American Socrates
Think Deeper. Live Better.
Tired of shallow takes and surface-level answers? American Socrates helps you cut through the noise and see the world more clearly. This is a podcast for anyone who wants to think for themselves, challenge assumptions, and live a more intentional, meaningful life. Host Charles M. Rupert brings the power of critical thinking and timeless philosophical insight into everyday questions—like how to find purpose, make good decisions, grow as a person, and navigate a world full of misinformation and confusion.
From art to relationships, social justice to success at work, no topic is off-limits. This isn’t a lecture on famous philosophers. It’s a wake-up call for your mind.
New episodes every Wednesday. Ready to see what you've been missing?
Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere you listen.
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
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Episodes
41 episodes
What is Libertarian Socialism?
Socialism without bureaucracy. Freedom without capitalism. This episode introduces libertarian socialism—a decentralized, bottom-up alternative to both capitalist exploitation and state control. Learn how it differs from state socialism,...
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Season 1
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Episode 32
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29:59
How Do We Justify Private Property?
Private property is often used to justify capitalism—but what if capitalism is actually its enemy? We trace the philosophical history of property from Erasmus and Locke to Marx and Proudhon, then offer a radical reinterpretation: that property ...
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Season 1
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Episode 31
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31:39
What if Taxes are Our Best Defense Against Tyranny?
We’ve all heard the argument: tax the rich so we can afford healthcare, schools, or clean energy. But what if that’s the wrong logic entirely? In this episode, we challenge the myth that taxes are needed to “pay for” public spending—and reveal ...
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Season 1
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Episode 30
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27:54
What Is a Job Guarantee?
In this episode of American Socrates, we explore the bold idea of a federally-backed Job Guarantee—the promise of dignified, meaningful work for anyone who wants it. We trace the roots of the proposal, from the New Deal to modern econo...
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Season 1
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Episode 29
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24:17
What is the Real Cause of Inflation?
Prices are rising—but who’s really to blame? This episode cuts through the noise to expose the real drivers of inflation: corporate greed, supply chain breakdowns, and power—not just “too much money.” We explain why raising interest rates hurts...
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Season 1
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Episode 28
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24:08
Why Can't We Just Print More Money?
Is printing money reckless—or revolutionary? In this episode, we break down Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) for everyday people. Learn how banks really create money, why the U.S. government doesn’t need to tax before it spends, and how el...
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Season 1
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Episode 27
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30:26
Is Liberal Academia Ruining America, Or Saving It?
Colleges are liberal. But what if that’s not the problem—what if it’s the point? In this episode of American Socrates, we explore why higher education tends to lean left—and why that might be exactly what a free society needs. F...
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Season 1
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Episode 26
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30:57
Is Free Speech Just a Shield for the Powerful?
Who really benefits from free speech? In this episode of American Socrates, we take a hard look at free speech absolutism—unpacking the idea that all speech should be protected, no matter how harmful. Is free speech truly a tool for li...
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Season 1
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Episode 25
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28:23
Does Racism Have a Birthday?
Where did racism come from—and can we name the moment it began? In this episode of American Socrates, we explore Ibram X. Kendi’s powerful argument that racism isn’t rooted in ignorance or fear, but in self-interest. According...
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Season 1
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Episode 24
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32:00
Is that Racist?
Racism isn't just about hate—it's about how we think. In this episode of American Socrates, we go beyond slogans and explore the deeper structure of racist beliefs. Drawing on philosopher Anthony Appiah’s work, we unpack the powerful d...
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Season 1
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Episode 23
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31:40
Are Social Constructs Controlling Your Life?
In this episode of American Socrates, we break down what it actually means for something to be a social construct. You’ll learn how ideas can be both invented and real at the same time. We trace the roots of social constructio...
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Season 1
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Episode 22
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31:35
What Does Losing Our Innocence Cost Us?
What does it mean to be innocent? In this episode, we explore the journey from the innocence of ignorance to the innocence of wisdom—a hard-won clarity that only comes through struggle, humility, and growth. Drawing on Emmanuel Sw...
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Season 1
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Episode 21
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30:44
What Does Working-class Freedom Look Like?
Jake got out of the military expecting freedom. What he found instead was gig work, debt, and a life lived at the mercy of corporate algorithms. In this episode, we follow Jake’s journey—not just through the quiet desperation of techno-feudal c...
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Season 1
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Episode 20
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29:11
Is the Alt-Right the Legacy of American Slavery? (Part 2)
In part two, we fast-forward to today—where echoes of Fitzhugh’s vision have returned in surprising forms. From alt-right influencers to Silicon Valley billionaires and traditionalist politicians, a growing chorus claims that modern freedom has...
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Season 1
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Episode 19
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31:34
Is the Alt-Right the Legacy of American Slavery? (Part 1)
In this episode, we dive into the writings of George Fitzhugh, a 19th-century American Lawyer and social critic who launched one of the earliest full-throated critiques of capitalism—not from the left, but from the slave plantations of the Sout...
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Season 1
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Episode 18
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31:00
Why Are Americans So Divided?
America feels broken. Red vs. blue. Rural vs. urban. Rich vs. poor. But beneath all the noise, there’s a deeper story — one most politicians won’t touch.In this episode, we dig into how capitalism quietly shapes our political divides — a...
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Season 1
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Episode 17
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30:05
Is Wonder the Key to Wisdom?
Philosophy didn’t start in a classroom. It started with a gasp.This episode is about Wonder — that sudden feeling that something familiar isn’t so familiar after all. We’ll talk about how this moment of awe, confusion, or deep curiosity ...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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28:45
Is Freedom an Illusion?
What if everything you’ve ever done was inevitable — shaped by causes beyond your control? In this episode, we explore determinism not as a physics problem, but as a moral one. Why do we blame people? Why do we take credit? Nietzsche called it ...
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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31:02
What If Your Job Was Killing People?
In this episode of American Socrates, we dig into Hannah Arendt’s Eichmann in Jerusalem and her famous idea of the “banality of evil.” Arendt argued that great wrongs can be carried out not just by monsters, but by ordinary pe...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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27:31
Are Grades Killing Education?
We’ve all been told that grades are how we measure success and learning in school. But what if that’s a lie we’ve all just accepted? In this episode, we take a hard look at the role of grades in education—not just how they work, but who they re...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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30:13
Can Machines Think?
Can a machine really think—or just fake it well enough to fool us?In this episode of American Socrates, we dig into Alan Turing’s famous test for machine intelligence. The idea is simple: if a machine can carry on a conversation...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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28:29
