Send a text

When 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 — from Bonhoeffer’s warning about “stupidity” to Nietzsche’s prophecy of nihilism.

Through vivid stories drawn from fiction and real life — from The Walking Dead to the hollowing of America’s small towns — we uncover how cynicism and isolation destroy hope, leaving only resentment behind. But this isn’t an episode about despair. It’s about rebuilding meaning.

You’ll learn why nihilism thrives on loneliness, how it hides behind “owning the libs” and ironic detachment, and what ordinary people can do to resist it: building solidarity, practicing decency, and living with purpose even when the world seems empty.

If you’ve ever felt disillusioned, angry, or hopeless about the future, this episode is your call to action — to create meaning where meaning has been lost.

Keywords: nihilism, Bonhoeffer, Nietzsche, authoritarianism, moral philosophy, despair, meaning, solidarity, critical thinking, community, American decline

Support the show

Send a text

Why 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 — and when it becomes dangerous.

We start with Hobbes and Schmitt, then dive into Milgram’s shocking obedience experiments, the Stanford Prison Study, and Adorno’s research on authoritarian personalities. We also cover Weber’s types of authority and Foucault’s insights on everyday power, from schools and workplaces to online mobs.

Finally, we unpack Erich Fromm’s distinction between rational authority and irrational control, and connect it to the Roman idea of auctoritas — influence earned through respect and character rather than fear. Learn how to recognize legitimate authority, resist illegitimate commands, and navigate daily life without burning out. With concrete examples from policing, education, unions, and the military, this episode gives practical guidance on when to obey, when to question, and how to act with wisdom and courage.

Keywords: authority, obedience, authoritarianism, power, resistance, legitimacy, rational authority, irrational authority, Foucault, Milgram, Weber, Fromm, Auctoritas

Support the show

Send us a text

We’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, civil rights expanded dignity, unions gave us weekends, and technology reshaped daily life. These are real victories. But is “progress” always as liberating as it seems?

In this episode of American Socrates, Matt unpacks the Enlightenment’s faith in progress and sets it against Nietzsche’s hard critique. Nietzsche warned that progress often disguises control, breeds conformity, and makes us weaker — creating what he called the “last man,” content with comfort but stripped of greatness. Along the way, we touch on labor reforms, civil rights, suburban sprawl, social media activism, and Adorno & Horkheimer’s culture industry.

The clash matters now more than ever. Is progress empowering us, or taming us? Does it free us, or merely add new rules? And how can we tell the difference?

By the end, you’ll walk away with three practical questions for judging whether so-called progress is worth pursuing — in your own life, in your community, and in our world.

Keywords: philosophy podcast, Nietzsche, Enlightenment, progress, civil rights, critical thinking, culture industry, American Socrates

Support the show

Send us a text

In 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 Matt shares his own working-class story of being treated like a machine. Then, we explore why jobs so often leave us feeling unseen, drawing on the ideas of philosophers like Hegel and Marx.

We’ll uncover why recognition at work matters, why employers often withhold it, and how that shapes our sense of self. Finally, we’ll talk about how to resist the trap of “job = identity” and reclaim our humanity beyond the paycheck.

This is a practical episode for anyone who’s ever felt alienated at work, hustled for scraps of respect, or wondered if there’s more to life than being what your boss needs.

Keywords: work and identity, recognition, alienation, Marx, Hegel, working-class philosophy, dignity, meaning, American Socrates

Support the show

Send us a text

In 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 independent thought from Descartes’ method of doubt to Kant’s Sapere Aude and Mill’s defense of individuality, showing how these timeless ideas apply to working-class life today. Learn the cognitive pitfalls that make independent thinking hard — from confirmation bias to motivated reasoning — and discover practical tools to question claims, check evidence, and engage thoughtfully with others. Whether you’re scrolling your feed, navigating workplace chatter, or just trying to make sense of the news, this episode gives you the skills to reason with humility, curiosity, and courage.

Keywords: independent thinking, critical thinking, misinformation, Descartes, Kant, Mill, working-class philosophy, cognitive biases, reasoning skills.

Support the show

Send us a text

In 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 Viktor Frankl’s powerful reflections from Man’s Search for Meaning, we explore two very different visions of the good life.

We unpack what happiness meant for Epicurus — simple living, freedom from fear, and joy in friendship — and contrast it with Frankl’s claim that meaning, not comfort, sustains us through suffering. Along the way, we look at modern psychology, the trap of consumerism, and the everyday struggles of working people facing debt, burnout, and uncertainty.

By the end, you’ll be equipped to reflect on your own life with practical questions: Am I living just to avoid pain, or for something bigger? Do I confuse comfort with fulfillment? What gives me strength when life gets rough?

This isn’t an abstract debate — it’s a guide for anyone who wants to live more intentionally, with clarity about what really matters.

Support the show

Send us a text

In 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 behind private insurance and government-administered systems, compares U.S. outcomes to Canada, the UK, and France, and highlights the real impact on working-class families. From sky-high premiums and medical debt to universal coverage and preventive care, this episode explores what health care systems really deliver—and how ordinary people can fight for a fairer, more reliable system. Keywords: health care, Medicare, Medicaid, universal health care, free-market health insurance, medical debt, working-class reality, health care reform, single-payer, insurance coverage, public health, health equity.

ringing tone, answering, then hanging up by alex36917 -- https://freesound.org/s/676348/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

Special Guest: Krista Apple as the concerned mother.

Support the show

Send us a text

In 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 politics, and our daily lives. But what does “profit first” really mean for workers, communities, and democracy?

In this episode of American Socrates, we dig into Friedman’s famous essay and its consequences. We explore how corporations gained legal power as “agents” of shareholders, why critics like Joseph Stiglitz and Elizabeth Anderson say this logic ignores workers and communities, and how real-world disasters—from Boeing’s 737 Max crashes to Volkswagen’s emissions scandal—show the dangers of profit-maximization at any cost.

We also examine today’s debates around ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) investing, corporate greenwashing, and bipartisan laws that protect creditors while leaving working people vulnerable. Along the way, we ask the hard question: if corporations are designed to pursue profit above all else, how can we make them accountable to the people whose lives they affect every day?

Support the show