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.

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On this very special episode of Liberty + Leadership recorded at the TFAS Annual Conference in Naples, Florida, Roger welcomes Catherine Shea and Caleb Davis, two recent TFAS alumni from the summer class of 2024.

Catherine and Caleb share their positive TFAS experiences, highlighting the program’s focus on fostering open dialogue, civility and respect for different viewpoints. They reflect on how their TFAS courses and internships provided them with an invaluable D.C. experience and discuss the lasting impact TFAS and its supporters have in developing the principled leaders of the future.

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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On this special episode of the Liberty + Leadership Podcast, recorded live at the Annual TFAS Conference in Naples, Florida, Roger welcomes Dan Proft. Proft is co-host of the morning drive-time radio talk show Chicago’s Morning Answer and a 1993 TFAS alumnus.

They discuss, Proft's successful career in radio, his experience as a TFAS student and his observations on the first months of the Trump administration and the role of the executive branch. Plus, they take a look at the changing tides in the media landscape, the political dynamics in Illinois and Proft’s advice to young people on the importance of intellectual curiosity.

Prior to his career in radio, Proft worked on numerous political campaigns and served in various leadership capacities in state and municipal government. He also was a candidate for Illinois governor in 2010.

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 Ambassador Paula Dobriansky, the former Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs and editor of her father Lev Dobriansky’s newly released book, “Unyielding Resolve: Captive Nations and the Path to Freedom.”

Together, they discuss Lev Dobriansky’s work advocating for the rights of captive nations, his role in establishing an annual Captive Nations Week proclamation signed by U.S. presidents, the historical significance of the captive nations concept and its continued relevance today - particularly in light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Plus, reflections on the legacy of President Ronald Reagan and the importance of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation.

Paula is a foreign policy expert and holds degrees in Soviet political and military affairs from Harvard University and is the recipient of the Secretary of State’s highest honor, the Distinguished Service Medal. She serves as the vice chair of the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, as a Senior Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs and as a member of the TFAS Board of Trustees

During TFAS D.C. Summer Programs, TFAS holds the annual “Dobriansky Lecture on Political Economy” in memory of her father Lev Dobriansky who was a longtime professor at Georgetown University and the U.S. Ambassador to the Bahamas. Lev was also the founding director of the first TFAS program in 1970.

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 Talmage Boston, a lawyer, historian, and author of “How the Best Did It: Leadership Lessons From Our Top Presidents,” which was released in April of last year.

They explore Boston’s top 8 presidents, the leadership lessons they teach Americans — especially young Americans developing their leadership characteristics, and the importance of optimism, unification, and the ability of a president to connect with the American people. Plus, they discuss how baseball history is intertwined with American history and how it shapes the American zeitgeist.

Talmage Boston is a partner at the Shackelford, Bowen, McKinley & Norton law firm specializing in trial and appellate commercial litigation. He’s one of the most recognized and awarded lawyers in Texas and is the only lawyer to receive a “Presidential Citation” from eight different presidents of the State Bar of Texas for outstanding service to the State Bar. As a historian and author, his combined legal knowledge and fascination with all things American history have contributed to a catalog of books on the subjects of law, American history and baseball.

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 Ari Fleischer, former White House Press Secretary under President George W. Bush and an esteemed communication and crisis management leader.

They discuss Fleischer’s firsthand experience of the September 11 attacks while serving as White House Press Secretary, reflecting on the immediate chaos and the key lessons learned in crisis management, particularly the importance of staying calm under pressure. Plus, the modernization of the White House Press Room, the significance of diverse voices in journalism, why supporting Israel aligns with American values, and the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches of government.

After leaving the White House in 2003, Ari continued to offer valuable insights into the intricacies of government and the media through his company, Fleischer Communications. He’s also a highly sought-after public speaker and a New York Times bestselling author. His latest book “Suppression, Deception, Snobbery, and Bias,” was published in 2022.

Ari will be the keynote speaker at our Annual Conference in Naples, Florida, on March 6-8, 2025.

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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