The Ayn Rand Institute Podcast

In this engaging talk, Alex Silverman, a philosophical lecturer, explores the life and ideas of Baruch Spinoza, a pivotal figure of the Enlightenment. He delves into Spinoza's excommunication and the risks he encountered for advocating reason and freedom. The discussion highlights Spinoza’s critique of religion, ethical egoism, and his vision of God as nature. Silverman also emphasizes the importance of freedom of thought and Spinoza's enduring influence on Enlightenment ideals, making a compelling case for his legacy in our pursuit of knowledge.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KEOmlA-YRo Podcast audio: In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Agustina Vergara Cid interviews Josh Windham, a senior attorney with the Institute for Justice, about the Trump administration’s immigration policy and its violations of constitutional rights. Topics include: The Garcia Venegas case; Arbitrary “mass deportations”; Kavanaugh on permissible profiling; Qualified immunity; DHS’ denial of reality; Precedent for current enforcement; American principles betrayed; Standing up to authoritarianism. This episode was recorded on December 2, 2025, and posted on December 4, 2025. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Watch archived podcasts here. Image credits: Police: Octavio Jones / AFP / via Getty Images; Constitution: Tetra Images / via Getty Images

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgur8cEOpnk Podcast audio: In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute Podcast, Nikos Sotirakopoulos and ARI’s senior intellectuals make a deep dive into the moral crisis of the conservative movement. Topics include: Moral sanction; “Cancel culture” and free speech; Conservative tribalism; How ARI is different. Resources: Onkar Ghate’s lecture On Moral Sanction This episode was recorded on November 19, 2025, and posted on November 22, 2025. Image Credits: Carlson: Leon Neal / via Getty Images; Fuentes: William Edwards / AFP / via Getty Images

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uCwg6ADk4s Podcast audio: In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute Podcast, Nikos Sotirakopoulos and Onkar Ghate discuss the implications of Zohran Mamdani’s victory in New York. As the country takes another step towards authoritarianism and tribalism, is there any hope to put a stop to the downward cultural and political spiral? Topics include: Mamdani’s evil; Mamdani and populism; The downward spiral of tribalism; The education system gave us Mamdani; Is there a hope for the future? Resources: Ayn Rand Institute Podcast, How NOT to Explain Mamdani’s Socialist Revival This episode was recorded on November 17, 2025, and posted on November 21, 2025. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Watch archived podcasts here. Image Credit: Michael M. Santiago / via Getty Images

Ben Bayer, a senior fellow and constitutional law expert, dives deep into the complexities of Trump's controversial tariffs. He discusses how these tariffs undermine the rule of law and challenge the separation of powers. Bayer critiques the administration's argument that tariffs aren’t taxes and examines the implications of delegating such powers to the president. He highlights the potential consequences for small businesses and advocates for a narrow judicial response. Bayer also emphasizes the philosophical stakes connecting objective law to individual liberty.

Onkar Ghate, a senior scholar at the Ayn Rand Institute and lecturer on Objectivism, delves into the philosophical underpinnings of contemporary crises in Western society. He argues that our current challenges stem from a failure of the Enlightenment to articulate a morality of self-interest. Ghate critiques the fallout from events such as 9/11 and the COVID-19 pandemic as manifestations of a blind rebellion against self-sacrifice, advocating for Ayn Rand's Objectivism as a necessary moral framework to reclaim Enlightenment gains.

The discussion dives into the controversial plan to phase out NYC's Gifted & Talented program, exposing concerns about stifling advanced students. Hosts critique the motivations behind proposals for universal childcare, questioning their impact on educational quality. They argue that these changes ultimately punish gifted kids while dissecting the notion of equity in education. Additionally, they challenge the idea that education is a zero-sum game, advocating for tailored learning solutions to nurture all types of learners.

Jim Lennox, Emeritus Professor of History and Philosophy of Science, joins to explore the intersection of science and philosophy through Deacon's Autogen Theory. They delve into the mystery of purpose in non-conscious organisms, arguing for a coherent form of goal-directedness. The discussion also touches on the emergence of life, redefining biological teleology, and the implications for free will. They highlight the need for philosophical clarity in scientific models while contemplating how autogens could represent the origins of life.

Podcast audio: This talk by Robertas Bakula was recorded live on July 2nd in Boston, MA as part of the 2025 Objectivist Summer Conference and is available on the Ayn Rand Institute Podcast stream. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Watch archived podcasts here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMJR3ja3s5s Podcast audio: In this episode of The Ayn Rand Institute Podcast, Tristan de Liège and Gregory Salmieri discuss friendship as a moral and philosophical value and explore the relationship between friendship, egoism, and altruism. Topics include: Friendship in Rand’s fiction; Visibility in friendship; Egoism and Friendship;    Valuing Friendship; Altruism and sacrifice; Unconditional love; Compromise and reciprocity. Resources: Tristan de Liège’s lecture “How to Value Friendship”  A Companion to Ayn Rand, edited by Gregory Salmieri and Allan Gotthelf. This episode was recorded on October 6, 2025, and posted October 30, 2025. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Watch archived podcasts here. Image Credit: Compassionate Eye Foundation/Steven Errico/DigitalVision via Getty Images