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We explore philosophy, politics, economics, and other ideas from a classical liberal perspective.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes366Founded7 years ago
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EducationSociety & Culture

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Artwork for The Curious Task

Latest Episodes

In this conversation from 2023, Matt speaks with Mark Mercer about academic freedom, the changing mission of universities themselves, and what role faculty, administrators, and students should play in shaping the future of the institution.

Reference... more

In this episode from 2021, Alex Aragona speaks with Dennis Rasmussen about his findings on how the American Founding Fathers truly felt about the experiment they designed and built as time went on.

References

• Dennis Rasmussen previously joined Th... more

Alex Eames speaks with Moshe Lander about whether Canada’s billion-dollar FIFA bill is a smart investment, or if politicans and taxpayers are being sold a bill of goods. Moshe argues that while the World Cup will absolutely be fun and meaningful for ... more

Alex speaks with Darrell Bricker about whether Canada is at a breaking point, drawing from Bricker and John Ibbitson’s book Breaking Point to explore Canada’s economic stagnation, regional alienation, generational anxiety, and fragile national identi... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Moshe Lander
Senior lecturer at Concordia University; economist specializing in sports economics
Concordia University
Episode: Moshe Lander - Should Taxpayers Fund The FIFA World Cup?
Darrell Bricker
Chairman of Ipsos Canada and CEO of Ipsos Public Affairs
Ipsos
Episode: Darrell Bricker - Is Canada At A Breaking Point?
Matt Zwolinski
Political philosopher at the University of San Diego; director of USD's Center for Ethics, Economics and Public Policy; co-director of USD's Institute for Law and Philosophy; senior fellow at the Niskanen Center; research fellow at liberalism.org
University of San Diego; Niskanen Center; liberalism.org
Episode: Matt Zwolinski - Are Markets Coercive?
Matt Dinan
Associate professor at St. Thomas University in New Brunswick, teaches in the Great Books program
St. Thomas University (Great Books program)
Episode: Matt Dinan - Is AI Ruining Liberal Education?
Nadine Strossen
John Marshall Harlan II Professor of Law Emerita at New York Law School; former ACLU president; senior fellow with FIRE
Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression; New York Law School
Episode: Nadine Strossen - Is Our Right To Speech In Danger?
Casey Kennedy
Co-founder of Acton Academy Calgary Central
Acton Academy Calgary Central
Episode: Casey Kennedy - What Is An Acton Academy?
James Czerniawski
Head of emerging technology policy at the Consumer Choice Center
Consumer Choice Center
Episode: James Czerniawski - Should Kids Be Banned From Social Media?
Holly Doan
Award-winning journalist; publisher of Blacklock's Reporter
Blacklock's Reporter
Episode: Holly Doan - What Is The Role Of Investigative Journalism In A Free Society?
Aris Trantidis
Senior lecturer in international relations and politics at University of Lincoln; author of Clientelism
University of Lincoln
Episode: Aris Trantidis - Why Should We Care About Clientelism?

Hosts

Matt Buffington
Host of The Curious Task; affiliated with Institute for Liberal Studies
Alex Aragona
Host of The Curious Task; discusses philosophy, economics, and public policy

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 58 ratings
  • Great punchy podcast for Econ Enjoyers

    Found this podcast through extensive searching -thought I would give it a try. Alex (host) gets excellent, well known and respected economists to come and discuss a variety of economic, social, and political topics. He keeps the guests rolling, always keeping it to a manageable time limit, always leaving you wanting just a bit more. I have found a few good books and essays this way, and enjoyed the listen along the journey. Thank you for this great podcast!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    docheretolisten
    United States4 years ago
  • An engaging and intellectually stimulating podcast!

    I really enjoyed the Sandra Peart episode recently! She was amazing in providing a broad yet informative overview of Mill's key ideas. The Curious Task always manages to pack in so much in an hour (big kudos to alex and the production team!), and I always take away from it something new to think about in both my school and personal life! I would recommending this podcast to anyone who wants to understand more about the core liberal ideas that lay the foundations of our government and society.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Nicnac570
    Canada5 years ago
  • Intellectually stimulating

    Great podcast about classical liberal ideas. If you’re not sure what that means, just start with episode one!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    josh19888
    Canada6 years ago
  • Classical liberalism on demand

    The Curious Task introduces listeners to academic ideas surrounding the classical liberal tradition. If you are curious about ideas or want to explore a particular topic of discussion, this podcast is for you. There is no secret, this podcast is created by the Institute for Liberal Studies, in Canada. You should expect to hear a liberal point of view from the guests and host in most cases. What may surprise you is how even handed this is on the show. This is not a podcast for liberal sound bites... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    WLGarrisonian
    United States6 years ago
  • Good podcast

    You love Liberty? This is the best canadian podcast about it.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Warlordsalec
    Canada7 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Balanced but clearly classical liberal in outlook
High-quality conversations that reward careful listening
Thoughtful, high-signal discussions on liberty and policy
Great guests with deep expertise in economics and law

Top Education Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Moshe Lander - Should Taxpayers Fund The FIFA World Cup?
Q: Do the numbers of hosting a World Cup really justify the cost to taxpayers?
The guest argues that the reported benefits are negligible and the costs are dispersed across the population, making the economic case weak for public investment.
Stefanie Haeffele - Can We Live Better Together?
Q: What do Ostrom and Zelizer contribute to mainstream economics, and what should be explored more?
They broaden rationality beyond the narrow homo economicus, highlighting ecological rationality and relational dynamics in economics and society; more integration of relational, social, and governance aspects into economics should be pursued.
Stefanie Haeffele - Can We Live Better Together?
Q: What was the big personal takeaway from meeting Ostrom and how did it influence your work?
The takeaway was seeing how Ostrom embodied curiosity and empathy, pursuing truth through rigorous fieldwork, which reinforced the value of bottom-up, self-governed approaches in research and policy.
Darrell Bricker - Is Canada At A Breaking Point?
Q: What does the data say about younger Canadians' prospects and the so-called generation gap?
The guest emphasizes that younger Canadians face real economic constraints, including high debt, housing costs, and delayed independence, which are not merely ideological grievances but material realities shaping attitudes toward national pride and staying in Canada.
Darrell Bricker - Is Canada At A Breaking Point?
Q: It says, a Canadian prime minister has three main jobs. First, keep the economy moving. Second, keep the country together. Third, handle the Americans. How do you see these three functions playing out in the current era?
Bricker argues these three core duties remain the yardstick for judging prime ministers, but the real test is whether Canada can adapt its institutions and policy to a changing population and economy, especially with energy exports and interprovincial tensions.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Curious Task

What is The Curious Task about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show centers on philosophy, politics, economics, and related ideas from a classical liberal lens, consistently featuring guests who illuminate free-market economics, civil liberties, and institutional design. Conversations frequently tackle free speech, education reform, regulatory policy, and democratic governance, often weaving in practical implications for policy and everyday life. Noteworthy strengths include rigorous, idea-driven debates, a balanced approach to contentious topics, and guests drawn from academia, journalism, and policy organizations. Listeners who enjoy thoughtful, evidence-based discussions on liberty-friendly perspectives will likely find this program engaging and intellectually stimulating, with clear links to cu... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Curious Task?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Curious Task:

1. Hayek Program Podcast
2. The Answer Is Transaction Costs
3. EconTalk
4. Cato Podcast
5. The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie

How many episodes of The Curious Task are there?

The Curious Task launched 7 years ago and published 366 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Curious Task?

Recent guests on The Curious Task include:

1. Moshe Lander
2. Darrell Bricker
3. Matt Zwolinski
4. Matt Dinan
5. Nadine Strossen
6. Casey Kennedy
7. James Czerniawski
8. Holly Doan

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