Shows
Movie People: Interviews & More From the Southampton PlayhousePhil Lord Unpacks the Success of 'Project Hail Mary'As Project Hail Mary makes waves at the box office, co-director Phil Lord talks through the unique challenges of the project and what its success means for the state of theatrical movies.
2026-04-0219 minMovie People: Interviews & More From the Southampton PlayhouseA NASA Scientist Explains 'Project Hail Mary'This week, we're joined by Dr. Shawn Domagal-Goldman, the head of astrophysics at NASA, who advised on Andy Weir's hit book that inspired Project Hail Mary. Dr. Domagal-Goldman explains the hard science behind the spacefaring adventure and how movies inspired his career.
2026-03-2718 minMovie People: Interviews & More From the Southampton PlayhouseAnne Thompson Recaps Oscar SeasonThis week's episode features a reunion between Southampton Playhouse artistic director Eric Kohn and his former colleague, IndieWire's Anne Thompson, a veteran entertainment journalist who has been covering the Academy Awards for decades. Plus, on our Playhouse People segment, Think Inc. trivia founder Paul Johnson shares his movie fandom.
2026-03-1933 minMovie People: Interviews & More From the Southampton Playhouse'Hoppers' Director Daniel Chong on Learning 3D Animation and Making Kids Movies for AdultsThe new animated Pixar hit Hoppers follows a teenager who befriends her local beaver population. Like many Pixar favorites, it combines big ideas with imagination and heart. Director Daniel Chong talks to Movie People about how he navigated that formula and the films that inspired his own work. This episode also features South Fork Natural History Museum's Frank Quevodo on the defunct beaver population of Long Island and a new edition of Playhouse People with Rebekah Wise.
2026-03-1033 minMovie People: Interviews & More From the Southampton PlayhouseThe 'Secret Agent' Director Kleber Mendonça Filho Finishes an Epic Oscar CampaignWith four Oscar nominations and a year's worth of acclaim, the Brazilian period piece The Secret Agent has made waves around the world. Director Kleber Mendonça Filho and producer Emilie Lesclaux traveled to the Southampton Playhouse in the final week of Oscar campaigning before voting closed to discuss the genesis of the project and its global resonance.Also in this week's episode: Filmmaker Nathalie Musteata joins us to discuss her short film Two People Exchanging Saliva, which is currently nominated for Best Live Action Feature Film. And we close out with a new segment, Playhouse People, f...
2026-03-051h 06
Heart of the East EndMarch 4th, 2026 - Eric KohnSouthampton Playhouse’s artistic director, Eric Kohn, joins Heart of The East End Gianna Volpe on WLIW-FM ahead of next Sunday night’s second annual Oscars watch party at the PlayhouseListen to the playlist on Apple Music
2026-03-0452 min
Kohn's ZoneWho’s Cheating Whom?
March 1, 2026
Who’s Cheating Whom?
We’re often warned about an “epidemic” of academic cheating and urged to do more to deter and punish the devious culprits. But we’ve had a century of research showing that the frequency of cheating is predicted not by the compromised morality of individual students but by the policies, priorities, and practices of schools. Specifically, cheating is far more common in competitive, achievement-oriented environments and much rarer when students experience the learning as meaningful and engaging and believe that their teachers care about them. In this episode we consider how system...
2026-03-0131 minMovie People: Interviews & More From the Southampton Playhouse'Scream 7': Jimmy Tatro on the Relationship Between Comedy and Horror (SPOILERS)Comedian Jimmy Tatro talks about his role in Scream 7 and how comedy prepared him for doing a horror movie.
2026-02-2816 minMovie People: Interviews & More From the Southampton PlayhouseHow to Edit an Elvis Concert, With Baz Luhmann Collaborator Jonathan RedmondThis week's episode features longtime Baz Luhrmann collaborator Jonathan Redmond, who was nominated for an Oscar for his work on 2022's Elvis. The duo have followed up that achievement with EPiC: Elvis in Concert, a dazzling look at the King of Rock 'n' Roll in action with never-before-seen footage. Redmond shares the history of the project as well as how he came to work with Luhrmann more than 25 years ago on Moulin Rouge!
2026-02-1925 minMovie People: Interviews & More From the Southampton PlayhouseThe Woman Who Should Have Won a Historic OscarWith Sinners cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw poised to make history as the first female cinematographer to win an Oscar in her category, this week's Movie People looks back at another woman who deserved it more than 20 years ago. Just in time for Valentine's Day, veteran cinematographer Ellen Kuras visits the Playhouse to discuss her experiences with the masterful sci-fi romance Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
2026-02-1140 minMovie People: Interviews & More From the Southampton PlayhouseThe History of 'Sinners' That Goes Beyond the SouthOne year after Sinners first opened on IMAX, in the wake of the movie's historic 16 Oscar nominations, we're kicking off Black History Month by taking a look at the backdrop of the movie that goes beyond the South where it takes place. Southampton African American History Museum founder Brenda Simmons joins Movie People to discuss the legacy of the juke joints seen in the movie — and so much more.
2026-02-0528 minMovie People: Interviews & More From the Southampton Playhouse'Marty Supreme' Casting Director Jennifer Venditti on Finding Unexpected FacesThis week's episode featuring Jennifer Venditti, the woman behind the many memorable faces of last year's breakout hit Marty Supreme. Venditti has been a significant player in the casting director universe for years, but it was only in 2026 that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences decided to add a new category recognizing her craft — and now, she's one of five nominees up for the very first Best Casting Oscar in history. In this conversation, she recalls her unique journey into the world of casting and why it stands out from so many others.
2026-01-2931 minMovie People: Interviews & More From the Southampton PlayhouseSundance Director Eugene Hernandez on the Past and Future of Indie FilmThis week's episode features Sundance Film Festival director Eugene Hernandez, an East End resident who has spent the past 30-odd years advocating for independent film. As the festival enters its final edition in Park City, Utah, Hernandez shares his insight into the importance of the festival for anyone who cares about film culture -- and what might come next.
2026-01-2128 minMovie People: Interviews & More From the Southampton PlayhouseFrom 'Apocalypse Now' to 'The Mummy' and Beyond: Sound Designer Leslie ShatzThis week's episode features veteran sound designer and Sag Harbor resident Leslie Shatz, whose credits go back to Apocalypse Now and The Empire Strikes Back. His latest credit, Dead Man's Wire, marks his latest collaboration with Gus Van Sant. In this conversation, he explores on the past and (difficult) future of his profession.
2026-01-1643 min
Heartland Newsfeed Podcast NetworkEP149: Free Jimmy Lai from Chinese Prison with Eric Kohn - Gracearchy with Jim BabkaYou're being invited to a conspiracy. Civil disobedience is a tradition for free people resisting crimes by unaccountable State actors. Jimmy Lai and millions (literally) of Hong Kongers used protests and vigils to call attention to the deeds of the Chinese Communist Party. Unfortunately, Jimmy was imprisoned in 2020, and in December 2025 he was finally convicted under the National Security Law - essentially, an accusation of sedition. This Hong Kong "law" is so sweeping that YOU are violating it if you share this episode with others, even though you don't live in Hong Kong or China. Watch. Learn. Then... Please join...
2026-01-061h 09
Gracearchy with Jim BabkaEP149: Free Jimmy Lai from Chinese Prison with Eric Kohn - Gracearchy with Jim BabkaYou're being invited to a conspiracy. Civil disobedience is a tradition for free people resisting crimes by unaccountable State actors. Jimmy Lai and millions (literally) of Hong Kongers used protests and vigils to call attention to the deeds of the Chinese Communist Party. Unfortunately, Jimmy was imprisoned in 2020, and in December 2025 he was finally convicted under the National Security Law - essentially, an accusation of sedition. This Hong Kong "law" is so sweeping that YOU are violating it if you share this episode with others, even though you don't live in Hong Kong or China. Watch. Learn. Then... Please...
2026-01-061h 09
Tax Rep Network with Eric GreenWhistleblowers, Tax Justice & The Fight For ReformA Conversation With Stephen KohnWhistleblower legend Stephen Kohn joins Eric Green for a no-BS look inside the world of tax whistleblowing, billion-dollar recoveries, and why the IRS program is failing to live up to its potential.From the UBS case that shook Swiss banking to the bipartisan bill that could finally fix the system, Stephen breaks down what’s working, what’s broken, and why whistleblowers remain America’s best weapon against large-scale tax cheats.If you care about tax justice, enforcement, or the fu...
2025-12-3036 minMovie People: Interviews & More From the Southampton PlayhouseGuillermo del Toro Sums Up 2025 for Movie LoversWe are wrapping up a busy year with a truly wonderful guest: Oscar-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, one of the most celebrated directors working today. From the early genre efforts like Cronos and The Devil's Backbone all the way through Pan's Labyrinth and The Shape of Water, del Toro has built a career out of generating empathy for monsters and mining them for all the metaphorical value they offer up. It was only a matter of time before he directed his attention toward the most famous fictional monster at the center of FRANKENSTEIN, as he has done with his...
2025-12-2340 minMovie People: Interviews & More From the Southampton PlayhouseJosh Safdie on Directing Timothée Chalamet / The Joys of 35mm FilmFilmmaker Josh Safdie and veteran cinematographer Darius Khondji join the Southampton Playhouse to discuss the new dark comedy Marty Supreme, which stars Timothée Chalamet as ping pong pro Marty Mauser, and share some of the films that inspired them. Then, expert 35mm projectionist James Faller explains his craft and why watching movies projected on film is sometimes better than digital alternatives.
2025-12-1631 minMovie People: Interviews & More From the Southampton Playhouse'Grey Gardens' at 50: The Surviving Filmmaking Team Revisits the LegacyThe Playhouse closes out its East End Cinema series with a 50th anniversary celebration of the most famous Hamptons movie of all time, the legendary documentary Grey Gardens. Producer Susan Froemke, co-director Muffie Meyer, and Rebekah Maysles of the Maysles Documentary Film Center joined Playhouse artistic director Eric Kohn to discuss the genesis of the movie and its ongoing legacy.
2025-11-1423 minMovie People: Interviews & More From the Southampton PlayhouseSigrid Nunez on Watching Her 'Unfilmable' Novels Become Great MoviesThis week, we're joined by the brilliant author Sigrid Nunez, who has been churning out imaginative stories for over 30 years. However, her work has been adapted to the big screen only recently with two movies both released at the top of 2025: The Room Next Door, the first English language movie directed by Pedro Almodovar, which stemmed from Nunez's novel Where Are You Going -- and The Friend, possibly one of the most underrated American movies of the year, which was adapted into a beautiful and poignant drama starring Naomi Watts and Bill Murray.
2025-11-0724 minMovie People: Interviews & More From the Southampton PlayhouseThe Legacy of 'Scream' on the Big ScreenThis week, we're wrapping up a month of Halloween program with a very special conversation about the legacy of one of most resilient horror franchises of all time, Scream. When Wes Craven's movie was released in 1996, the horror genre was in a bit of a dormant phase. That changed rather quickly with this comedic riff on the horror movie formula, a meta take on the genre about a ghost-faced killer stalking teenagers in a small town. We showed the movie at the Playhouse a few days before Halloween. After the movie, we had some wonderful guests onstage to help...
2025-10-3125 minMovie People: Interviews & More From the Southampton PlayhouseA Real-Life Ghostbuster on What the Movies Get Right (and Wrong)This week, we've got a Halloween season double bill: First, a conversation with NPR journalist Larry Maslan, whose new book Hitchcocktails pairs films from the master of suspense with first-rate drink recipes. Then, we'll hear from a real-life ghost hunter: Michael Cardinuto, co-founder of the Long Island Paranormal Investigators.
2025-10-2328 minMovie People: Interviews & More From the Southampton Playhouse'Black Phone 2' Editor Louise Ford on Horror Movies & MoreThis week, we're keeping the spirit of Halloween season alive. First we looked at vampires, then zombies, and now it's ghosts...thanks to this conversation with Black Phone 2 editor Louise Ford, best known for her collaborations with director Robert Eggers (The Witch, The Lighthouse, Nosferatu). Tune in to learn more what it takes to cut a good horror movie!
2025-10-1540 minMovie People: Interviews & More From the Southampton PlayhouseJesse Eisenberg on the Life of an Actor, Before and After 'Zombieland'This week, we're keeping the spirit of Halloween season alive, following on recent episode, which focused on the vampire monstrosities of I Am Legend. Now we're moving on to zombies...and, specifically, Zombieland, the 2009 horror-comedy starring Jesse Eisenberg. In addition to looking back on this major turning point in his career, Eisenberg spoke about his unique challenges as an actor and filmmaker over the course of his career.
2025-10-1025 minMovie People: Interviews & More From the Southampton PlayhouseAkiva Goldsman on the Strange Legacy of 'I Am Legend'This week, we're joined by Akiva Goldsman, the Oscar-winning screenwriter of A Beautiful Mind. Goldsman is a truly eclectic writer with a number of major Hollywood achievements under his belt beyond that major crowdpleaser, from Batman and Robin to The Da Vinci Code. In late August, he joined artistic director Eric Kohn at the Playhouse to discuss one of the more fascinating chapters of his career: His 2007 adaptation of the Richard Matheson novel I Am Legend. The original post-apocalyptic book finds the sole survival of a world overrun by vampires gradually coming to terms with the end of the...
2025-10-0423 min
Who’s Here in the HamptonsDan Rattiner speaks with Eric Kohn, the artistic director at the Southampton Playhouse – Episode 250
Episode 250: This week on the “Dan’s Talks” podcast, Dan speaks with Eric Kohn, the artistic director at the Southampton Playhouse. Kohn is a former journalist who served in various roles at the trade publication IndieWire including Senior Editor, Chief Film Critic, and Vice President for Editorial Strategy. Kohn is also a two time chair of the New York Film Critics Circle.
Find all the “Dan’s Talks” podcast episodes at podcasts.schnepsmedia.com/podcast/dans-papers.
2025-10-0220 minMovie People: Interviews & More From the Southampton PlayhouseDavid Nugent Previews the 2025 Hamptons International Film FestivalThis week, we're joined by David Nugent, the chief creative officer of the Hamptons International Film Festival, which begins October 3 with screenings at the Playhouse taking place October 9 - 12. If you're lucky enough to have access to a festival of this caliber, it means that you can take the temperature on the state of world cinema from many angles at once. This year's lineup does that with highlights from other festivals. Our conversation covers a lot of those, as well as Nugent's history with the festival and his thoughts on the curatorial process as a whole.
2025-09-2547 minMovie People: Interviews & More From the Southampton PlayhouseChristine Vachon and Pamela Koffler on 30 Years of Killer FilmsThis week, we're joined by two of the greatest independent film producers of the modern era -- Christine Vachon and Pamela Koffler, co-founders of Killer Films. The pair came to the Playhouse over the summer to celebrate the 30 year anniversary of their bold production company, which is best known for supporting fierce, original voices working on the margins of American cinema, including renowned queer filmmakers such as Todd Haynes, Kimberly Pierce, and John Cameron Mitchell on celebrating films including Boys Don't Cry, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and Carol. Killer has enjoyed an especially long-lasting relationship with H...
2025-09-1430 minMovie People: Interviews & More From the Southampton PlayhouseTraining Austin Butler for 'Caught Stealing' / Resurrecting the Romcom with 'Splitsville'This week, we have two very different segments tied to two very different -- but equally fun -- new releases. First up, the new dark comedy Caught Stealing from Darren Aronofsky stars Austin Butler as a former baseball player who gets stuck in a web of gangsters and murderers searching for a missing bag of money. Set in the 90s New York City, the movie is an accurate depiction of that grittier era. But at certain key moments in the plot, it's also an accurate depiction of baseball. Jordan Baltimore, CEO of Empire Baseball, and trainer Julian Malenda, came...
2025-09-0537 minMovie People: Interviews & More From the Southampton PlayhouseJohn Turturro Does It AllThis week, we're joined by one of the greatest American actors working today: John Turturro. If you know anything about movies, you're probably a Turturro fan: From Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing to the Coen brothers' Barton Fink and The Big Lebowski, Turturro has been a powerful cinematic presence who always goes to unexpected places. Most recently, he has been widely acclaimed -- and Emmy-nominated -- for playing the rabble-rouser Irving on Apple's hit sci-fi show Severance. Turturro's unique talent branches off in many directions. It enables him to play angry, funny, confused...sometimes all at once...and when y...
2025-08-2734 minMovie People: Interviews & More From the Southampton Playhouse'Andor' Creator Tony Gilroy Explains the Art of Smart and Timely StorytellingThis week, we are going on a brief tangent from the big-screen by exploring the mind behind one of the best TV shows of the year, Andor. However, its creator Tony Gilroy is no stranger to the movies: He was Oscar-nominated for the original screenplay behind his directorial debut, the brilliant psychological thriller Michael Clayton. Gilroy also wrote the first several movies in the Bourne Identity franchise, establishing one of the biggest blockbuster sensations of the 21st century. But his work isn't your traditional big-budget spectacle: Gilroy writes smart, substantial morality plays that just so happen to requi...
2025-08-2158 minMovie People: Interviews & More From the Southampton PlayhouseThe Legacy of 'The Terminator' in 2025This week, we look into the past and the future at once. In 2025, the idea of sentient robots threatening the future of humanity might not sound so far-fetched. But when a naked cyborg arrived in Los Angeles in the form of Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1984's The Terminator, it was a warning sign way ahead of its time. Director James Cameron, who would go on to mount epic spectacles ranging from Titanic to Avatar, emerged from B-movie maestro Roger Corman's low-budget filmmaking factory to create one of the most impactful blockbusters of all time. He wasn't alone, either: Produc...
2025-08-1525 minMovie People: Interviews & More From the Southampton PlayhouseMartin & Francesca Scorsese on the Movies That Brought Them TogetherIn the inaugural episode of Movie People, Martin Scorsese joins his daughter Francesca to discuss the films he screened for her as she grew up. This extensive list, which serves as the foundation for a new year-round series at the Southampton Playhouse entitled "The Scorsese Family Experience," provides a unique snapshot of the way that cinema can inform an evolving view of the of the world. Together, Martin and Francesca represent two very different generations of audiences: one reared on the New York City repertory scene of the 1960s, and the other forged in the vernacular of...
2025-08-0541 min
Boxoffice PodcastSouthampton Playhouse’s Maria A. Ruiz Botsacos and Eric Kohn [Presented by Irwin Seating]This week on the Boxoffice podcast, presented by Irwin Seating, co-hosts Daniel Loria, Rebecca Pahle, and Chad Kennerk review the opening weekend of Superman and preview a trio of new openers: Smurfs, I Know What You Did Last Summer, and Eddington. In the feature segment, Daniel Loria speaks to Maria A. Ruiz Botsacos and Eric Kohn of Southampton Playhouse about the historic venue’s focus on community engagement and their commitment to being a cultural hub for the next generation of moviegoers. Give us your feedback on our podcast by accessing this survey: https://for...
2025-07-1742 min
Acton UnwindThe Vibes of the Union Are WeirdThis week Eric, Dan, and Emily discuss President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address and give their own takes on the state of the union, the recent ruling by the Alabama Supreme Court that implicates IVF treatment, and the recent remarks by Pope Francis calling for Ukraine to have the “courage of the White Flag” in bringing about an end to the war in Ukraine.Subscribe to our podcasts Remarks by President Biden in State of the Union Address | The White HousePut the State of the Union address out of its mise...
2024-03-1155 min
Political BeatsEpisode 127: Eric Kohn / Huey Lewis & the NewsIntroducing the Band:Your hosts Scot Bertram (@ScotBertram) and Jeff Blehar (@EsotericCD) are joined by guest Eric Kohn. Eric is the Director of Marketing & Communications at the Acton Institute. Check him out on Twitter at @iEricKohn.Eric’s Music Pick: Huey Lewis & the NewsDo you believe in miracles? Yes! After years of lobbying, Jeff has proven that anyone will fold, given enough time and pressure. Here is the Huey Lewis & the News episode of Political Beats.Those of you with us for a while will know that the band is a favorite of...
2023-10-023h 07Acton UnwindDid Compassionate Conservatism Kill Welfare Reform?Marvin Olasky joins Eric and Noah this week to discuss his feature essay in the new Fall 2023 issue of RELIGION & LIBERTY, entitled “The Thrill and Chill of Compassionate Conservatism,” in which Marvin revisits two of his books: The Tragedy of American Compassion (1990) and Compassionate Conservatism (1999). What has transpired in terms of poverty intervention and amelioration on the federal, state, and local levels since their publication and the welfare reforms of the 1990s? Where are we doing now to address effectively issues of poverty in America? How has conservatism itself, and its expression through the Republican Party, changed since the compassi...
2023-09-251h 01
IndieWire: Screen TalkEric Kohn's Farewell and Telluride (Episode 447)Eric Kohn bids his final farewell to Screen Talk as he transitions as developer of Harmony Korine's new company EDGLRD. Anne Thompson is also joined by Marcus Jones at the Telluride Film Festival. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2023-09-0122 min
Acton UnwindWhat’s Wrong with Journalism Today?Today Eric, Dan, and Dylan are joined by Terry Mattingly of GetReligion.org to discuss his essay in the Winter 2022 edition of Religion & Liberty, "The Evolving Religion of Journalism.” How has journalism—and its audience—changed, and why? Has the internet transformed broadcasting into narrowcasting? How has a transition from the old bias of liberalism to illiberalism, even “Jacobinism,” remade what journalists produce and we consume? Then the guys look at the Super Bowl ads and explore why they seem to be less entertaining and mostly just celebrities in different unfunny situations. And was the Super Bowl ad that drew the mos...
2023-02-131h 00
Acton UnwindChina Relents On Zero-COVID PoliciesThis week, Eric Kohn, Dan Hugger, and Dylan Pahman discuss China’s decision to relent on their “zero-COVID policies. With an ineffective vaccine and much of the older population unvaccinated, what happens if the current COVID variant rips through the country with a huge death toll? And why did China, which is clearly indifferent to human life, even decide to engage in these policies in the first place? Then the guys examine the release of Trump NFTs, which raised $4.5 million for the former president. Is there any current value to NFTs aside from the value people place on them by b...
2022-12-1952 min
Acton UnwindHow Important Are the “Twitter Files” and Twitter Itself?This week, Eric Kohn, Dan Hugger, and Dylan Pahman tackle the “Twitter Files,” the internal documents from the social media company that have been released by several independent journalists like Matt Taibbi and Bari Weiss. What, if anything, do they tell us about the way Twitter was run previously? Is there even enough information in what was released to draw meaningful conclusions about the pre–Elon Musk regime? Next, with Jimmy Lai sentenced to more than five years for his conviction on “fraud” charges, what will this mean for his upcoming National Security Law trial? And finally, is Christmas over-comme...
2022-12-1248 min
Acton UnwindUkraine Moves to Ban Russian Orthodox ChurchThis week, Eric Kohn, Dan Hugger, and Dylan Pahman discuss the move by Ukraine’s government to prevent churches affiliated with Moscow from operating in Ukraine. How dangerous is this? And why is trying to determine what constitutes a legitimate religion always problematic? Then the guys turn their attention to the protests in China and the delay of Jimmy Lai’s National Security Law trial in Hong Kong. How big of a threat to the Chinese Communist Party are these protests? And why should we focus more on marginal improvements in places like China and Hong Kong than on big...
2022-12-0558 min
Knuckleheads Of LibertyThe Knuckleheads Interview Eric Kohn - KOL 254Interview with Eric Kohn, Director Marketing and Communications for the Acton Institute
https://www.acton.org/
www.KnuckleheadsOfLiberty.com
2022-12-0528 min
Acton UnwindIs Affirmative Action History?This week, Eric Kohn, Dan Hugger, and Dylan Pahman discuss affirmative action in college admissions shortly after two cases involving the University of North Carolina and Harvard were argued before the Supreme Court. Was affirmative action ever justified in college admissions? If so, is it still justified? And if it goes, should it be replaced with something else to help the historically disadvantaged? Then the guys examine a recent study highlighting the positive benefits to the environment from Catholics’ abstaining from meat on Fridays. Is this the right lens through which to consider a return to meatless Fridays year-round? An...
2022-11-0753 min
Acton UnwindMusk sinks his teeth into TwitterThis week, Eric Kohn and Dan Hugger discuss Elon Musk’s finalized takeover of Twitter. Can he make it better? Is it possible to make Twitter better? Perhaps more important to Musk, can he make it profitable? And will Musk’s acquisition change the nature of the platform in how it serves as a public salon for the media elite? Then the guys discuss the presidential election in Brazil. What does the defeat of Jair Bolsonaro mean for Brazil and for the rise of populist leaders worldwide?Subscribe to our podcastsElon Musk Is S...
2022-10-3141 min
Acton UnwindThe Iranian Uprising (Almost) No One Is Talking AboutThis week, Eric Kohn, Dan Hugger, and Dylan Pahman discuss the protests in Iran over the death of a 22-year-old woman who had been arrested for improperly covering her head. Why isn’t there more media coverage of these protests after five weeks? Is the Iranian regime actually in danger? And what, if anything, should countries like the United States being doing to encourage these human rights protesters? Then the guys examine a new study from the Center for the Study of Partisanship and Ideology on the striking lack of intellectual diversity on elite college campuses. Should we be sur...
2022-10-1755 min
Acton UnwindInto the MetaverseThis week, Eric Kohn is joined by Dan Hugger and Dan Churchwell to discuss the theme of the Fall 2022 issue of Acton’s magazine, Religion & Liberty: What is the metaverse? What is its relationship to science fiction literature? And what is the impact of technology on society and culture, and how we should think through the consequences, intended and unintended, of technology and the metaverse on our lives? Dan Hugger’s Fall 2022 R&L cover story is entitled, “The Metaverse Does Not Exist.” Dan Churchwell’s review essay, which also appears in the issue...
2022-10-0354 min
Acton UnwindWhat happened at NatCon3?This week, Eric Kohn and Dan Hugger are joined by two special guests—Stephanie Slade, senior editor at Reason magazine and Fellow in Liberal Studies at the Acton Institute, and Jack Butler, submissions editor at National Review—both of whom attended the National Conservatism 3 conference, to discuss all things pertaining to the conference and the National Conservatism movement.Subscribe to our podcasts The Will to Power Was Front and Center at NatCon III | Stephanie Slade, Reason Both Left and Right Are Converging on Authoritarianism | Stephanie Slade, Reason ...
2022-09-2659 min
Acton UnwindThe New York Times Takes Aim at Orthodox Jewish EducationThis week, Eric Kohn, Dan Hugger, and Dylan Pahman are joined by special guest Rabbi Jonathan Greenberg to discuss the recent New York Times article on New York City’s Orthodox yeshivas. Is the Times piece fair? What interest does the state have in the kind of education the children in Hasidic enclaves in New York City are receiving? And is America becoming increasingly inhospitable to Jews? Then the guys discuss the move by some state governors to send migrants who arrive at the southern border to so-called sanctuary cities. Is this a defensible policy, with the supposed ends jus...
2022-09-1959 min
Acton UnwindRemembering Queen Elizabeth II & Mikhail GorbachevThis week, Eric Kohn, Dan Hugger, and Dylan Pahman discuss the legacies of two world leaders who have recently passed: Queen Elizabeth II of England and former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. How should these two very different figures be remembered, and what will be their enduring legacies? How should we think about the legacy of the British Empire, which was dissolved under Queen Elizabeth’s reign with the end of British rule in Hong Kong? And how much credit should Gorbachev get for the dissolution of the Soviet Union under his watch when this was never his intention? And fin...
2022-09-121h 01
Acton UnwindIs there a case for canceling student loan debt?This week, Eric Kohn, John Pinheiro, and Dylan Pahman discuss every angle of the executive order from President Joe Biden granting up to $20,000 of student-loan-debt forgiveness to qualifying individuals. Is there a solid legal case for doing this? Can one argue persuasively that transferring debts from those who incurred them to those who did not—namely, the American taxpayers—is in any way just? Does it make sense to take this action without addressing the deeper problems in the student loan and higher education system, which debt-relief advocates themselves portray as predatory? How do we address the cultural problems that...
2022-08-2955 min
Acton UnwindAfghanistan, one year laterThis week, Eric Kohn, Dan Hugger, and Dylan Pahman reflect on what has transpired in Afghanistan in the year since the withdrawal of American forces from the country. Could the inevitable withdrawal have been better planned to prevent the debacle that ensued? What is the current state of the country’s economy, and of the rights of women and children? Could things be worse? Then the guys turn their attention to a possible earthquake in the American public school system, as major cities see declining enrollments while states like Arizona make large expansions to school-choice programs. What happens when th...
2022-08-221h 02
Acton UnwindNo one is above the law or beneath contempt in Trump raidThis week, Eric Kohn, Dan Hugger, and Dylan Pahman explore some of the big picture questions raised in the wake of the FBI's executing a search warrant for Trump’s Florida digs, Mar-a-Lago. How should we balance practical political concerns with questions of the rule of law? Would more transparency help? Or would breaking the Department of Justice’s protocol, as former FBI director Jim Comey did about the Hillary Clinton private-server investigation, cause more harm than good? And are we capable of viewing a former president as just another American citizen once he’s left office? Then the guys r...
2022-08-151h 06
Acton UnwindA recession by any other name still stinksDavid L. Bahnsen joins Eric Kohn, Dan Hugger, and Dylan Pahman on the show this week to discuss all things economics. Just what is a recession? How do we know? What should we do if we’re actually in one? What is the future of inflation? If inflation comes down, is it a good sign or would it be indicative of different problems in the economy? Are we at risk of investing too much in the power of government and politicians to both break and fix the economy? And are oil companies making record profits? Sub...
2022-08-0159 min
Acton UnwindPolitical violence and the attack on Lee ZeldinThis week, Eric Kohn, Dan Hugger, and Dylan Pahman discuss the rising concern about political violence in the wake of the attack in New York on Republican gubernatorial candidate Rep. Lee Zeldin. How do we stem this tide, and what role do politicians and rhetoric play in inciting such violence? From there the discussion turns to the elimination of cash bail in New York. Then, given President Biden’s trip to Saudi Arabia, how should we approach dealing with nations that violate human rights and, specific to Saudi Arabia, murder journalists, especially when there are geopolitical security concerns in th...
2022-07-2559 min
Acton UnwindBonus episode: Stranger Things 4In a very special bonus episode of Acton Unwind, Eric Kohn is joined by Dylan Pahman and Daniel Baas to discuss the fourth season of the hit Netflix series “Stranger Things.” They explore the show’s depiction of communism, the satanic panic of the 1980s, concepts of good and evil, and tease out some possible religious allegories.Supernatural thriller Stranger Things shows the all-too-human evil of communism | Dylan PahmanCronyism vs. free markets in ‘Stranger Things’ | Dylan Pahman Stranger Things on America: ‘It’s not rigged!’ | Jordan BallorStranger Things’ Imp...
2022-07-2257 min
Acton UnwindHow old is too old to be president?This week, Eric Kohn, Dan Hugger, and Dylan Pahman ponder the nexus of age, experience, and leadership. Is it possible to be too old to have a job with as many high-pressure responsibilities as come with being president of the United States? If so, what is the wisest way to implement an age limitation? Should we just leave it up to voters to decide based on the individual candidates available? Then the guys discuss whether changing our language has the ability to change what it is we’re talking about. Does insisting people use words like “Latinx” have any meanin...
2022-07-181h 06
Acton UnwindShinzo Abe and Boris Johnson fallThis week, Eric Kohn, Dan Hugger, and Dylan Pahman discuss both the shocking assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the political downfall of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. What is Abe’s legacy and the significance of his assassination in Japanese civic and political culture? And will Boris Johnson even leave a legacy beyond negotiating Brexit? Next, Twitter is looking to sue Elon Musk, who has announced he’s backing out of his deal to purchase the social media platform. Can you force someone to buy something? And finally, the guys break down the end of the...
2022-07-1159 min
Acton UnwindBloody Independence DayThis week, Eric Kohn, Dan Hugger, and Dylan Pahman take stock of the current status of the American founding, 246 years after the colonies declared independence. How effective have the attacks coming from the left and the right on the founding been, if at all? Then they examine the horrific mass shooting at an Independence Day parade in Highland Park, Illinois. If public policy can’t fix broken souls, how can we reach people like this shooter before they perpetrate these violent acts? Highland Park shooting sends shockwaves | Axios Liberal Practice v. Liberal...
2022-07-051h 03
Acton UnwindAll about DobbsThis week, Eric Kohn, Sam Gregg, and Dan Hugger discuss everything surrounding the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overturned previous precedents in Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey. Why has most of the reaction been about the policy implications flowing from the decision and not what the Supreme Court actually wrote and held in Dobbs? What does that say about civics education in America right now? What should we take away from the concurring opinions filed by Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Clarence Thomas? What, if a...
2022-06-271h 02
Acton UnwindIs it ethical to watch Saudi-backed golf?On this episode, Eric Kohn, Dylan Pahman, and Dan Hugger discuss the newly launched LIV Golf International Series, a competitor to the PGA Tour that has drawn defections from some big golfing names—Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, and Bryson DeChambeau, to name a few—and controversy for being primarily funded by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. What is the ethical responsibility of the average sports consumer when a sporting event is being funded or supported by a monstrous regime? Then the guys turn their attention to the Federal Reserve, which raised interest rates by 75 basis points in an effort to c...
2022-06-2055 min
Acton UnwindPartisan vitriol threatens the economy—and livesThis week, special guest David Bahnsen joins Eric Kohn, Sam Gregg, and Dan Hugger as they discuss inflation in America hitting a 40-year high. What’s driving the present persistent inflation? How is our present economic malaise different from our last bout of persistent inflation in the 1970s? How does political polarization hamper our ability to respond effectively to economic crises? The second half of the program is dedicated to a review and evaluation of the ongoing work of the January 6 committee, as well as the recent assassination attempt on Supreme Court justice Brett Kavanaugh. What does the emerging te...
2022-06-1359 min
Acton UnwindHow do we grapple with Uvalde?In this episode, Eric Kohn, Sam Gregg, and Dan Hugger discuss the massacre of 19 children and two adults in Uvalde, Texas. How do we grapple with horrors like this? What can we do, as individuals and as a society, to reduce the likelihood that attacks like this will happen again? Are we lacking the moral language to effectively discuss such events? Then there’s the lack of response on the part of the Uvalde police. While these cops clearly failed the people they were charged with protecting, what role did the failure to properly prepare them to do their jo...
2022-06-0659 min
Acton UnwindThe arrest of Cardinal ZenThis week, Eric Kohn, Sam Gregg, and Dan Hugger discuss the arrest of Cardinal Joseph Zen in Hong Kong on charges of violating the National Security Law and allegedly "colluding with foreign forces.” The arrest of Zen and three others comes in the wake of the arrest of other pro-democracy and human rights activists like Jimmy Lai, the subject of Acton’s most recent documentary feature film, THE HONG KONGER: JIMMY LAI’S EXTRAORDINARY STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM. What does this arrest tell us about the state of Hong Kong? And how has the Holy See responded to this incident? Then t...
2022-05-1654 min
Acton UnwindThe future of abortion in AmericaThis week, Eric Kohn, Dylan Pahman, and Dan Hugger tackle the issue that’s on everyone’s mind: the leak of the Supreme Court draft option in the Dobbs case overturning both Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey. How monumental is the leak itself, and how does it threaten the institution of the Court? What does the draft opinion from Justice Samuel Alito actually do? What do the American people actually think about abortion? What happens now? And finally, assuming the Court overturns Roe and Casey in the Dobbs decision, how will the period of time between Roe...
2022-05-091h 17
Acton UnwindWhy are we uncomfortable with religion in the public square?This week, Eric Kohn, Sam Gregg, and Dan Hugger discuss the case that was argued before the Supreme Court last week about whether Joseph Kennedy, a former football coach in Washington State, could pray with others at the 50-yard line after public school football games. Kennedy looks likely to win his case, but should he? Why do we have such a hard time grappling with the role of religion in public life? Will this case do anything to help that problem? Next, we already have inflation. Now we have negative GDP growth. Are the 1970s back in full force...
2022-05-0250 min
Acton UnwindFall of the House of Mouse in Florida?This week, Eric Kohn, Sam Gregg, and Dan Hugger give quick takes on two developing stories previously discussed on this program: the French presidential election, in which the incumbent, Emmanuel Macron, has emerged victorious over Marine Le Pen; and Twitter’s reported acceptance of Elon Musk’s purchase offer. Then they turn their attention to Florida and the recently passed legislation to strip Disney of its Reedy Creek Improvement District carveout in retaliation for Disney’s objection to the Parental Rights in Education bill. How much can the political ideas of Nazi legal theorist Carl Schmitt explain what’s happenin...
2022-04-251h 02
Acton UnwindBlunt reaction to Elon Musk’s Twitter takeoverThis week, Eric Kohn, Dylan Pahman, and Dan Hugger update the Elon Musk twitter drama. How serious should we take Musk’s attempt to purchase Twitter? And even if he did, how much would it impact people who aren’t just very, very online. How much has this episode revealed about the people who are either outraged or delighted by the story? Then the guys dive into the most recent Atlantic essay from social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, “Why the past 10 years of American life have been uniquely stupid.” Subscribe to our podcasts Elon Musk...
2022-04-181h 03
Acton UnwindThe populist right rises (in France)This week, Eric Kohn and Sam Gregg pilot this two-person ship through four topics. First, they tackle the first round of French presidential elections, where the incumbent Emmanuel Macron will face off in a rematch with Marine Le Pen. What does the rise of Le Pen’s right-wing populism mean for France, and why have the two major political parties lost support so dramatically? Next, Elon Musk is now the largest shareholder in Twitter, prompting a mini-freakout in the Big Tech world. Are Musk’s actions a clear example of the way the market can deal with Big Tech issu...
2022-04-111h 01
Acton Unwind"Boys" and "Girls" banned from Disney WorldThis week, Eric Kohn, Sam Gregg, and Dan Hugger take on Florida’s HB 1557, christened by the media as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. While it doesn’t say, “Don’t say gay,” it does say several things worth discussing. And how much of a backlash could Disney be in for now that their internal conversations about adding “queerness” to its programming are public. Next, the guys consider President Joe Biden’s pledge to release 1 million barrels of oil per day from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Is this anything but political posturing? And finally, Ezra Klein of The New York Times had an...
2022-04-041h 07
Acton Unwind“Best Assault at the Oscars” Goes To…It’s a two-man show this week as Eric Kohn and Dan Hugger begin by discussing the slap heard ’round the entertainment world. In the event you haven’t heard yet, actor Will Smith stormed the Oscars stage last night to slap Chris Rock after Rock made a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. Was it staged? Was it real? Can we know? Does it matter? Speaking of blurring the lines of reality and fantasy, next Eric and Dan examine the stolen Jan. 6 text messages from Ginni Thomas, wife of Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas. How much of polit...
2022-03-281h 02
Acton UnwindLia Thomas and the nature of the human personToday, Eric Kohn, Sam Gregg, and Dan Hugger discuss the controversy surrounding Lia Thomas, the transgender swimmer on the women’s swim team at the University of Pennsylvania, who just recently took home the NCAA Division I national championship in the women's 500-yard freestyle. What questions does this raise about the nature of the human person, and to what extent has that anthropological question gone unexamined and ignored by the people and institutions surrounding this story? Then the gang examines Pope Francis’ comments from last week that “wars are always unjust.” What is the church’s just war theory, and what d...
2022-03-211h 02
Acton UnwindThe ballooning problem of inflationThis week, Eric Kohn, Sam Gregg, and Stephen Barrows discuss the latest spike in inflation, hitting 7.9% over last year. That’s the worst it’s been since 1982. What action will the Federal Reserve take? Has the Federal Reserve simply failed? If so, what’s the lesson we should learn? Then the guys discuss the sanctions regime that’s been put on Russia. Are sanctions effective? Are they moral? Are they working? And finally, would you fight for your country if it was invaded? In a new poll, an alarming number of Americans say no. What should be the takeaway from tha...
2022-03-1459 min
Acton UnwindThe church’s response to Ukraine and RussiaThis week, Eric Kohn, Sam Gregg, and Dylan Pahman discuss the latest on Ukraine and Russia. Should we be surprised by the unanimity of the European response? To what extent did Vladimir Putin underestimate the strength of Western institutions and alliances? Then they discuss how both the Orthodox Church and the Vatican have responded to the crisis. Finally, they close with brief reactions to President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address. Subscribe to our podcasts The Morning Dispatch: Putin Cracks Down at Home | The Dispatch The Or...
2022-03-071h 06
Acton UnwindThe post–Cold War world order endsThis week, Eric Kohn, Sam Gregg, and Dan Hugger discuss the Russian invasion of Ukraine. How will this change the rules-based, post–World War II world order? How did the West misread Vladimir Putin? How did Putin misread how the invasion would go? How surprising is the story of actor/comedian-turned-stateman Volodymyr Zelensky? And how much has this international crisis revealed about the corruption of the American political right? Then the guys turn their attention to the upcoming State of the Union address that President Joe Biden will deliver on March 1. What actually is the state of the union?...
2022-02-2859 min
Acton UnwindParents’ public school revolt comes to San FranciscoThis week, Eric Kohn, Sam Gregg, and Dan Hugger discuss the end of the Canadian trucker convoy as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invokes the Emergencies Act—the precursor of which was last used to respond to domestic terrorism—to clear the convoy from the capital. Boy, that escalated quickly. What will be the lasting effects of this protest, not to mention the way it ended? And how chilling are the threats to freeze bank accounts of protesters and supporters, even as donation data is leaked from the crowdfunding site that hosted a fundraiser for the convoy? Next, the Acton gang...
2022-02-2159 min
Acton UnwindTruckin’ and Blockade’nThis week Eric Kohn, Sam Gregg, and Dan Hugger are truckin’ to the Canadian truckers’ blockade of Ottawa and the Ambassador Bridge between Detroit and Windsor. Even if the truckers’ cause is just, are their tactics justifiable? And does it mean now that famously polite and compliant Canada has a populist uprising on its hands over overreaching COVID policy? Then they dissect The New York Times op-ed from three post-liberal conservatives on foreign policy hawkishness. Is the hesitancy to get into foreign entanglements all that novel an argument, or is it concealing something far more radical than mere retrenchment? And fi...
2022-02-1457 min
Acton UnwindThe Georgetown Law crying gameNational Review ISI fellow Nate Hochman joins Eric Kohn, Sam Gregg, and Dan Hugger this week to discuss his recent reporting on the Ilya Shapiro controversy at Georgetown Law School. The student sit-in in the wake of Shapiro’s poorly worded tweets produced demands for cry rooms and reparations. Will they get what they want? Why do people in places of authority seem incapable of standing up to these outrage mobs? Then the group discusses the surprisingly good jobs report for January, where the economy added nearly 500,000 jobs—and all during the Omicron wave. If this is more evidence that...
2022-02-071h 03
Acton UnwindStephen Breyer, inconsequential consequentialist justiceThis week Eric Kohn, Sam Gregg, and Dan Hugger discuss the retirement of Stephen Breyer from the Supreme Court. Will he have an enduring legacy, or will he be largely forgotten? How should we evaluate his jurisprudence? He is often thought of as a moderate liberal but was frequently deferential to state power. Can we expect any fireworks from the confirmation hearing of his successor, or will it be a far duller affair compared to those of Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett? Then the Acton gang discuss what action the Federal Reserve is likely to take to combat...
2022-01-311h 05
Acton UnwindHelp desperately needed for American employers, American Jews, and Joe Biden's rhetoricThis week, Eric Kohn, Sam Gregg, and Stephen Barrows discuss the “the big quit,” as more than 20 million Americans quit their jobs in the second half of 2021. With more than 10.5 million job openings right now, what does this pandemic-induced change in the labor market mean for workers and employers going forward? Next, they look at President Joe Biden’s speech in Atlanta, Ga., on voting rights, comparing anyone not in agreement with him to being on the side of George Wallace, Bull Connor, and Jefferson Davis. So much for turning down the temperature on political rhetoric. Finally, they examine the in...
2022-01-1755 min
Acton UnwindManhattan DA’s light-on-crime approach is a threat to meaningful criminal justice reformThis week, Eric Kohn, Sam Gregg, and Dan Hugger briefly discuss the first anniversary of the January 6 capitol riot. Have we learned anything helpful in the past year? Then they examine the waves being caused by teachers unions once again forcing public schools to close in major cities. Is this enough to stir a parent revolt to change the nature of public education as we know it? Next, they take a look at the newly announced policies of the Manhattan district attorney that would effectively eliminate jail time for an array of serious offenses. What damage will this light-on-crime...
2022-01-1053 min
Acton UnwindOmi-chronic COVID panicThis week, Eric Kohn, Sam Gregg, and Dan Hugger discuss the progress of the House Select Committee on the events of January 6. Has everyone already formed their conclusions about what happened? Is there anything that could be revealed that would change anyone’s mind? Is there any civic good that could come from this? The Omicron variant appears to be more transmissible but less deadly. That’s a good development. So why is it prompting renewed talk of school shutdowns, greater lockdowns, and mask mandates that extend forever? Are we perpetually searching for a technocratic solution to a problem that...
2021-12-201h 01
Acton UnwindHow overturning Roe v. Wade can reset the civil orderThis week, Eric Kohn, Sam Gregg, and Dan Hugger discuss the implications of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, the case involving Mississippi’s ban on abortion after 15 weeks, which was argued before the Supreme Court on Dec. 1. How much has the legal regime created by Roe and Casey distorted our civic and political life? And what would be likely to happen if the Supreme Court did overturn the Roe and Casey decisions in their Dobbs ruling? Would it be as incendiary as some people seem to assume? Then the guys discuss the primary theme of Blake Masters’ campaign for...
2021-12-0658 min
Acton UnwindOmicron, here we go againThis week, Eric Kohn, Stephen Barrows, and Dan Hugger discuss the emergence of the new Omicron variant of COVID-19. With so little known about it, are political leaders and public health officials getting too far ahead of themselves? Dr. Anthony Fauci says he “represent[s] science.” When did we come to have such a malformed understanding of the scientific process that we moved into an ideological understanding of science? And how unsurprised should we be that the World Health Organization skipped over the “Xi” variant name? Finally, they discuss Yuval Levin's recent essay "The changing face of social breakdown.” What's hol...
2021-11-2954 min
Acton UnwindWhip inflation now, againToday Eric Kohn, Stephen Barrows, and Dan Hugger discuss all things inflation. What makes the inflation we’re seeing now different from the experience of the 1970s? What does it mean that we have a contracting labor force along with high inflation? How long will inflation be with us, and is there anything that can be done about it? The discussion then turns to mission creep and masking guidance from the CDC, with the agency head suggesting we keep wearing masks to combat, not only COVID-19, but the flu and the common cold as well. And finally, the trials of...
2021-11-1547 min
Acton UnwindIs national conservatism the future of the right?This week, Eric Kohn, Michael Matheson Miller, and Dan Hugger discuss the National Conservatism convention, from which Dan just recently returned. What do the national conservatives want? Should we think about this as an intellectual movement or as a political movement? Have they achieved a consensus about their own identity? And how much of a force will they prove to be within conservative intellectual circles and conservative politics going forward?National Conservatism Convention agendaThe biggest problems of national conservatism | Acton LineA healthy conservative nationalism? Not without classical liberalism...
2021-11-081h 00
Acton UnwindNetflix stands up to the woke mob over Dave ChappelleThis week, Eric Kohn, Sam Gregg, and Dan Hugger discuss Netflix standing up to the woke mob coming after Dave Chappelle for his new comedy special, The Closer, in which he makes jokes about the trans-rights movement. Can we view this as a watershed moment in the culture wars? Or is Netflix just defending their $60 million investment in the legendary comedian? Then, the supply chain has problems. Between that, high energy prices, employment problems, and inflation, are we staring down the barrel of a repeat of the 1970s? Next, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has been out for two months...
2021-10-181h 01
St. Cloud OrthopedicsIndustry Advancements and Physical Therapy Options at St. Cloud Orthopedics with Eric KohnEric Kohn, (DPT, OSC, CSCS, CCCE) discusses industry advancements, the importance of physical therapy, and options provided by St. Cloud Orthopedics.
2021-10-1118 min
Acton UnwindThe revolt against COVID-19 vaccine mandatesThis week, Eric Kohn, Sam Gregg, and Dylan Pahman discuss the possibility that objection to Southwest Airlines’ COVID-19 vaccine mandate was behind the cancelation of more than 1,000 flights over the weekend. Even if it wasn’t, there is clearly resistance to vaccine mandates out there, whether coming from the government or private businesses. And why is resistance to mandates, for some people at least, turning into resistance or rejection of the vaccine itself? A University of Michigan professor is under fire for showing his class Lawrence Oliver's black-face film portrayal of Othello. Is the biggest culprit in situations like these the pe...
2021-10-111h 03Acton UnwindJ.D. Vance wants to seize the wealth to own the libsOn this week’s episode, Eric Kohn, Sam Gregg, and Michael Matheson Miller discuss U.S. Senate candidate J.D. Vance’s comments about the Ford Foundation--namely, that we should “seize the assets of the Ford Foundation, tax their assets, and give it to the people who've had their lives destroyed by their radical open borders agenda.” When did it become acceptable for the right to abandon concepts like constitutionality and the rule of law? Why is this kind of rhetoric constantly escalating? Is it really what the polity wants? Then, have we thrown open the Overton window on spending...
2021-10-0453 minActon UnwindWhat obligations do we have to refugees?On this week’s episode, Eric Kohn, Dan Churchwell, and Dan Hugger discuss America’s dueling refugee crises: one on the southern border manifesting in around 14,000 migrants descending on Del Rio, Texas, and the refugees fleeing the Taliban rule in Afghanistan following the American exit from that country. How should we approach these problems as Americans, and as Christians? Crime has been rising in American cities. How should we understand the problem, and how important is it to truly understand the nature of the problem and how it’s different in different places before we attempt to pick and choose...
2021-09-2752 minActon UnwindWhat the Met Gala says about the state of our elitesThis week, Eric Kohn, Sam Gregg, and Dan Hugger discuss what Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortes’ Met Gala tax-the-rich dress stunt says about the current state of our elites and of elite culture. Are our elites so frivolous because we’ve become frivolous? Or is it the other way around? And why are we so preoccupied with identifying hypocrisy rather than observing and highlighting the underlying implications of that hypocrisy, and the tributes that vice are paying to virtue when we find them? Then, they discuss the email sent to observant Jews at Barnard College in New York City, in effect dema...
2021-09-2053 minActon UnwindAre we prepared for exponential technological growth?This week, Eric Kohn, Stephen Barrows, and Dan Churchwell discuss the new vaccine mandate President Joe Biden has announced for businesses larger than 100 employees, to be administered by OSHA. In what ways are they failing to consider the role of incentives, and what unintended consequences might this effort have? Will it just drive people further into their political corners and continue to undermine faith in our institutions? Then, they discuss a new piece in Wired from Azeen Azhar about the concept of exponential growth. Are we prepared for a time when technological growth happens at a blinding pace? Can...
2021-09-1340 minActon UnwindThe Texas abortion law & the social responsibility of businessThis week, Eric Kohn, Sam Gregg, and Stephen Barrows discuss the corporate reactions to SB 8, the new abortion law in Texas, including the pledge from the rideshare company Lyft to pay for any potential legal fees for drivers, as well as to make a $1 million contribution to Planned Parenthood. Is this just responding to the market and what their customers want? Or are politics overwhelming corporate decision making and leading them astray? Then, they discuss the strict Covid-19 lockdown measures in Australia. Will political leaders experience any kind of comeuppance for over-promising and under-delivering on dealing with the pandemic...
2021-09-0751 minActon UnwindHave the Taliban changed?This week on Acton Unwind, Eric Kohn, Sam Gregg, and special guest Mustafa Akyol discuss the latest developments in Afghanistan, as the United States works feverishly to get Americans out of the country. How many refugees should the United States accept? What will rule by the Taliban look like? Have they changed at all, as some people have suggested? Then, Eric and Sam discuss the FDA’s final approval of the COVID vaccines, the lockdowns in Australia and New Zealand and the resistance they have produced, and whether our elites and civic leaders are more incompetent than they were in...
2021-08-2354 minActon UnwindThe Taliban retake AfghanistanThis week on Acton Unwind, Eric Kohn, Sam Gregg, and Dan Hugger discuss the collapse of the Afghanistan government as the United States withdraws from the country nearly 20 years after September 11th and the beginning of combat operations there. We were told a collapse might happen in a year. Instead, it took days. What lessons should be learned from this? And how are we to trust our institutions when they’re constantly shown to be either wrong or lying to us? August 15 marked the 50th anniversary of President Richard Nixon taking the United States off the gold standard. How mu...
2021-08-1652 minActon UnwindThey're not gonna pay rentIn this, the inaugural edition of Acton Unwind, Eric Kohn, Sam Gregg, and Stephen Barrows discuss the extension of the CDC's unconstitutional eviction moratorium, the Biden administration's economically problematic proposal for free community college, and the New Right's infatuation with Viktor Orbán's Hungary.‘Small-Time Landlords “Hanging on By Their Fingernails” as Eviction Moratorium Drags On’ - National ReviewA Landlord Says Her Tenants Are Terrorizing Her. She Can’t Evict Them. - New York TimesMaking community college free has hidden costs - Detroit NewsActon Institute
2021-08-0944 min
Monetizing MediaDeeper Engagement & Better Monetization of Super Fans - with Jeff Kohn (TopFan)TopFan CEO Jeff Kohn and Monetizing Media host Eric Peckham discuss strategies for entertainers and entertainment franchises to own their audience, better engage super fans, and increase lifetime value (LTV) of super fans. TopFan is a platform for musicians, sports teams, movie studios, and others who have large fan bases to create online community portals with paid memberships, exclusive e-commerce, virtual events, and other special benefits. The white-label solution acts as a fan CRM and monetization tool for over 100 partners like musicians Pitbull, the Lumineers, Maroon 5, and the Zach Brown Band, sports franchises like the Denver Broncos (NFL team...
2021-05-0641 min
Monetizing MediaDeeper Engagement & Better Monetization of Super Fans - with Jeff Kohn (TopFan)TopFan CEO Jeff Kohn and Monetizing Media host Eric Peckham discuss strategies for entertainers and entertainment franchises to own their audience, better engage super fans, and increase lifetime value (LTV) of super fans. TopFan is a platform for musicians, sports teams, movie studios, and others who have large fan bases to create online community portals with paid memberships, exclusive e-commerce, virtual events, and other special benefits. The white-label solution acts as a fan CRM and monetization tool for over 100 partners like musicians Pitbull, the Lumineers, Maroon 5, and the Zach Brown Band, sports franchises like the Denver Broncos (NFL team...
2021-05-0641 min