The Curious Task
Episodes
Linda Kavuka — How Do Free Markets Help Africa?
15 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Aragona speaks with Linda Kavuka as she explores why it's so important to rediscover Africa's free-market past, and how the ideas surrounding fre...
Fabio Rojas — What Happened to the Anti-War Movement?
08 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Aragona speaks with Fabio Rojas as he traces the history of the post 9/11 anti-war movement and what caused it to lose momentum. References from ...
Travis Smith — Why Are Superheroes So Popular?
01 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Aragona nerds out with Travis Smith as they discuss his book 'Superhero Ethics', why superheroes are so popular, and the ten ways superheros save...
Ilya Somin — Can You Vote With Your Feet?
24 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Aragona speaks with Ilya Somin as he explores how you can vote with your feet and if it is effective. References from Episode 47 with Ilya Somin:...
Dennis Rasmussen — How Did A Friendship Shape Modern Thought?
17 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Aragona speaks with Dennis Rasmussen as he traces the friendship between Adam Smith and David Hume, and how it helped shaped modern thought. Refe...
Steve Davies — What Happens After The Pandemic?
10 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Aragona speaks with Steve Davies as he explores what he thinks life after the pandemic will look like, including our relationship with the welfar...
Shikha Dalmia — How Are Indian Immigrants Saving Canadian Hockey?
03 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Aragona talks with Shikha Sood Dalmia as she explores the story of a Sikh-Canadian broadcaster's rise to fame, and what stories like these mean f...
Ben Perrin — What's the Solution to the Opioid Crisis?
27 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Aragona speaks with Ben Perrin as he explores the causes of, and solutions to, the opioid crisis in Canada and the United States. References from...
Sarah Skwire — Why Should Women Care About Economic Freedom?
20 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Everyone should care about economic freedom. But why is economic freedom especially relevant for women? Alex Aragona chats with Sarah Skwire as she ex...
Russ Roberts — How Can Adam Smith Change Your Life?
13 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Aragona speaks with Russ Roberts as he talks about the ways in which the ideas of Adam Smith can change your life, even so many years later. ...
Pete Boettke — What Is The Curious Task of Economics?
06 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Aragona chats with Pete Boettke as he dives into what the curious task of economics is and relates it back to the work of Friedrich Hayek. Refere...
Mike Munger — Is Price Gouging Wrong?
29 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Aragona speaks with Mike Munger as he explores what's truly happening when we see rapid price changes during a crisis, and whether suppliers rais...
David Clement — Is Marijuana Legalization Working?
22 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Alex speaks with the Consumer Choice Centre's David Clement about why Canada's marijuana legalization regulations missed the mark, and what government...
Ray Pennings — Does School Choice Work?
15 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Aragona chats with Cardus' Ray Pennings as he explores the benefits of more school choice to both students and society, and look at some data to ...
Jason Brennan — Why Not Capitalism?
08 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Aragona chats with Jason Brennan's about his response to G.A. Cohen's book and question "Why Not Socialism?" and his thoughts on ideal capitalism...
Jesse Walker — Did We Really Go to The Moon? (April Fool's Day Episode)
01 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Aragona speaks with Jesse Walker as they explore whether a human being truly set foot on the moon. References 1. “Rebels on the Air: An Alterna...
Matt Bufton — Are There Libertarians in a Pandemic?
25 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Bufton talks with Alex Aragona about the effects the response to COVID-19 will have on freedom, the proper government response to a pandemic, h...
Scott Beyer — What is Market Urbanism?
18 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Aragona speaks with Scott Beyer as he explores the basic tenets of market urbanism and the ideas behind market driven solutions to problems in ou...
Jason Sorens — Could Alberta Leave Canada?
11 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Aragona speaks with Jason Sorens as he explores what it takes for a group to secede or gain independence from a state, and whether Alberta could ...
Chris Freiman — Is it Okay to Ignore Politics?
04 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Aragona speaks with Christopher Freiman as he explores why you might be happier, and ultimately contribute more to society, if you choose to igno...
Adam Bartha — Is Populism a Threat to Liberalism?
26 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Aragona and Adam Bartha discuss whether populism is a threat to liberalism and what political landscapes look like after political realignment. R...
Jacob Levy — How Should Liberals Think of Civil Society?
19 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Jacob Levy speaks with Alex about how liberals should approach the ideas of freedom of association and civil society, and what that means for the way ...
Vincent Geloso — Should We Care About Inequality?
12 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Aragona speaks with economist Vincent Geloso about whether we should care about inequality, and how we should approach measuring and understandin...
Trevor Burrus — How Has The Drug War Failed?
05 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Aragona speaks with Trevor Burrus as he explores the many ways the drug war has failed drug addicts and society. References from Episode 27 with ...
Kevin Vallier — Must Politics Be War?
29 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Aragona speaks with Kevin Vallier about conflicts in politics and how ideology aggravates them, and whether liberal institutions can help us trus...
Glenn Fox — Is Free Market Environmentalism an Oxymoron?
22 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Aragona speaks with Glenn fox as he explores whether environmentalism from a free market perspective creates a contradiction. References from Epi...
Sandy Ikeda — Why Can't a City Be a Work of Art?
15 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Aragona talks with Sandy Ikeda as he explores why a city can't be thought of, and specifically designed as, a work of art. References from Episod...
Mike Munger — Is Capitalism Sustainable?
08 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Aragona talks with Mike Munger as he explores his views on the sustainability of capitalism and the factors that contribute to it. References fro...
Matt Bufton — What is the Future of Liberalism?
01 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Aragona talks with Matt Bufton about the future of liberalism (and why it's not as bad as you might think!). References from Episode 22 with Mat...
Alex Tabarrok — Is Giving Gifts Inefficient?
25 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Aragona chats with Alex Tabarrok on this very special Christmas episode of The Curious Task as he explores whether gift giving is inefficient, an...
James Stacey Taylor — Should People Be Allowed to Sell Their Organs?
18 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Aragona speaks with James Stacey Taylor as he makes the case for a market for organs. References from Episode 20 with James Stacey Taylor You can...
Lauren Hall — What's Wrong With Modern Healthcare?
11 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Aragona talks with Lauren Hall as she explores the problems with modern healthcare systems and some of the possible remedies. References from Epi...
Alex Nowrasteh — Is Immigration Important to a Free Society?
04 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Aragona speaks with the Cato Institute's Alex Nowrasteh about why immigration is important to a free society, and the common misconceptions some...
Sarah Burns — Is American Foreign Policy Broken?
27 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Aragona chats with Sarah Burns about whether American foreign policy is broken as a result of a breakdown of the separation, and increased centra...
Alain Bertaud — Who Knows Best About Planning a City?
20 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Aragona chats with Alain Bertaud as he shares his thoughts on how cities truly flourish and how urban planners should approach their role. Refe...
Jen Dirmeyer — What Do Markets Do For Us?
13 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Aragona speaks with Jen Dirmeyer as she explores what markets do for us and the different ways they impact our lives. References 1. “The Use of...
Steve Horwitz — How Has Capitalism Helped Create The Modern Family?
06 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Aragona speaks with Steve Horwitz as he explores how the evolution of capitalism also shaped the modern family. References 1. “Hayek’s Modern...
Abigail Hall — How Does Foreign Policy Create a Boomerang Effect at Home?
30 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Aragona speaks with Abigail Hall as she describes how various elements of United States foreign policy ultimately come back home from abroad and ...
Jason Kuznicki — What Is Government For?
23 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Aragona speaks with Jason Kuznicki as he explores some history on how intellectuals viewed the state, and how we should view the state. Referen...
Sigal Ben-Porath — How Can Speech Be Protected on Campus?
16 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Aragona speaks with Sigal Ben-Porath as she details her perspective on campus free speech issues. References 1. “Free Speech on Campus” by ...
Chris Freiman — Do People Have the Right to Immigrate?
09 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Aragona speaks with Chris Freiman as he shares his thoughts on whether people have the right to immigrate. References 1. Christopher Freiman’s ...
Jessica Flanigan — Should We Legalize All Drugs?
02 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Aragona speaks with Jessica Flanigan as she explores whether all drugs should be legalized. References 1. “Pharmaceutical Freedom: Why Patients...
Andrew Work — Has The Extradition Law Conflict Pushed Hong Kong Toward a More Liberal Environment?
25 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Aragona speaks with Hongkonger Andrew Work. Relying on his first-hand experience with the Hong Kong extradition law protests, he explores whether...
Eric Mack — Why Not Socialism?
18 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Aragona asks Eric Mack to explore his views on what socialism is and if it's the answer to the problems proponents say it can solve. References 1...
Paul Robinson — Does Military Intervention Work?
11 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Aragona chats with Paul Robinson as he offers his thoughts on whether or not military intervention works (and explores what is meant by "works")....
Pierre Desrochers & Joanna Szurmak — Is Overpopulation Hurting the Planet?
04 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Aragona chats with Pierre Desrochers and Joanna Szurmak as they explore whether or not an increasing population necessarily harms the planet. R...
James Harrigan — Can We Have Principled Politicians?
28 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Aragona asks James Harrigan to explore his thoughts on whether or not we can have principled politicians that represent us. References from Episo...
Jacob Levy — Does a Liberal Society Need to be Democratic?
21 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Aragona and Jacob Levy explore Jacob's belief on whether or not a liberal society requires democratic institutions. References from Episode 3 wit...
Peter Jaworski — Should Markets Have Limits?
14 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Aragona and Peter Jaworski explore Peter's perspective on what the limits of markets should be. The conversation also explores the ethics surroun...
Nigel Ashford — What is Classical Liberalism?
29 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Aragona and Nigel Ashford explore what Nigel considers to be the basic tenets of classical liberalism. References from Episode 1 with Nigel Ashfo...