The Freedomain Radio Interview with Dr Nathaniel Branden

[Cardywhite111]

so interesting...I knew nothing about this before hearing this vid....I will try to get hold of the books mentioned...I agree the job of schools is to prepare young people to be independent...and to be able to grow....and continue learning all their lives... I also agree the choices we make as we grow up affect our future lives...so much food for thought...thanks...

[rubberbaby00]

Giving every kid on the team a trophy for effort?

Never seen it happen.

I have seen some fucked up overly competitive parents ride their kids into sports that distract them from their education and serve no purpose to in their careers.

I wonder how many straw men it takes to make a straw team.

[RightJungle]

He mentions "The Vision of Ayn Rand: Basic Principles of Objectivism". The book is great in either the transcription or the audio book. I really recommend it to all Rand and Branden Fans.

[RightJungle]

Keep in mind that Dr. Branden is about 81 years old. Sometime back he sent out a promotional e-mail introducing a young man who seemed to be assigned the task of taking over his work on self-esteem. Even if he is considering retiring, his personal energy still seems pretty high and his intellect is still as sharp as ever as demonstrated by his willingness to argue with his interviewer.

[OregonCoastGhost]

Not much of an interview. By 19:00 the interviewee ended up asking Stef questions! I learned very little about Dr. Branden, but still enjoyed the ideas put forth.

[mrbenja]

i got into rand and libertarianism the same way, through the fountainhead, because it was recommended in the cd booklet of a band called Rise Against (even though they're a bit lefty).

It's a pity Branden didn't have much to say here

[DrKleiner]

he sounds a bit depressed

[richardcadbury]

OK guys the volume of the host and the guest have to be the same.

Get it right, there's no excuse.

[bunabayashi]

Dr. Branden: You made it your life's work and no doubt a handsome sum of money promoting self-esteem-- by your own account a life rule is that a person of high self-esteem will treat others with dignity, courtesy, curiosity, and kindness. You failed in every one of those categories in this interview. I'd like to know why?

[James3940]

@bunabayashi

I didn't think Branden was guilty of failing in those categories e.g. when he asked Molyneux how he came to be interested in libertarian ideas, that was curiosity on his part.

[bunabayashi]

And how did Dr. Branden reply once Stef answered, do you recall?

[Sam26100]

Relax, the guy is what 80-90 years old?

He speaks slowly. You would too, if you're even alive at that age

[Lutier2008]

I would like to hear more of Dr Branden, instead of the interviewer.

[bunabayashi]

wouldn't we have all, including Stef?

[32doors]

Branden comes off like a dead fish in this interview.

[Valelacerte]

I read, and put into practice, some of Branden's exercises, and it was certainly worthwhile. However, am I the only one that finds his tempestuous relationships rather contrary to his teachings of love and self-esteem? My reading, of Branden's account of visiting Rand with his wife, was that they basked in their own relationship and gloated at Rand's loneliness, provoking her, and describing her decline with mock compassion.

I'm not sure I believe this man's professed principles.

[kurtu5]

>gloated at Rand's loneliness, provoking her, and describing her decline with mock compassion.

Maybe they thought it was tough love and it would kick Ayn out of her choice.

[Valelacerte]

"her choice" being what?

[kurtu5]

Her choice to not be in a relationship.

[Valelacerte]

Could be, I suppose. Certainly, it's a more comfortable rationalisation than that they were just feeling a little sadistic and self righteous that day.

[shepardh1]

Thanks for trying Stefan ... it is sad to see those that were once great when they are diminished in ability... kinda like great singers that get old and still perform...

You did your best to entice Nate to speak, think ... and even stay awake for the entire interview...

Nate was correct obout our movement needing folks that can articulate the message...;-)

[bobbincygna]

I didn't like the interview. I learned nothing about Branden, I only got to hear him react to Stef's opinions. Was that the idea of the interview? to show that Branden agrees?

[mole6674]

Thanks Stef!My life if richer because of warriors like you!But even more important,my 3 daughters will inherit the tools and keys you uncover for the curious world!Thank you! I hope you never limit such a potential opportunity to only 25 minutes.I know that wasn't your call. Then again ,one can hope the demand for your time will only increase!

[greenghost2008]

wow he must be old now.lol. I also like to bring up the difference between randians and objectivists. objectivits respect branden and randians dont/

[deinse81]

Objectivism is among other things (i.e. a lesser known literary movement) the name Ayn Rand used to name her philosophy. Randism is a pejorative used to describe Objectivists.

It is a sign of disrespect (and a pathetic move) to simply ignore that Ayn Rand coined a term before you, in a specific sense, and go ahead and name some other set of beliefs that. As the late comer, it would be sensible to pick a different name for your thing, separate from Rand's work and fame.

[greenghost2008]

y cant i be an objectivist too?

[PoetikLite]

I think Gore Vidal said it best.."She has a great attraction for simple people who are puzzled by organized society, who object to paying taxes, who dislike the welfare state, who feel guilt at the thought of the suffering of others but who would like to harden their hearts. For them, she has an enticing prescription: altruism is the root of all evil, self-interest is the only good, and if youre dumb or incompetent thats your lookout."

[Sam26100]

The welfare state is a flashy name for legalized mob robbery, and is one of the main reasons why our country's economy is currently near total collapse.

If you look at the origin of the word 'Altruism' you'll see that the author of the word, Auguste Comte, wrote specifically that there should be NO individual rights.

Altrusim means you have no right to the meal you're planning to eat tonight. It rightfully belongs to anybody as long as they are less wealthy than you.

Thats NOT evil?

[kurtu5]

That was a good piece of propaganda.

The guilt felt about suffering was totatly misplaced. They felt pity for those who suffered as a result of government. Giving government more power was not a solution to suffering.

They knew this. Gore should too, but was probably ignorant of the fact or a beneficiary of the oligarchy.

[xelenty]

It was unfortunate he had very little to add, because your questions were really good.. However, thanks for going to the trouble of setting this up..

[davyjames]

the ending was sooo abrupt hahahah. good interview though stef

[ewops]

Stef has VIP access to stars! LOL

[escapethecollapse]

branden is slowing down but that was a great interview

[hughtub]

Regarding the future improvement of humanity, I recommend a read of Robert Klark Graham's "The Future of Man" (pdf online). He was the founder of the so-called "Nobel Prize sperm bank". He makes the point that socialism can best be countered by intelligent people, which is why we're being dumbed down. Within a few generations, the average intelligence might be too low to even counteract it. Chris Langan (highest IQ) supports a positive eugenics also (encourage bright people to mate).

[RevolutionaryJam]

One of the books that taught me a lot about psychology was Summerhill by A S Neill it's a fantastic look at a boarding school where the kids are allowed to self-regulate, I thought also a v good argument for anarchism

"How to talk so kids listen and listen so kids talk" is a fantastic book to learn to better deal with others, kids+adults alike

the key factor in self esteem is how one learns to talk to themselves within their mind, oftentimes the voice of the parents becomes the inner voice

[andrewh817]

Quality video as usual.........on a side note, I have been trying for about a month to get my account approved on the Freedomain website. I already got the email that said it was approved but it still says it is pending when I attempt to log in.

Very frustrating, hopefully you have an idea of why this is happening.

[stefbot]

Can you email me your user name? I will check it out...

[megous]

Thank you!

[spudboyspud]

Great interview.

[PsyogiBottoms]

I love you - in a completely platonic way. ;?)

The medal idea - I think it works beautiful for the state that as long as you show up you'll get paid something. You don't have to do much, just move about, do a little and we'll pay you so we can tax you.

Why doesn't the government just make its own money and trade with other governments and just leave us all alone? Cut out the middle man - just get Bankers and Politicians together to jack each other off = maybe they'll all be happy finally.

[zalida100]

Hi Psyogibottoms, yes why don't they leave us alone? Well, I guess it's because their "money" just wouldn't have any value. Money has to be a store of labour. Their money wouldn't store labour cos they don't do any. That's where we come in, to validate their paper.

You're right though. It could be nice if all the people who want to be controlled could move to one side of the planet and the people who want to be left alone could go to the other side.

Of course, there would never be enough room!

[FlailingJunk]

Cool

[DecassyJake]

Yer know..howsabout an interview with Leonard Peikoff? THAT would be sparky. Forget Tanks on lawns..!

[UrbyKris]

@DecassyJake I agree!

[UrbyKris]

@DecassyJake Oh, sorry... didn't see this was 2 years ago...

[DecassyJake]

@UrbyKris No worries...I'm not really as impressed with Stef's interview techniques as I once was....I find the objectavist or randian approach to rationality now to be quite hysterical enough! Stef can be as bad as Peikoff in his own absolutist approach, check "There are no absolutes, there is no such thing as absolute truth." Where Stiffy attempts to critique an article without reading it thru first....

[pelucas716]

ha, good stuff, guy seems to me kind off socially akward for some reason, funny how psychologists usually tend to be the crasy ones : ). interesting stuff tho, we should talk more about this on the sunday show fo suure

[DecassyJake]

Interesting..I must say that thank gosh a knowledge of RUSH is'nt a pre-requisite of self knowledge, or free market Capitalism!!

[hughtub]

@DecassyJake I think Rush would be one of the best known bands if Geddy Lee had only been guitarist/keyboarder and they found a more mainstream vocalist, but he kind of became the singer by default supposedly. Peart's drumming on Subdivisions is what got me hooked. I've seen several articles in magz recently about Rand, Atlas Shrugged's sales are way up this year.

[DecassyJake]

Whatever gets more people to read Atlas Shrugged is fine with me!! It's funny, The first time I heard of the book was from the southpark guys in their "Chicken Lover" episode.Took me 10 years to ignore their dissing of it, but I'm glad I did.

[cjatasu]

South Park? oh jeethus chrithe. The South Park guys are libertarians so they probably just shit on the book just to piss her followers off for laughs.

[1schwererziehbar1]

if the south park guys are libertarians then the family guy guy must be a feminist.

[jsh78mang]

he is super liberal

[dsturch]

Is that Mickey Rourke?

[atrickpay11]

Ooh, this looks great. I'll be listening to later. I wonder if Branden is still a minarchist?

[NeutrinoideReturns]

No, you didn't ! 8D

[galikazoid]

thanks for sharing

[chris3443]

My jaw dropped when I saw the name, congratulations Stef!

[spenseravery]

thank you.

[bunabayashi]

Wow, what an auspicious interview, thank you so much for this Stef!