Words & Numbers

Free the People
  • 4.8 (361)
  • Education
  • Updated Weekly

Words & Numbers is one of the highest-rated economics podcasts in the world. Each episode, Antony Davies and James R. Harrigan dig into economics, political science, and current events to explain what’s actually happening and why it matters.

  1. 1d ago

    Episode 509: The Girlfriend Experience

    Why look for a girlfriend when you can just build one yourself? 00:00 Introduction and Disclaimer 00:38 China Influence Operations and Free Speech 05:07 Pope Leo’s Slavery Apology 12:53 Kash Patel Website Hacked by Malware 15:44 The Growing Trend of AI Girlfriends 20:15 Why Young Men Trust AI Companions 24:19 Is AI Becoming Sentient? 29:06 The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence 33:04 AI Romance and Falling Birth Rates 39:40 Will AI Replace Human Jobs? 45:51 Closing Thoughts - Get the book by Ant & James: Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! ⁠⁠http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com⁠ Antony Davies on X ⁠⁠https://x.com/antonydavies⁠ James R. Harrigan on X ⁠⁠https://x.com/JamesRHarrigan

    47 min
  2. Episode 508: Insider Everything

    May 28

    Episode 508: Insider Everything

    Should insider trading be allowed? It seems like a straightforward question, so how did we end up also talking about sports betting and Polymarket? - Get the book by Ant & James: Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! ⁠http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com Antony Davies on X ⁠https://x.com/antonydavies James R. Harrigan on X ⁠https://x.com/JamesRHarrigan

    50 min
  3. Episode 507: Free These People

    May 20

    Episode 507: Free These People

    The inimitable Matt Kibbe, of Kibbe on Liberty joins us to spill the beans. Which beans? You’ll have to listen or watch to find out. 00:00 Introduction and Overview 00:24 Brazil’s Failing Medical Education System 04:59 Older Americans Turn to Marijuana Instead of Doctors 07:11 Kari Lake, Ambassadorships, and Political Loyalty 11:16 Trump, Obama, Third Terms, and Autocracy 14:40 Introduction: Matt Kibbe Joins the Show 16:24 Building Free the People and Communicating Liberty Through Storytelling 19:50 Why Stories Matter More Than Numbers in Economics 24:49 Libertarian Messaging and Reaching New Generations 28:04 Why Heroes Are Hard to Find 31:30 Trump, Influence, and Decentralized Cultural Power 33:54 Jordan Peterson, Responsibility, and Optimism 37:26 Fear, Freedom, and the Appeal of Certainty 42:12 Libertarianism, Progress, and Political Tribalism 45:12 Announcement: Words & Numbers Partners with Free the People 49:50 Growing Audiences, Social Media, and the Future of the Show 51:32 Closing Remarks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    55 min
  4. Episode 506: Where Have All The Men Gone?

    May 13

    Episode 506: Where Have All The Men Gone?

    What the hell is wrong with young men, and is there anything we can do to help? Max Borders joins us to diagnose the problem and offer a possible solution. Disclaimer: Max and James are starting a new project together. 00:00 Introduction and Overview 00:24 The 25th Amendment and Presidential Incapacity 04:05 Biden, Kamala Harris, and Political Responsibility 06:25 Gerald Ford, Nixon, and Presidential Stability 08:36 Gas Prices and the Federal Gas Tax Debate 11:56 Age Verification Laws and VPN Workarounds 15:52 Introduction to Max Borders and the Crisis Facing Young Men 19:06 Toxic Masculinity, Smartphones, and the Rise of the Manosphere 21:55 Role Models, Mentorship, and the Loss of Masculine Guidance 27:42 Feminization, Ambition, and the Balance Between Masculine and Feminine Virtues 33:08 Young Men, Dating Culture, and Social Withdrawal 38:49 Dating Apps, Workplaces, and the Decline of Real-World Relationships 42:53 Young Men Falling Behind in Education and Life 48:25 Parenting, Discipline, Trauma Culture, and Resilience 59:08 The Manosphere, Positive Masculinity, and the Chrysalis Project Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    1h 12m
  5. Episode 505: Owning the (Post) Libs

    May 6

    Episode 505: Owning the (Post) Libs

    How did all the Post-Liberals get on the Goulash Train? And what are Post-Liberals? And what is (or more to the point, was) the Goulash Train? With guest Phil Magness. 00:00 Introduction and Disclaimer 01:44 Fast-Track Degrees and Credential Culture 03:53 Online Learning and Gaming the System 05:11 AI, Universities, and Lecture Ownership 08:04 AI Replacing Professors and Higher Ed Decline 09:55 The Collapse of Higher Education 11:29 Credentials vs Real Education 12:54 Guest Introduction: Phil Magness 13:56 Viktor Orbán and Hungary’s Political Shift 16:11 Hungary, Russia, and Ukraine Context 17:44 Orbán’s Election Loss and Fallout 19:29 Why Hungary Matters to the U.S. 20:45 Post-Liberalism Explained 27:36 Carl Schmitt and Authoritarian Theory 31:21 Hungary as a Model for Post-Liberalism 36:11 State Power, Economics, and Policy Failures 41:37 U.S. Connections and the “Goulash Train” 46:27 Post-Liberalism as a Fringe Movement 49:20 Liberalism vs Post-Liberal Ideology 51:38 Historical Parallels and Authoritarian Models 54:53 U.S. Political Implications and Closing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    59 min
  6. Episode 504: Privileges & Immunities

    Apr 29

    Episode 504: Privileges & Immunities

    Privileges and/or Immunities, Necessary and/or Proper, and Cruel and/or Unusual, with guest Clark Neily. 00:00 Introduction and Disclaimer 00:37 Congress Approval Ratings Hit 10% 02:08 King Charles on Checks and Balances 03:17 Is Congress Failing Its Constitutional Role? 04:19 Jimmy Kimmel Controversy and Media Fallout 06:05 Foolishness of the Week: Trump Passport Idea 08:13 Clark Neily Joins the Show 09:28 Comey Indictment and “8647” Controversy 12:11 Legal Interpretation and Prosecutorial Overreach 16:03 Is There a Growing Skepticism of Qualified Immunity? 17:58 What Qualified Immunity Actually Means 19:57 Absolute Immunity for Prosecutors Explained 23:44 Supreme Court Trends and Recent Rulings 24:19 Birthright Citizenship Debate 30:06 Constitutional Interpretation and “Cruel and Unusual” 34:07 Incorporation Doctrine and the 14th Amendment 40:28 Slaughterhouse Cases and Missed Legal Turning Point 45:35 Why Courts Resist Expanding Individual Rights 48:56 Supreme Court Power and Constitutional Limits Debate 50:59 Commerce Clause Expansion and Federal Overreach 57:51 Closing Discussion and Wrap-Up Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    59 min
  7. Episode 503: Is the American Dream Dead?

    Apr 22

    Episode 503: Is the American Dream Dead?

    Is the American Dream dead? A lot of people seem to think so, and perception is reality in politics. But what do the words and numbers actually say? 00:00 Introduction and Disclaimer 01:10 NYC Government Grocery Stores and “Fair Prices” 05:26 Why Socialist Grocery Models Break Down 09:27 Money, Markets, and Why the System Works 11:36 Prediction: Empty Shelves and Taxpayer Subsidies 13:29 UK Smoking Ban and Black Market Consequences 18:16 Foolishness of the Week: AI Influencer Scam 21:01 AI Content, OnlyFans, and the Future of Monetization 24:04 Is the American Dream Dead? 27:04 Perception vs Reality in the Economy 29:41 Real Wages, Housing, and Cost of Living 34:03 Why Life Feels More Expensive Today 37:40 Work, Lifestyle Expectations, and Generational Shifts 45:32 Consumer Sentiment, Social Media, and Economic Anxiety 52:12 Recession Fears and Policy Reality 56:33 Closing Remarks and Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    1h 1m
  8. Episode 502: Us & Them

    Apr 15

    Episode 502: Us & Them

    It’s not left v right, it’s us v them. 00:00 Introduction and Overview 00:27 AI Lawsuit and the Return of “Technology Panics” 01:04 The “Werther Effect” and Historical Media Fears 04:47 Does AI Cause Harm or Reflect the User? 07:46 Should AI Come With Warnings? 12:05 Hungary Politics and Viktor Orbán’s Defeat 15:29 Foolishness of the Week: Conspiracy Theories and Flat Earthers 18:14 Artemis II and the Persistence of Irrational Beliefs 20:28 Partisanship, Audience Reactions, and Perceived Bias 24:10 Why Both Parties Drift Toward Authoritarianism 28:55 Are Democrats and Republicans Actually Different? 32:37 “Them vs Us”: The Political Illusion 36:24 The Feedback Loop of Polarization 40:35 Debate Culture, Civility, and Online Discourse 43:23 How to Argue Without Attacking People 47:38 Final Thoughts: Be Skeptical, Be Civil, Be Kind Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    53 min
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4.8
out of 5
361 Ratings

About

Words & Numbers is one of the highest-rated economics podcasts in the world. Each episode, Antony Davies and James R. Harrigan dig into economics, political science, and current events to explain what’s actually happening and why it matters.

Information

  • Creator
    Free the People
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    514
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Free the People
  • Show Website
    Words & Numbers

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