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Rational Standard Podcast

Rational Standard Podcast

By Rational Standard

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!
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Interview with a COVID-19 Survivor

Rational Standard PodcastApr 12, 2020

00:00
48:12
SA Local Elections 2021: What Should We Expect?

SA Local Elections 2021: What Should We Expect?

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.

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Other Links:

  • https://www.freemarketfoundation.com/
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Oct 19, 202102:04:56
Geopolitics and Syria: What's Happening and Why?
Oct 25, 202040:29
Tobacco Prohibition and the Nanny State
Jun 23, 202044:36
The Never Ending Lockdown
May 02, 202034:60
Interview with a COVID-19 Survivor

Interview with a COVID-19 Survivor

Nicholas Woode-Smith follows up with Hügo Krüger as they discuss COVID-19 and government responses worldwide.

Apr 12, 202048:12
Hügo Krüger: The Coronavirus Leviathan

Hügo Krüger: The Coronavirus Leviathan

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.

Mar 29, 202001:07:24
A New Dawn: Rational Standard Discussion

A New Dawn: Rational Standard Discussion

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.

Jan 17, 202015:09
Hügo Krüger: Recent changes within the DA and Maimane's resignation

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

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.

Oct 25, 201929:40
Nicholas Woode-Smith: Some reflections on university in South Africa

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

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.

Aug 15, 201935:20
Jasson Urbach: The NHI and why we can't afford it (to say the least)

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

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).

Aug 08, 201937:22
Lo Ming Hin: What are Hong Kong's protest all about?

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

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.

Aug 01, 201950:32
John Steenhuisen: SOEs, Parliament and how the DA can Improve

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

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.

Jul 26, 201935:22
The RS Writers: Some Outlooks on 2019

The RS Writers: Some Outlooks on 2019

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.

Feb 13, 201959:18
Mark Oppenheimer: EWC, The Constitution and International Law

Mark Oppenheimer: EWC, The Constitution and International Law

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.

Jan 05, 201933:36
Eardley Rudman: Game Farming and Hunting in South Africa

Eardley Rudman: Game Farming and Hunting in South Africa

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.

Nov 19, 201844:36
Conscious Caracal: The media, the DA and the election

Conscious Caracal: The media, the DA and the election

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.


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Nov 05, 201836:29
Diagonal Views with Nicholas Woode-Smith and Nicholas Babaya

Diagonal Views with Nicholas Woode-Smith and Nicholas Babaya

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.

Oct 15, 201801:15:02
Michael Cardo: The DA on Liberalism and Land

Michael Cardo: The DA on Liberalism and Land

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.

Oct 04, 201835:36
Christopher Wilson: A South African's Guide to Canadian Politics

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

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.

Sep 27, 201856:58
Marius Roodt: How "Shelley Garland" was published on Huffington Post SA

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

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.

Sep 04, 201838:48
Martin van Staden: Problems with SA's Political Party Funding Bill

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

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.

Jul 13, 201829:04
Dawie Roodt: Tax and how South Africa gets it all wrong

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

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.

Jun 25, 201844:20
Diagonal Views with Christiaan van Huyssteen and Nicholas Babaya

Diagonal Views with Christiaan van Huyssteen and Nicholas Babaya

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.

May 27, 201845:58
Jeremy Nell aka: Jerm - Cartoonist of SA's Intellectual Dark Web

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

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.

May 16, 201801:14:23
Zak Mbhele: Libertarians should feel at home with the DA

Zak Mbhele: Libertarians should feel at home with the DA

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.

May 05, 201848:20
Joost Strydom: Why Live in Orania?

Joost Strydom: Why Live in Orania?

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.

Apr 29, 201836:45
Martin van Staden: How Should Libertarians View the DA?

Martin van Staden: How Should Libertarians View the DA?

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.

Apr 17, 201801:07:01
Deena Katzen: Is Israel an Apartheid State

Deena Katzen: Is Israel an Apartheid State

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.

Mar 14, 201834:15
Ron Weissenberg: How to Build the Roads

Ron Weissenberg: How to Build the Roads

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.

Mar 02, 201843:14
Policy Debates: Another wave of ANC fantasies

Policy Debates: Another wave of ANC fantasies

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.

Oct 16, 201544:52
Policy Debates: Visas, visitors and Gigaba's legacy
Oct 16, 201522:00
Policy Debates: The Coerciveness of 'Transformation'

Policy Debates: The Coerciveness of 'Transformation'

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.  

Sep 12, 201528:25
Policy Debates: Economic uncertainty in South Africa
Jul 24, 201541:08
Policy Debates: Chinese commies, capital flight and bad liquor policy
Jul 17, 201528:04