Shows / The Political Orphanage
The Political Orphanage
Politics minus bile plus jokes. Comedian and avowed independent Andrew Heaton interviews authors and thought leaders about policy and big thinky stuff.
Episodes
The Political OrphanageEp 57 | The Great Leap Forward Something Something Wind Power | Guest: Brian Brushwood
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez revealed the New Green Deal to Congress last week, designed to radically overhaul and control the US economy, fight climate change…
The Political OrphanageEp 56 | The Great American Sex Desert | Guest: Billy Binion
Despite what you may think, Americans are having less sex today than in previous eras. Billy Binion of Reason comes on to make sense of America's laggardly sex…
The Political OrphanageEp. 55 | The Super Model Amusement Park | Guest: Jimmy Failla
In a Friday grab bag episode, comedian Jimmy Failla comes on to suss out headlines with Heaton. Including: why Thai parliament candidates are changing their…
The Political OrphanageEp. 54 | Is "South Park" Postmodern? | Guest: Nick Gillespie
What is Postmodernism and why do so many people loathe it? Reason's Nick Gillespie joins Heaton to explain what postmodernism is, where it's useful and when…
The Political OrphanageEp. 53 | The Imperial Address to the House of Lords And/Or Congress | Guest: Justin Robert Young
Heaton comes up with ways to improve the State of the Union Address, including a mandated congressional conga line, and presidential crowd surfing. But before…
The Political OrphanageEp. 52 | Public Schools and Monkey Gods | Guest: Jonathan Braylock
Several states are eyeballing "Bible literacy" classes as part of public school curriculum. Jonathan Braylock, a comedian and a practicing Christian, joins…
The Political OrphanageEp. 51 | The NFL Team Not Stealing from Taxpayers | Guest: Eric Boehm
Heaton unleashes a tirade about football, and what he'd do to improve it. (Hint: it involves horses.) Then he invites on Reason's Eric Boehm to discuss stadium…
The Political OrphanageEp. 50 | What Your Hunter-Gatherer Genes Really Want | Guest: Sebastian Junger
Sebastian Junger is the author of "Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging." He joins Heaton to talk about how the world we've made is ill-fitting and alienating to…
The Political OrphanageEp. 49 | Why Does Everyone Hate Howard Schultz? | Guest: Turner Sparks
Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz is thinking about running for president, which has enraged the Democratic party. Comedian Turner Sparks joins to explain…
The Political OrphanageEp. 48 | Would Norman Rockwell legalize prostitution? | Guest: Elizabeth Nolan Brown
Reason's Elizabeth Nolan Brown joins Heaton to explain why porn is legal but prostitution is not, how the Internet can replace pimps, and the general benefits…
The Political OrphanageEp. 47 | Venezuela's Utterly Avoidable Catastrophe | Guest: Brian Brushwood
Venezuela's economy hit rock bottom, then just kept digging straight to the septic tank. Now there are rival presidents vying for power over a starving…
The Political OrphanageEp. 46 | Media Pet Peeves | Guest: J. W. Crump
Comedy writer J. W. Crump joins Heaton to discuss irritating things the media does, the difference between diversity and tokenism in reporting, and what to do…
The Political OrphanageEp. 45 | Why We'll Never Need a Pencil Czar | Guest: Tom Woods
Tom Woods, historian and podcaster extraordinaire, joins Heaton for a philosophical romp through the Enlightenment. By focusing on "spontaneous order" and how…
The Political OrphanageEp. 44 | Prince Philip, Volcano God | Guest: Chad Prather
Prince Philip is the husband of Queen Elizabeth II and is also worshiped as a volcano god by a small island in the Pacific. Comedian Chad Prather joins Heaton…
The Political OrphanageEp. 43 | The Various Species of Democrats | Guest: John DeVore
Self-described "flaming liberal writer" John DeVore joins Heaton to describe the internal makeup of the Democratic Party, and the factions within vying for…
The Political OrphanageEp. 42 | Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the Death of Math | Guest: Liz Wolfe
Socialism has returned to America in the form of a crotchety senator from Vermont and a vivacious young lady from the Bronx. Liz Wolfe, managing editor at The…
The Political OrphanageEp . 41 | Let's all Jump to Explosive, Unbridled Hate over the MAGA Boy | Guest: Rep. Thomas Massie
America briefly considered firebombing Kentucky this weekend after video of a sixteen-year-old smirking at a Native American elder showed a hateful display of…
The Political OrphanageEp. 40 | The Politics of Star Wars | Guest: Stephen Kent
Stephen Kent, host of the "Beltway Banthas" podcast, joins Heaton to discuss droid slavery, imperial apologists, and the galaxy's fascist dark age. Plus: how…
The Political OrphanageEp. 39 | The Secret Conservative Hollywood Speakeasy | Guest: Michael Loftus
Comedian Michael Loftus has written for "Anger Management" with Charlie Sheen and "Kevin Can Wait" on CBS. He's also the former host of the conservative…
The Political OrphanageEp. 38 | Can Robots Save Us From Gerrymandering? | Guest: Eric Boehm
Gerrymandering is a time-honored and artistic craft wherein politicians get to pick their voters instead of having an actual competitive election. Reason's…
The Political OrphanageEp. 37 | Please Topple Steve King | Guest: Chad Prather
Heaton tries to convince comedian Chad Prather to run against Representative Steve King in Iowa. King has been removed from committee assignments (and…
The Political OrphanageEp. 36 | Reasons to Avoid Saying "Uppity" | Guest: Deanna Easley
Deanna Easley, host of the "Black in the Day" podcast, returns to talk about microaggressions, and also to tell Heaton specific words and phrases he should…
The Political OrphanageEp. 35 | What Do Your Morals Taste Like? | Guest: Jonathan Haidt
Jonathan Haidt is a social psychologist and the author of several books, including "The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion."…
The Political OrphanageEp. 34 | Hello Gridlock, meet Trench Warfare | Guest: Andrea Jones-Rooy
Is congressional gridlock related to trench warfare? Apparently. Andrea Jones-Rooy returns to discuss. Plus, Heaton invents a new chamber of Congress
The Political OrphanageEp. 33 | Dale Brown Doesn't Need a Gun | Guest: Commander Dale Brown
Commander Dale Brown is the founder and operations director of the Detroit Threat Management Center, a private security firm. He talks to Heaton about the…
The Political OrphanageEp. 32 | Could You Fake Being a Republican? | Guest: Brian Brushwood
The first Movie Club episode! Brian Brushwood and Heaton review "Vice," the Dick Cheney biopic. Brian makes the case that it's a great film, if understood as a…
The Political OrphanageEp. 31 | Mad Max Apocalypse in National Parks! | Guest: Justin Young
Justin Young of "Politics Politics Politics" joins to discuss the government shutdown, how alarmed and/or irritated citizens should be, and what can be done to…
The Political OrphanageEp. 30 | A Very Snuffy's Christmas
The show's principle sponsor funds an entire holiday special, in exchange for allowing its waitstaff to write the entire script.
The Political OrphanageEp. 29 | Facebook, Russia, and Identity Politics | Guest: Chad Prather
Comedian Chad Prather and Heaton try to stay on topic about Facebook and shenanigans involving privacy and Russia, but mostly meander into talking about…
The Political OrphanageEp. 28 | The Country Isn't Polarized | Guest: Morris Fiorina
There's a standard narrative that America has become hyper-polarized, and people only consume media they agree with. Dr. Morris Fiorina joins Heaton to explain…
The Political OrphanageEp. 27 | America's Got Talent | Guest: Vicki Barbolak
Top Ten finalist Vicki Barbolak joins Heaton to talk about starting comedy in her forties, America's Got Talent, and the in's and out's of trailer park humor.
The Political OrphanageEp. 26 | Can I get a farm subsidy for my house plant? | Guest: Christian Britschgi
The show's sponsor unveils new and practical gift ideas, plus a peak into Snuffy's yuletide charity. Then Reason's Christian Britschgi joins to discuss the…
The Political OrphanageEp. 25 | Railing Against Minimum Wage | Guest: Brian Brushwood
Brian Brushwood joins Heaton to discuss New York's minimum wage increase for Uber drivers, and to hate on civil asset forfeiture. Plus Heaton gives unsolicited…
The Political OrphanageEp. 24 | Libertarianism, Socialism, and NASA | Guest: Gene Epstein
Heaton's economics mentor Gene Epstein (moderator of the SOHO forum) joins to discuss how socialism can comfortably exist within a capitalist framework, and…
The Political OrphanageEp. 23 | Who's In The Clink and Who's Not? | Guest: Turner Sparks
Comedian and host of "Lost in America" podcast Turner Sparks returns to discuss who's heading to prison and who's not. Criminals include: Trump's former fixer…
The Political OrphanageEp. 22 | What's The Brexit Fight Over Now | Guest: Juliet Samuel
Britain and Europe are getting a divorced, and nobody seems very pleased with how it's going. Telegraph columnist Juliet Samuel joins Heaton to make sense of…
The Political OrphanageEp. 21 | BIAS! | Guest: Dr. Andrea Jones-Rooy
Dr. Andrea Jones-Rooy returns to discuss bias, cognitive traps, and the difference between tokenism and intellectual diversity. Plus, on Animal News, Heaton…
The Political OrphanageEp. 20 | What Is Populism and How Do We Drown It | Guest: Jason Buttrill
France has moved from its normal recreational protesting to prolonged riots. Populism is on the rise there, in America, and throughout Europe. What is populism…
The Political OrphanageEp. 19 | The Coddling of the American Mind | Guest: Greg Lukianoff
Greg Lukianoff, president of Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, joins Heaton to discuss his book "The Coddling of the American Mind" on outrage…
The Political OrphanageEp. 18 | Everything's Cheaper, Faster, Madder | Guest: Remy Munasifi
Musical comedian Remy (from Reason) joins Heaton to talk about how, empirically, everything is getting better. So why is everyone mad? Plus Austin Bragg brings…
The Political OrphanageEp. 17 | Will We Automate You? | Guests: Joe Leonardo and David Ryan Polgar
Comedian Joe Leonardo and tech ethicist David Ryan Polgar join Heaton to talk about automation, wireless cars, and how turning everything into robots can be…
The Political OrphanageEp. 16 | Are British people human? How do they think? | Guest: Zoe Samuel
Comedy writer and verified British person Zoe Samuel joins Heaton to talk about English politics, political mindsets, and the Prime Minister's Questions…
The Political OrphanageEp. 15 | Why George HW Bush Is Underrated
In his first solo show, Heaton gives a biography of the late George H. W. Bush, and why he's underrated as a president. Plus, Heaton responds to listener…
The Political OrphanageEp. 14 |The Politics of Star Trek | Guest: Tim Sandefur
Heaton gives a primer on how to swear like a Scotsman after Scottish News. Then the Goldwater Institute's Tim Sandefur joins to discuss the political…
The Political OrphanageEp. 13 | Designer Babies and Animal News | Guest: J. W. Crump
Heaton and comedian / amateur bioethicists J. W. Crump discuss the world's first gene-edited babies, and if it's a good idea to fiddle with the human genome to…
The Political OrphanageEp. 12 | An Interview With Bigfoot | Guest: Justin Young
Heaton interviews Bigfoot about the movement to draft him to run for Congress. Plus political junky Justin Robert Young joins to talk about the Democratic…
The Political OrphanageEp. 11 | Why Are We in Yemen and Where Is It | Guest: Brian Brushwood
Magician and professional fire-eater Brian Brushwood rejoins Heaton to discuss a how unlikely Senate allies might actually balance out war powers and get us…
The Political OrphanageEp. 10 | Tear Gas at the Border | Guest: Royce Sharp
Heaton brings on Royce Sharp to explain how his dating life impacts national immigration policy, and the use of tear gas at the border. PLUS news on Hugh…
The Political OrphanageEp. 9 | Botham Jean and Cross Burnings | Guest: Deanna Easley
In "World News" Heaton bans a world leader from attending his birthday and spitballs alternate nominations for the head of Interpol. He's then joined by Deanna…
The Political OrphanageEp. 8 | Puppy Grooming Licenses | Guest: Shoshanna Weissman
Shoshanna Weissman, a rogue policy wonk at the R Street Institute joins Heaton to discuss the dumbest occupational licenses in the United States, many of which…
The Political OrphanageEp. 7 | Stock Market Tips from Oblivious Comedians | Guest: Mahesh Kotagi
Heaton brings back "Animal News" to cover drunk raccoons, a lost camel, and whether pet alligators are better than cats. Then comedian Mahesh Kotagi joins to…
The Political OrphanageEp. 6 | The Mathematical Case Against Democracy | Guest: Dr. Andrea Jones-Rooy
Heaton brings on comedian and verified smart person Andrea Jones-Rooy to discuss the soft, problematic underbelly of democracy: math. Plus: News from Canada…
The Political OrphanageEp. 5 l The Three Languages of Politics | Guest: Arnold Kling
In today's podcast we take a deep breath and skip the headlines and segments to do an actual, honest-to-god interview with a thoughtful adult. Arnold Kling is…
The Political OrphanageEp. 4 | Amazon Should Build Its Own City | Guest: Jim Swift
Amazon Should Build Its Own City, with guest Jim Swift Amazon finally picks two overwhelmingly unsurprising locations for its HQ, and Heaton talks to The…
The Political OrphanageEp. 3 | Ghosts and Creepy Dolls on Paranormal News | Guest: Brian Brushwood
The most interesting thing about the midterms wasn't Red Team vs. Blue Team, it was state propositions. "Modern Rogue" founder and touring magician Brian…
The Political OrphanageEp. 2 | The Exhausted Middle | Guest: Royce Sharp
Filmmaker Royce Sharp joins to discuss a better way to view the electorate than Red Team and Blue Team, and the large but quiet "exhausted middle." Plus learn…
The Political OrphanageEp. 1 | Censorship in China | Guest: Turner Sparks
In China, you submit your jokes to the government and the commies edit them for you. International comedian Turner Sparks joins to talk about being funny in an…