Category: Podcast

Ask Isaac: Does Voting Matter?

Today’s question comes from Vivek Rajasekhar:

“Does voting matter? I’d argue that, only if your preferred candidate wins by exactly one vote (i.e. you are the tie-breaker) did your vote actually produce change.”

I give my response, which is rooted in Public Choice Theory.  Here’s a Public Choice primer I wrote if you want more details.

I also answer a bonus question about college football from Danny Benavidez in this, the final Ask Isaac episode of the year.  I’ll be back in 2016, so submit questions anytime via this link.

This episode was sponsored by the Foundation for Economic Education (FEE) and Praxis.  If you’re high school or college aged and interested in clear thinking about the world, you should check out a free FEE seminar this summer!  Tell them you heard about it here.  If you’re interested in creating your own education and career path outside of the classroom, apply to Praxis.  And of course, you can do both!

This and all episodes are available on SoundCloud, iTunes, and Stitcher.

Episode 42: What’s Wrong With Star Wars? Chris Nelson Tells All

A long time ago in a galaxy far far away Chris Nelson was enjoying the Star Wars expanded universe.  Then the evil Darth Mickey destroyed it all.

I couldn’t be more excited about the new J.J. Abrams led Star Wars movie.  Chris has a different take.  He joins me on this episode to explain the wide world of Star Wars beyond the movies, why Disney is ditching it, and what he thinks they’re missing.  I learned a lot about the franchise and even (gulp) curbed my distaste for the prequels a tad.  No small task.

This episode is sponsored by the Foundation for Economic Education (FEE).  FEE is the best place to learn the core ideas of economics and freedom.  If you’re in HS or college, you need to carve out three days for one of their amazing summer seminars.  Apply here and let them know you heard about it from the podcast.

*Bonus: I discovered something fun when Googling the famous opening phrase.  Google “A long time ago in a galaxy far far away” and see what you get…

This and all episodes are available on SoundCloud, iTunes, and Stitcher.

Episode 41: Bryan Caplan on Education, Immigration, and Procreation

Economist Bryan Caplan is always fascinating.  He seems to just pick really interesting and provocative things to explore with the tools of economic thinking.  We discuss how he got into economics, his work habits, belief in personal bubbles, and explore three of his research areas.  Bryan was super easy to talk with and the conversation never slowed.

His first book, The Myth of the Rational Voter is here.  (This short article in Reason magazine summarizing some main points is also excellent.)

His second book, Selfish Reasons to Have More Kids is here.

This and all episodes are available on SoundCloud, iTunes, and Stitcher.

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Episode 40: Tim LeVan Miller on Accounting and Rock ‘n Roll

“Nobody has the right to tell you you’re selling out”

Tim LeVan Miller is an accountant by day, composer and musician by…everything else. We talked about his beginnings in music, how he took a different turn in college, and his choice to separate what he does for a living from what he loves.

Check out his music on timlevanmiller.com

This and all episodes are available on SoundCloud, iTunes, and Stitcher.

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Episode 39: Taylor Foreman on Value, Self-Interest, Art, and Psychedelics

Thanks to Lav Kozakijevic for the editing and show notes!

Taylor Foreman, current Praxis participant and aspiring entrepreneur, joins me to discuss subjectivity of value, short and long term gratification and how self-interest can translate into good consequence. We also talk about art and the relation with audience, as well as his experience with psychedelics.

This and all episodes are available on SoundCloud, iTunes, and Stitcher.

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Episode 38: Alex Tabarrok Says Let’s Get Rid Of Borders

What’s the best way to help the desperately poor gain access to a higher standard of living?  Let them leave poor countries and go to those with more opportunity.

Alex Tabarrok advocates getting rid of immigration restrictions. In this episode we tackle some of the most common objections to #openborders that concern economic, institutional, cultural, and security issues.

Alex is a professor at the George Mason University and co-author of the Marginal Revolution blog.

This and all episodes are available  on SoundCloud, iTunes, and Stitcher.

Special Episode: Words with TK Coleman

One of my favorite things to do is ask TK Coleman to give me his definition of a word, or some way in which the word is meaningful to him.  I’ve done this on the blog in the past, and decided to try it out as a game on the podcast.

I threw words at TK and he riffed on them and it evolved into some interesting conversations.  Here are the words we covered:

Fear
Magic
Mentor
Optimism
Suffering
Coach
Data
Distance
Greatness

If you liked this episode, submit some words of your own and we’ll bring TK on and do it again.  Submit via the Ask Isaac form along with any other questions you have for me or topics you’d love to see covered on the podcast.

This and all episodes are available on SoundCloud, iTunes, and Stitcher.

Teaser: Why Haven’t You Read This Book?

Support the KickStarter campaign and help bring this book to life – and claim a copy!

I’m thrilled about a new book I am editing called, “Why Haven’t You Read This Book?”

It’s about flipping the burden of proof to open up a world of possibilities. It’s about asking ‘Why not?’, instead of, ‘Why?’

This episode includes a bit about the book and teasers from 5 of the 11 authors about the content of their chapter.

Episode 37: Isaac Guest Hosts – Jeffrey Tucker on Technology, the Police State and Criminal Law

I jumped in for a fellow podcaster and had a conversation with Jeffrey Tucker for Albert Lu’s podcast “The Economy”.

Jeffrey and I tackle some interesting questions from Jeff’s own experience with the police and criminal law, how it surpasses the divide of left and right politics and why it’s a key human rights issue.

Hear my previous interviews with Jeff on the IM podcast and follow him on fee.org and liberty.me.

Find Albert’s other episodes at www.powerandmarket.com.

This and all episodes are available on SoundCloud, iTunes, and Stitcher.

Ask Isaac: Marginal Utility for Beginners

In this episode I answer a very simple but incredibly important question from listener Steve Thomas:

  • Please explain the theory of marginal utility and give a few practical examples.

Through riddles and illustrations I try to make the ideas of value subjectivity and marginal utility easy to understand and recognize in everyday life.

Got a question? Ask here.

This and all episodes are available on SoundCloud, iTunes, and Stitcher.

Episode 36: Albert Lu on Recycling, Homeschooling, Wal-Mart, and Whole Foods

My good friend Albert Lu, host of “The Economy” podcast guest hosts this episode for me and does a bang-up job!

Albert was the person who got me into podcasting, so he’s the Obi Wan to my Anakin…or something. Enjoy, and check out his work at www.powerandmarket.com.

This and all episodes are available on SoundCloud, iTunes, and Stitcher.

Special Podcast Episode: What Is Praxis All About?

This is a special episode about Praxis, an amazing one-year experience for entrepreneurial young people who want to take control of their life, education, and career.

Praxis grads and participants talk about what made them choose the program and what the experience is like.

Check out discoverpraxis.com to learn more and apply.
Check out thefutureofschool.com for a free e-book.

This and all episodes are available on SoundCloud, iTunes, and Stitcher.

Episode 35: Tom W. Bell on Competing Legal Systems and Charter Cities

Legal scholar, charter cities expert, surfer, writer, father. Meet Tom W. Bell.

Tom joins me to talk about polycentric law and the variety of legal and social institutions present everywhere around us. We also discuss what makes charter cities succeed or fail and how online citizenship could change our perspective on states and nations.

Find out more about him at his website: www.tomwbell.com.

This and all episodes are available on SoundCloud, iTunes, and Stitcher.

Ask Isaac: Transracial Adoption, LEGO, Loneliness, Anarchy, Meditation, Mentors, and a Death Match

Today I hit everything from the personal to the radical to the bizarre.  This episode is twice as long as I shoot for in a typical Ask episode, but there were a lot of questions, some fairly involved, and I have a big mouth.  Here are the questions submitted:

  • Would you defeat Ludwig von Mises in a death match?
  • What kind of LEGO sets did you have as a kid? (and if we’re honest, today)
  • How to get over the loneliness of entrepreneurship?
  • What three people, living or dead, would you pick as life coaches?
  • What are your greatest tools for creativity?  Do meditation and psychedelics have a place?
  • Favorite cigar?
  • Are you an anarchist?  If so, would you end government overnight or do you think a gradual process is needed?
  • How do you get yourself to do things you don’t enjoy?
  • Did your beliefs have an effect on your decision to adopt?  Do you recommend adoption for others?
  • What was the adoption process like?  What unique challenges do you face being a transracial family?

Thanks for submitting!  If you want so ask questions of your own, send ’em my way via this simple form,

As always, this and every episode is available on SoundCloud, iTunes, and Stitcher.

Episode 34: Lucas Jack on Leaving Law to Play Music

Lucas practiced law in Chicago for five years, being ’propelled by the inertia of safe choices’ before he decided to quit and engage his lifelong passion – music. We talked about making scary decisions, engaging the audience and fans as well as how he writes music.

Go to lucasjackmusic.com to hear his stuff.

This and all episodes are available on SoundCloud, iTunes, and Stitcher.

Published
Categorized as Podcast