Liberty and Leadership

What happens to our nation’s discourse when every issue has only two possible positions? This week, Roger welcomes Kat Timpf to explore the complexities of division within American society. They discuss how embracing vulnerability can be a tool to diffuse that division and examine the dangers of binary thinking, touching on topics like religion, mental health and the size of government. Plus, discover how Kat’s journalism background led to her successful career as a television personality, writer and comedian.

Kat is a regular panelist on Fox News’ “Gutfeld!” and her national comedy live show has sold out theaters across the country. She’s a 2012 Robert Novak Journalism Fellow and her work has been widely published in major outlets. Kat is The New York Times bestselling author of “You Can't Joke About That: Why Everything Is Funny, Nothing Is Sacred, and We're All in This Together” and her new book, “I Used To Like You Until...(How Binary Thinking Divides Us)” has just been released and is available wherever fine books are sold.

The Liberty + Leadership Podcast is hosted by TFAS president Roger Ream and produced by Podville Media. If you have a comment or question for the show, please email us at [email protected]. To support TFAS and its mission, please visit TFAS.org/support.

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What has led to the erosion of civic engagement and volunteerism over the course of the past generation? This week Eric J. Tanenblatt joins host Roger Ream to discuss how his TFAS experience led to him to pursue a career in government and public service, and the memorable moments he experienced as a result (coordinating the 2004 G8 Economic Summit, serving in the George H. W. Bush administration and serving as chief of staff to former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue). Tanenblatt also emphasizes the importance of civic engagement and volunteerism and gives his thoughts on effective leadership.

Eric is the global chair of public policy and regulation at Dentons Law Firm. For over three decades, he has worked at the highest levels of federal and state government, including serving in three presidential administrations. He is also an alumnus of The Fund for American Studies’ class of 1987 and was recently presented the TFAS 2024 Alumni Achievement Award at this year’s 34th Annual Scholarship Dinner.

The Liberty + Leadership Podcast is hosted by TFAS president Roger Ream and produced by Podville Media. If you have a comment or question for the show, please email us at [email protected]. To support TFAS and its mission, please visit TFAS.org/support.

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Why has there been a sharp decline in institutional trust amongst Americans and how can that confidence be rebuilt? This week Gerard Baker joins host Roger Ream to discuss the loss of trust in American institutions (particularly in the media, government, and big business), the reasons behind that decline, and the impact of globalization. Plus, the true value of objective intellectual diversity in journalism.

Gerard Baker is the editor-at-large at The Wall Street Journal and was recently named TFAS Media Fellow. Baker writes a weekly column for the editorial page and hosts a weekly podcast, both named “Free Expression.” He has written and broadcasted for a wide range of outlets including the Financial Times, The Times of London and the BBC. His latest book is “American Breakdown: Why We No Longer Trust Our Leaders and Institutions and How We Can Rebuild Confidence.”

The Liberty + Leadership Podcast is hosted by TFAS president Roger Ream and produced by Podville Media. If you have a comment or question for the show, please email us at [email protected]. To support TFAS and its mission, please visit TFAS.org/support.

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Journalism requires courage and a commitment to pursuing the truth, even in
challenging environments. Thomas McKenna and Jonas Du, two talented students participating in the TFAS Student Journalism Association, understand this. Through the Student Journalism Association, TFAS supports young independent journalists who approach journalism through a lens of sound objective reporting and a desire to find the truth. In their chat with host Roger Ream, McKenna and Du discuss their TFAS experience, how real-world experience in journalism is often more valuable than classroom learning, the importance of diverse viewpoints, and why it's imperative to support young journalists.

Thomas McKenna is a junior at Hillsdale College studying political economy and journalism, is the city news editor of The Collegian (Hillsdale’s student newspaper) and interned this past summer with National Review.

Jonas Du is a senior at Columbia University studying political science and economics, is the founder/editor-in-chief of Sundial, a monthly magazine of political and cultural discourse at Columbia, and interned this past summer at The Free Press.

The Liberty + Leadership Podcast is hosted by TFAS president Roger Ream and produced by Podville Media. If you have a comment or question for the show, please email us at [email protected]. To support TFAS and its mission, please visit TFAS.org/support.

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This week Randy Barnett joins host Roger Ream to discuss the ideas of constitutional originalism, natural law vs. natural rights, the importance of the ninth amendment, and how they all inform his interpretation of libertarianism. Plus, the benefits of teaching constitutional law through a narrative lens and stories from Randy’s newly released memoir, “A Life for Liberty: The Making of an American Originalist.” 

Randy is the Patrick Hotung Professor of Constitutional Law at the Georgetown University Law Center and is the Faculty Director of the Georgetown Center for the Constitution. He has argued numerous high-profile cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and as a legal scholar is perhaps the foremost expert on the ninth amendment to the Constitution, among other provisions. He is also a member of the advisory board for the TFAS Summer Law Fellowship program and has been a favorite guest lecturer in that program.

The Liberty + Leadership Podcast is hosted by TFAS president Roger Ream and produced by Podville Media. If you have a comment or question for the show, please email us at [email protected]. To support TFAS and its mission, please visit TFAS.org/support.

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On this very special episode of Liberty + Leadership, host Roger Ream is joined by the 48th Vice President of the United States Mike Pence for a fireside chat at the TFAS 2024 Summer Law Fellows Closing Ceremony. They discuss the state of religious liberty, how our nation maintains peace through strength, and why democracy depends on heavy doses of civility. Plus, the work of Advancing American Freedom (the host of the closing ceremony) and a Q&A with the TFAS Law Fellows.

Mike Pence is the 48th Vice President of the United States. Prior to that, he served as the 50th Governor of Indiana and as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Indiana. He’s currently the Founder of Advancing American Freedom, an organization that promotes and defends the successful policies of recent years that yielded unprecedented prosperity at home and restored America’s strength abroad, while elevating traditional American values.

The Liberty + Leadership Podcast is hosted by TFAS president Roger Ream and produced by Podville Media. If you have a comment or question for the show, please email us at [email protected]. To support TFAS and its mission, please visit TFAS.org/support.

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Our nation’s constitution serves to protect innocent people from punishment…but what happens when legal precedent and case law runs contrary to that notion? This week Diana Simpson joins host Roger Ream to discuss her work in promoting economic liberty and protecting individual rights, fighting against government infringements, and the important mission of creating legal precedent to expand liberty. Plus, a look at some of Diana’s current cases and why storytelling is such a critical aspect of building a legal case.

Diana is an attorney at the Institute for Justice, joining the law firm in 2013 after working as a constitutional law fellow. She’s also an alumna of TFAS’s 2009 summer law program where she currently serves on the Board of Visitors for TFAS’s Law Fellowship. Simpson litigates cases to promote economic liberty and protect both private property and free speech. She specializes in fighting against irrational zoning decisions and abusive fines and fees practices. 

Currently, she is the lead attorney in a class action lawsuit against the City of Chicago, which imposes excessive fines and harsh fees on tens of thousands of Chicago residents and visitors each year. Her work has been featured in numerous outlets including The Economist, The Wall Street Journal, National Public Radio’s 1A, and The New York Times.

The Liberty + Leadership Podcast is hosted by TFAS president Roger Ream and produced by Podville Media. If you have a comment or question for the show, please email us at [email protected]. To support TFAS and its mission, please visit TFAS.org/support.

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What is the impact of expanding government roles on family policies? This week, Dr. Veronique de Rugy joins host Roger Ream for a critical conversation on economic freedom, including her takes on policy and ideological differences among the left and right. Dr. de Rugy compares their approaches to expanded government involvement in areas such as paid family leave, childcare subsidies, and tax credits. From economic insights involving women in the workforce to the future of Social Security, Dr. de Rugy provides a compelling assessment of federal intervention and challenges popular stances of modern economics.

Dr. de Rugy was the 2024 guest speaker for TFAS’s annual Lev Dobriansky Lecture on Political Economy. She is the George Gibbs Chair in Political Economy, the senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, and an adjunct scholar at the Cato Institute. Dr. de Rugy was named in Politico Magazine's 2015 Guide to the Top 50 Thinkers, Doers and Visionaries transforming American Politics, and was a research fellow at the American Enterprise Institute as well as at Atlas Economic Research Foundation. Dr. Rugy received her master’s degree from the Paris Dauphine University and her Ph.D. in economics from the University of Paris-Sorbonne.

The Liberty + Leadership Podcast is hosted by TFAS president Roger Ream and produced by Podville Media. If you have a comment or question for the show, please email us at [email protected]. To support TFAS and its mission, please visit TFAS.org/support.

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How can people apply economics to daily life? This week, join host Roger Ream for an engaging conversation on economics and the transformative power of education with Dr. Rosolino Candela, a senior fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. Dr. Candela emphasizes the importance of meeting students where they are by making complex economic concepts accessible and relevant. He delves into the enduring relevance of several economists such as Friedrich Hayek, illustrating their economic theories with captivating real-world examples. From the significance of price mechanisms to the unintended consequences of public policy, Candela provides a rich, nuanced understanding of how economic principles apply to real-world issues. 

Dr. Rosolino Candela teaches Economies in Transition for TFAS U.S. Programs in Washington, D.C. He is a senior research fellow and associate director of academic and student programs, as well as a senior fellow of the F.A. Hayek Program for Advanced Study in Philosophy, Politics and Economics at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. Previously, Dr. Candela taught economics at Brown University, where he also was a postdoctoral research associate in the Political Theory Project. He received his Ph.D. in economics from George Mason University, his master’s degree in economics and international political economy and development from Fordham University and his Bachelor of Arts in history and philosophy from St. John’s University.

The Liberty + Leadership Podcast is hosted by TFAS president Roger Ream and produced by Podville Media. If you have a comment or question for the show, please email us at [email protected]. To support TFAS and its mission, please visit TFAS.org/support.

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How does one persevere in the face of adversity? In today’s discussion, Carrie Sheffield, journalist and TFAS alumna, joins host Roger Ream to discuss her new book, "Motorhome Prophecies: A Journey of Healing and Forgiveness." With great candor, Carrie shares a harrowing picture of her childhood living in and out of severe poverty and experiencing abuse from her father. Despite facing unimaginable hardships, Carrie shares how she persevered, pursued her education, and forged a successful career in journalism and public service. From her tumultuous upbringing to her journey of self-discovery and faith, Carrie offers valuable insights into discovering one's purpose, values, and voice.

Carrie Sheffield currently serves as a Senior Policy Analyst at the Independent Women’s Forum. She is a 2006 TFAS alumna of the European Journalism Institute and a Robert Novak Journalism Fellow. Carrie is the founder of Bold TV, a nonprofit that elevates diverse voices often avoided by the mainstream media. She has worked in investment analysis and has repeatedly testified before the U.S. House on economic policy. Carrie has contributed to The Wall Street Journal, TIME, POLITICO, The Washington Post, and many other publications. She has also appeared on many broadcast networks including Fox, MSNBC, PBS, and BBC.

The Liberty + Leadership Podcast is hosted by TFAS president Roger Ream and produced by Podville Media. If you have a comment or question for the show, please email us at [email protected]. To support TFAS and its mission, please visit TFAS.org/support.

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