Society and the State | Life, Liberty, and Your Pursuit of Happiness

By Libertas Institute

News & Politics Society & Culture Business Philosophy

What's Society and the State | Life, Liberty, and Your Pursuit of Happiness about?

Exciting interviews with famous and successful entrepreneurs, authors, activists, and others trying to make the world a better place. Join us for engaging conversation — you're guaranteed to learn something new.

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Society and the State | Life, Liberty, and Your Pursuit of Happiness episodes:

08.10.2019
163: Being Prepared Without Becoming a Prepper
Anyone who has found himself or herself prepared for an unexpected situation knows how comforting it is to realize that you have the ability handle unforeseen challenges that arise. Sometimes, however, the desire to become self-reliant can morph into the...
08.07.2019
162: Pat Donohoe on Investing In Yourself
For every person who is making sound investments that will bring them future happiness and security, not very many are neglecting their most important asset of all—themselves! Connor has the opportunity to pick the brain of Paradigm Life CEO Pat...
08.03.2019
161: Drawing Your Own Line in the Sand
Everyone encounters things they find disagreeable, from time to time. But is there a point where each of us must draw a figurative line in the sand rather than simply go along to get along? It’s a decision that will...
07.31.2019
160: Zac Morgan on Is Dark Money a Good Thing?
What kind of reaction does the term “dark money” elicit when you first hear it? If it’s a mixture of fear and suspicion, you may be playing right into the hands of the political operatives who coined the phrase. Zac...
07.22.2019
159: Does Not Voting Indicate Consent for the Status Quo?
If there is such a thing as a civic religion, then voting might well be considered its high sacrament. We’ve all heard people say, “If you don’t vote, you have no right to complain.” But what should we make of...
07.18.2019
158: Gareth Porter on War with Iran
Given recent events in the Persian Gulf, it’s not hard to imagine that the United State government is on a collision course with the Iranian government. Who is pushing the hardest for military action? Is a war between the U.S....
07.15.2019
Free Education?
Everyone loves the idea of getting something for free. This is something politicians regularly use to their advantage as they try to leverage votes by promising their constituents free stuff. One of the more popular promises of late is the...
07.11.2019
156: Tim Errington on When Science Pushes Fiction Instead of Fact
It seems like there’s no shortage of scientific studies to justify or debunk nearly anything you can think of. For some issues, it’s the perfect appeal to authority. After all, who would dare argue against science? Tim Errington from the...
07.07.2019
155: Connor Boyack on "Skip College"
For some time now, a great many career-seekers have been following the same predictable script of going to college, getting a degree and then finding someone to hire them. What if there was another way to begin a productive and...
07.02.2019
154: Kevin Gutzman on Treason is the Reason for the Season
As Independence Day approaches, most everyone looks forward to the celebrations, the parades, the fireworks and time off work. Are we forgetting what it is that we’re actually celebrating each year? Professor Kevin Gutzman joins us to talk about the...
06.30.2019
153: Law Enforcer Mows Lawn, Becomes Peace Officer
What’s the difference between a law enforcer and a peace officer? It’s a distinction that more of us should understand. One of the best illustrations of this difference can be seen in the recent actions of a Minnesota officer who...
06.27.2019
152: Dana Berliner on When Can Government Take Your Property?
If you’re not familiar with the 2005 Kelo case dealing with eminent domain, this is a conversation you need to hear. Dana Berliner of the Institute for Justice joins us to discuss what has happened to the property owner and...
06.21.2019
151: When You America So Hard, You Forget to Christian
One of the biggest dilemmas faced by people of faith is when the line between their moral principles and their political beliefs begins to blur. This is particularly true when it comes to what political authorities refer to as “matters...
06.19.2019
150: David Leavitt This Prosecutor Wants to Prosecute Less Crimes
With so many laws on the books, there are virtually unlimited ways that a person can become a criminal. This puts an enormous strain on our legal and judicial system. Utah County Attorney David Leavitt joins us to discuss a...
06.14.2019
149: Fighting Isms With More Isms
What’s the best way to fight racism or sexism? Depending upon who you ask, the answer may be with even more racism or sexism. This can take fairly innocuous forms such as focusing exclusively on the rights of women or...
06.12.2019
148: Jared Walczak Should Services be Taxed
Taxes are a part of life but just how big a part of our lives is a question that is constantly being asked. When governmental entities need revenue, taxing the citizenry is often the preferred way to get that money....
06.03.2019
146: Molly Davis on What It's Like Touring a Prison
Unless we personally know someone who has been incarcerated, chances are that we know very little about the prison system. It’s a part of life that takes place out of sight and out of mind for many us and we...
05.29.2019
145: Should Government Be the Agent of Change in Abortion?
Few things feed the power the state more than when we invite it to become the ultimate arbiter of right and wrong. This is particularly true regarding the topic of abortion where the moral question at the root of the...
05.24.2019
144: Robin Fretwell Wilson Does Informed Consent Apply to Pelvic Exams?
Medical procedures often produce certain ethical concerns and the occasional dilemma. One of those is when pelvic examinations are conducted on unconscious women. The physical risks may be secondary to the emotional damage that can result when a woman realizes...
05.20.2019
143: Why Socialism is So Popular Among the Young
Is socialism gaining in popularity among younger people? For that matter, is capitalism on the outs with the millennial generation? Depending upon who you ask, this appears to be the case. But where do these attitudes originate? Do the young...
05.13.2019
142: Jessica Flanigan on Pharmaceutical Freedom
There are many areas of our lives where regulation can be more of a hindrance than a blessing. Nowhere is this more true than when patients who want or need a particular medication find themselves stymied by excessive regulation. Do...
05.08.2019
141: Why Peer to Peer Tech is the Future
Peer to Peer technology is opening the door to a new class of decentralized, trustworthy ways to solve problems. If you’ve ever used Uber or Lyft or stayed at an Airbnb, you’ve already encountered it. Same thing if you’ve...
05.04.2019
140: Rebecca Vallas on a Clean Slate for a Second Chance at Life
Everyone makes mistakes. But when that mistake is a criminal one, should it follow a person for the rest of his or her life? Few of us understand the process of expungement and how it can provide a person with...
05.01.2019
139: Why You Should Show Up for Jury Duty
Being summoned for jury duty is rarely cause for celebration. But it should be. It’s a pretty sure bet that those who feel inconvenienced by the prospect of jury duty simply don’t understand the essential role the jury fills in...
04.27.2019
138: Arnold Kling on the 3 Languages of Politics
Frustrated with how so much of the political discussion going on today consists of people talking or shouting past one another? If so, you’ll be encouraged by what Arnold Kling from the Cato Institute has to say. This conversation is...
04.23.2019
137: Why Assange Deserves a Medal, Not Prison
The arrest of Julian Assange by British authorities has captured the attention of the world. As the Wikileaks founder awaits extradition to the U.S. to face charges of conspiring to reveal secrets government officials don’t want the public to know....
04.16.2019
136: Daniel and Ellinor Petersen on One Family's Failed Attempt to Homeschool in Sweden
Parental choice in your child’s education isn’t something to be taken for granted. Depending upon the country in which you reside, homeschooling your child may be seen as a questionable act. In this episode, we visit with the Petersen family...
04.11.2019
135: 10 Tips to Make a Difference
Life takes on noticeably greater depth and purpose when we are actively living to make a difference. It’s not enough just to be against something, we have to know how to stand for something and how to persuade others. If...
04.06.2019
134: Michael Tanner on The Inclusive Economy
Think of how many public policies have been created for the purpose of helping the poor. Now ask yourself, why does it seem that none of them are working? Michael Tanner joins us to discuss the ways that the political...
04.03.2019
133: Do We Need a Social Safety Net?
A key part of the conversation regarding personal liberty and free markets always comes back to the proper role of government in our lives. One of the most common justifications for the expansion of government power is the perceived need...
03.30.2019
132: Marina Lowe on Which State Has the Best Digital Privacy
The issue of digital privacy is one that should be on the minds of every person who uses a smart phone. Recently the state of Utah became the first state in the U.S. to require law enforcement to get a...
03.28.2019
131: What Books Are We Reading?
After a brief but productive hiatus, the Society and the State podcast is back in production and we have a lot to discuss. In today's episode, Connor and Bryan each share 3 of the books currently taking up space on...
12.23.2018
130: Joe Baker on An Innovative Approach to Abortion
Few things are as controversial as the topic of abortion. One-size-fits-all approaches only tend to reinforce the controversy by causing their proponents to dig in ideologically. In today’s episode, Connor visits with Joe Baker from Save the Storks. Joe’s work...
12.19.2018
129: What About That Migrant Caravan?
When the news first hit about a caravan of refugees making their way towards the U.S. border to seek asylum, it didn’t take long to become a political football. Are they simply “dreamers” looking for a better life far away...
12.15.2018
128: The Formula for Changing Hearts and Minds
When it comes to shaping public policy, especially on hot button issues, it can be tricky to build consensus. Especially at the grassroots level, emotional and passionate dialogue can quickly become angry shouting back and forth. Make no mistake, anger...
11.28.2018
127: Thanksgiving is about avoiding socialism
The recent Thanksgiving holiday meant different things to different people. Some people celebrate it as a day of gratitude for abundance, others, as a day of sadness and oppression. One thing’s for certain, the simplified version we were taught as...
11.22.2018
126: Ben Taylor on What a World with AI Might Look Like
Of all the technological advances going on around us, none have so much potential to change our world as the science of artificial intelligence (AI). Some see AI as a potential danger, e.g. “The Rise of the Machines”, while others...
11.20.2018
125: Lessons Learned from John Taylor Gatto
One of the most influential voices on education fell silent recently when John Taylor Gatto passed away. For many of us who have homeschooled or sought alternatives to public schooling, Gatto was the catalyst that caused us to begin questioning...
11.15.2018
124: Paige Figi on the Little Girl Who Changed the Face of the Medicinal Cannabis Debate
Nothing helps to shift public perception on an issue like putting a human face and story to how the issue affects common people. Paige Figi is the mother of Charlotte, a young girl who suffered from a severe form of...
11.10.2018
123: Another Election Has Passed...So What?
Another midterm election cycle has played out with its attendant pageantry and fanfare. For all the attention it garnered, we’re still left asking the question: Has anything actually changed? Have the “I Voted” stickers become the new participation trophy for...
11.06.2018
122: Pagona Stratoudakis on Managing the Propaganda on Your Radio
Most of us have heard the public service announcements on our radios from the Ad Council. The crash test dummies Vince and Larry are a good example of this. Have you ever stopped to wonder why so many of those...
11.02.2018
121: Is It Time to Do Away With Daylight Savings?
For some folks, the semi-annual ritual of setting the clock forward an hour in Spring or back an hour in Fall is no big deal. For the rest of us, it’s an unnecessary disruption of our sleep cycles and something...
10.30.2018
120: Ben Swann on Social Media Censorship and His New Platform
If you want to see an example of what authentic investigative journalism looks like, look no further than Ben Swann. His “Reality Check” segments have been a highly popular alternative to the agenda-driven content being promoted by so many news...
10.26.2018
119: What Exactly Have We Been Up To?
If you’re a regular listener to the Society and the State podcast, you’ve no doubt noticed that we’ve had a few gaps in posting new episodes lately. Given how much we enjoy doing this podcast, it would be more than...
10.23.2018
118: Brett Tolman Confessions of a Former U.S. Attorney
Most of us tend to take for granted that our justice system works. This means we assume that the system is hard at work protecting the innocent by only putting bad guys in jail. Our guest may cause you to...
10.16.2018
116: Matt Kibbe on How to Get the Attention of Millennials
Knowing how to market ideas to the Millennial generation is a necessity for anyone who wants to succeed. This is especially true when it comes to promoting the cause of liberty and free markets. But not everyone has figured out...
10.12.2018
117: A Different Take on Abortion
The topic of abortion has evolved into one of the most contentious subjects in modern day America. It likely rivals the intensity of the debates over slavery in 1840s America. Bottom line, it’s tough to have a principled discussion of...
09.22.2018
115: Why Are Supreme Court Confirmation Hearings a Circus?
The confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh have been animated, to put it mildly. The circus-like atmosphere isn’t just a symptom of politics-as-usual. It’s an indicator that the American body politic has experienced some major shifts in how...
09.18.2018
114: Hannah Cox on Abolishing the Death Penalty
Concern over the death penalty isn’t just limited to bleeding hearts and liberals. It’s not a matter of coddling criminals. DNA evidence and other technological advances are proving that genuinely innocent people are sitting on Death Row or have been...
09.07.2018
113: Are Ballot Initiatives a Bad Idea?
In a republic form of government, lawmaking is generally handled by representatives of the people. But is there also a place for direct democracy, where the people can exercise their franchise on specific issues via ballot initiative? In this episode,...

What's Society and the State | Life, Liberty, and Your Pursuit of Happiness about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Society and the State | Life, Liberty, and Your Pursuit of Happiness episodes:

163: Being Prepared Without Becoming a Prepper

162: Pat Donohoe on Investing In Yourself

161: Drawing Your Own Line in the Sand

160: Zac Morgan on Is Dark Money a Good Thing?

159: Does Not Voting Indicate Consent for the Status Quo?

158: Gareth Porter on War with Iran

Free Education?

156: Tim Errington on When Science Pushes Fiction Instead of Fact

155: Connor Boyack on "Skip College"

154: Kevin Gutzman on Treason is the Reason for the Season

153: Law Enforcer Mows Lawn, Becomes Peace Officer

152: Dana Berliner on When Can Government Take Your Property?

151: When You America So Hard, You Forget to Christian

150: David Leavitt This Prosecutor Wants to Prosecute Less Crimes

149: Fighting Isms With More Isms

148: Jared Walczak Should Services be Taxed

146: Molly Davis on What It's Like Touring a Prison

145: Should Government Be the Agent of Change in Abortion?

144: Robin Fretwell Wilson Does Informed Consent Apply to Pelvic Exams?

143: Why Socialism is So Popular Among the Young

142: Jessica Flanigan on Pharmaceutical Freedom

141: Why Peer to Peer Tech is the Future

140: Rebecca Vallas on a Clean Slate for a Second Chance at Life

139: Why You Should Show Up for Jury Duty

138: Arnold Kling on the 3 Languages of Politics

137: Why Assange Deserves a Medal, Not Prison

136: Daniel and Ellinor Petersen on One Family's Failed Attempt to Homeschool in Sweden

135: 10 Tips to Make a Difference

134: Michael Tanner on The Inclusive Economy

133: Do We Need a Social Safety Net?

132: Marina Lowe on Which State Has the Best Digital Privacy

131: What Books Are We Reading?

130: Joe Baker on An Innovative Approach to Abortion

129: What About That Migrant Caravan?

128: The Formula for Changing Hearts and Minds

127: Thanksgiving is about avoiding socialism

126: Ben Taylor on What a World with AI Might Look Like

125: Lessons Learned from John Taylor Gatto

124: Paige Figi on the Little Girl Who Changed the Face of the Medicinal Cannabis Debate

123: Another Election Has Passed...So What?

122: Pagona Stratoudakis on Managing the Propaganda on Your Radio

121: Is It Time to Do Away With Daylight Savings?

120: Ben Swann on Social Media Censorship and His New Platform

119: What Exactly Have We Been Up To?

118: Brett Tolman Confessions of a Former U.S. Attorney

116: Matt Kibbe on How to Get the Attention of Millennials

117: A Different Take on Abortion

115: Why Are Supreme Court Confirmation Hearings a Circus?

114: Hannah Cox on Abolishing the Death Penalty

113: Are Ballot Initiatives a Bad Idea?