

Words & Numbers
CiVL
Words & Numbers touches on issues of Economics, Political Science, Current Events and Policy. Each Wednesday we'll be sharing a new Words & Numbers podcast featuring Antony Davies Ph.D and James Harrigan Ph.D talking about the economics and political science of current events. Words and Numbers is a CiVL Original Podcasts, learn more at civl.com
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 27, 2025 • 54min
Episode 449: The Color Of Money
In this episode, James and Antony explore the evolution of media and technology, from vinyl to streaming, and what the future might hold in the age of AI and digital ownership. They discuss shifts in media, marketing trends, and listener questions about U.S. debt, the strength of the dollar, and global economic changes. Along the way, they touch on how structural issues in finance, politics, and business can impact progress. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 27, 2025 • 39min
Episode 448: Schrödinger’s Economy
This week, James and Antony kick things off with a wild story out of New York City: ATMs spitting out millions in cash thanks to a government blunder. From there, they turn to political absurdities, including a congressman who thinks presidential term limits are optional. Finally, the guys dive deep into recession talk—what it really means, how it’s measured, and why even the experts can’t agree. Along the way, they cut through media spin, call out political nonsense, and remind listeners why economic reality is always more complicated than the headlines. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 20, 2025 • 1h 3min
Episode 447: AI and What’s Ahead
On today’s episode of Words & Numbers, James and Antony discuss the rise and fall of AOL, the ethical challenges of new technologies, and what artificial intelligence could mean for the future. They also explore the trade-off between productivity and employment, and the unintended consequences of redistribution and welfare systems. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 20, 2025 • 43min
Episode 446: The Job Numbers Shock
In this episode, James and Antony unpack the shocking BLS revision that wiped out over 100,000 jobs on paper, what it really means for the economy, and why data transparency matters more than ever. They also dive into the wave of fan misconduct hitting the WNBA, break down the DOJ’s new denaturalization push and its wider implications, and touch on a few other stories shaping the week that you won’t want to miss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 13, 2025 • 42min
Episode 445: Too young to vote?
In this episode, James and Antony discuss the surprising ecological effects of reintroducing wolves to Yellowstone, highlighting how these changes mirror economic principles. They explore the broader implications of government interventions, such as COVID-19 lockdowns and economic data revisions. The conversation also touches on the voting age debate, questioning whether 16-year-olds should vote and the potential impacts of such a decision. Join them for an insightful discussion on the interconnectedness of our world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

7 snips
Aug 9, 2025 • 41min
Episode 444: The Wealth Tax Trap
Ant and James discuss the wealth tax, what its proponents wish would happen, and what would really happen were it implemented. They also get into why so many dogs are overweight, and the cutting-edge genetic engineering that promises to wipe out malaria by altering mosquito DNA. As if that weren’t enough, they also address the futility of US debt donations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 6, 2025 • 33min
Episode 443: Private Equity in Business
Explore the intriguing world of private equity and its transformative power in business. Discover how it breathes new life into underperforming assets, like changing a pizza restaurant into a yoga studio. The hosts tackle common misconceptions while celebrating philanthropy in education, particularly with a generous donation to a medical school. Delve into the balance of profit motivations and ethics, highlighting how private equity can reshape iconic American brands and drive innovation in today’s marketplace.

Jul 30, 2025 • 49min
Episode 442: Surveillance Pricing?
Explore how inflation quietly erodes your purchasing power, and the deceptive game of monetizing debt and what it means for your future. Dive into the digital clampdown on adult content as age verification systems signal the end of the internet’s unrestricted era. Ant and James grapple with the morality of price discrimination based on search history — who really benefits, and who gets left behind.
Join CiVL for member-exclusive access to our show, bonus content, and live Q&As. https://civl.com/
Get 50% off your annual subscription with code: WORDSANDNUMBERS
Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now!
http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jul 23, 2025 • 37min
Episode 441: A Budget Surplus? Really?
In this week's Words & Numbers, Ant and James tackle the misunderstood world of corporate stock buybacks—are they economic malpractice or just savvy business? The duo then pivots to publicly funded media, taking aim at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and questioning its continued reliance on taxpayer dollars in an age of abundant private alternatives. They also examine the federal government's rare (and tiny) budget surplus in June, dissecting whether it's a meaningful trend or a statistical blip. Along the way, Steve Miller cancels his tour for baffling reasons, Trump forgets he appointed Powell, and the guys reflect on why government tax revenue stubbornly sticks to 18% of GDP—no matter the policy. As always, they ask: what’s the data say, and so what?
Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now!http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com
See More Ant and James!http://www.wordsandnumbers.org
Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreonhttps://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers
Quick Hitshttps://loudwire.com/steve-miller-cancels-tour-natural-disasters/
Foolishness of the Weekhttps://www.npr.org/2025/07/17/nx-s1-5469904/npr-pbs-cuts-rescission-senate-vote
Words & Numbers Backstagehttps://youtu.be/i73H047bID8?si=zUTcXrBYDolwTVgl
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/MSPUS
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/LES1252881500Q
https://www.bankrate.com/real-estate/average-home-size/#space
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CUUR0000SETA01
More James at Smoke & Storieshttps://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjILow4-ZJpBV-NnmSusZJ_vCuzKUJ4Ig
More Ant on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/antonydavies
Let Us Know What You Thinkmailto:wordsandnumberspodcast@gmail.com
Antony Davies on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/antonydavies
James R. Harrigan on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan
#AntonyDavies #JamesRHarrigan #WordsAndNumbers #economics #government #politics #policy #libertarian #classicalliberal #podcast #educational
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jul 16, 2025 • 56min
Episode 440: Debunking the Religion of Decline
In this episode of Words & Numbers, James and Ant announce their new partnership with CiVL and reflect on the state of modern life. Using Jurassic World and a Nobel Prize winner’s comments as a springboard, they unpack the economics of innovation, incentives, and monopolies. They take on popular claims that life has gotten worse—breaking down the real costs of housing, cars, and higher education over time—and challenge the doom-and-gloom narrative with hard data and perspective.
The debut of the new “So What?” segment offers concrete takeaways: count your blessings, question the media’s distortions, and don’t believe everything “everybody knows.”
Words and Numbers is a CiVL Original Podcast.
Join CiVL for member-exclusive access to our show, bonus content, and live Q&As. https://civl.com/
Get 50% off your annual subscription with code: WORDSANDNUMBERS
Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now!
http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com
See More Ant and James!
http://www.wordsandnumbers.org
Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers
Quick Hits
https://www.jurassicworld.com
https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2025-07-04/charles-rice-nobel-prize-winner-in-medicine-its-a-crime-that-a-drug-exists-that-could-cure-everyone-yet-not-everybody-has-access-to-it.html
https://www.thetimes.com/world/latin-america/article/gringo-go-home-why-mexico-is-turning-against-us-immigrants-cmq2qsv2j
Foolishness of the Week
https://www.yahoo.com/news/fema-removed-dozens-camp-mystic-111716138.html
Words & Numbers Backstage
https://youtu.be/i73H047bID8?si=zUTcXrBYDolwTVgl
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/MSPUS
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/LES1252881500Q
https://www.bankrate.com/real-estate/average-home-size/#space
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CUUR0000SETA01
More James at Smoke & Stories
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjILow4-ZJpBV-NnmSusZJ_vCuzKUJ4Ig
More Ant on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/antonydavies
Let Us Know What You Think
mailto:wordsandnumberspodcast@gmail.com
Antony Davies on Twitter
https://twitter.com/antonydavies
James R. Harrigan on Twitter
https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan
#AntonyDavies #JamesRHarrigan #WordsAndNumbers #economics #government #politics #policy #libertarian #classicalliberal #podcast #educational Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices