Episode 006 looks at the Irrelevant Conclusion (ignoratio elenchi) fallacy, Availability Bias, our power to control our reaction to the seeming offenses of other people, and powering down your microwave for more even heating.
Category: Podcast
Benjamin Powell: The Economics of Sweatshops (47m)
This episode features a lecture by economics professor Benjamin Powell from 2018. He explores what sweatshops are, why they exist, the economic forces that create them, and why they are a necessary and important component of the developing world.
Jeffrey Herbener: Demystifying the Federal Reserve (26m)
This episode features an interview of economics professor and department chairman Jeffrey Herbener from 2016 by Jeff Deist, host of the Human Action podcast. They cover the basics of central bank mechanics: how commercial bank reserves are created, the difference between the monetary base and the money supply, and how the Fed Funds rate impacts lending and the structure of production. They consider how Austrian business cycle theory describes the distortions created by artificially low interest rates, and how interest rates ought to operate as price signals. Finally, they discuss how early recipients of newly created money and credit benefit in ways that ordinary citizens don’t.
School System, Corporate Power, Boundaries, Charity, & Sweatshops (18m) – Episode 292
Episode 292 has Skyler giving his commentary on the following topics: abolishing the school system; the limitations of corporate power; the importance of agitating against political and cultural boundaries; why he doesn’t engage in charitable giving; the goodness of sweatshops; and more.
What’s the Scuttlebutt on Vonu and Darklance? A Conversation with Shane Radliff (1h16m) – Episode 012
Episode 012: Shane Radliff of the Vonu Podcast joins the show to drop a knowledge bomb on all things Second Realm in great detail. What is Second Realm you ask? Take a listen and find out!
Star Trek: Kirk, McCoy, Spock, & Stoicism (16m) – Episode 005
Episode 005 is a look at Star Trek characters Captain Kirk, Doctor McCoy, and Commander Spock as they relate to Stoicism, as written about by Jen Farren in February 2014.
Law Enforcement, Bias, & Waco: A Conversation with Pete Raymond (aka Mance Rayder) (57m) – Episode 011
Episode 011: “I learned a valuable lesson after my interview with Pete… my microphone sucks. I apologize in advance for the poor audio quality. Having said that, Pete was kind enough to stop by the show to discuss a myriad of issues that affect us today, from the crooked criminal justice system to the nefarious indoctrination by government schools.”
Tom Woods: Our Wise Overlords Are Just Here to Serve Us (51m)
This episode features a lecture by historian and Austro-libertarian Tom Woods from 2010. He is speaking at a Mises Circle event in Colorado Springs titled, “The Delusion of Good Government”. Purchase books by Tom Woods on Amazon here.
Rich and Poor & Free Migration is My Jam! (17m) – Episode 291
Episode 291 has Skyler giving his commentary on the following topics: an essay he wrote in August 2010 on loving or hating the rich and loving or hating the poor as a libertarian; an essay he wrote in July 2017 on why free migration by peaceful people is the libertarian position; and more.
Daniel D’Amico: An Economist’s Look at Intellectual Property Law (1h18m)
This episode features a lecture by economics professor Daniel J. D’Amico from 2011 on intellectual property law. He discusses several arguments for and against government enforcement of intellectual property, including trademarks, patents, and copyrights. He explores both moral arguments (deontological) and cost benefit arguments (consequential), dedicating most of his time to consequential arguments. He finds that, in general, intellectual property is difficult to enforce and is inherently an anti-rival good. As a result, he finds no compelling case for government established intellectual property law.