 minutes, 37 seconds
Chris Freiman on Consequentialism
Chris Freiman, a professor of philosophy at William and Mary and the author of several books, talks to us about another philosophy of liberty: consequentialism. First, he talks to us about the importance of philosophy in defending liberty. Then he talks to us about the differences between consequentialism and other liberty philosophies, and we discuss its strengths and weaknesses in its defense of liberty. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
3/3/2023 • 48 minutes, 37 seconds
Robert Tracinski on Left and Right Illiberalism
Robert Tracinski is the editor of Symposium, a substack and podcast about liberalism, the author of several books, a columnist at Discourse Magazine, and he writes on his own substack The Tracinski Letter. Today he talks to us about his view of liberalism and its current opponent: illiberalism, which comes from both the left and the right. We talk about their differences and their similarities, as well as his optimism and plan for the future. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
2/24/2023 • 46 minutes, 49 seconds
Ryan Hanley on the Morality of Markets
Ryan Hanley is a professor of political science at Boston College and the author of several books, including Our Great Purpose: Adam Smith on Living a Better Life. Today, he talks to us about the foundations of Adam Smith’s theory of virtue and proceeds to lay this theory out for us. We talk about how Smith’s philosophy and economics intersect, and how Smith comes to make a case for markets being moral, instead of amoral as many economists claim. We also talk about the influences and openness of Adam Smith, particularly Jean Jacques Rousseau. Who would’ve thought?!?Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
2/10/2023 • 49 minutes, 9 seconds
Eric Daniels on History
Eric Daniels is the assistant director of the Clemson Institute for the Study of Capitalism, as well as a professor with Clemson’s Lyceum Program. Today, we talk about history as a discipline and profession, getting down to what it is and why so many podcast guests say it is so important. We break history down into a few components and even address Adam Smith as a historian! Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
2/3/2023 • 54 minutes, 55 seconds
Kaytlin Bailey on the Oldest Profession
Kaytlin Bailey is the founder and executive director of the non-profit organization Old Pros, which aims at decriminalizing and destigmatizing sex work. Today, she talks to us about the history of the oldest profession and her experiences with it. She makes the case for decriminalizing sex work and addresses common objections, along with clarifying decriminalization versus legalization. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
1/27/2023 • 39 minutes, 52 seconds
Peter Boettke on Don Lavoie and Central Planning
Peter Boettke is a professor of economics and philosophy at George Mason University. He talks to us today about Don Lavoie, a late GMU economics professor, and his contributions. Lavoie’s work focused mainly on central planning and the answer to the socialist calculation problem, continuing the work of Mises and Hayek. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
1/20/2023 • 1 hour, 3 minutes, 15 seconds
Scott Bullock on Criminal Justice - Rerun
The Great Antidote is on a break from recording new content right now, but please enjoy this rerun of one of our favorites in the meantime. Happy Holidays and catch you soon with new content! Scott Bullock, president and general counsel of the Institute for Justice and who represented Susette Kelo in the Supreme Court case Kelo v. The City of New London, talks to us about civil asset forfeiture and eminent domain. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
1/13/2023 • 43 minutes, 43 seconds
Nadine Strossen on Hate Speech - Rerun
The Great Antidote is on a break from recording new content right now, but please enjoy this rerun of one of our favorites in the meantime. Happy Holidays and catch you soon with new content! Nadine Strossen, civil liberties activist and former president of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), joins us this week to discuss hate speech, its policy implications, and if we should be protecting it.Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
1/6/2023 • 48 minutes, 38 seconds
Russ Roberts on How Adam Smith Can Change Your Life - Rerun
The Great Antidote is on a break from recording new content right now, but please enjoy this rerun of one of our favorites in the meantime. Happy Holidays and catch you soon with new content! Russ Roberts, host of EconTalk, author of several books, and research fellow at Hoover Institution, talks to us about his book How Adam Smith Can Change Your Life: An Unexpected Guide to Human Nature and Happiness.Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
12/30/2022 • 52 minutes, 23 seconds
Samuel Gregg on Christianity and Liberalism - Rerun
The Great Antidote is on a break from recording new content right now, but please enjoy this rerun of one of our favorites in the meantime. Happy Holidays and catch you soon with new content! Dr. Samuel Gregg, Distinguished Fellow in Political Economy and Senior Research Faculty at the American Institute for Economic Research, joins us this week to discuss culture, the origins of morality, and the intersectionality between liberalism and Christianity.Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
12/23/2022 • 45 minutes, 54 seconds
Daniel Rothschild on Liberalism and Think Tanks
Daniel Rothschild is the executive director of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. Today, we talk about liberalism and institutions, whatever that means. After exploring their definitions, he talks to us about the role of each in society at the current moment, how this is a departure from the past, and potential paths forward. We also talk specifically about think tanks as an institution- both what they are and the role they play in upholding a liberal order. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
12/16/2022 • 42 minutes, 30 seconds
Craig Biddle on Philosophy and Objectivism
Craig Biddle is the founder and director of the Objective Standard Institute, as well as the author of several books including Loving Life. Today, he talks to us about the importance of philosophy and the different components of philosophy. Then he explains the philosophy of objectivism, and we explore common objections to it. Listen in and stay tuned for more episodes on the various classical liberal philosophies! Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
12/9/2022 • 55 minutes, 5 seconds
Henry C. Clark on Montesquieu
Henry C. Clark, professor at Dartmouth College and director of the Political Economy Project, talks to us today about Montesquieu. Listen in to learn about his life and the political environment in Europe in the early 18th century, especially in following the death of Louis XIV after a 72-year rule. Learn about Montesquieu’s contributions, such as the idea of separation of powers, and stay a while as Professor Clark talks to us about Montesquieu’s influence on Europe’s political discourse and America’s founding. We also explore the similarities and differences between Montesquieu and Adam Smith! Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
12/2/2022 • 54 minutes, 45 seconds
Colin Grabow on The Jones Act 2: Treason and Cruises
Colin Grabow, a research fellow at the Cato Institute’s Center for Trade Policy Studies, talks to us today about the Jones Act. He gives us a refresher on what the Jones Act is, but for more details listen to our first episode on the topic, Colin Grabow on The Jones Act.He talks to us about the recent treason charges against critics of the Jones Act, the effects of the Jones Act in times of emergencies -namely Hurricane Fiona- and the Jones Act for cruise ships, the Passenger Vessel Services Act. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
11/25/2022 • 40 minutes, 45 seconds
Dianne Durante on Innovators in Sculpture
Dianne Durante holds a PhD in Classics from the University of Cincinnati and has been a freelance writer, lecturer, and tour guide for the over 30 years. She has written books on many topics, her books Innovators in Sculpture and Financial Programs of Alexander Hamilton are just a few. Today, we talk about art and art history, as well as their significance. She lays out what an innovation in sculpture is and leads us through some innovations in sculpture. We also talk about government involvement in art and the effects of that involvement on the art produced. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
11/18/2022 • 41 minutes, 51 seconds
Phil Magness on Academic Integrity: Public Choice Edition
Phil Magness is the author of multiple books, a scholar at the American Institute for Economic Research, and the intellectual watchdog for academic writing. Today we talk about Nancy MacLean’s book, Democracy in Chains, and debunks her claims about James M. Buchanan, the father of public choice economics, being a racist. He explains the peer review process and the types of errors made in journalistic malpractice, as well as the current state of academic honesty and integrity in academia. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
11/11/2022 • 42 minutes, 27 seconds
James Kirchick on The Secret History of Gay Washington
James Kirchick is the author of two books: Secret City and The End of Europe. Today, he talks to us about the intertwined history of gays in Washington DC and the history of the cold war and national security. He explains how and why he came to write this book, along with how homosexuality became conflated with communism. Why were there so many gay men in the state department? What is the relationship between the history of the cold war and the history of gay Americans? What’s so significant about that relationship? Listen to find out! Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
11/4/2022 • 49 minutes, 29 seconds
Michael Cannon on Medicare
Michael Cannon, director of health policy studies at the Cato Institute, talks to us today about Medicare. He provides statistics on the size of Medicare spending and the history of how Medicare came into being. We also discuss the distortions that Medicare creates, and Cannon addresses calls for “Medicare for All”. Do you know how much fraud there is in the Medicare system? Listen to find out. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
10/28/2022 • 56 minutes, 52 seconds
Rachel Ferguson on Black Liberation Through the Marketplace
Rachel Ferguson is an economic philosopher at Concordia University Chicago and the director of the Free Enterprise Center, as well as an affiliate scholar with the Acton Institute. She is the co-author of Black Liberation Through the Marketplace: Hope, Heartbreak, and the Promise of America. Today, we talk about her book, which focuses on civil society and the classical liberal approach to many of the problems facing Black America today. We also talk about the history of free market thinkers and abolitionism, and the distinction between libertarians and classical liberalism. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
10/21/2022 • 51 minutes, 11 seconds
Timothy Sandefur on Frederick Douglass
Timothy Sandefur, vice president of legal affairs at the Goldwater Institute, talks to us today about his book, Frederick Douglass: Self-Made Man. He talks to us about the philosophy behind and the development of American slavery, highlighting Douglass’s escape from it. Listen to learn about Douglass’s journey from slave to abolitionist- as well as to explore the debate about slavery and our Constitution. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
10/14/2022 • 43 minutes, 32 seconds
Matthew Continetti on The American Right
Matthew Continetti, is a senior fellow and the Patrick and Charlene Neal Chair in American Prosperity at the American Enterprise Institute. Today, we talk about his new book The Right: The Hundred-Year War for American Conservatism. Continetti talks to us about the different terminology used to describe right-leaning ideologies, and how they’ve evolved over time. He also gives us a survey of the most important thinkers and events that have contributed to the history of the right. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
10/7/2022 • 52 minutes, 18 seconds
Darren Staloff on the American Founding
Darren Staloff is a history professor at the City College of New York and the author of two books: Hamilton, Adams, Jefferson: The Politics of Enlightenment and the American Founding and The Making of the American Thinking Class: Intellectuals and Intelligentsia in Puritan Massachusetts. He talks to us today about the ideas at the core of our Constitution, the people who fought for it, and the results of those political conflicts. What is so special about our constitutional republic? Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
9/30/2022 • 54 minutes, 46 seconds
David Epstein on Range
David Epstein is the author of New York Times #1 bestsellers, Range and The Sports Gene, and an investigative reporter at ProPublica. Today, he talks to us about Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World. Listen for generalist success stories! He explains when best to use a generalist approach, in sports, versus a specialist approach, in chess. We talk about how to integrate the generalist approach into schooling and everyday life to improve learning, and he gives me advice on my guitar-learning journey. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
9/23/2022 • 1 hour, 5 minutes
Michael Cannon on Employer-Sponsored Health Care
Michael Cannon, Cato Institute’s director of health policy studies, talks to us today about health and health policy, reminding us of their definitions, goals, and importance. Learn about the origin of our current health care system, the different methods of obtaining health care (direct, government provided, employer-sponsored), and specifically employer-sponsored health care, which is the most common source of health insurance. What is “universal health care”? Do we really have a free market for health care? Why is employer-sponsored health care the most common source of heath care in the United States? What are the incentives in that system? What are the effects of the policies that have made this the case? Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
9/16/2022 • 58 minutes, 6 seconds
William B. Allen on The State of Black America
William B. Allen, resident scholar and former chief operating officer of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education, talks to us today about the book he recently edited, The State of Black America. He tells us about his upbringing and the current narrative about racism and policy in the United States. Is it a problem? What should we do about it? Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
9/9/2022 • 52 minutes, 57 seconds
Matthew Mitchell on the Continuing Punishment of Criminal Records
Your criminal sentence doesn’t necessarily end when you get out of jail. Criminal records prevent many Americans from entering jobs requiring occupational licensing. 66 million Americans have criminal records; 30% of jobs require occupational licensing. Licensed jobs range from electrician to medical professional to hair braider.Matthew Mitchell is a Senior Research Fellow and the Director of the Equal Liberty Initiative at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. Today, we briefly recap occupational licensing, what it is, and its effects. Then, we go on to talk about the unequal burden of occupational licensing, particularly on those with criminal records, and potential reforms.Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
9/2/2022 • 41 minutes, 25 seconds
Jon Murphy on The Jones Act and Adam Smith
Jon Murphy, recent PhD graduate from George Mason University and incoming instructor at Western Carolina University, talks to us today about Adam Smith’s theoretical and practical exceptions to free trade. We explore whether Smith would have endorsed The Jones Act through his endorsement of Britain’s Navigation Acts. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
7/29/2022 • 42 minutes, 23 seconds
Weifeng Zhong on China's Propaganda
Weifeng Zhong, senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, talks to us today about the distinction between misinformation, disinformation, and propaganda. He leads us through his story of discovering the Tiananmen Square Massacre and how it led to the Policy Change Index project. We talk about hopes and fears for the future, along with some differences between the United States and China. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
7/22/2022 • 48 minutes
Jason Fichtner on Why You Should Save Today
Jason Fichtner, vice president and chief economist at the Bipartisan Policy Center, talks to us about retirement and saving strategies. He takes us through different types of savings accounts, why you should start saving today, and why you should start saving today. We also talk about starting to save later in life, how to save for and pay off big expenses, and social security considerations.Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
7/15/2022 • 43 minutes, 57 seconds
Clark Neily on the Supreme Court's New Justice
Clark Neily, senior vice president of legal studies at the Cato Institute, talks to us about upcoming Supreme Court justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. We explore her unique qualifications and the hopes that this brings, amicus briefs and how they are filed, and her judicial philosophy. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
7/8/2022 • 40 minutes, 44 seconds
Peter Van Doren on Energy Independence
Peter Van Doren is the editor of the quarterly journal Regulation and is a senior fellow at the Cato Institute, where he specializes in housing, land, energy, and more. Today, he talks to us about what energy independence is, whether America is energy independent, and if that is a good thing. He also talks to us about energy more generally, including nuclear and green energy. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
7/1/2022 • 56 minutes, 54 seconds
Daniel Klein on Adam Smith's Justice
Daniel Klein, professor of economics at George Mason University and expert on Adam Smith, talks to us about Smith’s definition of justice. There are three types of justice: commutative, distributive, and estimative. Today we break down the differences between each and their applications in government and private life. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
6/24/2022 • 42 minutes, 32 seconds
Walter Olson on Election Fraud
Walter Olson is the author of several books and a senior fellow at the Cato Institute's Center for Constitutional Studies. Today, we talk about the 2020 election and the increasing fears of election fraud. He talks to us about the different types of election fraud, the actual reality of election fraud, and voter suppression. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
6/17/2022 • 47 minutes, 15 seconds
Thomas Hoenig on Inflation and the Federal Reserve
Inflation is always around, but it has been particularly worrisome recently. A startling departure from the United States' usual average of about 2% inflation, we faced 8.5% in the month of April. Where does inflation come from? What regulatory bodies aim to deal with inflation? How do they do it? Does it work?Today, Thomas Hoenig talks to us and answers all these questions and more, including his personal experience as President of the Kansas City Federal Reserve and on the Federal Open Market Committee. He is currently a distinguished senior fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University.Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.