This episode features a talk by President Emeritus of both the Foundation for Economic Education and the Mackinac Center for Public Policy Lawrence Reed from 2015. There’s little truly “progressive” about Progressivism. True progress happens when humans are free, yet the Progressive agenda substantially diminishes freedom while promising the unachievable. Based on his 2015 book, Excuse Me, Professor, Reed tackles a number of the most common economic, philosophic and historical errors of “progressive” ideology.
Category: Voluntaryist Voices
Thaddeus Russell: Thoughts of a Renegade (1h11m)
This episode features an interview of post-academic historian and education entrepreneur Thaddeus Russell from 2017 by Nick Gillespie of the Reason podcast. Russell talks about discovering the Austrian School of economics only long after he left the academy, why actual Marxists hate postmodernism and why libertarians should love it, the insidious nature of America’s Protestant work ethic, and how the Democrats are reviving the Cold War.
Nemo Sundry: Jordan B. Peterson Doesn’t Understand Childhood Suffering (37m)
This episode features a presentation by youth autonomy advocate and independent researcher Nemo Sundry from 2018. Sundry critiques Peterson’s chapter on parenting from his book 12 Rules for Life, and contrasts it with parenting experts Shefali Tsabary, Alfie Kohn, and Peter Gray.
Walter Block: Defending the Drug Addict (12m)
This episode features an audio essay written by economics professor and Austro-libertarian Walter Block from 1976, and which comprises Chapter 5 of Defending the Undefendable.
Gloria Alvarez: The Power of Freedom for Latin America (38m)
This episode features a talk by economist and social activist Gloria Alvarez. She speaks passionately about issues facing Latin America and why an expansion of freedom would help bring about much needed change.
Alfie Kohn: Happy Kids, Better Relationships (33m)
This episode features an interview of education and parenting researcher, writer, and lecturer Alfie Kohn from 2016 by Neil Sattin of Relationship Alive! When it comes to parenting, rewards and punishments are an easy one-size-fits all approach that lets people go into auto-parenting, but unfortunately does more harm than good. While rewards and punishments may get the short term reactions we are looking for, there is a lot of research and evidence suggesting that this parenting style ultimately damages and holds children back. The alternative is not just the absence of bribes and threats, but an entire complex network of guidelines – the most important being that you let your kids know that you accept them no matter what. With this attitude you can begin to work WITH your child, getting to know their perspective and world, and bring them into decision making. Children learn to make good decisions by making decisions (and learning), rather than learning to follow directions (on making good decisions).
John Baeza: A View From the Frontline of the Drug War (30m)
This episode features a talk by former New York Police Department narcotics detective John Baeza from 2019. He speaks of his conversion from drug warrior to anti drug war warrior. Harrowing tales of undercover drug buys!
Randy Barnett: Polycentric Legal Orders (49m)
This episode features a talk by lawyer and legal theorist Randy Barnett from 1997. He speaks broadly on various methods of constraining state power including federalism and the separation of powers, the power of exit, and existing and theoretical polycentric legal orders. Barnett suggests that two simple rules must be present for polycentric orders to work: a “nonconfiscation principle,” and a “competition principle.”
Brett Veinotte: Alternatives to Schooling (2h19m)
This episode features an interview of educator and podcaster Brett Veinotte from 2017 by Thaddeus Russell, host of the Unregistered Podcast. Brett is the host and editor of the School Sucks Project. The School Sucks Project is a weekly podcast and web community dedicated to exposing the damaging effects of government school. Brett has spent more than 10 years working in private education in various capacities. They share their personal experiences with public schooling and wonder what the alternatives may be.
Flemming Rose: Censorship and Self-Censorship (1h34m)
This episode features a discussion with Danish journalist Flemming Rose from 2017. Twenty-five years ago, the pioneers of the Internet believed that they had created a tool to do away with censorship once and for all. Today, anyone with a smartphone is able to publish and communicate whatever they want, and yet, censorship still exists online. Just as the printing press, radio, and TV that came before it, while the Internet promised to be a breakthrough for freedom of speech, the government has found ways to control and limit our ability to freely disseminate information online. What does censorship in the 21st century look like? How does digital technology affect the way we communicate today? Is outright censorship easier to deal with than soft censorship and self-censorship? In this lecture, Flemming Rose explores these questions and more.