239. Did Anything Positive Happen over The Last Two Years?
The last two years have been difficult dealing with a pandemic. But as gloomy as things seem, there are still reasons to be optimistic. Here’s a transcript of our conversation: Brittany: Hi, Emma. Emma: Hi, Brittany. Brittany: So, I think it’s pretty fair to say it’s been a very weird, almost two years, right? That might actually even […]
238. What Is The Invisible Hand?
One of the most important principles in free market economics is the concept of the invisible hand. In his book “The Wealth of Nations,” economist Adam Smith wrote about the invisible hand, a metaphor for the benefits society gets when people act in their own self interest. Links: Adam Smith Books Tuttle Twins and The […]
The Plot to Push Parents Out of Education
Chances are, you’ve already heard about the 1619 Project. If not, a brief refresher… Created by Nikole Hannah-Jones, an activist and New York Times columnist, the project is a series of essays aiming to reframe America through the lens of race. With the help of the media and academic elite, it is a concerted effort […]
237. What Role Can Comedy Play in Keeping Our Leaders in Check?
There is an old saying that only a jester can speak truth to a king. Throughout world history, comedians have played a vital role in using humor to poke fun at leaders, revealing their shortcomings in a humorous way. Here’s a transcript of our conversation: Brittany: Hi, Connor. Connor: Hey, Brittany. Brittany: So today we have a fun topic […]
236. What Happened in WWI?
Understanding the world wars is important to understanding the state of the world’s foreign conflicts today. Links: Treaty of Versailles Richard Maybury Books Here’s a transcript of our conversation: Connor: Hey, Brittany. Brittany: Hey, Connor. Connor: As promised, we’re gonna start diving into the World Wars, starting with World War I. We’ve been talking in past episodes about […]
Blame the Fed—Not Capitalism—For Your Grocery Bill
On this day in 1913, the Federal Reserve Act was signed, creating the nation’s third central bank. In the 108 years since, it has successfully enriched the powerful and well-connected and stolen from the rest of us by manipulating the Dollar. This week, millions of Americans are dealing with the most expensive Christmas of their […]
235. What Are The Ten Deadly Ideas That Lead to War?
To understand why countries engage in warfare, it’s important to understand the ideas that lead to this kind of thinking and behavior. Today, Connor and Brittany discuss the ten deadly ideas that lead to war. Links: Ancient Rome: How It Affects You Today World War I: The Rest of the Story and How It Affects […]
234. What Is Activism?
The word “activism” gets thrown around a lot, and has all sorts of reputations, but it’s an important part of our country’s history and super important if you care about helping this country move in a positive direction. Here’s a transcript of our conversation: Emma: Hi, Brittany. Brittany: Hi, Emma. Emma: Today we are going to talk about […]
233. What Is Critical Thinking?
Being critical and thinking independently is a challenge, no matter how old you are or how much you’ve accomplished. But it’s one of the most important things you can ever learn how to do. Here’s a transcript of our conversation: Emma: Hi, Brittany. Brittany: Hi, Emma. Emma: So, today I want to talk about something called critical thinking. this […]
232. What’s So Bad about The “Greater Good”?
We often hear people say that the “greater good” is more important than protecting the individual. This line of thinking has been used to promote public policies that put the collective good ahead of individual needs. Definitions: Utilitarianism: A belief that any action is good so long as it helps the majority, or the most […]