The Atlas Society Presents - Objectively Speaking

Join Atlas Society CEO Jennifer Grossman for the 259th episode of The Atlas Society Asks where she interviews author Robert Bidinotto about his new book "A Rebel In Eden: The War Between Individualism and Environmentalism," which takes a deep dive into the movement’s mythological roots and highlights its scientifically bogus environmental scare campaigns. A previous editor for The Atlas Society’s The New Individualist, Robert Bidinotto has written nonfiction books such as "Criminal Justice?" and "Freed to Kill," as well as fiction such as the bestselling Dylan Hunter thriller series.

Join Atlas Society CEO Jennifer Grossman for the 258th episode of Objectively Speaking, where she interviews historian Jonathan W. White about his vast knowledge of Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War era as written in his more than 20 books on the topic. Jonathan W. White is a historian and the author or editor of more than 20 books and over 100 articles, essays, and reviews on Abraham Lincoln, the Civil War, slavery and emancipation, and the U.S. Constitution. Aside from teaching American studies at Christopher NewPort University, White wears many hats including Distinguished Lecturer for the Organization of American Historians, serving on the Boards of Directors of the Abraham Lincoln Institute and the Abraham Lincoln Association, along with being the Vice Chair of The Lincoln Forum. He published his first children’s book My Day with Abe Lincoln in 2024 with a new book planned for release later this fall.

Join Atlas CEO Jennifer Grossman for the 258th episode of Objectively Speaking, where she interviews Laura Delano about her book "Unshrunk: A Story of Psychiatric Treatment Resistance," which tells the story of Delano’s 14-year relationship to the American mental health industry and questions the dominant, rarely critiqued role that the American mental health industry, and the pharmaceutical industry in particular, plays in shaping what it means to be human. Laura Delano is a writer, speaker, and consultant, and the founder of Inner Compass Initiative, a charitable organization that helps people make informed choices about psychiatric diagnoses, drugs, and drug withdrawal. She is a leading voice in the international movement to offer patients an alternative to the medicalized, professionalized mental health industry. Delano works with individuals and families around the world who are seeking guidance and support during their withdrawal journeys and in their post-psychiatric lives.

Join Atlas Society CEO Jennifer Grossman for the 257th episode of Objectively Speaking where she interviews Brian Doherty about his new book "Modern Libertarianism: A Brief History of Classical Liberalism in the United States," which provides a concise, thorough account of the intellectual roots of the American libertarian movement, with helpful summaries of key figures, institutions, and events. As a senior editor at Reason magazine, Doherty is an award-winning journalist who has covered libertarian and conservative movement history, gun policy and legal history, tech innovation, environmental and trade policy, and cutting-edge American art movements. His previous books include "Radicals for Capitalism: A Freewheeling History of the Modern Libertarian Movement," "Gun Control on Trial," and "Ron Paul’s rEVOLution."

Join Atlas Society CEO Jennifer Grossman for the 256th episode of Objectively Speaking, where she interviews award-winning author Jimmy Soni about his 2022 book "The Founders: The Story of PayPal and the Entrepreneurs Who Shaped Silicon Valley." Jimmy Soni is the author of "The Founders: The Story of PayPal and the Entrepreneurs Who Shaped Silicon Valley," which explores PayPal’s turbulent early days and the stories of countless individuals who were left out of the front-page features and banner headlines but who were central to PayPal’s success. As an award-winning author, speechwriter, and former managing editor of The Huffington Post, his previous books include "A Mind at Play: How Claude Shannon Invented the Information Age" and "Rome’s Last Citizen: The Life and Legacy of Cato, Mortal Enemy of Caesar."

Guillaume Verdon, founder of Extropic and known for effective accelerationism, shares insights on the intersection of technology and personal liberty. He discusses the pitfalls of centralized AI and advocates for a decentralized approach to foster innovation. Verdon delves into the Kardashev scale, emphasizing sustainable energy for civilization's growth. He highlights the dual nature of AI, addressing misinformation while promoting equitable access to technology. The conversation also explores the timeline for launching innovative chip technology and the importance of individual agency in shaping AI's future.

Join Atlas Society founder and Senior Scholar David Kelley, Ph.D., along with Senior Scholar and Professor of Political Economy at Duke, Richard Salsman, Ph.D., for a special webinar exploring how influential ideas often fail to persuade when their terms are misunderstood, emotionally charged, or used unequivocally. "Intellectual influencers often fail to convince others of the truth of their concepts and principles when their targets don’t 'hear' what’s meant--or hear its opposite. Connotation (felt meaning) doesn’t always track denotation (literal meaning). Examples include atheism, selfishness, capitalism, power, equality, liberal, democracy, and progressive. Ideally, we define our terms and don’t equivocate, but each is likely amid today’s conceptual confusion, epistemological nominalism, and moral emotivism. People 'talk past each other' or dismiss debates as futile--'mere semantics.'"

Join Atlas Society CEO Jennifer Grossman for the 253rd episode of Objectively Speaking (formerly The Atlas Society Asks), where she interviews the CEO of the American Culture Project, John Tillman, about his work with the American Culture Project and Illinois Policy Institute, along with the moral case for celebrating entrepreneurial heroes. John Tillman is the CEO of the American Culture Project, an organization that attracts, educates, and mobilizes independent voters around the ideas of freedom and opportunity. He is also the chairman of the Illinois Policy Institute, one of the most influential state-based think tanks in the country, and a leader in the free-market, public-policy arena. 

Join Atlas Society CEO Jennifer Grossman for the 252nd episode of The Atlas Society Asks, where she speaks with Topher Field, one of Australia’s leading and most recognized Libertarian political commentators and human rights activists, about his book "Good People Break Bad Laws: Civil Disobedience in the Modern Age." Best known for his work on the front lines of the protests and pushback against draconian Covid lockdowns in Melbourne, Australia, Topher Field has been awarded 3 times by the Australian Libertarian Society, won 14 awards for his documentary Battleground Melbourne, is the host of The Aussie Wire, author of the book "Good People Break Bad Laws," and is a renowned public speaker and communicator of freedom.

Join CEO Jennifer Grossman for the 251st episode of The Atlas Society Asks where she interviews author, filmmaker, business executive, and retired National Champion gymnast, Jennifer Sey. Listen as the duo explore Sey's journey from elite gymnastics to corporate leadership and outspoken activism, exposing abuse in gymnastics (Chalked Up, Athlete A), fighting COVID lockdowns (Levi’s Unbuttoned), and her latest work on women’s sports. Jennifer Sey is an author, filmmaker, business executive, and retired National Champion gymnast. In her 2008 menor, Chalked Up, she exposed the abusive coaching practices in gymnastics, later producing the Emmy-award winning Netflix documentary Athlete A, which shed light on the crimes of Larry Nassar and the widespread abuse of athletes in the Olympic movement. As a fearless advocate for free speech, Sey also took a stand agains COVID-19 lockdowns, a battle she chronicles in Levi’s Unbottoned: The Woke Mob Took My Job but Gave Me My Voice. Today, she is the founder and CEO of XX-XY Athletics, a brand dedicated to defending women’s sports, and the director of the upcoming documentary Generation Covid, which examines the devastating impacted of prolonged school closures on children.