
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!

The Never Ending Lockdown
Rational Standard Podcast • By Rational Standard • May 02, 2020
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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.
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/
02:04:56
October 19, 2021

Geopolitics and Syria: What's Happening and Why?
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/
40:29
October 25, 2020

Tobacco Prohibition and the Nanny State
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/
44:36
June 23, 2020

The Never Ending Lockdown
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/
34:60
May 02, 2020

Interview with a COVID-19 Survivor
Nicholas Woode-Smith follows up with Hügo Krüger as they discuss COVID-19 and government responses worldwide.
48:12
April 12, 2020

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.
01:07:24
March 29, 2020

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.
15:09
January 17, 2020

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.
29:40
October 25, 2019

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.
35:20
August 15, 2019

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).
37:22
August 08, 2019

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.
50:32
August 01, 2019

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.
35:22
July 26, 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.
59:18
February 13, 2019

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.
33:36
January 05, 2019

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.
44:36
November 19, 2018

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.Remember to subscribe and give us a 5-star rating.
36:29
November 05, 2018

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.
01:15:02
October 15, 2018

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.
35:36
October 04, 2018

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.
56:58
September 27, 2018

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.
38:48
September 04, 2018

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.
29:04
July 13, 2018

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.
44:20
June 25, 2018

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.
45:58
May 27, 2018

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.
01:14:23
May 16, 2018

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.
48:20
May 05, 2018

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.
36:45
April 29, 2018

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.
01:07:01
April 17, 2018

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.
34:15
March 14, 2018

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.
43:14
March 02, 2018

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.
44:52
October 16, 2015

Policy Debates: Visas, visitors and Gigaba's legacy
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...
22:00
October 16, 2015

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.
28:25
September 12, 2015

Policy Debates: Economic uncertainty in South Africa
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.
41:08
July 24, 2015

Policy Debates: Chinese commies, capital flight and bad liquor policy
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...
28:04
July 17, 2015