American Socrates
Charles M. Rupert
Publishing Details
About This Podcast
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
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Recent Episodes
S2E1 What is a Good Life?
Send a textMost people hear “hedonism” and think excess, but this episode revisits Epicurus to recover a very different account of the good life and its ethics. Rather than maximizing pleasure,…
S1E54 What Can Philosophy Do for Us?
Send a textPhilosophy isn’t just for professors or ivory-tower thinkers — it’s a practical tool for anyone trying to navigate chaos, confusion, and the daily grind. In this capstone episode of…
S1E53 Is MAGA Rage based on Ignorance?
Send a textWhen people stop believing in anything, power fills the vacuum. In this episode of American Socrates, Matt explores how moral collapse and despair feed the rise of authoritarian movements…
S1E52 Why Do We Obey?
Send a textWhy do ordinary people follow orders, even when those orders feel wrong? In this episode, we explore the psychology, culture, and structures behind obedience, showing how authority works —…
S1E51 Is Progress Always Good?
Send a textWe’re taught to believe that history moves forward — that reason, science, and reform steadily bend the “arc of the moral universe” toward justice. Public health doubled our lifespans,…
S1E50 Am I My Job?
Send a textIn this episode of American Socrates, we ask a hard question: are you your job — or are you something more? From stocking groceries as a teenager to grinding in restaurant kitchens, host…
S1E49 How Can You Think for Yourself Without Going Crazy?
Send a textIn this episode of American Socrates, we explore how to think for yourself in a world flooded with misinformation, conspiracy theories, and social-media noise. We trace the roots of…
S1E48 Does Happiness Matter More Than Meaning?
Send a textIn this episode of American Socrates, we dive into one of life’s biggest questions: should we chase happiness or search for meaning? Drawing on Epicurus’ ancient philosophy of pleasure and…
S1E47 Who Wants Government Run Health Insurance?
Send a textIn this episode of American Socrates, we break down the debate over health care in America: should it be a free-market commodity, or a right guaranteed to all? We examine the philosophies…
S1E46 What is the Social Responsibility of Corporations?
Send a textIn 1970, economist Milton Friedman declared that the only social responsibility of business is to increase profits. Half a century later, his doctrine still shapes our economy, our…
S1E45 Who Invented the Idea of Debt?
Send a textDebt isn’t just money owed — it’s one of the oldest tools of social control. In this episode of American Socrates, we explore David Graeber’s Debt: The First 5,000 Years and traces the…
S1E44 Why Do Poor People Exist?
Send a textIn 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…
S1E43 Is Working Hard Really a Virtue?
Send a textIn 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…
S1E42 Is Your Job Bullshit?
Send a textIn 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…
S1E41 Careers are Dead. What Comes Next?
Send a textIn 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…
S1E40 Do You Own Your Labor, Or Does Your Boss?
Send a textIn 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,…
S1E39 Who's Afraid of the Big, Bad Marx?
Send a textMost 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…
S1E38 Do We Live with Less Freedom Than Medieval Peasants?
Send a textIn 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…
S1E37 Why Does Capitalism Fail to Liberate the Working-Class?
Send a textIs 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…
S1E36 Who Has Earned a Good Life?
Send a textIs 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…
Frequently Asked Questions
American Socrates has published 55 episodes since March 2025, covering topics in Courses, Education.
American Socrates is currently highly active with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 29m.
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