When the 20-year-old overachiever Johnathan Bi‘s first startup crashed and burned, he headed to a Zen retreat in the Catskills to “debug himself.” He discovered René Girard and his mimetic theory–the idea that imitation is a key and often unconscious driver of human behavior. Listen as entrepreneur and philosopher Bi shares with EconTalk host Russ Roberts […] The post Johnathan Bi on Mimesis and René Girard appeared first on Econlib.

Suppose all of humanity was infected by a virus that left us all infertile–no one will come along after us. How would you react to such a world? Agnes Callard of the University of Chicago says she would be filled with despair. But why does this seem worse than our own inevitable deaths? Callard speaks […] The post Agnes Callard on Meaning, the Human Quest, and the Aims of Education appeared first on Econlib.

When everyone is carrying a camera in their pocket, what raises the act of taking pictures to the level of fine art photography? Jessica Todd Harper, the award-winning portrait photographer, says that it’s equal parts mindset and technique–and lots of setting the stage to seize that perfect light. Listen as Harper speaks with EconTalk host […] The post Jessica Todd Harper on Beauty, Family, and Photography appeared first on Econlib.

Economist and political scientist Michael Munger of Duke University talks about industrial policy with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Munger argues that in a democracy, the default outcome for industrial policy is crony capitalism–attempts to improve on that outcome either by appointing experts or eliminating cronyism are going to fail for political reasons. The conversation concludes with a […] The post Michael Munger on Industrial Policy appeared first on Econlib.

Author Ryan Holiday talks about his book, Discipline Is Destiny, with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Holiday discusses the mentor who taught him discipline, the self-control of Queen Elizabeth, the world-champion boxer who counseled the man who defeated him in the ring, and the forgotten Roman emperor who helped make Marcus Aurelius the man he would […] The post Ryan Holiday on Discipline Is Destiny appeared first on Econlib.

Devon Zuegel talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the crazy world of money and finance in Argentina. When inflation is often high and unpredictable, people look for unusual ways to hold their savings. And when banks are unreliable because of public policy, people look for unusual ways to keep their savings safe and to […] The post Devon Zuegel on Inflation, Argentina, and Crypto appeared first on Econlib.

The good news about educational reform, says Harvard economist Roland Fryer, is that we know what it takes to turn a school around. The bad news is that it’s hard work–and implementing it won’t win you any popularity contests. Listen as the MacArthur Genius Award Winner and John Bates Clark medalist speaks with EconTalk host […] The post Roland Fryer on Educational Reform appeared first on Econlib.

Scholar and distiller Sonat Birnecker Hart of the Koval Distillery talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about her career move from academia to whiskey-making. She explains that the heart is the key to great flavor–when making whiskey, and when making the right choices in life. The post Sonat Birnecker Hart on Whiskey appeared first on Econlib.

Neuroscientist Erik Hoel talks about why he is not an “effective altruist” with EconTalk host, Russ Roberts. Hoel argues that the utilitarianism that underlies effective altruism–a movement co-founded by Will MacAskill and Peter Singer–is a poison that inevitably leads to repugnant conclusions and thereby weakens the case for the strongest claims made by effective altruists. The post Erik Hoel on Effective Altruism, Utilitarianism, and the Repugnant Conclusion appeared first on Econlib.

John Stuart Mill’s midlife crisis came at 20 when he realized that if he got what he desired he still wouldn’t be happy. Art and poetry (and maybe love) saved the day for him. In this week’s episode, philosopher Kieran Setiya of MIT talks about his book Midlife with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Setiya argues […] The post Kieran Setiya on Midlife appeared first on Econlib.