The Ayn Rand Institute Podcast

OCON 2026: A Preview of 6 Talks 04.06.2026 35min

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGcfnm1gELw Podcast audio: In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Elan Journo talks with Ben Bayer, Robertas Bakula, Alex Silverman, Audra Hilse, Sam Weaver, and Keith Lockitch about their upcoming talks at OCON 2026 in New Orleans. Speakers include: Bayer: Ayn Rand on progress Bakula: antitrust is anti-production Silverman: metaphysics of productiveness Hilse: publishing We the Living Weaver: Milton’s Paradise Lost Lockitch: Descartes and Newton on the rainbow

Jeff Bezos Admirably Defends Wealth Creation 29.05.2026 1j 2min

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRK4oqOHr4s Podcast audio: In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Robertas Bakula and Onkar Ghate discuss Jeff Bezos' recent high-profile CNBC interview with Andrew Sorkin on wealth, attacks on billionaires, and government waste. Topics include: Bezos’ Admirable Mind Trend of Villainizing Businessmen The Zero-Sum Fallacy The Incompetence of Government Collectivist Defense of Profit Inequality is not a bug The Role of Intellectuals Resources: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand This episode was recorded on May 28, 2026. Image credit: Michael M. Santiago / staff / via Getty Images

Marc Andreessen Fails to Recognize the Importance of Introspection 28.05.2026 44min

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKYKHBdO6-I Podcast audio: In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Onkar Ghate and Tristan de Liège analyze Marc Andreesen’s recent controversial comments rejecting introspection. Topics include: What introspection really is Introspection and success Introspection and moral responsibility Earned and unearned guilt Resources: The Ayn Rand Lexicon entry on Introspection This episode was recorded on May 13, 2026. Image credit: Michael Kovac / Stringer / via Getty Images

Projecting Weakness: The Iran War Stalemate and Trump’s China Visit 22.05.2026 37min

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSyqrwXEtBQ Podcast audio: In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Onkar Ghate and Elan Journo discuss the war and subsequent negotiations with Iran, and Trump’s visit to China. Topics include: The war’s shifting purpose The Hormuz evasion Whim over strategy Evading Iran’s nature Stalemate as defeat Projecting weakness worldwide Abandoning American ideals This episode was recorded on May 20th. Image credits: Trump: Saul Loeb / AFP / via Getty Images; China and Iran Flags: Viacheslav Chernobrovin / iStock / via Getty Images

Trump’s Monument-Building vs. American Founding Ideas 21.05.2026 59min

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YKNDXS3NOY Podcast audio: In this episode of The Ayn Rand Institute Podcast, Sam Weaver and Ben Bayer discuss the significance of President Trump’s efforts to construct new government monuments and put his name and face on federal buildings and documents. Topics Include: Trump’s initiatives Why symbols matter Historical monument-building America’s distinctive history How Trump compares Relation to Trump’s policies Rand on monuments Trump’s pursuit of prestige Public response Resources: “The Monument Builders” in The Virtue of Selfishness by Ayn Rand “Don’t Let It Go” in Philosophy: Who Needs It by Ayn Rand “The Anti-Intellectuality of Donald Trump” by Onkar Ghate “One Small Step for Dictatorship” by Onkar Ghate This episode was recorded on May 8, 2026. Image credit: Kevin Dietsch / Staff / via Getty Images

How Effective Is Ken Griffin’s Response to Zohran Mamdani? 14.05.2026 40min

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JW_xItSGlM Podcast audio: In this episode of The Ayn Rand Institute Podcast, Robertas Bakula and Onkar Ghate discuss Ken Griffin’s reaction to Zohran Mamdami's attack on his wealth and life, and the appropriate stance that individuals in Griffin's position should take against such attacks. Topics include: Mamdani’s Attack on Ken Griffin Real Threat to Griffin’s Life and Safety Griffin’s Courageous Defense of the American Dream Griffin’s Concession Sanction of the Victim Animal Farm is Pro-Socialism Anthem and Atlas Shrugged as Better Alternatives A Principled Stance vs. Martyrdom Resources: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand Anthem by Ayn Rand The Sanction of the Victim by Ayn Rand This episode was recorded on May 11, 2026. Image credits: Griffin: Fabrice Coffrini / AFP / via Getty Images; Mamdani: Spencer Platt / via Getty Images

Bart Ehrman on the Christian Origins of Altruistic Morality 12.05.2026 49min

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62w3EFQML58 Podcast audio: In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Ben Bayer interviews Professor Bart Ehrman about his new book on the Christian roots of altruist ethics. Christian vs. pagan ethics The true meaning of Christian “love” Apocalyptic roots of Christian ethics Are Christian ethics rational? Ehrman’s work Resources: Bart Ehrman, Love Thy Stranger: How Christianity Transformed the Moral Conscience of the West Ben Bayer, “How Christianity Polluted the Moral Atmosphere of the West,” New Ideal, February 5, 2025. This episode was recorded on April 22, 2026.

Why the Red/Blue Button Moral Dilemma is a Trap 07.05.2026 55min

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzfiohcZhGo Podcast audio: In this episode of The Ayn Rand Institute Podcast, Robertas Bakula and Ben Bayer discuss the viral Red vs. Blue Button dilemma. Topics include: The Viral Dilemma The Case for Red The Case for Blue The False Choice Comparison to the Trolley Problem Ayn Rand’s Alternative Approach to Morality Resources: “Ethics of Emergencies,” Ayn Rand, The Virtue of Selfishness “Why Today’s Ethics Offers No Real Guidance,” Ben Bayer, New Ideal, November 18, 2020 Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand This episode was recorded on April 24, 2026. Image Credit: traffic_analyzer / DigitalVision Vectors / via Getty Images

The Unconstitutional, Immoral Military Draft 30.04.2026 42min

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nZD3IdL4PY Podcast audio: In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Ben Bayer and Tristan de Liège discuss the military draft in light of recent changes to the Selective Service System. Debating Selective Service System changes Unconstitutionality of the draft The immorality of the draft The impracticality of the draft Palantir’s endorsement of the draft Resources: Against The Un-American Call for National Service, ARI Podcast A Central Planner's Trojan Horse: The Technological Republic, ARI Podcast Ayn Rand, entry on the Draft, Ayn Rand Lexicon Ayn Rand, “Wreckage of the Consensus” in Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal This episode was recorded on April 22, 2026. Image credit: Andrew Harnik / staff / via Getty Images

Why the New York Times Justifies Theft and Tolerates Murder 29.04.2026 59min

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JK2AwyUtJtI Podcast audio: In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Ben Bayer and Robertas Bakula discuss the recent New York Times podcast justifying the “microlooting” of big corporations. “Microlooting” and Macrolooting Marxist rationalizations Signs of nihilism Anti-intellectual tribal signaling Hypocrisy and altruism Justifying murder Resources: Profit without Apology: The Need to Stand Up for Business, Onkar Ghate and Don Watkins The Marxists’ Exploitation Myth, ARI Podcast, Feb 26, 2025 Charlie Kirk’s Murder: Who Normalized Political Violence?, ARI Podcast, Sept 12, 2025 This episode was recorded on April 27, 2026. Image credit: AndreyPopov / iStock / via Getty Images

Marketing AI Without Empowering Resentment 23.04.2026 51min

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRML1GMxiUg Podcast audio: In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Ben Bayer, Mike Mazza, and Tristan de Liège discuss major publicity campaigns launched by AI companies to combat uncertainty and fear about the disruptive power of AI. The AI PR problem Valid marketing problems Valid marketing solutions Special problems re: misuse The invalid inequality concern Invalid regulatory concerns Altruism as appeasement Resources: Ayn Rand, “What is Capitalism?” in Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal, “The Age of Envy” in Return of the Primitive, and “Altruism as Appeasement” in The Voice of Reason. Threats to Regulate Artificial Intelligence, ARI Podcast, May 12, 2023 Anthropic vs. Trump: The Moral Responsibility of Tech Companies, ARI Podcast, 3/12/26 Don Watkins and Yaron Brook, Equal is Unfair This episode was recorded on April 17, 2026 Image credits: Altman: Anna Moneymaker / via Getty Images; Amodei: Chance Yeh / Stringer / via Getty Images

What It Takes to Learn a Philosophy 20.04.2026 20min

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdy_8p75jzM Podcast audio: This talk by Mike Mazza was recorded live on July 3rd in Boston, MA as part of the 2025 Objectivist Summer Conference and is available on the Ayn Rand Institute Podcast stream. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Watch archived podcasts here.

What People Get Wrong About Evil and the Iran War 16.04.2026 35min

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjHQq-bGX5w Podcast audio: In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Elan Journo and Onkar Ghate discuss Ayn Rand’s view of evil as fundamentally impotent, and what it reveals about Soviet Russia, Iran, and the failures of American foreign policy. The standard view of evil Evil as impotent Paradox of Soviet danger Illusion of Soviet technology Overstating Iran’s power Altruism empowering evil Resources: Ayn Rand, Lexicon entry on Evil and Sanction of the Victim Ayn Rand, “Galt’s Speech” in For the New Intellectual Ayn Rand, “Altruism as Appeasement” in The Voice of Reason Ayn Rand, “The Anatomy of Compromise” in Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal Onkar Ghate and Elan Journo’s, Failing to Confront Islamic Totalitarianism: What Went Wrong After 9/11 Elan Journo, Winning the Unwinnable War: America’s Self-Crippled Response to Islamic Totalitarianism This episode was recorded on 04/10/2026.

Why Is Israel Blamed for the Iran War? 10.04.2026 46min

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mU5EJxVtork Podcast audio: In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Ben Bayer and Elan Journo discuss recent conspiracism about Israel’s role in the Iran war.Topics include: Facts conspiracists distort Facts conspiracists evade The conspiracist mentality An anti-conceptual culture Decades of unprincipled foreign policy Tribalism and conspiracism Evading America’s deadly morality Resources: Ayn Rand Lexicon entries on the anti-conceptual mentality, the arbitrary, and tribalism Ayn Rand, “For the New Intellectual” in For the New Intellectual This episode was recorded on April 8, 2026.

The Humiliating Iran Ceasefire Deal 09.04.2026 28min

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opUGimR5nr0 Podcast audio: In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Ben Bayer and Elan Journo discuss recent conspiracism about Israel’s role in the Iran war. Facts conspiracists distort Facts conspiracists evade The conspiracist mentality An anti-conceptual culture Decades of unprincipled foreign policy Tribalism and conspiracism Evading America’s deadly morality Resources: Ayn Rand Lexicon entries on the anti-conceptual mentality, the arbitrary, and tribalism Ayn Rand, “For the New Intellectual” in For the New Intellectual This episode was recorded on April 8, 2026 Image credit: STR / AFP / via Getty Images

Artemis II Is Inspiring – but NASA Is Holding Back Space Exploration 03.04.2026 27min

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8snaqpmo24 Podcast audio: In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Agustina Vergara Cid and Mike Mazza discuss the launch of Artemis II and the future of space exploration. Topics covered: The cultural reaction the launch of Artemis II Why it took 50 years to go back to lunar space The reactions to the achievements of private space companies How NASA is slowing down progress in space Mentioned in the discussion were Mike Mazza’s articles “Freedom to Launch: How Deregulation Created a Space Renaissance,” “Space Renaissance: How Freedom Created Progress in the Space Industry,” and “NASA’s Plan to Impede Space Commercialization.” This episode was recorded on April 2, 2026. Image credit: Chip Somodevilla / via Getty Images

Why Billionaires Don’t Owe California Anything 26.03.2026 1j 4min

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3T3Zekd7xfE Podcast audio: In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Robertas Bakula and Onkar Ghate discuss California’s Billionaire Wealth Tax proposal. California’s budget and welfare crisis Challenging the "fair share" narrative Injustice of retroactive taxation Productive ability vs. the welfare state The role of business visionaries This episode was recorded on March 19, 2026. Image credit: Patrick T. Fallon / AFP / via Getty Images

Trump Is Fighting for American Freedom Overseas While Killing It at Home 21.03.2026 45min

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKAe7rMPwjE Podcast audio: In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Elan Journo and Onkar Ghate discuss recent developments in the Iran war. Topics covered: Intro Moral vs. stated reasons for the war The Trump administration’s arbitrariness The government’s attacks on freedom at home The risks in leaving the war early The reaction of Trump’s base to the war Our un-American foreign policy This episode was recorded on March 20, 2026. Image credit: PeterPencil / DigitalVision Vectors / via Getty Images

Rubio’s Mystical and Racist View of the West is Anti-Civilization 19.03.2026 53min

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUha6pLRumY Podcast audio: In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Don Watkins and Sam Weaver discuss Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s recent speech at the Munich Security Conference and the tribal conception of Western civilization that he advocates. Civilization as a project Rubio’s superficial view Christianity vs. civilization Racist undertones Nationalist false alternative Resources: Ayn Rand, “Man’s Rights” Ayn Rand, “Racism” Elan Journo, “The Virulent Pull of Tribalism” Onkar Ghate, “Finding Morality and Happiness Without God” This episode was recorded on March 12, 2026. Image credit: Alex Brandon / POOL / AFP via Getty Images

Anthropic vs. Trump: The Moral Responsibility of Tech Companies 12.03.2026 47min

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vh7hO-q_gb4 Podcast audio: In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Ben Bayer and Mike Mazza discuss the recent standoff between Anthropic and the Defense Department over military use of AI technology, and the moral questions faced by those creating weapons of war. Anthropic’s reasoning Authoritarian threats Ayn Rand’s “To Young Scientists” Moral sanction Resources: Ayn Rand, “To Young Scientists” Ayn Rand Lexicon entry on the sanction of the Victim Ben Bayer, “Effective Altruism’s Faith-Based Sacrifice for the Future” This episode was recorded on March 6, 2026. Image credit: Pavlo Gonchar / SOPA Images / LightRocket / via Getty Images