“I believe that the ability to vote with your feet is true democracy. When you can relocate easily and decide what system, what jurisdiction works for you best.”

Jacek is the President of Liberty International which I’m told is the oldest organisation promoting libertarianism worldwide.
In this conversation we discuss the work of Liberty International as well as Jacek’s views on libertarianism, travel, Free Cities and the future of self-sovereignty.
Jacek has an optimistic view of the world, something that we wholeheartedly endorse here at the Free Cities Foundation. It’s incredibly encouraging to hear from so many different people and organisations working towards the same goals of freedom and personal liberty.
Don’t forget that tickets for our conference in Prague this October are on sale now at libertyinourlifetime.org
And if you want to get a good sense of what it’s like to attend, check out the featured video at the top our YouTube channel @FreeCitiesFoundation which was shot during last year’s event.
In the meantime, enjoy the conversation.
Automatically Generated Summary
01:22 Liberty International with Jacek Spendel
Section Overview: In this section, Timothy Allen interviews Jacek Spendel, president of Liberty International. They discuss the work of Liberty International as well as Jacek’s views on libertarianism, travel, free cities, and the future of the free world.
Interview with Jacek Spendel
- 00:50 Timothy Allen introduces Jacek Spendel.
- 01:22 Discussion on the work of Liberty International begins.
- 01:45 Jacek talks about his background in libertarianism.
- 02:20 The importance of travel for libertarians is discussed.
- 03:10 The concept of Free Cities is introduced.
- 04:05 Jacek shares his optimistic viewpoint on the future of freedom and personal liberty.
02:33 The Concept of Free Cities
Section Overview: In this section, the speaker discusses the concept of Free Cities and how it can be a realisation of the dreams of libertarians.
Realising Libertarian Dreams
- 02:58 The concept of Free Cities is about advancing individual freedom and prosperity.
- 03:20 Free Cities are autonomous zones where classical liberal formation can exist and deliver outcomes that both the hosting nation and people who move there will be happy with.
- 03:52 One significant aspect of the Free Cities model is the ability to opt in or out. It doesn’t have to be a city, it could be a village but the model was originally conceived as a free private city.
- 04:20 The speaker prefers to use the term “free jurisdictions” instead of “free cities.”
- 04:26 Free jurisdictions include tax zones, among other things.
Dubai as an Example
- The speaker has a mostly positive opinion on places like Dubai, which he visited recently.
05:35 Dubai’s Immigration and Economic Freedom
Section Overview: In this section, the speaker talks about his experience in Dubai and how it is an open place for immigration. He also discusses the economic freedom in Dubai.
Dubai’s Model of Immigration
- 06:02 Dubai has a model of immigration where it is fairly easy to come from all over the world.
- People from different countries such as Uganda, Rwanda, India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh can easily get permits to work in Dubai.
- This model of immigration is far from the classical liberal or libertarian model of other countries.
- The taxes are very low or non-existent depending on the Emirates.
Unusual National Makeup
- 06:54 Nationals of United Arab Emirates (UAE) make up only 10% of the population.
- This makeup with immigration and growth influenced the speaker’s perspective on Dubai.
Potential for Democracy through Relocation
- 07:52 The ability to relocate easily and decide what system works best for you is important for democracy.
- More competition among jurisdictions makes it easier to vote with your feet.
- The speaker does not like some tendencies in European Union where they want to harmonize everything.
Living in Poland
- 09:16 The speaker lives in Poland but spends a significant amount of time in the United States.
- His base is in Poland although most of his activities are out of Poland.
- Poland is a safe country with less crime than most European countries. It is still fairly cheap to live there especially if you have dollars or euros.
11:09 Poland’s Attitude Towards Freedom and Pandemic Restrictions
Section Overview: In this section, the speaker talks about the attitude of Polish people towards freedom and how it differs from other countries. He also discusses pandemic restrictions in Poland compared to Western European countries.
Attitude Towards Freedom
- 11:09 The Polish nation is not hostile to the idea of getting richer and living a free life.
- 11:40 Pandemic restrictions were not as hard as in many Western European countries.
- 12:12 There were restrictions, but they were lighter than in most of Western Europe.
Pandemic Restrictions
- 12:28 Many types of businesses such as bars, restaurants, and schools were closed for some time.
- 12:59 The government closed all airports except Warsaw Airport for some time.
- 13:33 Airports did not operate for one or one and a half years.
- 13:57 One restriction that was harder than in most of Europe was that the government basically closed all the airports except Warsaw Airport for some time.
14:58 Liberty International: Promoting Ideas of Liberty All Over the World
Section Overview: In this section, the speaker talks about Liberty International, an organisation promoting ideas of liberty all over the world.
About Liberty International
- 14:58 Liberty International is an old organisation established back in 1969 under a different name.
- 15:30 Their mission is finding and expanding freedom in an unfree world.
16:34 The Mission of Liberty International
Section Overview: In this section, the speaker talks about the mission of Liberty International and its various projects.
Liberty International’s Projects
- 16:51 Liberty International organises the World Conference every year since 1982, which is a big networking event held in different countries.
- 17:23 Project Arizona is a leadership program for young libertarian leaders that focuses on education and volunteering opportunities. It is a six-week-long libertarian boot camp held in Phoenix, Arizona.
- 18:19 Libertarian Solutions is an online program that aligns with their mission to expand economic freedom and financial freedom.
Focus on Individual Freedom
- 18:31 Liberty International believes that there are places, institutions, and areas that offer freedom in this world, and they want to bring it closer to people who live in less fortunate countries.
- 18:59 The ability to travel is a big thing for gaining individual freedom. Learning what countries are more preferential towards immigration is crucial.
- 20:00 Liberty International has started working on a migration index research program to identify countries all over the world that have fewer barriers for immigrants who want to come there strictly for economic reasons.
19:28 Tools of Liberty
Section Overview: In this section, the speaker talks about the tools of liberty and how less privileged people can gain freedom.
Elements of Free Society
- 19:28 Having the ability to travel is one of the most important elements of free society.
- 20:21 The work migration index research program by Liberty International is an example of a tool that can help people identify countries with fewer barriers for immigrants who want to come there strictly for economic reasons.
21:46 Investment Opportunities and Travel Restrictions
Section Overview: The speaker discusses investment opportunities and travel restrictions in the context of COVID-19 and government policies.
Investment Opportunities
- Different people have different investment needs, such as protecting capital or planning for retirement. 21:53
- Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, there are still cool ideas for being freer and happier. 21:53
Travel Restrictions
- The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the most restrictive travel measures ever experienced. 22:26
- Governments are limiting our freedoms, including the freedom to travel.22:53
- The Green Movement is pushing for policies that limit travel due to climate change concerns.23:58
- Free markets and businesses work towards less problems with international trade but may struggle with bypassing government restrictions on travel.24:55
Future of Travel
- There is concern about whether we are trending towards a freer world or not.22:53
- Geopolitical situations, wars, bad relations between countries, and trade wars could pile up as reasons for further travel restrictions in the future.25:59
26:42 Concerns about Travel and Environmental Movement
Section Overview: The speaker expresses concerns about the ability to travel due to restrictions, especially outside of Europe. They ask if Liberty International has any projects related to the environmental movement.
- 27:19 While ecological issues are covered at their world conferences, there is no specific program focused on this issue.
- 27:41 The speaker is skeptical about carbon tax as a solution for environmental problems, as politicians often use taxes as an excuse to gather more funds for inefficient operations.
29:13 Digital Nomads and Permanent Tourists
Section Overview: The speaker talks about their lifestyle and connections with digital nomads and permanent tourists.
- 29:13 The speaker is not a typical digital nomad since they live most of the year in one place with family ties. However, they do travel frequently for work.
- 30:19 The speaker has friends who are digital nomads or permanent tourists, including Kris Kaleta from Freedom and Entrepreneurial Foundation.
- 30:44 A permanent tourist (PT) is someone who spends six months in one country and five months in another without becoming a tax resident.
31:44 Pros and Cons of Digital Nomadism
Section Overview: In this section, the speaker discusses the pros and cons of being a digital nomad.
Pros of Digital Nomadism
- 32:12 Digital nomads usually have their source of income in a different country than where they live, which makes them more independent from government control.
- 32:37 Having companies in multiple countries can also increase independence from government control.
- 34:22 Being a digital nomad allows for greater personal sovereignty and decision-making power.
Cons of Digital Nomadism
- None mentioned in this section.
34:49 Pitfalls of Autonomous Jurisdictions
Section Overview: In this section, the speaker discusses the potential pitfalls of autonomous jurisdictions.
Potential Pitfalls
- 35:32 The risk of the hosting nation’s government taking over or changing the rules if people invest large amounts of money.
- 35:47 The danger that an unstable country offering an autonomous zone may become less stable or change its political leadership, as happened with Hong Kong.
36:41 Autonomous Zones and Free Cities
Section Overview: In this section, the speaker discusses different autonomous tourist jurisdictions and Free Cities. He talks about some examples that are promising and others that are fake. The speaker also mentions the need to investigate each case separately.
Examples of Autonomous Zones
- 37:20 Liberland is a fake example of an autonomous zone with no jurisdiction or good design.
- 37:47 Honduras has a good project for an autonomous zone, but not everything works well.
Safeguards for Free Cities
- 38:04 Governments changing can affect autonomous zones, as seen in Honduras with the ZEDEs law.
- 38:32 International treaties protect against reneging on agreements and stealing property from Prospera becoming an international incident.
- 39:25 Everyone needs to make an effort to put safeguards in place, and Prospera appears to be doing that.
40:03 Envisioning a World of Free Jurisdictions
Section Overview: In this section, the speaker discusses his vision of a world full of different free jurisdictions that flourish like Singapore. He envisions more diverse places with different world views and lifestyles.
Different Types of Free Jurisdictions
- 40:35 Different places may have different world views; for example, there could be more Islamic versions like Dubai or more progressive versions like Hamburg or Amsterdam.
- 41:11 There could be more Latino-type jurisdictions somewhere in Latin America.
- 41:20 The world would be very diverse in terms of lifestyles and world views, but most of these places would actually be free jurisdictions that flourish.
42:06 The Importance of a Welfare State and Personal Passion
Section Overview: In this section, the speaker discusses the importance of personal freedom. They also talk about their passion for their job and the difficulty in imagining taking a sabbatical.
The Importance of a Welfare State
- 42:29 Examples of places that respect human liberty but have different lifestyles include Singapore, Dubai, and ZEDEs.
Personal Passion
- 43:00 The speaker loves their job and would not want to take a sabbatical.
- 43:17 They enjoy influencing individuals with ideas of freedom and seeing growth within their organisation.
- 43:32 Project Arizona is the speaker’s favorite project, which they built from scratch through their passion for libertarianism.
- 44:21 Project Arizona is designed as a leadership program for young freedom lovers from all over the world coming to Arizona for internship education volunteering etc libertarian boot camp.
Why Arizona?
- 46:15 The speaker chose Arizona because they used to go there quite often in the past when they were in their 20s for internships stuff like that my best friend lived there so I didn’t need to care about housing but at some point I had no reason to come back.
47:13 Americans for Prosperity and Success Stories
Section Overview: In this section, the speaker talks about Americans for Prosperity and their work in Arizona. He also mentions some success stories of people who have worked with him.
Americans for Prosperity
- 47:13 The speaker praises the work of Americans for Prosperity in Arizona.
- 47:13 He notes that they are not well-known but should be because they are changing the state.
- 47:13 The speaker describes their lobbying as very efficient and effective.
- 47:36 He mentions that there are many other organisations doing great things, including libertarians and free market conservatives.
Success Stories
- 48:03 The speaker talks about Jorge Galicia from Venezuela, who was a strong freedom fighter when he was a student.
- 48:35 Jorge was part of an illegal political party in Venezuela and was jailed. He needed to hide and eventually sought asylum in America where he is now living and working for various organizations, including the Fund for American Studies.
- 49:06 The speaker mentions another success story. Yuri is one of the leading opposition leaders in Russia and lives in Vilnius where he is one of the leaders of Free Russia Forum run by chess master Gary Kasparov.
49:20 Dangers of Socialism
Section Overview: In this section, the speaker talks about socialism and its dangers.
Socialism
- 49:06 The speaker notes that young people in America think socialism is a cool idea where people work less and have money for everything.
- 49:11 He mentions that Jorge Galicia is a survivor of socialism and talks about the dangers of it.
- 49:20 The speaker notes that Yuri Tarekov also talks to people about the dangers of socialism during his tours of US campuses.
50:15 Free Russia Forum
Section Overview: In this section, the speaker talks about the Free Russia Forum in Vilnius and his interest in topics related to free rash.
Free Rash Forum
- 49:42 The speaker mentions that he goes every December to Vilnius for the Free Russia Forum.
- 50:15 He notes that he is interested in these topics and is proud to see his alumnus doing great things to push the agenda of free rash forward.
“You are no longer dependent on elites to tell you what you’re allowed to think and we should always be optimistic about that. I think, in a lot of ways, the insane censorship and this whole apparatus that’s designed to keep us from speaking our minds is a reaction to the fact that we’re winning the conversation just by being free to think for ourselves.“

Jacek is the President of Liberty International which I’m told is the oldest organisation promoting libertarianism worldwide.
In this conversation we discuss the work of Liberty International as well as Jacek’s views on libertarianism, travel, free cities and the future of self sovereignty.
Jacek has an optimistic view of the world, something that we whole heartedly endorse here at the free cities foundation. It’s incredibly encouraging to hear from so many different people and organisations working towards the same goals of freedom and personal liberty.
Don’t forget that tickets for our conference in Prague this October are on sale now at libertyinourlifetime.org
And if you want to get a good sense of what it’s like to attend, check out the featured video at the top our youtube channel @FreeCitiesFoundation which was shot during last year’s event.
In the meantime. Enjoy the conversation.
Automatically Generated Summary
00:30 Matt and Terry Kibbe on Spreading Ideas of Liberty
In this section, Timothy Allen introduces his guests, Matt and Terry Kibbe, founders of Free the People. They discuss their experiences in media and how to spread ideas of liberty effectively.
Introduction to Guests
- Matt and Terry Kibbe are introduced as founders of Free the People.
- They have experience in both Legacy Media and New Media.
Experiences in Media
- Both guests have a non-linear career path that led them to video storytelling.
- White papers are important but video and social media are more cost-effective ways to reach a larger audience.
- Academic journal articles had a potential audience of only a dozen people.
Spreading Ideas Effectively
- The current media landscape is highly volatile and changeable.
- Communicating ideas of liberty requires effective tools and strategies.
- Video storytelling is an effective way to communicate ideas in today’s world.
03:24 Legacy vs New Media
In this section, Timothy Allen discusses with his guests about their experiences transitioning from legacy media to new media.
Transitioning from Legacy Media to New Media
- Both guests come from legacy media backgrounds but transitioned into new media for more cost-effective ways to reach larger audiences.
- Video storytelling has become an essential tool for communicating ideas effectively in today’s world.
04:30 Approaches for Spreading Good Ideas
In this section, Timothy Allen and his guests discuss the best approaches for spreading good ideas.
Approaches for Spreading Good Ideas
- Communicating ideas of liberty requires effective tools and strategies.
- Video storytelling is an effective way to communicate ideas in today’s world.
- The current media landscape is highly volatile and changeable.
04:48 Importance of Video Storytelling
In this section, Terry Kibbe discusses the importance of video storytelling in communicating ideas effectively.
Importance of Video Storytelling
- White papers are important but video and social media are more cost-effective ways to reach a larger audience.
- Video storytelling has become an essential tool for communicating ideas effectively in today’s world.
06:12 The Power of the Internet
In this section, the speakers discuss how the internet has revolutionized access to information and allowed people to think for themselves.
The Legacy Media Industrial Complex
- 06:34 Before the internet, Legacy Media controlled what information people had access to.
- 06:52 Technology and the internet have levelled the playing field, allowing almost everyone to have access to information.
- 07:17 People can now self-curriculate and learn about any topic they are interested in.
Ideas of Liberty and Freedom
- 08:21 The ideas of liberty and freedom seem to be having a resurgence due to free access to information on the internet.
- 08:58 People who were previously gatekept from these ideas are now hearing them for the first time.
Censorship as a Reaction
- 07:59 Insane censorship is a reaction to people winning conversations by being free to think for themselves.
- 09:57 CNN’s viewership dropped 61% in March 2021, indicating that Legacy Media is losing its grip on controlling information.
Engaging in Battle of Ideas
- 10:44 Frederick Hayek believed that engaging in a battle of ideas was more important than running for office.
11:27 The Future of Education and Media
In this section, the speakers discuss the impact of technology on higher education and media. They explore how new tools have made it possible to bypass traditional gatekeepers and access information directly from experts.
Technology and Higher Education
- The unsustainability of higher education has collapsed due to technology.
- Hayek’s advice to Sir John Templeton no longer applies as people can go straight to experts.
- Young people flock to Joe Rogan because he doesn’t tell them what to think but is a curious guy trying to figure out how stuff works.
Impact on Media
- CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC combined are still smaller than one episode of Joe Rogan.
- Podcasters and people willing to have open and honest conversations are the future.
- People get the option now to go straight to an expert if they want to know about something.
Self-Curriculating
- Academia’s entire financial structure is collapsing because you can find the best professors online for free.
- You can self-curriculate by being motivated and curious instead of burdening yourself with college debt.
15:27 AI in Writing
In this section, the speakers discuss their thoughts on AI in writing. They explore whether AI will replace human writers or not.
Fear of Replacement
- An artist on their team is afraid that he’ll be replaced by AI.
- However, they don’t think that’s true because AI ultimately is just a tool that humans use.
Understanding AI
- As per their understanding, AI won’t take over everything in 15 years; it’s just a tool that humans use.
16:51 The Role of AI in Creativity
In this section, the speakers discuss the role of AI in creativity and whether it will replace human creativity.
AI’s Place in Middle Market Mass Consumer
- 17:13AI could take over the middle market mass consumer industry such as Hallmark movies and produce artwork for hotels.
- 17:33However, there will always be a place for human creativity as AI cannot innovate or create something beautiful and profound that no one has thought about before.
Comic Book Artistry
- 17:57Comic book artists were worried about being replaced by robots but found that AI can do the artwork for comics if given a script. However, it does not capture the human experience well.
- 18:39Robots may be able to create something super creepy, but they cannot create something beautiful and profound like humans can.
19:12 The Future of Written Content
In this section, the speakers discuss how written content is getting superseded by AI and whether there is any merit in written content in general.
Bell Curve Decimation
- 19:12The middle of the bell curve has been decimated in many industries due to technology advancements. However, specialist magazines still exist and are bought religiously.
Human vs. AI Creativity
- 19:49Written content is getting superseded by AI as it can translate everything into speech. Search may not necessarily be something you type.
- 20:09Human creativity will remain at the top end of the bell curve while AI takes over more mundane tasks.
- 20:43AI cannot replace human creativity in creating something beautiful and profound that no one has thought about before.
21:02 The Role of AI in Language Translation
In this section, the speakers discuss how AI is being used to translate spoken words into foreign languages.
AI Language Translation
- 21:02AI is being used to turn spoken words into foreign languages, and AI avatars are saying it.
21:42 The Evolution of Free the People
In this section, Matt Kibbe talks about how Free the People started as a way to reach young people outside of their bubble and evolved into a video production company that produces short and long-form documentaries, comedy projects, and narrative filmmaking.
From Short Stories to Long-Form Documentaries
- 22:05 Free the People started producing short stories because they believed that young people had short attention spans.
- 22:26 However, they realized that Facebook manipulated attention spans and many young people fled Facebook for podcasts, YouTube, and Netflix.
- 22:46 They evolved from short stories to long-form documentaries or stories about people accomplishing beautiful things or being oppressed by government.
- 23:32 They are now experimenting with comedy projects and narrative filmmaking.
Tackling Documentary Economics
- 24:11 Free the People has not abandoned long-form documentaries despite being expensive compared to other forms of content like podcasts.
- 24:30 Their team is all in-house which keeps costs low. They also have strong deadlines for editing which helps them produce more content efficiently.
- 25:49 Their first documentary about Thomas Massie was shot over a weekend for only four tanks of gas and a couple cases of beer.
The Future of Free the People
- Free the People is hiring someone who understands TikTok to cut their hundreds of hours of video content into small slices for TikTok with hopes that it will lead viewers to longer form content.
- They believe that there is still room for growth in their business model as they continue to experiment with different types of content.
26:52 Congressman as a Libertarian
In this section, the speaker talks about a film they made about a congressman who is essentially a libertarian but registered as a Republican. The New York Times wrote an empathetic piece about him despite his refusal to talk to them.
Congressman’s Libertarian Values
- 26:52 The congressman is essentially a libertarian.
- 27:06 He is registered as a Republican because Libertarians don’t win office in the States.
- 27:13 The New York Times wrote an empathetic piece about him despite his refusal to talk to them.
Created Media
- 27:34 There are three types of media: earned media, paid media, and created media.
- 27:51 Created media allows you to tell your story the way you want it without someone else manipulating it.
- 28:15 Authentic and well-done created media can change everything.
28:32 Placing Content for Eyeballs
In this section, the speaker talks about how they struggle with placing their content due to changing rules. They experiment with new platforms and aim to reach new audiences while avoiding clickbait.
Placing Content
- 28:32 The speaker struggles with placing their content due to changing rules.
- 28:50 They experiment with new platforms and aim to reach new audiences while avoiding clickbait.
Soft Censorship
- 29:26 There is soft censorship happening for their type of content on social media.
- 29:47 They want to reach audiences who aren’t necessarily already coming to their church or belonging to their tribe.
Facebook Worthlessness
- 30:10 Facebook is worthless in terms of reaching an audience.
- 30:29 The speaker can’t get three likes from a million people on their public Facebook page.
Endless Experimentation
- 30:52 They endlessly experiment with new platforms.
- 31:12 The speaker is curious to see what Twitter becomes because Elon Musk has ambitions to compete with YouTube.
31:47 Favorite Documentary
In this section, the speaker talks about their favorite documentary called “The Free Life: Portrait of an Artist”. The documentary is about a Cuban artist who left his country at the age of 13 to pursue his passion for art.
The Free Life Portrait of an Artist
- 32:09 The documentary is about a Cuban artist who left his country at the age of 13 to pursue his passion for art.
- 32:31 The speaker points out that even though Cuba has been in the news lately, it’s important to remember that artists and creative thinkers are often targeted by authoritarian regimes.
- 32:54 Recent demonstrations in Cuba have led to hundreds of arrests and long prison sentences for those who speak out against the government.
33:30 Abuses of Authoritarianism
In this section, the speaker discusses how authoritarians target artists and creative thinkers as a way to suppress dissent.
Targeting Artists and Creative Thinkers
- 33:30 Authoritarians almost always target artists, actors, poets, and other members of the creative class first because they are often willing to speak truth to power.
- 33:54 The persecution of artists goes back centuries. For example, during World War II, a woman in France smuggled 2,000 writers and artists out of France when it was occupied by Nazis.
- 34:16 Socialism is often intolerant towards artistic expression. There are many examples throughout history where socialist governments have banned certain types of music or art.
36:07 Artistic Integrity
In this section, the speaker talks about the importance of artistic integrity and how it can be used to reach young people who may be attracted to socialist ideas.
Artistic Integrity and Libertarianism
- 36:07 The speaker believes that artistic integrity is a very libertarian idea. They argue that it’s important to tell positive stories about successful entrepreneurs and other individuals who have succeeded in spite of government interference.
- 36:26 The speaker gives an example of a Serbian brewer who collaborates with brewers from countries that Serbia used to fight with. This shows how art and creativity can bring people together across borders.
37:03 The Importance of Problem Solving and Creativity
In this section, the speaker discusses the importance of problem-solving skills and creativity in the new generation. He warns that if the United States does not encourage these skills, other countries will surpass them.
The Need for Problem Solving Skills
- 37:03 The new generation needs to be allowed to solve problems.
- 37:24 Libertarians need to focus on telling stories about communities created by freedom and decentralized solutions.
- 37:49 There are unbelievable solutions that no one thought were possible through decentralized solutions.
Encouraging Creativity
- 38:10 It is important to put a face on those who create beautiful things through freedom.
- 38:35 Libertarian media should focus on finding pockets of freedom and telling their stories.
- 38:59 Democratic socialism has done well because they have great characters and talk about dignity.
39:59 Empathy for Young People Struggling with Purpose
In this section, the speaker talks about how young people are struggling with purpose in life due to our success in solving basic survival problems. He also mentions how empathy can help us understand opposing views such as democratic socialism.
Struggles with Purpose
- 39:59 Young people struggle with finding purpose due to our success in solving basic survival problems.
- 40:24 Our prosperity has led us to worry less about basic survival needs but has left many struggling with meaning in life.
Understanding Opposing Views
- 40:45 Empathy can help us understand opposing views such as democratic socialism.
- 41:08 Democratic socialism has done well because they talk about dignity and purpose.
42:25 The Power of Storytelling
In this section, the speakers discuss the importance of storytelling in winning people over to your side. They note that while facts and figures are important, they are not enough on their own. Instead, it is necessary to connect with people at an emotional level through personal stories and values-based language.
The Importance of Language
- 43:02 The speakers emphasise the importance of using language that resonates with people’s values and emotions.
- 43:23 They suggest that words like “dignity” and “community” should be used by advocates for freedom, rather than being ceded to those who advocate for more government involvement.
- 44:08 They also note that certain words like “social” have negative connotations for many people, but that other words like “democratic” can be used in a positive way to shift power back to individuals.
Making it Personal
- 44:26 The speakers stress the importance of making arguments personal by telling stories about real people and their experiences.
- 45:09 They acknowledge that economists tend to process information through supply and demand, but argue that most people process information through their emotions. Therefore, it is important to connect with them emotionally as well as intellectually.
- 45:51 Finally, they note that young people from former Soviet countries tend to be more passionate about freedom than those from Western Europe or the United States because they have firsthand experience with oppressive governments.
46:33 Passionate Young People
In this section, the speakers discuss their observations about young people involved in the liberty movement. They note that young people from former Soviet countries tend to be more passionate about freedom than those from Western Europe or the United States.
Observations About Young People
- 46:33 The speakers note that they have observed a greater passion for freedom among young people from former Soviet countries like Serbia.
- 46:54 They suggest that this may be because these young people have firsthand experience with oppressive governments, whereas those in Western Europe and the United States do not.
47:34 Discovering a Vibrant Social Movement
In this section, the speaker talks about how he got into the ideas of the community and how it is different from what he expected. He also highlights the diversity of skills and gender in the community.
The Community
- 47:54 The community has tremendous diversity with an equal number of women and men.
- 48:14 The community has a distributed skill set that can accomplish many things.
- 48:34 The biggest challenge for the community is reaching new audiences with empathy and thinking expansively about their potential.
48:59 Inspiring Purpose and Meaning
In this section, the speakers discuss Jordan Peterson’s idea of purpose and meaning. They also talk about their own purpose, which is freedom.
Purpose and Meaning
- 48:59 Inspiring purpose is powerful as it gets people up in the morning.
- 49:20 Freedom is a meaningful purpose for one of the speakers.
49:42 A Year-long Sabbatical to Write a Book
In this section, the speakers discuss what they would do if they had a year-long sabbatical paid for. They discuss writing a book together based on storytelling.
Writing a Book Together
- 50:02 If given a year-long sabbatical paid for, Matt and Terry would write a book together based on storytelling.
- 50:24 Writing together allows them to have different perspectives on certain topics.
- 50:41 They would like to travel to exotic locations while writing their book.
- 51:02 Timothy Allen says he looks forward to seeing the couple in Thailand where they will be writing the book.