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(58 min 16 sec) Jason Long returns to Choosing Better  to discuss why some nations are rich and others are poor. We take another journey through time to understand how simple laws and norms shape the very bedrock of societies with some countries being wealthy and prosperous while others are underdeveloped and poor. Enoch and Tim turn the conversation to the strength of property rights in the United States before focusing on a recent case study in early 2026 of the US governme

(1 hr 5 min) In the first days of a rapidly escalating U.S.–Israel conflict with Iran, strikes rippled across the region and global tensions spiked. In this bonus episode, former CIA senior executive and Iran expert Tim Buch joins the show to break down what actually happened, and just as important, why. We examine how intelligence shaped military decisions, how Iran is likely to respond, and what this conflict means for the broader Middle East. Finally, we look ahead: What c

Research revelas that the percentage change in state-level marriage rates from 2015 to 2020 is mostly negative. Most states have declines ranging from moderate (−20% to −40%) to substantial (−60% or more). The steepest decreases appear concentrated in parts of the West and South, including states such as California and Louisiana, while only a small number of states—primarily in the Mountain West—show stable or modest positive growth (0% to 40%). Moderate declines are visible

(56 min 59 sec) Many Christians feel the pull toward missionary work, but how do you know if you should go, when to go, or where? Enoch and Tim apply economic thinking to one of the church's most important decisions, exploring how to discern a calling, how to best support those who go, and also discuss some of the research connecting missions to the development of democratic institutions and access to women's health. Referenced Article: The Surprising Discovery About Those C

(56 min 59 sec) Do you know more than a Saxon born in 500AD? Hard to say, but you likely know different knowledge than your ancient Saxon counterpart. And while most Saxons shared a similar set of knowledge about food production and daily survival, you likely have a very different knowledge than even your neighbor down the street.  Join Enoch and Tim as they discuss shared knowledge and overlapping knowledge compared to specific and distinct knowledge in modern society. They

(34 min 9 sec) Throughout his second term, President Trump has wanted the United States to own Greenland. Beginning with offers to buy the island, his demands have escalated through threatening to use military force. The crisis over Greenland reaches far beyond the Arctic and Denmark as old alliances are challenged. Join Enoch and Tim as they discuss why President Trump wants the United States to own Greenland and how the effects ripple across North America and Europe. Credit

(45 min 17 sec) On January 3, 2026, President Donald Trump authorized the United States military and CIA to capture and extradite Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro to face federal criminal charges. The operation was completed within five hours with few casualties—no Americans were killed in the operation. Join Enoch and Tim in this special current events episode as they break down the operation, discuss Venezuela's devastating economic collapse over the past decade, and exp

(45 min 21 sec) Our desires define us. From how we spend our money, use our time, talk with our friends, or dominate our thoughts, our passions consume our resources and form our lives. But what shapes our desires and how can we choose better passions to guide our lives? Join Enoch and Tim as they discuss the overarching loves of our lives and propose strategies to recognized disordered loves and how to be intentional with our formation. Credits : Drew Elliot (music) with add

(38 min 23 sec) In this episode, Enoch and Tim explore the fascinating and sometimes controversial economics of gift giving. They breakdown the “deadweight loss of Christmas” to explain the inefficiency of gift exchange. But these two grinches explain why giving gifts does so much more than retail cost valuations insofar as the process of finding and buying a gift demonstrates a unique act of love and care. Credits : Drew Elliot (music) with additional thanks to the Wheaton C

(48 min 38 sec) In this episode, Enoch and Tim explore the emerging practice of using AI and deepfake technology to create interactive digital replicas of deceased people. While these tools are marketed as aids to grief and memory preservation, we examine the philosophical and moral hazards of digitally "resurrecting" the dead—from questions of consent and exploitation to concerns about whether such practices impede genuine grief work and erode the meaning we make from mortal

(45 min 31 sec) How can thinking like an economist improve your decision-making? Join Enoch and Tim as they discuss several common pitfalls people fall into in making decisions. Whether it’s buying and selling stocks, choosing to start a business, or simply deciding to keep reading an arduous novel, we often make irrational decisions. Sunk costs, loss aversion, and the endowment effect are explored in this first of a multiple episode series on using economic thinking to impro

(54 min 56 sec) How can we know if the car we want to buy is not a lemon? Or how can we sincerely communicate how much we love a romantic partner? Oftentimes in life we encounter information asymmetries. We struggle to make ideal decisions with incomplete knowledge or even to signal our own intentions when an audience may not believe us. Enoch and Tim talk about examples in or everyday lives and discuss strategies to help live in a world with uneven information. Credits : Dre

(1 hr 22 min) For some dating is an adventure while for others dating is a daunting gamble. Is there a way for a person to optimize their approach to dating? Join Enoch and Tim as they discuss an economic approach to dating, tell stories, and try to make dating more approachable. Sure, dating risks rejection and heartbreak, but the benefits of finding a lifelong mate just may outweigh the risks. Credits : Drew Elliot (music) with additional thanks to the Wheaton Center for Fa

(1 hr 3 min) The saints are more than folk tales and stories for children. They are true lives of Christian men and women who lived faithfully. Professor of Art History at Wheaton College, Dr. Matthew Milliner , joins Enoch and Tim as they discuss how we can benefit from learning deeply from the saints. They compare the Catholic and Protestant traditions and share how choosing to be influenced by examples of saints may form and strengthen our faith. Credits : Drew Elliot (mus

(1 hr 5 min) Enoch and Tim interview Dr. Del Tackett , an acclaimed educator whose teaching materials have impacted over 20 million people across more than 100 countries. The conversation centers on the critical role that meta-narratives, or worldviews, play in shaping what individuals believe and pursue in their personal pursuits of flourishing. Their conversation challenges the widespread assumption of neutrality, arguing that everyone operates from an underlying worldview

The percentage change in adoption rates across U.S. states from 2012 to 2022 show significant regional disparities. The adoption rates over that decade have declined across most of the states, where the West, South, and Midwest have some of the steepest decreases (approaching −80% to −100% in the darkest categories). In contrast, there are some states which show stable or increasing adoption rates, most notably West Virginia, which stands out with a strong positive change (+4

Recent research suggests notable regional variation on state-level marriage rates (per 1,000 people) in the United States for 2020. While much of the West and parts of the Southeast—such as Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Arkansas, Alabama, and Tennessee show moderately elevated rates, Nevada stands out with the highest rate, falling within the category of approximately 24.7–30 marriages per 1,000. In contrast, many states across the Midwest, Northeast, and parts of the South fall into

(38 min 47 sec) In this bonus episode of Choosing Better , Enoch and Tim dig deep into the sweeping changes to the U.S. H-1B visa system following the shock announcement of a $100,000 application fee. They break down the policy’s potential upsides and downsides, discuss its implications, and explore what it might mean for the future of American immigration. The U.S. immigration system is overviewed and some shocking trivia is revealed. Credits : ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Drew Elliot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (music)

(57 min 18 sec) Enoch and Tim challenge the assumption that welfare policy is a modern invention by exploring social safety nets in ancient societies. The conversation centers on the Old Testament's laws of Jubilee, examining the theological and practical purposes behind these ancient provisions for economic redistribution and debt relief. Rather than treating these historical practices as mere curiosities, they draw connections between ancient wisdom and contemporary welfare

(44 min 23 sec) Are boys and men falling behind? Enoch and Tim unpack the widening gap between men and women in education, leadership, volunteerism, and broader civic life. They spotlight striking statistics—like how university enrollment now stands at 59% female and only 41% male—and explore what this shift means for the future of families, communities, and society. The conversation traces how public attention has only recently turned to this issue and considers the long-ter