Rational Standard Podcast

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Since inception, the Rational Standard has been bringing news and opinion to South Africa and the world with an unashamed bias to freedom, individual liberty and all things that make a nation prosper. On this podcast, we'll be chatting with various interesting individuals from South Africa and beyond about a plethora of topics. We'll be discussing everything from fixing roads to deciphering economics to drawing cartoons, so don't miss out! Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rationalstandard/support

Rational Standard


    • Oct 19, 2021 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 45m AVG DURATION
    • 34 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Rational Standard Podcast

    SA Local Elections 2021: What Should We Expect?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2021 124:56


    Martin van Staden and Hermann Pretorius join Chris Hattingh to preview and analyse the upcoming Local Government Elections. They discuss the respective parties' chances, highlight some of the biggest campaigning matters, and they unpack whether the phenomenon of 'coalitions' will become more prevalent. Rational Standard Website: https://rationalstandard.com/ FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/rationalstandard/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/RationalStand Other Links: https://www.freemarketfoundation.com/ https://irr.org.za/ https://afriforum.co.za/en/ --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rationalstandard/support

    Geopolitics and Syria: What's Happening and Why?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2020 40:29


    In this episode of the Rational Standard Podcast, Nicholas Woode-Smith and Christiaan Hugo discuss the origins of the Syrian conflict, its developments and causes. If you would like to support the Rational Standard, make sure to visit our website (rationalstandard.com) and contribute to our Patreon. https://rationalstandard.com/ http://patreon.com/rationalstandard Soundtrack: Inspired by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rationalstandard/support

    Tobacco Prohibition and the Nanny State

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 23, 2020 44:36


    Bill Wirtz, a senior policy analyst at the Consumer Choice Center, discusses tobacco, alcohol and other forms of prohibition around the world with Nicholas Woode-Smith, identifying why governments feel the need to control us and what we should do about it. https://consumerchoicecenter.org/ https://rationalstandard.com/ http://patreon.com/rationalstandard Soundtrack: Inspired by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rationalstandard/support

    The Never Ending Lockdown

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2020 34:59


    Rational Standard contributors Christo Hattingh, Jonathan Wright, and Jacques Jonker discuss lockdown stage 4 and the current state of South Africa. Intro track: Inspired by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rationalstandard/support

    Interview with a COVID-19 Survivor

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2020 48:12


    Nicholas Woode-Smith follows up with Hügo Krüger as they discuss COVID-19 and government responses worldwide. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rationalstandard/support

    Hügo Krüger: The Coronavirus Leviathan

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2020 67:24


    In this episode, Nicholas Woode-Smith discusses the oncoming apocalyptic pandemic with RS contributor Hügo Krüger. The two discuss government responses, the role of data and statistics as well as possible aftermaths. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rationalstandard/support

    A New Dawn: Rational Standard Discussion

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2020 15:09


    The Rational Standard crew discuss current events affecting South Africa, from the New Dawn, Eskom, and Matric results to the new Gun Amnesty and gun control project. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rationalstandard/support

    Hügo Krüger: Recent changes within the DA and Maimane's resignation

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2019 29:39


    In this episode we talk with Rational Standard contributor Hügo Krüger. We talk about the recent changes which have been going on with the Democratic Alliance such as the resignation of Mmusi Maimane and Herman Mashaba. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rationalstandard/support

    Nicholas Woode-Smith: Some reflections on university in South Africa

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2019 35:20


    In this episode we talk with Rational Standard Editor Nicholas Woode-Smith about university in South Africa and how the academic environment has changed since the beginning of Fallism. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rationalstandard/support

    Jasson Urbach: The NHI and why we can't afford it (to say the least)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2019 37:21


    In this episode we talk to Jasson Urbach, director of the Free Market Foundation. In this episode we discuss South Africa's new proposed healthcare legislation, the National Health Insurance (NHI). --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rationalstandard/support

    Lo Ming Hin: What are Hong Kong's protest all about?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2019 50:31


    In this episode, we talk to former Hong Kong Students for Liberty head Lo Ming Hin. We discuss the history of Hong Kong, why rent is such a problem and what exactly is going on behind the recent protests. Lo Ming Hin is the founder of Hong Kong Students for liberty and previously worked at Hong Kong's free-market think tank The Lion Rock Institute. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rationalstandard/support

    John Steenhuisen: SOEs, Parliament and how the DA can Improve

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2019 35:21


    In this episode, we talk with Chief Whip of the Democratic Alliance caucus in the National Assembly John Steenhuisen. We discuss a variety of issues included how SOEs are taking up bigger and bigger chunks of the budget, how the chaos in parliament has had both benefits and drawbacks and how the DA and can improve in their next election. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rationalstandard/support

    The RS Writers: Some Outlooks on 2019

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2019 59:17


    This episode features host Nicholas Babaya, Christiaan van Huysteen, Nicholas Woode-Smith and Christiaan Hugo. In this discussion, we talk about what the year 2019 holds holds for South Africa, air our thoughts on the upcoming election and debate about who we'll vote for. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rationalstandard/support

    Mark Oppenheimer: EWC, The Constitution and International Law

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2019 33:35


    In this episode, we speak with attorney and member of the Johannesburg Bar Mark Oppenheimer. We speak about the implication of international law on South Africa and its government's will to expropriate property, the schools of thought behind the constitution to a few possible legal objections to expropriation without compensation. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rationalstandard/support

    Eardley Rudman: Game Farming and Hunting in South Africa

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2018 44:35


    In this episode, we talk with game farmer and professional hunter Eardley Rudman about the state of game farming in South Africa, why hunting makes economic sense for conservation and the problems with animal rights activists influencing policies on the international trade of trophies. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rationalstandard/support

    Conscious Caracal: The media, the DA and the election

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2018 36:28


    In this episode, we talk to YouTuber Conscious Caracal. We discuss the state of a South Africa media, why the DA desperately needs a course-correction and what lies ahead in the upcoming election.Remember to subscribe and give us a 5-star rating. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rationalstandard/support

    Diagonal Views with Nicholas Woode-Smith and Nicholas Babaya

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2018 75:02


    Nicholas Woode-Smith and Nicholas Babaya discuss a range of current affairs, politics and economics in the first episode of Diagonal Views, a current affairs segment of the Rational Standard Podcast. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rationalstandard/support

    Michael Cardo: The DA on Liberalism and Land

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2018 35:36


    In this episode we talk with Democratic Alliance Member of Parliament Michael Cardo. We talk about liberalism and why it's still at the core the DA's ideology - even if there is a wide range of interpretations of that liberalism - as well as the land issue in South Africa and where the DA stands. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rationalstandard/support

    Christopher Wilson: A South African's Guide to Canadian Politics

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2018 56:58


    On this episode, we talk with Christopher Wilson, a former journalist at The Rebel Media. We talk about the political situation in Canada, what the prospects are for the next election for the Conservative Party and Liberals as well discussing a few issues regarding South Africa. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rationalstandard/support

    Marius Roodt: How "Shelley Garland" was published on Huffington Post SA

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2018 38:47


    In this episode, we talk to Marius Roodt. Marius works at the Institute of Race Relations. He is probably best known as being the author the infamous "Shelley Garland" article publish by HuffPostSA. On the show, he gives us an inside view of why he did it and what went down. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rationalstandard/support

    Martin van Staden: Problems with SA's Political Party Funding Bill

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 13, 2018 29:03


    In this episode, we travel to the offices of the Free Market Foundation in Johannesburg and talk to Martin van Staden about South Africa's latest bill in Parliament. We discuss the bill and it's effects and go on to speak about the problems of South Africa's regulatory environment and governmental discretionary powers Martin van Staden is the Legal Researcher at the Free Market Foundation and the Academic Programs Director of Students For Liberty in Southern Africa. Martin is chief editor of two publications, BeingLibertarian.com and RationalStandard.com. He has a law degree from the University of Pretoria. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rationalstandard/support

    Dawie Roodt: Tax and how South Africa gets it all wrong

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2018 44:19


    In this episode, we talk with economist Dawie Roodt about South Africa's tax code, why it was necessary to increase VAT to 15%, why flat taxes are far superior to progressive taxes as well as some discussion on job creation and banking. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rationalstandard/support

    Diagonal Views with Christiaan van Huyssteen and Nicholas Babaya

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2018 45:58


    Christiaan van Huyssteen and Nicholas Babaya discuss a range of current affairs, politics and economics in the first episode of Diagonal Views, a current affairs segment of the Rational Standard Podcast. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rationalstandard/support

    Jeremy Nell aka: Jerm - Cartoonist of SA's Intellectual Dark Web

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2018 74:23


    Nick chats with cartoonist Jeremy Nell, better known as Jerm. Jerm talks about how he got into drawing cartoons, his relationship with the mostly left-leaning cartoonist community of South Africa as well as his experiences working for various media outlets, both mainstream and alternative. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rationalstandard/support

    Zak Mbhele: Libertarians should feel at home with the DA

    Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2018 48:19


    n this episode, we chat with South African Member of Parliament Zak Mbhele on libertarianism, the Democratic Alliance and why libertarians should feel at home voting for the DA. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rationalstandard/support

    Joost Strydom: Why Live in Orania?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2018 36:44


    In this episode, we talk with Orania resident Joost Strydom and discuss what life is like living in Orania, how the town functions as well as dispelling a few a few rumours about Orania put forward by a prejudicial press. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rationalstandard/support

    Martin van Staden: How Should Libertarians View the DA?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2018 67:01


    Martin van Staden discusses his libertarian stance on the Democratic Alliance (DA) alongside podcast host, Nicholas Babaya, in episode 3 of the Rational Standard Podcast. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rationalstandard/support

    Deena Katzen: Is Israel an Apartheid State

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2018 34:14


    In this episode, we speak with Deena Katzen from the South African Union of Jewish Students about the validity of calling Israel and ‘apartheid state' as well as a few other issues relating to the State of Israel. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rationalstandard/support

    Ron Weissenberg: How to Build the Roads

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2018 43:14


    In this first episode, we talk with guest Ron Weissenberg, a Grahamstown-based business owner, libertarian, and all-round do-gooder. We iron out the kinks of running a free podcast without funding while discussing Ron's amazing initiative to prove that the government isn't needed to maintain the basic infrastructure such a roads and electricity as well as explaining how you at home could do this in your own town. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rationalstandard/support

    Policy Debates: Another wave of ANC fantasies

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2015 44:52


    Before the Rational Standard was official, the co-founders of what became the Rational Standard hosted series of group discussions about South African news and politics. In this episode, Christiaan van Huyssteen, Martin van Staden and Nicholas Woode-Smith discuss the key elements of the African National Congress' 2015 annual National General Council. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rationalstandard/support

    Policy Debates: Visas, visitors and Gigaba's legacy

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2015 22:00


    Before the Rational Standard was official, the co-founders of what became the Rational Standard hosted series of group discussions about South African news and politics. In this episode, Christiaan van Huyssteen, Martin van Staden and Nicholas Woode-Smith discuss South Africa's new visa system, spearheaded by Minister of Home Affairs Malusi Gigaba. Sources and references: [1] http://www.bdlive.co.za/business/tran... [2] http://ineng.co.za/south-africa-is-ha... [3] http://www.news24.com/Opinions/New-vi... --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rationalstandard/support

    Policy Debates: The Coerciveness of 'Transformation'

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2015 28:25


    Before the Rational Standard was official, the co-founders of what became the Rational Standard hosted series of group discussions about South African news and politics. In this episode ,Christiaan van Huyssteen, Martin van Staden and Nicholas Woode-Smith discuss 'Transformation' on South African university campuses. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rationalstandard/support

    Policy Debates: Economic uncertainty in South Africa

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2015 41:08


    Before the Rational Standard was official, the co-founders of what became the Rational Standard hosted series of group discussions about South African news and politics. In this episode, Christiaan van Huyssteen, Martin van Staden and Nicholas Woode-Smith discuss the dismal rating South Africa received on its wealth scorecard from New World Wealth. Sources and references: [1] http://www.fin24.com/Economy/South-Af... [2] http://sal.civilrights.org.za/7-reaso... [3] Cronje, F. 'A Time Traveller's Guide to Our Next Ten Years'. 2014. Cape Town: Tafelberg. [4] Louw, L. & Kendall, F. 'South Africa: The Solution'. 1989. Bhisho: Amagi Publications. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rationalstandard/support

    Policy Debates: Chinese commies, capital flight and bad liquor policy

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2015 28:04


    Before the Rational Standard was official, the co-founders of what became the Rational Standard hosted series of group discussions about South African news and politics. In this episode, Christiaan van Huyssteen, Martin van Staden and Nicholas Woode-Smith discuss the arrest of several South Africans in PR China; the mass migration of rich South Africans abroad and the government's new liquor policy. During the post production phase of this podcast, we learned that the South Africans in China have been released and are returning home. Sources and references: [1] http://ewn.co.za/2015/07/16/China-arr...[2] http://timeslive.co.za/local/2015/07/...[3] http://moneyweb.co.za/news/internatio...[4] http://youtube.com/watch?v=kSTgv_C5VDM/[5] http://sal.civilrights.org.za/limited...[6] http://food24.com/Drinks/Wine/Restaur... --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rationalstandard/support

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