The Ayn Rand Institute Podcast

https://www.youtube.com/live/b91AlTBDODs Podcast audio: The 2026 Objectivist Summer Conference was a celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. To conclude the conference, Yaron Brook, ARI board chairman, spoke about what makes America uniquely worth celebrating — the fact that it is “the Nation of the Producer.” Brook begins by surveying the state of the world prior to the American Revolution —...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kw8MPZSbLXA Podcast audio: In this episode of The Ayn Rand Institute Podcast, Robertas Bakula and Mike Mazza discuss two major developments in the AI industry: Bernie Sanders’ proposal for an AI wealth fund and the White House’s order to block access to Anthropic’s newest models. Topics include: The Anthropic Ban Fear-Mongering About Security Fear-Mongering About Jo...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXTCE3rXfH4 Podcast audio: In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Ben Bayer and Connor O’Leary discuss Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical about AI. Topics include: Valid questions, backwards approach Concerning near-universal acclaim Dependence on religious morality Faith-based moral concepts Appealing to fear and resentment Hostility to human intelligence We nee...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGcfnm1gELw Podcast audio: In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Elan Journo talks with Ben Bayer, Robertas Bakula, Alex Silverman, Audra Hilse, Sam Weaver, and Keith Lockitch about their upcoming talks at OCON 2026 in New Orleans. Speakers include: Bayer: Ayn Rand on progress     Bakula: antitrust is anti-production     Silverman: metaphysics of produc...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRK4oqOHr4s Podcast audio: In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Robertas Bakula and Onkar Ghate discuss Jeff Bezos' recent high-profile CNBC interview with Andrew Sorkin on wealth, attacks on billionaires, and government waste. Topics include: Bezos’ Admirable Mind Trend of Villainizing Businessmen The Zero-Sum Fallacy The Incompetence of Government Co...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKYKHBdO6-I Podcast audio: In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Onkar Ghate and Tristan de Liège analyze Marc Andreesen’s recent controversial comments rejecting introspection. Topics include: What introspection really is Introspection and success Introspection and moral responsibility Earned and unearned guilt Resources:  The Ayn Rand Lexicon entry on...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSyqrwXEtBQ Podcast audio: In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Onkar Ghate and Elan Journo discuss the war and subsequent negotiations with Iran, and Trump’s visit to China.  Topics include: The war’s shifting purpose The Hormuz evasion Whim over strategy Evading Iran’s nature Stalemate as defeat Projecting weakness worldwide Abandoning American ideal...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YKNDXS3NOY Podcast audio: In this episode of The Ayn Rand Institute Podcast, Sam Weaver and Ben Bayer discuss the significance of President Trump’s efforts to construct new government monuments and put his name and face on federal buildings and documents. Topics Include: Trump’s initiatives Why symbols matter Historical monument-building America’s distinctive histo...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JW_xItSGlM Podcast audio: In this episode of The Ayn Rand Institute Podcast, Robertas Bakula and Onkar Ghate discuss Ken Griffin’s reaction to Zohran Mamdami's attack on his wealth and life, and the appropriate stance that individuals in Griffin's position should take against such attacks. Topics include: Mamdani’s Attack on Ken Griffin Real Threat to Griffin’s Lif...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62w3EFQML58 Podcast audio: In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Ben Bayer interviews Professor Bart Ehrman about his new book on the Christian roots of altruist ethics. Christian vs. pagan ethics The true meaning of Christian “love” Apocalyptic roots of Christian ethics Are Christian ethics rational? Ehrman’s work Resources:  Bart Ehrman, Love Thy Stra...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzfiohcZhGo Podcast audio: In this episode of The Ayn Rand Institute Podcast, Robertas Bakula and Ben Bayer discuss the viral Red vs. Blue Button dilemma. Topics include: The Viral Dilemma The Case for Red The Case for Blue The False Choice Comparison to the Trolley Problem Ayn Rand’s Alternative Approach to Morality Resources: “Ethics of Emergencies,” Ayn Rand, The...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nZD3IdL4PY Podcast audio: In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Ben Bayer and Tristan de Liège discuss the military draft in light of recent changes to the Selective Service System. Debating Selective Service System changes Unconstitutionality of the draft The immorality of the draft The impracticality of the draft Palantir’s endorsement of the draft R...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JK2AwyUtJtI Podcast audio: In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Ben Bayer and Robertas Bakula discuss the recent New York Times podcast justifying the “microlooting” of big corporations. “Microlooting” and Macrolooting Marxist rationalizations Signs of nihilism Anti-intellectual tribal signaling Hypocrisy and altruism Justifying murder Resources:  Prof...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRML1GMxiUg Podcast audio: In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Ben Bayer, Mike Mazza, and Tristan de Liège discuss major publicity campaigns launched by AI companies to combat uncertainty and fear about the disruptive power of AI. The AI PR problem Valid marketing problems Valid marketing solutions Special problems re: misuse The invalid inequality co...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdy_8p75jzM Podcast audio: This talk by Mike Mazza was recorded live on July 3rd in Boston, MA as part of the 2025 Objectivist Summer Conference and is available on the Ayn Rand Institute Podcast stream. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Watch archived podcasts here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjHQq-bGX5w Podcast audio: In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Elan Journo and Onkar Ghate discuss Ayn Rand’s view of evil as fundamentally impotent, and what it reveals about Soviet Russia, Iran, and the failures of American foreign policy. The standard view of evil Evil as impotent Paradox of Soviet danger Illusion of Soviet technology Overstating I...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mU5EJxVtork Podcast audio: In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Ben Bayer and Elan Journo discuss recent conspiracism about Israel’s role in the Iran war. Topics include: Facts conspiracists distort Facts conspiracists evade The conspiracist mentality      An anti-conceptual culture Decades of unprincipled foreign policy Tribalism and conspiracism Evad...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opUGimR5nr0 Podcast audio: In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Ben Bayer and Elan Journo discuss recent conspiracism about Israel’s role in the Iran war. Facts conspiracists distort Facts conspiracists evade The conspiracist mentality      An anti-conceptual culture Decades of unprincipled foreign policy Tribalism and conspiracism Evading America’s de...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8snaqpmo24 Podcast audio: In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Agustina Vergara Cid and Mike Mazza discuss the launch of Artemis II and the future of space exploration. Topics covered: The cultural reaction the launch of Artemis II Why it took 50 years to go back to lunar space The reactions to the achievements of private space companies How NASA is s...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3T3Zekd7xfE Podcast audio: In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Robertas Bakula and Onkar Ghate discuss California’s Billionaire Wealth Tax proposal. California’s budget and welfare crisis Challenging the "fair share" narrative Injustice of retroactive taxation Productive ability vs. the welfare state The role of business visionaries This episode was r...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKAe7rMPwjE Podcast audio: In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Elan Journo and Onkar Ghate discuss recent developments in the Iran war. Topics covered: Intro Moral vs. stated reasons for the war The Trump administration’s arbitrariness The government’s attacks on freedom at home The risks in leaving the war early The reaction of Trump’s base to the wa...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUha6pLRumY Podcast audio: In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Don Watkins and Sam Weaver discuss Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s recent speech at the Munich Security Conference and the tribal conception of Western civilization that he advocates. Civilization as a project Rubio’s superficial view Christianity vs. civilization Racist undertones Nation...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vh7hO-q_gb4 Podcast audio: In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Ben Bayer and Mike Mazza discuss the recent standoff between Anthropic and the Defense Department over military use of AI technology, and the moral questions faced by those creating weapons of war.   Anthropic’s reasoning Authoritarian threats Ayn Rand’s “To Young Scientists” Moral sanctio...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZV5I8YRYvI Podcast audio: In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Ben Bayer interviews Elan Journo about the American and Israeli attack on Iran.   Topics include: The Institute’s Position on Iran; Answering critics; Congressional approval; Evaluating Trump; Prospects for Success or Failure. Resources:  ARI Resources on the American Conflict with Iran Th...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mzUUDz14Ac Podcast audio: In this special podcast episode, Yaron Brook and Elan Journo interview Mosab Hassan Yousef, the son of a Hamas founding leader who became one of Israel’s most valuable intelligence assets. Raised within the movement, Yousef recounts how his experiences led him to break decisively with Hamas and oppose it at great personal risk. The convers...