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Ep150: Maren Poitras, creator and director of Finding the Money

Activist #MMT - podcast

Release Date: 04/24/2024

Ep154[2/2]: Dirk Ehnts: MMT makes Ep154[2/2]: Dirk Ehnts: MMT makes "I can't" (provide healthcare) impossible. Also: Who gets to decide value?

Activist #MMT - podcast

Welcome to episode 154 of Activist #MMT. Today's part two with German MMT economist Dirk Ehnts. (Here's a link to .) Above is the episode in audio form. Below is the episode in video form: In addition to talking about Dirk's books, we discuss two major concepts. First is the idea that a major characteristic of human beings is they really don't like saying "I want to" do something horrible. They want to instead be able to say "I must." Conversely, instead of saying "I don't want to" do something good and necessary they will do whatever it takes to say "I can't." A simple example is when you...

info_outline Ep153: Dirk Ehnts: Imposing individualism (part 1 of 2) show art Ep153: Dirk Ehnts: Imposing individualism (part 1 of 2)

Activist #MMT - podcast

Welcome to episode 153 of Activist #MMT. Today I talk with German MMT economist Dirk Ehnts. He discusses his books, and the courses he teaches, including one called "Equity, Equality, and Employment" at Torrens University. (This is part one of a two part episode. Here's a link to PART TWO.) Above is the episode in audio form. Below is the episode in video form: We then talk about concepts related to individualism versus community, and how society imposes individualism on all of us in many ways. One example I experience personally is how, in my home state of New Jersey, it is virtually...

info_outline Full audio: John Harvey reading Contending Perspectives: Chapter 5: Austrian economics [EDITED] show art Full audio: John Harvey reading Contending Perspectives: Chapter 5: Austrian economics [EDITED]

Activist #MMT - podcast

Here's the from where this audio came. Here's a list of links to (released so far) in his 2021 book Contending Perspectives. I have edited both the video and audio to eliminate mistakes, coughs, interruptions, and etc. Sections in this chapter 1:58 - Methodological individualism, praxeology, and subjectivism 9:46 - Market process 12:24 - Austrian business cycle theory 16:27 - Method 17:28 - Views of human nature and justice 18:35 - Standards 20:46 - Contemporary activities 21:48 - Criticisms 23:51 - Final rejoinder 25:15 - Further reading

info_outline Full audio: John Harvey reading Contending Perspectives: Chapter 4: Marxism [EDITED] show art Full audio: John Harvey reading Contending Perspectives: Chapter 4: Marxism [EDITED]

Activist #MMT - podcast

Here's the from where this audio came. Here's a list of links to (released so far) in his 2021 book Contending Perspectives. I have edited both the video and audio to eliminate mistakes, coughs, interruptions, and etc.

info_outline Full audio: John Harvey reading Contending Perspectives: Chapter 3: Neoclassical Economics [EDITED] show art Full audio: John Harvey reading Contending Perspectives: Chapter 3: Neoclassical Economics [EDITED]

Activist #MMT - podcast

Here's the from where this audio came. Here's a list of links to (released so far) in his 2021 book Contending Perspectives. I have edited both the video and audio to eliminate obvious mistakes, coughs, interruptions, and etc.

info_outline Full audio: John Harvey's Contending Perspectives: Chapter 2: Economics as a scientific discipline [EDITED] show art Full audio: John Harvey's Contending Perspectives: Chapter 2: Economics as a scientific discipline [EDITED]

Activist #MMT - podcast

Here's the from where this audio came. Here's a list of links to (released so far) in his 2021 book Contending Perspectives. I have edited both the video and audio to eliminate obvious mistakes, coughs, interruptions, and etc. Audio chapters Use the below timestamps to navigate to each major section and occurrence in this section: 1:35 - Page 8: Chapter 2: Economics as a scientific discipline 3:25 - Page 8: Section: What is science? 4:40 - Page 9 10:03 - Page 10: A realistic version of science 17:39 - Page 13 30:13 - Page 17: Economics: Training and apprenticeship 44:01 - Page 22 58:38 -...

info_outline Episode 152[2/2]: Five Torrens graduate students discuss the job guarantee show art Episode 152[2/2]: Five Torrens graduate students discuss the job guarantee

Activist #MMT - podcast

Welcome to episode 152 of Activist #MMT. Today's part two of my conversation with five of my Torrens classmates, this time about the job guarantee, from a now-much more educated point of view, given our experience at Torrens. We are also joined by John's wife, Martha, who is highly educated on topics related to the job guarantee. (Here's a link to .) But for now, let's get right back to our conversation.

info_outline Episode 151[1/2]: Five Torrens graduate students reminisce about the first year. show art Episode 151[1/2]: Five Torrens graduate students reminisce about the first year.

Activist #MMT - podcast

Welcome to episode 151 of Activist #MMT. Today I talk with five of my Torrens classmates about our first year in the new graduate program – its importance, some fond memories, and a few improvements we hope to see. In part two we discuss the job guarantee from a now-much more educated point of view. (Here's a link to . A list of the audio chapters in this episode can be found right below.) My guests are Gabie Bond who, along with Professor Steven Hail is the program's administrator, and all-around wonderful person. Susan Borden is the student-matriarch who is taking classes faster than...

info_outline [Mostly-not MMT] 2019 interview: Keith Errol Benson: The black experience *is* the American experience. show art [Mostly-not MMT] 2019 interview: Keith Errol Benson: The black experience *is* the American experience.

Activist #MMT - podcast

THIS IS A BACKUP OF A GREAT INTERVIEW I DID IN 2019. IT TOUCHES ON MMT, BUT IS MOSTLY NON-MMT. --- A fascinating and insightful conversation on black history, music, religion, politics, economics, and more. More here: https://citizensmedia.tv/2019/07/07/kem/

info_outline Ep150: Maren Poitras, creator and director of Finding the Money show art Ep150: Maren Poitras, creator and director of Finding the Money

Activist #MMT - podcast

  Welcome to episode 150 of Activist #MMT. Today I talk with Maren Poitras, the creator and director of the MMT documentary, Finding the Money. I had the pleasure of seeing this film on October 1st, 2023, in New York City, with my Torrens professor Steven Hail, Torrens administrator Gabie Bond, and Torrens classmate Susan Borden. After the film, we all went to a nearby bar-restaurant, and I got to meet and speak with Maren at length. (A list of the audio chapters in this episode can be found below.) In today's episode, Maren and I talk about how she came to the film and how it's informed...

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Welcome to episode 150 of Activist #MMT. Today I talk with Maren Poitras, the creator and director of the MMT documentary, Finding the Money. I had the pleasure of seeing this film on October 1st, 2023, in New York City, with my Torrens professor Steven Hail, Torrens administrator Gabie Bond, and Torrens classmate Susan Borden. After the film, we all went to a nearby bar-restaurant, and I got to meet and speak with Maren at length.

(A list of the audio chapters in this episode can be found below.)

In today's episode, Maren and I talk about how she came to the film and how it's informed by her background in ecological economics. We talk about the trials and tribulations of film-making, including the tortures of creating the intricate and subtle graphics used in the film. We also talk about her interactions with the non-MMTers as seen in the film. At the end, she says what you as a supporter can do to help this film be seen by others.

In my view, the film is the most important milestone in the MMT movement since Stephanie Kelton's 2020 book The Deficit Myth (which was the most important milestone since US Representative Alexandria Ocasio Cortez said "MMT" out loud in 2018). The film has the power to change how we talk about some major concepts.

It will be available to stream in early May.

And now, on to my conversation with Maren Poitras. Enjoy.

Audio chapters

  • 3:35 - Hellos, European premiere
  • 14:47 - When did the idea for the film happen and what is your background in film-making?
  • 20:15 - MMT is the child in the Emperor's New Clothes. MMT forces people to question many deep fundamental assumptions about their lives.
  • 38:59 - Printing fiasco
  • 39:17 - Did feedback from the academics result in any major changes?
  • 43:10 - Graphics (ripping open a wound)
  • 47:46 - Non-MMTers in the film (attempts at critique)
  • 55:35 - The film is unfortunately US-centric, due to time and resource constraints
  • 57:18 - What can people do to help the film be seen?
  • 1:01:00 - You never know where secret MMT people are lurking.
  • 1:06:57 - Duplicate of introduction, but with no background music (for listeners with sensitive ears)