The Atlas Society Presents - Objectively Speaking
The Atlas Society
We promote open Objectivism: the philosophy of reason, achievement, individualism, and freedom.
Ayn Rand's philosophy of Objectivism was set forth in such works as her epic novel Atlas Shrugged, and in her brilliant non-fiction essays. Objectivism is designed as a guide to life, and celebrates the remarkable potential and power of the individual. Objectivism also challenges the doctrines of irrationalism, self-sacrifice, brute force, and collectivism that have brought centuries of chaos and misery into the lives of millions of individuals. It provides fascinating insights into the world of politics, art, education, foreign policy, science, and more, rewarding you with a rich understanding of how ideas shape your world. Those who discover Objectivism often describe the experience as life-changing and liberating.
Ayn Rand's philosophical works have been praised as presenting historic breakthroughs in thinking. At the Atlas Society, our scholars work to further develop this philosophy born in the mid-twentieth century. We present the empowering principles of Objectivism to a global audience, and offer those principles as a rational and moral alternative in the marketplace of philosophical ideas.
Ayn Rand's philosophy of Objectivism was set forth in such works as her epic novel Atlas Shrugged, and in her brilliant non-fiction essays. Objectivism is designed as a guide to life, and celebrates the remarkable potential and power of the individual. Objectivism also challenges the doctrines of irrationalism, self-sacrifice, brute force, and collectivism that have brought centuries of chaos and misery into the lives of millions of individuals. It provides fascinating insights into the world of politics, art, education, foreign policy, science, and more, rewarding you with a rich understanding of how ideas shape your world. Those who discover Objectivism often describe the experience as life-changing and liberating.
Ayn Rand's philosophical works have been praised as presenting historic breakthroughs in thinking. At the Atlas Society, our scholars work to further develop this philosophy born in the mid-twentieth century. We present the empowering principles of Objectivism to a global audience, and offer those principles as a rational and moral alternative in the marketplace of philosophical ideas.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Oct 7, 2025 • 1h 1min
How Politics Failed During COVID with Stephen J. Macedo
Join Atlas Society CEO Jennifer Grossman for the 271st episode of Objectively Speaking, where she speaks with Princeton Professor Stephen J. Macedo about his new book "In Covid’s Wake: How Our Politics Failed Us," which offers the first comprehensive political assessment of our pandemic response and raises urgent questions about how governments abandoned pre-Covid preparedness plans, politicized science, and deepened inequality.
As the Laurance S. Rockefeller Professor of Politics and Acting Director of the University Center for Human Values at Princeton University, Macedo is the author of several books including Just Married: Same-Sex Couples, Monogamy, and the Future of Marriage and focuses his research on social justice exerted by various forms of globalization, especially immigration, and the problems raised by social media companies and the dangers of government efforts to policy “misinformation.”
Oct 1, 2025 • 57min
Does Border Enforcement Reduce Violent Crime? with Ken W. Good
Are deportations driving down violent crime in America? Some supporters are crediting the sharp increase in deportations for what could soon be the lowest U.S. murder rate on record. On the other hand, critics strongly argue that deportation sweeps unfairly target non-violent offenders and create fear within immigrant communities, discouraging victims and witnesses from cooperating with law enforcement.
Join Atlas Society CEO Jennifer Grossman for the 271st episode of Objectively Speaking when she interviews bail attorney Ken W. Good on the intersection of bail, crime, and immigration enforcement policies.
Sep 24, 2025 • 58min
Public Choice Theory and the Politics of Self-Interest with Stephen Hicks and Richard Salsman
Join Atlas Society Senior Scholars Stephen Hicks and Richard Salsman for a webinar exploring the intersection of “Public Choice” economics and Objectivism. Listen as the duo discuss how Public Choice theory challenges the idea of selfless government actors, and how Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged vividly dramatizes the consequences of political actors being driven by self-interest rather than the public good.
Sep 17, 2025 • 1h 1min
Is America an Idea? with David Kelley and Robert Tracinski
Join Atlas Society founder and Senior Scholar David Kelley, Ph.D., along with Senior Fellow Robert Tracinski, for the 268th episode of Objectively Speaking and a special webinar exploring what it means for a nation to be defined by ideas rather than ancestry or geography. From the Constitution to immigration, from debates with national conservatives to challenges from the anti-American left, the duo will examine the enduring principles that shaped America—and why defending them is more important than ever.
Sep 10, 2025 • 56min
Who Needs College Anymore? with Kathleen deLaski
In this engaging discussion, Kathleen deLaski, founder of Education Design Lab and author of *Who Needs College Anymore?*, shares her insights on rethinking higher education. She highlights the challenges faced by 'new majority learners' and critiques traditional college pathways. DeLaski emphasizes innovative education models, like community colleges and apprenticeships, tailored to job market needs. Additionally, she dives into the implications of student debt on admissions and the shifting preference for skill-based hiring over traditional degrees.
Aug 27, 2025 • 59min
How to Fight Wokism with Eric Kaufmann
Join Atlas CEO Jennifer Grossman for the 266th episode of Objectively Speaking, where she interviews returning guest Eric Kaufmann about his latest book, “The Third Awokening: A 12-Point Plan for Rolling Back Progressive Extremism,” which explores the rise of “woke” ideology and proposes a concrete strategy to counter its influence.
Eric Kaufmann is a Canadian Professor of Politics at the University of Buckingham, adjunct fellow at the Manhattan Institute, and a previous guest on Objectively Speaking, where he spoke on his book “Whiteshift: Populism, Immigration and the Future of White Majorities.” A specialist on cultural politics, religious and national identity, and demography, Kaufmann has authored, co-authored, and edited multiple books, including “The Rise and Fall of Anglo-America” and “Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth.”
Aug 20, 2025 • 55min
How "Low Culture" Captured Politics with Ross Benes
What if the cultural quirks of the late ’90s weren’t just nostalgia, but the blueprint for today’s America?
Join Atlas CEO Jennifer Grossman for the 265th episode of Objectively Speaking, where she interviews author Ross Benes about his new book “1999: The Year Low Culture Conquered America and Kickstarted Our Bizarre Times,” which demonstrates how many of the strangest cultural features of 1999 have signaled and paved the way for the coarsening of American life today.
Ross Benes is an author, journalist, and research analyst who has written for outlets, including Huffpost, The Nation, Rolling Stone, Smithsonian Magazine, and has also written several books, including The Sex Effect and Rural Rebellion: How Nebraska Became a Republican Stronghold.
Aug 5, 2025 • 56min
How to Be an Intentional Entrepreneur with Peter Worrell
Join Atlas CEO Jennifer Grossman for the 264th episode of Objectively Speaking, where she interviews returning guest Peter Worrell about his latest book “INTENTION: Unlocking The Lifeforce Inside High-Performing Entrepreneurs” which explores what truly drives entrepreneurial success—not just strategy and execution, but the deep, inner forces of intention, resilience, and alignment.
Being a successful entrepreneur takes more than strategy and execution, but draws on the deep, inner forces of intention, resilience, grit, and creativity. How to unleash these qualities is a question Peter Worrell explores in his latest book, "INTENTION: Unlocking The Lifeforce Inside High-Performing Entrepreneurs." And it’s a topic that Worrell has had decades studying, having helped countless Entrepreneur Owner-Managers to build and ultimately capture the Enterprise Value they’ve tirelessly built, in his capacity as Managing Director of Bigelow LLC. Worrell is also the author of "Enterprise Value: How the Best Owner-Managers Build Their Fortune, Capture Their Company’s Gains, and Create Their Legacy," and host of the Enterprise Value Podcast.
Jul 30, 2025 • 1h 2min
The Lessons of Lockdowns with David Zweig
Join Atlas CEO Jennifer Grossman for the 263rd episode of Objectively Speaking, where she interviews journalist David Zweig about his book "An Abundance of Caution: American Schools, the Virus, and a Story of Bad Decisions,” which offers a devastating account of the decision-making process behind one of the worst American policy failures in a century—the extended closures of public schools during the pandemic.
David Zweig is a writer, musician, and freelance journalist whose articles have appeared in a variety of publications, including The Atlantic, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Free Press, and, most often, his newsletter, Silent Lunch. Zweig has testified twice before Congress as an expert witness on school policies during the pandemic, and his investigative reporting on pandemic policies has been cited in numerous Congressional letters and a brief to the Supreme Court.
Jul 24, 2025 • 58min
How Tech Empowered the Populist Right with Martin Gurri
Join Atlas Society CEO Jennifer Grossman for the 262nd episode of Objectively Speaking, where she interviews former CIA analyst Martin Gurri about his book "The Revolt of the Public and the Crisis of Authority in the New Millennium."
Why has trust in the “expert” class cratered? What explains the rise of populism around the world? Why do people view the once-vaunted Fourth Estate as little more than “Fake News”? Turns out author Martin Gurri anticipated these questions in his prophetic 2014 book, The Revolt of the Public and the Crisis of Authority in the New Millennium, which tells the story of how insurgencies, enabled by digital devices and a vast information sphere, have mobilized millions of ordinary people around the world. He’s now updated his original to include an extensive analysis of Donald Trump’s improbable rise to the presidency and the electoral triumphs of Brexit. A former CIA analyst, Gurri writes extensively on geopolitical and media-related topics for multiple outlets, including The Free Press and his blog, The Fifth Wave.
