Liberty + Leadership

In this episode of Liberty + Leadership, Roger Ream sits down with Christopher Coyne, professor of economics at George Mason University and TFAS faculty member, to discuss his new book, “Austrian Economics: An Introduction”, co-authored with Abigail Hall. Roger and Christopher explore the origins and enduring relevance of the Austrian School of economics, tracing its development from Carl Menger a...

In this episode of Liberty + Leadership, Roger Ream sits down with Bradley Birzer, the Russell Amos Kirk Chair in American Studies at Hillsdale College and author of “The Declaration of Independence: A Radical Experiment in Liberty.” Together, they explore the ideas and events that shaped the Declaration, the tension between conservatism and radicalism in the American founding and why the founders...

In this episode of Liberty + Leadership, Roger Ream sits down with historian and author Michael Auslin to discuss his new book, “ National Treasure: How the Declaration of Independence Made America .” As the United States marks its 250th anniversary, Auslin explores the remarkable history of the Declaration of Independence, not only as the nation's founding document but also as a living symbo...

In this episode of Liberty + Leadership, Roger Ream sits down with Stock Executive Search CEO and TFAS alumnus Toby Stock to discuss leadership, civic culture and the habits that shape successful careers and institutions. Toby reflects on his work with prominent public intellectuals and organizations including the American Enterprise Institute, the National Constitution Center, Harvard Law School...

This special episode of Liberty + Leadership features highlights from the 2026 TFAS Annual Conference in Washington, D.C., where students, scholars, alumni and national leaders gathered around this year’s theme: Developing Courageous Citizens. As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, TFAS is placing renewed focus on civic education, the American founding and the responsibility each g...

This special episode of Liberty + Leadership features a panel discussion recorded live at the 2026 TFAS Annual Conference in Washington, D.C., centered on the question, “ Did Adam Smith Attend the Constitutional Convention?” Moderator Dominic Pino is joined by Anne Bradley and Ted Tucker to explore how the ideas in “ The Wealth of Nations ” influenced the American founding and continue to shape ou...

Roger welcomes Mark Levin, bestselling author, nationally syndicated radio host and constitutional lawyer, for a special conversation recorded live at the 2026 TFAS Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. Mark and Roger reflect on their shared experience as members of the TFAS Class of 1976 during America’s bicentennial and discuss how that formative summer shaped their commitment to liberty, consti...

Roger welcomes Randal C. Teague , chairman of The Fund for American Studies and author of “ Jesus and His Fishermen: The Untold Story,” for a conversation on the historical, economic and cultural context of Jesus’ early ministry. Drawing on years of research and firsthand experience traveling throughout Israel, Teague explores how the familiar story of “fishers of men” reveals a deeper understandi...

Roger welcomes Dr. Matthew Spalding, Kirby professor in constitutional government and dean of the Van Andel Graduate School of Government at Hillsdale College, for a conversation about the ideas and intellectual traditions that shaped the Declaration of Independence. Drawing from his latest book, “The Making of the American Mind: The Story of Our Declaration of Independence,” Spalding explains how...

Roger welcomes Samuel Goldman , associate professor of humanities at the University of Florida’s Hamilton School for Classical and Civic Education and TFAS faculty member, for a conversation about American political thought, civic education and the ideas that sustain a free society. Goldman reflects on his academic journey, his work teaching TFAS students in Washington and his commitment to helpin...

Roger welcomes Andrés Guilarte, vice president of opinion research at Eyes Over US and Stratus Intelligence and a former TFAS outreach fellow. Guilarte reflects on growing up under Venezuela’s socialist regime, his journey to the U.S. after facing political persecution, and his work raising awareness about the consequences of authoritarian rule.  They discuss the U.S.-led efforts to pressure Nicol...

On this special year-end episode of Liberty + Leadership, Roger reflects on a remarkable year for The Fund for American Studies (TFAS). He highlights moments from the podcast that celebrate TFAS’s mission and the work of alumni, fellows, students, and friends who are advancing individual liberty, personal responsibility and economic freedom around the world.  These moments feature foreign policy l...

Roger hosts a special episode of Liberty + Leadership that brings listeners inside the 32nd Annual TFAS Journalism Awards Dinner and the Journalism Forum that preceded it. These curated conversations offer a look at how TFAS is shaping the journalists of tomorrow through their rich ecosystem of programs like the Robert Novak Journalism Fellowship, the Joseph Rago Memorial Fellowships for Excellenc...

Roger welcomes Amanda Stiglbauer, a longtime mentor and instructor with TFAS’s high school division, the Foundation for Teaching Economics (FTE), for a conversation about teaching economics in a way that connects with students and helps them understand the world. Amanda, who recently joined TFAS as FTE’s economic education curriculum fellow, shares how her early love of teaching merged with a grow...

Roger welcomes Dan Wang, a research fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution History Lab and author of “Breakneck: China’s Quest to Engineer the Future.” They discuss Wang’s perspective on China’s technological rise and the contrast he draws between China’s engineering approach to governance and the United States’ lawyerly system, which emphasizes rights, pluralism and individual liberty...

Roger welcomes Ben Rothove, editor-in-chief of the Madison Federalist at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and Elsa Johnson, managing editor of the Stanford Review, for a conversation about their experiences as student journalists and fellows in TFAS’s new Campus Transparency Fellowship, a program created to bring accountability and openness back to higher education. They discuss the challenges...

Roger welcomes Daniel J. Flynn, senior editor at the American Spectator and visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution, for a conversation about his new biography, “ The Man Who Invented Conservatism: The Unlikely Life of Frank S. Meyer.” Flynn explores the fascinating journey of Meyer, a former communist who became one of the most influential conservative thinkers of the 20th century and whose ide...

Roger welcomes Kurt Couchman, senior fellow in fiscal policy at Americans for Prosperity, for a conversation on the risks of the nation’s growing debt and his proposal for a balanced budget amendment to restore sound governance. They discuss why fiscal insolvency threatens future generations, how intergenerational debt burdens undermine prosperity, and why Congress struggles to act despite biparti...

Roger welcomes Dr. Mark Skousen, economist, author and the Doti-Spogli Chair of Free Enterprise at Chapman University, for a conversation about Benjamin Franklin’s enduring wisdom and what it means for today’s debates on liberty, economics and civic life. They explore Franklin’s defense of wealth and philanthropy, his views on capitalism and free trade, and his complex relationships with fellow Fo...

Roger welcomes Sam Feist, longtime journalist and CEO of C-SPAN, for a conversation about why the role of nonpartisan reporting and transparency remains essential to the future of journalism and public trust. They discuss the importance of unfiltered access to government, the challenge of maintaining neutrality in a polarized media environment, and the upcoming launch of "Ceasefire," a p...

Roger welcomes Dr. Donald J. Boudreaux, professor of economics at George Mason University and longtime TFAS senior scholar who teaches the economics for the citizen course, for a conversation about the enduring value of economic freedom and the importance of correcting common myths that cloud public understanding of capitalism. They discuss how misconceptions about economic history — the Industria...

Roger welcomes Lord Daniel Hannan, a British writer, historian and member of the UK House of Lords, for a wide-ranging conversation on executive overreach, constitutional principles and the ideas that preserve liberty. They explore how power has steadily concentrated in the hands of presidents and prime ministers, weakening the roles of legislatures and citizens alike. They also reflect on what Am...

Roger welcomes Dominic Pino, the Thomas L. Rhodes journalism fellow at the National Review Institute, for a wide-ranging conversation on why both political parties are drifting away from free-market principles—and what that means for the United States’ economic future. They discuss the growing embrace of industrial policy, the return of tariffs and subsidies, and the bipartisan belief that governm...

Roger welcomes Marian L. Tupy, founder and editor of HumanProgress.org and a senior fellow at the Cato Institute’s Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity, for a compelling conversation about human progress, population growth and the myth of scarcity. They explore the legacy of economist Julian Simon, the surprising data behind global trends and why more people often means more innovation, not le...

Roger welcomes Dr. Jenna Robinson, president of the James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal, for a timely discussion on the state of American higher education and how to restore its core mission. They examine the rise of administrative bloat in higher education, the spread of DEI bureaucracies and the decline of intellectual diversity on college campuses. They also explore how the Martin Cente...