American Neo-Feudalism and How to Escape It - Joel Kotkin
Release Date: 12/15/2025
Leonard Leo: The Conservative Fundraiser Remaking American Culture
Peter Robinson Unbridled
As a long-time chair of the Federalist Society, Leonard Leo played a leading role in bringing half of today's Supreme Court to the Bench. Today, as one of the conservative movement's premier fundraisers and strategists, he has dedicated himself to "crushing liberal dominance" in politics, media, and culture. On today's Unbridled, Peter and Leonard discuss Leonard's formative political experiences, his approach to philanthropy, his fight to gain a foothold for traditional conservatism in movies and TV, and how to find great, affordable wines. Timestamps 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:02:55 -...
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American Neo-Feudalism and How to Escape It - Joel Kotkin
Peter Robinson Unbridled
On episode 3 of Unbridled, Peter sits down with writer and demographer Joel Kotkin. Joel is one of the most incisive interpreters of America's social and economic fabric. He is also politically close to unclassifiable--equal parts old-time liberal and contemporary conservative. Joel and Peter talk immigration, automation, affordability and unaffordability, the decline of California and the Coasts, and the rise of Texas and the Heartland. Timestamps 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:04:12 - The new aristocracy: consolidation of power in Big Tech 00:06:40 - The new clerisy: the educated...
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The Happy Warrior Remaking Higher Education - Will Inboden
Peter Robinson Unbridled
Over recent decades, the American university has been on a conveyor belt toward higher costs, less intellectual diversity, and less relevance to contemporary American life. Will Inboden, a decorated historian of foreign policy and newly appointed provost of the University of Texas at Austin, is here to change that. Will and Peter discuss how higher education got into a rut, how universities can lead us out of it, the point of Shakespeare, and how to build lifelong friendships. Timestamps 00:00:00 - Intro 00:02:30 - Why choose a career in academia 00:05:00 - Shaken public trust in...
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Finding Truth and Friendship in Divided Times - Cornel West & Robert George
Peter Robinson Unbridled
In 2025, Cornel West and Robert George--two thought leaders who disagree on just about everything--aren't supposed to be friends. But against all odds, they are. In this first episode of Peter Robinson Unbridled, Cornel and Robbie discuss their improbable friendship, their love of music, their new book Truth Matters, and how they look for the truths we all share in an age of division. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Host: Peter Robinson Peter Robinson Unbridled is a podcast of the Civitas Institute of the University of Texas at Austin Executive Producers: Mat Hames...
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Official Trailer: Peter Robinson Unbridled, A New Civitas Institute Series
Peter Robinson Unbridled
In Peter Robinson Unbridled, Peter trades in his dress shoes for a pair of boots and the darkened studio for a neighborhood joint in Austin, Texas. Join him for personal conversations about the issues that matter with fascinating men and women forging the next American Century. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Host: Peter Robinson Peter Robinson Unbridled is a podcast of the Civitas Institute of the University of Texas at Austin Researcher: John Masko Executive Producers: Mat Hames Beth Hames Producer: Laura Utt Editor: Josh Meyers Post Production: Jacob Estrada...
info_outlineOn episode 3 of Unbridled, Peter sits down with writer and demographer Joel Kotkin. Joel is one of the most incisive interpreters of America's social and economic fabric. He is also politically close to unclassifiable--equal parts old-time liberal and contemporary conservative. Joel and Peter talk immigration, automation, affordability and unaffordability, the decline of California and the Coasts, and the rise of Texas and the Heartland.
Timestamps
00:00:00 - Introduction
00:04:12 - The new aristocracy: consolidation of power in Big Tech
00:06:40 - The new clerisy: the educated managerial class
00:09:07 - The rest of us: the yeomanry and serf class
00:12:15 - Alienation driven by AI
00:15:05 - Counterarguments for Joel
00:19:55 - Does the gap between the poor and rich matter?
00:24:45 - Modern opportunities outside of large cities
00:30:55 - The oligarchy’s response to Trumpism
00:36:44 - The change in the cultural zeitgeist despite Trump’s narrow victory
00:42:07 - Red State vs. Blue State governance
00:48:44 - Young people dedicating themselves to their political inheritance
00:53:26 - Card game!
Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
Host: Peter Robinson
Peter Robinson Unbridled is a podcast of the Civitas Institute of the University of Texas at Austin
Executive Producers:
Mat Hames
Beth Hames
Researcher: John Masko
Producer: Laura Utt
Editor: Josh Meyers
Post Production: Jacob Estrada
Camera: Josh Hardwick, Nathan Jennings
Music by Brandon Shufflebarger