EP 436: The Myth of Rugged Individualism—and Hope for Something More (Remix)

This episode originally ran on May 25, 2022. It's been lightly remixed for today's release!

“Rugged individualism” is the very language we speak in America. It shapes the way we approach work, family, and society. And rugged individualism has a direct impact on the decisions we make about our businesses and careers. In this short episode, I unpack where rugged individualism comes from and highlight a different way forward.

Footnotes:

• Rugged Individualism Monologue by Terry Smith 
• "The Myth of Rugged Individualism” by Robert Reich
• “We’d Like To Thank You, Herbert Hoover” from Annie
• Individualism and Economic Order by Friedrich Hayek
• Hope in the Dark by Rebecca Solnit
• “The Philosophers: Loneliness & Totalitarianism” on Vox Conversations

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What is What Works?

Work is central to the human experience. It helps us shape our identities, care for those we love, and contribute to our communities. Work can be a source of power and a catalyst for change. Unfortunately, that's not how most of us experience work—even those who work for themselves. Our labor and creative spirit are used to enrich others and maintain the status quo. It's time for an intervention. What Works is a show about rethinking work, business, and leadership for the 21st-century economy. Host Tara McMullin covers money, management, culture, media, philosophy, and more to figure out what's working (and what's not) today. Tara offers a distinctly interdisciplinary approach to deep-dive analysis of how we work and how work shapes us.