The Curious Task

Alex speaks with Geoff Sigalet about Western Alienation and the events that led to the Alberta Sovereignty Act becoming law in Canada in December of 2022.  References 1. “Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act” by the Legislative Assembly of Alberta Link: https://www.assembly.ab.ca/assembly-business/bills/bill?billinfoid=11984&from=bills 2. “Opinion: Alberta’s Sovereignty Act is constitutional but it needs nuance” by Jesse Hartery and Geoffrey Sigalet Link: https://nationalpost.com/opinion/alberta-sovereignty-act-constitutional-but-needs-nuance

As you think about your New Year's resolutions, take another listen to Alex's conversation from May 2020 with Russ Roberts as he talks about the ways in which the ideas of Adam Smith can still change your life, even so many years later.   References from The Curious Task Special Episode 14 with Russ Roberts  You can purchase Russ Roberts’ book How Adam Smith Can Change Your Life at Amazon Canada here You can read the Theory of Moral Sentiments for free on the Online Library of Liberty here

Alex, Sabine and Matt reflect on the year that was 2022. References 1. Christy Horpedahl’s episode “How Can Books Advance Liberal Society” of The Curious Task Podcast Link: https://thecurioustask.podbean.com/e/ep-163-christy-horpedahl-how-can-books-advance-liberal-society/  2. Russ Robert’s episode “What’s Wrong With Education?” of The Curious Task Podcast Link: https://thecurioustask.podbean.com/e/ep-136-russ-roberts-what-s-wrong-with-education/  3. Lauren Hall’s episode “What’s Wrong with Modern Healthcare?” of The Curious Task Podcast Link: https://thecurioustask.podbean.com/e/ep-19-lauren-hall-%e2%80%94-whats-wrong-with-modern-healthcare/  4. Edwards Slingerland’s episode “How Has Alcohol Influenced Civilizations?” of The Curious Task Podcast Link: https://thecurioustask.podbean.com/e/ep-159-edward-slingerland-how-has-alcohol-influenced-civilization/  5. Jayme Lemke’s episode “Who Was Elinor Ostrum?” of The Curious Task Podcast Link: https://thecurioustask.podbean.com/e/episode-201-jayme-lemke-who-was-elinor-ostrom/  6. Emily Chamlee-Wright’s episode “Why Work to Advance Liberalism?” of The Curious Task Podcast Link: https://thecurioustask.podbean.com/e/ep-150-emily-chamlee-wright-why-work-to-advance-liberalism/  7. Sarah Skwire’s episode “Can Literature Influence Liberalism?” of The Curious Task Podcast Link: https://thecurioustask.podbean.com/e/ep-152-sarah-skwire-can-literature-influence-liberalism/  8. Will Clare Roberts’s episode “What Was Marx’s Relation to Liberalism?” of The Curious Task Episode Link: https://thecurioustask.podbean.com/e/ep-124-will-clare-roberts-what-was-marx-s-relation-to-liberalism/

In their conversation from December 2019, Alex Aragona talks with Lauren Hall as she explores the problems with modern healthcare systems and some of the possible remedies. References 1. “The Medicalization of Birth and Death” by Lauren K. Hall Link: https://www.amazon.com/Medicalization-Birth-Death-Lauren-Hall/dp/1421433338  2. “Midwifery Licensing: Medicalization of Birth and Special Interests” by Steven Horowitz and Lauren Hall Link: https://www.mercatus.org/research/working-papers/midwifery-licensing-medicalization-birth-and-special-interests  3. “Caroline Malatesta opens up about birth trauma, bait-and-switch advertising of Alabama hospital” by Anna Claire Vollers Link: https://www.al.com/living/2016/08/malatesta_opens_up_about_birth.html  4. Jessica Flanigan’s episode “Should We Legalize All Drugs?” of The Curious Task Podcast Link: https://thecurioustask.podbean.com/e/ep-9-jessica-flanigan-%e2%80%94-should-we-legalize-all-drugs/

Alex speaks with Matt Bufton about Canada's unique approach to power, monarchy, and government and how happy accidents have led to one of the best-governed and most free countries on earth being ruled by a King - at least symbolically.  References 1. “The Governor General’s Decision to Prorogue Parliament: Parliamentary Democracy Defended or Endangered?” by Andrew Heard Link: https://www.constitutionalstudies.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/The-Governor-Generals-Decision-to-Prorogue-Parliament.pdf  2. Fraser Institute Link: https://www.fraserinstitute.org/  3. “When Jean Chretien wouldn’t ‘pass the torch’ 20 years ago” by CBC Archives Link: https://www.cbc.ca/archives/when-jean-chr%C3%A9tien-wouldn-t-pass-the-torch-20-years-ago-1.5480490 4. Victor M. Muniz-Fraticelli’s episode “Is Monarchy Absurd?” of The Curious Task Podcast Link: https://thecurioustask.podbean.com/e/ep-112-victor-m-muniz-fraticelli-is-monarchy-absurd/

Alex speaks with frequent guest Peter Jaworski about the gap between a moral obligation and the expectation that some specific institution ought to be the one to realize that moral obligation - especially an institution like the state.

Sabine speaks with Christy Horpedahl about the entrepreneurial spirit that imbues Penelope Fitzgerald's "The Bookshop".

Sabine speaks with the host of the Curious Task Alex Aragona to find out more about him, especially what he considers classical liberalism to be in its essence. 

Alex speaks with Jayme Lemke about the life, work, and legacy of American Nobel Prize-winning political economist Elinor Ostrom.  References 1. “Elinor Ostrum and the Bloomington School: Building a New Approach to Policy and Social Sciences” by Jayme Lemke and Vlad Tarko Link: https://www.amazon.com/Elinor-Ostrom-Bloomington-School-Building/dp/0228004152  2. Elinor Ostrum Publications  Link: https://ostromworkshop.indiana.edu/library/bibliographies/ostrom-elinor.html  3. Elinor Ostrum Fellowship, Mercatus Centre Link: https://www.mercatus.org/students/elinor-ostrom-fellowship

Alex speaks with Thomas Bunting about politics, democracy, social progress and more as they relate to baseball and athletics more broadly.