Bob gives a dense commentary on the 1986 animated classic, explaining how the initially reckless Hot Rod rises from the ranks to become the successor to Optimus Prime.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:The full Transformers movie (1986).Help support the Bob Murphy Show.

In his new book published by the Libertarian Institute, Keith Knight explains why he left progressivism. They could see the problems of foreign imperialism, but they cheered it domestically. A fast-paced discussion.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:The YouTube version of this interview.Keith Knight's new book.Keith's archive at the Libertarian Institute.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.

Bob continues his miniseries, focusing on John 1: 1-5. Bob makes the case that we should be marveling at the unreasonable effectiveness of semantics in the social sciences. There is meaning packed into every field of human inquiry, and this sheds light on the prologue to the gospel of John.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:The previous episode in this series, i.e. BMS ep 304, installment 1, introduction.Dawkins talking to Steve Pinker on language acquisition.Bob's conversation with GPT-4."Why Math Works."A video on imaginary interest rates (relevant to Euler's identity). A video from the same series on Euler's formula.BMS ep 138, "Why the Left Hates Christianity." BMS ep 303, "Jonathan Bartlett on Random Mutations Not Being So Random." BMS ep 257 on Hans Hoppe and synthetic a priori.An excellent introduction to how Large Language Models work. How neural networks work (example of reading handwritten numerals).A good example of a cool YouTube video on the Mandelbrot set.Study notes for Daniel Dennett's Consciousness Explained.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.

Bob launches a new miniseries, and starts by summarizing his chapter for a Festschrift in honor of Walter Block.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:[As of release, no information was available on the actual collection in honor of Walter. RPM will update when available.]Callahan and Murphy's critique of Hans Hoppe's argumentation ethics.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.

Jonathan Bartlett is a prolific software engineer and textbook author who has published peer-reviewed articles on the information embedded in biological organisms. He joins Bob to discuss two of his recent papers, highlighting a distinction in the term "random mutation" that has great relevance for the Intelligent Design debate.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:The YouTube version of this interview.Jonathan Bartlett's archives at the Discovery Institute.The first journal article from the interview, then the second.The MindMatters site.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.

Bob goes solo to argue that our current institutional framework in the US isn't arbitrary; it was hijacked by the evil one. He illustrates with the recent examples of the Satanic Temple in Iowa and the three university presidents who seemed to excuse calls for genocide.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:Rep. Jon Dunwell's tweet thread.The full Congressional hearing involving the three university presidents (relevant exchange starts at 5:04:24.)Help support the Bob Murphy Show.

Max Borders is Executive Director of Social Evolution. He has a freewheeling discussion with Bob on UNDERthrowing--rather than overthrowing--unjust regimes.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:The YouTube version of this interview.Max Borders' organization, Social Evolution.Max's Medium archive.Jordan Peterson's closing speech at ARC.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.

David Gornoski uses Rene Girard's mimetic framework to show how the modern world has been transformed by the Christian account. He applies it in this discussion to the propaganda war in the Middle East.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:David Gornoski's WND article on the topic.Gornoski's show, A Neighbor's Choice.A previous Gornoski appearance on ep. 15 discussing sacrifice.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.

Bob goes solo to explain and critique three popular arguments put forward by the leaders of Modern Monetary Theory (MMT).Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:Phil Labonte's reaction to Nina Turner.A Murphy Medium post showcasing Kelton's claim about checking vs. savings accounts.Bob's review of Kelton's book, The Deficit Myth.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.

Steve joins Bob to discuss the life and revolutionary approach to mathematicians of Alexander Grothendieck.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:The YouTube version of this interview.Steve's blog post and here on Grothendieck.Steve's list of articles referencing Grothendieck.Steve's books.Steve's previous appearance on the BMS.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.

Dan Sanchez is Director of Content at the Foundation for Economic Education (FEE). He explains some of FEE's new initiatives to teach free-market economics, but he first details his recently diagnosed medical condition and how his faith has been carrying him through the ordeal.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:The YouTube version of this interview.Dan writes on his diagnosis. Dan writes on the proper role of doctors.At FEE, the Hazlitt Project and Read Academy.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.

Jacob Winograd is the creator of the Biblical Anarchy podcast under the auspices of the Libertarian Christian Institute. He joins Bob to discuss the famous passages from the New Testament where Christians are ostensibly told to pay their taxes and obey the government.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:The YouTube version of this interview.Jacob's Biblical Anarchy Podcast.Jeff Barr's article on rendering unto Caesar.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.

Christian Hubbs has a PhD in machine learning from Carnegie Mellon, and a Masters in Christian philosophy and apologetics from Biola. He makes a secular case for the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:The YouTube version of this interview.Bob's analysis of William Lane Craig's opening statement against Christopher Hitchens.William Lane Craig responses to Bart Ehrman.Lutheran satire on Ishtar Ruins Easter!Help support the Bob Murphy Show.

Steve Keen joins Bob to commiserate on the poverty of Paul Krugman, and to make the case for Hyman Minksy. An all around fun, informative conversation.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:The YouTube version of this interview.Steve Keen's substack and Patreon.Steve Keen's Debunking Economics podcast.Bob's recent appearance on the Steve Keen & Friends podcast.Gene Callahan and Bob Murphy review of Keen's Debunking Economics.Bob's article on Paul Samuelson's "A Summing Up" (from the Cambridge Capital Controversy).Bob's article on Eugene Fama on the housing bubble.Bob's critique of Nordhaus' DICE model.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.

Ron Simmons joins Bob for a delightful discussion about his new book Life Lessons from the Little Red Wagon, full of wisdom and common sense.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:The YouTube version of this interview.Ron Simmons' new book, Life Lessons from the Little Red Wagon.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.

In this frolicking episode, professional poker player Adam Haman comes on to discuss movie depictions of poker. He also talks with Bob about his activity in the LP, and then deeper issues of epistemology and theology.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:The YouTube version of this interview.Adam's (co-hosted) podcast Natural Order.Trailer for the movie "Havana."Help support the Bob Murphy Show.

Douglas Robert is a recovering Austrian who subscribes to the MMT framework as being the most useful for trading. He has a friendly debate with Bob over the inverted yield curve and whether a recession is at hand.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:The YouTube version of this interview.Douglas Robert's critique of Bob Murphy on yield curve.Douglas Robert's YouTube channel.Bob's article on Canadian expansionary austerity.Warren Mosler versus Robert Murphy debate.BMS episode featuring Warren Mosler.Bob's recent critique of Mosler's view on interest rates.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.

Robert Barnes is a lawyer specializing in constitutional issues, who has defended several celebrity clients including Wesley Snipes and Alex Jones. He joins Bob to discuss the legal perversions surrounding the recent convictions of several Proud Boys members for their role in the Jan. 6 protest/riot at the Capitol.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:The YouTube version of this interview.Robert Barnes' Locals community. His law practice website.Bob Murphy's critique of plea deals in context of Proud Boys.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.

Gene Epstein is disappointed in Bob's kid-glove treatment of Oren Cass' critique of American capitalism, and explains some of the problems with the data that Oren relied upon to make his case.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:The YouTube version of this interview.Oren Cass' controversial interview on BMS ep. 283.Oren Cass debates Cato scholar at Soho Foum on government intervention in manufacturing.Main website for Gene Epstein's Soho Forum.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.

Bob uses a recent exchange between Dave Smith and reason's Liz Wolfe to analyze the apparent tension between libertarian allegations of coordinated skullduggery and the Austrian critique of socialism.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:The Part of the Problem episode featuring Liz Wolfe.Bob's pamphlet Chaos Theory, his Libertarian Papers article on private military defense, and a Mises U lecture on private military defense.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.The audio production for this episode was provided by Podsworth Media.

Back on BMS ep. 229, Bob invited Steve Patterson back to the show to discuss Riemann's Rearrangement Theorem, which was such a counterintuitive result that Bob changed his mind and agreed with Steve that mathematicians had smuggled nonsense into their field. Math PhD Ian Deters now joins Bob to defend the use of infinity in higher mathematics.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:The YouTube version of this interview (with mathematical images overlaid).The BMS ep 229 featuring Steve Patterson's critique of infinity.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.The audio production for this episode was provided by Podsworth Media.

After having parsed William Lane Craig's opening statement making the case for theism, Bob now evaluates Christopher Hitchens' opening. He concludes that Hitchens hardly responded at all to Craig, and spent most of his time criticizing Christianity rather than theism.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:The April 4, 2009 debate between William Lane Craig and Christopher Hitchens.Bob's analysis of Craig's opening argument, in BMS ep. 282.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.The audio production for this episode was provided by Podsworth Media.

Scott Horton recently released a special production on Waco that clocked in at almost 13 hours. He joins Bob to discuss the essentials of the story, covering all aspects of the tragedy, starting with the religious views of the Davidians and ending with the absurd trial of the survivors.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:The YouTube version of this interview (with BONUS video features of infrared analysis).Scott Horton's 13-hour tour de force, "The Waco Tragedy."The YouTube version of Waco: The Rules of Engagement.BMS ep. 5 featuring Scott Horton.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.The audio production for this episode was provided by Podsworth Media.

Vance Ginn recently had Bob on his podcast, "Let People Prosper!"Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:The YouTube version of this interview.Vance Ginn's podcast, Let People Prosper!Bob's EconLib article on privatizing federal assets.Oren Cass on the Bob Murphy Show.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.The audio production for this episode was provided by Podsworth Media.

Oren Cass is the founder of American Compass, which has a new handbook advising conservatives on how to rebuild American capitalism. Bob provides a skeptical but friendly forum for Oren to explain his dissatisfaction with the standard libertarian position on free trade and labor unions.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:The YouTube version of this interview.The American Compass Handbook for Conservative Policymakers.Oren Cass on Contra Krugman (talking ObamaCare) and on a 2020 episode of the Bob Murphy Show.Oren's article "Policy-Based Evidence Making."Bob's summary of Oren's Congressional testimony on climate change damage, Parts 1, 2, and 3.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.The audio production for this episode was provided by Podsworth Media.

In 2009 the Christian philosopher William Lane Craig debated Christopher Hitchens on the existence of God. In this episode Bob evaluates the 20-minute opening statement from Craig.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:The debate between Craig and Hitchens.Wikipedia entry on fine-tuning argument.Tom Woods on classical First Mover argument.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.The audio production for this episode was provided by Podsworth Media.

Bob tackles recent tweets by Joe Weisenthal and Elon Musk to clarify the Austrian views on recessions and money.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:The Elon tweet and the Joe Weisenthal tweet.Bob's book Understanding Money Mechanics.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.The audio production for this episode was provided by Podsworth Media.

As a sequel to a recent Human Action podcast episode where Bob critiques a Warren Mosler interview, Bob here goes deeper into the analysis of how an economy can continue growing even if the government eliminates its budget deficit. Bob relies on both theory and history, citing in particular the fiscal turnaround of Canada in the mid-1990s.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:The Human Action podcast episode that is the prequel to this BMS episode.Mosler interview on the Forward Guidance podcast.Bob's debate with Mosler at Columbia.Krugman vs. the ECB list of examples of expansionary austerity. (See Krugman's blog post too.)Bob’s EconLib article discussing Canadian fiscal turnaround.JP Koning post on why the Treasury can't overdraft since 1981.An AEI post showing the Romer-Bernstein Obama stimulus package unemployment prediction vs. reality.Bob's critique of David Friedman on housing prices.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.The audio production for this episode was provided by Podsworth Media.

Přemysl Bosák encountered the ideas of voluntary law and decided to launch an online dispute resolution system. He gives his background and then explains his vision for Disputio.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:The YouTube version of this interview.The website for Disputio.Bob's pamphlet and lecture on private law.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.The audio production for this episode was provided by Podsworth Media.

This episode is a re-broadcast of Bob's talk given at George Gammon's Rebel Capitalist Live event held in May 2023 in Orlando. He covered the case for reparations, the threat from SuperAI, and investment implications.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:The YouTube version of this presentation.BMS eps on the economics of slavery (with guests Mark Thornton and Jeffrey Rogers Hummel).Why SuperAIs won't steal our jobs or slaughter us, Parts 1 and 2.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.The audio production for this episode was provided by Podsworth Media.

Lawrence Ludlow has an MA in medieval studies and gives Bob numerous lines of evidence to suggest that Paul in Romans 13 is referring to spiritual authorities rather than political ones. In this interpretation, there is no tension between the New Testament and standard libertarianism.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:The YouTube version of this interview.Norman Horn on the BMS to talk Romans 13.Jeff Barr's analysis of "Render unto Caesar."A History of the Bible. A book on the transmission of the New Testament.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.The audio production for this episode was provided by Podsworth Media.

Bob uses the illustrious Milton Friedman to demonstrate a depressing tendency among economists to overreact in their zeal to defend trade deficits, where they end up arguing that it's necessarily beneficial to live beyond one's means. Although this could be true in certain cases, it's not true in general. Bob then explains that the original mercantilists weren't as dumb as modern economists claim.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:Twitter thread with Friedman clip (and some of Bob's response).Bob responding to a similar mistake by the WSJ editors.Bob Murphy Show episode on reparations and AI.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.The audio production for this episode was provided by Podsworth Media.

Bob uses comparative advantage to to argue that human workers will always find a place in the economy, regardless of how productive super-AI systems may become. He then addresses the fear that superAIs will simply rearrange our molecules for building material.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:Part 1 of this series.Eliezer Yudkowski tweets on true threat of AI.Bob Murphy Show episode on reparations and AI.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.The audio production for this episode was provided by Podsworth Media.

Bob uses basic economics to argue that human workers will always find a place in the economy, regardless of how productive super-AI systems may become.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:Bob Murphy Show episode on reparations and AI.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.The audio production for this episode was provided by Podsworth Media.

For a chapter in Per Bylund's new collection, Bob explained the pure time preference theory (PTPT) of interest, and then offered suggestions for future work on an Austrian theory of interest. He summarizes his chapter in this episode.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:Per Bylund's 2022 edited collection.Part 1 and Part 2 and Part 3 in the series on Capital & Interest in the Austrian tradition (BMS ep. 26 and 28 and 31).Bob’s doctoral dissertation, in which the second and third essays elaborate on the main elements of this episode.The Bob Murphy Show interview with Jeff Herbener.Bob's mises.org article summarizing Bohm-Bawerk's critique of the exploitation theory of interest (and in the article the are links early on to two other BB critiques).Help support the Bob Murphy Show.The audio production for this episode was provided by Podsworth Media.

Bob elaborates on law enforcement in a voluntary society, and then offers commentary on Dave Smith's Twitter feuds regarding Open Borders.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:Bob's previous discussion of voluntary law.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.The audio production for this episode was provided by Podsworth Media.

Bob first explains his long-held position on the economics of slavery and reparations, and then applies it to the debate over the danger of superintelligent machines.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:Matt Walsh rips on Ryan McMaken and (indirectly) Murphy.Bob Murphy Show episodes on economics of slavery, with Jeffrey Rogers Hummel and Mark Thornton.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.The audio production for this episode was provided by Podsworth Media.

Bob officially describes his new role as Chief Economist with infineo. He first explains the mechanics of Whole Life insurance policies and their use as cash management vehicles. Then Bob summarizes the first infineo whitepaper, which explains the $SOUND token, a security token that represents a fractional claim on the aggregate cash value of a pool of Whole Life policies.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:The infineo website.Bob's podcast with Cole Snell, FOUNDERS FORUM.Link to view infineo whitepaper 1.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.The audio production for this episode was provided by Podsworth Media.

Bob goes through a Sam Seder episode to explain how a voluntary society could provide a rule of law.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:The Majority Report episode featuring ancap debate.Rohan Grey's response to Murphy MMT debate.BMS ep. 130 with Rohan Grey.Murphy pamphlet Chaos Theory and lecture on private law.Murphy essay, "But wouldn't warlords take over?"BMS ep. 260 on case of private owners mimicking State policies.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.The audio production for this episode was provided by Podsworth Media.

Daniel Miller is president of the Texas Nationalist Movement and author of TEXIT: Why and How Texas Will Leave the Union. Bob and Daniel have a lively discussion where they cover the realistic prospects for Texas independence, lessons from history, and dealing with typical objections.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:The YouTube version of this interview.The Texas Nationalist Movement website.Daniel Miller's book TEXIT: Why and How Texas Will Leave the Union.Bob's pamphlet on Texas independence.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.The audio production for this episode was provided by Podsworth Media.

Prompted by a conversation with someone who had been reading the Bible, Bob explains his views on the Sermon on the Mount and how a pacifist society could work. He then uses a Matt Walsh tweet, which calls on right-wingers to "treat them like they treat us," to explore the difficulties of living up to Jesus' commands.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:Murphy vs. Matt Walsh.BMS ep. 19, Why Rothbardian Institutions Would Become Nonviolent.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.The audio production for this episode was provided by Podsworth Media.

Bob takes a David Andolfatto tweet to explain why it's wrong to think that issuing US Treasuries somehow creates social benefits. Then he rehashes a conversation with Peter St. Onge about whether we should care if the central bank goes bankrupt.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:David Andolfatto on inflation and government debt.Bob interviews Andolfatto in episode 175.Robert Barro's famous 1974 paper on government bonds.Bob talking with Peter St. Onge on the Human Action podcast.Bob's 3-part series on the social function of a) stock speculators, b) futures contracts, and c) call and put options.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.The audio production for this episode was provided by Podsworth Media.

Bob recently appeared as the first guest in a marathon livestream of Lambda Conversations, hosted by Luke Avery. They cover all sorts of interesting topics in the intersection (or possible lack thereof) between Biblical Christianity and modern libertarianism.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:The YouTube version of this interview.The YouTube channel for Lambda Conversations.BMS ep. 261 on Prayer, Free Will, and Miracles.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.The audio production for this episode was provided by Podsworth Media.

Bob first describes what happened with Silicon Valley Bank, and then explores whether the Fed's new lending facility constitutes a bailout of the banks, and what the economic consequences are.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:An article on the SVB facts.Bob and Jeff Deist on SVB and 100% banking.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.The audio production for this episode was provided by Podsworth Media.

Bob handles some common objections to US secession, and gives proponents a real-world strategy to pave the way.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:David R. Henderson's article on his early days teaching.Bob's pamphlet on Texas independence.Dave Smith on Michael Malice's show to discuss objections to secession.Joan Rivers goes off.Trailer for "The Postman Always Rings Twice."Help support the Bob Murphy Show.The audio production for this episode was provided by Podsworth Media.

Singer-songwriter Tatiana Moroz updates Bob on her latest adventures, including her move to Miami, music video shoot in Poland, and performance at the antiwar rally in DC. The conversation includes deep issues of God and Satan, and the problem of evil.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:The YouTube version of this interview.Tatiana's website.Tatiana's new music video, "Whatcha Gonna Do"Cryptomediahub.comHelp support the Bob Murphy Show.The audio production for this episode was provided by Podsworth Media.

Bob answers a listener email asking how to think rationally about vexing problems in Christianity.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:C.S. Lewis on miracles.Richard Feynman on physical laws.Science: Meditators have younger brains.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.The audio production for this episode was provided by Podsworth Media.

Due to listener request, Bob explains why a legitimate owner has the right to set policies that would be immoral for the State to implement, and why in practice private owners would be much less likely to do so.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:Bob’s essays on Private Law and Private Defense.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.The audio production for this episode was provided by Podsworth Media.