Rephonic
Artwork for The Rational Egoist
Ayn Rand
Objectivism
Philosophy
Libertarianism
Capitalism
Psychology
Self-Improvement
Entrepreneurship
Donald Trump
Kamala Harris
Rights
Ethics
Social Media
Immigration
Leonard Peikoff
Prison Reform
Intellectual Property
Rational Egoism
Economics
Populism

The Rational Egoist podcast aims to explore the philosophy of rational egoism and how it can be applied in our daily lives. Hosted by Michael Liebowitz and produced by Xenia Ioannou with experts in the field of philosophy, psychology, and economics, the podcast will provide listeners with a wealth of knowledge and insight into the benefits of rational egoism. Copyright of all audio, printed materi... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes396Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PhilosophySociety & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Rational Egoist

Latest Episodes

Gene Epstein served as economics editor of Barron's from 1993 to 2018, where his long-running Economic Beat column became required reading for anyone serious about understanding macroeconomics beyond slogans and political talking points. Throughout h... more

YouTube

n this episode Michael has a rigorous debate concerning the Objectivist ethics with Professor Michael Huemer.Michael Huemer is a professor of philosophy at the University of Colorado. He is the author of more than eighty academic articles in epistemo... more

YouTube

The Rational Egoist is back with another installment in the self-improvement series built around Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand (OPAR).This week, host Michael Liebowitz is joined again by James Valliant to focus on the virtue of honesty.A pr... more

YouTube

Professor Ryrie joins Michael to discuss the history of atheism, the different meanings of the term, and some famous atheists.Alexander Gray Ryrie is a British historian of Protestant Christianity, specializing in the history of England and Scotland ... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Alec Ryrie
Professor of the History of Christianity at Durham University
Durham University
Episode: Atheism in History-with Professor Alec Ryrie
Liam Stayton
Student philosopher and junior fellow at The Objective Standard Institute
The Objective Standard Institute
Episode: A Conversation with a Young Objectivist
Sheldon Richman
Libertarian author and commentator
Substack: Free Association; author of Capitalism and Self-Interest
Episode: Rand Was Right! With Sheldon Richman
James Stevens Valliant
Philosopher, historian, retired prosecutor
Philosophy and public service
Episode: The Importance of Integrity-with James Stevens Valliant
Andrew Bernstein
Philosopher and guest on the show
Episode: Analyzing "Wuthering Heights," with Professor Andrew Bernstein
Radical Capitalist
Guest discussing/defending egoistic rights theory
Self-identified Radical Capitalist
Episode: Discussing and Debating Individual Rights with the Radical Capitalist
George S. Everly Jr.
Ph.D., ABPP, FAPA, FAPM; professor Emeritus/Senior Faculty at Johns Hopkins
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine; Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Episode: Overcoming Common Fears-with George S. Everly
Bob Taibbi
Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 50 years of clinical experience, author of 13 books and 300+ articles
Fixing Families (psychology today blog); bobtaibbi.com
Episode: Approval Seekers, wit Robert Taibbi L.C.S.W.
Jim Valiant
Guest debater on the proposition
(not specified)
Episode: James Valliant Debates Michael Concerning the Morality of the War with Iran

Hosts

Michael Liebowitz
Host with a focus on rational egoism, philosophy, and economics; appears across many episodes; acts as principal moderator and interviewer.
James Stephens Valliant
Philosopher and frequent guest who engages in Objectivist-oriented debates and self-help philosophy.
Lauren Hall
Professor of Political Science and author; discusses political tribalism and related topics.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 22 ratings
  • Really pleasant libertarian podcast

    Libertarian podcasts often sound like crazy people who just haven’t moved byeond knee-jerk hatred of the state. This podcast aint that. Its a good exploration of the deeper foundations of the best versions of all brands of classical liberalism

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    vincentgeloso
    Canadaa year ago
  • Beyond outstanding

    First ever review! I applaud you. I cheer you. And I encourage you to continue as hard and as fast as you can go. Keep up the unbelievable work!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    dan the man2135
    United States3 years ago
  • Sebastian

    Very insightful and thought provoking.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Plumeriact
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

A libertarian-leaning show that thoughtfully explores foundational ideas without dogma.
The content is approachable yet intellectually challenging, attracting thoughtful feedback and curiosity.
Listeners praise rigorous debates and practical applications of philosophy.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

A Conversation with a Young Objectivist
Q: What are your main critiques of argumentation ethics as proposed by Hoppe and his followers?
The argumentation ethics framework relies on premises that are hard to justify universally and tends to misapply normative constraints, making the conclusion that one should never initiate conflict seem implausible given the broader ethical commitments.
A Conversation with a Young Objectivist
Q: Which books or lectures most shaped your understanding of Objectivism early on?
Reading Virtue of Selfishness initially, and then engaging with lecture series like Objectivism Through Induction helped me see how Objectivist principles can be induced from core beliefs, which clarified many concepts.
A Conversation with a Young Objectivist
Q: What sparked your interest in Objectivism when you were younger?
I was drawn to the idea that morality is objective and life is the standard of value, which aligned with my secular upbringing and my belief that pursuing valued goals should guide how I live.
Discussing the Manosphere-with Dr. Nikos Sotirakopoulos
Q: What would you recommend? You're the coach now. What would you recommend? Where would you send them?
I'd emphasize basic self-work first: grooming, fitness, and building the ability to stand and defend oneself, followed by improving self-esteem and communication. The goal is to develop real efficacy and attract healthy, high-quality people, rather than chasing aggressive or manipulative tactics.
The Importance of Integrity-with James Stevens Valliant
Q: Jim, why is integrity presented as the practical basis for a flourishing life rather than a religious or abstract ideal?
Because when principles are aligned with reality, decisions become coherent and sustainable, avoiding the self-destructive outcomes of hypocrisy or short-term compromises.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Rational Egoist

What is The Rational Egoist about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on rational egoism, philosophy, and practical applications of rational self-interest across personal, political, and economic topics. Episodes commonly feature debates around Objectivist themes, critiques of conventional thinking, and discussions of capitalism, rights, and civil society, often with guests who challenge or illuminate these ideas. Notable strengths include rigorous argumentation, clear breakdowns of philosophical concepts, and a willingness to reassess well-known figures (e.g., Leonard Peikoff, Adam Smith) through a rational-lens. The format tends toward structured debates, expert insights, and real-life case discussions, making it a strong pick for listeners who enjoy principled, unapologetic exploration of... more

Where can I find podcast stats for The Rational Egoist?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Rational Egoist. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Rational Egoist and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Rational Egoist get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Rational Egoist, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The Rational Egoist?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Rational Egoist, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The Rational Egoist have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Rational Egoist has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Rational Egoist?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Rational Egoist:

1. The Ayn Rand Institute Podcast
2. The Daily Objective
3. Yaron Brook Show
4. The Atlas Society Presents - Objectively Speaking
5. The Tom Woods Show

How many episodes of The Rational Egoist are there?

The Rational Egoist launched 3 years ago and published 396 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Rational Egoist?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Rational Egoist?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Rational Egoist from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Rational Egoist?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Rational Egoist. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The Rational Egoist?

Recent guests on The Rational Egoist include:

1. Alec Ryrie
2. Liam Stayton
3. Sheldon Richman
4. James Stevens Valliant
5. Andrew Bernstein
6. Radical Capitalist
7. George S. Everly Jr.
8. Bob Taibbi

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days