Voices of Freedom

An Interview with Jay Bhattacharya Four years ago this past March, America followed the direction of public health officials and went into lockdown mode due to the emergence of Covid-19. Yet by the fall of 2020, it became clear to some in the medical community that the soundest approach to the pandemic was to let healthy individuals resume daily life, while protecting the most vulnerable.   Medica...

Interview with Samuel Gregg America's entrepreneurial spirit is part of what defines its national character. Americans celebrate the notion that one can build a business from the ground up by virtue of sheer determination and perseverance, whether it's a neighborhood ice cream shop or a global auto company. This zeal for free enterprise quickly catapulted the country into an economic powerhouse an...

Interview with Allen Guelzo What would Lincoln do? Leaders and historians often ask this question when America is in a time of crisis. It's understandable, considering Lincoln's extraordinary leadership during the darkest and most fragile period in the country's history.  Today, our nation confronts a vast array of serious challenges that threaten to undermine its strength and the trust of its cit...

Interview with Lord Andrew Roberts The state of democracy, upcoming elections, the economy and political discord are just a few of the many issues that are top of mind among Americans today. Yet, as history reminds us, these same challenges have confronted the country since its founding. Looking to history can help inform leaders, communities and citizens on how to navigate times of upheaval with...

An Interview with Judge Janice Rogers Brown The U.S. Constitution has held our Republic together through wars, the Great Depression and civil unrest. Yet for all that it has helped us endure, the Constitution faces great challenges.  Will Americans cherish and defend it, or bend to efforts to weaken and undermine it?  Our guest on this episode of Voice of Freedom is Judge Janice Rogers Brown. She...

An Interview with Dr. Ed Fuelner, a Conservative Institution Builder What does it mean to be a conservative? That question has long been debated, but the foundational principles of conservativism have been more sharply challenged in recent years. Focal points of discussion have centered on the role of government and America's approach to global conflict. Few have as much insight into the developme...

An Interview with General Jack Keane, a Retired Four-Star General and Commentator The expanding turmoil in the Middle East and the ongoing war in Ukraine indicate that 2024 will be one of global unrest and uncertainty. The unease comes at a time when the U.S. is wrestling with its role in the world. The ideological divide over America's posture when it comes to global conflict has transcended part...

An Interview with John Cochrane, the Rose-Marie and Jack Anderson Senior Fellow of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University While the staggering levels of post-pandemic inflation have gone down, Americans continue to say they feel pinched by high prices. All eyes are on the Fed for hints at what they may do to reduce inflation and ease the cost of housing and consumer goods. Adding to the eco...

Religious freedom protects far more than the right to practice one's faith. It also shields people from being compelled by the government to participate in activities that are not in accordance with their religious beliefs. Given the fierce battles over culture and politics today, it's not surprising that religious freedom has been significantly challenged. Perhaps what is surprising is the state...

The ubiquitous smartphones that are a staple of modern life provide access to nearly every good or service that one could possibly imagine. We can have food delivered within minutes, book our next vacation, pay a bill, and order our children's hot lunch all with a swipe of our fingers. We often don't consider that our numerous digital transactions, saving time and energy, are possible because of f...

The movement to expand parental freedom in education continues to experience momentum, an encouraging sign that families are demanding more choices for their children. Dozens of states have passed laws to open K12 opportunities over the last few years, and even more are considering doing the same. Yet many families still don't send their children to a school that best fits their needs even after t...

The free exchange of goods and services has profoundly improved living conditions throughout the world. In the past two decades alone, free markets have helped reduce the child mortality rate by almost half and have lifted 130,000 people out of extreme poverty.  Yet according to a recent poll, twice as many people believe that socialism, rather than the free market system, can best meet everyone's...

Free speech is a bedrock principle that has helped to sustain democracy and catalyze tremendous growth and prosperity in America. At the same time, it's a right that is often misunderstood or taken for granted. The pervasiveness of technology and increased political polarization has only made free speech issues more complex and often controversial. Greg Lukianoff and Darpana Sheth are our guests o...

Universities, more than most institutions, should be places that welcome the free exchange of ideas. Critical thinking is sharpened when one's beliefs are challenged, and new ideas and perspectives are introduced. This is especially crucial for young people as they prepare to enter an increasingly complex world. Yet today's college environment is one in which students and faculty who hold certain...

Families have more freedom in education than ever before, thanks in part to increased parental demand for K12 opportunities since the pandemic. In state after state, legislation has passed to expand educational options. While there has been significant momentum, the groundwork for reform was laid long ago, starting with the vision of Milton and Rose Friedman. The Friedmans broke the mold of the tr...

Economic freedom unleashes creativity and innovation in a way that no other economic or political system has been able to match. The U.S. is the home of some of the most groundbreaking inventions in history precisely because its citizens have the right to engage freely in enterprise. Thomas Edison's light bulb, the Wright brothers' airplane, and Alexander Graham Bell's telephone are just a few exa...

The latest tool to turn the tide against corporations that are active in the culture wars is the power of consumers who are willing to vote with their pocketbooks. Acting on their frustration with companies that "go woke" by boycotting their products, they are damaging some of America's most iconic brands. While the pushback has caused some executives to think twice about adopting marketing campai...

The next time you enjoy a leisurely Saturday, thank President Calvin Coolidge. The transition from a six-day work week to a five-day work week occurred under Coolidge's presidency, an interesting footnote in American history. More importantly though, is why that came to be. Coolidge believed that smaller government and lower taxes would unleash American industry, creating more efficiency and great...

This episode of Voices of Freedom features a thoughtful conversation with  Samuel Gregg, Distinguished Fellow in Political Economy and Senior Research Faculty at the American Institute for Economic Research. Topics discussed by Dr. Gregg and Rick Graber, President and CEO, The Bradley Foundation, include: The integral role of free enterprise in America's past, present, and future. Challenges to fr...