Bob Murphy Show
The podcast promoting free markets, free minds, and grateful souls.
Haman and Murphy Review Nolan's "The Odyssey"
Adam Haman returns to help Bob analyze Nolan's latest blockbuster. Hint: the right-wingers lied to you.
Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:
The YouTube version of this episode.The HamanNature substack.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.Gene Callahan Asks If LLMs Are Thinking What Are They Thinking About
Frequent guest Gene Callahan returns to present a talk he's been giving in academic circles, which relies on standard computer science to argue that LLMs can't possibly be thinking "about" the external world in the same way humans do. Economist and philosopher Kevin Vallier joins the discussion.
Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:
The YouTube version of this episode.Gene Callahan on the ghost in the AI machine.Callahan's homepage. Vallier's homepage.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.Reviewing Carl Jung's Answer to Job
Adam Haman returns, this time helping Bob critique Carl Jung's "Answer to Job."
Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:
The YouTube version of this episode.Carl Jung's "Answer to Job."This episode's featured company, Jackery.RC Sproul on Job.BMS ep. 420 unpacking Darryl Cooper's religious heresies.The HamanNature substack.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.Adam Haman Asks Bob Murphy All About the US Debt
As the federal debt held by the public surpasses GDP, Adam Haman asks Bob Murphy what it means and the options going forward.
Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:
The YouTube version of this episode.Bob's proposal for reforming federal finances. His proposal for letting people opt out of Social Security. His lecture on debt burdens on future generations.The HamanNature substack.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.Jim Bovard Explains What the Government Did at Ruby Ridge
Jim Bovard is a Senior Fellow with the Libertarian Institute. He tells what happened to the Weaver family in 1992 when they were assaulted by federal agents.
Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:
The YouTube version of this episode.Jim Bovard's page at the Libertarian Institute. A specific article on Ruby Ridge.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.Why Don't You Libertarians Move to Somalia
Adam Haman returns for a fun episode, responding to two satirical bits (one video, one in print) mocking radical libertarians.
Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:
The YouTube version of this episode.Ad for a Somali vacation. The Libertarian Police Dept.This episode's sponsor, The Swan Bros.Ben Powell et al.'s article on Somalia. Pete Leeson's article on Somalia.Bob's booklet Chaos Theory. Adam's post on Ancapistan.The HamanNature substack.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.Mitchell Suchner on the Arkpad Vision for Floating Freedom
Mitchell Suchner is the director of Arkpad, which produces floating cabins that can be deployed in modular fashion to create mobile communities. This is not theoretical; Mitchell conducts the interview from such a unit located off the coast of the Philippines.
Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:
The YouTube version of this episode.The webpage for Reef Resort.Bob's 2025 interview of Patri Friedman, an early proponent of seasteading.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.Darryl Cooper's Strikeout on US Labor History
Adam Haman returns to help Bob give a loving yet forceful pushback against Darryl Cooper's discussion (on the Jim Webb podcast) of US labor history.
Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:
The YouTube version of this episode.Darryl's appearance on the Jim Webb podcast.This episodeās sponsor, the Scott Horton Academy.Patrick Newman's article on the Crash of 1873. A pro-union description of the 1877 railway strike. The price level from 1860-1939. Ben Powell talk on sweatshops. George Selgin's book Less Than Zero. Hayek's collection Capitalism and the Historians.The HamanNature substack.Help support th...The Airing of Grievances: Murphy Extends His Critique of Three Economists
Bob does a nerdy follow-up to prior interactions with George Selgin, Bryan Caplan, and Brad DeLong.
Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:
The BMS analyzing the SoHo Forum debate on FRB, Bob's recent interview of Bryan Caplan, and Brad DeLong's congressional testimony. Bob's blog post responding to DeLong.Bob's much earlier post on Hoover's memoirs.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.Bob Murphy Asks: Why Did I Lose My SoHo Forum Debate on Fractional Reserve Banking?
Adam returns to tell Bob why he lost his debate to George Selgin.
Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:
The YouTube version of this episode.The SoHo Forum debate between Murphy and Selgin.This episodeās sponsor, the free Plan-B guide from ExPatMoney.Bobās article on FRB.The HamanNature substack.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.Bob Murphy Interviewed About the Future of AI
Bob recently appeared on the "Human Reaction" podcast, where host David Rand asked him various questions concerning the economics of AI. Although frequent BMS listeners will have heard these themes before, there is new material in this discussion.
Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:
The YouTube version of this episode.The Human Reaction YT channel.This episodeās sponsor, the free Plan-B guide from ExPatMoney.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.The "Crime of '73" and Other Episodes in US Economic History
Adam Haman returns to further discuss US monetary and economic history, with an emphasis on understanding the designs of the "American System" (propounded by Hamilton and later Clay).
Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:
The YouTube version of this episode.The previous BMS ep. 507 on this topic. The Phoenician League archives.This episodeās sponsor, the free Plan-B guide from ExPatMoney.Bob's Understanding Money Mechanics. Bob's aggressive plan for US fiscal reform. Bob's case for Texas secession.The HamanNature substack.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.Bryan Caplan on the Strengths and Weaknesses of Rothbard's For a New Liberty
GMU economics professor Bryan Caplan discusses his recent substack series going through Rothbard's classic, For a New Liberty, chapter by chapter.
Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:
The YouTube version of this episode.The cited chapter summaries from Bryan Caplan's review of Rothbard: nine, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, and fifteen.This episodeās sponsor, the free Plan-B guide from ExPatMoney.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.What Defines an Asset Bubble? What Got Us Out of the Depression?
Adam Haman helps Bob dissect a recent episode of the Coleman Hughes show, where he interviewed Iman Virjee on his new book on asset bubbles. Bob clarifies the description, and then pushes back on Virjee's analysis of the Great Depression.
Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:
The YouTube version of this episode.Coleman Hughes' interview of Aman Virjee.This episodeās sponsor, the free Plan-B guide from ExPatMoney.Bob's article on the Depression of 1920-1921. Bob's book on the Great Depression. Bob's presentation on theories of the Depression.The HamanNature substack.Help support th...The Rise and Fall of the Labor Theory of Value
Relying on his Journal of Libertarian Studies review essay of Kevin Carson' book on mutualism, Bob first explains--and then critiques--the labor (and cost) theory of economic value. This was not exclusively a Marxist idea; it was held by Adam Smith and other classical economists.
Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:
Bob's paper in the JLS critiquing the labor theory of value.This episodeās sponsor, the free Plan-B guide from ExPatMoney.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.Adam Haman and Bob Murphy Review McMurtry's "Lonesome Dove"
Adam Haman returns for another literary episode, this one reviewing Larry McMurtry's classic Western, "Lonesome Dove." He and Bob praise not just the story, but the novel's writing too.
Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:
The YouTube version of this episode.This episodeās sponsor, the free Plan-B guide from ExPatMoney.The HamanNature substack.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.Brian Albrecht Shows a Flaw in the "Waterbed" Critique of Market Power
Economist Brian Albrecht explains his discovery of a surprising--but critical--missing link in a popular argument against market power. Specifically, Brian shows that the standard work in this literature doesn't even allow consumer harm as a possibility of firms merging.
Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:
The YouTube version of this episode.Albrecht's paper on the weakness in the waterbed argument. His substack (with Josh Hendrickson).Bob's past discussion with Brian. Bob's interview of Eric Weinstein.This episodeās sponsor, the free Plan-B guide from ExPatMoney.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.Responding to Jeremy Kauffman on Libertarian Party Strategy
Adam Haman returns to help Bob offer praise and criticism for Jeremy Kauffman's recent speech at the Libertarian Party's national convention, as well as his appearance on the Tom Woods Show.
Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:
The YouTube version of this episode.Jeremy Kauffman's appearance on the Tom Woods Show. His address to the LP national convention.Jeremy's interview on BMS ep. 368.This episode's sponsor, the free Plan-B guide from ExPatMoney.The "Universal Principles of Liberty."The HamanNature substack.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.Gene Callahan Argues Murphy's AnCap Vision Is Just a State
Drawing on the work of British idealist philosopher Bernard Bosanquet, Callahan argues that standard depictions of an "anarcho-capitalist" society, whether practical or not, would constitute a "State."
Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:
The YouTube version of this episode.Gene Callahan's article on anarchism.Bob's pamphlet, Chaos Theory.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.A Critique of Hamilton's American System
Adam Haman joins Bob to critique an article making an Austrian case for Alexander Hamilton's "American System." Specifically, the plan favored national banking, protective tariffs, assumption of state debts, a preference for "productive" credit, and infrastructure projects. Bob pushes back.
Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:
The YouTube version of this episode.The article praising Hamilton's American System.Burt Folsom's wonderful The Myth of the Robber Barons.This episodeās sponsor, The Scott Horton Academy.The HamanNature substack.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.Abby Hall on Her New Book Introducing Austrian Economics
With co-author Chris Coyne, Abby Hall has a new book serving as an introduction to the Austrian School. As she and Bob discuss, the book fills a niche in the existing options of this genre.
Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:
The YouTube version of this episode.Abby Hall's new book (co-authored with Chris Coyne), Austrian Economics: An Introduction.The prior BMS interview of Abby (on Latin American military intervention).Help support the Bob Murphy Show.Highlighting Scott Horton on Joe Rogan
Adam Haman returns to help Bob trumpet the amazing performance of Scott Horton on the JRE.
Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:
The YouTube version of this episode.The Rogan interview of Horton.Bob's "Hail Mary" episode and interview of Robert Bryce on rare earths.Adam's analysis of the Massie affair.This episodeās sponsor, Jackery.The HamanNature substack.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.Thomas Massie on Tucker
Adam Haman returns to help Bob analyze the recent Tucker Carlson monologue and then interview of Thomas Massie. Although they are fans of both men, Adam and Bob do have some misgivings about the episode.
Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:
TheĀ YouTube version of this episode.The Tucker episode with Massie.This episodeās sponsor, The Swan Brothers.TheĀ HamanNature substack.Help supportĀ the Bob Murphy Show.How Is the Progressive Analysis of Jeffrey Dahmer Like the Libertarian Analysis of Putin?
Adam Haman returns, for the first in a series on "Challenging and Defending Liberty." In this one, Bob plays clips from a progressive who uses the Jeffrey Dahmer case to challenge the "prison-industrial complex." Bob argues that this is similar to how antiwar libertarians analyze Putin and the Iranian regime.
Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:
TheĀ YouTube versionĀ of this conversation.The Olurinatti video on serial killers.This episodeās sponsor, The Scott Horton Academy.TheĀ HamanNature substack.Help supportĀ the Bob Murphy Show.Answering Darryl Cooper's Objections to Libertarianism
Adam Haman returns to help Bob respond to Martyr Made's recent appearance on Jacob Winograd's Biblical Anarchy podcast.
Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:
TheĀ YouTube versionĀ of this conversation.Darryl's appearance on Jacob Winograd's show.A previous BMS covering Oregon's drug decriminalization.This episodeās sponsor,Ā The Swan Brothers.TheĀ HamanNature substack.Help supportĀ the Bob Murphy Show.The Notorious Red and Blue Button Brouhaha
Bob first addresses a pro-political process argument from Tom Woods, then spends the balance of the episode analyzing a brain teaser that swept X for 3 days.
Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:
The YouTube version of this episode.The Tom Woods episode with Clint Russell.Two interesting (one and two) substack posts from Tim Urban.Bob's pamphlet on Texas independence.Help supportĀ the Bob Murphy Show.Responding to Elon on UBI as a Solution to AI-Produced Unemployment
Adam Haman returns, this time helping Bob to unpack and critique Elon Musk's recent advocacy of UBI as a solution to AI taking our jobs.
Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:
TheĀ YouTube versionĀ of this conversation.This episodeās sponsor,Ā The Swan Brothers.TheĀ HamanNature substack.Help supportĀ the Bob Murphy Show.Bob Murphy Explains a Voluntary Society from a Biblical Perspective
Back in February, Bob was a guest on the Bad Roman podcast, talking about his booklet Chaos Theory from a Christian point of view. This is a rebroadcast of that discussion.
Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:
The Bad Roman podcast.Bob's pamphlet, Chaos Theory.Help supportĀ the Bob Murphy Show.Analyzing Mamet's House of Games
Adam Haman returns to discuss one of his favorite movies. Plus he and Bob share personal stories of when they were conned.
Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:
TheĀ YouTube versionĀ of this conversation.This episodeās sponsor,Ā The Swan Brothers.TheĀ HamanNature substack.Help supportĀ the Bob Murphy Show.An Interdisciplinary Commentary on the Gospel Accounts of Jesus Christ: Installment 12, Men Loved Darkness
Bob continues his commentary on John chapter 3, this time on verses 18 through 36 (finishing the chapter). The emphasis is on the humility of John the Baptist, and the fact that you need a savior.
Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:
The previous episode in this series, i.e. BMS ep 487, Installment 11:Ā Whoever Believes in Him.RC Sproul on Jesus as the light.Help supportĀ the Bob Murphy Show.America After Trump
Adam Haman returns to discuss the political vacuum that will be left in a post-Trump America. It's not a pretty picture.
Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:
TheĀ YouTube versionĀ of this conversation.Bob's pamphlet on Texan independence.This episodeās sponsor,Ā theĀ Scott Horton Academy.TheĀ HamanNature substack.Help supportĀ the Bob Murphy Show.A Conversation With One of the Creators of Call of Duty
Chance Glasco has over 25 years of experience in game development, includingĀ pivotal roles in the Medal of Honor and Call of Duty titles. He joins Bob for a wide-ranging discussion touching on programming mechanics, political pressure on game narratives, and concerns about animated violence.
Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:
The YouTube version of this interview.Chance Glasco's bio for the Atlantic Council.The link for Bob's course in the Tuttle Twins Academy.Help supportĀ the Bob Murphy Show.Trump Tries to Find Exit Ramp From Iran
Adam Haman returns to discuss Trump's address to the nation on Iran. Bob offers a theory that Trump isn't as much of a puppet of Netanyahu as some cynics claim.
Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:
TheĀ YouTube versionĀ of this conversation.This episodeās sponsor,Ā theĀ Scott Horton Academy.TheĀ HamanNature substack.Help supportĀ the Bob Murphy Show.Three Deeper Dives Into Fiscal and Monetary Economics
Bob uses clips from his ZeroHedge debate with Randall Wray, as well as a moment from a forthcoming Human Action podcast, to provide deeper analysis than he had time to cover in the moments.
Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:
The ZeroHedge debate between Murphy and Randall Wray.Bob's (quick) critique of the sectoral balance argument.Bob's Human Action episode on Cantillon effects.Help supportĀ the Bob Murphy Show.Economics of the Petrodollar and ZeroHedge Debate Murphy vs Wray
Adam Haman returns to discuss with Bob the economics of the petrodollar. They also go through some key moments from the recent ZeroHedge debate between Bob and MMT co-founder Randall Wray.
Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:
The YouTube version of this conversation.The ZeroHedge debate.Scott Beyer on the petrodollar.Bob critiques the sectoral balance demonstration, and Kelton's book.This episodeās sponsor, the Scott Horton Academy.The HamanNature substack.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.Robert Breedlove Asks Murphy for a Deep Dive into Praxeology
Bob was recently on the "What Is Money?" podcast to probe the philosophical underpinnings of Austrian economics.
Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:
TheĀ YouTube versionĀ of this interview.HHH's Economic Science and the Austrian Method (ESAM).BMS ep 7 explaining Godel's theorem.Bob's earlier appearance on "What Is Money?" (recorded on-site at the inaugural ARC conference).Help supportĀ the Bob Murphy Show.Remembering the Economic Contributions of Rothbard and Garrison
Adam Haman returns to discuss with Bob the legacy to economics left by Murray Rothbard and Roger Garrison, in light of the 100th anniversary of Rothbard's birth and the recent passing of Garrison.
Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:
The YouTube versionĀ of this conversation.Rothbard's Man, Economy, and State and Bob's Study Guide to it.Garrison's 1984 journal article. The home base of his amazing PowerPoints.Bob's journal article on Garrison's model related to neoclassical growth theory.This episodeās sponsor,Ā The Swan Brothers.TheĀ HamanNature substack.Help supportĀ the Bob Murphy Show.Michael Fraser Explains the Pentagon Decision to Dump Claude
Michael Fraser is a business consultant on leading LLMs, with an extensive knowledge of praxeology. He joins Bob to discuss the Pentagon's decision to sever ties with Anthropic and even designate them a supply chain risk.
Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:
TheĀ YouTube versionĀ of this interview.Anthropic CEO's statement in response to Hegseth decision.Academic paper putting leading LLMs into a wargame.Good examples of "jailbreaking" safeguards on LLMs.The BMS interview of Steve Landsburg discussing Grothendiek.Michael Fraser's interview on the InFi podcast, discussing LLMs as a cauldron, not a cr...Do LLMs Always Escalate to Nuclear War?
Adam Haman returns, this time to discuss a recent paper summarizing the performance of leading LLMs in wargames.
Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:
TheĀ YouTube versionĀ of this conversation.TheĀ NewScientist article reporting (inaccurately) on this research paper.BMS ep 467 on the weaknesses of modern game theory.This episodeās sponsors,Ā theĀ Scott Horton AcademyĀ andĀ The Swan Brothers.TheĀ HamanNature substack.Help supportĀ the Bob Murphy Show.An Interdisciplinary Commentary on the Gospel Accounts of Jesus Christ: Installment 11, Whoever Believes in Him
Bob continues his commentary on John chapter 3, this time on verses 13 through 17. This includes the famous verse John 3:16, which lays out the recipe for eternal life through belief in Jesus.
Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:
The previous episode in this series, i.e. BMS ep 475, Installment 10: Being Born Again.John Piper on Moses lifting up the serpent.John Piper answers: Does God love the non-elect? Help supportĀ the Bob Murphy Show.