Lunch with Jamie: Scott Galloway on "Resist & Unsubscribe" – The Most Effective Form of Protest
Host: Jamie Patricof
Guest: Scott Galloway
Date: February 5, 2026
Episode Overview
In this thought-provoking episode, Jamie Patricof sits with influential thinker and outspoken commentator Scott Galloway to explore his latest initiative: the "Resist & Unsubscribe" movement. The discussion centers around the limits of traditional protest, harnessing consumer spending for societal impact, and why opting out of certain subscriptions could be the next powerful form of resistance, especially in the current political climate. Scott shares the personal and political events that led to his activism and offers practical advice for listeners ready to take action—even in small steps.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Concept Behind "Resist & Unsubscribe"
[04:30] Scott Galloway defines the movement:
- Anxiety & Helplessness: Scott explains his frustration and anxiety over current events—"massed secret police in our cities, total overrun of branches of government, parents being shot in the face, ICU nurses serving veterans murdered."
- Action Absorbs Anxiety: Citing Dan Harris, Scott says, "Action absorbs anxiety. I talk about this stuff, but I wanted to do more."
- Economic Leverage: Traditional protests are symbolic, but what truly influences the Trump administration is market impact. Scott notes: "It's only been one thing happens, and that is the market's response... when the tenure goes up or the stock market goes back."
- Consumer Power: Since consumers drive 70% of the U.S. economy and 40% of the S&P is concentrated in ten companies—most sensitive to subscription growth—he sees mass unsubscribing as a pressure point.
- Collective Action: Unsubscribing from platforms (e.g., "ChatGPT, that's $240, but it's trading at a 40x revenue. That effectively hurts the market cap by $10,000") is positioned as a way to send a message to both companies and policymakers.
- Infrastructure: Scott built resistandunsubscribe.com to make it easy for people to take action, offering lists for "ground zero" (the Magnificent Ten) and the "blast zone" (companies directly enabling objectionable activities, like AT&T and Hilton).
2. The Personal Side: Family & Privilege
[08:01] Navigating Unsubscribing at Home:
- Family Resistance: Scott recounts, "We get what you're doing, dad, but this isn't going to make any difference. And why are we paying the price for your political ambitions or ideology?"
- Temporary Sacrifice: Agreement was made to reduce entertainment platforms for a fixed time—"from six streaming platforms down to one for the month of February." Canceling Netflix was a step too far with his kids: "I got that look from my sons of memo to self, smother dad in sleep tonight."
- Acknowledging Privilege: Scott shares, "This is a story of privilege... I spent $35,000 on Uber last year." He's scaling down, using public transit, and treating this as an opportunity to recalibrate spending.
3. The Practical and Psychological Impact
[10:30] & [11:13] Personal Finance Meets Collective Action:
- Not Forever: The unsubscribing effort is not necessarily permanent—"this is temporary for the most part."
- Incremental Change: Jamie references Cory Booker's quote: "Don't let your inability to do everything undermine your ability to do something."
- ROI of Unsubscribing: "I can't think of a greater ROI relative to consumer effort," says Scott, emphasizing impact over effort. Unsubscribing from just one subscription-based tech company has outsized market effect compared to, say, boycotting a grocery chain.
4. Protests vs. Economic Leverage
[11:13] & [13:18] Comparing Methods:
- Protests Are Valuable, But... Scott admires traditional protests but challenges their effectiveness: "I worry sometimes it's more cinematic than it is effective."
- Virtual Protest: Jamie suggests organizing a "digital protest day," where everyone unsubscribes simultaneously for maximum effect.
5. Early Results & Media Attention
[14:27] Measuring Impact:
- Rapid Growth: "Site got 6,000 unique visits on Friday... today somewhere between 120 and 200,000," says Scott.
- Anecdotal Evidence: Increased screenshots of cancellations, media requests from high school seniors, and small business inquiries.
- The Real Leverage: "It's usually not the economic impact immediately. It's media bringing attention to the idea of economic impact."
- Personal Risk: Scott wanted to step out from "heckling from the cheap seats" to "actually do something," accepting criticism from some activists for not coordinating more but valuing independent action and momentum.
6. The Tipping Point: Why Now?
[17:54] The Breaking Point:
- Cumulative Outrage: Scott references the murder of ICU nurse Alex Prady, the expansion of "secret police," and disturbing leadership rhetoric.
- Historical Echoes: "This is beginning to have really strong echoes of early 30s Germany. What's going on here?" He’s careful to avoid direct comparisons but warns of the dangers of passive complicity.
- Specific Trigger: Secretary Noem's press conference labeling Alex Prady a "domestic terrorist" after his death galvanized Scott: "That was the moment I said, all right, I'm not going to let perfect be the enemy of good. I'm going to do ready, fire, aim."
7. Voting, Investing, and Supporting the "Good Guys"
[21:08] Jamie’s Reminder:
- Everyone Must Vote: Jamie emphasizes, "Everybody's got to vote, right? That's not optional if you live in America, live in a democracy."
- Voting With Dollars: Scott is now selling down his Apple and Amazon stock, planning to move assets from Goldman Sachs as a statement: "I'm going to vote with my feet in my wallet in addition to unsubscribing from Apple tv. Plus I'm going to sell my Apple stock."
- Fairness and Responsibility: He acknowledges that such actions aren't possible or necessary for everyone—"I'm not suggesting everybody needs to be thoughtful around providing economic security for them and their families."
8. Corporate Leadership and International Implications
[22:28] & [25:21] The Responsibility of CEOs:
- Corporate Silence: Scott is disappointed by the lack of public stances by tech and finance leaders.
- International Backlash: "You’re seeing big tech firms kicked out of Western Europe... American services firms will pay a price."
- Encouraging Positive Deviance: Jamie and Scott discuss highlighting and financially supporting corporate leaders taking ethical stands, mentioning Evan Spiegel of Snap as someone doing it right.
9. Fed Chair Appointment
[26:43] Scott’s Take:
- Relief at the Pick: "I was worried it was going to be Eric Trump. He's very qualified."
- Checks and Balances: Even as new people take official roles, former leaders like Jerome Powell will continue to exert influence behind the scenes.
- Financial Appointments vs. Others: "At least he chooses competent people... this is one area that he takes seriously."
10. Fatherhood & Positive Stories
[28:14] Personal Notes:
- Scott Praises Jamie’s Movie: "The reason why I love Roofman so much...the theme running through that thing is how a father's need and obligation to protect can manifest in very unhealthy ways...I really enjoyed it."
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Consumer Power:
"If we're going to kick them, let's kick them in the balls. And the testicles are subscription tech revenues that are responsible for a disproportionate amount of market cap."
— Scott Galloway [11:13] -
On Taking Action Despite Imperfection:
"Don't let your inability to do everything undermine your ability to do something."
— Jamie Patricof quoting Cory Booker [10:30] -
On the Tipping Point:
"The moment where I got...I just said, I gotta do something was...when Secretary Noem gave a press conference after what I believe is manslaughter and murder of Alex Prady and said that he was a domestic terrorist...I was just so upset at that moment. I thought, this is our leadership as people basically going to the grave of a man who tried to care for veterans and literally shitting all over it."
— Scott Galloway [17:54] -
On Protests vs. Economic Action:
"I worry sometimes, Jamie, it's more cinematic than it is effective."
— Scott Galloway [11:13] -
On Voting:
"Everybody's got to vote, right? That's the thing. That's not optional if you live in America, live in a democracy."
— Jamie Patricof [21:08]
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 04:30 – Scott introduces "Resist & Unsubscribe" and its economic rationale
- 08:01 – Challenges of unsubscribing at home; navigating family reactions
- 10:30 – The idea that action can be temporary and personalized; Booker's quote
- 11:13 – Subscription economics and highest-impact actions for consumers
- 14:27 – Early results, media impact, and personal reflections on risk
- 17:54 – The personal breaking point: Alex Prady's murder and political rhetoric
- 22:28 – Selling tech stocks, moving money as protest
- 26:43 – Thoughts on the new Fed chair
- 28:14 – Scott praises Jamie’s movie "Roofman" for its depiction of fatherhood
Closing Tone
The episode is purpose-driven, candid, and urgent, blending political activism with personal vulnerability, practical advice, and a commitment to making an impact—no matter the size of the gesture. Both Jamie and Scott encourage listeners to do what they can, emphasize the importance of collective action, and highlight the personal and national significance of “resisting and unsubscribing” in turbulent times.
For more episodes and to join the conversation, visit jamieslist.com or listen via your preferred podcast platform.