Last time we interviewed Carlos Lara and Prof. Robert Murphy to give us the Austrian perspective on the boom & bust cycle. Today we’re going to see the another side of the debate, with the help of Jake Meyer, a Nobel Prize losing economist at California State University! Jake’s work focuses on empirically studying the interaction of the international finance system and domestic political factors, particularly looking at financial crises and credit--all very relevant to the boom/bust cycle de...
Jun 04, 2018•1 hr 13 min
Today we're joined by Emmet and Karl of OnlineGreatBooks.com to discuss why a bunch of dead thinkers are still hyper-relevant today. We talk about their impact on society and politics, as well as make a case for why they should still be read if we want to understand the world around us, and ourselves. The three philosophers that go under the microscope: Plato, Machiavelli, and Marx. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/reconsiderpodcast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more i...
May 21, 2018•1 hr 37 min
In the past few episodes we've talked about a number of different economic theories about the trade cycle and the Fed's role in it. Today the Austrians have their say. We interview L. Carlos Lara (CEO of United Services & Trust Corporation) and Professor Robert P. Murphy (of Texas Tech), fellow podcasters and experts on Austrian economics, to get the lowdown of the self-styled heterodox school of economics. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/reconsiderpodcast . Hosted on Acast. See...
May 08, 2018•49 min
The GOP Tax Bill was marketed to supercharge growth, help the middle class, and boost worker pay. It’s sold both as a “tax cut” and as “tax reform.” Some people really liked it, some people really hated it, but most people don't know much about it. Let's find out! Show notes at reconsidermedia.com/podcast Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/reconsiderpodcast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Apr 23, 2018•59 min
In this episode we welcome Lantern Jack of Ancient Greece Declassified to help us with the burning question we keep getting: how much is the United States today like the ancient Roman Republic or, perhaps, like ancient Athens? Are we going down hard and fast? Are we bound for glory? How much are we even like these ancient civilizations? Learn about all this plus a small bonus about fast food in the ancient world! Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/reconsiderpodcast . Hosted on Acast. S...
Apr 09, 2018•59 min
Erik and Xander podcast together for the 3rd time ever in Boston! We grab a map and go: no agenda, no plan. It's a ton of fun. You'll find out all there is to know about the world as of precisely March 22nd, 2018. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/reconsiderpodcast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mar 23, 2018•1 hr 22 min
In this episode, Dr. Donald Marron of the Urban Institute joins us to help bring a big chunk of economic expertise to the discussion we've been having about economics and particularly monetary policy this year. We even manage to get him to crack a few jokes with us about topics from butter to Bitcoin. Dr. Marron served on the President's Council of Economic Advisers and was Director of the Congressional Budget Office. As you can guess from all this experience, he's particularly great at explaini...
Mar 14, 2018•55 min
A raw look at the combat and homecoming experience from American veterans who have been deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. “This Is War” chronicles the trials of combat vets both abroad and at home. Listen today on wondery.fm/reconsider Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/reconsiderpodcast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Mar 14, 2018•9 min
Last episode we heard a lot of arguments in the favor of the gold standard as opposed to having a fiat currency. In this episode we'll understand the decline of the gold standard and the reasons behind it to learn some of the hurdles to returning. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/reconsiderpodcast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Feb 19, 2018•48 min
Go check out Beyond the Big Screen and hear Xander and Erik uncover how Blade Runner discusses these questions, and gets viewers to ReConsider what it means to be human. https://www.atozhistorypage.com/big-screen Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/reconsiderpodcast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jan 31, 2018•2 min
Now that ain't workin'--that's the way you do it! What the heck is fiat currency? Why are we on it? Can the US print money to pay its debts? Why do people want to return to the Gold Standard? Find out all of this and more as we kick off a series on economics that will include everything from inflation to interest rates to Bitcoin! Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/reconsiderpodcast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jan 29, 2018•25 min
Do separatist movements in Catalonia, Basque, Lombardy & Venecia, and other places, constitute a larger threat to the nation-state? What drives people to move towards fixing a nation versus leaving it when they're fed up? Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/reconsiderpodcast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jan 09, 2018•42 min
Santa's workshop is underwater, and new shipping lanes emerge in an area once thought of as an insignificant edge on the global map. What happens when the Arctic starts getting wet in the summer? How does climate change affect the conflict between NATO and Russia, global shipping lanes, and habitation patterns? Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/reconsiderpodcast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Dec 25, 2017•1 hr 3 min
Catalonia declared independence. It didn't go well. But why did they? Why now? And what are the implications for the rest of Europe? Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/reconsiderpodcast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 11, 2017•43 min
Ever wonder why the United States has a system with two parties and not more? Find out why the US system is the way it is, and why other countries are different. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/reconsiderpodcast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 25, 2017•41 min
"Multiculturalism leads to parallel societies and therefore remains a ‘life lie,’ [or ‘sham’]... “ -- Angela Merkel, 2015 Just after enacting the "open door" migrant policy, Angela Merkel and all of Europe faced a political backlash, including rising nationalism and anti-immigrant sentiment. Europe took in a fairly small number of Middle Eastern refugees. Why has it been so painful? Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/reconsiderpodcast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more i...
Nov 14, 2017•52 min
After the largest mass civilian shooting in history, can we come together as a nation to reduce violence? Yes, but it requires good problem solving skills. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/reconsiderpodcast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 21, 2017•1 hr
You've heard of the Fracking Revolution. You may also know that your fuel bill is a little lower than it was in the 2000s.But man oh man, the picture is much bigger than that. The Middle East, Europe, Russia, and the foreign policy of the United States may be substantially different--for decades to come--than they would have been without the Revolution.So yeah. Big deal. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/reconsiderpodcast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Oct 06, 2017•51 min
Zack Twamley of "When Diplomacy Fails" joins us to put realism to the test throughout history. The exciting thing for you? He's not a realist. Join us as we pick a war out of a hat and chat about how--and whether--realism can explain how it came to be. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/reconsiderpodcast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 12, 2017•1 hr 6 min
Why do certain countries go to war, where others don't? How do the domestic policies and the personalities of leaders get involved? In this episode you'll learn the most widely-used lens for understanding the causes behind international affairs: realism. In one hour you'll be able to view the international order with greater structure than ever before. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/reconsiderpodcast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Aug 31, 2017•58 min
Is Venezuela's government going to fall? Is North Korea going to fire nukes? Is the US going to fire nukes? Are Maduro and Kim just madmen? Is Trump? Two dictatorial regimes, both of which hate the US, both entering crises and both facing substantial constraints about how they can try to navigate them. And the US, attempting to deal with the North Korean crisis, has its own constraints as well. In this episode you'll understand the forces that are pushing Venezuela into a domestic crisis and Nor...
Aug 11, 2017•1 hr 22 min
President Trump has had a lot of trouble getting a legislative win, and he's pressing Congress harder than ever to deliver one. The GOP has both the House and the Senate--what are the forces keeping them from getting things done? Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/reconsiderpodcast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jul 28, 2017•51 min
Politics gets emotional. However the emotional part of our brain was designed not for rational thought, but for knee-jerk survival mechanisms. How can we train our brain to think more clearly about politics in our daily lives?In this episode, Erik and Xander talk Stoicism, a philosophy and thought strategy that has been used for thousands of years by everyone from slaves to emperors to get a grip on the turbulent world around them. You'll learn why Stoicism is so powerful, and you can apply it i...
Jul 14, 2017•50 min
HEY! The sound quality on this is junk. Really sorry. Technical issue that we didn't realize was there until we were done. We've figured out how to keep it from happening again.The US and the world seem like they're in a really odd, perhaps dangerous place right now. Throughout history, people have felt like their own time defines the status quo, and all history going forward is either a path from that moment, or a departure from it.Getting a sense of the big picture from the perspective of the ...
Jul 01, 2017•1 hr 4 min
AKA, "The Bromance of the Bad Hombres"In this episode we interview Prof. Stephen Sestanovich, a Colombia professor, think tank big wig, and prolific writer. Formerly ambassador-at-large and special advisor to Madeleine Albright. Prof. Stestanovich puts the Putin-Trump relationship in context by warming us up with understanding the evolving US/Russia Presidential relationship since the end of the Cold War. Strap in for this info-packed episode! Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/reconsi...
Jun 07, 2017•1 hr 6 min
AKA: My Homie, ComeyWelp. Trump fired Comey. If things weren't crazy enough in the White House right now.There's a pretty incredible amount of speculation about why he did it and what it could mean. How much do we actually know? And where is all the speculation getting us? Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/reconsiderpodcast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
May 18, 2017•41 min
What is Russia's current interest on its borders, and what considerations will shape its behavior over the next 20 years? Prof. Mitchell Orenstein is the Professor of Central and East European politics in the Slavic Department at the University of Pennsylvania and an associate of the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies at Harvard. We're thrilled to have him and as always we learn a ton. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/reconsiderpodcast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priv...
May 08, 2017•1 hr 9 min
Much hubbub over the Syrian airstrike--everything from patriotic fervor to seemingly-genuine terror about World War 3. What happens when we take a step back from the hype and political spin, and look at the strike in the context of geopolitics, international relations, and history? Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/reconsiderpodcast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Apr 12, 2017•56 min
We're joined by Mark Schauss to give us a whirlwind tour of Russian history. Mark is the host of the Russian Rulers History Podcast: http://russianrulers.podhoster.com/Mark attended Queens College in New York, studied Russian History and Economics, got his doctorate in Business. Lecturer on cognitive function, environmental health, other medical issues, and also Russian History!We walk through how Russia has dealt with its neighbors and the world, through the Mongols, the Great Northern War, the...
Mar 27, 2017•1 hr 19 min
(Not the news source.)Joining us is Sean Guillory of Sean's Russia Blog and Podcast, at seansrussiablog.org. He has a PhD in Russian History from UCLA.Sean helps us dive into the nitty gritty about what's actually going on with Russia today. We ask:-Who's in charge? How does Russia's leadership work?-Why is United Russia so popular?-What's the economy really look like?-How corrupt is Russia?-How do Russians feel about the world?-What's the plan in Ukraine? How's it going?-What about the Syria in...
Mar 08, 2017•1 hr 21 min
