The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway

Episode: Is Scott Friends with Tech CEOs?, Who Should Run in 2028, and Overcoming Rejection
Date: February 23, 2026
Host: Scott Galloway
Format: Office Hours Q&A

Episode Overview

In this episode, Scott Galloway tackles questions from listeners about his relationships with tech CEOs, his picks for the 2028 presidential race, and the personal habits that have most shaped his professional journey. Blending frank assessments of the tech and political landscapes with candid personal stories, Scott delivers his signature brand of hard-hitting analysis and self-deprecating humor.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Does Scott Get Heat from Tech Executives? (Starts ~02:10)

• Polite Pushback from Big Tech:
  Scott explains that, despite his critical stance on tech companies and their leaders, he rarely faces overt backlash from those at the top.

  “Their response when you are critical of them is, ‘Hey Scott, I'd love to meet the next time in town, let's have lunch.’ And I almost always say, no, I don't want to know them.” (03:10)

• Why Scott Declines CEO Invitations:
  He intentionally avoids meeting tech leaders, noting their personal charm is a strategic asset to win over critics.

  “I have no desire to understand how charming someone is who's figured out a business model to convince young people to start cutting themselves.” (03:30)

• Pushback from Unexpected Places:
  While tech execs use politeness to potentially co-opt critics, Scott says harsher responses come from academics and venture capitalists (VCs).

  • After critiquing higher education, he received three cease-and-desist letters from universities.

  “It's just funny that the people who come after me most aggressively would be other academics.” (05:00)

  • From VCs:

  “I looked at their portfolio and their portfolio is basically a septic tank of shit.” (06:20)

• Online Pushback and Bots:
  Most aggressive online criticism comes from bot accounts, possibly tied to foreign actors like the GRU and the CCP, especially when he expresses pro-Ukraine views.

• Summary Insight:
  Scott identifies that tech leaders' approach is to co-opt through charm rather than confrontation, while most overt criticism comes from sectors he least expects.

2. Who Should Run for President in 2028? (Starts ~10:20)

• On VP Harris:
  Scott does not support Vice President Harris for a 2028 run due to concerns about her candidacy, including the risk of prolonged setbacks for future female Democratic candidates.

  “I would not like to see Vice President Harris run again…if a woman runs for a third time and loses on the Democratic ticket, we're not going to have a female Democratic president for 50 years.” (10:40)

• His Bench Picks:
  Praises a range of Democratic politicians, naming Governors Shapiro, Newsom, Whitmer, Moore; Secretary Buttigieg; Senators Murphy and Bennet.

  “I'm giving money and time to all of them because I have a habit of picking people who don't win.” (12:05)

• Track Record as a Backer:
  Scott pokes fun at his own political instincts, recounting his support for losing Democratic candidates like Dukakis and Senator Michael Bennett.

• Polls and Prediction:
  Citing examples like Rudy Giuliani, Herman Cain, and Fred Thompson, Scott argues being an early front-runner rarely predicts eventual party nominees.

  “Being at the top right now isn't necessarily a good thing.” (14:00) “If I had to bet on somebody, it would be TBD and that is, nobody had heard of Bill Clinton or Barack Obama at this point.” (14:40)

• On the Primary Process:
  Scott champions competitive primaries, not coronations, for producing candidates suited for the moment, contrasting this with the Democratic Party's approach to Biden.

  “If you were to let the primary process run, it's an incredible process because it not only picks the right person, it picks the right person for the moment.” (16:09)

• Republican Moderation:
  Expresses hope for moderate Republican candidates like Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis (though he wouldn’t vote for the latter).

  “Governor DeSantis is someone I could work with. He seems very data driven, served his country. Is he who I will vote for…? Absolutely not. But he seems reasonable.” (18:00)

• His Commitment:
  Scott pledges involvement in highlighting moderate, competent candidates to “make America America again.”

3. Overcoming Rejection and Professional Success (Starts ~23:40)

• Scott's "Superpower":
  Candidly details personal and professional rejections: asking out women, losing student elections, business failures, and job applications.

  “I have the ability to get shot in the fucking face, and then a little bit like Wolverine, I heal and I get up and I try again. That is my superpower.” (24:40)

• Perspective-Reset Practice:
  Shares a moving story about how he manages self-pity: he keeps a photo of Otto Frank in his home, reflecting twice daily on Frank's hardships for perspective.

  “I look at Otto, and I imagine just like, where does he go from here after experiencing what he’s experienced?...I have some inconveniences in my life, but I have no problems.” (26:05)

• Self-Compassion and Comparison:
  Scott admits to bouts of self-pity and cures them by comparing his “worst days” to the suffering of others historically.

  • Reiterates gratitude for his circumstances, acknowledging that many people have had it far worse.

• Notable Weakness:
  He identifies his own tendency for self-pity as a major weakness and actively works to overcome it using these perspective techniques.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Tech CEO Charm:

  “They’re nice to you…would you like to get together? By the way, would you ever consider speaking at one of our events for which I'm sure they would pay me my full freight? I don't do that.” (05:30)

• On Academic Pushback:

  “The people who would come after me most aggressively would be other academics.” (05:02)

• On the Primary Process:

  “It is not easy to go to Iowa and pretend like fried snickers. It is not easy to listen to a bunch of old people in Florida and hear about their concerns and them drone on.” (15:55)

• On Mourning and Moving On:

  “My superpower is that I'm able to mourn and move on. And I'm not afraid of public failure.” (27:50)

• On Perspective:

  “I'm washed over with the truth…that I may have some inconveniences in my life, but I have no problems.” (28:40)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 02:10 – Discussion of tech leaders’ reaction to criticism
• 06:40 – Pushback from VCs and academics
• 10:20 – Presidential picks and primary analysis
• 14:40 – Early frontrunners rarely succeed in primaries
• 16:20 – Why a competitive primary is important
• 18:00 – Views on moderate Republicans
• 23:40 – On dealing with failure and rejection
• 26:05 – Scott’s Otto Frank photo perspective ritual
• 28:40 – Closing reflections on gratitude and self-pity

Summary

Scott Galloway offers his unique, sharp assessment of both Silicon Valley and US politics, reinforcing his stance as a provocateur unafraid of pushback. This episode stands out for its blend of industry insight and heartfelt life advice, most notably his honest reflections on failure and perspective. For listeners seeking candor on business, politics, and personal growth—with plenty of wit and a few well-placed expletives—Scott delivers.