Podcast
Faith and Economics
Hosted by Gwartney Institute · EN
In Faith and Economics, economics professors Dr. Russ McCullough and Dr. Peter Jacobsen and philosophy professor Dr. Justin Clarke discuss big issues that impact economic freedom and human flourishing from a Christian perspective. This podcast is an initiative of the Gwartney Institute at Ottawa University.
For more information, contact us at gwartney.institute@gmail.com
34episodes
Episodes
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Oh Oh No Ozempic? | #385
Mar 1500:34:08Tap to summarizeA new class of drugs, GLP-1 inhibitors (Ozempic being the most recognizable) has seemingly taken the world by storm. If the hype is to be believed, there seems to be enormous upsides and zero downsides to these new wonders of chemistry. Is that really the case, or might there be reason for caution? Join the Gwartney Institute for an insightful discussion on the promise and perils of these powerful peptides.
Transcribe →The Bible as The DNA of Western Civilization | #384
Mar 900:32:45Tap to summarizeJustin argues that one way to think about The Bible is to think about the role that DNA plays in the development of the human organism. Justin's claim is that this analogy sheds light on the continued relevance of The Bible as a roadmap for western culture and a reason to think that Christianity is a foundation which the west cannot abandon without destruction.Peter and Russ probe and press the limits of this analogy. Join in for a fruitful discussion!
Transcribe →Hume's Guillotine and the Subjectivity of Value Claims | #383
Mar 200:35:53Tap to summarizeIt is commonly asserted that 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder' and that 'there's no accounting for taste'. Views like this received their philosophical foundation from David Hume, who famously argued that it was impossible to validly derive an 'ought' claim from an 'is' claim. If Hume is right, then aesthetic and ethical judgments seem to be mere matters of taste, and disagreement beauty or morality means nothing more than "Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man."
Transcribe →The SALT Deduction | #382
Feb 2300:34:01Tap to summarizePeter leads a discussion about the problems with the SALT federal income tax deduction, which he doesn’t like. Yes, you heard that right: Peter is going to make the case that the SALT deduction, which lowers some individuals’ federal tax burden, is immoral. Has Peter lost his mind? Is he in cahoots with the IRS?Tune in to find out!
Transcribe →On Writing | #381
Feb 1600:34:21Tap to summarizeWriting, as an activity, is an extremely productive human activity. AI tools that enhance output, encourage effort, or eliminate the labor of the writing process are changing the educational landscape. We should be clear about what we gain from writing before off-loading this activity to an external agency or tool. So, what is writing all about, and why is developing the ability to write well such a core component of education? Listen in to hear Russ, Peter and Justin discuss the perils and pitfalls of prose production.
Transcribe →Why Podcasts? | #380
Feb 900:33:30Tap to summarizePodcasts, as a medium, are relatively new but extremely popular. What accounts for their appearance and their popularity? Why doesn't Peter like them, and why does Justin think they're potentially dangerous? Along the way we'll discuss what podcasts we regularly listen to, and what we think makes a podcast compelling. Join the Gwartney Team for a podcast about podcasts. We're going meta... come along with us!
Transcribe →2026 Predictions | #379
Feb 200:32:50Tap to summarizeWhat’s in store for 2026? Join the Gwartney Team to discuss their predictions for the coming year in culture, politics, and even sports. Remember, the Gwartney Team has a predictive success rate of 100% going back 38 years, so you can put your full confidence in our prognostications.* Join in to learn what’s happening… before it happens!*I have been informed that no, they don’t, and also no, you can’t.
Transcribe →Minnesota ICE | #378
Jan 2600:33:19Tap to summarizeThe clash between federal immigration enforcement and progressive protesters has taken center stage of the national conversation following the death of Renee Good. What exactly is going on in Minnesota? How did we get here? Are there lessons to learn from this?
Transcribe →Venezuela Again | #377
Jan 1900:37:18Tap to summarizeThe podcast returns to the topic of Venezuela. In early December we (boldly!) predicted regime change in Venezuela, and a month later Maduro is in U.S. custody. An enormous amount of questions linger: How did Venezuela wind up with a socialist strongman like Maduro? Should the US remove global leaders who oppress their own citizens regardless of US interests? Was it in the best interests of the US to remove Maduro? Was unilateral, surgical extraction the best method of regime change? And, very importantly: What comes next?
Transcribe →Can Trump Accounts Seed the American Dream? | #376
Jan 1200:31:01Tap to summarizeThe Trump Administration has implemented a plan to provide investment accounts to all US Citizens born between 2025 and 2028, pre-seeded with $1000, and whose funds cannot be withdrawn until the child turns 18. The goal of this plan is to set young adults on better financial footing while teaching lifelong financial responsibility. Will this succeed, or are we just giving future young adults a cash bonus they are almost sure to squander?
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