The Ayn Rand Institute Podcast

Why Iran Fuels the Mideast War

10 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Onkar Ghate, Elan Journo and Nikos Sotirakopoulos discuss Iran’s central role in inspiring, supporting and fundin...

The Unstable Foundation of Marc Andreessen’s Techno-Optimism

06 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Ben Bayer and Don Watkins discuss Marc Andreessen’s recent defense of “techno-optimism“ in his essay “The T...

Global Protests: Anti-war, or Pro-Hamas?

04 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Onkar Ghate, Elan Journo, and Nikos Sotirakopoulos discuss the global protests in support of the Palestinian cause....

Did Israel Steal Palestinian Land?

30 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Elan Journo and Nikos Sotirakopoulos challenge the misleading narrative of the shrinking Palestinian lands and the ...

The Absurdity of Calling the U.S.-Mexico Border Crisis an ‘Invasion’

29 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Ben Bayer and Agustina Vergara Cid discuss the recent comparisons between America’s border crisis and the threat ...

How to Think about the Death of Innocents in War

23 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, and in the context of ongoing events in Israel and Gaza, Onkar Ghate and Elan Journo discuss how to think about civ...

Rand and Oppenheimer: The Atomic Bomb Movie that Wasn’t

21 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Brandon Lisi reads aloud his article, “Rand and Oppenheimer: The Atomic Bomb Movie that Wasn't.” In that essay, he tells the stor...

The Suffering of Moral Saints

21 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Aaron Smith reads aloud his article, “The Suffering of Moral Saints.” In that essay, he analyzes Larissa MacFarquhar's book, Stra...

Civilization vs. Barbarism: Ongoing Analysis of the Hamas War on Israel

16 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Elan Journo, Onkar Ghate, Nikos Sotirakopoulos, and Tal Tsfany discuss the recent developments in the ongoing confl...

The Hamas War on Israel

09 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this special episode of New Ideal Live, Onkar Ghate, Elan Journo, and Boaz Arad offer the Ayn Rand Institute’s response to the invasion of Israel...

Cristiano Ronaldo and Joe Biden Whitewash Saudi Arabia

09 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Elan Journo and Nikos Sotirakopoulos discuss Saudi Arabia’s lavish spending on sports celebrities, the recent Ame...

Libertarianism: Big Tent or Big Mess?

02 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Ben Bayer and Nikos Sotirakopoulos review Matt Zwolinski and John Tomasi’s new book The Individualists: Radicals...

Independence in an ‘Interdependent’ World

25 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Onkar Ghate and Aaron Smith discuss the idea that our complex, division of labor society precludes real independenc...

Q&A on Ayn Rand’s Ethics with Dan Schwartz and Ziemowit Gowin

18 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Dan Schwartz and Ziemowit Gowin answer reader-submitted questions about Ayn Rand’s Objectivist ethics. Among t...

Ayn Rand’s Distinctive View of Romantic Art

12 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal, Sam Weaver interviews Harry Binswanger and Shoshana Milgram about the Romantic movement in art and Ayn Rand’s unique a...

Ayn Rand’s Repudiation of Original Sin

11 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Ben Bayer and Ricardo Pinto discuss Ayn Rand’s devastating critique of the idea of original sin. They explore how...

The U.S.-Iran Prisoner Swap: Biden’s Policy of Delusion

03 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Onkar Ghate and Elan Journo discuss the Biden administration’s recent prisoner swap with the Iranian regime and h...

The Moral Justification of the Atomic Bomb

28 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Ben Bayer and Nikos Sotirakopoulos analyze the moral justification and the criticisms of dropping the atomic bombs ...

Chinese Foreign Policy Toward Taiwan: With Scott McDonald

21 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Ziemowit Gowin is joined by Scott McDonald to discuss the latest events in the ongoing dispute between China and Ta...

Ayn Rand on Watergate

14 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Ben Bayer and Harry Binswanger discuss Ayn Rand's little-known analysis of the Watergate scandal, fifty years after...

The Knowledge Gap Highlights a Failing of America’s Schools

12 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Sam Weaver reads aloud his article, “The Knowledge Gap Highlights a Failing of America’s Schools.” In that essay, he examines ...

Will Europe’s Immigration Problems Happen in the U.S.?

05 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Onkar Ghate, Nikos Sotirakopoulos, and Agustina Vergara Cid discuss Europe’s immigration policies, its failure to...

In Defense of Life Extension

30 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Dan Schwartz and Nikos Sotirakopoulos discuss the significance of Dr. Peter Attia’s new book Outlive and challeng...

Religious Skeptics Should Question Their Moral Theology

29 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Ben Bayer reads aloud his article, “Religious Skeptics Should Question Their Moral Theology.” In that essay, he argues that even ...

Special Announcement: We’re Releasing a Huge Trove of Essays on Rand’s Fiction and Philosophy

29 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this special episode, Ben Bayer and Elan Journo preview the release of scores of in-depth historical, literary, and philosophical essays on Ayn Ran...

Philip Kitcher’s Critique of Today’s Useless Philosophy

25 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Ben Bayer, Mike Mazza and Aaron Smith discuss What's the Use of Philosophy?, a recent book by leading philosopher P...

‘What is a Woman?’ and Gender War Tribalism

17 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Onkar Ghate and Nikos Sotirakopoulos discuss Matt Walsh’s film What Is a Woman? and how it reflects a deeper trib...

In Defense of Self-Esteem

10 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Ziemowit Gowin and Tristan de Liège defend self-esteem against attacks and misrepresentations by presenting Ayn Ra...

The Dishonest Debate on Immigration and National Security

29 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Agustina Vergara Cid and Onkar Ghate analyze the impact of immigrants on national security and evaluate the argumen...

OCON 2023: The Pre-Game Show

23 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Elan Journo is joined by four of the Ayn Rand Institute’s fellows to preview talks they will be giving at our upc...

The ‘Social Justice’ War on Science

19 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Sam Weaver and Mike Mazza discuss a recent paper, "In Defense of Science," which examines the increasing intrusion ...

The Perpetual War on Israel: 1948-2023

12 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Elan Journo and Nikos Sotirakopoulos discuss the movements and regimes which have sought to destroy Israel since i...

Ayn Rand’s Devastating Critique of ‘Liberals’

04 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we read aloud Elan Journo's article, “Ayn Rand's Devastating Critique of 'Liberals'.” In that essay, he presents Rand's analysis ...

‘Intellectual Humility’ vs. Intellectual Ambitiousness

29 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Ben Bayer is joined by professor and clinical psychologist Gena Gorlin to discuss the widespread notion that “int...

Conservatives for Stagnation

22 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Nikos Sotirakopoulos and Elan Journo discuss recent calls by Tucker Carlson and other conservative voices to resist...

Threats to Regulate Artificial Intelligence

13 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Ben Bayer and Mike Mazza are joined by software engineer Chad Mills to discuss recent developments in AI and the et...

The Meaning of the Iraq War

08 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Onkar Ghate and Elan Journo explore the moral and political lessons of the Iraq War. Among the topics covered: ...

Effective Altruism’s Faith-Based Sacrifice for the Future

05 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Ben Bayer reads aloud his article, “Effective Altruism's Faith-Based Sacrifice for the Future.” In that essay, he examines "longt...

Libertarian Apologists for Putin

01 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Onkar Ghate and Nikos Sotirakopoulos discuss the libertarian support for Putin and other authoritarian regimes. The...

Ayn Rand vs. ‘Liberals’

21 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Ben Bayer and Elan Journo discuss Ayn Rand’s philosophic analysis and critique of “liberals.” They explain wh...

Robert Reich’s Unjust Crusade against Billionaire Producers

17 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Agustina Vergara Cid and Nikos Sotirakopoulos challenge Robert Reich’s unjust crusade against billionaires. Agust...

Exciting New Courses at the Ayn Rand University

07 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Ben Bayer, Ziemowit Gowin, Harry Binswanger, Shoshana Milgram, and Don Watkins discuss new course offerings at the...

Why Nationalism Is Hostile to America

05 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we read aloud “Why Nationalism Is Hostile to America,” an article written by Yaron Brook and Elan Journo. In that essay, they exa...

‘Heckler’s Veto’ at Stanford Law School

03 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Onkar Ghate and Elan Journo discuss the heckling and public shaming of Judge Stuart Kyle Duncan by Stanford Law Sch...

Q&A on the Best Objections to Objectivism

27 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Ben Bayer and Mike Mazza respond to several common and plausible philosophic objections to Objectivism that were se...

The Debate Over the Right to Immigrate

20 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Onkar Ghate and Agustina Vergara Cid discuss the immigration debate from a philosophical perspective. They address ...

The Anti-Individualism of Affirmative Action

13 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Onkar Ghate and Elan Journo discuss two landmark cases before the Supreme Court of the United States on the legalit...

Systemic Altruism

06 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Onkar Ghate and Ben Bayer discuss the pervasive influence of altruism on the culture and draw lessons from it abou...

Finding Morality and Happiness Without God

04 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

American popular culture is filled with pieces that gently mock, satirize and ridicule religion, especially Judeo-Christian beliefs. To cite but three...

One Year of War in Ukraine: The View from Europe

28 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Nikos Sotirakopoulos and Ziemowit Gowin mark the one-year anniversary of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine...

DeSantis’ Push to Ideologically Transform Florida Colleges

20 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Ben Bayer and Sam Weaver discuss Ron DeSantis’ push to ideologically transform Florida colleges, and evaluate its...

Natalie Wexler’s Critique of the ‘Knowledge Gap’ in Schools

13 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Elan Journo and Sam Weaver discuss Natalie Wexler’s argument that many American elementary schools have abandone...

Ayn Rand, the Valuer

06 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Aaron Smith interviews Harry Binswanger on Ayn Rand’s distinctive value-centered approach to philosophy — and t...

The Old Morality of the New Religions

02 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Why does the “antiracist” movement mobilize to deplatform or fire anyone who slights or asks the wrong questions about the dominant views of “so...

How to Deal with Arbitrary Claims: Lessons from the Pandemic

26 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Nikos Sotirakopoulos and Mike Mazza are joined by Dr. Amesh Adalja to discuss the phenomenon of skepticism towards ...

Hamline University’s Shameful Attack on Education

23 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Onkar Ghate and Aaron Smith discuss the recent incident at Hamline University, where art history professor Erika Ló...

Q&A on God and Religion with Aaron Smith and Mike Mazza

16 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Our experts take your questions on arguments for God, whether morality depends on religion, and other issues related to religion.

From Russia with Evil: The Philosophy of Alexander Dugin

07 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Nikos Sotirakopoulos and Ziemowit Gowin discuss the political philosophy of Alexander Dugin, a Russian philosopher ...

The Illustrated Fountainhead: Serializing a Classic Novel

04 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

On May 7, 1943, as World War II raged across the globe, Ayn Rand’s novel The Fountainhead was published in America. Due to sparse reviews and mini...

Why New Year’s Resolutions Fail

02 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Don Watkins and Nikos Sotirakopoulos discuss New Year’s resolutions, what makes them difficult to maintain, and h...

Musk, Twitter, and Free Speech; Ransoming Brittney Griner

23 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Onkar Ghate and Elan Journo discuss two recent news stories: Elon Musk's controversial management of Twitter and Br...

The Philosophical Bankruptcy of ‘Effective Altruism’

19 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Ben Bayer and Elan Journo discuss the philosophical bankruptcy of effective altruism and the movement’s role in ...

How the Qatar World Cup Abets Authoritarian ‘Sportswashing’

12 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Agustina Vergara Cid and Nikos Sotirakopoulos explain how authoritarian states such as Qatar use international spor...

The Toxic Ideas Behind the Quest for ‘Zero Covid’

04 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Ben Bayer and Dr. Amesh Adalja discuss the ethics of infectious disease and evaluate the continued push for string...

‘Practicing Gratitude’ Evaluated: A Chat with Gena Gorlin

28 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Ben Bayer interviews professor and clinical psychologist Gena Gorlin about the value of gratitude, possible misconc...

Discussing Ayn Rand on World Philosophy Day 2022

18 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Aaron Smith and Mike Mazza discuss World Philosophy Day to explore what is the nature and value of philosophy. They...

Why John Mearsheimer Gets Ukraine Wrong

17 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The international response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has been extraordinary. Rarely have so many nations united so quickly to impose such heav...

The Midterm Elections: A Philosophical Postmortem

14 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Onkar Ghate and Elan Journo discuss the midterm elections and offer a philosophical analysis of the state of Ameri...

What Does Xi Jinping’s China Want?

09 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What makes China tick? What animates the ruling Communist Party? What does Xi Jinping’s third term as “paramount” leader portend? Elan Journo in...

Inviting in the Vandals: The Just Stop Oil Protests

07 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Onkar Ghate and Nikos Sotirakopoulos discuss the recent attacks conducted by the Just Stop Oil activists and offer ...

Dismantling the ‘Neoliberalism’ Straw Man

31 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Elan Journo and Nikos Sotirakopoulos discuss the attacks on "neoliberalism," an alleged ideology that critics blame...

Q&A on Free Will vs. Determinism with Ben Bayer and Mike Mazza

24 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Ben Bayer, Mike Mazza and Sam Weaver address questions about free will submitted by the podcast’s audience. A...

What Students Need to Find Literature Fascinating

20 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Enrollment in college English departments is declining, with literature concentrations experiencing a particularly precipitous drop in student intere...

What Liberalism and Its Discontents Gets So Wrong

17 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Elan Journo and Nikos Sotirakopoulos discuss Liberalism and Its Discontents, a recent book by the well-known politi...

The Protests in Russia and Iran

08 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Ben Bayer and Nikos Sotirakopoulos discuss the recent protests against the authoritarian regimes of Iran and Russia...

Why MacAskill Is Wrong about What We Owe the Future

04 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Ben Bayer, Don Watkins, and Mike Mazza discuss Oxford philosophy professor William MacAskill’s new book, What We ...

Political Battles Over Education

25 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Onkar Ghate and Sam Weaver discuss political controversies that have erupted in the last two years around the discu...

The Banality of Putin and Xi

23 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

No death toll can truly capture the devastation that Stalin, Hitler, Mao, Pol Pot and their ilk inflicted upon the world. Think of the engineered Grea...

The Attacks on ‘Hustle Culture’

19 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Nikos Sotirakopoulos, Elan Journo and Tristan de Liège discuss the phenomenon known as “hustle culture,” an at...

How America’s 9/11 Response Destroyed Trust in Institutions

11 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Onkar Ghate and Elan Journo discuss America’s failed response to 9/11 and some of its consequences, including the...

Modernized Stoicism Critiqued

03 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Aaron Smith, Dan Schwartz, and Tristan de Liège discuss Stoic Wisdom: Ancient Lessons for Modern Resilience, a rec...

National Conservatism vs. Americanism

25 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Elan Journo and Nikos Sotirakopoulos discuss the Statement of Principles recently released by leaders of the “Nat...

The Sorry Legacy of Our Policy Toward Iran

20 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Onkar Ghate, Agustina Vergara Cid and Nikos Sotirakopoulos discuss Iran’s recent attempts — on American soil —...

Not Everyone Who Is Mistaken Is Evil — But Some Are

15 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Ben Bayer and Onkar Ghate discuss the idea held by critics of “cancel culture,” such as John McWhorter and Bari...

New ARU Course: Foundations of Physical Science

05 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Mike Mazza interviews Keith Lockitch about the Ayn Rand University and his upcoming course, Foundations of Physical...

Objectivism Q&A with Ben Bayer and Dan Schwartz

01 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Ben Bayer, Dan Schwartz and Agustina Vergara Cid address questions on Objectivism submitted by the podcast’s audi...

Ayn Rand’s Radical View of the United Nations

27 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Agustina Vergara Cid’s article “Ayn Rand’s Radical View of the United Nations” is featured. In that essay, Vergara Cid explai...

Engaging Honestly with Critical Race Theory’s Irrationality

25 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Onkar Ghate and Nikos Sotirakopoulos discuss critical race theory — a theory that claims to address racial injust...

Whitewashing a ‘Pariah’ State: Biden’s Visit to Saudi Arabia

18 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Elan Journo and Nikos Sotirakopoulos discuss President Biden’s decision to visit Saudi Arabia and meet with Crown...

Panel on America’s Culture: Live from OCON 2022

11 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, broadcast live from OCON 2022, Onkar Ghate, Gregory Salmieri, Tara Smith and Yaron Brook discuss the tumultuous eve...

The Death of Abortion Rights in America: A Postmortem

30 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Onkar Ghate, Ben Bayer and Yaron Brook discuss the Supreme Court’s ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Or...

Roe Is Overturned: ARI’s Response

26 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Ben Bayer, Agustina Vergara Cid and Don Watkins discuss their initial reactions to the Supreme Court’s decision i...

Ayn Rand on the Necessity of Moral Judgment

26 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Onkar Ghate and Ben Bayer discuss Ayn Rand’s provocative view of the meaning and importance of moral judgment as ...

The Virulent Pull of Tribalism

20 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Tribalism is resurging, most obviously in politics. But it is also rampant on college campuses. Tribalism has moved from the fringes of society to the...

The January 6 Hearings

15 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Elan Journo and Onkar Ghate discuss the public hearings of the House committee investigating the January 6, 2021, a...

Kathleen Stock’s Reasoned Critique of Gender Ideology

11 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Onkar Ghate, Dan Schwartz and Ben Bayer discuss British philosopher Kathleen Stock’s book Material Girls, in whic...

Alex Epstein’s Powerful Case for More Fossil Fuel Energy

05 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Keith Lockitch and Nikos Sotirakopoulos discuss Fossil Future, a powerful new book on energy and climate change wri...

Philosophers’ Unprofessional Treatment of Ayn Rand

31 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Onkar Ghate and Mike Mazza discuss academic philosophers’ dismissals of Ayn Rand’s philosophy, and some of the ...

The Possible Dream

19 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, philosopher Harry Binswanger argues that moral perfection is both possible and desirable. "We hear from all sides t...

Understanding the Principles of Montessori Education

19 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Sam Weaver interviews Matt Bateman, vice president of pedagogy at Higher Ground Education, about the educator Maria...