Let People Prosper

My family recently returned to Texas after a week-long vacation in Colorado. It was heartbreaking to come home to news of the deadly flooding in Kerrville, which took so many lives. While our area was spared, the grief and devastation in nearby communities are deeply felt. My prayers are with the families who are mourning and those beginning the hard work of rebuilding.Policy usually slows down in the summer, but this year is different. From the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill to new tariff developments and a special legislative session starting in Texas next week, there’s a lot to catch up on.You can catch the full episode on YouTube, Apple Podcast, or Spotify.Visit: VanceGinn.comSubscribe: VanceGinn.Substack.com

What happens when men lose their sense of meaning? Why are so many in their prime—ages 25 to 45—struggling to lead lives that matter?In this week’s Let People Prosper Show, I talk with Rick Walker, entrepreneur and author of 9 Steps to Build a Life of Meaning, about the personal and cultural challenges facing today’s men. We delve into topics ranging from failure and faith to entrepreneurship, books, family, and the transformative power of silence. Rick shares hard-won lessons from business, nonprofit work, and fatherhood—and he doesn’t hold back. This episode serves as a wake-up call and a roadmap for those who are ready to take personal responsibility and grow.For more insights, visit vanceginn.com. You can also get even greater value by subscribing to my Substack newsletter at vanceginn.substack.com. 

There's no shortage of economic confusion in Washington, from tariffs and trade wars to myths about trade deficits. But these misguided narratives lead to bad policies that raise consumer costs, hurt workers, and weaken America’s economy.Let’s set the record straight.Tariffs don’t create jobs—they destroy them. Protectionism raises prices, stifles innovation, and undermines our competitiveness. It’s time to get back to economic basics.During This Week’s Economy, I’m breaking down what trade is, why it matters, and how free markets—not government planners—create prosperity.You can catch the full episode on YouTube, Apple Podcast, or Spotify.Visit: VanceGinn.comSubscribe: VanceGinn.Substack.com

What if education dollars followed students, not systems?That’s the idea Milton Friedman planted decades ago, and it’s the one powering the school choice revolution sweeping America today. In this week’s Let People Prosper Show, I talk with Robert Enlow, President and CEO of EdChoice, to discuss how the movement is finally turning Friedman’s vision into reality.Robert brings deep experience and a clear-eyed view of what’s working—and what still needs fixing. We discuss Universal Education Savings Accounts (ESAs), state-level successes such as Arizona’s, the dangers of federal overreach, and the rapid growth of innovation in education across the country. If you care about parental rights, accountability, or economic freedom, this one’s for you.For more insights, visit vanceginn.com. You can also get even greater value by subscribing to my Substack newsletter at vanceginn.substack.com. 

Summer is typically a slow season for policy in D.C. and the states. Legislative sessions wrap up, and Congress heads into recess. But if you thought that meant a quiet summer, think again.With the bombings in the Middle East, the “One Big Beautiful Bill” moving slowly through Congress, and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott calling a special session, this summer is shaping up to be anything but calm.On This Week’s Economy, I expose what lawmakers should be focused on. Spoiler: it’s mostly about spending restraint and getting the government out of the way!You can catch the full episode on YouTube, Apple Podcast, or Spotify.Visit: VanceGinn.comSubscribe: VanceGinn.Substack.com

Why does New Mexico, rich in resources and culture, remain poor in economic freedom?That’s the question I explore in this week’s Let People Prosper Show with Paul Gessing, president of the Rio Grande Foundation. Paul brings nearly two decades of insight into New Mexico’s political and economic trends, offering a sobering look at why the state is falling behind and what must change to turn it around.New Mexico has a shrinking population, high poverty, and a growing dependency on government, despite a $61 billion sovereign wealth fund and booming oil revenues. The problem isn’t money; it’s policy.For more insights, visit vanceginn.com. You can also get even greater value by subscribing to my Substack newsletter at vanceginn.substack.com. 

What’s driving state-level prosperity—or stagnation?While Washington obsesses over headlines and dysfunction, the real policy battles shaping Americans’ lives are happening in state capitals. From tax cuts and spending reforms to school choice and regulatory rollbacks, we’re seeing a tale of two paths: one that embraces economic freedom and another that doubles down on top-down control.In this episode of This Week’s Economy, I talk with Patrick Gleason, Vice President of State Affairs at Americans for Tax Reform and regular contributor to Forbes, about the most important trends in state policy. We get into who’s doing it right, who’s doing it wrong, and how to push back against the growing threats of government overreach.You can catch the full episode on YouTube, Apple Podcast, or Spotify.Visit: VanceGinn.comSubscribe: VanceGinn.Substack.com

Is capitalism really crushing the middle class—or are bad policies and worse narratives to blame?In this episode of the Let People Prosper Show, I’m joined by Dr. Norbert Michel, vice president and director of the Cato Institute’s Center for Monetary and Fiscal Alternatives. We dig into his new book, Crushing Capitalism: How Populist Policies Are Threatening The American Dream.Norbert pulls back the curtain on the false story of a stagnating middle class, exposes the economic harms of tariffs and industrial policy, and makes the principled case for decentralization and free-market capitalism. This is a must-listen if you’re tired of political narratives distorting economic reality—and want honest solutions that let people prosper.For more insights, visit vanceginn.com. You can also get even greater value by subscribing to my Substack newsletter at vanceginn.substack.com. 

There’s been a lot of conflict making headlines lately—from the clash between Elon Musk and President Trump over the “Big, Beautiful Bill” (BBB) to riots in Los Angeles sparked by immigration raids. These events all point to the true national emergency: overspending in Washington. Congress has a critical opportunity to take action. As a strong advocate for sustainable budgeting, we must cut current spending, not just slow the growth as in “DC speak,” but actually reduce spending to at least 2019 levels before COVID nonsense, and cap annual spending growth to a maximum rate based on population growth plus inflation. Instead, lawmakers discuss raising the federal debt ceiling by up to $5 trillion with the BBB.In this week’s episode, I explain why now is the time to restore fiscal discipline. Americans are already feeling the strain of rising costs due to inflation. Our leaders have the power to address this crisis by tackling Washington’s out-of-control spending. You can catch the full episode on YouTube, Apple Podcast, or Spotify.Visit: VanceGinn.comSubscribe: VanceGinn.Substack.com

Can 12-year-olds really grasp supply and demand, entrepreneurship, and the role of government in the economy? In this episode of the Let People Prosper Show, I talk with Jon Foster, a passionate advocate for teaching economics early and often. As a former leader in Junior Achievement and president of the Middle School MBA, Jon is on a mission to improve economic literacy where it matters most—before bad ideas take root. We discuss the gaps in today’s education system, how teachers can better engage students, and why real-world application is key to shaping informed citizens. For more insights, visit vanceginn.com. You can also get even greater value by subscribing to my Substack newsletter at vanceginn.substack.com.