Thomas Sowell calls "Disparate Impact" ideology the "grand dogma" of our time.But what is disparate impact and why is it so important?On this episode we take a deep dive into disparate impact ideology and how it has changed America.Joining me to discuss this important subject is Heather Mac Donald.Heather is a fellow at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research based in New York City. Much like  Sowell , Heather does research into domestic policy and urban affairs and tries to figure out what’s working and what’s not working. She then writes articles and books sharing what she has learned.Her first book was published in 2000 and was called “The burden of bad ideas : how modern intellectuals misshape our society”Three years later she wrote a book called “Are Cops Racist?”This was followed with another book about policing in 2016 called “The War on Cops: How the New Attack on Law and Order Makes Everyone Less Safe.”I first discovered Heather Mac Donald in 2018 with the publication of her book “The Diversity Delusion: How Race and Gender Pandering Corrupt the University and Undermine Our Culture.” I loved that book and I remember finishing it then immediately starting it over and reading it a second time. Her latest book which just came out this month is called “When Race Trumps Merit, How the Pursuit of Equity Sacrifices Excellence, Destroys Beauty, and Threatens Lives.”USEFUL LINKS:• More podcast-related links here: AlanWolan.com• How to calculate the "Birthday Problem": Ted-Ed Video HERE• "Birthday Problem Khan Academy explanation HERE• You can purchase Heather Mac Donald's new book HERE• Photos of the CalTech Turtle Pond HERE• Jerry MacGuire "Show Me the Money" scene HERE• Heather Mac Donald Wikipedia page HERE• Classical Music featured in this episode:"Cello Suite No 1" by Bach, "Für Elise" by Beethoven,  "Canon in D" by Pachelbel, "Humoresque" by Dvorak,  "Caprice No. 24" by Paganini, "Symphony No. 5" by Beethoven,  "Die Zauberflöte" by Mozart, "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" by Mozart, "Theme from Schindler's List" by John Williams, "Hungarian Dance No. 5" by Brahms, "Gymnopedie No. 1" by Satie, and "Ode to Joy" by Beethoven. THERE ARE 3 WAYS TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST:1) Support the show financially by subscribing with a monthly contribution on Patreon:   www.Patreon.com/SowellGeniusThe money raised through Patreon supports our efforts to popularize the books and ideas of Thomas Sowell.----------------------------------------------2) Rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts. This helps a lot by nudging the show to the top of Google searches. I really appreciate the many positive reviews, especially this one by Jonsby: "This is one of the few podcasts that I actually slow down soSupport the show• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com

In this episode, we take a deep dive into the Cold War and what lessons can be learned from it. In particular, we reflect upon some key teachings of Thomas Sowell with regard to how price-coordinated, Capitalist societies perform in comparison with command-style, communist and socialist economies.Peter Robinson joins me in the second half of the show to talk about his views about Sowell and the Cold War.Here are some links which will enhance your appreciation of the episode:• More info about Peter Robinson HERE.• "Wind of Change" by the German rock band Scorpions HERE (1 billion views).• Full Kennedy speech about the Cuban Missile crisis HERE.• 99 Luftballons video (German version) HERE• 99 Red Balloons video (English version) HERE(both the "99" music videos are so bad, you have to wonder if they made them that bad on purpose. They're so bad, they're good! But who cares, such a great song!)• Ronald Reagan Berlin Wall speech HERE• "Berlin City of Night" by Peter Schilling HERE.• Kennedy's "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech HERE• "Freiheit" by Marius Mueller Westernhagen HERE• My essay on how I acquired the Checkpoint Charlie sign HERE.• More useful links here: linktr.ee/alanwolanTHERE ARE 3 WAYS TO SUPPORT THE SHOW:1) Support the show financially by subscribing with a monthly contribution on Patreon:   www.Patreon.com/SowellGeniusThe money raised through Patreon supports our efforts to popularize the books and ideas of Thomas Sowell. ----------------------------------------------2) Rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts. This helps a lot by nudging the show to the top of Google searches. I really appreciate the many positive reviews, especially this one by Jonsby: "This is one of the few podcasts that I actually slow down so I can savor it!"----------------------------------------------3) Purchase our Thomas Sowell Post It Note pads:  You can find all 100 digital images of the post it notes HERE, feel free to download them and use them however you like.To purchase pads of printed post it notes, please visit our shop at: GeniusSowell.etsy.com We have two editions of the quotes available:Edition #2: Quotes 1 - 50.Edition #3: Quotes 51 - 100Support the show• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com

In today's episode I interview Professor Amy Wax from Penn Law School. If you don't know Amy Wax, buckle up, you're in for a real treat.Amy is truly one of a kind and you'll know what I mean after you listen to the episode.I named this episode “Fight the Good Fight” because Amy Wax reminds me of the crucial importance of fighting for what you believe in. And not just fighting against what you don’t.Here are some links to help you get more out of this episode:• Here's a LINK to Amy's 2009 book "Race, Wrongs and Remedies"• Macarthur Park Restaurant in Palo Alto• Amy's  Philadelphia Inquirer Op Ed which caused so much controversy: LINK• Amy Wax's syllabus for her course on "Conservative Political Thought": LINK• The Thomas Sowell Reader mentioned in the episode: LINK• Podcast statistics HERETHERE ARE 3 WAYS TO SUPPORT THE SHOW:1) Support the show financially by subscribing with a monthly contribution on Patreon:   www.Patreon.com/SowellGeniusThe money raised through Patreon supports our efforts to popularize the books and ideas of Thomas Sowell. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2) Rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts. This helps a lot by nudging the show to the top of Google searches. I really appreciate the many positive reviews, especially this one by Jonsby: "This is one of the few podcasts that I actually slow down so I can savor it!"--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3) Purchase our Thomas Sowell Post It Note pads:  You can find all 100 digital images of the post it notes HERE, feel free to download them and use them however you like.To purchase pads of printed post it notes, please visit our shop at: GeniusSowell.etsy.com We have two editions of the quotes available:Edition #2: Quotes 1 - 50.Edition #3: Quotes 51 - 100--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------You can  email Alan at: WolanAlan@gmail.comThere are only so many hours in the day and that fact that you spend some of your precious time listening to my podcast is something I will never take for granted and will always appreciate.THANK YOU!Support the show• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com

In today's episode I explore the dynamics of radically changing your mind on  important subjects. Thomas Sowell himself experienced just such a shift in his thinking and so did our guest today, Dr. Joel Brown.You can find Dr. Brown on Twitter under the handle @JoelBrownMDWe have a surprise guest on this episode as well: her name is Priyanka Wolan.• Priyanka is an accomplished attorney.• She is a Homeschooling Mom of 4 girls.• She is also a writer and you can find her Substack HERE:PriyankaWolan.substack.comTHERE ARE 3 WAYS TO SUPPORT THE SHOW:1) Rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts. This helps a lot by nudging the show to the top of Google searches. I really appreciate the many positive reviews, especially this one by Jonsby: "This is one of the few podcasts that I actually slow down so I can savor it!"--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2) Purchase our Thomas Sowell Post It Note pads:  You can find all 100 digital images of the post it notes HERE, feel free to download them and use them however you like.To purchase pads of printed post it notes, please visit our shop at: GeniusSowell.etsy.com We have two editions of the quotes available:Edition #2: Quotes 1 - 50.Edition #3: Quotes 51 - 100--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3) Support the show financially by subscribing with a monthly contribution on Patreon, link HERE.  The money raised through Patreon supports our efforts to popularize the books and ideas of Thomas Sowell.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------You can  email Alan at: WolanAlan@gmail.comThere are only so many hours in the day and that fact that you spend some of your precious time listening to my podcast is something I will never take for granted and will always appreciate.THANK YOU!Support the show• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com

In today’s episode, I share with you my experience of the Academic Freedom Conference which took place at Stanford University on November 4th and 5th. Here are some resources which will enhance your enjoyment of the episode:1) Here's a LINK to the Academic Freedom Conference website. 2) Here's a LINK to the Youtube channel for the conference.3) Here's a LINK to the book "Positioning: the Battle for your mind."4) You can find Greg Lukianoff and FIRE HERE.5) You can find the University of Austin HERE.6) Frederic Bastiat's essay the Parable of the Broken Window can be found HERE.7) Link to Sowell's Fourth of July essay HERE.8) The opening song was arranged and performed by the rock band Boston and you can watch them perform it live HERE.9) The closing song was arranged and performed by Lada Gaga at the 2016 Super Bowl and you can watch it HERE.10) $8/month refers to the cost of a Twitter bluecheck.THERE ARE 3 WAYS TO SUPPORT THE SHOW:1) Rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts. This helps a lot by nudging the show to the top of Google searches. I really appreciate the many positive reviews, especially this one by Jonsby: "This is one of the few podcasts that I actually slow down so I can savor it!"--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2) Purchase our Thomas Sowell Post It Note pads:  You can find all 100 digital images of the post it notes HERE, feel free to download them and use them however you like.To purchase pads of printed post it notes, please visit our shop at: GeniusSowell.etsy.com We have two editions of the quotes available:Edition #2: Quotes 1 - 50.Edition #3: Quotes 51 - 100--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3) Support the show financially by subscribing with a monthly contribution on Patreon, link HERE.  The money raised through Patreon supports our efforts to popularize the books and ideas of Thomas Sowell.----------------------------------------------You can  email Alan at: WolanAlan@gmail.comThere are only so many hours in the day and that fact that you spend some of your precious time listening to my podcast is something I will never take for granted and will always appreciate.THANK YOU!Support the show• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com

In this episode, I have a conversation with Dr. Steven Pinker, Professor of Cognitive Science at Harvard University. We talk about what Sowell gets right and what he gets wrong. We talk about why Sowell is not better known in academia and what this tells us about Sowell, and also about academia.Here are some useful links to things mentioned in the episode:• Here's a LINK to the theme music played in this episode. I highly recommend the Danish National Symphony orchestra, they have loads of fantastic music on Youtube.• Steven Pinker's Wikipedia page is HERE.• Atlantic magazine article about how they tried to cancel Steven Pinker HERE.• Steven Pinker's Twitter handle is @sapinker.• HERE is a funny Steven Pinker interview about taboo language (explicit!)• HERE is a good interview with Steven Pinker about his latest book "Rationality.".• HERE is a link to Steven Pinker's podcast "The Life of the Mind"• You can find Steven Pinker's personal website at StevenPinker.com• You can find Steven Pinker's photo albums HERE.• You can find Thomas Sowell's photo album HERE.THERE ARE 3 WAYS TO SUPPORT THE SHOW:1) Rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts. This helps a lot by nudging the show to the top of Google searches.2) Purchase our Thomas Sowell Post It Note pads:  You can find all 100 digital images of the post it notes HERE, feel free to download them and use them however you like.To purchase pads of printed post it notes, please  Paypal $4/pad to wolanalan@gmail.com or Venmo to @Alan-Wolan.  Please put your mailing address as well as your email address in the notes of the payment. International orders will cost more, please ask.NEW:  We have two editions of the quotes available:Edition #2: Quotes 1 - 50.Edition #3: Quotes 51 - 100When you order, if you don't specify, we will send you half your order Edition #2 and the other half Edition #3.3) Support the show financially by subscribing with a monthly contribution on Patreon, link HERE.You can  email Alan at: WolanAlan@gmail.comThere are only so many hours in the day and that fact that you spend some of your precious time listening to my podcast is something I will never take for granted and will always appreciate.THANK YOU!Support the show• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com

When you study Thomas Sowell, you are inevitably introduced to other intellectuals Sowell cites in his books. These are the thinkers Sowell looks up to and draws inspiration from.  One such thinker is the British Psychiatrist Theodore Dalrymple.In this episode we explore Dalrymple's book "Life At The Bottom" and what it has to teach us about the ideas which perpetuate poverty and other social pathologies in the British underclass and what lessons we can draw for a deeper understanding of the American underclasses. We interview "Britain's Strictest Headmistress" Katharine Birbalsingh about Sowell and Dalrymple and how these two thinkers have influenced her educational philosophy. Here are some useful links to deepen your appreciation of the episode:• Here's a LINK to Ice T's "That's How I'm Livin'"• Here's a LINK to Theodore Dalrymple's book "Life At The Bottom"• Link to "We Don't Want No Education" chapter of Dalrymple's book HERE.• Here's a LINK to the film documentary "Britain's Strictest Headmistress". This is a MUST watch!THERE ARE 3 WAYS TO SUPPORT THE SHOW:1) Rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts. This helps a lot by nudging the show to the top of Google searches.2) Purchase our Thomas Sowell Post It Note pads:  You can find all 100 digital images of the post it notes HERE, feel free to download them and use them however you like.To purchase pads of printed post it notes, please  Paypal $4/pad to wolanalan@gmail.com or Venmo to @Alan-Wolan.  Please put your mailing address as well as your email address in the notes of the payment. International orders will cost more, please ask.NEW:  We have two editions of the quotes available:Edition #2: Quotes 1 - 50.Edition #3: Quotes 51 - 100When you order, if you don't specify, we will send you half your order Edition #2 and the other half Edition #3.3) Support the show financially by subscribing with a monthly contribution on Patreon, link HERE.You can  email Alan at: WolanAlan@gmail.comThere are only so many hours in the day and that fact that you spend some of your precious time listening to my podcast is something I will never take for granted and will always appreciate.THANK YOU!Support the show• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com

In today’s episode, I take a look at Thomas Sowell’s intellectual career from a slightly unusual perspective and I do that by comparing Sowell with two other public intellectuals of his generation: Alan Dershowitz and Woody Allen.In my view, Sowell, Dershowitz and Allen have 10 major things in common, and you'll just have to listen to the podcast to find out what they are.Here's a LINK to the spreadsheet I mention in the episode which compares all the published works of Sowell, Dershowitz and Allen.Here's a LINK to the chapter of "Intellectuals and Society" called "Youth and Age." Here are some useful links to deepen your appreciation of the episode:• You can find the digital designs of the official Thomas Sowell Post It Note quotes HERE.• Podcast Patreon HERE. Your financial support is greatly appreciated!• Podcast statistics HERE.• Thomas Sowell video truck ad campaign video HERE.• Thomas Sowell sidewalk decal ad campaign HERE.THERE ARE 3 WAYS TO SUPPORT THE SHOW:1) Rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts. This helps a lot by nudging the show to the top of Google searches.2) Purchase our Thomas Sowell Post It Note pads:  You can find all 100 digital images of the post it notes HERE, feel free to download them and use them however you like. To purchase pads of printed post it notes, please  Paypal $4/pad to wolanalan@gmail.com or Venmo to @Alan-Wolan.  Please put your mailing address as well as your email address in the notes of the payment. International orders will cost more, please ask.NEW:  We have two editions of the quotes available:Edition #2: Quotes 1 - 50.Edition #3: Quotes 51 - 100When you order, if you don't specify, we will send you half your order Edition #2 and the other half Edition #3.3) Support the show financially by subscribing with a monthly contribution on Patreon, link HERE.You can  email Alan at: WolanAlan@gmail.comThere are only so many hours in the day and that fact that you spend some of your precious time listening to my podcast is something I will never take for granted and will always appreciate.THANK YOU!Support the show• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com

In this episode we  discuss Sowell's 1997 book "The Quest for Cosmic Justice."In particular, we discuss how pursuing a vision of universal equality leads paradoxically to an increase in inequality and to the fostering of envy and resentment in society. Here are some useful links to deepen your appreciation of the episode:• "The Quest for Cosmic Justice" by Thomas Sowell HERE.• Post It Note quotes HERE.• Podcast Patreon HERE.• Podcast statistics HERE.• Thomas Sowell video truck ad campaign video HERE.• Thomas Sowell sidewalk decal ad campaign HERE.• Selected excerpts from "The Quest for Cosmic Justice" HERE.THERE ARE 3 WAYS TO SUPPORT THE SHOW:1) Rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts. This helps a lot by nudging the show to the top of Google searches.2) Purchase our Thomas Sowell Post It Note pads:  You can find all 100 digital images of the post it notes HERE, feel free to download them and use them however you like.  To purchase pads of printed post it notes, please  Paypal $4/pad to wolanalan@gmail.com or Venmo to @Alan-Wolan.  Please put your mailing address as well as your email address in the notes of the payment. International orders will cost more, please ask.NEW:  We have two editions of the quotes available:Edition #2: Quotes 1 - 50.Edition #3: Quotes 51 - 100When you order, if you don't specify, we will send you half your order Edition #2 and the other half Edition #3.3) Support the show financially by subscribing with a monthly contribution on Patreon, link HERE.You can  email Alan at: WolanAlan@gmail.comThere are only so many hours in the day and that fact that you spend some of your precious time listening to my podcast is something I will never take for granted and will always appreciate.THANK YOU!Support the show• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com

In this episode we  discuss Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. We talk about what Clarence Thomas has to say about Sowell and also about what Sowell has to say about Clarence Thomas.Here are some useful links to deepen your appreciation of the episode:• Billy Joel SINGS "Angry Young Man" live at Shea Stadium. Lyrics HERE.• Full VIDEO of Clarence Thomas at the Old Parkland Conference May 2022.• "Intellectuals and Society" by Thomas Sowell HERE.• Post It Note quotes HERE.• Podcast Patreon HERE.• Podcast statistics HERE.• Letter from Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito to Alan HERE.• "Live Not By Lies" by Alexander Solzhenitsyn HERE.• Thomas Sowell video truck ad campaign video HERE. THERE ARE 3 WAYS TO SUPPORT THE SHOW:1) Rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts. This helps a lot.2) Purchase our Thomas Sowell Post It Note pads:  You can find all 50 digital images of the post it notes HERE, feel free to download them and use them however you like. To purchase pads of printed post it notes, please  Paypal $3/pad to wolanalan@gmail.com or Venmo to @Alan-Wolan.  Please put your mailing address as well as your email address in the notes of the payment. International orders will cost more, please ask.Notice: Starting September 1, 2022, the price will go up to $4/pad, including postage and handling, Sorry but  you can thank Putin for the price hike.New: we are currently in the process of designing 50 additional quotes and will be printing them in post it note pads as well. Stay tuned to see those new quotes, they're fantastic!3) Support the show financially by subscribing with a monthly contribution on Patreon, link HERE.You can  email Alan at: WolanAlan@gmail.comThere are only so many hours in the day and that fact that you spend some of your precious time listening to my podcast is something I will never take for granted and will always appreciate.THANK YOU!Support the show• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com