Best Ryan Macpherson Podcasts (2026)

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#73 Alex MacDonald : Balancing Economic Liberty and Social Tradition, plus Thoughts on Monarchy 1:13:00

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3d ago1:13:00

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Does it makes sense to maximize liberty in the economy and yet limit it at a personal level? Is it even possible? Alex MacDonald says it doesn't make sense. We never make economics the ultimate priority for family decisions, why do we think it's ok to prioritize economy at a national level? This discussion gets to the heart of debate within the con…

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#72 Merry Christmas! Embracing Intentional Ignorance and the Meaning of Gift Receiving 15:35

3d ago15:35

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Christmas greetings plus one big idea. Why read? Better yet, why buy books you will never be able to read? Don't overestimate what you know. Building a personal library of more books that you can ever read will remind you of how much you do not know. It creates a presence in your home of intentional ignorance. I got the idea from this article: Umbe…

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#71 Michael Bonner: The Crisis of Liberalism: The Origin and Destiny of Freedom. 1:05:12

8d ago1:05:12

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Many of our most popular ideas today are medieval. We are all, in some way, medieval thinkers. Dr. Michael Bonner applies his experience as a historian and political consultant to the current crisis of liberalism. He explains what's going on by reaching back several thousand years. Although this episode is heavy, his book is highly readable. He cov…

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#70 Kate Marland: The Conservative Case for High Culture. Engaging Youth Beyond Economic Policies 1:02:11

12d ago1:02:11

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I'm trying something new: this is a lightly edited transcript from the start of the episode: Thanks for listening! Shawn: What do young people want these days? Do they want total unfettered freedom or do they want to be challenged? Check it out. Kate: This is what I love talking about with young people, because they are ready to rise to this challe…

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#69 Sean Speer: Government MUST remain neutral on culture. Will vs Inheritance a core debate 1:14:00

15d ago1:14:00

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Here's the other half of the Koch-Speer debate. As usual, Sean Speer offers a nuanced response that seeks to learn at least as much as he hopes to inform. This whole conversation is essential for Canadians right now, conservatives especially. Its outcome determines the entire cant of the Conservative Party of Canada. Sean laid out his argument here…

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#68 Anthony Koch: Government CANNOT Remain Neutral on Culture 1:05:03

17d ago1:05:03

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Anthony says conservatives don't understand politics. He argues in Without Diminishment that "The state is the architect of culture, not a spectator." Conservatives will keep losing until they realise that the must pick a side, when they form government. They cannot aim to simply manage the state. They need to shape it. This is a hot debate in Cana…

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#67 Matt Spoke: Project Ontario, Real-Life Conservatism, and Building a Strong Conservative Future in Canada 1:02:27

29d ago1:02:27

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Matt Spoke builds communities, develops housing, creates start-up companies, serves on boards of directors, plans grass-roots political conferences, and raises a family. Matt embodies a conservative life. I first met Matt at the Project Ontario conference he organized (with help from others) in Toronto. He speaks well, listens closely, and can carr…

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#66 Ben Woodfinden: The New Right and Red Toryism 57:04

1M ago57:04

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Ben Woodfinden is a former director of communications for Pierre Poilievre. He has practical experience inside politics mixed with theoretical study and work as a consultant. When Ben speaks, people listen. Debate about first principles has finally returned to the Canadian non-left. A new, mostly younger group of conservative writers and speakers h…

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#65 Caroline Elliott: Is Canada's Identity at Risk? How can we save Canada? 55:45

1M ago55:45

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Canada cannot continue unless we share a common sense of what we love. In BC, young students learn from daily land acknowledgements that they can never really call Canada their own. It belongs to someone else. Students in Vancouver sing two national anthems, Canada’s and another belonging to coastal indigenous people. This goes beyond education and…

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#64 Ray Pennings: Religion in the Public Square. Study of Canada-US religiosity 1:05:25

2M ago1:05:25

1:05:25

Want to be active in the public square? Join the symphony. Get involved in what you love. Be public about your pursuit of the true, the good, and the beautiful. Ray Pennings has spent his life building a winsome and articulate defence of religion in the pubic square. It is not weird to admit we have religious beliefs (including non belief); it's we…

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#63 Ron Dart: Is Toryism Dead in Canada? The Red Tory Element in Canadian Conservatism 1:25:00

2M ago1:25:00

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Toryism has faded in Canada, but it still gets blamed for backsliding and bad behaviour in Conservative Party politics. (Full disclosure: I have never seen myself as a Tory, neither High, Low, Red, Blue, or traditional.) Political labels, especially old ones, mean nothing without definition. Even with working definitions, labels often bleed into ea…

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#62 Sam Routley: Unpacking Canadian Conservative voters. Fusionism, culture and economics 1:05:40

2M ago1:05:40

1:05:40

Conservative voters around the world are leaning into culture and away from economic issues. Sam Routley's research found that Canadian conservatives cling to the 1980's fusionism of traditional social policies and libertarian economics. Can the 1980's fusionism hold? Will economic determinism help Conservatives to win elections today? Links to art…

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#61 Alexander Brown: Young Voters, Culture, and Politics in Canada 57:19

2M ago57:19

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Young conservatives aren't falling in line. Alex says, "We don't care. I'm not incentivized to look the other way. I don't need an invite to a table of six at Terroni in the back room to talk about continuing the status quo." In a world when young voters can't afford a house in Canada, you'd think they'd obsess about economics. They don't. They car…

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#60 Alexander Rosenthal-Pubul: Conservative Humanism - Reconciling Tradition and Modernity 57:17

2M ago57:17

57:17

Is secular humanism a distortion of an older conservative humanism? And why are conservatives so obsessed with international trade? The French Enlightenment philosopher Montesquieu argued that international trade promotes peace. He called it doux commerce, gentle commerce. In what sense is this a conservative idea? Fascinating and somewhat subversi…

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#59 Tim Sargent: Can Economics Save Canada? Does Economics Serve Politics or Should Economics Rule? 58:12

2M ago58:12

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What guides politics? What matters most in political decision making? Since the 1980s, conservatives have looked to economics for guidance: economic growth, tax cuts, and decreased government spending capture the heart of political thought in North American Conservative political parties. This sparks two questions. 1) How well did this approach per…

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#58 Ross Upshur: AI in Medicine, Limits of Evidence Based Medicine, & What Does It Mean to be Human? 1:00:00

3M ago1:00:00

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This episode is (ostensibly) about medicine, not politics. What does human-centred care mean in a world of AI? Are doctors becoming obsolete, when it comes to decision making? When should we hand over our clinical judgement to AI? I asked Ross Upshur for his thoughts on logical positivism. Are most doctors positivists? "Despite it being... as a p…

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#57 Grant Havers: Understanding Marshall McLuhan's Relevance: AI, Social Media, and Conservative Thought 1:20:49

3M ago1:20:49

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By Shawn Whatley

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Scaling Operations & Building Remote-First Teams with Christopher Kautz 49:20

3M ago49:20

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What does it take to scale a company through explosive growth and build a culture where teams thrive without burning out? Christopher Kautz, COO of Zogics, joins Max Hansen to share how he helped transform a fast-growing disinfectant and wellness brand into a lean, fully remote powerhouse. From tripling revenue during COVID to hiring top global tal…

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#56 Calum Nicholson: Boomers are Frozen in Fortune & Society is Blinded by Science 1:21:38

3M ago1:21:38

1:21:38

Boomers have a worldview "frozen by fortune, not forged in fire." Through no fault of their own, the boomer generation remains blind to aspects of current reality from their experiences growing up in the post-WWII era. That era has ended. For more on this, check out Dr. Nicholson's guest post on Peter Boghossian: The Boomerang Our discussion tackle…

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#55 Paige MacPherson: Smartphones, Canadian Education Performance, and School Choice 1:06:48

3M ago1:06:48

1:06:48

Canada is libertarian on student cell phones in classrooms and statist on school choice (in most provinces). We get a poor return on investment when it comes to education in Canada. Our math and reading scores are several years behind (even before Covid). Students are distracted by over 100 messages on their cellphones each day. And teachers cannot…

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Is Your Business REALLY Ready for AI? with Jeff MacPherson 55:59

3M ago55:59

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AI isn’t a magic fix—it’s a magnifier. In this episode of Built On Purpose, Max Hansen sits down with Jeff MacPherson to explore why AI often exposes broken systems instead of solving them, and how leaders can prepare their companies to scale the right way. Jeff shares lessons from losing his first startup in a Facebook lawsuit, building three tech…

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#54 Étienne-Alexander Beauregard - Gen-Z Conservatism & Anti Civilization: Why Our Societies Collapse From Within 57:41

3M ago57:41

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Gen Z sits at the cusp of major change in conservatism. Young people do not feel a warmth and longing for Reagan or Thatcher. Sure, they value freedom, but they also what to know where the guardrails stand. Étienne-Alexandre speaks clearly for a new generation of non-left thinkers. He asks what might be the role of conservatism in the near future. …

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#53 Tristin Hopper: Extremism in Canadian Universities and review of his book, "Don't be Canada" 48:17

4M ago48:17

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Once again, Canadian university professors show their extremism in response to Charlie Kirk, a mirror of their praise for Oct 7. Professors shape opinion; they shape culture. Do we want the kind of culture they promote? Turning to his book, Tristin argues that Canada's world-famous policy failures are self-inflicted. He believes we could recover, i…

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Coffee with Max: The ROI of Sweating—Why Fit Leaders Build Stronger Companies 18:46

3M ago18:46

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In this episode of the Built On Purpose podcast, Max discusses the critical role of health and fitness in effective leadership. He reflects on his personal journey with fitness and how it has influenced his success as an entrepreneur. Max emphasizes the importance of physical fitness as a leadership indicator, the need for mental health practices, …

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#52 Josh Lewis: Conservatism, Saving Elephants, Populism, Donald Trump, and Economic Morality 1:09:50

4M ago1:09:50

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Josh Lewis is a traditional conservative who has worked in 'government' in America, has served in retail politics, and has interviewed hundreds of leading thinkers in American conservatism. Josh has a unique ability to bridge the gap between politics and life, philosophy and culture. His developed his skill comes from a deep discomfort with what he…

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#51 Reflecting on Charlie Kirk. Are we tired of being bullied? 22:53

4M ago22:53

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I couldn't stay silent and sane. Once again, the AI summary is scarily accurate, so I will let is stand. Let me know what you think. Shawn AI Summary: Responding to Tragedy: Honouring Charlie Kirk & Challenging Silence In this deeply reflective episode of Concepts, host Shawn Whatley breaks from his usual avoidance of current events to address a tu…

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Delegation, Leadership & Scaling: What 11 Businesses Taught Chad Nikkel 53:42

4M ago53:42

53:42

What does it really take to build, scale, and exit businesses—without losing your sanity or burning out? In this episode, Max sits down with Chad Nikkel, a serial entrepreneur who has founded and scaled 11 companies, completed 7 acquisitions, and navigated 4 high-value exits. From losing his first business at 21 to building a $50M roofing company, …

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#50 George Nash: The Conservative Intellectual Movement 1:09:54

4M ago1:09:54

1:09:54

If you find conservatism confusing, you are not alone! Dr. George Nash has spent 50 years explaining all the strands that weave together into the collection of ideas we call conservatism. The AI summary is surprisingly good, so I will simply point out the book links below: The Conservative Intellectual Movement in America since 1945 Russel Kirk's C…

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Why Most Leaders Feel Trapped in Their Business (And How to Break Free) with CJ DuBe' 55:21

4M ago55:21

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In this episode, Max Hansen sits down with CJ Dubé—an internationally recognized EOS Implementer, serial entrepreneur, and culture strategist. With over 35 years of leadership and entrepreneurial experience, CJ has facilitated more than 1,800 EOS sessions, coached countless leadership teams, and co-authored a book on building intentional cultures. …

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#49 Yuval Levin: Unity, Citizenship, and American Constitutionalism 1:03:00

4M ago1:03:00

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How can we live together when we don't t all think alike? Are there nothing but power struggles, or is there a better way? Dr. Yuval Levin explains that we don't need to disagree less; we need to learn to disagree better. Unity does not mean unanimity. We should be hopeful, not simply optimistic. Yuval has spent several decades trying to persuade c…

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Redefining Recruiting with Prevail + Y Scouts with Ryan Berry 53:49

4M ago53:49

53:49

In this episode of the Built On Purpose podcast, Max and Ryan Berry discuss the evolving landscape of recruiting, the importance of building strong relationships, and the role of technology in enhancing personal interactions. Ryan shares his journey into the recruiting industry, highlighting key inflection points and lessons learned along the way. …

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#48 Nico Lagan: Political Orphans, Masculinity, and Faith 1:08:01

4M ago1:08:01

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The non-left in Canada includes an interesting and often overlooked group. They promote a mix of exercise, martial arts, masculinity, self defence, freedom, self sufficiency, honour, Christianity, and more. This group baffles academics and exasperates leftists. Both left and right seeks to dismiss and minimize their impact. But they represent a lar…

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The Truth About Executive Job Search with Chameleon Resumes' Lisa Rangel 56:23

4M ago56:23

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Are you an executive feeling stuck in your job search, rewriting your resume endlessly, or applying for roles that don't quite fit? You're not alone! In this episode of the Built On Purpose podcast, Max Hansen interviews Lisa Rangel, founder of Chameleon Resumes and a top career strategist. Discover the biggest misconceptions executives have about …

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#47 Andy Crooks: Moral Courage and the Heart of Conservatism 1:10:51

5M ago1:10:51

1:10:51

Andy captures the heart of conservatism unlike anything I've found elsewhere. He has lived it. He embodies it. And he welcomes others to enjoy it. Andy Crooks spelled out what's at stake for Canada, and he explained what we must do to save it. Stark, fun, inspirational, and tragic. I can't think of a better embodiment of the heart an soul of conser…

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Inside EOS Worldwide: Kelly Knight on Visionary–Integrator Success 58:32

5M ago58:32

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Are you an entrepreneur stuck in the chaos of growth, struggling to scale your company without losing your mind, your team, or your soul? Join Max Hansen as he sits down with Kelly Knight, President and Integrator of EOS Worldwide, to explore the secrets to leading with clarity, building with traction, and letting go of what's holding you back. Lea…

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#46 Marco Navarro-Genie: Red Toryism, Canadian Identity, and the Role of Conservatism 1:08:19

5M ago1:08:19

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Marco packages powerful barbs in (slightly) softened academic polish. It makes his writing and speaking fun to consume and hard to forget. Do check out his Substack https://substack.com/@navarrogenie Looking forward to hearing what you think! Thanks again! AI summary: Special guest Dr. Marco Navarro-Genie, VP of Research at Frontier Center for Publ…

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How to Hire a COO and Scale Your Business with Cameron Herold 47:27

5M ago47:27

47:27

Unlock Exponential Growth with a World-Class COO | Cameron Herold (CEO Whisperer) on Building a Thriving Culture Is your business growth plateauing? Are you wearing too many hats and struggling to scale? This episode of the Build On Purpose podcast is your roadmap to building a leadership team that transforms your vision into reality. Max interview…

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#45 Sean Walsh: The Hard Problem of Consciousness, AI, and Conservatism 53:48

5M ago53:48

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Sean has a PhD in the philosophy of artificial intelligence. He writes well and thinks deeply. He's also experienced more grit than the average academic. This was not a light discussion, but I think you will find it well worth your time. Articles mentioned: Wandering Thoughts Artificial, human and angelic intelligence Sean is Associate Editor of Co…

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Rich Schefren on Avoiding the Traps of Online Entrepreneurship 1:08:36

5M ago1:08:36

1:08:36

Unlocking Exponential Impact: Building a Business That Thrives Without You! Are you an entrepreneur building a cage instead of a company? Rich Schefren, the godfather of online business strategy, joins Max Hanson on the Built On Purpose podcast to reveal how to escape the trap and build a business that scales. Discover the secrets to strategic leve…

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#44 Tristan Rogers: Conservatism Past and Present--A Philosophical Introduction 1:06:32

5M ago1:06:32

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Tristan and I discuss his new book on conservatism. It is fun and deep and convoluted...you will love it. The AI summary (below) chunks out the main sections. Books and articles mentioned: Conservatism Past and Present: A philosophical introduction, by Tristan Rogers https://amzn.to/4lYHPbC England: An Elegy, by Roger Scruton https://amzn.to/4lMKkO…

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Coffee with Max: The End of Job Boards, Smarter Hiring & The Who Not How Mindset 43:53

5M ago43:53

43:53

Is your hiring process stuck in the past? ⏳ Max Hansen dives into the death of job boards like CareerBuilder and Monster, and what this means for the future of executive hiring. Learn how to shift from outdated, high-volume strategies to high-trust, strategic approaches that attract top talent and ensure a better fit for your organization. Plus, di…

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#43 Brian Day: The Fight for Canadian Healthcare | A 30-Year Battle for Patient Rights 1:07:55

6M ago1:07:55

1:07:55

Dr. Brian Day has spent decades fighting for patients' rights. He trained during an era of no wait times and doctors competing to provide care for patients. People find this hard to believe, and system planners find it horrifying. Canadian medicare was once the envy of the world. Today, countries try to avoid creating 'Canada-like' results. Dr. Day…

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Beyond the Supercars: Culture, Community & the Gumball 3000 Legacy with Maximillion Cooper 52:47

6M ago52:47

52:47

Unleash Your Inner Gumball: The Visionary Behind Gumball 3000! Join Max Hansen, CEO of Y Scouts and two-time Gumball 3000 participant, as he sits down with the legendary Maximillion Cooper, the founder of Gumball 3000! In this episode of the Built On Purpose podcast, we dive deep into the evolution of Gumball 3000, from its humble beginnings as a w…

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#42 Nathan Pinkoski: Actually Existing Postliberalism 1:01:22

6M ago1:01:22

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A quiet revolution occurred in the 1990s. Our institutions shifted. The global war on terror solidified the shift and obliterated the distinction between public and private, which was once a feature of liberalism. The fusion of public and private represents a new era of actually existing postliberalism. https://firstthings.com/actually-existing-pos…

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Clarity Beats Persuasion: Crafting Messaging That Truly Connects with Kevin Rogers 58:49

6M ago58:49

58:49

In this episode of the Built On Purpose Podcast, Max Hansen sits down with Kevin Rogers—former stand-up comic, direct response copywriting expert, and founder of CopyChief.com. Kevin reveals why most leaders unintentionally repel great talent because their messaging is overcomplicated and robotic. He breaks down his powerful W.R.I.T.E. N.O.W. Frame…

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#41 Rebecca Vachon: Canada's Rapid Expansion of Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD)/Euthanasia 50:44

6M ago50:44

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Canada has the fastest growing assisted dying program in the world. Medical Assistance in Dying (passive and active euthanasia) is now tied as Canada's 5th leading cause of death. We tackle loneliness and social isolation, individualism, and (briefly) social response to suffering. Not a light episode, but a crucial topic to discuss. Thanks for chec…

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Why Smart People Stay Stuck (And What to Do About It) with Michael Bernoff 1:13:57

6M ago1:13:57

1:13:57

🚀 What if the success you're chasing is being blocked by the version of you that feels safest? In this episode of the Built On Purpose Podcast, Max Hansen sits down with Michael Bernoff, founder of the Human Communications Institute and author of Average Sucks. Michael shares how identity traps even high-functioning people, why willpower is overrat…

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#40 Happy Canada Day! What is Canada? What are we celebrating? 6:19

6M ago6:19

6:19

Short recording for Canada Day. I hope you find (or found) time to enjoy the day and reflect on what we are celebrating. Canada is young: many Canadians alive now are more than 1/2 as old as Canada itself. Given its youth, what exactly is Canada? What aspects do we hope to pass on to our children and grandchildren? Whatever Canada is it must be "pl…

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#39 Adam Swart: CEO Crowds on Demand. Paid Protesters a Moral and Political Dilemma? 54:10

6M ago54:10

54:10

I had a friendly debate with Adam Swart, CEO of Crowds on Demand, the largest protest company in America. He ran circles around me having clearly argued almost all my points many times before. He called out my hypocrisy at being intolerant of paying protesters while being ok with all the other money that flows around inside politics. Adam forced me…

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The Secret to Speaking Success Isn’t Performance with Joel Weldon 46:58

6M ago46:58

46:58

🚀 What if the fear you’ve been avoiding is the doorway to the clarity your team needs most? In this episode of the Built On Purpose Podcast, Max Hansen sits down with Joel Weldon, Hall of Fame speaker and creator of the Ultimate Speaking System. Joel has coached over 10,000 speakers and delivered more than 3,000 talks. He explains why great speaker…