# Was Benjamin Franklin America's First Scientist?

An episode of [The Michael Shermer Show](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1352860989), 30 Sep 2025, 1 h 29 min.

Audio: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.libsyn.com/secure/sciencesalon/mss549_Mark_Skousen_2025_09_30.mp3?dest-id=513978

Michael Shermer sits down with economist and Franklin descendant Dr. Mark Skousen to explore the wit, wisdom, and modern relevance of Benjamin Franklin, the man who bridged science, politics, and philosophy like no other. Shermer and Skousen discuss Franklin's contributions to science, moral philosophy, economics, and religious thought, while asking: What would Franklin make of today's America—its economy, politics, and culture? Mark Skousen holds the Doti-Spogli Chair of Free Enterprise at Chapman University. Known as "America's Economist," he is the editor of Forecasts & Strategies, an award winning investment newsletter, and producer of FreedomFest, "the world's largest gathering of free minds." He is the author of over 25 books, incl. his latest, The Greatest American: Benjamin Franklin, The World's Most Versatile Genius.

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