Episodes

Ayn Rand famously held Aristotle in high regard, describing him as a “philosophical Atlas who carries the whole of Western civilization on his shoulders.” Given such a statement, it’s not surprising that there are rich connections to be found between Aristotle’s philosophical system and Rand’s, which she called Objectivism. Scholars of Aristotle and Rand have found deep connections between the two in metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and aesthetics. In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute po...

Recently, author and ARI’s VP of Fundraising and Marketing Don Watkins was interviewed on the Texas Talks podcast, where he discussed Ayn Rand’s unique moral admiration for productive work, her new conception of self-interest, and ARI’s work to preserve and spread her philosophy today. Topics include: Why Ayn Rand has an enduring appeal The morality and spirituality of wealth creation Working, marketing, and fundraising at ARI News about the Ayn Rand Center in Austin Why we need a new conc...

Recently, ARI Senior Fellow Ben Bayer was interviewed on the Texas Talks podcast, where he discussed Ayn Rand’s unique approach to philosophy as a practical means for living, the life-promoting philosophy she developed as a result, and how her idealist-realist heroes dramatize it. Bayer contrasted Rand’s approach and views with the dominant ones in today’s culture, focusing specifically on Stoicism and altruism. Bradley Swail is the host of the Texas Talks podcast, not an employee of the Ayn Ra...

In her recent book The Mattering Instinct, philosopher Rebecca Newberger Goldstein argues that much of what human beings do is driven by a universal need to matter — to prove to ourselves that we are worthy of consideration. She argues that efforts to fulfill this need are responsible for a wide range of human projects, from the greatest achievements of scientific discovery and artistic creation, to the worst atrocities of murder and genocide. On this episode of ARI Bookshelf, Greg Salmieri, Be...

Recently, Professor Greg Salmieri, an Objectivist philosopher, was interviewed on the Texas Talks podcast, where he discussed Ayn Rand’s ideas and their relation to the ideas of other thinkers, including Aristotle, Marx, and “libertarians.” He also discussed Rand’s influence on his own work and interest in philosophy. Salmieri is a senior fellow at the Civitas Institute and teaches in the philosophy department at the University of Texas at Austin. He often speaks at ARI conferences and teaches c...

For over 40 years, ARI has preserved Rand’s legacy through archival and educational activities. Two years ago, ARI announced it would cement that legacy in actual concrete by building the Ayn Rand Center in Austin, Texas. Earlier this month, the Institute broke ground on the building. The Center will house the Ayn Rand Archives, classrooms, event spaces, studios, public gathering areas, a state-of-the-art immersive educational experience, and the home campus of ARI’s education program, ARU. It w...

In this episode, Robertas Bakula and Onkar Ghate commend Disney for making their case on fundamental constitutional grounds rather than settling behind closed doors. Too few of Disney’s defenders ever dare to challenge the FCC's underlying licensing authority or the employment mandates that also violate freedom of association. They warn that Carr is trying to reinvigorate and expand the FCC’s power over speech and argue that no depoliticized FCC is possible. The only real solution is privatizing...

In this video, Elan Journo interviews Brandon Lisi about Ayn Rand's 1947 essay Screen Guide for Americans. The interview explores the historical circumstances that led Rand to write the essay, the deeper philosophical ideas behind her analysis, and the significance of ARI Press’s new authoritative edition. They also discuss Michael Berliner’s new afterword and the archival materials that illuminate Rand’s work in Hollywood, including additional documents now available through the Ayn Rand Archiv...

9/11 was one of the most consequential events of the 21st century. Yet twenty-five years later, the attacks and their aftermath are still widely misunderstood. In two consecutive talks at our student conference in Austin, Onkar Ghate and Elan Journo analyzed America’s failures before and after 9/11, drawing on more than two decades of work on the subject. They show how the self-abasing morality of altruism shaped American policy, leading the US to betray its ideals, appease its enemies, sacrific...

After the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy released its entry on capitalism, critics online slammed it for apparent Marxist bias. However, if there is a scandal here, it is not merely that one entry is lopsided; it is that contemporary academic philosophers are willfully blind to the real-world phenomenon of capitalism, seeing it only through the unquestioned lens of the altruistic morality. In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Robertas Bakula, Ben Bayer, and Onkar Ghate discus...

September 11, 2001 — and America’s response to it — shaped the 21st century. Confidence in America’s ability to win wars cracked, trust in leadership and experts went down, and, in response, populism, nihilism, and conspiracism raised their ugly heads. From day one, the Ayn Rand Institute’s experts grasped the meaning of the attacks and the significance of a proper response. They called for war with Iran and opposed Bush’s altruistic wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Their advice was not followed, b...

In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute Podcast, Robertas Bakula and Onkar Ghate discuss the political platform, moral goals, and philosophical motivations driving the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). Topics include: Radical goals of the DSA DSA versus past communism Lack of intellectual argument Miseducation versus willful ignorance Fantasy world of socialism Ayn Rand on producer hatred Hypocrisy or true goals Foreign policy and authoritarian regimes Resources: Ayn Rand’s ti...

In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Onkar Ghate and Tristan de Liège discuss Zohran Mamdani’s record $323 million culture budget for NYC aimed at supporting the arts, and why government attempts to fund artistic endeavors are unjust and ineffective in creating thriving conditions for artists. Topics include: The Culture Budget’s Purpose The “Affordability Crisis” The Disdain for the Market The Effects of Subsidizing Art The Alternative to Subsidies Resources: Ayn Rand, “Wh...

In this episode of The Ayn Rand Institute Podcast, Sam Weaver interviews Onkar Ghate about the American system of checks and balances and the rise of a religious mentality in America, topics discussed in his OCON 2026 talk “America at 250: Politics, Religion, Morality.” Topics Include: What checks and balances are Erosion since the founding Rise of religious mentality Resources: “America at 250: Politics, Religion, Morality” by Onkar Ghate This episode was recorded on July 30, 2026.

In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Itamar Feldman interviews Mike Mazza about his new book of essays, Freedom to Launch, which explains how deregulation in the space industry enabled today’s space renaissance and what the government's role in space exploration should be going forward. Among the topics covered are: Why Freedom to Launch was written The space industry’s current state Space law and property rights Private vs. Commercial space industry The government’s historic...

In this episode of The Ayn Rand Institute Podcast, Don Watkins, Onkar Ghate, and Keith Lockitch discuss the Institute's recently announced educational program on Objectivism: ARU Core. Topics include: Making Objectivism your own personal perspective Personal vs professional value of philosophy Expertise and gaining mastery ARU program and benefits Resources: Ayn Rand, "Atlas Shrugged" Ayn Rand, "The Virtue of Selfishness" Leonard Peikoff, "Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand" Ayn Rand...

In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Ben Bayer and Tristan de Liège recent socialist electoral victories, and analyze critical reactions that fail to identify the philosophical essence of the movement. Allegations of “extremism” What the “extremism” charge hides Are socialists “democratic”? Socialism and communism Socialist and MAGA populism Religious communism, godless capitalism Resources: Ayn Rand “Extremism’: or the Art of Smearing,” in Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal Ent...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9e5PLKhXvF0 Podcast audio: In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Ben Bayer and Onkar Ghate discuss whether heritage or creed is what defines American national identity. The American way and sense of life Un-American “Heritage Americanism” Irrelevant Anglo-Protestant “ethnicity” Superior “Creedal Americanism” History of “Creedal Americanism” The eroding American sense of life Resources: Ayn Rand, Don’t Let It Go, in Philosophy: Who Needs It Ayn Rand, “...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6XQv6S2iK0 Podcast audio: The founding of America was the greatest political achievement of the Enlightenment. Knowing that their experiment would be difficult to preserve, the Founding Fathers designed a unique system of checks and balances to prevent the United States from collapsing into tyranny. An essential element of that design, however, has been forgotten. In his talk at the 2026 Objectivist Summer Conference (OCON), Dr. Onkar Ghate explains the role of t...

https://www.youtube.com/live/b91AlTBDODs Podcast audio: The 2026 Objectivist Summer Conference was a celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. To conclude the conference, Yaron Brook, ARI board chairman, spoke about what makes America uniquely worth celebrating — the fact that it is “the Nation of the Producer.” Brook begins by surveying the state of the world prior to the American Revolution — the backbreaking labor, the incurable diseases, and the unbearably cold winters. He then explains ho...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kw8MPZSbLXA Podcast audio: In this episode of The Ayn Rand Institute Podcast, Robertas Bakula and Mike Mazza discuss two major developments in the AI industry: Bernie Sanders’ proposal for an AI wealth fund and the White House’s order to block access to Anthropic’s newest models. Topics include: The Anthropic Ban Fear-Mongering About Security Fear-Mongering About Jobless Future Is there “Collective Knowledge”? Lack of Concern with Individual Rights Resources: Ayn ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXTCE3rXfH4 Podcast audio: In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Ben Bayer and Connor O’Leary discuss Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical about AI. Topics include: Valid questions, backwards approach Concerning near-universal acclaim Dependence on religious morality Faith-based moral concepts Appealing to fear and resentment Hostility to human intelligence We need a rational morality Resources: Ayn Rand, “Requiem for Man,” Capitalism the Unknown Ideal Anthropic...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGcfnm1gELw Podcast audio: In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Elan Journo talks with Ben Bayer, Robertas Bakula, Alex Silverman, Audra Hilse, Sam Weaver, and Keith Lockitch about their upcoming talks at OCON 2026 in New Orleans. Speakers include: Bayer: Ayn Rand on progress Bakula: antitrust is anti-production Silverman: metaphysics of productiveness Hilse: publishing We the Living Weaver: Milton’s Paradise Lost Lockitch: Descartes and Newton on th...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRK4oqOHr4s Podcast audio: In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Robertas Bakula and Onkar Ghate discuss Jeff Bezos' recent high-profile CNBC interview with Andrew Sorkin on wealth, attacks on billionaires, and government waste. Topics include: Bezos’ Admirable Mind Trend of Villainizing Businessmen The Zero-Sum Fallacy The Incompetence of Government Collectivist Defense of Profit Inequality is not a bug The Role of Intellectuals Resources: Atlas Shru...