The Ricochet Podcast
842 episodes - English - Latest episode: 23 days ago - ★★★★★ - 1.2K ratingsWeekly episodes of Ricochet’s flagship podcast feature our hosts James Lileks, Rob Long, Peter Robinson, and guests discussing the issues of the week.
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Episodes
Live... From New York!
May 13, 2022 21:40 - 1 hourWhile Peter's venturing about the 'real' America, James is vacationing between the Hudson and East rivers so he can meet up with his pal Rob–and, more importantly–fellow Ricochet members for our first-ever pub crawl! We hope you won't miss it; but don't worry, we've got more events to come. (There's a surprise announcement for our next one herein!) First up is a man who needs no introduction. The indispensable Byron York is here to give us an up close take on blamey Biden, and how the Dobbs l...
The Black Hole of Jurisprudence
May 06, 2022 21:18 - 1 hour - 64 MBBig, big news this week! And even if we’re a few days behind, fashionable lateness is sort of our style. To ensure thoughtful novelty, we’re joined by legal scholar Adam White, who is able to channel his Iowa everyman to take us through intricate legalese and manages to put it in plain English. He evaluates precedents, the new political questions, and the litigation to come. The gang (including... Source
The Blackhole of Jurisprudence
May 06, 2022 21:06 - 1 hourBig, big news this week! And even if we're a few days behind, fashionable lateness is sort of our style. To ensure thoughtful novelty, we're joined by legal scholar Adam White, who is able to channel his Iowa everyman to take us through intricate legalese and manages to put it in plain English. He evaluates precedents, the new political questions, and the litigation to come. The gang (including Ricochet substitute extraordinaire Steve Hayward, filling in for hooky-playing Peter) talk JD Vance...
The California Syndrome
April 29, 2022 21:40 - 1 hour - 70.2 MBWe still can’t help but wonder what happened to California; and today’s guest has not only been writing about it for years, but is running for governor in hopes of administering a cure. Michael Shellenberger is confident he can take on Gavin Newsom and restore the Golden State to health. (Visit here to donate to his campaign!) He talks about his vision, the growing support he’s receiving... Source
Mickey Mouse Mask Mandates
April 22, 2022 21:02 - 1 hour - 65.2 MBThe title says it all, yes? Not quite. It doesn’t tell you that everybody’s favorite Peter Robinson is off to Israel, and will therefore be filled in by everybody’s favorite Steve Hayward. And it also fails to tell you that the indefatigably cheery John Yoo is our guest! The hosts pick John’s brain on everything from the trouble in the Mouse House, to slipping mandates, and on to a sure-to-be... Source
Mickey Mouse Mask Mandate
April 22, 2022 20:35 - 1 hourThe title says it all, yes? Not quite. It doesn't tell you that everybody's favorite Peter Robinson is off to Israel, and will therefore be filled in by everybody's favorite Steve Hayward. It also fails to tell you that the indefatigably cheery John Yoo is our guest! The hosts pick John's brain on everything from the trouble in the Mouse House, to slipping mandates, and on to a sure-to-be controversial SCOTUS decision set for June. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/ad...
A Kerfuffle or a Brouhaha?
April 15, 2022 00:00 - 1 hour - 80.2 MBDon’t matter what you call it. Ricochetti are a passionate bunch, and sometimes the fighting spirit takes over. Our first guests are Andrew Gutmann (hosts of the essential Take Back Our Schools podcast) and Ricochet member Michele Kerr who’s had some strong criticisms of the fellas’ takes on public education over the years. For those of you who like a little scrappiness on the flagship podcast... Source
Speaking Generally: Bill Barr on “One Damn Thing”
April 08, 2022 23:01 - 1 hour - 67.7 MBEven if it doesn’t normally win popularity contests, we like to keep things candid (but fun!) on the Ricochet podcast. And even if it cost US attorney general Bill Barr some popularity points, we still want to hang out with him! He’s just published his memoir One Damn Thing After Another, and the gang do what they can to get at all the damn things. Barr proves still-adept at handling himself when... Source
All Hands on Deck!
April 01, 2022 20:49 - 1 hour - 65.9 MBGood News! James is back! The whole crew is reunited. Even our guest Matthew Hennessey – a self-professed Ricochet nerd – was missing him. Matt’s got a new book heading our way. It’s called Visible Hand: A Wealth of Notions on the Miracle of the Market. Matthew proves to the hosts that Economics doesn’t have to be mind-numbingly boring. (And our host who’s had the pleasure of reading it goes so... Source
Perspectives on History and Herstory
March 25, 2022 20:55 - 1 hour - 73.1 MBWhenever James roams for the week, a dilemma emerges. How do we make up for his erudition and charm? This time we reached out for a northerner from across the pond. Our guest is Niall Ferguson, one of the few men alive truly qualified to explain the subtleties of consensus misinterpretations of history–and the consequences. Are western leaders making foolhardy wagers in Ukraine? And if so... Source
History, Misgendered
March 25, 2022 20:48 - 1 hourWhenever James roams for the week, a dilemma emerges. How do we make up for his erudition and charm? This time we reached out for a northerner from across the pond. Our guest is Niall Ferguson, one of the few men alive to explain the subtleties of consensus misinterpretations of history–and the consequences. Are western leaders making foolhardy wagers in Ukraine? And if so, what's informing them? Tune in to hear to get the take of "the world's most useful historian." Further, Peter and Rob gi...
Churchillian
March 18, 2022 21:15 - 1 hour - 75.2 MBWhat’s the Ricochet Podcast to do when the world insists on calamity? We invite one of the leading historians in the English speaking world and a former National Security Advisor, that’s what. Joining the fellas in our opening chat is Andrew Roberts. He reports from Eastern Europe to tell us about his recent trip to Ukraine, and, as the Churchill expert, to give his take on the comparisons between... Source
No Fly Zone
March 11, 2022 21:24 - 1 hour - 78.6 MBThough James-less once more, the founders are back with yet another fascinating discussion about the dizzying crisis in Eastern Europe. With us from his home in Budapest is John O’Sullivan, former advisor to Margaret Thatcher, to discuss the reignited Cold War. He gives us the mood in Hungary, considers the longevity of the West’s newfound resolve, and elaborates on the NATO debate. Source
Bull in a China Shop
March 04, 2022 22:01 - 1 hour - 69.9 MBWe jet eastward and then into the ether this week, unfortunately without our pal James Lileks who’s vacationing somewhere on planet Earth. Our first guide is Elbridge Colby, who explains why we better not sleep on the Pacific theater. Then we’ve got Rich Goldberg, host of our new podcast: Cryptonite. He’s here to tell us that even a smart person like you can wrap your head around cryptocurrency. Source
#UkraineUnderAttack
February 25, 2022 22:38 - 1 hour - 49.7 MBIs anybody else wondering why we’re seeing more coverage about politicians chattering or journalists ducking from skirmishes than, you know, military movements, logistics and strategy? Our hosts sure do, and that’s why they’re eager to hear from Eli Lake, Bloomberg’s foreign policy columnist. Eli gives his take on the Russian pipe dream, Europe’s need for a wakeup call, and how Biden can get... Source
Boys In The Hoodies
February 18, 2022 23:19 - 1 hour - 63.5 MBAs always, we’ve got everything you could ask for before starting your weekend. From global “warfare” to matters of taste, Ricochet’s got it all. First we reconvene with Congressman Mike Gallagher, who shares his take on American defense, energy and the spectacularly bad priorities that have left our armed forces helping our enemies in their propaganda efforts. Then we bring on the one, the only... Source
Boys in the Hoodies
February 18, 2022 23:10 - 1 hourAs always, we've got everything you could ask for before starting your weekend. From global "warfare" to matters of taste, Ricochet's got it all. First we reconvene with Congressman Mike Gallagher, who's shares his take on American defense, energy and the spectacularly bad priorities that have left our armed forces helping our enemies in their propaganda efforts. Then we bring on the one, the only, Vince Guerra–Ricochet member extraordinaire–who takes us through his gift Movie Fight Club; wh...
Trudeau Trucks Canada
February 11, 2022 23:52 - 1 hour - 75.4 MBWe got a convoy and are headed North this week! First we meet the man who plans to restore sanity to James’s home state, Kendall Qualls. He hopes to combat the juvenile delinquents trapped in grown-up bodies who’ve been running the Gopher State into the ground. Then we head beyond the border to chat with Ezra Levant of Rebel News, who gives us the 411 on the Canadian truckers who’ve got Justin... Source
Big Sky Country
February 09, 2022 23:23 - 1 hourWith Peter up in the air, we needed a guest to lift our grounding in the Metaverse. Enter Walter Kirn: novelist, memoirist, Substacker and Tweeter extraordinaire and now a resident of Montana. Walter gives his take on never-ending mask madness, flying the coastal coop, and his upcoming book: There’s a Bear in the House! The man hold no punches at a time when a red-pill a day keeps the kooky bores away. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Big Sky Country
February 04, 2022 22:20 - 1 hour - 68.7 MBUPDATE: Some listeners have had issues with the sound on the original posted recording. We’ve adjusted the levels and re-uploaded. If you’ve already downloaded the show and are having difficulty hearing, all you need to do is delete it and re-download for the adjusted recording. (Or try here.) Enjoy! With Peter up in the air, we needed a guest to lift our grounding in the Metaverse. Source
E579. Big Sky Country
February 04, 2022 22:20 - 1 hourWith Peter up in the air, we needed a guest to lift our grounding in the Metaverse. Enter Walter Kirn: novelist, memoirist, Substacker and Tweeter extraordinaire and now a resident of Montana. Walter gives his take on never-ending mask madness, flying the coastal coop, and his upcoming book: There’s a Bear in the House! The man hold no punches at a time when a red-pill a day keeps the kooky bores away. Rob and James marvel over the number 30 trillion; they weigh in on CNN’s latest severed hea...
Spies Like Us
January 28, 2022 22:48 - 1 hour - 60.2 MBThere are no secrets at Ricochet: the web’s best place for civil conversations. That’s why we’re happy to have Amy Zegart join us to divulge the details of her soon-to-be-published Spies, Lies, and Algorithms: The History and Future of American Intelligence (pre-order your copy today!) We rely on Amy’s decades of research on the Intel Community to help us make sense of dizzying changes that have... Source
E578. Spies Like Us
January 28, 2022 22:48 - 1 hourThere are no secrets at Ricochet: the web’s best place for civil conversations. That’s why we’re happy to have Amy Zegart join us to divulge the details of her soon-to-be-published Spies, Lies, and Algorithms: The History and Future of American Intelligence (pre-order your copy today!) We rely on Amy’s decades of research on the Intel Community to help us make sense of dizzying changes that have upturned the world of espionage. Ever wonder about how technologies from A.I. to your iPhone have ...
Goodbye, Mr. Loaf
January 21, 2022 21:48 - 1 hour - 63.1 MBAfter an informative press conference with Mr. President, who better to take us through last year’s stunning over-performance than Byron York? (Be sure to subscribe to his podcast, available right here on Ricochet!) Among other things, we go over Biden’s plan to get out more; the dilemma of staff shakeups when the boss is the problem; and question of succession. The hosts also get into the so... Source
E577. Goodbye, Mr. Loaf
January 21, 2022 21:48 - 1 hourAfter an informative press conference with Mr. President, who better to take us through last year’s stunning over-performance than Byron York? (Be sure to subscribe to his podcast, available right here on Ricochet!) Among other things, we go over Biden’s plan to get out more; the dilemma of staff shakeups when the boss is the problem; and question of succession. The hosts also get into the so-called voter rights bill that died, maskgate and the detritus on the Union Pacific railway. And ever ...
Cowboy Poets Society
January 14, 2022 23:37 - 1 hour - 39.9 MBApologies for being a tad late today, but thankfully the whole gang is back in action! Today we’ve got Susan Ferrechio, chief congressional correspondent for the Washington Examiner. She takes on all comers: from Democrats playing election projection, to the bored and tired people in charge, to talk of a (collective gasp!) Clinton comeback. Susan has thoughts on all of it. Follow her on Twitter @ Source
E576. Cowboy Poets Society
January 14, 2022 23:37 - 1 hourApologies for being a tad late today, but thankfully the whole gang is back in action! Today we’ve got Susan Ferrechio, chief congressional correspondent for the Washington Examiner. She takes on all comers: from Democrats playing election projection, to the bored and tired people in charge, to talk of a (collective gasp!) Clinton comeback. Susan has thoughts on all of it. Follow her on Twitter @susanferrechio. The fellas also chat about Biden’s utterly indecent speech in Georgia; also the tr...
School of Hard Knocks
January 07, 2022 22:53 - 1 hour - 63.9 MBWe’re back! For the most part anyway–Peter’s out, but Ricochet editor Bethany Mandel is a fitting sub for today’s education-oriented podcast. Our guest is Andrew Gutmann, the man who stood up to CRT pushers in his daughter’s school and became last year’s overnight sensation. (He’s also the co-host of Ricochet’s new podcast “ Take Back Our Schools!“) We go through the pandemic of cowardice which... Source
E575. School of Hard Knocks
January 07, 2022 22:53 - 1 hourWe’re back! For the most part anyway–Peter’s out, but Ricochet editor Bethany Mandel is a fitting sub for today’s education-oriented podcast. Our guest is Andrew Gutmann, the man who stood up to CRT pushers in his daughter’s school and became last year’s overnight sensation. (He’s also the co-host of Ricochet’s new podcast “Take Back Our Schools!“) We go through the pandemic of cowardice which has infected parents and will leave children with indelible side effects. It might not be a fight th...
Rush Remembered
December 31, 2021 14:00 - 17 minutes - 16.4 MBIt has been one year and one week since Rush Limbaugh last sat behind the Golden EIB microphone and broadcast with substantial talent on loan from God. In this final Ricochet Podcast for 2021, James Lileks welcomes James Golden, aka Bo Snerdley to the show and they reminisce about Rush’s rise, the impact he had across the media landscape and more. See you in the New Year! Music from this week’s... Source
You'll Be Back
December 17, 2021 22:17 - 1 hour - 68.8 MBIt’s our last regular episode of 2021, but fear not! We’ll be back… With us today is historian Andrew Roberts, author of The Last King of America: The Misunderstood Reign of George III. Roberts takes us through the many inaccuracies that have captivated modern imagination and loomed over his legacy. We get into George, the man; why Great Britain lost; how the Georgian records are relevant to... Source
E574. You’ll Be Back
December 17, 2021 22:17 - 1 hourIt’s our last regular episode of 2021, but fear not! We’ll be back… With us today is historian Andrew Roberts, author of The Last King of America: The Misunderstood Reign of George III. Roberts takes us through the many inaccuracies that have captivated modern imagination and loomed over his legacy. We get into George, the man; why Great Britain lost; how the Georgian records are relevant to contemporary culture war debates; as well as some fascinating ‘What ifs?’ Also, the fellas go over Pro...
It's Russia Hour
December 10, 2021 23:41 - 1 hour - 69.8 MBIt’s a big scary world out there–or so we’re told. But how do we sort what to worry about and what not to? We say: bring on some guys who know their stuff! That’s why Dr. Jay Bhattacharya is back. He wants to keep us calm, despite the return of variant hysteria; he and the hosts talk Omicron and a world limping its way back to normal. Then, Seth Cropsey, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute... Source
E573. It’s Russia Hour
December 10, 2021 23:41 - 1 hourIt’s a big scary world out there–or so we’re told. But how do we sort what to worry about and what not to? We say: bring on some guys who know their stuff! That’s why Dr. Jay Bhattacharya is back. He wants to keep us calm, despite the return of variant hysteria; he and the hosts talk Omicron and a world limping its way back to normal. Then, Seth Cropsey, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, joins the gang to take us through the vanishing power vacuum left by the US, Putin’s goals in Ukraine...
Seven
December 06, 2021 21:27 - 1 hour - 63.2 MBIt’s a better-late-than-never show. We’ve got galavanting hosts (James is out this week), a Supreme Court steeped in overdue contemplation (John Yoo fills in for James to keep fill us in and even makes a prediction!) and our guest, Bjørn Lomborg is here to talk COP26. Lomborg —author of False Alarm: How Climate Change Panic Costs Us Trillions, Hurts the Poor, and Fails to Fix the Planet—takes us... Source
E572. Seven
December 06, 2021 21:27 - 1 hourIt’s a better-late-than-never show. We’ve got galavanting hosts (James is out this week), a Supreme Court steeped in overdue contemplation (John Yoo fills in for James to keep fill us in and even makes a prediction!) and our guest, Bjørn Lomborg is here to talk COP26. Lomborg—author of False Alarm: How Climate Change Panic Costs Us Trillions, Hurts the Poor, and Fails to Fix the Planet—takes us through all the great things Climate leaders have accomplished with these conferences, including pr...
The Ramble: All the Trimmings
November 24, 2021 02:58 - 27 minutes - 18.5 MBJames Lileks reboots The Ramble, just in time for Thanksgiving (AKA a great time to start a diet). Subscribe to James Lileks’ The Ramble here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/james-lileks-the-ramble/id1073828132. Source
Judgments
November 19, 2021 22:44 - 1 hour - 80.3 MBBefore we break for another reckless Thanksgiving in Anno CoViDi 3, we decided to take the scenic route this week. We go deep into the capacious mind of Ross Douthat, who’s just released his latest book, The Deep Places: A Memoir of Illness and Discovery. Along with Lyme disease, fringe medicine and faith, the hosts survey Ross on everything from potential hope for American education to the... Source
E571. Judgments
November 19, 2021 22:44 - 1 hourBefore we break for another reckless Thanksgiving in Anno CoViDi 3, we decided to take the scenic route this week. We go deep into the capacious mind of Ross Douthat, who’s just released his latest book, The Deep Places: A Memoir of Illness and Discovery. Along with Lyme disease, fringe medicine and faith, the hosts survey Ross on everything from potential hope for American education to the nuclear family and the case for reality. We’ve also got Rob galavanting abroad and utter surprise that ...
Ship Happens
November 12, 2021 21:00 - 1 hour - 74.5 MBWhen elected leaders decide to look the other way from… ya know… the matters that actually matter to us, we find out about the kinds of people America has in its reserve stock. Yes, the supply chain is a mess; but we’ve got all three hosts to chat with Ryan Peterson, CEO of Flexport, who hopes to fix it. (Take a look at what is likely the first-ever viral tweetstorm on shipping logistics... Source
E570. Ship Happens
November 12, 2021 21:00 - 1 hourWhen elected leaders decide to look the other way from… ya know… the matters that actually matter to us, we find out about the kinds of people America has in its reserve stock. Yes, the supply chain is a mess; but we’ve got all three hosts to chat with Ryan Peterson, CEO of Flexport, who hopes to fix it. (Take a look at what is likely the first-ever viral tweetstorm on shipping logistics, as well as his children’s book to educate youngsters about the machines that power the world they inhabit...
What's That Smell?
November 05, 2021 21:34 - 1 hour - 65.8 MBEven with Rob out, we’re glad to celebrate a great week for democracy! Our guests this week are old friends of ours, Mark and Mollie Hemingway, and they’re here to take us through the irregularities of last November and why it doesn’t have to be nefarious, illegal or fraudulent to call it “Rigged!” Maybe somebody should write a book with that title. Well, maybe somebody has. (Rigged: How the Media... Source
E569. What’s That Smell?
November 05, 2021 21:34 - 1 hourEven with Rob out, we’re glad to celebrate a great week for democracy! Our guests this week are old friends of ours, Mark and Mollie Hemingway, and they’re here to take us through the irregularities of last November and why it doesn’t have to be nefarious, illegal or fraudulent to call it “Rigged!” Maybe somebody should write a book with that title. Well, maybe somebody has. (Rigged: How the Media, Big Tech, and the Democrats Seized Our Elections) We get into procedural foul play, institution...
Shadows in the Metaverse
October 29, 2021 20:42 - 1 hour - 70.7 MBThere are no crystal balls on Ricochet, but we can’t keep our eyes off the future. What’s to become of the GOP? Hard to say; but our guest David Drucker has written a book and launched his very own podcast to ponder these very questions. Rob and James put him in the interviewee seat for a change get his take on how candidates will have to navigate a climate that’s been permanently altered by... Source
E568. Shadows in the Metaverse
October 29, 2021 20:42 - 1 hourThere are no crystal balls on Ricochet, but we can’t keep our eyes off the future. What’s to become of the GOP? Hard to say; but our guest David Drucker has written a book and launched his very own podcast to ponder these very questions. Rob and James put him in the interviewee seat for a change get his take on how candidates will have to navigate a climate that’s been permanently altered by Donald Trump. Photo: Twitter/@holmes_reports/NBC29 How does the former president affect local and stat...
The Fight For Freedom of Speech
October 22, 2021 19:36 - 1 hour - 77 MBNo, silence isn’t violence; it’s just that here at Ricochet, we’d like to hear what you’ve got to say. As is our wont, we’ve got a few freethinkers to join Rob and James this week – unfortunately Peter is away. First up is Matthew Continetti of The Washington Free Beacon. He’s here to talk about the bewildering politics in a time of competing counter-cultures where both sides think they’re losing. Source
E567. The Fight For Freedom of Speech
October 22, 2021 19:36 - 1 hourNo, silence isn’t violence; it’s just that here at Ricochet, we’d like to hear what you’ve got to say. As is our wont, we’ve got a few freethinkers to join Rob and James this week – unfortunately Peter is away. First up is Matthew Continetti of The Washington Free Beacon. He’s here to talk about the bewildering politics in a time of competing counter-cultures where both sides think they’re losing. Next up, Nathan Harden, author of Sex and God at Yale, who in 2012 foresaw how political correct...
The Jersey Boys
October 16, 2021 01:26 - 1 hour - 71.2 MBOn a website devoted to debate (civil, mind you), we can all agree that politics is not the arena for shrinking violets. Who better to remind us of this fact than the former governor of the Garden State, Chris Christie? He gives us the lowdown on his successes in a Blue State and his thoughts on how Republicans need to keep their eye on the prize. Even with the mention of “Christie Porn... Source
E566. The Jersey Boys
October 16, 2021 01:26 - 1 hourOn a website devoted to debate (civil, mind you), we can all agree that politics is not the arena for shrinking violets. Who better to remind us of this fact than the former governor of the Garden State, Chris Christie? He gives us the lowdown on his successes in a Blue State and his thoughts on how Republicans need to keep their eye on the prize. Even with the mention of “Christie Porn,” we promise listeners a PG-rated podcast. Also, the regular gang go from the economic blockage to “Let’s G...
Our Embraceable Yoo
October 09, 2021 06:09 - 1 hour - 76.3 MBProgramming Note: the first version of this show had some tracks out sync due to an encoding error. If you received that version of the show, please delete that file and re-download the show to get the fixed version. We apologize for the inconvenience and added an additional outtake at the end of the fixed version as a gift for enduring our mistake. “The state is powerful and everyone else you... Source