

How The World Works
Kevin D. Williamson
"How The World Works" features author, political commentator, and CEI writer in residence, Kevin D. Williamson having a series of conversations with notable guests about work, specifically, the jobs he and his guests have had, why work matters, the role of work in our economy, and policy ideas for helping workers and employers get the most out of the work they do. Youtube: URL: cei.org/podcasts
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 27, 2025 • 1h 2min
Rachel Barkley
Kevin D. Williamson is joined by Rachel Barkley, Director of Able Americans, a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank project dedicated to advancing innovative, free-market solutions that empower Americans with intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities. They discuss America’s extensive safety net, spanning more than 80 programs across 14 agencies, and how to better measure success. Rachel also shares her own life-changing experience with a rare spinal cord tumor, along with her perspectives on healthcare, disability, and policy reform.

Jul 30, 2025 • 1h 13min
Adam Bellow
Kevin D. Williamson is joined by Adam Bellow, a leading figure in conservative publishing for more than 30 years. Together, they discuss the contemporary publishing landscape, literary controversies, and the complexities of publishing in today’s hyperpolitical climate.

Jun 26, 2025 • 48min
Matthew Polstein
Kevin D. Williamson is joined by Matthew Polstein, owner and operator of the New England Outdoor Center in Millinocket, Maine. The NEOC, founded in 1982, has progressed from a whitewater rafting operation on the Penobscot and Kennebec Rivers, to a full-fledged, year round outdoor adventure resort featuring rafting, snowmobiling, Nordic skiing, canoeing, lodging and dining. The two discuss Matthew's professional journey, the relationship between conservation and business, and the nuances of running an outdoors-oriented business.

May 28, 2025 • 1h 7min
Mike Masnick
Kevin D. Williamson chats with Mike Masnick, founder and editor of Techdirt, who specializes in technology and civil liberties. They tackle the complexities of content moderation, weighing safety against freedom in diverse online spaces. Mike reflects on the internet's evolution from decentralized beginnings to its current state, emphasizing responsible technology use. They also highlight the Streisand Effect, showing how censorship attempts can backfire dramatically, and discuss using AI to boost writing productivity, showcasing its potential in creative workflows.

Apr 30, 2025 • 49min
Miranda Rinaldi
Kevin D. Williamson is joined by Miranda Rinaldi, owner and head baker of Nino’s Bakery in Washington, D.C., and a former Foreign Service Officer who served in Afghanistan and Milan. They discuss Miranda’s journey from diplomacy to pastries, her training in Italy and Chicago, and how her dachshund Nino inspired the beloved neighborhood bakery, renowned for its buttery, hand-laminated croissants.

Mar 26, 2025 • 1h
David Rea
Kevin D. Williamson is joined by David Rea, Senior Pastor at Providence Presbyterian Church in Dallas, Texas. They discuss David's day-to-day workload of running a church, the theology of work, and the nuances of shepherding a congregation in a hyper-political world.

Feb 26, 2025 • 1h 2min
Marian L. Tupy
Kevin D. Williamson is joined by Marian L. Tupy, the founder and editor of HumanProgress.org, and a senior fellow at the Cato Institute’s Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity. They discuss Marian's life behind the Iron Curtain, minimum wage jobs, and humanity's skyrocketing standard of living.YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/_iUr9hQZtbk

Jan 29, 2025 • 1h 5min
Jessica Melugin
Kevin D. Williamson is joined by Jessica Melugin, director of the Center for Technology & Innovation at the Competitive Enterprise Institute. They discuss training horses, nostalgia for America's "golden age", and academia's disconnect from everyday Americans.

Dec 25, 2024 • 1h 18min
Magatte Wade
Kevin D. Williamson is joined by Magatte Wade, Senegalese entrepreneur and one of the world's leading African prosperity activists. The two discuss her superhero origin story, the regulatory environment in Africa, and how contemporary narratives on African poverty are rooted in false assumptions.

Nov 27, 2024 • 1h 8min
Fr. Dominic Legge
Kevin D. Williamson is joined by Fr. Dominic Legge, Director of the Thomistic Institute and Associate Professor in Systematic Theology at the Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. The two discuss Fr. Dominic's professional and spiritual journey from Yale Law School to the Thomistic Institute.