Voices of Liberty

Welcome back to Voices of Liberty with host Sean Themea, powered by Young Americans for Liberty. Why has politics become so angry, divisive, and downright ridiculous? And could comedy be the secret to bringing Americans back together? Sean sits down with Andrew Heaton, stand-up comedian, Reason TV contributor, host of The Political Orphanage, and author of Tribalism Is Dumb, for a hilarious and insightful conversation about political polarization, free speech, and America's obsession with political identity. Heaton shares his journey from working in Congress to becoming a political comedian, explains why arguments rarely change minds, and reveals how humor can make people more receptive to new ideas. They also tackle political correctness, offensive jokes, cancel culture, and why Americans increasingly treat politics like a religion. Drawing from his book Tribalism Is Dumb, Heaton explains how tribal instincts fuel division and offers a refreshing perspective on disagreeing without hatred, recognizing our own biases, and remembering there's more to life than politics. Can Americans learn to laugh at themselves and stop treating political disagreements like personal battles? Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, or YouTube, and learn more at YALiberty.org.

Welcome back to Voices of Liberty with host Sean Themea, powered by Young Americans for Liberty. What happens when a six-time college dropout and self-described socialist discovers the power of capitalism and builds one of the most successful grocery businesses in the world? Sean sits down with John Mackey, co-founder of Whole Foods Market, author, and pioneer of Conscious Capitalism, at the Principled Business Summit in Austin, Texas, to explore entrepreneurship, individual liberty, and why he believes humanity's greatest days are still ahead. Mackey shares how his journey from idealistic young socialist to successful entrepreneur transformed his understanding of free markets. He explains why businesses should exist to create value for customers, employees, and communities, how voluntary exchange produces prosperity, and why profits are the result of serving others well. The conversation explores the failures of government intervention, the growing affordability challenges in housing, education, and healthcare, and why Mackey believes competition and innovation offer better solutions than bureaucracy. He also shares his vision for Love.Life, his latest venture focused on preventive healthcare and helping people live longer, healthier lives. From challenging government-run grocery stores to offering advice for young entrepreneurs, Mackey makes an optimistic case for a future built on creativity, personal responsibility, and economic freedom. His message is simple: Capitalism isn't just about making money. It's about creating value, improving lives, and giving people the freedom to flourish. Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, or YouTube, and learn more at YALiberty.org.

Welcome back to Voices of Liberty with host Sean Themea, powered by Young Americans for Liberty. Is America's education system failing the next generation? And what can parents do to ensure their children grow up understanding liberty, personal responsibility, and the principles that made America great? Sean sits down with Marissa Streit, CEO of PragerU, at FreedomFest in Las Vegas to explore the battle over American education and why she believes the future of the country depends on what children are learning today. Drawing on her experience as a teacher, school administrator, and mother of three, Marissa explains how PragerU has grown into an educational media powerhouse reaching more than a billion views annually. She shares why combining education with entertainment has proven so effective and how PragerU is bringing American history, civics, capitalism, and financial literacy to students and families. The conversation explores what Marissa calls the "education industrial complex," the influence of teachers unions and textbook publishers, the importance of America's founding principles, and why she believes parents must take a more active role in their children's education. Marissa also discusses PragerU's work with schools, the challenges facing teachers, and why teaching gratitude, self-reliance, and personal responsibility is essential to preserving the American Dream. Her message is clear: The next generation will not automatically inherit an understanding of liberty. We have to teach it. Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, or YouTube, and learn more at YALiberty.org.

Welcome back to Voices of Liberty with host Sean Themea, powered by Young Americans for Liberty. What happens when speaking your mind costs you the career you've spent your entire life building? At FreedomFest in Las Vegas, Sean sits down with Clifton Duncan, a Broadway actor who says his refusal to conform to the entertainment industry's political expectations and COVID-era mandates effectively ended his rising career. After years of performing on Broadway, off-Broadway, in regional theaters, and on television, Duncan found himself increasingly isolated for questioning prevailing political narratives. He shares how his opposition to COVID restrictions and vaccine mandates led to professional consequences, lost representation, and casting opportunities that seemingly disappeared overnight. But Duncan's story doesn't end with being blacklisted. Instead of abandoning his passion for acting, he's taking an entirely different path by creating Radical, an ambitious one-man theatrical production about legendary economist and intellectual Thomas Sowell. Duncan explains how Sowell's transformation from a young Marxist into one of America's most influential free-market thinkers inspired him to rethink his own beliefs, embrace intellectual independence, and create a theatrical experience unlike anything audiences have seen before. The conversation explores political conformity in Hollywood and Broadway, identity politics, freedom of expression, the lasting cultural consequences of the pandemic, and why Duncan believes artists must have the courage to challenge prevailing ideas. From losing his livelihood to raising approximately $150,000 through crowdfunding for his new production, Duncan's journey demonstrates how adversity can become an opportunity to create something entirely new. Can an artist rejected by the establishment build a new path to success while bringing Thomas Sowell's ideas to a whole new audience? Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, or YouTube, and learn more at YALiberty.org.

Welcome back to Voices of Liberty with host Sean Themea, powered by Young Americans for Liberty. Is America's financial future at risk? With a growing national debt, a retirement crisis, rising housing costs, and artificial intelligence transforming the workforce, can free-market capitalism still deliver prosperity for the next generation? Sean sits down with Matt Cole, Chairman and CEO of Strive Asset Management, to explore the future of American capitalism, the rise of Bitcoin, and the economic policies shaping America's financial future. Cole shares how growing up in California and witnessing the financial challenges facing public pension systems led him to become a passionate defender of free markets. From managing investments at CalPERS to joining Strive, the company founded by Vivek Ramaswamy, Cole explains why he believes shareholder value, innovation, and financial responsibility are essential to America's long-term prosperity. The conversation explores the growing divide between shareholder capitalism and stakeholder capitalism, the impact of ESG investing, and why Cole believes government intervention has contributed to America's housing affordability crisis. He also examines how artificial intelligence could reshape the economy, why protecting existing jobs at the expense of innovation could backfire, and what lawmakers can do to keep America competitive. Cole also takes a deep dive into Bitcoin and America's national debt, explaining why Strive has adopted a Bitcoin-focused treasury strategy, how the company manages cryptocurrency volatility, and why he believes decentralized money could become increasingly important as governments continue borrowing and spending. Beyond economics, Cole offers advice for young investors, shares the career risks he took to pursue his convictions, and explains why following a meaningful professional mission can create opportunities that might otherwise seem impossible. Can America preserve its economic freedom, embrace the next generation of innovation, and secure prosperity for future generations? Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, or YouTube, and learn more at YALiberty.org.