Roger welcomes Robert Lawson, economist, author, and director of the Bridwell Institute for Economic Freedom at Southern Methodist University. Lawson is the co-author of “Socialism Sucks: Two Economists Drink Their Way Through the Unfree World.”

In this episode, they discuss Lawson’s firsthand observations from socialist regimes including Venezuela, Cuba, and North Korea and how central planning continues to fail the people living under it. They explore the dangerous appeal of socialism in modern political discourse, the real differences between Scandinavian welfare states and actual socialist systems, and why economic freedom remains essential to human flourishing. Plus, they highlight the power (and unfortunate rarity) of an engaging and accessible economics education that equips students with a lifelong understanding of how the world works.

Robert Lawson is a founding co-author of the Fraser Institute's Economic Freedom of the World annual report, which presents an economic freedom index for over 160 countries tracking which nations thrive—and which collapse—based on policy choices. He received the 2025 TFAS Gary M. Walton Award for Excellence in Economic Education.

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

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Roger welcomes Benjamin Hall, FOX News correspondent and New York Times bestselling author, for a powerful conversation about courage, recovery and resilience in the face of unimaginable adversity.

They discuss Halls’ harrowing experience surviving a Russian missile strike while covering the war in Ukraine, the loss of his colleagues that day and the long physical and emotional road to recovery that followed. Hall shares reflections from his latest book, “Resolute: How We Humans Keep Finding Ways to Beat the Toughest Odds,” offering insights into post-traumatic growth, the role of faith and family and the importance of community support. He also explains why he still believes in the mission of frontline journalism and the future of the free press.

Benjamin Hall has reported from conflict zones across the Middle East and Africa, earning widespread recognition for his courageous journalism. He is the recipient of the 2023 TFAS Kenneth Y. Tomlinson Award for Courage in Journalism.

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

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Roger welcomes Kyle Mann, a comedian, writer, podcast host, and the editor-in-chief of the Babylon Bee.

They discuss the origin story of the Babylon Bee, the creative process behind crafting their daily satirical headlines, and their expansion into film and other media projects. Plus, how they navigate the landscape of censorship and fact-checking, and why humor is such a valuable outlet when it comes to commenting on the absurdities of modern culture and politics.

Kyle Mann writes and publishes articles on topics that include politics, current events, censorship and wokeness. In comedy, he has authored or co-authored numerous books including his latest title, “The Postmodern Pilgrim's Progress: An Allegorical Tale.” In addition to being an accomplished comedian and writer, Kyle is a sought-after public speaker, and he recently joined us at our annual TFAS conference in Naples, Florida.

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

Support the show