• The Hidden Costs of Executive Power with Lord Daniel Hannan
    Jul 16 2025

    Roger welcomes Lord Daniel Hannan, a British writer, historian and member of the UK House of Lords, for a wide-ranging conversation on executive overreach, constitutional principles and the ideas that preserve liberty.

    They explore how power has steadily concentrated in the hands of presidents and prime ministers, weakening the roles of legislatures and citizens alike. They also reflect on what America borrowed and improved on from British political traditions through its written Constitution, and consider how both nations risk forgetting the foundations of their freedom. Other topics include the aftermath of Brexit, the future of free trade and why humility and historical awareness are essential for effective governance in the 21st century.

    Lord Daniel Hannan serves as international secretary of the Conservative Party, is the founding president of the Institute for Free Trade, a New York Times bestselling author and a former Conservative member of the European Parliament. He was also the keynote speaker this year at TFAS’s annual Neal B. Freeman Lecture, which discusses the principles of a free society, free markets, personal responsibility and virtue.

    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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    34 mins
  • The False Promise of Government-Driven Growth with Dominic Pino
    Jul 1 2025

    Roger welcomes Dominic Pino, the Thomas L. Rhodes journalism fellow at the National Review Institute, for a wide-ranging conversation on why both political parties are drifting away from free-market principles—and what that means for the United States’ economic future.

    They discuss the growing embrace of industrial policy, the return of tariffs and subsidies, and the bipartisan belief that government should play a bigger role in steering the economy. Pino breaks down why this approach has historically failed, why politicians are often poor at picking winners and losers, and why market-driven growth remains the most effective path to prosperity. They also touch on entitlement spending, the misunderstood nature of trade deficits, and how public skepticism of economic expertise is shaping policy debates.

    Dominic Pino hosts the “Econception” podcast and is a former William F. Buckley Jr. Fellow in Political Journalism and a National Review editorial intern. He also was a 2020 Political Studies Fellow with the Hertog Foundation and has held internships with ALEC, the Heritage Foundation and the Tax Foundation. He holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in economics from George Mason University. While at Mason, he served as an opinion editor of Fourth Estate, the university’s student paper.

    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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    35 mins
  • The Overpopulation Myth with Marian L. Tupy
    Jun 24 2025

    Roger welcomes Marian L. Tupy, founder and editor of HumanProgress.org and a senior fellow at the Cato Institute’s Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity, for a compelling conversation about human progress, population growth and the myth of scarcity.

    They explore the legacy of economist Julian Simon, the surprising data behind global trends and why more people often means more innovation, not less. They also break down how human ingenuity continues to drive prosperity across the globe and why doomsday narratives about overpopulation, resource depletion and environmental collapse fail to reflect reality. Plus, they examine how the idea of “the ultimate resource” shifts our understanding of economics, freedom and the future of human flourishing.

    In addition to his work with Cato and HumanProgress.org, Marian L. Tupy is the co-author of “Superabundance: The Story of Population Growth, Innovation, and Human Flourishing on an Infinitely Bountiful Planet” and “Ten Global Trends Every Smart Person Should Know: And Many Others You Will Find Interesting”. He’s also a co-creator of The Simon Project, an initiative that examines the relationship between population growth and resource abundance and publishes the yearly Simon Abundance Index. His work focuses on the intersection of data, human liberty and long-term optimism.

    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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    31 mins
  • Reclaiming the Mission of Higher Education with Dr. Jenna Robinson
    Jun 17 2025

    Roger welcomes Dr. Jenna Robinson, president of the James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal, for a timely discussion on the state of American higher education and how to restore its core mission.

    They examine the rise of administrative bloat in higher education, the spread of DEI bureaucracies and the decline of intellectual diversity on college campuses. They also explore how the Martin Center serves as a model to promote academic freedom, viewpoint diversity, institutional neutrality and transparency in public universities. Plus, reform efforts taking place in North Carolina, how legislative and trustee oversight can serve as tools for accountability and why students and faculty alike benefit from a renewed focus on academic excellence over ideology.

    In addition to her work with the Martin Center, Dr. Jenna Robinson serves on the board of the Alumni Free Speech Alliance, the UNC Alumni Free Speech Alliance and board member of the Board of Visitors at UNC Chapel Hill.

    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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    31 mins
  • FTE at 50: Ted Tucker and Lisa Chang on Building Economic Literacy
    Jun 3 2025

    Roger welcomes Ted Tucker, executive director of the Foundation for Teaching Economics (FTE) and Lisa Chang, director of operations and teacher programs at FTE, to discuss the organization’s 50-year legacy of teaching the economic way of thinking to high school students and teachers. They share the fascinating history of FTE’s founding in the 1970s, the pivotal role of leaders like Milton and Rose Friedman and Gary Walton, and how FTE has evolved to meet the needs of a changing world.

    They explore why economic literacy is so critical, yet often neglected today, how FTE’s experiential and activity-based learning approach makes economics accessible, and why an engaging introductory economics course can be life-changing for students. Plus, insights on the difference between economic literacy and financial literacy and the unique power of understanding opportunity costs and trade-offs.

    Ted and Lisa reflect on the personal growth they see in students and teachers who attend FTE programs, share stories of alumni success and outline their vision for the next 50 years of 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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    30 mins
  • Socialism Sucks: Robert Lawson on the Real-World Consequences of Central Planning
    May 21 2025

    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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    31 mins
  • The Journalist Who Wouldn't Be Silenced: Benjamin Hall's Story of Survival and Recovery
    May 6 2025

    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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    31 mins
  • Satire in the Age of Censorship: How Kyle Mann and the Babylon Bee Preserve Humor and Navigate Cancel Culture
    Apr 23 2025

    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.

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    21 mins