Best known as the host of the pioneering EconTalk podcast, and for his efforts to popularize the ideas of the Austrian free-market theorist Friedrich Hayek, Russell Roberts last year became the president of Shalem College, the Jewish state’s first-ever liberal-arts school. In a wide-ranging conversation with Ari Lamm, Roberts explains why Israel’s demographic miracle has everything to do with culture and little to do with policy, how the ideals of economic liberalism complement those of traditional Judaism, what’s Jewish about podcasting, and much else. (Audio, 50 minutes.)

After several weeks of passionate political conflict in Israel over judical reform, the tensions seem to be defused, or at least dialed down, for the time being. In light of this, and in anticipation of the Passover holiday soon upon us, Eric Cohen considers the way forward for both the Jewish state and the Jewish people. (Video, 8 minutes. A text is available at the link below.)