Who We Are
An impact studio
We work with organizations, brands & creatives to experiment with strategy and produce the media for having an impact.
Our Work
Latest Projects
Our thesis: the purpose of our independent spirit is to tackle the stories we’re uniquely able to tell. For us, that’s been at the intersection of economics, history and philosophy.
As we continue to grow and develop, we expand what makes us unique, and therefore, what stories we’re able to share.
Publius: Robert Bork’s Influence on Antitrust
CLIENT: Publius
Thanks to the work of Robert Bork, legislators and judges began to analyze the impact of antitrust regulations through cost-benefit analysis rather arbitrary deference to the government.
Kite&Key: When Politicians Raise Prices on Purpose
CLIENT: Kite & Key Media
How has such a bad policy endured? Because it’s also been very good for people who grow corn … who’ve made it their business to keep that policy in place. Economists call this the problem of “dispersed costs and concentrated benefits.” And once you’re aware of it, you start seeing it everywhere.
Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression: TikTok
In 2021, the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education reached out to NODEHAUS to experiment with the emerging platform TikTok to extend their mission of defending free speech and expression. We went to work converting their principles into entertaining micro-content that went viral to reach millions of people.
Publius: Exploring Plato’s “The Laws”
CLIENT: Publius
Plato's final and most extensive dialogue, the Laws, laid the groundwork for modern legal philosophy.
CATO: Faces of Globalization
The Cato Institute challenged us to help them tell the story of how real people experience global trade. Led by Cato Institute’s Scott Lincicome, we explore trade’s impact on West Point, GA, Antigua, Guatemala, and the digital economy.
Kite&Key: The Most Important Economic Concept No One Understands
CLIENT: Kite & Key Media
As industries become more productive, their goods and services often become cheaper. That tends to increase the demand for them, which leads to the creation of more jobs. And as companies become more successful, they often create new and different jobs as well.
The Long Ride Home
In 1992, Austin Van Dyke's father bought a 1968 Pontiac GTO from a local man who told him that he couldn’t believe it was a “numbers matching” car. After completely restoring and falling in love with the car, he was forced to sell it in order take care of his growing family.
In 2021, Austin Van Dyke goes on a heart-felt journey to find his father's car and return it back to him — a journey that takes him around the world.
Publius: The Anti-Federalist Papers
CLIENT: Publius
The Anti-Federalist Papers were a series of articles and speeches opposing the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. These writings, penned by various authors including Patrick Henry and George Clinton, expressed concerns about the concentration of power in a strong federal government and the potential for tyranny.
Publius: Is the Third Amendment Pointless in the Modern World?
CLIENT: Publius
The Third Amendment, which prohibits quartering soldiers in private homes without owner consent, is the least litigated amendment in the Bill of Rights.
SphereEd: Price Controls
CLIENT: SphereEd
Economist Ryan Bourne explores the implications of price controls as well as their recent implementations.
SphereEd: Three Theories of Regulation
CLIENT: SphereEd
Economist Ryan Bourne explores three theories for how a bill becomes public policy.
Publius: The Founders and the Question of Representative Government
CLIENT: Publius
What does it mean for a government to be truly representative? Professor Keith Whittington discusses the Founders' experience with Parliament, which claimed to represent the interests of the colonists.
DAVID BOAZ: Champion of Liberty
David Boaz, the Executive Vice President of the Cato Institute, was there from the very beginning of the liberty movement -- when the world was covered in totalitarianism, bigotry, and war, Boaz stood up for a growing intellectual movement that, through sheer force of will, demanded to be a contender on the national and international stage. Honoring decades of service and dedication, this short documentary/tribute film screened at the Cato Institute in Washington, D.C. on February 4, 2024.
SphereEd: The National Debt and its Implications
CLIENT: SphereEd
Economist Ryan Bourne explores the national debt and its implications for the American economy.
SphereEd: Market Failures vs Government Failures
CLIENT: SphereEd
Economist Ryan Bourne explores the concept of market failure and government failure.
SphereEd: Comparative Advantage and the Benefits of Trade
CLIENT: SphereEd
Economist Ryan Bourne explores the oft-misunderstood concept of Comparative Advantage and how it helps us understand how everyone can benefit from trade.
ARBITRARY LINES: The Free Spirit of Caroline
Author of "Arbitrary Lines: How Zoning Broke the American City and How to Fix It" Nolan Gray is invited to the small town of Caroline, New York, but ends up stepping into a local battle over zoning that is reaching a fever pitch. This half-hour documentary explores the legacy and contemporary form of zoning and how it affects towns, even small ones.
A Clean Slate
Shanyeill McCloud has helped thousands of people attain their second chance through expungements and pardons, but is unable to clean her own record.
Pop Culture Urbanism
Hosted by author and urbanist expert Nolan Gray, Pop Culture Urbanism is the show looking at the cities and communities behind the movies, music, media of today.