Activists Episodes

As we discussed on Friday with Jack Hunter, Donald Trump proved that there was an untapped market within the GOP that a persona like he could take advantage of - populism. However, that populism isn't exclusive to the GOP, as the ascendance of "democratic socialists" like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio Cortez has show the Democratic Party just as malleable to the changing political winds. Nick Gillespie from Reason returns to the program to outline the implications of said democratic populism, but also to the causes that have gotten the Democratic Party to this point in the first place.

The ideas of personal liberty and free markets will always win in the battleplace of ideas, but that is irrelevant if people aren't willing to hear our solutions in the first place. So, what can we as libertarians do better to avoid these pitfalls of the past? 2020 Libertarian Party vice presidential candidate Spike Cohen returns to the program to help outline what libertarians *shouldn't* do, and where the Libertarian Party is headed as we move towards the 2022 elections.

Donald Trump proved that there was an untapped market within the GOP that a persona like he could take advantage of - populism. Now, this isn't a new discovery, but rather something that hasn't been effectively utilized by GOP politicians in decades. Instead of learning from what Trump was able to do successfully in his use of Republican populism, many GOP leaders have rejected that approach, leaving many of those voters looking for a path forward. Jack Hunter joins the program to dig into this Republican populism, and with that, how advocates in the liberty movement can utilize that populist sentiments in the GOP to help promote pro-liberty policy.

The world would be a much better place if people stopped trying to censor each other and instead were free to speak. That's not only the view of yours truly at The Brian Nichols Show, but is also the sentiment of our brand new sponsor, "Run Your Mouth Coffee"!. RYM Coffee is delicious, roasted to order coffee that provides you the fuel needed to stand up to censorship and to proudly Run Your Mouth, and today, John joins the program to explain what preceded starting this new venture, and the value of being able to RUN YOUR MOUTH!

If you've ever stumbled upon a libertarian meme in the wild, there's a high probability that it was a Kanan Vitolo original. Kanan is today's guest, and helps showcase how, yes, memes can in fact change the world! Using the sales skills of piquing interest in a short, concise message, Kanan has mastered the "Art of the Meme", getting his memes featured in news coveragee on such networks as CNN. Listen as Kanan helps dissect the "Art of the Meme", and how libertarians can learn from memes to be more effective communicators.

Identity politics has been near the top of the national discourse for nearly a decade, with the many folks too afraid to ask questions for fear of the societal ramifications. Gen Z activists don't seem to mind so much with tackling some of these issues, and today's guest is one such activist, as Olivia Rondeau joins the program to make her case as to why identity politics can't hold up to the value that liberty and free markets bring to traditionally underserved/underrepresented communities.

With the recent shutdowns in Texas due to the massive winter storm and associated power outages, the idea of energy independence is back at the top of people's minds. So, how do we juggle the pursuit of energy independence while also being conscious of our greater impact on the environment? Jack Kerfoot is a scientist, energy executive and author of FUELING AMERICA: An Insider’s Journey, and joins the show to make his case that climate change and energy independence requires us removing government roadblocks to the development of new renewable energy projects, and providing incentives to attract the people and resources necessary. Find Jack Online: http://www.jackkerfoot.com/

With so few elected Libertarians in office, being able to effectively communicate and network has been a challenge. To help facilitate the ability to share information, resources, and to discuss what has/has not been working, the Libertarian Party has launched a new initiative; LESS (Libertarian Elected Support System). Returning to the program is Joe Bishop-Henchman, Chair of the Libertarian Party, who outlines how LESS will assist the some 300 elected Libertarians across the country by giving them access to the support, talent, experience and skills of others who have been in the same situations.

Why school choice? Right now, many Americans are realizing first hand the value of being able to pick where their children go to school, as public schooling institutions still find their doors shut. With the impact of public teacher's unions being felt first-hand, many families are look for alternatives to the traditional government school monopolies. Corey DeAngelis is an expert on school choice and joins the program to help sell the value of funding students, not institutions. How does school choice impact the student, families, and teachers? Those questions (and more!) are answered on today's special 200th episode!

"Politics are always downstream from culture." Raise your hand if you've heard that famous utterance from the late Andrew Breitbart at least once in your life. Well, as cliche as it may sound, we see it first hand in the manner in which our society has so quickly adapted to the promoted culture of the Hollywood and leftist elite. So, is it possible to help reign in the power? Or at least, to use it to our advantage? Phil Labonte from All That Remains joins the program to dig into that, the "black pill". and more!

If you have found your state imposing arbitrary government lockdowns or that you're being taxed to death has been getting you down, then the Free State Project implores your to check out the great state of New Hampshire! Jeremy Kaufman returns to the show in his role as a member of the board for the FSP and makes his case as to why lovers of liberty should seek refuge in NH to live a truly free life.

Want to get away? I'm sure many of you have thought about such prospects at some point, be it for one reason or another. With the Biden Administration now fully transitioned into power, many disaffected Republicans and conservatives are now starting to ask some questions as to how to possibly move out of the United States. Mikkel Thorup from the Expat Money Show returns to the program to help answer some of those pressing questions and objections that those starting off an expat lifestyle will ask, like what will happen with your income, your family, your job, and more!

I bet a majority of you have no idea what a "state mine inspector" does, and candidly, neither did I! That is, until Kim Ruff returned to the program! Kim is running for Arizona State Mine Inspector as a Libertarian, and with our promoting Libertarians running for state and local office, why not have Kim return to the program to catch us up to speed, explain the role of a mine inspector, and why having a libertarian mine inspector with years of industry experience is a golden opportunity to help promote liberty.

Are you sick of being told you have only two political options in the United States of America? Are you tired of hearing supporting a third party is wasted effort? Do you simply want to end the duopoly? Long time indie film director Brad Lyon (@BradLeoLyon) is helping lead that charge through the culture, as Brad joins The Brian Nichols Show to discuss his brand new movie, "LET'S PARTY"; the definitive rebuttal to the old adage that supporting third parties is wasted effort.

After the defeat of Donald Trump at the ballot box in November, the fight for the reigns of the GOP has never been more intense. Trump has even been rumored to want to stay involved in politics, be it with the GOP, or with his own party/movement. Kenny Cody returns to the show to dig into this new discussion of a "Patriot Party", as Kenny argues a "Patriot movement" might be exactly what the GOP needs.

*This episode first aired on The No Gimmicks Podcast with Brady Leonard* Original Show Notes: Brian Nichols is the host of The Brian Nichols Show on We Are Libertarians Podcast Network and an associate editor of The Libertarian Republic. Follow Brian @BNicholsLiberty and follow us @bradyleonard @nogimmickspod

2020 has show just how unprepared government is in terms of being able to address immediate problems and concerns on a public policy perspective. And with that, those groups that have been traditionally marginalized are learning first-hand how important it is to take one's own personal autonomy into their own hands. Today's guess is Ermiya Fanaeian from SLC Pink Pistols, who joins the program to make the case as to why "armed queers don't get bashed", and how despite our other political differences (Ermiya is more left when it comes to economics), the importance of defending the ultimate minority - the individual - is paramount.

In sales, creating value and building trust are not only an absolutely necessary aspects in "closing the deal", but also fundamental in keeping your "base of business" for the long term, as well. Joining the show today is 2020 Libertarian Party Vice Presidential candidate and entrepreneur, Spike Cohen (@RealSpikeCohen)! Spike joins the show to discuss how we as libertarians can create that value and build trust with folks new to the ideas of liberty.