The Rich Roll Podcast Let’s Make The World Wildly Better: Rutger Bregman On Moral Ambition
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Dec 15, 2025 
Rutger Bregman, a Dutch historian and bestselling author, dives into the concept of 'moral ambition'—a call to channel privilege into meaningful societal change. He discusses the alarming truth that many view their jobs as useless and highlights the ethical failures of factory farming. Bregman emphasizes coalition-building for social movements and advocates for making philanthropy aspirational. He also critiques performative charity while promoting practical reforms in food systems, urging listeners to engage in impactful causes.
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Redirect Talent Toward Lasting Impact
- Moral ambition is using your privilege and human capital to build a legacy that truly matters.
- Rutger Bregman argues talented people are stuck in jobs that don't advance society and should be redirected to big challenges.
Many Professionals See Their Jobs As Useless
- About 25% of people in developed economies view their jobs as socially useless.
- These 'bullshit jobs' concentrate in finance, consulting, corporate law and marketing, wasting talent when big problems need solving.
Calculate Your Career Hours
- Ask what you want to do with ~80,000 career hours and whether your work aligns with that purpose.
- Use that reflection to nudge ambitious people from prestige-driven roles toward meaningful careers.
