

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 25, 2023 • 33min
The Atlas Society Asks Kevin Sorbo
Join CEO Jennifer Grossman for a special episode of The Atlas Society Asks where she interviews actor, producer, and director Kevin Sorbo, who joins to talk about the new independent film produced with his wife, Sam Sorbo, "The Miracle in East Texas," TO BE RELEASED IN THEATERS NATIONWIDE ON OCTOBER 29 & 30.
Kevin Sorbo clearly needs no introduction, as most of our audience knows him as an actor, producer, and director, famous for his starring roles in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Gene Rodenberry’s Andromeda. He is also the author of several books, including True Strength: My Journey from Hercules to Mere Mortal—and How Nearly Dying Saved My Life and the children's book The Test of Lionhood.

Oct 18, 2023 • 1h 2min
The Soul of Civility: The Atlas Society Asks Alexandra Hudson
Join CEO Jennifer Grossman for the 175th episode of The Atlas Society Asks where founder and curator of Civic Renaissance, Alexandra Hudson, joins to discuss her new book "The Soul of Civility: Timeless Principles to Heal Society and Ourselves."
Alexandra Hudson is the founder and curator of Civic Renaissance, a publication, newsletter, and community dedicated to ennobling our modern public discourse with the wisdom of the past. She earned a master’s degree in public policy at the London School of Economics as a Rotary Scholar and was named the 2020 Novak Journalism Fellow. Her new book "The Soul of Civility: Timeless Principles to Heal Society and Ourselves" seeks to mend division, empower readers to live tolerantly with others, and debate issues rather than silencing disagreements.

Oct 12, 2023 • 1h 1min
ISRAEL UNDER SEIGE: On the Ground with Michael Kauffman
The news out of Israel this weekend was so horrifying and shocking, the anti-semitic celebration of the carnage so disheartening, the scope and implications of the crisis so overwhelming, that some may be tempted to unfocus the mind, routinely tending to your diurnal priorities—or as Rand put it: “If you don’t look…you are free to believe what you wish—and you experience a foggy, pleasant, but somehow guilty, kind of hope.”
For those living in Israel, there is no looking away from the immediate, existential threat presented by Hamas’s vicious terrorist invasion. That’s why this Thursday, we’re turning to Michael Kauffann, MD, Ph.D., on the ground in Tel Aviv with his wife and children, for his in-person, Objectivist perspective on the attacks. He will analyze the failure of Israeli intelligence and the deeper governmental dysfunction it represents, along with the ongoing Israeli defense response.
Michael Kauffman has spent the last 28 years in the pharmaceutical industry and currently splits his time between Tel Aviv, Israel, Miami, and Boston. A generous supporter of our work at The Atlas Society, he gave a keynote speech at our Galt’s Gulch student conference in Nashville this summer, decrying the alliance of the Mystics & the Muscle in Israeli politics, and advancing an agenda of how Objectivist principles must set the agenda for a flourishing democracy in the Jewish state.

Oct 11, 2023 • 1h 7min
Work, Abundance, & When Politicians Panicked: The Atlas Society Asks John Tamny
Join CEO Jennifer Grossman for the 173rd episode of The Atlas Society Asks where she interviews returning guest John Tamny. Director of the Center for Economic Freedom at FreedomWorks and editor at RealClear Markets, Tamny returns to talk about work, abundance, economics, and his two new books "When Politicians Panicked" and "The Money Confusion: How Illiteracy About Currencies and Inflation Sets the Stage for the Crypto Revolution."
John Tamny previously joined us back in 2020 to discuss his book "They’re Both Wrong: A Policy Guide for America’s Frustrated Independent Thinkers" along with changes to the workplace resulting from technology as well as from COVID-19 and government restrictions). He is the director of the Center for Economic Freedom at FreedomWorks and editor at RealClearMarkets, with many published articles in the areas of tax, trade, and monetary policy. He is also the founder of the new Parkview Institute.

Oct 6, 2023 • 58min
The Atlas Society Asks Chris Stirewalt
Join CEO Jennifer Grossman for the 172nd episode of The Atlas Society Asks where she interviews Senior Fellow of the American Enterprise Institute Chris Stirewalt about his latest book "Broken News: Why the Media Rage Machine Divides America and How to Fight Back."
Chris Stirewalt is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) and contributing editor for The Dispatch, where he focuses on American politics, voting trends, public opinion, and the media. He has worked for a variety of media outlets as a political editor, including Fox News Channel and the Washington Examiner.

Sep 27, 2023 • 60min
The Atlas Society Asks Brendan O'Neill
Join CEO Jennifer Grossman for the 171st episode of The Atlas Society Asks where she interviews British pundit and author Brendan O'Neill about his latest book "A Heretic's Manifesto: Essays on the Unsayable."
Brendan O'Neill was the editor of Spiked magazine from 2007 to 2021, and is now its chief political writer and is also a contributor to the Daily Telegraph and a variety of other publications across Europe and America. In his battle against cancel culture and groupthink, O’Neill has published several books including "A Duty to Offend," "Anti-Woke," and his latest book "A Heretic’s Manifesto: Essays on the Unsayable."

Sep 20, 2023 • 1h 5min
China's Economic Trouble & the BRICS Alliance: Current Events with Salsman & Tracinski
Join Senior Scholar Richard Salsman, Ph.D., and Senior Fellow Robert Tracinski for an Objectivist perspective on the damage to China’s economy since the CCP’s turn back towards central planning, along with a brief overview of the BRICS alliance and what that means for the U.S.

Sep 13, 2023 • 1h 1min
The Atlas Society Asks Jorge Díaz Cuervo
Join CEO Jennifer Grossman on the 169th episode of The Atlas Society Asks, where she interviews the president of the newly-founded Universidad de la Libertad in Mexico City, Jorge Díaz Cuervo. Listen as the duo discuss education and what is needed to create the next generation of liberty-lovers.
Jorge is a longtime advocate for government reforms having previously served in both the Mexican federal government as well as Mexico City’s local congress. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics, master’s degrees in both international management and management of social security systems, and a Ph.D. in law.

Sep 6, 2023 • 60min
The Altas Society Asks Michele Tafoya
Join CEO Jennifer Grossman on the 168th episode of The Atlas Society Asks, where she interviews famed American sportscaster Michele Tafoya and why her growing disenchantment with increasingly work sports coverage and desire to have a more unconstrained voice on politics led her to leave her longtime post at NBC Sunday Night Football.
Michele Tafoya runs the "Let's Get Sane" Substack Column and hosts the Michele Tafoya Podcast, where she interviews guests to discuss the state of American politics and culture. She is also the narrator of an upcoming documentary, "Triangle Park," based on the very first NFL game ever played -- at Triangle Park in Dayton, Ohio. Check out more from Michele Tafoya on her website: https://micheletafoya.com/

Aug 30, 2023 • 58min
The Atlas Society Asks Heather Mac Donald
Join CEO Jennifer Grossman on the 167th episode of The Atlas Society Asks, where she interviews critically acclaimed author Heather Mac Donald about her latest book "When Race Trumps Merit: How the Pursuit of Equity Sacrifices Excellence, Destroys Beauty, and Threatens Lives."
Heather Mac Donald is the Thomas W. Smith Fellow at the Manhattan Institute, a contributing editor at City Journal, and the 2005 recipient of the Bradley Prize. Mac Donald’s work covers a range of topics, from higher education and immigration to policing and race relations, with writings that have appeared in publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and New York Times.