Charter Cities Podcast

In this Freedom Cities episode, Professor Tom W. Bell dives deep into the world of legal innovation and special jurisdictions. A law professor turned legal systems designer, Tom shares his journey from academia to advising real-world projects like the Catawba Digital Economic Zone and Free Society’s forthcoming decentralized city. He explains Ulex—his open-source legal system—and walks us through his proposed “Freedom Cities Act,” a bold legislative framework that could turn underutilized federal lands into hubs of regulatory experimentation and economic vitality. It’s a masterclass in freedom, law, and possibility.

In Episode 7 of the Freedom Cities Podcast, Mark Lutter sits down with Alex Voss, CFO of Tipolis, a company pioneering the development of new cities around the world based on private governance models. Alex shares his journey from investment banking to building freedom-enhancing urban communities and dives into the evolving global landscape for charter and free cities. From Tipolis’ new project in Brunei to the potential of Freedom Cities legislation in the U.S., this conversation offers a deep look at how private cities are transforming economic development and governance. Alex also highlights the growing investor interest in this space and why well-designed cities are just as important as regulatory innovation.

In this episode of the Freedom Cities Podcast, we speak with David Ernst, founder of Secure Internet Voting, about the urgent need for innovation in democratic systems. David argues that while voting is foundational to democracy, its design is outdated, especially in an era of digital communication and governance. We explore what it would take to make online voting secure, transparent, and legitimate, and why he believes charter cities can be critical testing grounds for political innovation. From trust-building in new cities to redefining digital citizenship, this conversation is a thought-provoking deep dive into the future of governance.

In this episode of the Freedom Cities Podcast, host Carl Peterson speaks with three Wyoming State Senators—Brian Boner (District 2), Chris Rothfuss (District 9), and Dan Dockstader (District 16)—about the bold future of economic development in Wyoming through the lens of Freedom Cities. The conversation explores Wyoming’s unique challenges and opportunities, including how the checkerboard pattern of federal land ownership complicates development and how land swaps could help unlock much-needed access and growth.

In this episode of the Freedom Cities Podcast, Mark Lutter is joined by Patri Friedman, a pioneer in the new cities movement. As the founder of the Seasteading Institute and Managing Partner at Pronomos Capital, Patri has spent the last two decades pushing for new approaches to governance through the creation of innovative urban developments. They explore why Africa represents the most promising frontier for urban innovation, how autonomy and special economic zones can drive development, and what it takes to make new cities work in practice. The episode also addresses key challenges, including financing, talent, and how to build trust in unproven governance models. For listeners interested in the intersection of economics, cities, and systems change, this episode offers a unique perspective from someone who has been at the forefront of the movement to rethink how and where we live.