Sean Illing talks with Glory Liu, the author of Adam Smith’s America: How a Scottish Philosopher became an Icon of American Capitalism. Smith is most well-known for being the “father of capitalism,” but as Liu points out in her book, his legacy has been misappropriated — especially in America. They discuss his original intentions and what we can take away fr ... Show More
Jul 17
Why public opinion turned on AI
AI was supposed to make our lives better. Instead, it’s made many of us scared and angry. Communities are protesting data centers across the country, and polling shows most Americans think AI is moving too fast.In today's episode, guest host Miles Bryan talks with independent jou ... Show More
44m 48s
Jul 13
A skeptic considers the case for God
Sean talks with writer Liz Bruenig about faith, doubt, and the experience of believing in God in a modern, skeptical age. They discuss religious experience, the limits of science, the appeal of cynicism, Dostoevsky, beauty, mystery, and whether belief is ultimately a choice. They ... Show More
51m 57s
Nov 2017
Adam Smith: Father of Capitalism
Adam Smith, a moral philosopher and economist, was born in Scotland, the son of a customs officer. In 1776 he published a book called 'An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations’. Smith basically argued against the over regulation of commerce and said if peopl ... Show More
39m 47s
Jul 2023
Why we can't just blame capitalism for everything
We’re sharing an episode of The Gray Area from our friends at Vox.
The Gray Area is a philosophical take on culture, politics, and your daily life. In the episode we’re sharing with you today, host Sean Illing speaks with New York Magazine writer Eric Levitz about the viability ... Show More
50m 19s
May 2023
The Aftermath: America's Late-Stage Capitalism
New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with historian and Professor of History at SUNY Purchase, Dr. Jessica Levy about all things Capitalism. Host of the Podcast WHO MAKES CENTS: A History of Capitalism, Professor Levy does a meticulous job of walking us thro ... Show More
52m 4s