The Soul of Enterprise: Business in the Transformation Economy by THRESHOLD

Unfortunately, our Guest fell ill, and could not join us, but don't worry pros play hurt, so Ron and Ed have called an audible, and will be punting to a pine on some stuff in the stacks.

On this week's episode Ron and Ed welcome Colin Grabow of the CATO Institute's Herbert A. Stiefel Center for Trade Policy Studies to talk about the Jones Act (aka Merchant Marine Act of 1920) which regulates maritime commerce in U.S. waters and between U.S. ports, oh, and, makes stuff more expensive for all of us while benefitting a select few. You will learn the main reason why food and other sundry items are more expensive in Hawaii and Puerto Rice; why the Northeast US imports natural gas from Russia instead of getting it from the US; and many more insanities.

What does it mean to say I have a right to something? In this thought-provoking episode, Ron and Ed will delve into the distinct realms of negative and positive rights, exploring how they shape our understanding of individual liberties and societal obligations. Join us as we unravel the philosophical, practical, and even business implications of these two concepts, challenging preconceptions and fostering a deeper appreciation for the complexities of rights discourse.

In the second of our annual beginning of the year episodes, Ron and Ed will recap their best books of 2023. Many listeners considers this the most expensive episode of the year as their anti-libraries tend to grow while listening. If you have a best book to share, please email us at asktsoe@verasage.com or hit us up with a X post @asktsoe.

During this annual favorite Ron and Ed will look back on the good, the bad, and the ugly of 2023 including there favorite episodes, news events, pop-culture, business trends, and in memorium.

For their last show of the 2023, Ron and Ed will clean out their stacks of (business and economic related) stuff. It promises to be a fast-paced conversation that will make it hard to listen on double speed. If you have anything to add, send your email to asktsoe@verasage.com or tag us on X using @asktsoe or #asktsoe.

This is Greg's fifth appearance with Ron and Ed. Some of them incognito. (We'll let you try to figure which is which.) The topics are not scripted, but we assure you jocularity will ensue.

This week Ron and Ed welcome Chelsea Follett to talk about her book, Centers of Progress: 40 Cities That Changed the World. From the book: Where does progress happen? The story of civilization is the story of the city. It is cities that have created and defined the modern world by acting as the sites of pivotal advances in culture, politics, science, technology, and more. There is no question that certain places, at certain times in history, have contributed disproportionately toward making the world a better place. This book tells the story of 40 of those places. In Centers of Progress: 40 Cities That Changed the World, Chelsea Follett examines a diverse group of cities, ranging from ancient Athens to Song-era Hangzhou.

The podcast delves into the growing trend of subscription-based models across industries, skepticism towards life becoming all subscription-based, implications on economic disparities and consumer experiences, strategic branding in market focus, promotions and sponsor advertisements, rise of gaming subscriptions, evolution of pricing strategies, and challenges in taxing subscription services.

Ron and Ed are delighted to welcome Steve Goreham to The Soul of Enterprise. He is the author of four books on climatism and green energy, and we will be discussing his most recent book: Green Breakdown: The Coming Renewable Energy Failure, published this year. We will dive into the physics and engineering issues involved in the transition to renewable energy, and why it won't be as easy as a lot people claim. Join us for what will be an enlightening and informative discussion.