Project Liberal

The Liberal + Leftist Alliance | Kyle Kulinski Jan 02, 2025

With so many on the far left acquiescing to Trumpism, Micah Erfan and Joshua Eakle invited Kyle Kulinski of Secular Talk on the show to discuss the new anti-Trump coalition, how to keep various factions working alongside each other, and what some on the far left are getting wrong in their approach.

Follow Kyle: https://x.com/KyleKulinski
Subscribe to Micah's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MicahErfan
Learn More About Project Liberal: http://www.projectliberal.org

Liberalism as an Anti-Fragile System | Armin Navabi Dec 31, 2024

In this episode of Project Liberal, co-hosts Joshua Eakle and Shawn Huckabay sit down with Armin Navabi, founder of Atheist Republic and an outspoken advocate for secularism, religious freedom, and liberalism. Together, they explore Armin’s fascinating personal journey from his upbringing in Iran to becoming one of the world’s most prominent atheist activists. Along the way, the conversation unpacks the intersection of secularism and liberalism, the evolution of the New Atheist movement, and the challenges of defending liberal values in a polarized world.

Topics Discussed:

Armin’s personal journey to secularism and his efforts to build Atheist Republic
The New Atheist movement’s evolution and its relationship with liberalism
How secularism fosters freedom and challenges authoritarian systems
The role of skepticism and humanism in shaping liberalism
Liberalism as an adaptive, antifragile system in the face of populist challenges
The importance of defending liberalism globally, from Europe to Iran
The interplay of religion, culture, and liberal values in shaping society

Armin Navabi shares powerful insights on the resilience of liberalism, the necessity of skepticism, and the universal desire for freedom. This episode offers a thought-provoking discussion on the forces shaping modern society and why liberalism remains a vital framework for progress.

Links:

Atheist Republic: https://www.atheistrepublic.com/Armin
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AtheistRepublic
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Tribalism is Dumb | Andrew Heaton Dec 31, 2024

In this episode, Project Liberal’s Max Marty and Joshua Eakle engage in a thought-provoking conversation with Andrew Heaton, political satirist, podcaster, and author of the new book “Tribalism is Dumb.” They delve into the evolutionary roots of tribalism, its impact on modern politics, and how our innate groupishness shapes societal dynamics. Andrew shares insights from his book, exploring why tribalism has intensified and what we can do to mitigate its negative effects.

Topics Discussed:

The evolutionary psychology behind tribalism and zero-sum thinking
How modern society exacerbates or mitigates tribal tendencies
The role of sports, religion, and community in channeling tribalism
Dunbar’s number and its implications for social cohesion
The limitations of the traditional left-right political spectrum
Cognitive biases, groupthink, and overcoming motivated reasoning
How to reduce political polarization and foster liberal values

Andrew Heaton brings a unique blend of humor and insight to the complex topic of tribalism, offering listeners a deeper understanding of the forces shaping our political landscape. Don’t miss this engaging discussion that challenges conventional wisdom and provides practical solutions for a more open and free society.

Links:

Andrew's Book: Tribalism is Dumb https://a.co/d/1XRoo8H
Andrew's Podcast: The Political Orphanage https://mightyheaton.com/the-political-orphanage

And as always, you can find more of Josh and Max at https://projectliberal.org/

Libertarianism, Authoritarianism, and the New Right | Mike Brock Dec 22, 2024

In this episode, Project Liberal’s Joshua Eakle and Max Marty discuss the rise of the “New Right” and Silicon Valley’s growing influence with Mike Brock, former CEO of TBD and member of Block's leadership team. Mike sheds light on the ideological shifts happening in tech and politics, from Curtis Yarvin’s “Dark Enlightenment” to the role of property rights and his theory on how it leads libertarians to slip into authoritarian ideologies.

The Russian Disinformation Tsunami | Dr. Pekka Kallioniemi Oct 26, 2024

In this episode, Project Liberal’s Joshua Eakle and Max Marty sit down with Dr. Pekka Kallioniemi, founder of Vatnik Soup and an expert on Russian disinformation. Dr. Kallioniemi, known for his work in social media and online information operations, explores the intricacies of disinformation and its impact on America's political system. Topics Discussed:

The differences between misinformation and disinformation.
Russian tactics, narratives, and how they differ from other nations.
The scope of Russian influence in the United States
What we can do to combat misinformation

The Future of Online Speech | Shoshana Weissman Oct 26, 2024

On this episode we're joined by Shoshana Weissman. Shoshana is the Digital Director of the R Street Institute. She also works on occupational licensing reform, social media regulatory policy, Section 230 and other issues, and has written for various publications, including The Wall Street Journal and USA Today.

Topics include:

- The Importance of Section 230: why it’s crucial for free speech online.

- The State of Social Media: the changes at X/Twitter since Elon Musk’s takeover.

- AI Regulation and Ethical Concerns: the rapid advancements in AI, the call for development pauses, and the ethical dilemmas surrounding AI-generated content and intellectual property.

- Occupational Licensing Reform: how excessive licensing requirements hinder innovation and entrepreneurship, and discusses liberal alternatives to traditional licensing.

Liberals vs MAGA | Steven Bonnell aka Destiny Sep 30, 2024

Join us for a discussion with Steven Bonnell, also known as Destiny, streamer and commentator, as we explore the challenges of battling the rise of MAGA extremism. Topics covered include:

What’s the difference between liberalism and leftism in today’s political climate?
Where do advocates for socialism go wrong, and what transformational ideas do liberals offer?
How deep does Russian influence go in right-wing media, and what role does it play in MAGA narratives?
How should liberals counter MAGA and pull people away from political extremes?
What will the political landscape look like post-Trump?

Join Project Liberal founder Joshua Eakle and steering committee member Micah Erfan of Project Liberal for a deep dive into the ideological and political battles shaping America’s future.

Follow Destiny at https://www.destiny.gg/

How NIMBYism Broke the American City | Nolan Gray Sep 28, 2024

We’re exploring how zoning, regulations, and NIMBYism have impacted America’s cities in this episode featuring M. Nolan Gray, Senior Director at California YIMBY and author of Arbitrary Lines. Topics covered include:

Why are housing costs skyrocketing across the country?
How have zoning laws broken American cities, and what reforms could fix them?
How should the YIMBY movement engage with communities resistant to new development?
What are the best policy solutions for addressing the housing affordability crisis?
How has YIMBYism gained traction within the Democratic Party?

Join Project Liberal founder Joshua Eakle and steering committee member Shawn Huckabay as they engage in a timely conversation with Nolan Gray on the future of housing policy.

Follow Nolan at https://x.com/mnolangray

Debunking Myths About Ukraine | Dylan Burns Sep 26, 2024

We sat down with Dylan Burns, a Journalist focused on covering the war in Ukraine, to debunk a series of myths and false narratives that are circulating around the war in Ukraine.

Building a Liberal Coalition Against Authoritarianism May 06, 2024

We sat down with Shikha Dalmia, the Founder of the Unpopulist Magazine and the President of the Institute for the Study of Modern Authoritarianism, to explore what's causing the rise of authoritarianism across the globe and discuss the best strategy to fight back against it.

Breaking Down Myths About Immigration with Alex Nowrasteh Apr 07, 2024

We sat down with Alex Nowrasteh, an American analyst of immigration policy currently working at the Cato Institute to get to the truth around many of the questions Americans have about immigration.

A Venezuelan Immigrant's Perspective on Immigration with Daniel Di Martino Mar 25, 2024

We sit down with Daniel Di Martino to discuss his experience as a Venezuelan immigrant, what the right gets wrong about immigration, and Christian Nationalism. We’re a nonpartisan PAC dedicated to restoring, promoting, and advancing liberal values in American politics. Learn more: https://projectliberal.org/

What Libertarians Get Wrong About Foreign Policy With Austin Petersen Feb 25, 2024

Austin Peterson Joins the show

Breaking Down What the Hell Is Going on in American Politics with Mr. Beat Feb 06, 2024

We sit down with Mr. Beat to discuss what's going on in American politics.
Project Liberal is on a mission to resurrect true liberalism. Learn more: https://projectliberal.org/

Did Politicians Cause the Fentanyl Crisis? Jan 25, 2024

We sat down with Jacob Rich, a PhD student at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and a policy analyst at Reason Foundation, to discuss the causes and solutions to America's Fentanyl Crisis.

The Doomers Are Wrong Dec 23, 2023

We sat down with Jeremy Horpedahl, an economist and Associate Professor at the UCA College of Business and the Director of the Arkansas Center for Research in Economics, to talk about reasons to be optimistic about the future and why we think things are way better than most people actually think. Follow Jeremy: https://twitter.com/jmhorp Project Liberal is on a mission to resurrect true liberalism. Learn more: https://projectliberal.org/

Can Liberalism Fix America's Healthcare System? Dec 02, 2023

We have a thought provoking discussion with Michael Cannon, Director Of Health Policy Studies At The Cato Institute, about his new book "Recovery" that outlines a roadmap to fixing America's broken healthcare system.

Liberalism vs "Doomerism" in the Modern World Sep 14, 2023

We sat down with Warren Rhea: a corporate attorney, political commentator, streamer, and self-described "Neoliberal."
We discussed classical liberalism versus neoliberalism, the rise of "doomer" politics, and how liberalism can provide an optimistic, yet realistic, political vision for America.
Follow Warren: https://twitter.com/EverydayWarren

Can Liberalism Fix Race Relations in South Africa? Aug 11, 2023

We sat down with Martin van Staden, the Head of Policy at the Free Market Foundation (FMF), a South Africa-based organization founded to promote and foster an open society, the rule of law, personal liberty, and economic and press freedom. We discussed recent viral clips from the far-left South African party calling to "kill all Boers (whites)", race relations in South Africa, how they relate back to the situation in the USA, and the conditions that can lead South Africa to prosperity.
Project Liberal is on a mission to resurrect true liberalism.
Learn more: https://projectliberal.org/

Can the Free Market Solve Climate Change? - #2 Jul 27, 2023

We sat down with Christopher Barnard, the Vice President of External Affairs – and incoming president – at the American Conservation Coalition (ACC) to discuss market-based and limited government solutions to climate change in an effort to answer the question, "Can the free market solve climate change?"

Is There Any Truth to RFK Jr.'s Claims About Vaccines? - #1 Jun 23, 2023

We sat down with Jacob Rich, a PhD student at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and a policy analyst at Reason Foundation, to delve into the world of vaccine myths. This episode sheds light on the importance of reliable sources and critical thinking in understanding vaccines.