The Way the World Works: A Tuttle Twins Podcast for Families

On past episodes, we've used the word "libertarian" before, but we've never really dug deeper into what this world means. Today, Connor and Brittany discuss what a libertarian is and how, just like in other ideologies, this name has taken on different meanings for different people.

For those who believe in a very limited government, there is a belief that government should not be telling us what to do or how to live our lives. But that doesn't mean society would be lawless and chaotic where everyone just does what they please at the expense of others.

A lot of people blame capitalism for climate problems and think we need the government to protect our environment. In reality, the best defender the environment is the free market. And many young individuals are already using the market to protect the environment.

At some point in each of our lives, we will fail at something. Often, we see "failure" as a negative, but failure is an important part of success. Even the most successful people have had to fail before experiencing their greatest victory.

Our country is founded on the belief that every single person has a right to life, liberty, and property. Today, Brittany and Connor discuss how property became a defining characteristic of free and independent people and why this is still so important today.

Every time an individual takes an action, there are consequences. Sometimes we can see the consequences of our actions immediately, like if we don't tie our shoe and then trip and fall down. Other times, it's more difficult to see the consequences of the things we do. Today we discuss what Frédéric Bastiat had to say about this phenomenon and how it leads many people astray.

On Today's episode, author and YouTuber Julie Borowski comes on to talk to Brittany and Connor about her new book, "Nobody Knows How to Make A Pizza."

On this episode, Connor and Brittany discuss a list of books that are considered to be "controversial classics." But why are these books considered "controversial" and why does that make it all the more important for individuals to read them?

Ever heard of Bitcoin? You've all probably held a dollar bill before, but what if "money" wasn't a physical thing you could hold in your hand? What if it was digital and lived in computers and smartphones?

Congressman Dr. Ron Paul took the 2008 Presidential Election by storm, inspiring an entire movement of young people to get involved in politics. In fact, he's one of the reasons Connor was inspired to write the Tuttle Twins series! In this episode, Connor and Brittany discuss the importance of Ron Paul and how he helped change U.S. politics.

Sometimes our U.S. economy is strong, employment is high, and the people are happy and successful. But other times, our economy goes through a rough patch, often called a "recession." But what causes the economy to struggle and is there anyway to avoid it?

We've all probably heard the term taxation before from our adults, but what does it really mean and why does everyone seem to hate this word so much?

Some people might not know this, but there is a practice known as "civil asset forfeiture" that actually allows police officers to take money and property from you without ever having to convict you of a crime in a court. How did this practice come to be and what can individuals like us do to change these laws and make sure that law enforcement doesn't have too much power?

In previous episodes, Connor and Brittany have talked about the Bill of Rights and how important it is to protecting us against governments that try to infringe on our rights. Today we talk about the Second Amendment included in the Bill of Rights, the right to bear arms.

When we think of political parties, we usually think of Republicans or Democrats. But what do these terms mean, and is there really a big difference between political parties?

Some kids go to public schools while others go to private school. Some kids are even homeschooled. What is the difference in these different types of schools and is one better than the other? In this episode, Connor and Brittany talk about all the different types of schooling and explain the problems with public schooling.

A lot of people are talking about police officers and whether or not they should have so much power.

It may seem a bit unfair that some people have a lot of money while other people are very poor. But why does this happen in the first place? And should governments get involved and try to make everyone equal?

Many people believe that without government, we wouldn't have access to things that are usually classified as "public goods." From libraries to roads, many like to use this argument to prove the government's growing presence in our lives. But we are surrounded by examples of private companies and individuals providing the same services that governments have historically provided, only the private sector often does it much better.

These days, it's hard to always believe what you hear on the news, especially since the information is different depending on what channel you're watching. But with so much misinformation out there, how can we be sure that the news we are getting is true?

What are individual rights, and where do they come from? Should the government help people, or should we?

On today's episode, Brittany and Connor talk to Elijah Stanfield, the illustrator of the Tuttle Twins.

Why do wars and foreign conflict happen? Today, Connor and Brittany explain why countries sometimes fight and how a principle known as the Golden Rule can help make our world more peaceful.

Did you know that candy used to cost as little as a penny? Seeing a movie in a theaters used to cost as little as $5. But over time, costs have gone up. In this episode, Connor and Brittany discuss the "Creature from Jekyll Island" and why this ghastly creature is causing prices to go up.

Have that entrepreneurial itch? On today's episode, Connor and Brittany discuss some great books that will inspire listeners to start their own businesses.

There is a common belief that people need government to take care of the less fortunate. Some even argue that without government, or with limited government, people would not be able to get the help they receive. But the free market is full of examples of private charities and communities coming together to help those in need.

This Summer, Elon Musk's Space X made history by sending two astronauts to the International Space Station inside SpaceX's Crew Dragon. Today, Connor and Brittany discuss why this was so important and how it shows us that we don't need government to fund space exploration.

Over the last few months, we've seen protests, and even riots, break out all across our country. While everyone might not agree on what kind of change we want to see in the world, one thing that is for sure, people seem to understand that there are some things, like injustice, inequality, and an out-of-control government, that need to change. But as individuals, how can we change the world?

Did you know you actually have a government right to privacy? Our Founding Fathers understood how dangerous it can be when a government is allowed to search a person, or their property like their home. To protect Americans from this, and other common government threats, the Founding Fathers wrote the Bill of Rights, which includes 10 of the most sacred rights that protect individuals from a government carried away with power. The right to protect ourselves against unlawful searches and seizures is protected to us via the Fourth Amendment.

Ron Paul, the man, the myth, the legend, joins Connor and Brittany today to talk about liberty, his time in Congress, and what we can all do to spread the freedom philosophy.

A pencil might seem like a simple, boring object. But the truth of the matter is, the production of a pencil is so extensive, no single person can make one on their own. It takes voluntary cooperation and something free market economists call, "spontaneous order."

In June 2013, 29-year-old Edward Snowden bravely told the whole country that their government had been spying on them. And not only them, on the entire world. As a result, he's no longer allowed back in the U.S without facing treason charges and life in prison, or worse. But he risked all that because sometimes the truth is more important than the consequences. He also proved that sometimes, one person can change the entire world.

Sometimes people in power make laws that we don't agree with, sometimes they even make laws that go against the Constitution. What happens when we disagree with lawmakers and is it ever okay to disobey these laws?

Businessmen and women play a unique role in our society. By solving problems, creating useful products and services, and creating jobs, entrepreneurs help make our whole world a better place.

During the Coronavirus pandemic, we saw lots of lawmakers and people in power use the crisis to to champion policies and pass laws. But the pandemic was not the first time this has happened. Politicians often use crises, like war and economic problems, to pass harmful laws.

You don't have to be a grownup to start a business. From neighborhood lemonade stands to homemade toys, there are so many ways for kids to be entrepreneurial.

So many grownups are always telling kids they need to go to college in order to be successful adults. But what if college isn't the right path for everyone? And maybe there are other ways to become successful adults.

From telling us what food we eat to what medicines we can take, people in power have tried to tell individuals what they shouldn't put into their bodies for decades. But who should decide what a person can do, the individual or the government?

In 1776, our Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence, officially marking the beginning of the United States of America.

The First Amendment to the Constitution gives people the right to free speech. But what does "free speech" actually mean and are there any limits to that freedom?

We know the federal government holds a lot of power, but what happens when the states and the federal government disagree?

No two people are the same. But our differences aren't a bad thing. In fact, our differences allows us to use our special talents and skills to trade with others and live meaningful lives.

Throughout U.S. history, presidents have used national emergencies to abuse their power. While the president is the Commander in Chief of the nation, that doesn't mean his authority is without limits.

Capitalism, Communism, Socialism ... why is the world obsessed with identifying with "isms?" And what do these things mean?

Ever wonder why the rich are always portrayed as bad guys in the media? Is there something wrong with being rich, or do the books and movies have it wrong?

Have you ever noticed how many choices we have when it comes to the products we can buy? Pepsi or Coke? McDonalds or Burger King? When companies fight for our business, consumers like you and me win by having more options available to us.

Some rules help to keep us safe. But sometimes, people in powerful get carried away and make too many rules, restricting our behavior and prohibiting us from doing simple things like opening a neighborhood lemonade stand or even limiting which businesses are allowed to operate.

We all want to be safe. But sometimes, people in power try to convince us that we need to trade our rights in order to feel safer. When our Founding Fathers wrote our Constitution, they did not intend for us to compromise liberty for security, so why do we let this happen today?

Our world can seem pretty confusing sometimes. But do you ever wonder why it works the way it does? Author of the Tuttle Twins series, Connor Boyack and writer Brittany Hunter are here to help you understand how the world works so you can make educated opinions about our wonderfully crazy world. Our world can seem pretty confusing sometimes. But do you ever wonder why it works the way it does? Author of the Tuttle Twins series, Connor Boyack and writer Brittany Hunter are here to help you understand how the world works so you can make educated opinions about our wonderfully crazy world.