Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast The Great Antidote
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tech Panic, Then and Now: Judge Glock on AI, Regulation, and Real Harms | 07 Nov 2025 | 00:51:55 | |
Is tech panic new—or just history on repeat? Judge Glock (Manhattan Institute) walks through what past tech scares (lead gasoline, CFCs, TV) got right and wrong, why “externalities” matter more than vibes, and how to think about AI regulation today—transparency mandates, liability vs. preclearance, “AI pauses,” and realistic optimism. We end with his own journey from socialism to markets. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update. | |||
| Why Markets Run on Trust: Tawni Ferrarini on Honesty, Reputation, and Decentralization in the Information Age | 24 Oct 2025 | 00:47:17 | |
Markets don’t work without trust. Tawni Ferrarini joins Juliette Sellgren to explore how honesty and reputation make exchange possible — from medieval trade networks to blockchain and Amazon reviews — and why decentralized trust systems matter in today’s economy of polarization, misinformation, and weak institutions. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update. | |||
| The Dissident Project: Firsthand Stories of Life Without Freedom with Grace Bydalek | 18 Apr 2025 | 00:37:36 | |
What is it like to grow up under a dictatorship? The speakers of The Dissident Project don’t have to wonder — they’ve lived it. And they’ve escaped. In this episode, Grace Bydalek joins us this week to discuss her work with The Dissident Project, which brings survivors of authoritarian regimes into American high schools to share their powerful, firsthand stories. From Cuba and Venezuela to Russia and beyond, these voices bring the reality of life without freedom into the classroom. We talk about why these stories matter — especially for students who may never have questioned their own liberties. Why high schoolers? Why now? And does this kind of civic education actually make a difference? Join us for a moving and timely conversation about freedom, resilience, and the importance of living for something larger than yourself. Grace Bydalek is the Director of The Dissident Project, an initiative of the nonprofit Young Voices dedicated to educating American students about the dangers of authoritarianism. She is also a visiting fellow at the Independent Women’s Forum, a ministry apprentice at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, and is currently pursuing a master’s in theology. Oh — and she’s also an actor. Want to explore more?
Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update. | |||
| Troy Senik on Grover Cleveland | 07 Apr 2023 | 00:46:11 | |
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. | |||
| Nico Perrino on Individual Rights and Free Expression | 31 Mar 2023 | 00:48:36 | |
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. | |||
| Eli Dourado on Energy Abundance | 24 Mar 2023 | 00:42:35 | |
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. | |||
| Timothy Sandefur on Freedom's Furies | 17 Mar 2023 | 00:49:30 | |
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. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update. | |||
| Chris Freiman on Consequentialism | 10 Mar 2023 | 00:48:37 | |
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. | |||
| Chris Freiman on Consequentialism | 03 Mar 2023 | 00:48:37 | |
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. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update. | |||
| Robert Tracinski on Left and Right Illiberalism | 24 Feb 2023 | 00:46:49 | |
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. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update. | |||
| Ryan Hanley on the Morality of Markets | 10 Feb 2023 | 00:49:09 | |
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. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update. | |||
| Eric Daniels on History | 03 Feb 2023 | 00:54:55 | |
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. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update. | |||
| Kaytlin Bailey on the Oldest Profession | 27 Jan 2023 | 00:39:52 | |
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. | |||
| Ryan Streeter on the Civitas Institute and Cultural Communities | 11 Apr 2025 | 00:54:23 | |
Ryan Streeter is the executive director of the Civitas Institute at the University of Texas at Austin. Today, he tells us about his time in the intersection of think tanks, government, and academic communities. We talk about cities, the importance of mobility and growth, how to foster those characteristics, skepticism of government, and living in and creating a community that fosters social cohesion and critical thinking. Want to explore more?
Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update. | |||
| Peter Boettke on Don Lavoie and Central Planning | 20 Jan 2023 | 01:03:15 | |
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. | |||
| Scott Bullock on Criminal Justice - Rerun | 13 Jan 2023 | 00:43:43 | |
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. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update. | |||
| Nadine Strossen on Hate Speech - Rerun | 06 Jan 2023 | 00:48:38 | |
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. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update. | |||
| Russ Roberts on How Adam Smith Can Change Your Life - Rerun | 30 Dec 2022 | 00:52:23 | |
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. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update. | |||
| Samuel Gregg on Christianity and Liberalism - Rerun | 23 Dec 2022 | 00:45:54 | |
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. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update. | |||
| Daniel Rothschild on Liberalism and Think Tanks | 16 Dec 2022 | 00:42:30 | |
Daniel Rothschild is the executive director of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. Today, we talk about liberalism and institutions, whatever that means. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update. | |||
| Craig Biddle on Philosophy and Objectivism | 09 Dec 2022 | 00:55:05 | |
Craig Biddle is the founder and director of the Objective Standard Institute, as well as the author of several books including Loving Life. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update. | |||
| Henry C. Clark on Montesquieu | 02 Dec 2022 | 00:54:45 | |
Henry C. Clark, professor at Dartmouth College and director of the Political Economy Project, talks to us today about Montesquieu. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update. | |||
| Colin Grabow on The Jones Act 2: Treason and Cruises | 25 Nov 2022 | 00:40:45 | |
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. | |||
| Dianne Durante on Innovators in Sculpture | 18 Nov 2022 | 00:41:51 | |
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. | |||
| Douglas Den Uyl and Douglas Rasmussen on Ayn Rand: What She Gets Right and Where She Goes Too Far | 04 Apr 2025 | 00:51:35 | |
We’ve talked about objectivism before on the podcast, but that was fairly introductory. Today, for the first time ever, I host two guests on the podcast to discuss the limitations of objectivism and where it fails to depict the good life. We talk about how they got interested in Rand’s thought, how they philosophically dealt with works that were mostly fiction, and where their philosophy, individualistic perfectionism, diverges from Rand’s and fills in some important blanks. Den Uyl is a resident scholar at Liberty Fund, and Rasmussen is a professor emeritus in philosophy at St. John’s University and senior affiliated scholar at the Center for Economic Inquiry at Creighton University. Together, they have written extensively on the subject, including editing a collection called The Philosophic Thought of Ayn Rand. They’ve written a lot on the topic at the Journal for Ayn Rand Studies. Den Uyl has a book on the subject, titled The Fountainhead: An American Novel. Want to explore more?
Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update. | |||
| Phil Magness on Academic Integrity: Public Choice Edition | 11 Nov 2022 | 00:42:27 | |
Phil Magness is the author of multiple books, a scholar at the American Institute for Economic Research, and the intellectual watchdog for academic writing. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update. | |||
| James Kirchick on The Secret History of Gay Washington | 04 Nov 2022 | 00:49:29 | |
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. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update. | |||
| Michael Cannon on Medicare | 28 Oct 2022 | 00:56:52 | |
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”. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update. | |||
| Rachel Ferguson on Black Liberation Through the Marketplace | 21 Oct 2022 | 00:51:11 | |
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. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update. | |||
| Timothy Sandefur on Frederick Douglass | 14 Oct 2022 | 00:43:32 | |
Timothy Sandefur, vice president of legal affairs at the Goldwater Institute, talks to us today about his book, Frederick Douglass: Self-Made Man. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update. | |||
| Matthew Continetti on The American Right | 07 Oct 2022 | 00:52:18 | |
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. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update. | |||
| Darren Staloff on the American Founding | 30 Sep 2022 | 00:54:46 | |
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.
Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update. | |||
| David Epstein on Range | 23 Sep 2022 | 01:05:00 | |
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. | |||
| Michael Cannon on Employer-Sponsored Health Care | 16 Sep 2022 | 00:58:06 | |
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. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update. | |||
| William B. Allen on The State of Black America | 09 Sep 2022 | 00:52:57 | |
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. | |||
| Daniel Hannan on Executive and Legislative Power | 28 Mar 2025 | 00:56:52 | |
Join us today for a fun conversation about all things government, UK and US, with Lord Daniel Hannan of Kingsclere! Lord Hannan is a member of the House of Lords. Today, we talk about how the U.K.’s legislative is structured, what is up with executive power, the importance of the West and cohesion on the freedom front, and the idiocy of tariffs. Want to explore more?
Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update. | |||
| Matthew Mitchell on the Continuing Punishment of Criminal Records | 02 Sep 2022 | 00:41:25 | |
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. | |||
| Jon Murphy on The Jones Act and Adam Smith | 29 Jul 2022 | 00:42:23 | |
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. | |||
| Weifeng Zhong on China's Propaganda | 22 Jul 2022 | 00:48:00 | |
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. | |||
| Jason Fichtner on Why You Should Save Today | 15 Jul 2022 | 00:43:57 | |
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. | |||
| Clark Neily on the Supreme Court's New Justice | 08 Jul 2022 | 00:40:44 | |
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. | |||
| Peter Van Doren on Energy Independence | 01 Jul 2022 | 00:56:54 | |
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. | |||
| Daniel Klein on Adam Smith's Justice | 24 Jun 2022 | 00:42:32 | |
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. | |||
| Walter Olson on Election Fraud | 17 Jun 2022 | 00:47:15 | |
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. | |||
| Thomas Hoenig on Inflation and the Federal Reserve | 10 Jun 2022 | 00:42:44 | |
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? Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update. | |||
| Arnold Kling on The Three Languages of Politics | 03 Jun 2022 | 00:45:26 | |
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. | |||
| Bob Ewing on Personal and Professional Success | 21 Mar 2025 | 00:59:22 | |
Bob Ewing is the founder of the Ewing School and hosts a Substack called Talking Big Ideas (go check it out). He has also gifted me most of the great books that I’ve read. Today, we talk about how he got started and how many of the great lessons in life are learned. We talk about counter-intuitive ideas, how to find the answers to them, and how to effectively communicate them. He talks to us about kettle bells and quotes (almost) every great author under the sun. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update. | |||
| Randy Simmons on Public Choice | 27 May 2022 | 00:44:28 | |
Randy Simmons is the author of Beyond Politics and the director of the Institute of Political Economy at Utah State University. Today, we talk about the field of public choice economics or, as economist James Buchanan calls it, "politics without romance". What exactly is Beyond Politics? What is a market failure? What is a government failure? Tune in for the answers to these questions and more. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update. | |||
| Brian Knight on Woke Capitalism | 20 May 2022 | 00:49:09 | |
Brian Knight, director of Innovation and Governance and a senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, talks to us today about woke capitalism. What is woke capitalism? Is this debate new? Will it benefit companies or backfire? Listen for all that and more. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update. | |||
| Jay Bhattacharya on the US Response to COVID-19 | 13 May 2022 | 00:40:45 | |
Jay Bhattacharya is a professor of medicine at Stanford University, a research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research, and co-author of the Great Barrington Declaration. Today we talk about the United States's response to COVID-19 and the silencing of dissenting voices in the scientific community in the time of this national emergency. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update. | |||