The Rational Egoist

Jim Valliant and Michael Continue Their Series on Using Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand as a Guide to Self-Improvement. In This Episode, They Dive Into Chapter Two: “Sense Perception and Volition.” In this new instalment, Michael and Jim explore how the most fundamental aspects of human awareness shape everything from our daily decisions to our long-range ambitions. They take listeners thr...

Dr. Andrew Bernstein and Dr. Meghann Ribbens Discuss Some Problems with American Education In this episode, Michael sits down with two sharp and unapologetically rational voices—Dr. Andrew Bernstein and Dr. Meghann Ribbens—to unpack what has gone wrong in American education and why so many students are emerging less prepared, less confident, and less capable of independent thought. From the erosio...

Kiyah Willis Discusses Her Journey Out of Woke In this episode of The Rational Egoist, Michael sits down with Kiyah Willis for a thoughtful and compelling discussion about her intellectual transformation—one that took her from the fog of modern “woke” ideology to a life built on clarity, independence, and personal responsibility. Kiyah is a fellow at the Objective Standard Institute, where she foc...

Applying OPAR to Self-Improvement In this episode, Michael sits down with James Valliant to launch a powerful new series exploring how the principles laid out in Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand (OPAR) can be used as a practical roadmap for personal growth. Rather than treating philosophy as something abstract or academic, Michael and James break down how these core principles apply to ever...

Nikos Sotirakopoulos Discusses His Journey from Marxism to Objectivism In this episode of The Rational Egoist , Dr. Nikos Sotirakopoulos joins Michael Liebowitz to share his intellectual journey from the radical Left to the philosophy of reason and individualism. Once an active Marxist, Nikos reflects on what drew him to collectivist movements in his youth and what ultimately led him to reject the...

New Episode: “Sheldon Richman Discusses His Life” In this episode, Sheldon Richman—executive editor at The Libertarian Institute and former senior editor at both the Cato Institute and the Institute for Humane Studies—joins Michael Liebowitz to reflect on his life, career, and decades of work advancing the cause of liberty. Richman brings a wealth of experience and insight to the conversation, exp...

Andrew Bernstein – Reckoning with Justice, Freedom, and the Human Spirit In this episode of The Rational Egoist, host Michael Liebowitz welcomes philosopher and novelist Andrew Bernstein to discuss his thrilling new novel, Reckoning. Bernstein, well-known for his works on Objectivist philosophy and his powerful fiction, joins Michael to explore the moral themes that drive the story—justice, herois...

A Great Talk with James Valliant Concerning the Recently Discovered Letters Wherein Murray Rothbard Discussed Ayn Rand In this episode of The Rational Egoist, host Michael Liebowitz sits down with James Valliant, author of The Passion of Ayn Rand’s Critics and co-author of Creating Christ, to discuss a fascinating historical discovery — the recently unearthed letters in which Murray Rothbard write...

Debating the Legitimacy of Anarcho-Capitalism – with Mann Sharma In this thought-provoking episode of The Rational Egoist , Michael Liebowitz sits down with Mann Sharma, a young and aspiring intellectual in the liberty movement, to debate the legitimacy of anarcho-capitalism. Is a stateless society truly compatible with individual rights, or does it invite chaos and private tyranny? Together, Mich...

Discussing Economic Inequality with Robert F. Mulligan In this episode of The Rational Egoist, Michael Liebowitz sits down with economist Robert F. Mulligan to discuss one of the most debated issues in modern economics—economic inequality. Dr. Mulligan brings a rigorous, data-driven perspective to the conversation, examining what inequality actually measures, whether it’s inherently unjust, and ho...

What is Metacognition, and Why Do You Need to Know? – With Kristen Carter, M.S. In this episode, Michael Liebowitz is joined by Kristen Carter, M.S., founder of Design for Fitness, LLC. With over 30 years of experience in fitness and nutrition, Kristen brings a unique perspective that integrates psychology, motivation, and health. Together, they explore the concept of metacognition—the ability to...

Rob Tracinski Discusses His New Book, “Dictator from Day One: How Donald Trump is Overthrowing the Constitution and How to Fight Back.” Rob Tracinski joins The Rational Egoist to discuss his latest book, Dictator from Day One: How Donald Trump is Overthrowing the Constitution and How to Fight Back. Tracinski studied philosophy at the University of Chicago and has been a writer, lecturer, and comme...

Phil Magness Joins the Show to Debunk Much of the 1619 Project Phil Magness is an economic historian whose work focuses on the United States and the broader Atlantic world. His research explores the intersection of history and political economy, including the 19th century as well as longer-term trends in the macroeconomy such as taxation, trade, and economic inequality. In this episode, Phil joins...

Overcoming Negative Self-Talk – with Betsy Holmberg, Ph. D. Betsy Holmberg, Ph. D., joins the show to discuss how to overcome negative self-talk and the traps of overthinking. An award-winning psychologist, Betsy has devoted her career to understanding and addressing the inner critic that undermines mental health and self-confidence. Before becoming an author and therapist, Betsy led the mental he...

Robert Begley Joins the Show to Discuss His New Book Voices of Reason: Lessons for Liberty’s Leaders The audio is now available! Robert Begley joins Michael to talk about his new book Voices of Reason: Lessons for Liberty’s Leaders. Together they explore what makes a truly great communicator, the timeless principles behind effective speech, and why mastering the art of communication is essential f...

Objective Investing for The Middle Class – with Mark Shupe Mark Shupe joins Michael Liebowitz on The Rational Egoist to discuss the principles of investing through the lens of Objectivism. Mark is an Objectivist, an author, and an investor who has developed a unique approach to wealth-building for everyday people. His work focuses on empowering the middle class to think rationally about money and...

Discussing Million Dollar Baby with Professor Andrew Bernstein In this episode of The Rational Egoist, Michael Liebowitz is joined by philosopher and author Professor Andrew Bernstein for a deep dive into Clint Eastwood’s acclaimed film Million Dollar Baby. Together they unpack the philosophical themes embedded in the story—from the value of ambition and the human will to the moral and cultural im...

Matthew Facciani Ph. D is here to Discuss the Link Between Victim Mentalities and Belief in Conspiracy Theories On this episode of The Rational Egoist, Michael sits down with Matthew Facciani, Ph. D.—an interdisciplinary social scientist whose work bridges neuroscience, psychology, and sociology. With a doctorate in sociology, Dr. Facciani’s research dives deep into how misinformation spreads, how...

Discussing Economics with Vance Ginn In this episode, Michael Liebowitz is joined by Vance Ginn, PhD—founder and president of Ginn Economic Consulting, Associate Research Fellow at the American Institute for Economic Research (AIER), staff economist at Americans for Tax Reform, and contributor to more than 20 think tanks. Dr. Ginn brings his extensive background in public policy and economics to t...

Discussing Accountability, Blame, and Hypocrisy, with Steven Stosny Ph. D In this thought-provoking episode of The Rational Egoist, Michael Liebowitz sits down with Dr. Steven Stosny to explore the difficult terrain of accountability, blame, and hypocrisy in human relationships and society at large. Dr. Stosny is a therapist, author, and founder of Compassion Power in suburban Washington D.C. He h...

A Great Conversation About a Variety of Economic Subjects – with Don Boudreaux Michael Liebowitz is joined by economist, author, and professor Don Boudreaux for a wide-ranging discussion on economics, freedom, and the forces that shape prosperity. Don is the co-director of The Program on the American Economy and Globalization at The Mercatus Center at George Mason University, and coauthor (with Ph...

Mark Pellegrino Joins the Show to Discuss the Intersection Between Psychology and Philosophy Actor Mark Pellegrino sits down with Michael to explore how psychology and philosophy intertwine—and why both are essential to understanding human nature. Known for his standout roles in The Big Lebowski, Capote, Lost, The Closer, Dexter, and Supernatural, among many others, Mark brings his sharp intellect...

Jim Valliant Analyzes Numerous Logical Fallacies In this episode of The Rational Egoist, Michael is joined once again by Jim Valliant for an in-depth exploration of logical fallacies. Together, they break down the errors in reasoning that often undermine arguments, distort truth, and lead to dangerous cultural trends. From straw men to appeals to authority, Jim and Michael analyze how these fallac...

Talk Show Host Tom Shattuck Joins Michael for a Wide-Ranging Conversation Tom Shattuck sits down with Michael to explore a variety of topics in this engaging and thought-provoking discussion. Known for his sharp wit and unapologetic takes, Tom brings his trademark insight to the table as they cover everything from current events to cultural trends. Tom is the host of The Burn Barrel Podcast and Th...

Jacob Berman Joins Michael to Discuss a Variety of Issues Related to Christianity In this episode of The Rational Egoist, Michael sits down with Jacob Berman, host of the History Valley podcast—a world history and religious history channel dedicated to exploring historical events through in-depth conversations. Jacob regularly interviews authors, professors, PhD scholars, and other experts on topi...