Anyone have a podcast?

Open to work : )

Here’s an email from last semester to my professor (who is not right-wing) when he wanted ideas for guest speakers. I thought it deserved a better fate than languishing in my sent folder.

If anyone has a right-wing social science-related podcast, I think this would be a pretty credible list of guests. If I wrote it now, I think I’d add Charles Fain Lehman and Steven Teles, maybe Dean Ball…

Hi Professor Patterson,

Here is a list of people I think would give cool talks next semester. Sorry for the long email; I didn’t have time to write a shorter one. In rough order of how good of an idea I think each is:

1. Ted Gioia — A Jazz critic who’s written some of the most influential articles on cultural economics, very quantitative! This article in particular was super influential. I very much hope he is asked; it would be a unique and fascinating application of the stuff we learned.

2. Stuart Ritchie — He gave the best talk I’ve ever heard at a conference, about the replication crisis. He was also “radicalized” by Bem 2011, and ran replications of it that JPSP wouldn’t publish. He’s a 4 SD level communicator (recently hired by Anthropic to communicate their science), and he was previously an academic in Scotland. I’m sure he’d be happy to join us via Zoom.

3. Ben Southwood — The founding editor of Works In Progress magazine—my favorite magazine, recently bought by gigantic fintech company Stripe (isn't that awesome!). I’d describe its sensibility as “the most wonkish articles in Vox in like 2015 but a bit less left-leaning,” and it is particularly influential in the UK. He could give an authoritative talk on writing about data for policy impact.

4. David Childers – He was affiliated with CMU until really recently. He should give a talk on modern trends in econometrics, he’s one of the best in the world. Maybe he’d come in person; he probably has a lot of people to see here!

5. Richard Hanania — Controversial pundit—though not too controversial to give a talk at Stanford a few months ago—very famous. He has a polysci PHD from UCLA and runs a think tank called the Center for the Study of Partisanship and Ideology. He wrote this article and it would be a great thing to hear a talk on. He’s a good friend and I’d be happy to contact him.

6. Chauncey McLean — Runs (ran?) the largest democratic super-pac. This article said about him: “Chancey McLean, who sits at the center of a close-knit network of Ph.D.s who have ascended in the party by displaying encyclopedic knowledge of randomized-controlled trials and political science literature more than working the Washington cocktail circuit.” Could give a talk on the qss of winning elections.

7. Alice Evans — A rising star development sociologist. She’s not really right-wing, but she’s part of an encouraging trend of smart left-wing intellectuals who’ve internalized a lot of the right’s critiques of their projects. Her work is on how institutions shape the role of women across cultures, particularly in the Islamic world. She could talk about this!

8. David Shor — Younger, more left-wing Nate Silver. Could give a talk about how to use our stuff in the politics part of the labor market—I’ve wondered what it would be like to use our stuff in service of a political campaign, and he’s the guy who knows.

9. Tyler Cowen — Famous mostly for his blog Marginal Revolution, which I love, but he’s also one of the greatest living economists of culture. I’d love to hear a talk on “methods in cultural econ.”

10. Eric Kaufmann — A demographer whose work I deeply admire. He could deliver an exceptional talk on the quantitative sociology of religion and generally the most interesting things in demographics.

11. Bryan Caplan — He wrote my favorite social science book, the Myth of the Rational Voter. I’d love to hear him talk about it. A friend of mine, and I’d be glad to contact him.

12. Caroline Glick – A journalist and author known for her work on Middle Eastern politics and international relations, plausibly the world’s most famous demographer. She could talk about the politics of demography.

13. Timur Kuran — I’m a big fan of his work on social change and preference falsification, though I’ve never had the chance to hear him speak. He is one of the greatest economists in the world, and he has also done serious work in history. I would love to hear him speak about applying economics methods to history.

14. Robin Hanson — I think he’s, in some respects, the greatest intellectual in the world. He co-wrote “The Elephant in the Brain,” my favorite book on psychology. He could give a talk on that.

15. Patrick McKenzie — An internet writer, part of the first wave of rationalist bloggers. His bit is writing charismatically about fintech law. He’s a supremely entertaining podcast guest and would bring a lot of expertise and humor to any financial and legal topic.

16. Alex Tabarrok – Many forget he created Operation Warp Speed! He should give a talk about how he convinced the government to do that.

17. Garett Jones — His work on economic growth and institutions is awesome, and he’s, in particular, an excellent communicator. Another friend who I’d be happy to reach out to.

18. Philip Tetlock — Along with Robin Hanson, the prophet of prediction markets. Could give a great talk on that.

19. Chad Jones — I’m a really big fan of his work, but I’ve never heard him speak. He could give an authoritative talk on the quantitative social science of economic growth.

I kind of got carried away there. I'd be happy to talk about this some time!