The Aaron Renn Show

Latest Episodes:

Spotlight on American Reformer Jan 23, 2023

Show notes

President Nate Fischer and Executive Director Josh Abbotoy join me to talk about American Reformer, a non-profit focused on reinvigorating Protestant Christianity in American life.

Why You Shouldn't Play the Heel (Newsletter #72) Jan 16, 2023

Show notes

In pro wrestling, the "face" is the hero and the "heel" is the villain. The incentive structures of our society are willing to personally reward people, especially conservatives, who engage in heel behavior in real life. This is because by acting the heel, people serve as a foil to the hero the media wishes to build up. Even Peter Thiel fell prey to this, helping to propel Rigoberta Menchu to the Nobel Peace Prize. While heel behavior can be effective at times, and is a tool everyone should have in their tool chest, we should think long and hard before engaging in these tactics.
Heel: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heel_(professional_wrestling)
Peter Thiel speech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibR_ULHYirs

Where Should I Live? Jan 09, 2023

Show notes

With remote work giving people flexibility on where to live, and people moving because of politics and other social factors, where should we live personally? I will examine different types of communities, and share some thoughts on their pros and cons.

The Return to Normal Jan 02, 2023

Show notes

I will look forward at potential trends for 2023, including the theme of the return to normal.

Why Evangelicals Are Not Leaders in Our Society Dec 19, 2022

Show notes

Returning to the theme of deficits in the American leadership and elite classes, I will examine some of the reasons why evangelicals in particular seem not be high impact leaders in our institutions and in society. In particular, I will discuss evangelicalism's weak sense of "calling" and it's low view of the created order.

A Primer On Doxxing (Newsletter #71) Dec 12, 2022

Show notes

Doxxing is the internet practice of revealing the identity of an anonymous social media account and/or digging up controversial or offensive social media content in order to get someone fired or worse. It's nearly universally viewed as a shady practice, but is a common technique for cancellation today.
In this month's newsletter I provide a primer on doxxing: what it is, who does it, what the consequences are, and how it is perceived. I also provide some practical insights about how to respond to a world where doxxing is common.
Subscribe to my newsletter: https://aaronrenn.substack.com/

The Non-Linearity of Change Dec 05, 2022

Show notes

Change, whether in personal self-improvement or social evolution, is not linear. There are quantum leaps and discontinuities. This can be deeply unsettling and render obsolete previous ways of doing business and operating in the world.

Asymmetric Financial Warfare Nov 28, 2022

Show notes

Companies have long used aggressive sales tactics to maximize units sold and prices charged. Customers have long tried to get the best deal. With the rise of digital technology and financial disparities, these conflicts are highly asymmetric to the disadvantage of ordinary consumers. It's similar in competition for many essential goods like housing, where the equation for the average consumer has been re-written to favor those with large amounts of money.
WSJ: If the Price Ended in 99, You Probably Overpaid - https://www.wsj.com/articles/if-the-price-ended-in-99-you-probably-overpaid-11669293972
WSJ: The Sinister Logic of Hidden Online Fees - https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-sinister-logic-of-hidden-online-fees-11669229205
NYT: It’s Public Land. But the Public Can’t Reach It - https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/26/business/hunting-wyoming-elk-mountain-access.html
Subscribe to my newsletter: https://aaronrenn.substack.com/

American Elites Prey on the Poor By Promoting Vice Nov 21, 2022

Show notes

Gambling, drugs, loan sharking, and sex used to be the province of the mob and other shady characters. Now they are big business, legally sanctioned by governments which often profit from them, and in which even major institutions and respectable figures profit. This is a perfect microcosm of the decline of American leadership.
NYT: Key Findings From The Times’ Investigation of Sports Betting: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/20/business/sports-betting-investigation.html
The Observer: Game, set, bankrupt: how an addiction to gambling on tennis lost me £40,000: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/nov/20/gambling-addiction-tennis-bet365-online-betting-hannah-jane-parkinson
LA Times: The reality of legal weed in California: Huge illegal grows, violence, worker exploitation and deaths: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-09-08/reality-of-legal-weed-in-california-illegal-grows-deaths
Subscribe to my newsletter: https://aaronrenn.substack.com/

Why You Should Be Careful About How Online Critiques Affect You and Others (Newsletter #70) Nov 14, 2022

Show notes

Online or other criticism, combined with receiving support from unexpected quarters, is one of the most powerful dynamics promoting political realignment today. I discuss these, why you need to protect yourself from them, and why you should be careful about how you criticize people on your own "team" online.
Twitter thread on career selection: https://twitter.com/aaron_renn/status/1590715709612433408
Twitter thread on presentations: https://twitter.com/aaron_renn/status/1589635724164288512
Subscribe to my newsletter: https://aaronrenn.substack.com/

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