Podcast
The Genius of Thomas Sowell
Hosted by Alan Wolan · EN
Thomas Sowell might well be our greatest living Intellectual. His accomplishments span 6 decades and include over 40 books and thousands of columns and articles written on a wide range of topics, from economics to sociology to history to race and culture. It is hard to name another intellectual who has studied and written on as wide a range of topics in such a profound way. This podcast will discuss his ideas and is intended to provide a place for admirers of his work to discuss his contributions with other like minded thinkers.
18episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
West Side Story and Sowell's "A Conflict of Visions"
Jan 1, 2022Tap to summarizeNEW NEWS THAT'S NEWSWORTHY:Basic Books (Sowell's publisher) is teaming up with The Genius of Thomas Sowell Podcast to offer listeners a chance to win 4 Sowell books. Enter at SowellBooks.com for a chance to win!In this episode we explore the music from Steven Spielberg's new film "West Side Story" and how the themes playing out in the film are explained by Thomas Sowell's classic book "A Conflict of Visions."In particular, we analyze the lyrics to two songs:• "America," and• "Gee, Officer Krupke"This episode can best be appreciated by listening to the full songs and reading along with the full lyrics, links to both are provided here:America audio on youtube HEREAmerica lyrics HEREGee, Officer Krupke on Youtube HEREGee, Officer Krupke lyrics HERE.Trailer to the new Spielberg film HERE (highly recommended you see it in the theaters on the big screen with booming sound).POST IT NOTES STILL AVAILABLEAlan reminds listeners that he is offering a limited edition Post It Note pad with 50 different Sowell quotes free of charge to anyone who emails their name and mailing address to WolanAlan@gmail.com. You can view the quotes HERE and feel free to print out and use these designs as you wish.LIVE BOOK CLUBAlan is hosting a live Zoom "bookclub" on January 5, 2022 at 7:30PM PST to discuss Sowell's "A Conflict of Visions." If you would like to participate in this free event, email us at WolanAlan@gmail.com and we'll try to find a spot for you in the meeting.Support the show• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com
Transcribe →Michael Shermer on Thomas Sowell
Nov 15, 2021Tap to summarizeNEW NEWS THAT'S NEWSWORTHY:Basic Books (Sowell's publisher) is teaming up with The Genius of Thomas Sowell Podcast to offer listeners a chance to win 4 Sowell books. Enter at SowellBooks.com for a chance to win!Today I sat down for a chat with Michael Shermer to discuss how Thomas Sowell’s ideas have impacted his thinking and his work. We met in person at Michael’s office in the foothills of the San Gabriel mountains, on the outskirts of Los Angeles. Michael is the Founder and Publisher of Skeptic Magazine and the host of his own podcast, The Michael Shermer Show. He teaches a course called Skepticism 101 at Chapman University in California. From 2001 until 2019 he wrote a monthly column for Scientific American magazine called “Skeptic.”He has written numerous books since the 1980’s including:• Why People Believe Weird things, in 1997• The Science of Good and Evil, in 2004• The Moral Arc: How Science and Reason Lead Humanity Toward Truth, Justice and Freedom, in 2015, and most recently,• Giving the Devil His Due: reflections of a Scientific Humanist, in 2020.I first discovered Michael from his podcast. I continue to be amazed by the quality of the intellectuals who come on his show to discuss their books and ideas. His podcast is a who’s who of the best and brightest thinkers of our age, here are some examples since he started podcasting 6 years ago: Richard Dawkins, Deepak Chopra, Ben Shapiro, Gad Saad, Jonathan Haidt, Heather Mac Donald, Steven Pinker, Daniel Kahneman, Bari Weiss, David Buss, Niall Ferguson, Jordan Peterson, the list goes on and on over 226 podcast episodes to date. When I arrived at Michael’s office for this interview, he was decked out in his cycling gear and wearing one of those thick waist belts; I’m not sure if he had just gotten back from a 50 mile ride or had just helped to unload 100 cases of Skeptic Magazine from a delivery truck. Either way, Michael is not just a man of the mind, he’s also a man of the body, which is further evidence of his polymath status.Here's a LINK to Michael's personal website. His twitter is @michaelshermer.Here's the Justice Alito Letter mentioned in the episode.Here are some useful resources to help enjoy the show:1) TomSowell.com is the show website, chock full of useful information.2) Thomas Sowell quotes sticky post it notes are still in stock! Each pad has 50 different Sowell quotes to stick around the house as a daily inspiration or as a way to introduce your friends and family to Sowell's ideas. We are offering listeners one pad for free; no catch, no gimmicks. Just email us your mailing address and we'll send one to you. You can find photos of the post it notes HERE. Email your mailing address to WolanAlan@gmail.com, please put the word "Sowell" in the subject line.3) If you’d like to actively participate in this podcast, make a comment or ask a question, just record your comment or question using the Voice Memos app on ySupport the show• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com
Transcribe →Robert Chatfield, Producer of the Thomas Sowell Documentary
Oct 27, 2021Tap to summarizeNEW NEWS THAT'S NEWSWORTHY:Basic Books (Sowell's publisher) is teaming up with The Genius of Thomas Sowell Podcast to offer listeners a chance to win 4 Sowell books. Enter at SowellBooks.com for a chance to win!On today's episode, Alan interviews Robert Chatfield, the CEO of the Free to Choose Network and Executive Producer of the documentary:"Thomas Sowell: Common Sense in a Senseless World"Joining Alan to interview Rob is Paul Rossi, a return guest on the show (see Episode 3).You can watch the full length 56 minute documentary for free on Youtube HERE.You can find out more about the Free to Choose Network HERE.During the conversation, Rob mentions an Izzit.org program about Sowell's ideas called "Geography is Destiny", you can watch it on youtube HERE. USEFUL NOTES:1) TomSowell.com is the show website, chock full of useful information.2) Thomas Sowell quote sticky post it notes are in stock! We are offering listeners one pad for free; no catch, no gimmicks. Just email us your mailing address and we'll send one to you. You can find photos of the post it notes HERE. Limited edition, request now while supplies last. Email your mailing address to WolanAlan@gmail.com, please put the word "Sowell" in the subject line.3) If you’d like to participate in this podcast, make a comment or ask a question, just record your comment or question using the Voice Memos app on your smartphone, then email the recording to me at WolanAlan@gmail.com. On a future episode I’ll play your comment and respond to it.4) Please rate and comment about the show on your podcast platform; it helps new listeners find the show.Thanks for listening, and see you for Episode 7, where we will be discussing Thomas Sowell's views on Minimum Wage laws. I promise it won't be as boring as it sounds.Support the show• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com
Transcribe →Should Thomas Sowell win a Nobel Prize?
Oct 9, 2021Tap to summarizeNEW NEWS THAT'S NEWSWORTHY:Basic Books (Sowell's publisher) is teaming up with The Genius of Thomas Sowell Podcast to offer listeners a chance to win 4 Sowell books. Enter at SowellBooks.com for a chance to win!In this episode we speculate on whether or not Thomas Sowell will be awarded a Nobel Prize in Economics for 2021, which will be announced in 3 days.To discuss this subject, we invited John Cochrane on to the show. John used to teach Finance and Economics at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. He is now the Rose-Marie and Jack Anderson Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. John writes a blog called “The Grumpy Economist” where he explores many topics in the field of economics. He writes books as well as columns for the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg and appears on many podcasts as well as hosting his own podcast called The Grumpy Economist. John’s essay entitled “Sowell Nobel?” lays out the case why the Nobel committee should finally recognize Tom Sowell for his many contributions to the field of Economics. You can read the essay HERE.Alan makes 5 announcements in his introduction to the show:1) Libby is a smartphone app which enables you to read and listen to Sowell books for free.2) TomSowell.com is the show website, chock full of useful information.3) Thomas Sowell quote sticky post it notes are finally here. We are offering listeners one pad for free; no catch, no gimmicks. Just email us your mailing address and we'll send one to you. You can find photos of the post it notes HERE. Limited edition, request now while supplies last. Email your mailing address to WolanAlan@gmail.com, please put the word "Sowell" in the subject line.4) If you’d like to participate in this podcast, make a comment or ask a question, just record your comment or question using your smartphone, then email it to me at WolanAlan@gmail.com. On a future episode I’ll play your comment and respond to it.5) Please rate and comment about the show on your podcast platform; it really helps.Here's a LIST of all Thomas Sowell books by category.ADDENDUM October 13, 2021:Thomas Sowell was not awarded the 2021 Nobel Prize in Economics. Again. Oh well, there's always next year!Support the show• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com
Transcribe →Slavery: A debate about Sowell's views on the history of slavery.
Sep 29, 2021Tap to summarizeNEW NEWS THAT'S NEWSWORTHY:Basic Books (Sowell's publisher) is teaming up with The Genius of Thomas Sowell Podcast to offer listeners a chance to win 4 Sowell books. Enter at SowellBooks.com for a chance to win!In this episode, Alan summarizes Thomas Sowell's essay "The Real History of Slavery" found in his 2005 book "Black Rednecks and White Liberals"You can read the original Sowell essay HERE.You can listen to the audiobook version of the essay HERE. Because the subject of slavery is a complex one, we've invited two scholars onto the show to conduct an actual debate as to whether or not Sowell gets it largely correct in his essay.Wilfred Reilly, our affirmative debater, takes the position that Sowell gets it mostly right.Charles Boyd, his opponent in this debate, takes the position that Sowell gets it mostly wrong.Wilfred Reilly is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Kentucky State University. He holds a PhD in Political Science from Southern Illinois University and a law degree from the University of Illinois. Dr. Reilly has so far published two books:Taboo: 10 Facts you can’t talk about, published in 2020, andHate Crime Hoax: How the Left is Selling a Fake Race War, published in 2019.He is also a co-host of the “Cut the Bull” Podcast, which focuses on culture and current events.Charles Boyd is Professor of History at Georgia State University. He has written extensively on history and politics, with an emphasis on American slavery, abolitionism and civil rights. His Masters thesis, which he is currently expanding into a book, focuses on abolitionist support for interracial marriage. He is also the host of the “Minority of One” Podcast which focuses on history and politics.Here's a LIST of all Thomas Sowell books by category.If you would like to contact the host of the podcast, you can email Alan Wolan at WolanAlan@gmail.comSupport the show• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com
Transcribe →Moral Crusades with Paul Rossi
Sep 12, 2021Tap to summarizeNEW NEWS THAT'S NEWSWORTHY:Basic Books (Sowell's publisher) is teaming up with The Genius of Thomas Sowell Podcast to offer listeners a chance to win 4 Sowell books. Enter at SowellBooks.com for a chance to win!In this episode, Alan presents an overview of Thomas Sowell's concept of "Moral Crusades" and how they differ from ideological causes and movements. The 11 distinguishing characteristics of a moral crusade are described and quotes from Sowell's books are used to illustrate how he viewed these characteristics. Paul Rossi joins Alan on the podcast to discuss this concept and to reflect on how it applies to his experience standing up to and pushing back against the moral crusades which had engulfed the elite New York City private high school where he taught mathematics for 9 years. Supporting material for the podcast can be found at TomSowell.com:The 11 Characteristics of Moral Crusades are listed HERE.The Thomas Sowell quotes cited in the podcast can be found HERE.Paul Rossi's story in his own words can be found HERE.A New York Times article about Paul Rossi can be found HERE.Here's a LIST of all Thomas Sowell books by category.If you would like to contact the host of the podcast, you can email Alan Wolan at WolanAlan@gmail.comSupport the show• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com
Transcribe →Wilfred Reilly on Thomas Sowell
Aug 24, 2021Tap to summarizeNEW NEWS THAT'S NEWSWORTHY:Basic Books (Sowell's publisher) is teaming up with The Genius of Thomas Sowell Podcast to offer listeners a chance to win 4 Sowell books. Enter at SowellBooks.com for a chance to win!This episode features a conversation with Wilfred Reilly, Associate Professor of Political Science at Kentucky State University. He holds a PhD in Political Science from Southern Illinois University and a law degree from the University of Illinois. Dr. Reilly has so far published two books:Taboo: 10 Facts you can’t talk about, published in 2020, andHate Crime Hoax: How the Left is Selling a Fake Race War, published in 2019.He is a prolific public intellectual, writing articles for Newsweek, Commentary, Tablet Magazine, Quillette and provides a daily dose of political commentary on his Twitter feed, which is not only smart, but also very entertaining. Highly recommended. Wilfred Reilly joins us today to talk about the ideas and works of Thomas Sowell. Here's a LIST of all Thomas Sowell books by category.Support the show• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com
Transcribe →Introduction
Aug 13, 2021Tap to summarize• Alan Wolan, the host of the podcast, introduces himself and gives an overview of Thomas Sowell's ideas.• 7 Guiding Principles of Sowell's intellectual Method• What to expect in future episodesHere's a LIST of all Thomas Sowell books by category.Support the show• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com
Transcribe →