How The World Works

Kevin Williamson is joined by Jonathan Farber, an investor with experience in both the oil business and venture capital. They discuss Farber’s path into the energy world, how his work expanded from traditional oil markets into media and journalism, and what he has learned along the way. The conversation also explores how people inside the energy sector think about shifting supply and demand, uncertainty in global markets, and what those forces mean for investment, risk, and the future of energy.Watch the conversation on YouTube.

Kevin Williamson is joined by Brian Berberich, a veteran commercial filmmaker whose career has taken him from hands-on production roles to producing major commercial campaigns. They discuss how he found his way into the business, the demands of high-end commercial filmmaking, and why making car commercials can be more dangerous than audiences realize. The conversation also explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping production and what those changes mean for creative work going forward.Watch the conversation on YouTube.

Kevin Williamson is joined by Jason Samuels, a former train conductor and Marine Corps veteran now working in leadership within the American rail industry. They discuss Samuels’s path from military service to railroad operations, regulation, and research, and explore how modern freight rail actually works. The conversation covers safety, automation, drones, and the vital but often invisible role rail plays in moving goods, supporting agriculture, and sustaining the U.S. economy. Watch the conversation on YouTube.

Kevin Williamson is joined by Dr. Scott Jones, a resident at UVA Emergency Medicine with a diverse background including law, military service, and emergency medicine. Scott shares his journey from being a prosecutor to pursuing a medical career later in life, discussing the challenges and rewards of each profession. He reflects on his military training, experiences in the courtroom, and the realities of working in emergency medicine. 

Kevin D. Williamson is joined by Professor James Otteson of Notre Dame. They discuss the meaning of work, Adam Smith’s moral philosophy, and how Smith’s ideas connect to modern understandings of economics, ethics, and human motivation. They also discuss Otteson’s career path, the moral and philosophical underpinnings of capitalism, risk aversion, inequality, and how individuals can find purpose and meaning in their work.

Kevin D. Williamson is joined by Steve DelBianco, president and CEO of NetChoice, a trade association that works to make the Internet safe for free enterprise and free expression. They discuss the evolution of work, technology's impact on society, entrepreneurship, risk aversion, the rise of generative AI, and the challenges and opportunities these changes present for the labor force, regulation, and public policy.

Kevin D. Williamson is joined by Tyler Griffin, founder of SwiftPro, a successful family-owned HVAC and plumbing business located in Northern Virginia. They discuss the current macroeconomic status of trade industries, the practicality of college degrees, and the often-irrational trade-off between prestige and income in contemporary America. 

Kevin D. Williamson is joined by Rachel Barkley, Director of Able Americans, a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank project dedicated to advancing innovative, free-market solutions that empower Americans with intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities. They discuss America’s extensive safety net, spanning more than 80 programs across 14 agencies, and how to better measure success. Rachel also shares her own life-changing experience with a rare spinal cord tumor, along with her perspectives on healthcare, disability, and policy reform.

Kevin D. Williamson is joined by Adam Bellow, a leading figure in conservative publishing for more than 30 years. Together, they discuss the contemporary publishing landscape, literary controversies, and the complexities of publishing in today’s hyperpolitical climate.

Kevin D. Williamson is joined by Matthew Polstein, owner and operator of the New England Outdoor Center in Millinocket, Maine. The NEOC, founded in 1982, has progressed from a whitewater rafting operation on the Penobscot and Kennebec Rivers, to a full-fledged, year round outdoor adventure resort featuring rafting, snowmobiling, Nordic skiing, canoeing, lodging and dining. The two discuss Matthew's professional journey, the relationship between conservation and business, and the nuances of running an outdoors-oriented business.