TFAS is reflecting on an incredible 2024 and spotlighting the top five episodes of our Liberty + Leadership Podcast from Season 3. Team TFAS handpicked these standout episodes, each featuring captivating stories, economic insights, and lessons that resonated with listeners worldwide. Play the episodes below, or find them wherever you get your podcasts. And stay tuned—Season 4 is just around the corner.
The Binary Trap With Kat Timpf
What happens to our nation’s discourse when every issue has only two possible positions? Roger welcomes Kat Timpf, Novak ’12, to explore the complexities of division within American society. They discuss how embracing vulnerability can be a tool to diffuse that division and examine the dangers of binary thinking, touching on topics like religion, mental health and the size of government. Plus, discover how Kat’s journalism background led to her successful career as a television personality, writer and comedian.
Economics Beyond the Classroom with Rosolino Candela
How can people apply economics to daily life? Dr. Rosolino Candela, senior fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University joins Roger for an engaging conversation on economics and the transformative power of education. Dr. Candela emphasizes the importance of meeting students where they are by making complex economic concepts accessible and relevant. He delves into the enduring relevance of several economists such as Fredrich Hayek, illustrating their economic theories with captivating real-world examples. From the significance of price mechanisms to the unintended consequences of public policy, Candela provides a rich, nuanced understanding of how economic principles apply to real-world issues.
Exploring Liberty from Budapest to Washington, D.C., with Anna Smith Lacey
What role does cultural exchange play in creating balanced perspectives? Roger is joined by Anna Smith Lacey ’07, ’08, PPF ’12, executive director at the Hungary Foundation and alumna of TFAS summer programs in Prague and Washington, D.C., to explore her remarkable leadership journey from Budapest to Washington, D.C. Anna reflects on her upbringing in post-communist Hungary and its influence on her understanding of liberty, highlighting the transformative impact of TFAS programs in shaping her views on socialism and freedom. Through nuanced discussions, Anna provides insight into the intricacies of cultural exchange, offering a distinct perspective on the pursuit of liberty by both Americans and Hungarians across generations.
The Future of Independent Reporting and Viewpoint Diversity
Journalism requires courage and a commitment to pursuing the truth, even in challenging environments. Thomas McKenna and Jonas Du, two talented students participating in the TFAS Student Journalism Association, understand this. Through the Student Journalism Association, TFAS supports young independent journalists who approach journalism through a lens of sound objective reporting and a desire to find the truth. Together, they discuss their TFAS experience, how real-world experience in journalism is often more valuable than classroom learning, the importance of diverse viewpoints, and why it’s imperative to support young journalists.
Unpacking Originalism: Natural Law, Natural Rights, and the Ninth Amendment with Randy Barnett
Randy Barnett joins Roger to discuss the ideas of constitutional originalism, natural law vs. natural rights, the importance of the ninth amendment and how they all inform his interpretation of libertarianism. Plus, the benefits of teaching constitutional law through a narrative lens and stories from Randy’s newly released memoir, “A Life for Liberty: The Making of an American Originalist.”