Explore the cultural history of passports and their significance as both an instrument of personal freedom and government surveillance. Learn about the struggles faced by historical figures like Frederick Douglas and Hannah Arendt in obtaining passports. Discover the inequality of passport privileges and the growing trade in passports, including citizenship by investment schemes. Reflect on the impact of these schemes on identity versus pragmatic reasons and the global scene.

Professor Patrick Bixby discusses the complexity of passports, from freedom to surveillance. Topics cover indigenous passports, literary references, and rankings. The conversation explores passport history, personal tales, international relations, and surveillance. It also touches on contemporary issues like race, citizenship, and challenges for marginalized communities in obtaining travel documents.