The Great Antidote
The Great Antidote

The Great Antidote

Juliette Sellgren

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Episodes

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Adam Smith said, "Science is the great antidote to the poison of enthusiasm and superstition." So join us for interviews with the leading experts on today's biggest issues to learn more about economics, policy, and much more.

Recent Episodes

How Definitions Change Debates: Freedom, Rights, and Equality with Rebecca Lowe
DEC 5, 2025
How Definitions Change Debates: Freedom, Rights, and Equality with Rebecca Lowe
Send us a text Philosopher Rebecca Lowe (Mercatus Center) joins me to do an ideas-only deep dive: what freedom really is, why it matters, how it intersects with equality, and how to tell coercion from choice. We talk charitable argument (steelmanning), the social value of clear definitions, and Rebecca’s agent-focused view of freedom—plus why doing something freely can have value even when the act is bad. Support the show Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update. Follow us on Facebook,...
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49 MIN
Innovation on Trial: Jack Nicastro on Empower’s Fight to Exist
NOV 21, 2025
Innovation on Trial: Jack Nicastro on Empower’s Fight to Exist
Send us a text Why is D.C. trying to shut down a rideshare app that pays drivers more and charges riders less? Jack Nicastro of Reason joins to unpack Empower’s battle with regulators, what “innovation vs. permission” means in real life, and how markets—not mandates—keep people safe. Support the show Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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54 MIN
Tech Panic, Then and Now: Judge Glock on AI, Regulation, and Real Harms
NOV 7, 2025
Tech Panic, Then and Now: Judge Glock on AI, Regulation, and Real Harms
Send us a text Is tech panic new—or just history on repeat? Judge Glock (Manhattan Institute) walks through what past tech scares (lead gasoline, CFCs, TV) got right and wrong, why “externalities” matter more than vibes, and how to think about AI regulation today—transparency mandates, liability vs. preclearance, “AI pauses,” and realistic optimism. We end with his own journey from socialism to markets. Support the show Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update. Follow us on Facebook, T...
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51 MIN
Why Markets Run on Trust: Tawni Ferrarini on Honesty, Reputation, and Decentralization in the Information Age
OCT 24, 2025
Why Markets Run on Trust: Tawni Ferrarini on Honesty, Reputation, and Decentralization in the Information Age
Send us a text Markets don’t work without trust. Tawni Ferrarini joins Juliette Sellgren to explore how honesty and reputation make exchange possible — from medieval trade networks to blockchain and Amazon reviews — and why decentralized trust systems matter in today’s economy of polarization, misinformation, and weak institutions. Support the show Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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47 MIN
Is China Really a Threat? Derek Scissors on China’s Economic Reality
OCT 10, 2025
Is China Really a Threat? Derek Scissors on China’s Economic Reality
Send us a text AEI Economist Derek Scissors joins Juliette Sellgren to unpack the reality of China’s economy, U.S.–China relations, and whether China is truly a threat. From demographics to debt and political control, Scissors explains what’s really driving China’s trajectory, and why it matters for America’s future. Support the show Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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57 MIN