This podcast explores a narrative that defines American identity: the blind trust we place in the wealthy and beautiful. Has our country been ridden of critical thinking due to this trust? Where do we go from here? First, we go into some background and history. This narrative has altered the sustainability of major American structures like capitalism and democracy. Throughout history, we’ve also struggled to understand the depth of our actions before trying to demonstrate success. Current economic and social trends, such as brand advertisement on instagram reflect our trust in the beautiful and wealthy as well.Then we have an interview with Viniyanka Prasad, the founder of the non-profit organisation The Word: A Storytelling Sanctuary, which promotes diverse voices in literature and publication. Access their website here: https://www.thewordfordiversity.org The interview will go into how literary narratives change perspectives, the voices we’re lacking, and the impacts of hearing who we hear from (namely the beautiful and rich). We also talk about how and why to act out and create change.Also if you want to access the speech mentioned later in the episode, you can see that here: https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mitchlandrieuconfederatemonuments.htm Works cited “American Democracy Promotion in the Middle East and North Africa.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 4 Feb. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_democracy_promotion_in_the_Middle_East_and_North_Africa.American Rhetoric Staff. “Mitch Landrieu On the Removal of Four Confederate Monuments in New Orleans.” American Rhetoric: Online Speech Bank, 11 July 2018, www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mitchlandrieuconfederatemonuments.htm.Forbes Staff. “Elizabeth Holmes.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, www.forbes.com/profile/elizabeth-holmes/#3efec5d447a7.Goldstein, Dana. “Is the U.S. a Democracy? A Social Studies Battle Turns on the Nation's Values.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 7 Apr. 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/04/07/us/usa-democracy.html.Jason, Scott. “Educate the Public, Keep Democracy Thriving.” The New York Times Archive, The New York Times, 19 July 2005, archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/ref/college/collegespecial9/adp-essayjaso.html.McCarthy , Margaret. “Did Elizabeth Holmes Delude Smart Men by Acting Like a Man?” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 2019, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/sexx-matters/201905/did-elizabeth-holmes-delude-smart-men-acting-man.The Word Staff. “Welcome to The Word .” The Word, The Word: A Storytelling Sanctuary , 2019, www.thewordfordiversity.org/.American Lit and American History coursework at Colorado Academy