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!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/corals/mountain-pine
License code: NT1UAGETRXVL46SM
Episodes
53 episodes
Why Do Poor People Exist?
In this episode of American Socrates, we explore the myths about poverty in the United States. Poverty isn’t caused by laziness or bad choices—it’s built into the system. From outdated government definitions of poverty to wage stagnati...
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Season 1
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Episode 44
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29:18
Is Working Hard Really a Virtue?
In this episode of American Socrates, we explore the true value of work and challenge the myth that effort automatically equals virtue. From the Protestant Work Ethic to modern corporate life, we examine how meaningless labor can drain...
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Season 1
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Episode 43
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26:03
Is Your Job Bullshit?
In this episode of American Socrates, we break down David Graeber’s groundbreaking book Bullshit Jobs and explore why so many modern jobs feel pointless, frustrating, or downright meaningless. From flunkies and goons to box-ti...
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Season 1
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Episode 42
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28:36
Careers are Dead. What Comes Next?
In this episode of American Socrates, we explore why traditional careers are disappearing and what it means for workers today. From generational trades like millers and shoemakers to the mid-20th-century “sweet spot” of lifelong career...
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Season 1
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Episode 41
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23:37
Do You Own Your Labor, Or Does Your Boss?
In this episode of American Socrates, I take on the question of who really owns our labor and what it means to be free in a system that rents out our lives by the hour. Drawing from Locke, Marx, and the reality of working-class struggl...
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Season 1
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Episode 40
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30:59
Who's Afraid of the Big, Bad Marx?
Most of us grow up hearing warnings about Karl Marx — socialism steals, communism destroys freedom, and Marxism equals totalitarianism. But how much of that is true, and how much is fear shaped by caricature? In this episode of American Soc...
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Season 1
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Episode 39
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28:39
Do We Live with Less Freedom Than Medieval Peasants?
In this episode of American Socrates, we take a deep dive into life before capitalism, exploring feudalism, debt, and the shift to modern wage labor. From the predictable obligations of medieval serfs to the precarious freedom of today...
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Season 1
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Episode 38
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28:09
Why Does Capitalism Fail to Liberate the Working-Class?
Is capitalism really the key to human freedom—or just a clever illusion? In this episode of American Socrates, we challenge the myth that capitalism guarantees liberty. From sweatshops to Silicon Valley, we explore how freedom is distr...
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Season 1
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Episode 37
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31:43
Who Has Earned a Good Life?
Is success really earned? In this episode of American Socrates, we unpack the seductive myth of meritocracy. With the help of philosopher Iris Marion Young, we explore why "merit" is often unknowable, socially biased, and used to justi...
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Season 1
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Episode 36
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29:26
Is that All We Are To Them, Consumers?
In this episode of American Socrates, we dive deep into the world of consumer culture through the lens of Theodor Adorno and Max Horkheimer’s concept of the culture industry. Why do so many movies, songs, and stories feel predic...
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Season 1
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Episode 35
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30:01
Why Does the GDP Go Up when the World Burns?
Gross Domestic Product tracks how much stuff we produce—but does it tell us how well we’re doing? In this episode of American Socrates, we question the dominance of GDP as our society’s main scoreboard. Through a powerful personal stor...
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Season 1
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Episode 34
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26:39
When Did Economists Stop Caring About Justice?
Why did economics stop asking moral questions? In this episode of American Socrates, we uncover the forgotten roots of political economy—where ethics, power, and justice were central to understanding wealth. Learn how ...
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Season 1
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Episode 33
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26:53
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
