The Toxic Nature of Hustle Culture: The Mythology of the American Worker.
Unf*cking The Republic
How Platforms Atomize Workers' Power
Host asks how gig platforms alter labor relations and describes algorithms, measurement gaps, and precarious outcomes for gig workers.
Hustle Culture relies on the toxic myth of rugged individualism. Four out of every ten Americans rely on “side-hustles” in the gig economy to make ends meet. For many these side hustles are the only source of income. For decades our political leaders have sold the myth of self-reliance rather than bolstering worker protections. The result is a population that lives in economic precarity and without the benefits and peace of mind associated with steady labor guarantees. There’s nothing inherently wrong with entrepreneurism but our political economy takes advantage of this mindset to strip away safety nets and blame those who cannot fend for themselves.
Chapters
Intro: 00:00:39
Chapter One: The Bipartisan Consensus on Self-Reliance. 00:04:01
Chapter Two: The Psychology of Rugged Individualism. 00:10:27
Chapter Three: The AI Acceleration: Nothing New Here. 00:16:52
Chapter Four: Reimagining Work. 00:24:37
Resources
Economic Policy Institute: National survey of gig workers paints a picture of poor working conditions, low pay
Upwork: Freelance Forward 2023
MBO Partners: Authentic and Intentional: State of Independence in America 2024
ADP Research: Illuminating the Shadow Workforce: Insights into the Gig Workforce in Businesses
Bureau of Labor Statistics: Union Membership (Annual) News Release
Bureau of Labor Statistics: Union Members Summary
Bureau of Labor Statistics: Civilian labor force participation rate
Axios: Behind the Curtain: A white-collar bloodbath
St. Louis Federal Reserve (FRED): Labor Force Participation Rate
Economic Policy Institute: 16 million workers were unionized in 2024
Book Love
Giovanni Arrighi: The Long Twentieth Century: Money, Power and the Origins of Our Times
UNFTR Resources
Un-Cooperative: Why Worker Co-Ops Don’t Work in America.
Strike! Reality checking the labor movement.
Understanding Socialism: A History of Socialist Thought from Beccaria to Trotsky.
Video: What They Don’t Tell You About Hustle Culture
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Unf*cking the Republic is produced by 99 and engineered by Manny Faces Media (mannyfacesmedia.com). Original music is by Tom McGovern (tommcgovern.com). The show is hosted by Max and distributed by 99.
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