

The Political Orphanage
Andrew Heaton
Politics minus bile plus jokes. Comedian and avowed independent Andrew Heaton interviews authors and thought leaders about policy and big thinky stuff.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 9, 2023 • 59min
Upwingers Fighting Downwingers
Dr. Steve Fuller of Warwick University says the meaningful split in society is not Leftwing vs. Rightwing, but rather Upwing vs. Downwing. Both have radically different attitudes to both risk and human nature, which informs their policy decisions and the direction they want to steer society. SUPPORT THE SHOW! www.patreon.com/andrewheaton Dr. Fuller's book at: www.mightyheaton.com/featured Referenced in the show today: TPO: "Was Abraham Lincoln Leftwing or Rightwing?" https://politicalorphanage.libsyn.com/hyrum-lewis "Transcenant Man" – Documentary by Ray Kurzweill about the Singularity https://www.amazon.co.uk/Transcendent-Man-Ray-Kurzweil/dp/B016V7WCLA ATA: The Bioethics of Gattica – Discussed on Alienating the Audience https://alienating.libsyn.com/gattaca ATA: How Cryonics Works – Interview on Alienating the Audience https://alienating.libsyn.com/we-can-freeze-you-how-cryonics-works

Aug 2, 2023 • 1h 16min
Lizard People and SuperPACs
Lawrence Lessig of Harvard University is the nation's foremost thinker and advocate for campaign finance reform around SuperPAC's. He joins the show to argue for governing political campaigns and SuperPAC's under the same rules. Lessig's website and contest: https://equalcitizens.us/crowdfund-video/

Jul 26, 2023 • 1h 19min
How to Spot Statistical Garbage
Statistics can be mangled to say whatever you'd like, and sometimes they're garbage to begin with. Aaron Brown teaches statistics at New York University and at the University of California. He joins to tip us off on statistical malfeasance.

Jul 19, 2023 • 1h 9min
Government Minus Geography
America is less geographically-focused than ever, but her government is still foundationally built around land areas. What would politics look like if geography played less of a role? Max Borders joins to discuss. SUPPORT THE SHOW! Patreon.com/andrewheaton TOP TEN EPISODES: www.mightyheaton.com/bestof Max's Constitution writing contest: https://underthrow.substack.com/p/the-constitution-of-consent-contest Referenced Today: The Network State, by Balaji Srinivasan The Dawn of Everything, by David Graeber and David Wengrow

Jul 12, 2023 • 1h 14min
The Economics of Bad Films
Thom Taylor is Los Angeles financial advisor who spent a decade writing for movie magazines. He knows the creative and business side of Hollywood, and how the current writer strike is apt to alter the trajectory of entertainment. Thom's website is www.delreycap.com Raymond Chandler article: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1945/11/writers-in-hollywood/306454/?fbclid=IwAR1_W5PZ_esxYb8WCRViCmsVfnEyyw8eedUhOVN1hiPrXQ3ji3nIYemTtOI

Jul 6, 2023 • 1h 14min
Clarence Thomas Hates Affirmative Action
Last week the Supreme Court effectively banned race considerations in higher education admissions. Anastasia Boden returns to discuss the relevant constitutional law, and the underlying ideological issues. Support the show! www.patreon.com/andrewheaton Top Ten Episodes: mightyheaton.com/bestof Mugs at: www.mightyheaton.com/merch Anastasia's Twitter: @Anastasia_esq

4 snips
Jun 29, 2023 • 1h 8min
The Longest Happiness Study in History
The Harvard Study of Adult Development spans 83-years of health and happiness data analysis, and counting! Its director is Dr. Robert Waldinger, author of "The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness." He joins to discuss his findings. Support the show! www.patreon.com/andrewheaton Top 10 Episodes! www.mightyheaton.com/bestof Discord Link: https://discord.gg/9JnUfp627n Find the Book at: www.mightyheaton.com/featured Waldinger's Sangha: http://newtonzen.org/teachers.html

Jun 21, 2023 • 1h 24min
Cancel Culture Runs Out of Steam (WSPN)
The World's Smartest Podcast Networks convenes to ask: is Cancel Culture on its way out? Comedian Hannah Gadsby's art exhibit "Pablo-Matic" draws attention to the misogynist side of Pablo Picasso… but didn't seem to get much attention itself. Turner Sparks, Andrea Jones-Rooy, and Andrew Heaton combine forces to discuss the end of Cancel Culture and how funny comedy needs to be to be comedy. NYT piece: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/01/arts/design/hannah-gadsby-brooklyn-museum-picasso.html Poll: Who Gets Canceled? https://www.patreon.com/posts/poll-who-gets-84935788?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

Jun 15, 2023 • 1h 41min
Because of the Commerce Clause!
Attorney Anna Gorisch returns to explain the Commerce Clause, and how it's gone from a restraint on state-on-state protectionism to a trump card for federal oversight to subvert local control.

19 snips
Jun 7, 2023 • 1h 8min
Big Ag's Meat Ethics
This episode we dive into animal suffering, big agriculture, and the laws Big Meat has on the books to restrict freedom of speech. As well as what basic animal welfare laws would look like, and how much they would cost. Guest Lewis Bollard leads Open Philanthropy's strategy for Animal Farm Welfare. TOP EPISODES: www.mightyheaton.com/bestof SUPPORT THE SHOW! www.patreon.com/andrewheaton


