Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Ben Bayer and Onkar Ghate discuss whether heritage or creed is what defines American national identity.
• [0:00] Introduction
• [5:29] The American way and sense of life
• [14:45] Un-American “Heritage Americanism”
• [23:48] Irrelevant Anglo-Protestant “ethnicity”
• [38:03] Superior “Creedal Americanism”
• [44:49] History of “Creedal Americanism”
• [54:14] The eroding American sense of life
Resources:
Ayn Rand, Don’t Let It Go, in Philosophy: Who Needs It [amazon.com/Philosophy-Who-Needs-Ayn-Rand/dp/0451138937]
Ayn Rand, “A Nation’s Unity” [courses.aynrand.org/works/a-nations-unity/]
Onkar Ghate, “Atlas Shrugged: America’s Second Declaration of Independence” [newideal.aynrand.org/america-needs-a-second-revolution-to-save-its-first/]
Ben Bayer, “Our Iran Appeasement Reveals the Need to Declare Moral Independence,” New Ideal, July 1, 2026. [new-ideal.aynrand.org/p/our-iran-appeasement-reveals-the]
Ben Bayer, “The Revolutionary, Secular Concept of Individual Rights” OCON 2024 [youtube.com/watch?v=79fT9VIDkVs]
This episode was recorded on July 10, 2026.
Image Credit: Chip Somodevilla / staff / via Getty Images
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Download or stream free courses on Ayn Rand’s works and ideas with the Ayn Rand Institute app:
– App Store itunes.apple.com/us/app/ayn-rand-university/id1452535178?mt=8
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ARI is funded by donor contributions. You can support our work by becoming an ARI Member or making a one-time contribution: ari.aynrand.org/donate
Explore these ideas further! ARI's online publication, New Ideal, explores pressing cultural issues from the perspective of Ayn Rand’s philosophy, Objectivism: newideal.aynrand.org
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******
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In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Ben Bayer and Onkar Ghate discuss whether heritage or creed is what defines American national identity.
• [0:00] Introduction
• [5:29] The American way and sense of life
• [14:45] Un-American “Heritage Americanism”
• [23:48] Irrelevant Anglo-Protestant “ethnicity”
• [38:03] Superior “Creedal Americanism”
• [44:49] History of “Creedal Americanism”
• [54:14] The eroding American sense of life
Resources:
Ayn Rand, Don’t Let It Go, in Philosophy: Who Needs It [amazon.com/Philosophy-Who-Needs-Ayn-Rand/dp/0451138937]
Ayn Rand, “A Nation’s Unity” [courses.aynrand.org/works/a-nations-unity/]
Onkar Ghate, “Atlas Shrugged: America’s Second Declaration of Independence” [newideal.aynrand.org/america-needs-a-second-revolution-to-save-its-first/]
Ben Bayer, “Our Iran Appeasement Reveals the Need to Declare Moral Independence,” New Ideal, July 1, 2026. [new-ideal.aynrand.org/p/our-iran-appeasement-reveals-the]
Ben Bayer, “The Revolutionary, Secular Concept of Individual Rights” OCON 2024 [youtube.com/watch?v=79fT9VIDkVs]
This episode was recorded on July 10, 2026.
Image Credit: Chip Somodevilla / staff / via Getty Images
Subscribe to ARI’s YouTube channel to make sure you never miss a video:
youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=AynRandInstitute
Download or stream free courses on Ayn Rand’s works and ideas with the Ayn Rand Institute app:
– App Store itunes.apple.com/us/app/ayn-rand-university/id1452535178?mt=8
– Google Play play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aynrandu
ARI is funded by donor contributions. You can support our work by becoming an ARI Member or making a one-time contribution: ari.aynrand.org/donate
Explore these ideas further! ARI's online publication, New Ideal, explores pressing cultural issues from the perspective of Ayn Rand’s philosophy, Objectivism: newideal.aynrand.org
******
Keep in Touch! Sign up to receive email updates from ARI: aynrand.org/signup
Follow ARI on Twitter: twitter.com/AynRandInst
Follow ARI on Facebook: facebook.com/AynRandInstitute
Follow ARI on Instagram: instagram.com/aynrandorg
Subscribe to the ARI Live! podcast: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ayn-rand-institute-live/id1440399458
******
Join an upcoming virtual or in-person event: ari.aynrand.org/events
Visit ARI’s website for more about our content and programs: ari.aynrand.org
