Episodes

Ron and Ed welcome Turkish journalist and author, Mustafa Akyol. Like Rabbi Daniel Lapin and Father Robert Sirico, Mustafa ardently defends the free market in a religious context in his case, Islam. In addition to writing, he is also a public speaker who has given hundreds of lectures and talks on numerous platforms, including TED, where he spoke on “Faith vs. Tradition in Islam.” He has also been a commentator on public affairs programs, including the BBC’s “Hardtalk” and CNN’s “Fareed Zakaria ...

Ron and Ed look forward to welcoming value pricing disciple turned evangelist, Mark Wickersham. Mark started his own accounting firm in 1996 and made dozens of stupid mistakes in the first 2 years. These mistakes had disastrous consequences on his profits and cash balances. But in November 1999 all that changed. With help from Steve Pipe, Michael Gerber, Paul Dunn, and our own Ron Baker he created the 7-step “Fastest Way To Double Your Profits” formula. We look forward to talking to Mark about h...

Ed and Ron are honored to welcome back Rabbi Daniel Lapin back to the show, for the fifth time—a record for the highest number of appearances on The Soul of Enterprise. We will have a far-ranging discussion on a number of topics, including envy, and income inequality. You don’t want to miss this episode!

In one of our most listened to shows, Episode #61, we discussed the 10 Factors of Price Sensitivity, in the context of Value Pricing 1.0. This episode Ed and Ron will discuss how to use these factors in the context of Value Pricing 2.0, the Subscription Business Model. They are still as relevant, only you view them at the macro level of the firm's strategy, branding, positioning, and value proposition, rather than at the micro of level of pricing each customer.

Listeners know that Ron is more a conservative and Ed, well, he's pretty dang libertarian, so who better to appear with them than the author of a book entitled The Conservatarian Manifesto. Charles C Cooke is a Senior Writer at National Review, a co-host of the Mad Dogs and Englishmen podcast. Charles is a graduate of the University of Oxford, at which he studied modern history and politics. His work has focused on Anglo-American history, British liberty, free speech, the Second Amendment, and A...

Productivity Is For Robots is a book that’s a perfect fit for The Soul of Enterprise. It’s the E’ffing Debate on steroids (efficiency vs. effectiveness). Corey McComb writes in the Epilogue: “My hope for this book is that it is used as a shield against the robotic calls of cold-hearted efficiency and conformity. That it serves as a reminder to prioritize people, deep thinking, laughter, and leisure.” Join Ed and Ron for what is sure to be a fantastic conversation with a dynamic thinker.

Ed and Ron are honored to have Tony Dolan on the show, former President Ronald Reagan’s Special Assistant and Chief Speechwriter. He graduated from Yale University in 1970. He wrote two of the more famous Reagan speeches, “The Evil Empire,” and the British House of Commons speech where he used the line “Ash Heap of History” to define the Soviet Union. Like our conversations with Peter Robinson and Joshua Gilder, two other Reagan speechwriters, being able to interview Tony is living history.

Ron and Ed are joined by Patrick Reasonover to discuss his new film, They Say It Can't Be Done, a documentary that explores how innovation can solve some of the world's largest problems. It tracks four companies on the cutting edge of technological solutions that could heal the seas, solve hunger, eliminate organ waitlists, and reduce atmospheric carbon. Innovation never comes without risk and often brings consequences that can impact our health, safety, and environment. That is why the regulato...

Ron and Ed will be joined by author and speaker John Tamny to talk about his new book When Politicians Panicked. In the boo, Tamny makes a relentless case that free people don’t just produce the wealth that renders today’s killers yesterday’s news. They also produce crucial information about health threats that shine a light on that which threatens us. This is not about COVID-19, it is about the political response to it. Be ready for an incredibly nuanced dialogue.

Ron and Ed welcome professional business consultant and author of The Billable Hour Is Nuts, Jonathan Stark. He is the host of Ditching Hourly podcast, and writes a daily newsletter on pricing for independent professionals. Join us for what will surely be a screed against the billable and some interesting takes on subscription-based pricing.

Ed and Ron are honored to welcome Leah Power, Executive Vice President, Strategic Operations Consultant, of the Institute of Communication Agencies, in Canada. Leah recently co-authored a study on the broken RFP process. As they write: “The RFP selection process, for all types of clients, brands and agencies, is flawed. That’s why we’re pushing ‘to retire the RFP’ from global business practice. And we’ve got a firm plan for what should replace it. Our QBS Agency Search Guide focuses on QBS (Qual...

Ron and Ed are both strong advocates of immigration although they do differ on some policy details. On this episode, we welcome Alex Nowrasteh, the director of immigration and trade at the Cato Institute’s Herbert A. Stiefel Center for Trade Policy Studies. Alex understands not only the subtlety of immigration policy but can cite chapter and verse the latest data on immigration.

Back in December Ron and Ed received an email with a link to a custom video from Dre Baldwin in which he pitched us on why he should be a Guest on The Soul of Enterprise. We get dozens of requests via email and Dre's was NOT the first to have a video, but it was so authentic, we knew we had to have him on. His story of perseverance will knock you out.

Cited in Episode #1 of The Soul of Enterprise, Declaring Independence from the Tyranny of Taylorism, Matthew Stewart has influenced Ron and Ed's thinking for over a decade. His seminal book, The Management Myth, eviscerates any notion that business is a science. It is art, full stop. During this episode, we will dig deep into Matthew's thinking and what he suggests as alternatives.

Join Ed and Ron for another angle on the Subscription Business Model. We’ll dive into the 2020 Subscribed Institute and The Harris Poll international survey on what consumers most value about subscriptions. And some fascinating findings from the latest Subscription Economy Index™. We’ll also answer a listener’s question on pricing and offering options, and how they are different under Value Pricing 1.0 and 2.0.

Ed and Ron are honored to have Joshua Gilder on the show. As former President Ronald Reagan’s senior speech writer, his first speech for the President won acclaim for the line “Go Ahead, Make My Day!” He co-authored two State of the Union addresses and contributed to many of the President’s televised speeches from the Oval Office. He wrote Mr. Reagan’s highly regarded 1988 Moscow Summit address to students at Moscow State University, which opens our show. He has served as a consultant and adviso...

We all talk about how professional firms are in the relationship business. But is this just lip service? Do our business models reflect this relationship value, or do they reflect a transactional value? Even Value Pricing can focus us on the wrong understanding of what it is the customer truly values. Join Ed and Ron for a discussion of relationship value and how it is often unobserved and underpriced in today’s firms.

Ron and Ed welcome to the show the author of Ed's favorite book of 2019 The Case Against Reality, Professor Donald D Hoffman. (Or do they.) Donald is a cognitive psychologist and popular science author. (Or is he.) He is a professor in the Department of Cognitive Sciences at the University of California, Irvine, with joint appointments in the Department of Philosophy, the Department of Logic and Philosophy of Science, and the School of Computer Science. (Seriously, he is.) (And you are going to ...

Ron and Ed welcome author, columnist, and TV personality, Gene Marks to the show. Gene Marks appears regularly on MSNBC and Fox News as well as The John Batchelor Show and SiriusXM’s Wharton Business Channel where he talks about the financial, economic, and technology issues that affect business leaders today.

Ron and Ed welcome the author of The Automatic Customer, John Warillow. John's work has been a staple of the presentations that Ron and Ed have given on subscription-based pricing since the beginning. His nine models for subscription businesses lay the foundation for almost all subscriptions you will encounter. Join us for what promises to be an enlightening conversation.

An annual favorite, Ron and Ed will talk about the best books they each read in 2020. Sometimes there is overlap, other times none. What will it be this year! If you have any guesses let us know on social media at @asktsoe on Twitter or https://www.facebook.com/asktsoe on Facebook.

Ron and Ed are honored to welcome Virginia Postrel, author of The Fabric of Civilization: How Textiles Made the World. Virginia is also a columnist and speaker whose work spans a broad range of topics, from social science to fashion, concentrating on the intersection of culture, commerce, and technology. Writing in Vanity Fair, Sam Tanenhaus described her as a master D.J. who sequences the latest riffs from the hard sciences, the social sciences, business, and technology, to name only a few sour...

Ron and Ed are pleased to welcome to the show, Anne Janzer, the author of Subscription Marketing, and four other books on writing. In addition to being an award-winning author, Anne is an armchair cognitive science geek, nonfiction author coach, marketing practitioner, and blogger. She’s on a mission to help people spread important ideas through writing.

Ron and Ed welcome economist Art Carden, co-author of Leave Me Alone and I'll Make You Rich: How the Bourgeois Deal Enriched the World, with three-time Guest Deirdre McCloskey to the show. He is a Professor of Economics at Samford University’s Brock School of Business. In addition, he is a Senior Fellow with the American Institute for Economic Research, a Senior Research Fellow with the Institute for Faith, Work, and Economics, a Senior Fellow with the Beacon Center of Tennessee, and a Research ...