Episode #576 - America at 250 - Part 1: Illiberal Temptations and Enduring Truths

As America approaches its 250th anniversary, Ron and Ed examine three essays that converge on a single question: What actually sustains a free society?

Drawing on Dan McLaughlin’s warning to “Resist the Temptation of Woodrow Wilson”  , they explore the perennial allure of concentrated executive power and the dangers of confusing “solidarity” with strongman governance. From there, they turn to Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s argument that religious liberty was not an afterthought but the Founders’ first freedom, a theological inheritance that constrained power long before modern political theory attempted to. Finally, they consider Yuval Levin’s case for America’s extraordinary institutional durability, a constitutional system designed to frustrate ambition, balance factions, and outlast the apocalyptic mood of any given generation.

Together, these essays raise an uncomfortable but vital tension: liberty requires limits; power must be restrained; and durability depends less on innovation than on fidelity to first principles.

Ron and Ed ask whether America’s strength lies not in bold executive action, nor in nostalgic lament, but in a constitutional architecture sturdy enough to survive our worst instincts — including our periodic desire to abandon it.

SHOW NOTES

Segment one

• We opened the show today with a reference to this book by Cal Thomas: “America's Expiration Date: The Fall of Empires and Superpowers . . . and the Future of the United States” https://www.amazon.com/Americas-Expiration-Date-Empires-Superpowers/dp/0310357535 

• We also touched on The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon https://www.amazon.com/History-Decline-Fall-Roman-Empire/dp/0140433937

• Also mentioned: Men Have Forgotten God by Alexander Solzhenitsyn https://theimaginativeconservative.org/2024/08/men-forgotten-god-alexander-solzhenitsyn.html 

• Also mentioned: A World Split Apart by Alexander Solzhenitsyn — his 1978 commencement address at Harvard https://www.solzhenitsyncenter.org/a-world-split-apart 

• “America the Durable” by Yuval Levin in the National Review: https://www.nationalreview.com/magazine/2026/03/america-the-durable/ 

Segment two

• Today I learned that the Swiss have had three constitutions since 1798 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_Federal_Constitution 

• “The American national anthem, for instance, is not a celebration of the beauty or glory of our country; it is a song about barely surviving the night. We all implicitly share the wonder it expresses at the improbable fact that our flag is still there.” —By Yuval Levin in “America the Durable” https://www.nationalreview.com/magazine/2026/03/america-the-durable/ 

• “[The architects of the American republic] created a system that kept itself in balance by frustrating Wilsonian political scientists — that is, by preferring legitimacy to efficiency and sustaining simultaneous competing centers of power.” From https://www.nationalreview.com/magazine/2026/03/america-the-durable/ 

Segment three

• “To be legitimate, such a government requires our consent, which, because we are all equals, it can obtain only by answering to the will of the majority. But when majorities threaten the rights of minorities or individuals, our government must remember that its fundamental purpose is the protection of those rights. So government action cannot be legitimate if it lacks the consent of the majority, and it cannot be legitimate if it attacks the rights of a minority.” also from https://www.nationalreview.com/magazine/2026/03/america-the-durable/ 

• Sabermetrics: The Past, the Present, and the Future by Jim Albert https://ww2.amstat.org/mam/2010/essays/AlbertSabermetrics.pdf  

• Will Olympics 3-on-3 overtime change after rising criticism? https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2026/02/26/olympic-overtime-format-3-on-3/88842666007/ 

Segment four

• “The Five Greatest Words” in the Declaration by Gordon S. Wood https://www.nationalreview.com/magazine/2026/03/the-five-greatest-words-in-the-declaration/ 

• So what are the five greatest words? “All men are created equal” https://www.nationalreview.com/magazine/2026/03/the-five-greatest-words-in-the-declaration/ 

• Children will see and learn. Children may not obey, but children will listen. Children will look to you for which way to turn — From Stephen Sondheim: "Children Will Listen" https://www.ayearofbeinghere.com/2013/10/stephen-sondheim-children-will-listen.html 

• “This idea that everyone was born equal was also conventional wisdom for most educated people in the late 18th-century English-speaking world.” From Gordon S. Wood https://www.nationalreview.com/magazine/2026/03/the-five-greatest-words-in-the-declaration/  

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Bonus Content is Available As Well

Did you know that each week after our live show, Ron and Ed take to the microphone for a bonus show? Typically, this bonus show is an extension of the live show topic (sometimes even with the same guest) and a few other pieces of news, current events, or things that have caught our attention.

Click the “FANATIC” image to learn more about pricing and member benefits. 

Episode #575 - Update on the Direct Primary Care Model: Interview with Dr. Paul Thomas

On this episode of The Soul of Enterprise, we welcome back Dr. Paul Thomas, founder and CEO of Plum Health Direct Primary Care. Since his last visit, Plum Health has expanded to multiple locations, added new physicians, and continued scaling a model that puts relationships—not insurance paperwork—at the center of care.

We’ll get an update on that growth and explore the broader Direct Primary Care (DPC) movement: How fast is it growing? Why are employers and patients embracing it? And is it truly reshaping how healthcare is delivered in America?

We’ll also dig into the regulatory hurdles that still stand in the way—HSA eligibility, state-level rules, and what policy changes could accelerate adoption.

If you care about innovation, subscription models, or the future of healthcare, this conversation is one you won’t want to miss.

SHOW NOTES

Segment one

• Current state of the DPC movement: 2,919 DPC practices in 50 states. The Direct Primary Care movement is growing! This is a small but mighty group and they are having an out-sized impact on the overall healthcare industry.

• Regulatory hurdles became much easier in 2025. Congress allowed for businesses to use pre-tax dollars to fund direct primary care services for their employees. Previous to that, it had to be post-tax dollars.

• We’ve often thought about DPC being great for an individual or freelancer. But a large employer group with 1,000 employees can also take advantage of the DPC business model for their employees which makes healthcare more accessible and convenient.

• Dr. Paul has a great joke about his DPC practice and what they can / cannot do for you: “If you cut your finger, call me. If you cut your finger off, please go to the emergency department.”

Segment two

• The average wait time for a DPC doctor is 3 minutes from your arrival.

• Dr. Paul has grown from 1 to FIVE OFFICES during the course of his business. Scaling a direct primary care practice can and is being done. https://www.plumhealthdpc.com/ 

• As a result of that growth, Dr. Paul now looks to groups who are self-funded with 500-600 patients in the Detroit or mid-Michigan areas. In addition, he is building near-sight offices based on employee concentrations for specific businesses.

• “If you’re smart enough to finish med school, gritty enough to get through residency, and passionate enough to have chosen a primary care specialty then you have all the ingredients you need to be a successful DPC doctor and a successful entrepreneur.” —Dr. Paul Thomas, PlumHealth DPC

Segment three

• Dr. Paul has grown Plum Health to the point where he is now the Chief Medical Officer in the practice and handles the organizational management, culture, and education of the doctors in the practice. 

• Dr. Paul has a strong vision for Plum Health: We believe healthcare should be affordable, accessible, and excellent for everyone.

• Dr. Paul mentioned his StartupDPC website during the show today. Here is the link: https://www.startupdpc.com/ 

• Is AI having an impact on Dr. Paul’s business. Yes, of course. For example, their EMR system allows for the recording of conversations with patients which then makes it easier to create a medical note. The doctor spends some time editing the note and the time savings compounds over the day, week, month, and year.

Segment four

• Today I learned that some states like Maine have integrated DPC into the primary state healthcare marketplace.

• During World War II, the federal government introduced wages and price controls. In an effort to continue attracting and retaining employees without violating those controls, employers offered and sponsored health insurance to employees in lieu of gross pay. This was a beginning of the third-party paying system that began to replace direct out-of-pocket payments. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_health_care_reform_in_the_United_States 

• GREAT point by Dr. Paul today: The use of AI for managing his business can help INFORM his decisions. That’s an important distinction.

• A big THANK YOU to Dr. Paul Thomas for joining us today. Check out his DPC at this link: https://www.plumhealthdpc.com/ 

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Bonus Content is Available As Well

Did you know that each week after our live show, Ron and Ed take to the microphone for a bonus show? Typically, this bonus show is an extension of the live show topic (sometimes even with the same guest) and a few other pieces of news, current events, or things that have caught our attention.

Click the “FANATIC” image to learn more about pricing and member benefits. 

Episode #574 - One Thing: February 2026

Inspired by A.J. Jacobs’ appearance on Russ Roberts’ EconTalk, Ron and Ed have continued their annual tradition of keeping a “One Thing” journal—capturing a single idea each day that sparked insight, curiosity, or reflection. Often it’s a quote; sometimes it’s a question, a concept, or a surprising turn of phrase.

In One Thing 2026, they once again open their journals and share a curated collection of the thoughts that shaped their year. The result may feel delightfully eclectic, but as always, it’s packed with insight—nuggets of wisdom drawn from their reading, listening, and lived experience. Think of it as a guided tour through the ideas that lingered long enough to be written down—and shared.

SHOW NOTES

Segment one

• Here is the background from A.J. Jacobs on the “One Thing” journal https://experimentalliving.substack.com/p/just-one-thing?utm_source=profile&utm_medium=reader2 

• Bryan Caplan on the Myth of the Rational Voter https://www.econtalk.org/caplan-on-the-myth-of-the-rational-voter/ 

• There are no rules, only consequences. https://davidafoster.com/there-are-no-rules-only-consequences/ 

• Ron quoted Robert Heinlein quite a few times on the show today. Here is more background https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_A._Heinlein 

• From Joe Pine: As my friend and colleague Stan Hustad puts it, “If a business doesn’t help people flourish, it’s a racket.” https://transformationsbook.substack.com/p/the-true-purpose-of-business 

• Today I learned that omphaloskepsis is the formal term for "navel-gazing," referring to the act of meditating or fixating on one's own navel. 

Segment two

• We formally welcomed Rippling to the family here at The Soul of Enterprise today. Employees get more done with Rippling……and they also like cats (trust me…click X profile link) @rippling #ad 

• When it is not necessary to change, it is necessary not to change. —Lucius Cary, Lord Falkland

• “Demosclerosis,” in Jonathan Rauch's diagnosis, is “government's progressive loss of the ability to adapt.” https://www.commentary.org/articles/tod-lindberg/demosclerosis-by-jonathan-rauch/ 

• “Countries are well cultivated, not as they are fertile, but as they are free.” – Montesquieu on the essence of freedom, The Spirit Of the Laws, 1748. From the series Great ideas of Western Man. https://americanart.si.edu/artwork/countries-are-well-cultivated-not-they-are-fertile-they-are-free-montesquieu-essence 

• Canada’s immigration points system, primarily the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) for Express Entry, ranks skilled worker candidates based on age, education, language (English/French), and work experience. https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/check-score.html 

• May the road rise to meet you, May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, The rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of his hand. https://barrettfunerals.com.au/readings-prayers-poems/an-irish-blessing/  

Segment three

• King Arthur: “And I’m too young and too old. Too old not to be uncertain of fears that may be phantom, and too young not to be tormented by them.” https://www.hjkeen.net/halqn/camelot.htm 

• “He who is unfit to serve his fellow citizens wants to rule them.” ― Ludwig von Mises

• Approximately half of all improvement in global human living standards over the past 10,000 years has occurred since 1990. Source: https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/immersive-story/2018/10/17/going-above-and-beyond-to-end-poverty-new-ways-of-measuring-poverty-shed-new-light-on-the-challenges-ahead 

• John W. Tukey’s 1962 insight, "Far better an approximate answer to the right question, which is often vague, than an exact answer to the wrong question, which can always be made precise”

• Brandolini's law: “The amount of energy needed to refute bullshit is an order of magnitude bigger than that needed to produce it.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandolini%27s_law 

Segment four

• The last line In Salman Rushdie’s Victory City (2023): “Nothing endures, but nothing is meaningless either”

• "We want radical change in search of stability" —Peter Block

• "The only free cheese is in the mouse trap" (Ukrainian: Безкоштовний сир буває тільки в мишоловці) is a common Eastern European proverb, heavily used in Ukraine, meaning that nothing of value is truly free, and too-good-to-be-true offers often hide dangerous traps or hidden costs. It is the regional equivalent of "there's no such thing as a free lunch". 

• "Does anyone have any questions for my answers?" —former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger

• “Be the person the room who wants to make things easier” —unattributed

Bonus Content is Available As Well

Did you know that each week after our live show, Ron and Ed take to the microphone for a bonus show? Typically, this bonus show is an extension of the live show topic (sometimes even with the same guest) and a few other pieces of news, current events, or things that have caught our attention.

Click the “FANATIC” image to learn more about pricing and member benefits. 

Episode #573 - The Pricing Briefing for 2026

In this pricing update, Ron and Ed take the pulse of what’s happening right now in the world of pricing. From shifting market conditions and inflation narratives to how organizations are responding—or failing to respond—to economic signals, they cut through the noise to focus on what actually matters. The hosts explore common misconceptions, highlight emerging trends, and offer a reality-based perspective on how pricing decisions are being made in today’s uncertain business environment. As always, this isn’t about tactics alone—it’s about thinking clearly, acting intelligently, and restoring pricing to its proper strategic role.

SHOW NOTES

Segment one

• The subscription pricing class from Ron and Ed started yesterday. Check out ThresholdNow.com/join and consider becoming a Focus level member (and there might be a code if you are nice to Ed - asktsoe@thresholdnow.com)

• Joe Pine recently wrote “Human Flourishing-Influenced Decision Making” and here is the link: https://transformationsbook.substack.com/p/human-flourishing-influenced-decision 

• Ed talked about the “just price” of goods. Here is a starting point for you: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Just_price 

• The rabbit hole of Murray Rothbard that even Ron is afraid of going down. Click if you dare: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murray_Rothbard 

• Apple Changes How You Order a Mac https://www.macrumors.com/2026/01/31/apple-changes-how-you-order-a-mac/ 

Segment two

• The World Is Drowning in Tourists. Who Should Pay? https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2026-01-23/how-governments-visitors-can-combat-barcelona-paris-venice-overtourism  

• “Price is a signal.” —Ed Kless and also, “Price is a signal.” —Ron Baker

• Agency Remuneration in the Age of AI: Tim Williams Describes the Pressing Need for Change https://michaelfarmer.substack.com/p/agency-remuneration-in-the-age-of 

• The Financial Times Meets Paywall 3.0 https://www.zuora.com/subscribed/the-financial-times-meets-paywall-3-0/ 

• Check out “The Profitability Breakthrough: A Workshop for Accounting Firms” being led by Joe Woodard, Ed Kless, and Ron Baker http://www.thresholdnow.com/woodard

Segment three

• “How do you know if your price is right?” by Philip Fisher https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/community/blogs/philip-fisher/how-do-you-know-if-your-price-is-right 

• “The Three Value Disciplines: Why Price Takes the Blame When Buying Gets Hard” by Mark Stiving, Ph.D. https://impactpricing.substack.com/p/the-three-value-disciplines-why-price 

• Bundling, Unbundling, Rebundling: Lessons from Streaming Media https://www.zuora.com/subscribed/bundling-unbundling-rebundling-lessons-from-streaming-media/ 

• The War on Prices: How Popular Misconceptions about Inflation, Prices, and Value Create Bad Policy by Ryan A. Bourne https://www.amazon.com/War-Prices-Popular-Misconceptions-Inflation/dp/1952223865 

Segment four

• “Profit Squeeze: Billing Rates Rebound, but Staff Costs Are Rising Faster” https://cpatrendlines.com/2026/01/21/profit-squeeze-billing-rates-rebound-but-staff-costs-are-rising-faster/ 

• Don’t forget to check this out (and maybe email Ed - asktsoe@thresholdnow.com - about a pricing code): “The Profitability Breakthrough: A Workshop for Accounting Firms” being led by Joe Woodard, Ed Kless, and Ron Baker http://www.thresholdnow.com/woodard

Bonus Content is Available As Well

Did you know that each week after our live show, Ron and Ed take to the microphone for a bonus show? Typically, this bonus show is an extension of the live show topic (sometimes even with the same guest) and a few other pieces of news, current events, or things that have caught our attention.

Click the “FANATIC” image to learn more about pricing and member benefits.