 This Thanksgiving Brian Brushwood joins to discuss the many ways an average American's life is more comfortable, affluent, and magical than the vast majority of human history--including that of pharaohs and kings.     BOOKS: This episode relies heavily on "The Rational Optimist" by Matt Ridley, "Ten Global Trends Every Smart Person Should Know" by Ron Bailey, and "The Better Angels of Our Nature" by Stephen Pinker, and "Abundance: The Future is Better Than You Think" by Peter H. Diamandis. All great books that present convincing stats on the positive trajectory of the world. They're all linked to at www.mightyheaton.com/featured   RELATED INTERVIEWS:    Matt Ridley on Rational Optimism    Ron Bailey on Positive Trends 

Rerun: Your Life Is Way Better Than King Louis XVI's

Politics minus bile plus jokes. Comedian and avowed independent Andrew Heaton interviews authors and thought leaders about policy and big thinky stuff.

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James Judkins started out as a circus worker, eating swords and fire, then working up to ringleader and manager. As a talent scout operating in other countries, he became professionally involved in sorting visas foreign countries, then eventually transitioned to a full-time visa agency. He joins the show to discuss 1) what it’s like working at the circus, and 2) how temp visas work for seasonal workers, and how they could work better. 

Understanding Immigration Through Circus Folk

There’s a pervasive idea that in the 1950s America had single-earner families who could more easily afford housing, car payments, groceries and college, so maybe we should go back to the political economy of that era? In this special, we visit Fiftiesland and see how it stacks up to modern America. Support the show! Patreon.com/andrewheaton Venmo: @andrew-heaton-1  

Was Life Easier in the Fifties?

Tom Merritt of Daily Tech News joins to discuss the underlying technology of AI and Large Language Models, and what people get wrong about both.  Pre-order Tom’s book at: www.tomsnewbook.com SUPPORT THE SHOW! www.patreon.com/andrewheaton  Heaton and Nick sketch comedy: mightyheaton.com/vagabonding Bonus Episode: How to Use AI for Work  https://www.patreon.com/posts/bonus-how-to-use-98003840?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm;_source=copyLink&utm;_campaign=postshare_creator&utm;_content=join_link Bonus: A.I. Wrote and Recorded An En Entire Episode  https://www.patreon.com/posts/bonus-i-wrote-77020469?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm;_source=copyLink&utm;_campaign=postshare_creator&utm;_content=join_link  

What People Get Wrong About A. I.

Jennifer Doleac is Executive Vice President of Criminal Justice at Arnold Ventures, a major funder of criminal justice research and reform in the United States. She joins to discuss trends in crime, causes and deterents of crime, and cheap or easy ways we can make the country safer.   Support the show! www.patreon.com/andrewheaton.

Why Violent Crime is Up

Adam Andrzejewski is CEO and Founder of Open The Books, an organization which files thousands of FOIA requests each year to document and expose government budgets and employee salaries, to identity waste and fraud. Website: https://www.openthebooks.com/

Rerun: Your Life Is Way Better Than King Louis XVI's

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