The Great Antidote

The Story of The Great Antidote: A Conversation with Veronique de Rugy

Send us a textIn this final episode of The Great Antidote, I sit down with my mom, Veronique de Rugy (does this feel like a Mr. Big name reveal for some of you?!), to reflect on the podcast and the remarkable journey of the past five years. Together, we revisit how the show started, the ideas that shaped it, the moments that changed me, and the people whose support made everything possible. This episode is a reflection on learning, growth, and gratitude—and a thank-you to everyone who has been part of this project.Veronique de Rugy is the George Gibbs Chair in Political Economy and Senior Research Fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. She is also an incredible mother (just ask me (if you don't trust me, you can ask my sister)).Support the showNever miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

How Definitions Change Debates: Freedom, Rights, and Equality with Rebecca Lowe

Send us a textPhilosopher Rebecca Lowe (Mercatus Center) joins me to do an ideas-only deep dive: what freedom really is, why it matters, how it intersects with equality, and how to tell coercion from choice. We talk charitable argument (steelmanning), the social value of clear definitions, and Rebecca’s agent-focused view of freedom—plus why doing something freely can have value even when the act is bad. Support the showNever miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Innovation on Trial: Jack Nicastro on Empower’s Fight to Exist

Send us a textWhy is D.C. trying to shut down a rideshare app that pays drivers more and charges riders less? Jack Nicastro of Reason joins to unpack Empower’s battle with regulators, what “innovation vs. permission” means in real life, and how markets—not mandates—keep people safe. Support the showNever miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Tech Panic, Then and Now: Judge Glock on AI, Regulation, and Real Harms

Send us a textIs tech panic new—or just history on repeat? Judge Glock (Manhattan Institute) walks through what past tech scares (lead gasoline, CFCs, TV) got right and wrong, why “externalities” matter more than vibes, and how to think about AI regulation today—transparency mandates, liability vs. preclearance, “AI pauses,” and realistic optimism. We end with his own journey from socialism to markets. Support the showNever miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Why Markets Run on Trust: Tawni Ferrarini on Honesty, Reputation, and Decentralization in the Information Age

Send us a textMarkets don’t work without trust. Tawni Ferrarini joins Juliette Sellgren to explore how honesty and reputation make exchange possible — from medieval trade networks to blockchain and Amazon reviews — and why decentralized trust systems matter in today’s economy of polarization, misinformation, and weak institutions.Support the showNever miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.