Liberty + Leadership Podcast

LISTEN

Listen now! Check out the latest episodes below or follow along wherever you get your podcasts.

Tom Morrison on Law, Laughter, and Literature

Join Roger in this week's Liberty + Leadership Podcast as he speaks with lawyer-turned-author Tom Morrison, who writes under the name T.C. Morrison. Roger and Tom talk about his series of satirical legal novels, including the just released "Send In The Tort Lawyer$," his time in private practice where he pioneered false advertising litigation, and how the legal profession has changed over the past 40 years.

Tom Morrison is the author of satirical legal novels including "Please Pass the Tort$" and "Tort$ "R" US." Before becoming an author, Tom spent more than 50 years as a lawyer, first in the Air Force JAG Corps and then at several distinguished New York law firms.

Tom served on the TFAS Board of Regents for more than a decade. He and his wife established the Thomas and Sarah Morrison Scholarship Fund for students from Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio. Tom eared his law degree from New York University Law School and he holds a bachelor’s degree from Otterbein, where he served eight years as the University's board chairman.

Randal Teague on the History of TFAS

Join Roger in this week's Liberty + Leadership Podcast as he speaks with Randal Teague, chairman of The Fund for American Studies. Roger and Randy talk about his career journey in law and politics, while covering history, economics, international trade, and civil society.

They discuss the need for a fresh approach to journalism and how America’s polarization can be countered with courageous student leaders – both issues that TFAS strives to address. Randy and Roger also talk about the significance of teaching American history in high schools, his work with the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation & Museum and his pride in his four children.

Randy Teague has been a member of TFAS’s Board of Trustees since 1979 and was elected as chairman in 1998. Randy worked closely with one of TFAS’s five founders, David R. Jones, at the time of the organization’s incorporation. He served as editor of TFAS’s publications in the 1970s; was a co-founder of TFAS Prague in 1993 and the founder of TFAS Greece in 1996. He also helped conceptualize the Capital Semester program in 2003.

Early in his career, Randy worked for former Rep. William C. Cramer of Florida, volunteered for the Goldwater presidential campaign, worked alongside Congressman Jack Kemp during the transformative tax reduction of the 1970s and practiced law in both Boston and Washington, D.C. Randy holds a bachelor’s degree from American University, and J.D. and LL.M. with honors law degrees from George Washington University. He has also been conferred two honorary doctorates in law and humanities.

Highlights from the 33rd Annual Scholarship Awards Dinner

Honorees and guests included 2023 Congressional Leadership Award recipient U.S. Senator Todd Young of Indiana, 2023 Business Leadership Award recipient Senior Executive Vice President for External and Legislative Affairs for AT&T Ed Gillespie, and 2023 Alumni Achievement Award recipient Congressman David Kustoff of Tennessee.

The evening also featured a special video message from former President George W. Bush and remarks from TFAS students, trustees and friends.

The Liberty + Leadership Podcast is hosted by TFAS President Roger Ream and produced by kglobal. If you have a comment or question for the show, please drop us an email at podcast@TFAS.org. To support TFAS and its mission, please visit TFAS.org/support.

Stephen Einhorn on Climate Change and What They Rarely Teach In College

Join Roger in this week's Liberty + Leadership Podcast as he speaks with venture capitalist, scientist, and author, Stephen Einhorn. Roger and Stephen discuss his most recent book, "Climate Change: What They Rarely Teach In College." They also cover recent trends in the climate discussion, including how global temperatures are measured and how efforts to combat climate change can enrich the powerful, with very little benefit to the poor. Stephen Einhorn is the co-founder of Capital Midwest Funds, which invests in revenue-stage companies, and was recently named one of Wisconsin’s Most Influential Business Leaders. Prior to his work in venture capital funding, Stephen was a merger and acquisition consultant, and started his career as a paint chemist. In addition to his most recent book on climate change, he authored the book "If You Try to Please Everybody…You Will Lose Your Ass: Jokes and Reflections on Business and Life."

Stephen received his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Cornell University and a Master of Science in polymeric materials from the Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute. He and his wife Nancy have been stalwart supports of TFAS for more than 20 years.

Roger Ream on Educating and Empowering Young Leaders

This week, we’re celebrating the 50th episode of the Liberty + Leadership Podcast with a special guest – your host, Roger Ream! The Fund for American Studies’ chief operating officer Steve Slattery takes Roger’s place as the host this week to interview TFAS’s president of 25 years. The pair have sat at the helm of this organization together nearly three decades expertly navigating TFAS through countless changes and improvements to make it a leading organization in alternative education and the freedom movement.

Lifelong friends, Steve and Roger sit down to reflect on their time at TFAS and the impact this organization has had on them. Steve asks Roger about his experience as a TFAS student in 1976, how his internship led him to a career at TFAS and the growth he’s seen over the past 30 years. They discuss joys and hardships of creating new programs, educating students and young adults all over the world, launching the Liberty + Leadership Podcast, and much more. Tune in to hear even more about the man behind the microphone!

Ron Hart On The Power of Laughter

Join Roger in this week's Liberty + Leadership Podcast as he speaks with political op-ed writer, former investment banker and TFAS alumnus, Ron Hart. Roger and Ron touch on a range of topics from how regulations and priority changes have negatively impacted the financial industry to his career as a standup comedian. They also discuss what it was like growing up as the son of a policeman, his career in wealth management, and how today's younger generation is afraid to laugh.

Ron Hart is an op-ed writer, a private investor, and serves on the boards of a number of institutions. He spent most of his career as an investment banker and wealth manager at Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and Citi. Ron is a former member of the University of Tennessee's Board of Regents and authored the book "There’s No Such Thing as a Pretty Good Alligator Wrestler," which received the prestigious Benjamin Franklin Award for Humor/Satire. Ron is a former member of TFAS's Board of Trustees and was a student in the Public Policy + Economics Program track in 1981. He received both his bachelor’s and MBA degrees from the University of Memphis.

Rachel Ferguson on Black Liberation Through the Marketplace

Join Roger in this week's Liberty + Leadership Podcast as he speaks with esteemed scholar and author, Dr. Rachel Ferguson. Roger and Rachel discuss her book "Black Liberation Through the Marketplace: Hope, Heartbreak, and the Promise of America," the fundamentals of classical liberalism, and the power of social capital. They also explore the sad reality of how government can create problems that government can't fix.

At Concordia University Chicago, Dr. Rachel Ferguson is the director of the Free Enterprise Center, assistant dean of the College of Business, and professor of Business Ethics. She is also an affiliate scholar with the Acton Institute and was a visiting fellow at the Eudaimonia Institute. Rachel’s writing has been featured in "Discourse Magazine," "Law and Liberty," "EconLib," the Acton Power Blog, and "The Journal of Markets and Morality." In her hometown of St. Louis, Rachel is actively involved in community building and empowering marginalized entrepreneurs through LOVEtheLOU and Gateway 2 Flourishing. She is a graduate of Lindenwood University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy. She received her Ph.D. in philosophy with a focus on political and economic philosophy from Saint Louis University.

Katherine Mangu-Ward on Exploring the Future of AI

Join Roger in this week's Liberty + Leadership Podcast as he speaks with Katherine Mangu-Ward, Novak ’05, editor in chief of Reason, the leading libertarian magazine. Roger and Katherine discuss her contrarian view on not voting in elections, the rise of ChatGPT and the "robot Katherine Mangu-Ward.” They also discuss the state of capitalism and libertarianism as a brand, sharing key points from her TED Talk on “What Capitalism Gets Right.”

Katherine Mangu-Ward is the editor in chief of Reason, the magazine of “free minds and free markets.” She previously worked at The Weekly Standard and The New York Times, and her writings have appeared in The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post, among other publications. Katherine frequently commentates on radio and television, including Fox, MSNBC, C-SPAN, and HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher. Katherine received a Robert Novak Journalism Fellowship in 2005 and was the 2021 winner of TFAS’s Kenneth Y. Tomlinson Award for Outstanding Journalism. She is a graduate of Yale University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and political science and was editor in chief of the Yale Free Press.

Davor Kunc on Building Bridges and Transatlantic Ties

Join Roger in this week's Liberty + Leadership Podcast as he speaks with Davor Kunc, a senior coordination officer at the European Investment Fund in Luxembourg. Roger and Davor discuss what it was like attending three TFAS programs, how TFAS's programs help bridge the divide among students from adversary states, Davor's internship at the Voice of America Croatian Service, the work he does at the European Investment Fund, the historic connections between the U.S. and Croatia, and how "the pessimism of the intellect, optimism of the spirit" is the best way to approach challenges.

Born in Zagreb, Croatia, Davor Kunc serves as a senior coordination officer of mandate management at the European Investment Fund, where he manages working groups on EU multi-annual financial framework and sustainability, policy and climate, and assists with improvement of mandate management strategy. Davor attended three TFAS programs: Prague 2002, Greece 2004, and the Public Policy and Economics program in Washington, D.C. in 2005. He is also a recipient of TFAS’s Kevin Burket Alumni Service Award. In 2023, he attended the TFAS Alumni Curriculum of Liberty Seminar in Athens, Greece, co-sponsored with TFAS and Liberty Fund. He is an alumnus of University of Zagreb and earned a master’s degree in international relations at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).

David Ray on Getting Government Out of the Way

Join Roger in this week's Liberty + Leadership Podcast as he sits down with Arkansas State Representative David Ray. Roger and David discuss how TFAS inspired him to run for state representative in Arkansas, his crusade to eventually eliminate Arkansas' state income tax, the fight for school choice with Arkansas' Education Freedom Accounts, and the personal connections made when you represent 30,000 constituents.

David Ray is a Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives. He is also a consultant and communications strategist. David previously served as chief of staff to Lieutenant Governor Tim Griffin from 2017-2020 as well as U.S. Senator Tom Cotton’s communications director on his 2014 campaign. He is the former state director of Americans for Prosperity – Arkansas. David is an alumnus of the 2007 TFAS Public Policy and Economics program and earned a bachelor’s degree in communication and political science from the University of the Ozarks. This year, David was named a Club for Growth Foundation 2023 Fellow.

Anne Bradley on the Moral Foundations of Economic Freedom

Join Roger in this week's Liberty + Leadership Podcast as he sits down with Dr. Anne Bradley, the vice president of academic affairs at The Fund for American Studies. Anne discusses what it's like on the front lines teaching economics to younger generations, how taking a field trip to the grocery store is a great way to learn about the market economy, and the connection between economic freedom and a moral foundation in society.

Anne Bradley is the George and Sally Mayer Fellow for Economic Education and vice president of academic affairs at TFAS. She also teaches at The Institute for World Politics and George Mason University. She is currently an Acton Affiliate scholar and is a visiting scholar at the Bernard Center for Women, Politics, and Public Policy. Anne earned a bachelor’s degree from James Madison University and a Ph.D. in economics from George Mason University in 2006, during which time she was a James M. Buchanan Scholar.

Tim Carney on Social Capital: The Key to America's Success

Join Roger in this week's Liberty + Leadership Podcast as he sits down with Tim Carney, an acclaimed author and senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. Tim takes us on a fascinating journey through working with the "Prince of Darkness," Robert Novak, and how his TFAS Novak Fellowship inspired him to write gripping books like "The Big Ripoff" and "Alienated America." In this thought-provoking discussion, Tim discusses the vital importance of "social capital," and why he believes liberal elites aren't living lives too differently than conservatives. Tune in for Tim's fantastic overview of economic competition, cronyism, civil society, localism, and religion in America.

Tim Carney is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) where he focuses on economic competition, cronyism, civil society, localism, and religion in America. He is also a senior political columnist at the Washington Examiner and a noted author, whose books include “The Big Ripoff: How Big Business and Big Government Steal Your Money,” “Obamanomics: How Barack Obama Is Bankrupting You and Enriching His Wall Street Friends, Corporate Lobbyists, and Union Bosses,” and “Alienated America: Why Some Places Thrive While Others Collapse.” Tim is a 2003 TFAS Novak Fellow Alumnus and earned a bachelor’s degree from St. John’s College in Annapolis, Maryland.

Jason Clemens and Ted Tucker on the Realities of Socialism

In this week's Liberty + Leadership Podcast, Roger is joined by Jason Clemens, executive vice president of The Fraser Institute, and Ted Tucker, executive director of TFAS high school programs, the Foundation for Teaching Economics (FTE), to explore the Realities of Socialism. Roger, Jason, and Ted discuss the findings of a recent study that compares public perceptions of socialism, the differences between communism and socialism, the reality behind Scandinavian democratic “socialism,” and the responsibility of educating high school students about the ramifications of socialism.

Jason Clemens is executive vice president of The Fraser Institute and the president of the Fraser Institute Foundation. Jason earned a bachelor's degree in commerce and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Windsor as well as a post-baccalaureate degree in economics from Simon Fraser University. Ted Tucker is executive director of TFAS high school programs, the Foundation for Teaching Economics (FTE). Ted earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Davis and a master’s degree from Kansas State University.

Don Boudreaux on the Foundations of Economics

Get ready to dive into the exciting world of economics on this week’s episode of the Liberty + Leadership Podcast!

Our guest is the brilliant Dr. Don Boudreaux, Senior Fellow of the F.A. Hayek Program at George Mason University and renowned author of several influential books.

Dr. Boudreaux shares his insights on the foundational principles of economics, including public choice theory and the trade-offs that come with every decision. Roger and Don also discuss the comparative advantage of free trade and why good journalism doesn't always equate to good economics.

Elizabeth Spalding on the Evils of Communism

Elizabeth Edwards Spalding is the founding director of the Victims of Communism Museum and chairman of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation. Elizabeth is a visiting fellow at Hillsdale College’s Van Andel Graduate School of Government and a senior fellow at the Pepperdine University School of Public Policy. She has devoted her career to researching and educating generations about the history and horrors of communism. She is the author of “The First Cold Warrior: Harry Truman, Containment and the Remaking of Liberal Internationalism” and “A Brief History of the Cold War,” which she co-authored with her father, Lee Edwards.

Elizabeth is an alumna of the 1986 TFAS Journalism and Communications program. She earned a bachelor’s in politics from Hillsdale College, and both a Ph.D. and a master’s in international politics and political theory from the University of Virginia.

In this week’s Liberty + Leadership Podcast, TFAS President Roger Ream ’76 and Elizabeth discuss her childhood growing up in Washington, D.C., how falling in love with learning turned her into a lifelong student, how studying Truman is critical to understanding the Cold War, her work at the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation and the personal power of the Witness Project at the Victims of Communism Museum.

Amity Shlaes on Rethinking Calvin Coolidge

Amity Shlaes is the chair of the board at the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation, the current events columnist for Forbes, and a bestselling author of seven books. Amity's works include "The Forgotten Man: A New History of the Great Depression" and most recently "The Autobiography of Calvin Coolidge." Over her career, Amity was a columnist for Bloomberg News, a member of the editorial board of The Wall Street Journal, and wrote for numerous publications including The New Yorker, Fortune, National Review, The New Republic, and Foreign Affairs. Amity earned a Bachelor of Arts from Yale University.

In this week's Liberty + Leadership Podcast, Roger and Amity take a deep dive into one of our nation's most misunderstood presidents, Calvin Coolidge. They discuss the centennial celebration of his presidency, how the U.S. prospered during the Coolidge administration, the real reasons for the Great Depression and how misguided government intervention prolonged the nation's pain, how Coolidge's deep faith shaped his governing style, and Coolidge's rational behind the the idea that it's better to kill a bad law than to pass a good one.

Rick Graber on How Foundations Change Lives

Rick Graber is the president and CEO of The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, a Wisconsin nonprofit dedicated to reinvigorating civil society by cultivating community, responsibility and citizenship. Prior to his current leadership position, Rick was a senior vice president at Honeywell International, served as the United States Ambassador to the Czech Republic from 2006 to 2009, and was elected chairman of the Wisconsin Republican Party. He earned a J.D. from Boston University Law School and graduated magna cum laude with an Bachelor of Arts from Duke University.

In this week's Liberty + Leadership Podcast, Roger and Rick discuss The Bradley Foundation's role in revamping Milwaukee's public school system by funding educational choice, the current tensions within the Republican Party, his efforts in promoting free markets as Ambassador to the Czech Republic in the George W. Bush administration, and how the Czech people truly understand the threat of Russian's war in Ukraine.

Chris Coyne on The Political Economy of Peace

Chris Coyne is the F.A. Harper Professor of Economics at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University and he serves as the North American editor of “The Review of Austrian Economics.” In addition to teaching Economic Problems and Public Policies for TFAS's Washington, D.C. Programs, Chris has authored numerous books. Most recently, he wrote “In Search of Monsters to Destroy: The Folly of American Empire and the Paths to Peace," which offers alternative approaches to imperialism, militarism, and empire. He earned a bachelor's degree from Manhattan College and both a masters and Ph.D. in economics from George Mason University. In 2008, he was named the Hayek Fellow at the London School of Economics.

In this week's Liberty + Leadership Podcast, Roger and Chris discuss his approach to teaching "Mason Economics," how certain kinds of large scale economic planning can lead to devastating results, September 11th's impact on inspiring him to apply the "economic way of thinking" to the war on terror and nation building, and how trade is not a zero-sum game.

Debbie Henney on Teaching Economics

Debbie Henney serves as director of curriculum for TFAS's high school programs, the Foundation for Teaching Economics (FTE). She is also an economics professor and the director of the honors program at Mesa Community College in Mesa, Arizona. For over 25 years, Debbie has been on the front lines teaching economics to both teachers and students of all ages. She holds a bachelor's degree in secondary education and economics and master’s degree in curriculum design from Northern Arizona University.

In this week's Liberty + Leadership Podcast, Roger and Debbie take an in-depth look into how economics is taught, discussing the power of experiential teaching in the classroom, how using the "economic way of thinking" helps us understand that the policy choices we make should result in the policy outcomes we want, and how sometimes economic teachers need a refresher on how to teach the subject.

Jim Otteson on Economic Liberalism

Dr. James (Jim) R. Otteson is the John T. Ryan Jr. Professor of Business Ethics at the University of Notre Dame and a senior scholar at The Fund for American Studies. As a renowned political economist, he specializes in business ethics, political economy, the history of economic thought, and eighteenth-century moral philosophy. For over 25 years, Jim has dedicated himself to teaching economics at some of the country's most prestigious schools including New York University, Yeshiva University, Georgetown University, and the University of Alabama. Jim holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame and a doctorate from the University of Chicago.

In this week's Liberty + Leadership Podcast, Roger and Jim take a deep dive into economic theory, discussing Adam Smith's seminal book, The Wealth of Nations; the defense of economic liberalism in Robert Nozick's book Anarchy, State, and Utopia; the juxtaposition between reducing poverty and increasing inequality; and why Jim's next book will focus on universal concepts of human dignity.

Roy Abdo on His Journey to the American Dream

Roy Abdo has led a truly remarkable life. Roy got his start with TFAS in 2006 when he left Lebanon to attend the TFAS program in Greece. On his way, war broke out in Lebanon, leaving him as a 21-year-old stranded in a foreign country and unable to go back home to Beirut. With the help of TFAS friends, staff, and alumni, Roy traveled to the United States to embark on a new journey.

Today, Roy is the Founder and CEO of Digital Revamp Roy traveled to the United States to embark on a new journey. He has as worked for the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. State Department, Gallup and Middle East Broadcasting Networks. Roy has a Bachelor of Business Administration from the Lebanese American University, a bachelor’s degree from both William Jewell College and Georgetown University, a master’s degree from The Catholic University of America, and an MBA from The Johns Hopkins University's Carey Business School. He officially became a US citizen in 2018.

Roy is a two-time TFAS alumnus, having participated in TFAS Greece in 2006 and Capital Semester Spring in 2007.

In this week's Liberty + Leadership Podcast, Roger and Roy discuss how TFAS facilitated his journey to the United States, how the William Jewell College community helped him deal with a bit of culture shock when he arrived in Missouri, how he turned his business school case studies into real life business opportunities, and why he believes the American Dream is very much alive – you just have to work harder and smarter.

Mitch Daniels on Campus Free Speech and Leadership at Purdue

Mitch Daniels is the former governor of Indiana, leading the Hoosier state from 2005 to 2013. He also served as the president of Purdue University from 2013 to 2022. Mitch has served in the public sector across a number of roles including as director of the Office of Management and Budget under President George W. Bush, chief of staff to Senator Richard Lugar of Indiana, and senior advisor to President Ronald Reagan. He also served as executive director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, president of the Hudson Institute and senior vice president for corporate strategy and policy at the Eli Lilly and Company. Mitch is a former member of the TFAS Board of Trustees, where he now serves as trustee emeritus. He earned his from bachelor's degree from Princeton University and his law degree from Georgetown University. In this week's Liberty + Leadership Podcast, Roger and Mitch take a deep dive into the issues addressed and the lessons learned during his landmark 12 years as president of Purdue University. Mitch talks about how Purdue was able to increase enrollment by 30 percent while tuition remained flat, how student loan forgiveness will end up being disastrous, how the adoption of the Chicago Principles allowed Purdue promote free speech on campus, the balance of educating Purdue students in both STEM and citizenship, how students should remain flexible – as they'll never know what opportunities life may present. He also reminds listeners that both the first and last man to walk on the moon were Purdue graduates and that 30 percent of all astronauts are Boilermakers.

Nikolai Wenzel on How Free Markets are Universal

Dr. Nikolai G. Wenzel has taught at a number of TFAS International programs spanning the globe including Croatia, Hong Kong, Guatemala and Chile. Currently, he is an economics professor at Universidad de las Hesperides in Spain. He was previously a professor at Flagler College and Florida Gulf Coast University, and he was the former Wallace and Marion Reemelin Chair in Free-Market Economics at Hillsdale College. He holds a Ph.D. in economics from George Mason University and graduated cum laude from Georgetown University with a bachelor’s in international affairs. In this week's Liberty and Leadership Podcast, Roger and Nikolai discuss how he has been able to combine his passion for travel with his joy of teaching economics in multiple countries, his time in Chile, the heartbreak he feels towards China's crackdown on Hong Kong, the powerful attraction socialism holds on younger generations, and the how his students continue to inspire him.

Michael Collins on the Individual and the Collective

Bringing life to the TFAS classroom for many years, Georgetown Emeritus Teaching Professor Michael Collins taught at TFAS's program in Prague as well as Ethics and Leadership at TFAS Academic Internship Programs in Washington, D.C. and the former TFAS program in Greece. He also previously taught Shakespeare, British theatre, and Anglo-Welsh poetry at Georgetown University and led Georgetown's academic and residential programs in Fiesole, Italy. Mike holds a bachelor's degree from Fordham University and both a master’s degree and Ph.D. from New York University. In this week's Liberty and Leadership Podcast, Roger and Mike discuss their trip to Eastern Europe at the launch of TFAS International in the 90s, how Mike incorporates movies into his curriculum, the tension between the individual vs the collective, the poetry of Irishman Seamus Heaney, the works of South African playwright, Athol Fugard, why William Shakespeare is still relevant and why it's critical for students to study history.

Alexis and Justin Black on Redefining Normal

Alexis and Justin Black are co-founders of Redefining Normal, a media platform that works to redefine societal norms and inspire people to talk about their trauma, as well as coauthors of the books, "Redefining Normal: How Two Foster Kids Beat The Odds and Discovering Healing, Happiness, and Love" and "I Love You More Than Cereal: Maeva and Dad Redefine Love." They are both passionate advocates for children, especially concerning those in the foster care system. Alexis attended the 2017 TFAS Capital Semester Program on Leadership and the American Presidency and Justin attended the 2018 TFAS Journalism and Communication Summer Program. They both participated in the 2019 TFAS Asia program in Hong Kong and are graduates of Western Michigan University. In this week's Liberty and Leadership Podcast, Roger, Alexis, and Justin discuss the powerful impact TFAS has had on their lives, how their childhoods growing up in foster care led them to coauthoring two books, the work Alexis and Justin are doing to help both children and parents in today's foster care system, how traveling the world fundamentally changed their outlook on everything, and a healthy debate over which cereal is superior: Count Chocula or Smart Start.

Jacek Spendel on Defending Freedom

In 2005 as a student at the University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland, Jacek Spendel became involved in the KoLiber association, a Polish nonpartisan youth group dedicated to classical liberal ideas, free-market economics, and traditional values. In the years since, Jacek has gone on to open his own pizza restaurant to better understand the entrepreneurial experience and started “Project Arizona” to bring European students and young professionals (including many TFAS alumni) to Arizona to teach them how to be better leaders for freedom within their own countries. He was recently named president of Liberty International, a nonprofit organization committed to advancing world liberty through international education and networking.

In this week's episode of the Liberty and Leadership Podcast, Roger Ream sits down with Jacek to discuss his journey in the liberty movement and the impact of his experiences with TFAS. Jacek shares his early involvement with the KoLiber association in Poland, and how attending a Language of Liberty program in Slovakia in 2007 inspired him to organize similar events in multiple countries. He also delves into his time in Washington, D.C. with TFAS’s Capital Semester program and how it influenced his decision to found the nonprofit Freedom and Entrepreneurship Foundation. Jacek and Roger discuss his work and founding of Project Arizona, a program that brings international students and young professionals to Arizona to learn about leadership and freedom, and his current role as president of Liberty International. They also discuss the state of freedom in Poland, and how Spendel's work and experiences have contributed to the liberty movement in his home country.

Samuel Gregg on Liberty and Virtue

Dr. Samuel Gregg is the Distinguished Fellow in Political Economy and Senior Research Faculty at the American Institute for Economic Research, a Fellow of the Center for the Study of Law and Religion at Emory University, the Visiting Fellow for the B. Kenneth Simon Center for American Studies at the Heritage Foundation, and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. Samuel perviously directed the Acton Institute’s research and international outreach, including budgeting, personnel, and programming development and implementation. Additionally, he has written 16 books, published 48 academic journal articles, and penned over 300 articles in various periodicals. Samuel was the Political Economy Professor for TFAS's 2020 Virtual Global Political Economy Seminar and in 2022, delivered the annual Neal B. Freeman Lecture in Political Economy. He has a master’s degree from the University of Melbourne and received a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Oxford in moral philosophy and political economy. In this week's Liberty and Leadership Podcast, Roger and Samuel discuss his new book, The Next American Economy: Nation, State, and Markets in an Uncertain World (which was recently nominated for a National Book Award), the virtues found within the concept of the "commercial republic," the disconnect between modern U.S. policies and the founding principals of the nation, the impact of the progressive movement in the early 20th century, the economic chasm between the political left and right, the ebb and flow of religious fervor in the US and it's impact on politics, and Samuel's work at the American Institute for Economic Research.

Desiree Koetzle on the Practice of Leadership

Desiree Koetzle is the chief of staff for U.S. Representative Pete Stauber of Minnesota, having perviously served as deputy chief of staff for U.S. Representative Erik Paulsen of Minnesota. Desiree spent six years in the private sector working as a federal affairs representative at Koch Industries and as a government relations analyst at Blank Rome Government Relations. Desiree received a bachelor's degree in communications from St. Cloud University and was a participant in the TFAS Business + Government Relations program in 2002. She was also a TFAS Public Policy Fellow in 2007. In this week's Liberty and Leadership Podcast, Roger and Desiree discuss how TFAS helped launch her career, how lobbying unfairly gets a bad rap, the perils of government overspending, the types of leadership required in running a congressional office, the ups and downs of their Minnesota/Wisconsin Vikings/Packers rivalry, and how congressional partisanship might be quelled if members just sat down and had a drink together.

Bobby Tudor on the Culture of Success

Bobby Tudor is a former professional basketball playler, investment banker and leader in the energy industry. He is currently CEO of the investment bank Artemis Energy Partners and is chairman of the Houston Energy Transition Initiative of the Greater Houston Partnership. He was the founder and CEO of THP (Tudor, Pickering, Holt, & Co.). Prior to forming TPH, he was a Partner at Goldman Sachs and a leader of its worldwide energy practice. Bobby received a degree in English and Legal Studies from Rice University and his law degree from Tulane. He now serves on the Rice University Board of Trustees. Bobby Tudor is a 1981 alumnus of TFAS's Public Policy and Economics program in Washington, D.C. In this week's Liberty and Leadership Podcast, Roger and Bobby discuss the lessons he learned playing college basketball at Rice University, putting his law degree to work at Goldman Sachs, channeling his entrepreneurial spirit into founding numerous companies, the positive elements of investment banking, and how building a culture of success is critical for any organization.

Highlights from the 29th Annual TFAS Journalism Awards Dinner

This week is a special episode of the Liberty + Leadership podcast with highlights from TFAS' 29th annual Journalism Awards Dinner in New York City. At the dinner, TFAS introduced a new class of Novak and Rago Fellows, and honored two courageous journalists at the Metropolitan Club in Midtown Manhattan. Honorees and guests included Novak Fellows Jack Butler of the National Review, Billy Binion of Reason Magazine, and Joseph Simonson of The Washington Free Beacon; Joseph Rago Memorial Fellow for Excellence in Journalism Carine Hajjar of The Wall Street Journal; and special guests Paul Gigot of The Wall Street Journal, Paul Rago, Benjamin Riley of The New Criterion, American political commentator and author Dana Perino, and William “Bill” McGurn of The Wall Street Journal. This year’s dinner was especially impactful given that one of our honorees, entrepreneur and activist Jimmy Lai, is currently detained in China for exercising freedom of speech and for criticizing the Chinese government.

Kyle Hybl

Kyle Hybl is the president and chief executive officer of the El Pomar Foundation and is a former member of the Board of Regents at the University of Colorado. Kyle has both a bachelor's degree and J.D. from the University of Colorado. In 2019, Kyle received the TFAS Alumni Achievement Award for his dedication and service to TFAS. Kyle is a two-time TFAS alumnus, participating in the Public Policy + Economics program in 1991 and TFAS's first-ever Prague program in 1993. In this week's Liberty and Leadership Podcast, Roger and Kyle discuss his experiences in post-Soviet Eastern Europe, his time in the Judge Advocate General Corps, being an elected member of the University of Colorado Board of Regents, and his work on the behalf of all Coloradans leading the El Pomar Foundation.

Ibrahim Al-Marashi

Ibrahim Al-Marashi is an associate professor of Middle East History at California State University San Marcos (CSUSM) and a visiting professor at IE University in Spain. Ibrahim graduated from UCLA majoring in Middle Eastern History, received his master’s degree in Arab Studies from Georgetown University, and his doctorate in Modern History from Oxford College. Ibrahim attended a TFAS international program in 2001 and teaches at the TFAS summer programs in Prague. In this week's Liberty and Leadership Podcast, Roger and Ibrahim discuss Ibrahim's time as a TFAS student and teacher, the nuances of teaching conflict resolution, leadership through passion - rather than power, the importance of good grammar, and how one of his articles was plagiarized by British Intelligence in what later became the "Dodgy Dossier," leading some to incorrectly label him the “mastermind behind starting the Iraq war."

Bryce Mitchell

Bryce Mitchell is an Air Force Captain and Staff Officer at the Department of Defense, a National Security Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, an Undergraduate Ambassador for Service to School. Bryce is a TFAS mentor, speaker and a member of the Alumni Engagement Committee. He is also a Defense Ventures Fellow at the Defense Ventures Program. Bryce received a bachelor's degree in international history from the U.S Air Force Academy, a master's degree in International Affairs with a concentration in Espionage and Surveillance from King’s College in London, and attended TFAS’s International Affairs program in 2014. In this week's Liberty and Leadership Podcast, Roger and Bryce discuss his time at the Air Force Academy, working for Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld as a TFAS intern, his experience as an intelligence officer in South Korea during the height of nuclear tensions, the nexus between the DoD and Silicon Valley, and his passion for mountain climbing.

Richard Benedetto

For 25 years, Richard Benedetto served as White House and national political correspondent for USA Today, and teaches journalism at American University as well as for TFAS at George Mason University. Richard is a graduate of Utica College of Syracuse University, earned a masters in journalism from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications, and also taught journalism at the University of Colorado and St. Bonaventure University. In this week's Liberty and Leadership Podcast, Roger and Richard discuss how journalism has evolved over the past 50 years, writing the first front-page cover story for USA Today, covering 5 presidencies, the politicization of the media, the power of optimism, and how his Italian grandfather taught him to respect the presidency - no matter who was in office.

Joe Sabia

Joe Sabia is the Creative Director of Studio Sabia and a renowned digital content creator. As SVP of Creative Development at Condé Nast, Joe created Vogue Magazine's 73 Questions while growing Condé Nast's cumulative YouTube audience from 1.5M to 46M subscribers. Joe is a 2005 alumnus of TFAS's Prague Program and is a graduate of Boston College. In this week's Liberty and Leadership Podcast, Roger and Joe discuss his TFAS experience in Prague skydiving and rooming with "George from Georgia" (the country not the state), driving from London to Mongolia for charity, how Joe got started producing YouTube content in college, working with people you like, creating 73 Questions for Vogue Magazine, owning a pizza restaurant, and how Joe won the international pun championship.

Lindsey Rose King

Lindsey Rose King is the founder of Mostess, a home decor and hosting company in Houston, Texas. She is alumna of TFAS's Business and Government Relations program and currently serves on TFAS Board of Regents. In this week's Liberty and Leadership Podcast, Roger and Lindsey Rose discuss the challenges of starting and running her own company, her time on Capitol Hill, political fundraising, and how her TFAS experience prepared her for the future.

Elliot Kaufman

Elliot Kaufman is the Letters Editor at The Wall Street Journal where he selects, edits, and solicits letters to the editor. He also runs the Future View column and regularly provides opinion articles and book reviews. In 2018, Elliot was named the Robert L. Bartley Fellow and was the inaugural Joseph Rago Memorial Fellow for Excellence in Journalism with TFAS and The Wall Street Journal. In this week's Liberty and Leadership Podcast, Elliot and Roger discuss how learning to debate at the dinner table helped him become a debating champion, his time at Stanford University both managing the basketball team and writing for the Stanford Review, how in-depth reporting informs the best option writing, and the heated exchanges in The Wall Street Journal's Letters to the Editor section.

Dr. Donald Devine

Dr. Donald Devine is a TFAS Senior Scholar and served as Director of the Office of Personnel Management in the Reagan administration. Don has had a distinguished career in academics having written 10 books, and taught at both University of Maryland and Bellevue University, where he was known as a proponent of fusionist philosophy. This weeks episode of the Liberty and Leadership Podcast was recorded live at TFAS in front of an audience, where Roger and Don discussed the development of fusionism, the tension between freedom and tradition, reforming the Federal Reserve, Woodrow Wilson's lasting impact, and how Don earned the title of Reagan’s “terrible swift sword” as President Reagan's OPM Director.

Abby Witt '15

Abby Witt is a content producer and host for the PGA TOUR's "The Cut" on NBC Sports’ Golf Channel. In this week's Liberty and Leadership Podcast, Roger and Abby discuss her path from anchoring Asbury University's television news station to working the midnight shift as an associate producer at local NBC network affiliate WLEX-TV in Kentucky to covering golf's Olympic debut at the 2016 Games. Today, she interviews PGA's biggest hitters as host of the "The Cut." Abby participated in TFAS’s Journalism and Communications class of 2015 and is a graduate of Asbury University, where she was honored as one of Asbury’s 30 Under 30 in 2021.

Katie Barlow '10

Katie Barlow ’10 is a lawyer turned journalist who hosts “In the Courts with Katie Barlow” on Fox 5 DC in addition to producing content for the SCOTUSblog’s 217K avid TikTok followers as Social Media Editor. Katie is also the co-founder of Circuit Breaker, a website focused on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. In this week’s of the Liberty and Leadership Podcast, Roger and Katie discuss her journey from journalist to lawyer back to journalist, the inner workings of the Supreme Court, what Originalism means, the importance of good writing, and her love for both TikTok and the theater. Katie was a member of TFAS’s Journalism and Communications 2010 program and is a graduate of the University of Georgia. She has a J.D. from Georgetown University. The Liberty + Leadership Podcast is hosted by TFAS President Roger Ream ’76 and produced by kglobal. If you have a comment or question for the show, please drop us an email at podcast@TFAS.org.

---