Our most recent Success Story with Neetu Arnold, a Young Voices Social Mobility Fellow who was recently hired to be a Paulson Policy Analyst for the Manhattan Institute.

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Neetu Arnold's Success Story Interview:

You've worked for the National Association of Scholars as a research fellow and now going to be a Paulson Policy Analyst at the Manhattan Institute, focusing on problems within higher education. What drew your attention towards higher education?

Being a college student at Cornell University during the 2016 election gave me first-hand experience with higher ed’s intolerance toward views outside the progressive orthodoxy—from shutting down classes when the results of the election didn’t go as hoped for; to one-sided statements on political issues from university leadership; to bias response teams to monitor wrongthink by professors and students.

I felt that many people didn’t quite grasp how bad things had gotten at our elite universities. Not only that, but I knew what was happening at the universities would eventually reach all of our most influential institutions—the progressive activist messages that permeated classrooms were shaping the next generation of journalists, policymakers, and teachers. Writing became my outlet to show how far gone our universities had become.

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What topic do you think is the least talked about within mainstream media that deserves more attention?

‍The mainstream media doesn’t sufficiently question “equity-based” policies. At best, some reporters may mistakenly think equity means fairness in some colloquial sense. At worst, journalists are aware that the modern notion of equity means reallocating resources and opportunities based on class and race, and don’t question it because they are blinded by their own biases. Equity-based policies are discriminatory and they damage our country’s ability to be competitive with the rest of the world. The lack of good reporting on this topic means Americans are left in the dark as governments, corporations, and schools adopt harmful policies.

For example, earlier this year, I learned about a plan that would distribute state funds to Illinois universities based on the racial makeup of their student body. This plan was proposed by the Illinois Commission on Equitable Public University Funding in a 90-page report. It wasn’t as if I was the first to write about this proposal, but nobody in mainstream news outlets seemed to notice what was wrong with this scheme. With the help of Young Voices, I was able to show how this plan would violate civil rights law in an article with The Wall Street Journal. The article reached a large audience; even Elon Musk commented that what Illinois lawmakers had proposed was “messed up.”  

The work has only started—Illinois lawmakers have turned the idea into a bill that will be deliberated this upcoming spring. But hopefully my reporting, along with the work of other opponents of this bill, will play some part in the ensuing debate.

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With some of the recent problems with plagiarism and campus protests happening within universities, do you think there's much that can be done to improve higher education?‍

There are a ton of opportunities to improve higher education. Particularly after the Congressional hearings surrounding elite universities’ responses to the October 7 attacks on Israel, the public saw how morally bankrupt and hypocritical our academic institutions had become. The icing on top was watching elite university presidents leave their posts due to the immense scrutiny. It showed that high-quality reporting, public awareness, and accountability are feasible ways to improve higher education. Already, schools are delineating better policies on institutional neutrality and punishment for unlawful protests.

There are still many other issues in higher ed— college affordability, DEI, foreign influence. That’s why journalism and policy analysis in this area will continue to be important.

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How has working with Young Voices helped you as a writer and commentator?

When I joined Young Voices, I already had some experience writing and pitching articles. The Young Voices team helped me refine those skills. But what I valued the most was the consistent media appearances the Young Voices team would help me book on the back of my articles. This is an important aspect of the organization because it can be hard to break into the media when you’re young and inexperienced.

I have long struggled with anxiety around public speaking. Getting a media interview should be a positive testament to the work and research that takes place when writing articles. But the experience can quickly become unenjoyable when anxiety gets in the way.

Consistent practice is helping me learn to manage those emotions. For successful interviews, it shows me that I have the capability to do well. And for the interviews that don’t go the way I hope, it shows me that things are still okay and I can work to do better next time. The Young Voices team has been very supportive of me as I’ve worked to become a better speaker and guest on media appearances.

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Which media placement that the Young Voices content team helped you place are you most proud of?‍

Earlier this year, I wrote a piece for Newsweek on how the Biden administration needed to give up on student loan forgiveness to focus on more pressing issues, like making sure students could access federal student aid. This piece alone led to a wave of media interview placements from Young Voices. My personal favorite interview was with The Blaze.

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How has Young Voices impacted your career trajectory?‍

Young Voices offers many kinds of professional growth opportunities. Last year, I was grateful to be a part of the Social Mobility Fellowship. I was able to refine my reporting skills both by receiving feedback from other fellows and from editors at external outlets. The projects in this fellowship were challenging. But I’m very happy with the articles that I produced, and I’ve been able to use them in my writing portfolio when applying to further opportunities. I believe that the combination of having a broad set of media appearances and a solid writing portfolio, both of which Young Voices was instrumental in developing, have led to successful job applications in my field—including my current job.

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Having recently started at the Manhattan Institute, what advice would you give to young professionals aspiring to build a career in public policy?‍

Consistently show up. Every article you write is an opportunity for someone to notice your work. Every media interview you do is an opportunity to get better for the next one. It’s easy to gain confidence when you can look back and notice all the progress you’ve made, even if it’s hard to tell in the moment.

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This week's impact interview is with Conner Drigotas. Conner is the Managing Editor for the Connecticut Inside Investigator, an investigative nonprofit outlet dedicated to informing the people of corruption in the state's politics through news reporting and in-depth investigative pieces.

Conner Drigotas Interview

You hold degrees in Government and Psychology, and a Masters in Business. How did your interest in policy begin?

In high school I had a job at a video production company. One task I helped with was running the video board for town meetings so the stream properly appeared on local access. Being in that room as decisions were made, I realized how much influence this small board had over my small town. From there, an interest in local, state and federal policy has led to working on eradicating corruption and expanding opportunity for value.

How did Young Voices help you become a more well-rounded person and writer? Which published works or media appearances Young Voices placed for you are you most proud of?

I enjoyed listening to Glenn Beck when I was growing up and it was a big win to have three of my op eds appear on his website during my year in the Writing Fellowship. The program was a great experience because of the people in the cohort, the constant feedback, and the step up of having a team available to help place writing. Young Voices opened doors to major newsrooms, thousands and millions of eyeballs, and helped put the tools in the toolbelt along the way.

How does your publication Connecticut Inside Investigator (CII) impact the state of Connecticut and its residents?

Insideinvestigator.org is a nonprofit investigative journalism website working to root out corruption. Our reporters are tasked with creating long form investigations to tell human stories and putting a spotlight on some of the most egregious bad actors in Connecticut. We tell stories other newsrooms can’t, or won’t, with the simple goal of providing reliable information. Our impact is realized by empowering people. In our first 17 months since launch we have published 67 investigations, and more than 660 news stories - each in service of ensuring no stone goes unturned and no corruption goes unnoticed. We get to stand in the gap for people and tell human stories. We’re growing!

You’re working on an online audio series entitled “Capitaoism”. What is Capitaoism and what do you hope to achieve through this project?

Capitaoism is an unscripted chapter by chapter look at the Tao Te Ching, and its surprising harmony with free market Capitalism. Despite not being translated into English until 1868, the ideas expressed in the Tao have shown up in the American Founding and are alive and well in free markets. I'm publishing this on Twitter as an experiment and my goal with the project is to encourage more people to consider what they value; what is value? I can’t give anyone their answer to the question, but I can help encourage the conditions of liberty and free markets which make peaceful realization of value possible. The ideas of human liberty are perennial, and we each have a one of a kind opportunity just by being alive. We each get to decide what to do with it - What an exciting opportunity!

What’s your advice for pro-liberty young people pursuing a career in journalism?

1. Put pen to paper every day. Keep writing, and don't be afraid to cut 20-50% of what you write. I’d suggest publishing even less. Focus on what is most important and invest in it.
2. Ignore the crowd. Your voice in journalism is one of a kind, and much needed. There are pressures everywhere to follow trends and jump on the latest hot topic to drive clicks. Sit back, study hard, and get it right. Prioritize quality in journalism.
3. Read things that aren't journalism. Read novels, poetry, philosophy. comics, and anything outside the world of journalism. It will make you a better writer, but it may also save you from the grind a career in news and journalism can bring. Keep having fun. If you’re not having fun, your readers aren't having fun. If your readers aren't having fun, they won't be readers for long.

Support Young Voices' work empowering rising leaders for liberty like Conner

This week's impact interview is with Cooper Conway. Cooper is currently working to receive his Master of Public Policy (MPP) at Pepperdine University focusing on education policy.

Cooper Conway Interview

You're working on acquiring your MPP at Pepperdine, tell us how you decided to focus on public policy.

In the summer of 2019, I worked as an intern providing educational programming at a nonprofit in South Baltimore. While there, I saw students and families without access to the same educational opportunities I had been blessed to receive and didn’t understand why.

Ever since I had this awakening of sorts, I have worked for various organizations that advocate for promising reforms like education choice that empower students and families. At Pepperdine, I was particularly drawn to their Education Policy and Impact initiative, which allows me to learn from various education reformers inside and outside the classroom every semester. Dr. Hattie Mitchell has particularly inspired me and my classmates in this regard, starting a charter school called Crete Academy in South Central LA that humanizes what we learn in the classroom.

As there is a lot of discussion lately about education reform in the US, do you think there's something not being covered enough in the mainstream news?

For sure! There are many negative headlines surrounding K-12 education right now, and deservedly so, but there's also a ton of good news, which is never covered enough. Across the country, we are seeing an explosion in education freedom, high-dosage tutoring programs, and other significant initiatives/reforms that impact students and families. Recently, I talked to a Mom who put her son, who was getting bullied, into a new school this past year due to an education choice scholarship. Her son is no longer being bullied and made a new best friend. I think more people would love to hear about these programs' impact on individual families and students.

What do you think would need to change to get people’s attention and make them understand how important these issues are?

If Covid-19 didn’t do it, I don’t exactly know what will. I have a poster of RFK (not Jr., to be clear) on my wall with a quote of him saying, “The youth of our nation are the clearest mirror of our performance.” For me, the poster is a helpful reminder that we are blessed to stand on the shoulders of giants and are responsible for passing these blessings on to the next generation.

You were named one of 50CAN's 2022 National Voices Fellows, what would be your advice for young adults in the liberty movement interested in public policy?

Here is a quick list of advice I have received from others that have stuck with me:

• Take care of your health, both mental and physical
• Make other people’s jobs easier
• Be a person of integrity
• Engage in good faith
• Be quick to forgive and slow to judge
• Avoid pointless arguments on social media

How has Young Voices helped you become a more well rounded writer and commentator?

The support and encouragement from each person at Young Voices have been an integral part of my growth. Coming into the program, I had no idea what to expect; certainly, making TikToks was not on my radar. Nonetheless, the fact that I have even gotten to this point is because of the confidence and feedback the Young Voices team has given me to be a part of the public discourse.

How did Young Voices impact your career trajectory?

Nearly three years ago, I was given the opportunity to be a part of the Young Voices community. I have made fantastic friends in the program, got into graduate school with the help of a recommendation letter from Casey, and have gotten to advocate for policies that are making the American K-12 education system better. None of that would have been possible without the support of the Young Voices team.  

I am still figuring out where I will land full-time after I finish my time at Pepperdine this April. Wherever I end up, I will continue advocating for every student to have the best education possible.

Which published works or media appearances Young Voices placed for you are you most proud of?

Anything I co-author with another Young Voices contributor, I enjoy. After an eye-opening experience at FreedomFest last year, Gary Frankel and I wrote this piece in the Washington Examiner, which provides a common sense approach to school choice’s role in the liberty movement. Another article I enjoyed writing discussed my family’s school choice story.

However, my favorite placement Young Voices gave me was a speaking engagement in Jackson, Tennessee, last summer in front of families, legislators, and other community members. After the speech, I struck up a relationship with the Student Award Center, which sponsored the event. This partnership has led to incredible success as we just doubled the number of students we provide scholarships to for this upcoming school year. Additionally, we plan to be at the forefront of ESA implementation for student families in West Tennessee once it is expanded across the state.  

Thanks so much to Cooper for his insightful answers! Stay tuned for our next impact interview.

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This week's impact interview is with Albie Amankona. He is a political commentator, financial analyst, and co-founder of Conservatives Against Racism For Equality (CARFE).

Albie Amankona Interview

What led you to the world of media and policy? Tell us about your career path.

For as long as I can remember, politicians and broadcasters have always excited me, whether that was watching David Cameron and Tony Blair spar at Prime Minister’s Questions in the 2000s or seeing expert broadcasters like Andrew Marr, Piers Morgan, Iain Dale, Andrew Neill or Jo Coburn hold leaders to account by asking the big questions for the public on television and radio. For me, a career in politics and media had a certain inevitability to it. I’m often asked by my colleagues in finance, “When are you going into politics?”, “When are you going to have your own show?” I’m thrilled I can finally say, “Now”!

You’re a British political commentator and a co-founder of the organization Conservatives Against Racism For Equality (CARFE). What do you think the future of British conservatism looks like?  

The future of British conservatism is in our hands. Either we go down the culture-warring, conspiracy-theory-romanticising road of our transatlantic cousins in the GOP — protectionism with a dash of populism — or we rediscover what conservatives have done for centuries: Find common sense solutions to the issues of the day, get out of the way and let people live their lives on their own terms with a slim but effective state, smart regulation, competitive taxes and a patriotic, aspirational mind set. Modern conservatism can’t be exclusive as it was in the past, with a fast growing ethnic minority and LGBT+ population in Europe and the US, the future of conservatism must be effective, inclusive and attractive. I’d argue, there has been a lot of un-conservative nonsense on both sides of the Atlantic since 2016. We must get back on track, and I am going to help us get there.

How did Young Voices help you become a more well-rounded person and writer?

When I joined Young Voices I had already been a commentator for about a year, whilst I was confident in my abilities, I had never received much feedback. Jason and the team gave me the feedback and tools needed to excel and succeed in the world of political media.

You’ve appeared many times on major British media outlets including the BBC, Sky News, ITV, and TalkTV. And now you’re even hosting a show on GB News! What’s your advice for pro-liberty young people pursuing a career in media?

As a young person you’ll be constantly questioned over your support for libertarian principles as the assumption is you’re a socialist or a social democrat. Stick to your principles; don’t compromise your principles by caving to authoritarians who want to control what people think and do. And remember: “Anti-woke” traditionalists are as much of a threat to liberty as “woke” progressives. Always be polite and have something unique and well-researched to say. Producers can always find someone to say something ridiculous for clicks and views. If you want longevity, you must demonstrate skill and diligence.

Which published works or media appearances Young Voices placed for you are you most proud of?

I am most proud of my appearances on Times Radio Early Breakfast with my friends Calum Macdonald & recently Rosie Wright since Calum moved to weekend Breakfast. It’s an early slot, and not many people like doing it, but it’s one of my favourites. It’s one of the first slots Young Voices UK books you on when you are getting started. You’re one of the first voices people are hearing in the morning. The day’s news agenda is yet to be set, and so to some extent, that’s up to you and the presenter.

You’ve become a panelist for the primetime GB News Show Saturday Five. Can you tell us a little bit about the show and your role?

It’s a new prime time show on GB News, similar in format to Fox’s The Five or Sky News’ The Pledge. There are 4 regular presenters, Emily Carver, Darren Grimes, Benjamin Butterworth & myself; then a guest every week. We each have a minute to make an argument and then moderate a debate afterwards. It’s fast paced, young and punchy. I am always a bit scared one of us will forget we’re on live TV and say something inappropriate as it can feel like you’re down at the pub with friends having a debate! I feel lucky to have been given this opportunity. The show’s brainchild, Ben Briscoe, is great, and I have learnt so much. Ben previously launched Good Morning Britain on ITV and Piers Morgan Uncensored on TalkTV/ Fox Nation/ Sky News Australia.  We are in good hands, and I am excited to see where things go.

Thanks so much to Albie for his thoughtful answers! Stay tuned for our next impact interview.

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This week's impact interview is with Gabriella Hoffman. She is a media strategist, consultant, and award-winning outdoor writer. Gabriella is also a Young Voices Regional Leader for the Northeast.

Gabriella Hoffman Interview

You’ve done an excellent job establishing yourself as an independent professional who offers a variety of client services ranging from media strategy to marketing to photography. Tell us about your career path.

I really appreciate that!

My freelance journey has been a whirlwind since summer 2016 and I’m very blessed to have stability today. But it hasn’t always been easy. After leaving my 9-to-5 job in 2016, I took an opportunity that I came to regret, parted ways, and decided to chart my own course through self-employment.

Starting from scratch again, I had to take on some pro bono work and then work my way up again–but in media relations. It was a humbling first three years of business. It taught me to be selective with media clients and to not limit myself. The bad experiences, especially, made me stronger.

Thankfully, I had a firm foundation established from my time working in politics and started building relations with outdoor industry contacts. It didn’t hurt that I was a somewhat established political writer who cultivated media contacts, going off of existing relationships or easily forging new ones, to make pitching client stories and columns more feasible. And in many cases, it did.

Fast forward to today: I’m in full control of my client work. I have amazing clients and will be adding a couple more long-term and short-term clients soon. My position as a freelance media strategist doesn’t limit me to just journalism or podcasting. I consult, do event planning, and create/produce content, as well.

And best of all, being a freelancer allows me to continue working with Young Voices!

You’re a conservationist and an award-winning outdoor writer. What led to your love of the outdoors and what policies can we implement to conserve American nature?

My love of the Great Outdoors was cemented when I was about 8 years old. Growing up in Southern California, my father exposed me to fishing. It was our way of bonding then and remains something we do today. Saltwater/freshwater fishing opportunities, camping, and vacations to National Parks defined my childhood. How could I not become a conservationist?

With respect to putting conservation into practice politically, I recall a moment my freshman year of college that lit a spark for me. California was mulling placing more restrictions on recreational fishing opportunities - or “marine life protection actions” – from Santa Barbara down to San Diego. Something with this proposal unsettled me, because it resulted in many key fishing areas becoming no-go zones for anglers, lost jobs and revenue for the fishing industry and subsidiary industries supported by it.

That really set it off for me and led me to pen columns at Townhall in the early 2010s and more prominently, freelance writing for the Wide Open Spaces website in 2015. I brought conservation – hunting, shooting sports, fishing, public lands – to the forefront when writing for the now defunct website, The Resurgent, from 2016 to 2020. Concurrently with my political writing, I started writing occasionally for Sporting Classics, Field & Stream, and Outdoor Life—preeminent outdoor publications. One of my pieces on grizzly bear conservation being thwarted by judicial activism attracted the attention of the Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA), where I now serve as  Board Member, for their Pinnacle Awards in the conservation category. Being bestowed with that award propelled my career further and enabled me to become a trusted journalist on wildlife conservation issues.

As podcasting became more en vogue, I recognized there was a deficit in podcasts led by women, especially women in the outdoors, and thus, the District of Conservation podcast was born in 2018. My podcast covers underreported topics, publishes original interviews with newsmakers, and breaks down public policy issues that affect this way of life. I’m told a handful of Members of Congress listen to the show, every now and then.

When Townhall recruited me to write for them as a regular freelance columnist in spring 2020, I took this beat to another level and print interviews with lawmakers and candidates through it.

With my podcast, columns, and videos, I’ve been able to advance a true conservation message for political observers to take and use.

How did Young Voices help you become a more well-rounded person and writer?

Young Voices has helped me refine my writing prowess and communications skills. While our organization largely appeals to new heterodox contributors, it also helps established ones like me make stronger arguments and showcase our work to larger audiences. The training and one-on-one sessions are unrivaled. Contributors are very lucky to have access to these perks at no costs.

The Contributor Program has enabled me to be a better communicator and media consultant. For that, I’m grateful!

You’re a Senior Fellow at Independent Women’s Forum and have written articles about women leaders. What’s your advice for young pro-liberty women seeking a career in the policy space?

To aspiring liberty-minded women communicators, I want to say this: A career in public policy is doable and you should absolutely pursue it.

You don't have to go “the traditional route” in public policy by acquiring a M.A. or PhD. Public policy can be discovered through many avenues, be it working in communications or grassroots organizing. Don’t be afraid to become an expert in a niche and run with it. Discourse benefits from having different, unique voices who don’t simply regurgitate the same boring talking points.

Start with Young Voices, of course!

Which published works or media appearances Young Voices placed for you are you most proud of?

There are SO many instances to cite – Young Voices has placed me in many reputable outlets – but I’m especially proud of the piece I did about controversial national monuments designations in Deseret News and most recently penning a column about lead usage in hunting and fishing in Real Clear Policy.

While these topics may not be newsworthy or trendy, Young Voices believes they matter and will go to bat for its Contributors ensuring underappreciated topics get the coverage they deserve.

We’re delighted that you are currently working for Young Voices as a Regional Leader for our Northeast operations. Why do you think regional and local reporting is so important? What would your pitch for applying to Young Voices be for writers in the Northeast?

It’s an honor to participate in the initial Regional Leaders Program cohort as the Mid-Atlantic/Northeast representative. Since assuming this role, I’ve seen many regional contributors placed in noteworthy publications and news outlets.

National media is a great vehicle to share one’s views. But regional news – especially daily newspapers – can sometimes carry more weight and allow writers greater latitude for creativity. Americans still consume local and state news. Having a presence in a regional publication can be far more impactful shaping opinion or opposing bad policies than in national outlets.

My pitch for aspiring Northeast/Mid-Atlantic contributors is this: This region beckons for more heredox viewpoints in print, radio, and TV. If you want to flex your writing chops and have a positive impact professionally and personally, our Contributor Program is for you. Apply today!

Thanks so much to Gabriella for her thoughtful answers! Stay tuned for our next impact interview.

Support Young Voices' work empowering rising leaders for liberty like Gabriella

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This week's impact interview is with Travis Nix. He is currently a JD candidate at Georgetown and will be starting at a law firm in the fall as a tax attorney.

Travis Nix Interview

You’re currently a JD Candidate at Georgetown law with a concentration in tax law.Can you tell us a little bit about your interest in the law and your career path?

I’ve always been interested in law. When I was younger I wanted to be a sports agent, so I’ve always been interested in contracts and contractual terms. I got into tax law when I was an undergraduate intern on Capitol Hill for Congressman Peter Roskam when the 2017 tax law passed and 2019 when I was a federal tax policy intern for the Heritage Foundation. I then learned I could go to law school and help companies navigate our labyrinth of a tax code by becoming a tax attorney. This fall, I’ll be moving to New York and becoming a tax attorney at Skadden, Arps, Meagher, and Flom.

You’ve written a lot about tax policy in many outlets including multiple pieces in The Wall Street Journal. What’s one major change you would make to the tax code and why?

The one realistic change I would make to the federal tax code is permanent full expensing. Full expensing is a policy that allows companies to deduct the full costs of their capital investments, like equipment and machinery, immediately off their taxes. By making these expensive investments cheaper, the tax code can grow our economy and raise wages.

How did Young Voices help you become a more well-rounded person and writer?

Young Voices made me a better writer without a doubt. I never considered myself a good writer (and my high school English teachers would agree), but thanks to Young Voices’ extremely talented editors, I have learned how to communicate very complicated tax concepts to a general audience. This will make me a better lawyer as well as a better advocate for good tax policy.

Which published works or media appearances Young Voices placed for you are you most proud of?

The article I’m most proud of is my Wall Street Journal article on Biden proposing to change the statute of limitations for audits. This was my first WSJ article and one of the first times I wrote about substantive tax law rather than policy. This was a proposal that easily could’ve been snuck into a large omnibus bill, and it still has not passed and hopefully never will.

Personally, I’m most proud of my television appearance on Fox and Friends discussing my immune deficiency and COVID-19 restrictions. This was the first time I had ever publicly discussed my disease. I was blessed with the opportunity to raise awareness about primary immune deficiencies and drive home the point that we just want to be treated the same as our peers and be able to live freely,

What’s your advice for pro-liberty young people pursuing a career in policy?

Write about the policies you are passionate about. You know more than 99.9% of the population. Come up with original ideas and people will respect you.

Thanks so much to Travis for his thoughtful answers! Stay tuned for our next alumni interview.

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This week's alumni interview is with Tanner Aliff. He is the Healthcare Policy Program Manager at the Cicero Institute.

Tanner Aliff Interview

You’re a policy wonk  on healthcare and you are currently working on healthcare policy at the Cicero Institute. Can you tell us a little bit about your interest in healthcare and your career path?

I was born in Seattle and raised in Colorado and Oregon. I went to undergrad for cognitive neuroscience and political science at George Fox University. And I just hit my one-year anniversary working as the Healthcare Policy Manager at the Cicero Institute in Austin, Texas.

Before my current position, I worked as a Research Fellow and Medicare Caseworker for Congressman Dr. Mark Green from Tennessee (TN-07). I helped Congressman Green fulfill his role on the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis by providing research reports describing the economic troubles Tennessee patients were experiencing when accessing care. I also helped declining rural hospitals get access to CMS relief funds to pay their health professionals.

Before Capitol Hill I worked with Providence Health as a Mental Health Observer in Newberg, Oregon where I collaborated with PsyD graduates, who made diagnoses and created treatment plans in the emergency department. I was on a trajectory to go into a career of clinical neuropsychology, but ended up pivoting to health policy when I repeatedly saw the healthcare system fail to connect Medicaid subsidized patients with substance use disorders to the care they need. When I realized the administration of healthcare was hurting patients more than their own illnesses or injuries, I knew it was healthcare policy that needed the most curing.

When it comes to specific health policy, my interests revolve around creating functioning healthcare marketplaces, creating transparency in community benefit requirements for nonprofit hospitals, promoting alternative payment options for patients’ health care (e.g., crowdfunding, direct care, or cash-based services), behavioral health, and creating programs that boost patient education on the American healthcare system.

You’ve written a lot about healthcare in outlets such as the Washington Examiner and Forbes. What are some policies you think the US could implement to lower healthcare costs?

That’s the 4.1 trillion dollar question many policy folks are mulling over right now. For me, it all comes down to correcting incentives. Specifically, incentives for patients and other private actors in the healthcare system. There have been valiant efforts made in states and federal agencies to expand price transparency, but this is just a small step in the right direction. Patients are still alienated from knowing how to meaningfully pay for their care, insurers are still raising premiums, small businesses are still paying too much for health benefits, and providers are still often going unchallenged in raising prices. The key to lowering healthcare costs revolves around placing agency back into the hands of patients and doctors. Crony special interests and restrictive government rules have expanded because many Americans have been alienated and duped into capitulating their freedom to pay for their own healthcare.

Merely disclosing pricing information to Americans isn’t going to move the needle. At this point, American patients have become too indifferent in understanding how health care is paid for. However, this education gap isn’t irreversible. Patients can be taught how to lower prices and premiums for themselves—they just need a strong incentive.

The one proposal states or the federal government could implement right now to lower healthcare prices is the Cicero Institute’s Patient’s Right to Save Reform. Essentially, by requiring all providers to disclose their cash rates, giving deductible credit for when patients find good deals, and rewarding patients who shop for care post deductible, America can create a functioning healthcare market that will place real competitive pressure on providers and insurers. Right now, providers and insurers have little incentive to lower prices and rates, but by empowering patient freedom under Patient’s Right to Save, Americans can organically lower the cost of healthcare without recklessly blowing up the current system or giving in to further government control.

How did Young Voices help you become a more well-rounded person and writer?

Young Voices taught me all thoughts deserved to be expressed, but not all thoughts deserved to be heard. To make a difference with writing, your thoughts need to move people to act. To move people, you need to know where they are at, what are their problems, who are the stakeholders, what is the cultural impulse, and how to construct a timely argument that will encourage other people to care about what you think is worth writing on.

I will always feel grateful to Young Voices because they taught me how to express my passion through writing and how to move people. There is an art form to writing and I was most certainly not a Stephen King or Tolstoy. I had to develop my writing through unrelenting practice. Young Voices gave me the opportunity and support to make sure that there was a platform when my writing finally reached a place where it was publication worthy. Essentially, they gave me the skills, opportunity, and the motivation to transform my writing.

Additionally, and somewhat most importantly, Young Voices taught me how to play the “game of writing.” Editors and media outlets have been placed under tons of scrutiny as of late. Meaning it’s imperative that whatever is submitted matches the mission of the outlet. Through Young Voices I learned how to approach editors, how to build a tempered reputation, how to nurture media related relationships, how to gather sources, and how to exceed expectations. The world is full of writers wanting to engage in ad hominem attacks and burn strawmen ‘til kingdom come. Young Voices taught me how to go beyond that and construct pieces of writing that make balanced arguments. My statements of praise mean little, just look at my continually growing body of published work. It’s all a testament to Young Voices as a program.

Which published works or media appearances Young Voices placed for you are you most proud of?

The “Young Voices placed” publications I am most proud of are split between a piece with the Register Guard talking about the reality of the George Floyd protests in Portland during 2020, and another piece on international physicians in the Washington Examiner.

The Register Guard piece had value because it possessed some original reporting, I did with the Portland District Attorney and the Portland Small Business Alliance. Turns out the commonly reported property damage statistic of $30 million was an inflated number that bigger outlets across the aisle used to generate partisan articles on the issue. I felt like I was able to thread the needle and argue that people living in other localities shouldn’t assume everything in their go-to outlet is gospel and there are nuances to every situation. I received positive feedback all throughout Oregon on the left and right.

The international physicians piece highlighted a Cicero Institute reform that complimented my writing on the general physician shortage taking place all over rural parts of America. It was fun to work with the Cicero Institute to produce an article that made compelling arguments that states could help alleviate their doctor shortages if they allowed veteran international physicians to skip unnecessary residency requirements if they agreed to work in underserved communities. The op-ed holds a special place in my heart because it led me to meet all the amazing folks at the Cicero Institute, who in time, would become some of my closest professional colleagues.

What’s your advice for pro-liberty young people pursuing a career in policy?

Progress is not linear.

You will succeed and fail. Few people possess, both, a crystal-clear path laid out before them, and the competence to traverse that path in accordance to their own personal timeline. For most people in policy, they don’t know the destination they want to land up in, or they don’t yet possess the skills or network to get to the destination they think they want to reach. If you are in that situation now, I can relate, but know that it’s not as existential as it seems.

Here are the five policy-career revelations that got me to where I am at and where I think I am going:

1. When it comes to selecting a specific interest in policy, don’t be scared to put all your eggs in one basket. Because even in failure, the work you put in and skills you acquired to become an expert in one area of policy can be placed into another. Determine your interest as soon as possible, put all your eggs into the basket, and see where it takes you. You will be surprised by how many diagonal growth opportunities there are in policy. People just want to trust that you are smart and reliable.

2. Only get a formal education if you actually plan to use it explicitly somewhere in your career. Believe it or not, superiors in the policy world are equally, if not more, skewed to be impressed by work than education. Being associated with a stellar academic institution will help you make it through the first round of interviews, but great policy work (e.g., passing laws, insightful published analyses, start-ups etc.) will get you a phone call asking if you want the job. Be entrepreneurial, you can do tons of great work before getting a grad degree.

3. It takes a village to raise up a successful policy professional. Build-up and invest into others within your network just as much as they build up and invest into you. The moment you get placed into leadership, build up those below you. You will be surprised to see the ROI when you help others build their dream careers.

4. Try not to say what you are against. Only say what you are for. There are too many people out there looking to tear down others. Don’t give them the opportunity to talk about your hatred for something. Only let them quote the principles you stand for.

Thanks so much to Tanner for his thoughtful answers! Stay tuned for our next alumni interview.

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This week's alumni interview is with journalist Nate Hochman. He is a staff writer at National Review.

Nate Hochman Interview

What led you to pursue a career in journalism? Tell us about your career path.

Well, the easy answer is I was always useless at math and science, so something writing-related was really the only option. But more specifically, for my sins, I’ve always liked discussing and debating big ideas — I was a political theory major in college; mea culpa — and political writing is a vocation where you get the chance to do a lot of that. (Particularly on the conservative end of the spectrum). I entered the American Right at a time of enormous upheaval, uncertainty and internecine disagreement, amid a fascinating ongoing debate about what it means to be conservative — our priorities, what we should and shouldn’t stand for, how we should approach the defining issues of our time, and so on. The best way to actually get to have a voice in that conversation was to write for conservative publications. So in college, that’s what I did; first during a summer internship at National Review (where I now work full-time), then with a Young Voices fellowship, and finally, once I had worked my way up — with YV’s indispensable support — via my own brand.

You’ve dedicated a lot of your writing to a discussion on the future of American conservatism including an opinion piece in The New York Times. How do you think the conservative movement in the US is changing and what do you see as its future direction?

That’s the question of our time! The short answer is: Probably in some ways Young Voices writers and supporters will like, and in a lot of ways they won’t. As I see it, the shift in the center of gravity within conservatism is a long-overdue response to a radically new set of issues and challenges facing today’s Right, which are vastly different from those faced by generations past. That requires the creative application of conservative principles, in a way that will redound to a very different policy agenda than that of, say, the 1984 Reagan platform. The so-called “New Right” (not a very useful term for a variety of different reasons, but one we seem to be stuck with) certainly has factions that want to facilitate a radical break with traditional conservative principles, but I reject the criticism that all of the trends within conservatism over the course of the past half-decade are a betrayal of the movement’s most fundamental long-standing tenets.

A conservatism for our time is going to be more skeptical of foreign interventions and military adventurism abroad than its Cold War predecessors, and — partially as a result — more skeptical of the security state and federal law-enforcement agencies like the FBI and the CIA. That’s the part our libertarian friends will probably like. The part they might be dismayed by is that the growing skepticism of neoconservative foreign policy is part of a broader conservative nationalism that includes a concomitant shift towards a more hawkish posture on immigration and trade, a more aggressive approach to culture-war issues, a new suspicion of big business, and an embrace of Irving Kristol’s “Two Cheers for Capitalism” philosophy of markets; a tool, rather than an idol. As I see it, both libertarians and conservatives (of all stripes) are trying to advance a core set of priorities — ones that often overlap, but are also occasionally at odds. The shift in conservatism will present new opportunities for libertarian-conservative collaboration, even as it closes off old areas where we might have previously seen more eye-to-eye. We should all be thinking coalitionally: Have the big, important fights when and where they’re necessary, but be willing to work together to advance shared goals when possible.

How did Young Voices help you become a more well-rounded person and writer?

I owe an enormous amount to Young Voices. To this day, it really is a unique program — I can’t think of anything else like it. It’s very difficult to simply waltz into political writing; who are you going to pitch to? Why should they care? How do you know what they’re looking for? There’s no real textbook for all of that — it’s a learned skill, like anything else. Young Voices gave me the confidence and the experience to build that skillset — and from there, a personal brand in this industry. For a young writer with no prior experience, just getting a few bylines under his or her belt is revolutionary. From there, everything else Young Voices provides — learning about the pitching process, becoming comfortable with media hits, getting coaching from industry veterans, and so on — really makes the organization an invaluable one-stop shop for right-leaning (or at least, liberty-minded) young people seeking to make their mark in US politics.

You’ve been on the frontlines of breaking news stories over the past year, perhaps most notably with your coverage of the Georgetown University’s response to the Ilya Shapiro controversy. What’s your advice for young journalists on finding and reporting on stories?

Here, I’m going to outsource to a section of a speech, delivered to a room of young conservatives, from a very wise (and handsome) young man named Nate Hochman this summer:

So much of conservative media—and conservative politics in general—is reactive. We spend our time reacting or responding to the Left. But that’s an inherently defensive posture. It makes it very difficult to win when you’re playing on the other side’s terms.

Part of all this is simply a question of power. The constellation of mainstream, credentialed, “reputable” news outlets is very powerful. In the short term, there isn’t much we can do about that.

But part of it is a choice. Conservatives have adopted this defensive crouch by spending our time writing op-ed after op-ed about how biased the media is, about what this or that progressive pundit or Democratic politician said, and so on. And all of that is important, to a degree. I certainly do plenty of it myself. Part of our job is to hold people accountable—especially the ones that the mainstream media doesn’t.

But if we do that at the exclusion of other kinds of writing and journalism, we’ll never actually be able to set the terms of debate. And we’ll always be playing on a field where the referees work for our opponents.

The good news is, we don’t have to do that. The thing about the mainstream media’s bias is that they’re only really interested in uncovering half of the stories that are worth telling—and frankly, a lot of the stories they do tell aren’t particularly interesting or worthwhile.

What that means is that there is a cornucopia of stories for all of you to go out and find. Stories that matter, but that aren’t being told. All you have to do is go find them.

Which published works or media appearances Young Voices placed for you are you most proud of?

This TV hit on Fox 5 DC about the final days of the 2020 campaign, and this polemic I wrote about the Democrats’ government child care scheme for The American Conservative.

You’re currently a staff writer at National Review. What’s the best way to follow your work? And do you have any upcoming projects you’d like to share with us?

You can follow me on Twitter @njhochman, although I wouldn’t wish the heavy burden of following me on Twitter on my worst enemy. That’s where you’ll find any relevant info about new projects I’m working on, when they become public. Stay tuned!

Thanks so much to Nate for his thoughtful answers! Stay tuned for our next alumni interview.

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This week's alumni interview is with author, storyteller, and speaker Alexandra Hudson. She is the founder of Civic Renaissance a publication and intellectual community dedicated to beauty, goodness and truth. Alexandra is also the author of The Soul of Civility: Timeless Principles to Heal Society and Ourselves. The book is out in August and available for pre order now!

Alexandra Hudson Interview

What led you to the world of writing and public speaking? Tell us about your career path and what your interests are.

I’m passionate about ideas and the life of the mind. The intellectual life is solitary—alone time is necessary to read, write, and think deeply—but it is also exceptionally social. We need others to metabolize and refine our own thinking. Community is essential to a fully realized life of the mind. I love to speak and write because of the way these opportunities allow me to cultivate an intellectual community, and to reach people with ideas that I care about—ideas of individual liberty, human dignity, personal autonomy, and the high riches on offer in life with others.

You’ve spoken about civil society and civic renewal to audiences around the world including Canada, Australia, France, and the US. What is it like to be a professional speaker? Do you have any tips for those who want to improve their public speaking skills?

Hah and don’t forget Tbilisi, Georgia, Turkey, and Italy, too! Speaking is a vital way of communicating ideas—take any and every opportunity that comes your way, because you learn from every person you encounter and every group you speak to. Q& A sessions are my absolute favorite because of how I’m able to learn what people really care about, what concerns them, what’s on their minds—and can tailor my ideas to their interests. Rotary and Lions clubs are also great places to start speaking. I was a rotary scholar for graduate school at the London School of Economics, so that was a natural community for me.

How did Young Voices help you become a more well-rounded person and writer?

Young Voices offered the professional media expertise that I needed, yet lacked. Having a whole team of people dedicated to helping refine my ideas, and communicate them more pointedly to the outside world was essential to helping me break into our harried media contest. Young Voices helped me build bylines and gain media hits that contributed to me securing my book deal. YV is an exceptional organization of which I’m thrilled to continue to be part.

As someone who has been published in major media outlets and who has worked in government and academia, what’s your advice for pro-liberty young people seeking a career in policy, journalism, or academia?

Write, write, and write some more. No writing is ever wasted. All of it refines your thinking, and makes you a better writer. Even if it never sees the light of day, it serves a purpose. Let your writing allow you to try out different ideas, and dabble in different subjects. Let this process help you cultivate your areas of interests. See what sticks! Create and write for the love of the process—not for promise or hope of worldly success.

Which published works or media appearances Young Voices placed for you are you most proud of?

Probably my CBS News hit that argued for local governance for schooling during the pandemic—there was an urge at the federal and state levels to have one-size fits all approaches to whether schools should be opened or closed, and I argued that distracts and schools should be able to make these decisions for themselves depending on many factors, such as the severity of cases, parent and teacher comfort levels, and more. Thanks for that one, Stephen Kent!

Jason also once got me a hit on English TV to discuss the Queen’s diamond jubilee—an honor especially considering her recent passing. I loved talking about tradition and how we keep history alive in our family. Thanks for that, Jason!

We’re so excited about your forthcoming book THE SOUL OF CIVILITY: Timeless Principles to Heal Society and Ourselves Politeness Failed America and How Civility Can Save It. Can you tell us a little bit about the premise of the book and why you wrote it?  

While working in Washington politics, I observed and experienced an urgent need for tolerance and basic respect for others across difference. I scoured the human historical record and discovered that this is a question that people groups have been navigating for a long time. I revived wisdom from ancient handbooks and conduct manuals and ethics books from across time and place to revive timeless principles for how we can do this thing called society, civilization, and peaceful co-existence today.

We need more civility—a basic respect for the personhood and dignity of others—not more politeness—the rules and techniques of manners etiquette—to do this. I'm also thrilled to launch my series with The Teaching Company called Storytelling and The Human Condition. This series will explore over twelve episodes great stories from across time and place, and discover what it means to be human, and what it means to lead a rich life. It will be available on streaming services near you as of May 2023!

I can’t wait to share the book and course with the YV Community!

Thanks so much to Alexandra for her thoughtful answers! Stay tuned for our next alumni interview.

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This week's alumni interview is with journalist and economic analyst Brad Polumbo. He currently works as a policy correspondent for Foundation for Economic Education (FEE) and an Opinion Contributor for The Washington Examiner. Brad is also a cofounder of the media nonprofit BASEDPolitics.

Brad Polumbo Interview

What led you to the world of media and policy? Tell us about your career path.

I started out as a college student thinking I wanted to go on to law school and become a lawyer. However, I started writing for my campus newspaper as something of a side-hobby, and after having a few controversial articles get noticed nationally, Casey Given reached out to me and encouraged me to apply to Young Voices. I did, and went on to write my first professional articles for outlets like the Washington Examiner, USA Today, the Daily Beast, and National Review. I loved my experience with Young Voices and it actually showed me that I really wanted to pursue journalism full-time, which I then did after college by taking a job at the Washington Examiner full-time.

You’ve written a lot about economics in publications such as FEE, National Review, USA Today, RealClearPolitics, and more. You’ve debunked many myths about the free market. What do you think is the biggest misconception about capitalism and what’s a top economic reform you’d like to see implemented?

I think the biggest misconception about capitalism is that it’s a zero-sum game: some people get rich at the expense of others. In fact, true free-market capitalism enables trades that are mutually beneficial and the profit motive incentives fulfilling the needs of others. One top economic reform I’d like to see is a decrease in payroll taxes, which are a regressive tax on jobs.

How did Young Voices help you become a more well-rounded person and writer?

Having experienced editors revise my work helped me grow enormously as a writer. Even more importantly, though, the simple action of repetition, of writing dozens of Op-Eds, forced me to improve my skills. I went from initially spending several days on each article to now where I just need about 2 hours and a semi-stable internet connection to write something even for a major publication like Newsweek or the New York Post.

You’ve appeared many times on major outlets including Fox News, Fox Business, Sky News, and the Glenn Beck Radio Show. You even made an appearance on Dr. Phil! What’s your advice for pro-liberty young people pursuing a career in media?

Whether you like it or not, people are drawn to personalities, not substance. You need to be personable and entertaining and casual and then bring substance in after you have hooked audiences and attracted eyeballs. Too many young people in the liberty movement attempt to lead with the dry philosophy or dense statistics and end up getting ignored.

Which published works or media appearances Young Voices placed for you are you most proud of?

Young Voices helped me get my first articles published in National Review and the Daily Beast, which was very cool because they are national brands I was already very familiar with and suddenly as a college student I saw my name in their pages. It was a surreal experience!

Along with fellow Young Voices alum Hannah Cox, you’ve launched a pro-liberty media nonprofit called BASEDPolitics. Can you tell us a little bit about BASEDPolitics and the role it is playing in our media ecosystem?

Based is a popular internet slang word that is mostly used in political contexts to say that something is upfront, on point, or especially true. We’re a next-generation multi-media hub committed to providing “Based” commentary and reporting. At BASEDPolitics, we are committed to providing educational, engaging content that advances free markets and individual liberty. We strive to teach people how to think, bridge the partisan gap, and form a community with diverse audiences. We’re not satisfied with preaching to the choir or being the big fish in a little pond—our goal is to make liberty go viral.

In particular, we seek to produce content for platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube in order to reach Gen Z with our message in a way that old-fashioned liberty movement media and journalism efforts do not.

Thanks so much to Brad for his thoughtful answers! Stay tuned for our next alumni interview.

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This week's alumni interview is with tech policy wonk and writer Rachel Chiu. She is currently working as a Research Associate at the Cato Institute's Economic Department on tech antitrust. Rachel is also a Visiting Fellow at Independent Women's Forum and a Policy Fellow at The Committee for Justice.

Rachel Chiu Interview

You’ve established yourself as a tech policy expert and are currently working at the Cato Institute’s Economic Department on tech antitrust. Tell us about your career path.

After graduating from college, I worked with a small team to improve conditions during startup fundraising. We facilitated the creation of external anti-harassment and nondiscrimination policies, in addition to clear reporting channels.

I joined the Cato Institute in 2020 as a Research Associate for the Project on Emerging Technologies. In this role, I contributed to original research and supported the Project’s expansive portfolio. My focus is now on competition policy and its impact on technology and innovation.

You’ve been published in a multitude of outlets on a range of tech issues including the gig economy, antitrust, and content moderation. Which tech issue do you think is most misunderstood by the media?

The media — and legislators from both sides of the aisle — misunderstand the implications of using antitrust in “proactive” ways. Antitrust is a powerful tool that enables the government to distort and shape the marketplace while doling out benefits to select companies at the expense of disfavored ones. This is not how the free market ought to function. I’d like to see a cautious approach to antitrust reform, especially as it pertains to technology companies and their ability to operate.

How did Young Voices help you become a more well-rounded person and writer?

Joining Young Voices has been one of the best decisions of my professional career. The staff have taught me the art of op-ed writing — and not just in a technical sense. They have pushed me to delve deeper into my areas of focus and learn how the topics I care about impact others. Writing has become an investigatory process for me. It is both research-oriented and community-based. Because of Young Voices, I have the unique ability to comment on issues in ways that substantially impact policy discussions.

You’re a prolific writer who has been published in USA Today, National Review, and City AM among other outlets. What’s your advice for aspiring pro-liberty writers?

Pro-liberty writers have a challenging task since our opinions rarely fall within the popular view. Consequently, it is even more important to be authentic, honest, and intensely focused on the facts. Op-eds written from a place of sincerity and genuine interest have inherent merit, even when standing alone against the fiercest criticism.

Which published works or media appearances Young Voices placed for you are you most proud of?

My articles in City A.M., a London-based newspaper, are some of my favorites. The caliber of commentary in their opinion section is very high; I never tire of seeing my name next to bright thinkers. It is also a fun experience to compare US and UK tech policy issues!

You’re still early in your career and you’ve already covered a lot of ground! You’ve been Head of Policy at #MovingForward, a Research Associate at Cato, a Policy Fellow at the Committee for Justice, and a Visiting Fellow at Independent Women’s Forum. What are your plans for the future and what’s the best way for people to keep up with your work?

I plan to attend law school and continue writing. I post my articles on Twitter (@rachelhchiu) and MuckRack.

Thanks so much to Rachel for her thoughtful answers! Stay tuned for our next alumni interview.

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This week's alumni interview is with economist and writer Alexander Salter. Alexander joined Young Voices in 2020 and since then we've helped him get published in many outlets including several appearances in the The Wall Street Journal. For his achievements, Alexander won the Young Voices Contributor of the Year Award in 2021.

He has become a formidable and compelling advocate for free enterprise. Alexander is currently the Georgie G. Snyder Associate Professor of Economics in the Rawls College of Business at Texas Tech University.

Alexander Salter Interview

What led you to the world of economics and academia? Tell us about your career path.

I studied economics and math in college. I wanted to be an investment banker. The financial crisis made that difficult. I graduated in 2010, but Wall Street still wasn’t eager to hire. I decided to go to graduate school. Worst-case scenario, I could get a private-sector job with better credentials when markets stabilized. (Prospective Ph.D. students: don’t do this! The only reason to go to grad school is to become a professor. Nothing else is worth the opportunity cost.) My Ph.D. program at George Mason completely changed the way I viewed economics and politics. I got excited about ideas and the academic life. Becoming a professor was largely an accident, but it turns out it was the best thing for me!

You are a strong proponent of the free enterprise system as well as a professor of economics. How can we teach young people the value of free enterprise as opposed to alternatives such as socialism?

Genuine socialism—public ownership of the means of production and exchange—is probably the most discredited idea of political economy. It’s supported today by those who don’t understand the difference between socialism and the welfare state, as well as a small number of “true believers” who are immune to evidence and hence are unpersuadable. Thankfully, most people are open to discussion. Theory and history show that socialism destroys material prosperity, political liberty, and humane society. We need to teach how markets work and be honest about the great policy debates of the 20^th century. There’s no magic bullet.

How did Young Voices help you become a more well-rounded person and writer?

I had far too high an opinion of my writing abilities when I first joined Young Voices. Op eds were just an easier version of academic writing, I thought. Wrong! Writing for the public is an art. Honing it requires an incredible amount of practice. Thanks to Young Voices, I’ve made great progress in acquiring the right skills. Interestingly, learning to write for the public has improved my scholarly writing, too. My prose is much more readable. The opposite of what I envisioned happened: learning to talk to the “intelligent layman” helped me make better arguments to my scholarly peers.

As someone who has achieved success in multiple fields, what’s your advice for pro-liberty young people seeking a career in policy, journalism, or academia?

Specialization is overrated. An odd position for an economist to take, but it’s true!  Maintain a wide-ranging outlook and make sure you can write on multiple topics. Of course, you’ll have a particular expertise—mine is monetary policy—but your appeal will be broader if you can handle multiple topics competently. This is also helps to prevent professional burnout. Personally, I’d be miserable if I had to limit myself to one subject or theme.

Now for some more typical advice: learn economics. Be familiar at least with supply and demand and its applications. It’s relevant to everything. There’s a great book online free of charge: Universal Economics by Armen Alchian and William Allen. Policy wonks and journalists will find a wealth of ideas and concepts that will improve their arguments. Academics will find a sophisticated way of looking at the world that illuminates society’s hidden logic, which is especially valuable for fields outside economics.

Which published works or media appearances Young Voices placed for you are you most proud of?

Definitely my work in the Wall Street Journal. I submitted my first piece to WSJ when I was a first-year grad student. After ten years of trying to get in, I finally cleared the hurdle. I doubt I would’ve made it without the fantastic editorial support I got from Young Voices. Never give up!

You’ve got a lot of projects including a published book, a frequent presence in the media, and a full-time teaching job at Texas Tech University. Can you tell us a little bit about your plans for the future and the best way people can follow your work?

I’d like to get more involved in politics and public policy. School choice at the state level and reforming the Fed at the national level are two hot-button issues where liberty advocates can do a lot of good. The public is rightly angry about failed government schools and rampant inflation. We can’t afford to lose the moment.

In academia, I’m working on some projects to preserve and revitalize Chicago-UCLA style price theory. This unique and powerful approach to studying markets is dying out as older generations of scholars retire, and newer generations become infatuated with flashy techniques that lack social-scientific substance. Understanding the role of prices in allocating resources and coordinating production is what economics is all about. If it goes, so does the economics profession!

As for my work, I make all my papers and articles available at my website (www.awsalter.com). I love hearing from readers, so please feel free to email me.

Thanks so much to Alexander for his thoughtful answers! Stay tuned for our next alumni interview.

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Young Voices is launching a series of alumni interviews to highlight the life changing impact of our programs and the good work that our participants are doing in the fields of policy, journalism, and academia. Interviews will be released every few weeks. Our first interview is with prolific writer and healthcare policy professional Elise Amez-Droz.

Elise Amez-Droz Interview

You’re a policy wonk on healthcare and have been working on healthcare policy at the Mercatus Center for nearly half a decade now. Can you tell us a little bit about your interest in healthcare and your career path?

I didn’t choose healthcare policy — it chose me. I studied business in undergrad and grad school but have always had an interest in public policy. I started dreaming about working for a think tank as soon as I heard about their existence. When it came time to pick a policy field, I realized that I had accumulated a decent bit of knowledge about the healthcare industry through school, and that my personal experience as a health insurance customer had given me an idea or two about what needed to change. Somehow, that was enough to secure a job in health policy in DC. I’ve since grown to love health policy and now get to manage the healthcare team at Mercatus.

You’ve written a lot about healthcare costs in outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, National Review, and Modern Healthcare. What are some policies you think the US could implement to lower healthcare costs?

People are familiar with “third-party payers,” where insurance companies act as the middlemen between patients and providers. But really, the third party is you and I — the patients. Insurance companies and hospitals strike deals, and we’re made to pick up the tab. The US should stop making health insurance the goal of every healthcare reform, because that’s what got us in the mess we’re in in the first place. Instead, it should seek to put patients back in control of their healthcare dollars. Americans should be empowered to buy the coverage that works for them and spend their money on care that they actually need and want. One example is that people should be able to know the price of care before they receive it and to reap the rewards of shopping for better value, as outlined in a new report by health policy colleagues titled the Patient’s Right to Save.  Every reform should drive toward reconnecting patients with providers.

How did Young Voices help you become a more well-rounded person and writer?

The question is well posed, and let me start with the latter part. The growth I’ve experienced as a writer over the past few years can be entirely credited to Young Voices. The training and support I’ve received from the editors and staff members are why I’m now able to quickly write a timely piece on a new topic in a short amount of time. But Young Voices has also made me a more well-rounded person by teaching me the value of discipline (please turn in a draft by the end of the month!), perseverance (no, it’s not time to shelve this piece, it still has a shot!), and excellence (you can’t make that point unless you have a reliable source to back it up!). I’ve also greatly benefitted from media training and briefings. Last but not least, Young Voices contributors represent a rare breadth of intellectual currents and persuasions, which makes for interesting conversations and valuable learning opportunities.

What’s your advice for pro-liberty young people pursuing a career in policy?

Never, ever compromise on your values. No amount of money, no career move, no prestigious invitation is worth your reputation. Be a person of integrity.

Which published works or media appearances Young Voices placed for you are you most proud of?

This year, my goal was to write for National Review, and we did it it in April! But 2022 had more surprises in store, and I got published by two top healthcare outlets (STAT on lessons from Singapore’s healthcare system, and Modern Healthcare on Medicare Part A’s looming insolvency), and we eventually got something placed in The Wall Street Journal on the issue of animal testing. Thank you, Young Voices!

You’re very active in DC as a founding member of the Adam Smith Society’s DC Professional Chapter and a founder of the Health Policy Society. What’s it been like to build these communities, especially as an immigrant to the US? How can people get involved with these societies?

The best way to succeed in the US is not to look to the past but to the future. I think that being an immigrant forced me to work extra hard and think creatively about how to get ahead. Americans’ profound sense of hospitality and community is how I was able to build a network of friends and colleagues without having gone to college here. That’s what is driving me to create communities of my own — I know personally just how crucial they are to having not only a flourishing career but also a fulfilling life. If anyone is interested in market-oriented health policy, please reach out to me via LinkedIn or my personal website.

Thanks so much to Elise for her thoughtful answers and stay tuned for our next alumni interview in a few weeks!

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