The Case for Making Up with China, and Which Car Company Is Winning the Energy Crisis?

Summary

The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway

Episode: The Case for Making Up with China, and Which Car Company Is Winning the Energy Crisis?
Date: April 24, 2026
Host: Scott Galloway

---

Brief Overview

In this Office Hours episode, Scott Galloway fields listener questions on three major topics: the rise of China as a global superpower and the future of US-China relations, which automakers are best positioned to capitalize on the current energy crisis, and the impact of American urban design on the social and emotional lives of young men. Drawing from recent global events, policy shifts, and his personal observations, Scott unpacks economic trends and societal shifts with his trademark candor and data-driven insight.

---

1. The Case for Making Up with China

(Begins at 01:36)

Main Theme

Scott explores China’s transformation from a rising power to having “arrived,” highlighting its advances in technology, manufacturing, and global influence. He calls for a strategic reset in US-China relations, arguing mutual cooperation could bring significant benefits.

Key Discussion Points

• China Has Risen, Not Rising:

  • China has moved beyond being an “emerging” power; it’s now a peer superpower.

    “China isn’t rising anymore. It’s risen. They’re here, they’ve arrived.” — Scott Galloway (01:47)

• Innovation Despite Lower GDP Per Capita:

  • China ranks 10th in the 2025 Global Innovation Index, ahead of Germany, Japan, and France, despite GDP per capita of ~$13,000.
  • Achievements in tech and manufacturing are unprecedented for a middle-income country.

• Frontier Tech Leadership:

  • AI (Deepseek) shows China can match US capabilities at lower cost; chip controls haven’t slowed them.
  • Domination in EVs, batteries, solar, wind, robotics.
  • China now files more AI patents annually than all other economies combined and manufactures the majority of industrial robots, high speed rail, and batteries globally.

• Speed & Scale as Moat:

  • The real advantage is regulatory speed—China can move from design to deployment fast.

    “They regulate for speed, we regulate for control.” — Scott Galloway (05:02)

• Soft vs. Hard Power:

  • US economic pressure contrasts with China’s strategic control of rare earths and investment in global relationships.
  • US’s "America First" policy is pushing partners towards China, making it the more reliable global partner in the eyes of many.

• Challenges & Counterpoints:

  • Economic imbalances: booming exports but weak domestic consumption, real estate crisis.
  • Demographic drags: aging population, low birthrate, youth unemployment, institutional concerns.

    “Youth unemployment is a growing problem and Xi’s recent purge of the top military commander raises concerns about loyalty, institutional competence and how secure he actually is.” — Scott Galloway (07:30)

• Future of US-China Relations:

  • Mutual benefits in working together; combining US innovation/capital with China’s supply chain would lower global costs.
  • Calls for strategic trade policy, not just blame.
  • US still maintains military superiority, but economic and tech leadership is less clear-cut.

    “Can you imagine how powerful we’d be if the Chinese and the US decided they had shared interests and...coordinated?” — Scott Galloway (09:51)

  • Scott is bullish on China as an investment and warns US power is no longer uncontested.

Memorable Quotes

• “China now files more generative AI patents annually than all other economies combined... The real moat isn’t any single technology. It’s their ability to move from design to scale to deployment.” — Scott Galloway (04:31)
• “I personally believe we should kiss and make up with China. I think that...working together you just bring down the cost of everything everyone buys around the world by 3 to 10%.” — Scott Galloway (09:07)

---

2. Which Car Company Is Winning the Energy Crisis?

(Begins at 11:05)

Main Theme

Scott discusses the automotive company best positioned to capitalize in a time of high energy prices, drawing a parallel to the 1970s oil crisis and the rise of Japanese carmakers.

Key Discussion Points

• History Rhymes:

  • 1970s oil crisis propelled unknown Japanese automakers onto the global stage.
  • Today’s energy crisis (spurred by the Iran war) is catalyzing consumer shift to EVs.

• Market Data

  • Non-Tesla EVs sales tripled in France, spiked in the UK and Australia after the Iran crisis started.
  • High oil prices ("$100 oil") are now pushing EV adoption and making alternative energy investments more attractive.

• Who’s Winning?

  • BYD leads the way:
    • Rapid sales growth, global expansion, immense interest in Southeast Asia.
  • Geely:
    • Captured nearly a quarter of global EV sales in Q4 2025.
    • Shares up significantly since the Iran war.
  • Tesla:
    • Retains some advantage in North America, but losing ground in Europe and globally. Sales dropped in the US and European market share nearly halved in 2025 due to political and perception issues.

• Why BYD is the “new Honda”:

  • Value proposition is "70-80% of a Tesla for 40% of the price."

    “I think it’s the Old Navy or the Southwest of EVs.” — Scott Galloway (13:52)

• Western Automakers Fumble:

  • Ford, GM, Stellantis, Honda wrote off $70 billion in EV investments after a demand slowdown, then the crisis reignited the market.

    “Geez, I just can’t get it right. When they exit, then the war happens and EVs go crazy.” — Scott Galloway (12:48)

• Potential Risks:

  • Lower oil prices could sap urgency, but the long-term shift toward EVs seems likely, much as the 1970s oil shock had lasting policy effects.

Memorable Quotes

• “BYD maybe Geely... accounted for nearly a quarter of all EVs sold globally in Q4 2025. Geely shares are up almost 50% since the beginning of the Iran war.” — Scott Galloway (12:07)
• “It’s like 70 or 80% of a Tesla for 40% of the price.” — Scott Galloway (13:52)
• “When I first moved to New York, you could kind of dance between the raindrops. Now...unless you have rich parents or you’re extraordinary, you’re in tech or finance, there’s just no way, no way.” — Scott Galloway (21:54)

---

3. Urban Design, Loneliness, and Young Men

(Begins at 16:45)

Main Theme

A listener asks how American urban planning—suburbia, car-centric culture, and urban design—influences the emotional and social wellbeing of young men.

Key Discussion Points

• Commuting Saps Social Capital:

  • Every 10 minutes spent commuting reduces social capital by 10%.

    “If you’re spending all your time in a car, you don’t have time to join sports leagues or go to church or go to bars.” — Scott Galloway (16:55)

• Cities Offer Opportunity, But Are Lonely Places:

  • Two-thirds of global economic growth will occur in 20 cities, which draw talented people, especially women, resulting in gender imbalance.
  • Men are more likely to stay in rural areas or at home longer, women migrate to cities.
  • The result: more women than men in cities, and men need higher incomes to be considered “viable” mates in expensive cities.

• Dating, Economics, & Loneliness:

  • City life is optimized for “rich men and hot women”; others often feel lonely.

    “Cities are the most crowded places in the world with the most lonely people.” — Scott Galloway (18:54)

• Barriers to Living in Cities:

  • Skyrocketing rents, cost of living, and social capital locked behind “giant velvet rope” (wealth or earning power).

• Reflections on City Life:

  • Despite current vibrancy (“New York right now is Elysium...it’s in a golden age”), affordability and inclusivity are mounting challenges.

• Potential Solutions:

  • More affordable housing, improved transit, higher minimum wage to help more people access city life.

Memorable Quotes

• “It is so expensive to be in a city that your currency as a man is even more dependent upon your ability to make a living such that you can date.” — Scott Galloway (18:03)
• “Cities are the most crowded places in the world with the most lonely people.” — Scott Galloway (18:54)
• “No one has a birthright to live in a city. But...we want to create more economic incentives for...affordable housing in the US.” — Scott Galloway (21:01)

---

Timestamps of Key Topics

• China’s rise and US-China relationship: 01:36–11:05
• Car companies and the energy crisis: 11:05–15:20
• Urban planning and the male loneliness crisis: 16:45–22:15

---

Conclusion

This engaging Office Hours episode showcases Scott's ability to blend global macro analysis with personal perspective and cultural commentary. The US-China relationship is at a tipping point, EVs are rewriting the rules for automakers amid a global energy crisis, and American urbanism presents both unprecedented opportunity and profound loneliness—especially for young men. Across topics, Scott calls for strategic pragmatism and policy that reflects new realities.

---

Notable Quotes Recap

• “China isn’t rising anymore. It’s risen. They’re here, they’ve arrived.” (01:47)
• “They regulate for speed, we regulate for control.” (05:02)
• “I personally believe we should kiss and make up with China.” (09:07)
• “It’s like 70 or 80% of a Tesla for 40% of the price.” (13:52)
• “Cities are the most crowded places in the world with the most lonely people.” (18:54)

---

For more questions or to submit your own, visit the Scott Galloway subreddit or email [e-mail].

Transcript

[Adobe Acrobat Narrator]

Adobe Acrobat, your team's home base. Collaborate within a shared PDF space. You've got your docs, your plans, your specs, and then invite the crew to build what's next. They talk off the teamwork. Here's an updated render. They think that this design could be a contender. And when somebody wonders what's the next steps? AI helps you finish the rest. Bolts are tight now your plan's refined. Run a smoother business when you're on the line. Do that with Acrobat.

[Dan Egan]

Learn [e-mail] Dothatwith Acrobat this message comes from Betterment. Betterment's Dan Egan talks about tax loss harvesting. Tax loss harvesting is a tax management strategy. When you have a position that's gone down over time. We intentionally sell out of it to realize a loss, which we then say to the irs, hey, we lost money. You get to use that to offset your ordinary income every year, decreasing your tax burden. Investing involves risk performance, not guaranteed. Betterment does not offer tax advice. TLH may not be suitable for all customers. Learn [e-mail] TLH terms Adobe Acrobat, your team's home base.

[Adobe Acrobat Narrator]

Collaborate within a shared PDF space. You've got your docs, your plans, your specs, and then invite the crew to build what's next? They talk off the teamwork. Here's an updated render. They think that this design could be a contender. But when somebody wonders what's the next step? AI helps you finish the rest. Bolts are tight. Now your plan's refined. Run a smoother business when you're on the line. Do that with Acrobat. Learn [e-mail] dothatwith acrobat.

[Scott Galloway]

Welcome to Office Hours with Prof. G. This is the part of the show where we answer questions about business, big tech, entrepreneurship, and whatever else is on your mind. If you'd like to submit a question for next time, you can send a voice recording to officehoursowsoftymedia.com Again, that's officehoursoffertymedia.com or post your question on the Scott Galloway subreddit and we just might feature it in our next episode. Question number one Our first question comes from Simple On Reddit, they say you have an entire podcast about China, but we don't hear you speak about China too often. What are your thoughts on China closing the gap as a global superpower? General thoughts about their progress in technology, manufacturing, green energy, military capabilities, economic positioning, and infrastructure growth. Where do you see the China and the US China relationship ending up in a few years I need a bigger boat. So China, China isn't rising anymore. It's risen. They're here, they've arrived. The framing of China is emerging as outdated. At Davos, most recently in February this year, the World Economic Forum noted that China is no longer, oh, it's in January. And China is no longer asking the world to believe in its future potential. It's asking the world to adjust to what has already become. It's decided, look, potentially we're the superpower now. And now more people globally trust China. I believe China is a force of good in the world versus the us which is more of an indictment on the US than it is a plus statement for China. China is the first middle income country to crack the top 10 most innovative economies globally. Ranked 10th in the 2025 Global Innovation Index, ahead of Germany, Japan and France according to the LSE Business Review. Achieved this at GDP per capita of around $13,000, which is roughly 1/6 of America's GDP per capita. No country's ever done that before. So in technology and manufacturing, it's not really a race anymore. Deepseek demonstrated two things that China can match Frontier AI at a fraction of the US training costs and chip export controls would not stall them. That was sort of a, I don't even call it an Apollo moment or a Spandex moment. Made in China 2025. It's the policy the US laughed at, quietly delivered. China now dominates EVs, batteries, solar, wind, robotics, they've. Look at what's going on in Iran. This is all about energy. The flow of energy is the flow of power. And if you construct the flow of energy, you, you have power. And China said, we don't want to be dependent upon the Gulf or the US or other oil exporting nations. And we're going to make, you know, they lead in EVs, they lead in solar panel production. They are. They've brought online more nuclear power plant capacity in the last 10 years than we ever brought on. They produced more solar last year than we've ever produced. China now files more generative AI patents annually than all other economies combined. So think about that. And they count for 41% of the world's industrial robots, more than 70% of high speed rail, and more than 75% of batteries sold globally. Jesus. The real moat isn't any single technology. It's their ability to move from design to scale to deployment. And it's remarkably faster than any of its peers. So they regulate for speed, we regulate for control. Some of their key advantages China doesn't need to match U.S. economic scale to win. It controls choke points. 94% of rare earth magnets critical to U.S. defenses and tech manufacturing, they control. This exposes sort of, you know, what is arguably a real flaw in Trump's strategy. The US is fighting with broad economic pressure while China has already secured the specific pressure points that actually matter. And then China is embracing something that we're expunging or getting rid of. And that is an investment in soft power. And it makes sense. A global Oxford study found that Trump's America first posture is actively repelling countries toward Beijing. His disavowal of the liberal international order may have given people license to build stronger ties with Beijing. They're seen as the more reliable partner right now, which is scary. According to Pew, 41% of people globally, and I mentioned this before, now see China as the world's leading economy versus 39% for the US dramatic shift from just two years ago. And it's getting worse. The Iran war is handing China more diplomatic capital. The US is pulled back into the Middle east while Beijing positions itself as the stable, peaceful alternative. Some of the counterarguments, you know, it's definitely not game over. China's economy is lopsided. Its exports are booming, but consumer spending is pulling back. The property sector is depressed and over leveraged. The IMF has warned that export led model is having its limits. Demographics are kind of a, if you listen to Peter, Zion would say it's a crisis. Aging population, cratering birth rate, same structural drag that stalled Japan and then involution. And the feeling among young Chinese that hard work won't be rewarded is driving real disillusionment. Youth unemployment is a growing problem and Xi's recent purge of the top military commander raises concerns about loyalty, institutional competence and how secure he actually is. Bloomberg noted a tale of two Chinas, empty streets and economic anxiety alongside cutting edge autonomous factories. Whereas China, I personally believe we should kiss and make up with China. I think that if you were to the largest tax cut in history would arguably be that. China and the US are cooling in the thaw of US senior relations. We have IP and innovation and capital formation. They have the world's greatest supply chain and manufacturing capabilities. So I think working together you just bring down the cost of everything everyone buys around the world by 3 to 10%. At the same time, we need to recognize that we have had an asymmetric trade policy with China that has benefited them more than us. They effectively steal our IP and then sell our shit back to us at 40 to 60 cents on the dollar. So really thoughtful strategic trade policy. Stop all the finger pointing. Can you imagine how powerful we'd be if the Chinese and the US decided they had shared interests and, and militarily or kinetically and diplomatically tried to coordinate? I mean that would just be staggering. And I think some of that comes from a recognition that we are no longer the, you know, there's no longer a hegemony here. That while we'd like to stay the singular superpower, that's not going to be possible. And while we should probably, in my view maintain our military leadership, 700 bases overseas, nobody can deliver violence like us. I don't think China has an operating aircraft carrier. If they do, it doesn't have the capability. I think they have two overseas air bases or military bases. Anyways, I think there's reason to try and do a better job of getting along. I would go long China from an investment standpoint, although I think you have to be engaged in stock picking because the controls of the SEC there, it definitely seems a little bit more, I don't know, sketchy, if you will. And their FCC and their regulation is for control, ours is for growth, but there's just no getting around it. Every time I go to China, and I haven't been since pre Covid, I'm sort of blown away and I'm like, it's impossible not to take these people very, very seriously. And if you look at what's happening, I think we're probably ceding power to China in the Iranian conflict because they are, I mean they're dependent upon energy, but they built a lot of their own energy. They're seen as a more rational actor. I think it's like, quite frankly, despite the demographic problems, despite the over leveraged real estate market, they have the ability, and this is the advantage of an autocracy, to think more long term. They have 50 year plan plans, we have five month plans. They're high speed rail. They're able to. A third of air traffic is down between certain cities and that's a good thing because they have the largest network of high speed rail now in the world. Whereas our citizens United lets airlines and automobile companies get in the way of any. It's just fucking unbelievable. We don't have a high speed rail system in the United States. It's just unbelievable. But we have entrenched interests that get in the way at the same time, you know, our tech sector is still dominant, we still take more risks, we still have much better brands, much more creativity. So this is all a word salad to say, yeah, who's, who's the winner here, the US or China? And I think the answer is yes. Thanks for the question. Question number two comes from PreviousGolf95:41 on Reddit they say what company is the next subaru? Before the 70s oil crisis, no American had ever heard of this Japanese carmaker. Suddenly Americans need cheap, small, fuel efficient cars and Subaru boomed along with Toyota, Honda, Datsun and others. What company is best positioned to boom during the current oil crisis? Will BYD and other Chinese EV companies dominate? So you saw my thunder? I was going to say absolutely. Byd. Energy crises can change driving habits permanently. A crisis is a terrible thing to waste. It brings on innovation. In 1973, Americans needed small and cheap and today, according to Reuters, the experience of extreme supply shortages and higher petrol prices is obviously pushing people towards or to reconsider EVs. The data is already showing that Tesla competitors tripled In France in March, 9,500 units up 203% year on year or Tesla competitor sales. UK monthly EV sales hit a record 86,000 units, up 24% year on year. In Australia, CommBank recorded a 162% spike in new EV loan volumes in March compared to the February weekly average Starting on exactly March 1, the day the Iran crisis hit fuel markets. One of the silver linings here, Mike, quite frankly, is that it was probably hard to get a lot of alternative energy startups funded with $60 a barrel oil. It's going to be a lot easier with $100 oil. EVs are also just more attractive now. Batteries now cost half what they did when the last oil when the last time oil topped 100 bucks after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. In the UK, HSBC estimates that owning an electric Renault 5 over four years costs about 7,000 pounds less than a comparable diesel VW. So what could be the next Subaru? You answered it. Byd maybe Geely, who accounted for nearly a quarter of all EVs sold globally in Q4 2025. Geely shares are up almost 50% since the beginning of the Iran war and BYD showrooms across Southeast Asia are packed. One Manila dealer told Reuters he saw a month's worth of orders in just two weeks, according to Prof. G Media's own analyst Alice Hahn from China Decode. With the war continuing to rage in Iran, China's EV industry is likely to emerge as a winner. Surging oil prices will give consumers even more incentive to buy the vehicles I've driven in both Teslas and BYD's, said Alice. From my standpoint, BYD has the edge. In fact, it's probably a no brainer. Given the cost, style, energy efficiency and intuitive operating system. Tesla could be the accidental winner. And then in North America, and BYD is the intentional winner. Globally, Tesla has no tariff while in the US and high gas prices and free advertising. But it lost almost half its European market share in 2025 due to mass political baggage. And U.S. sales are still declining, down 8% in March. The European rebound is real, but partial. Western automakers bet against EVs at the wrong time. Ford, GM, Stellantis and Honda collectively wrote off $70 billion in EV investments when demand slowed a few years ago. Geez, I just can't get it right. When they exit, then the war happens and EVs go crazy. They kept EVs in their portfolios but deprioritized them. Now the market is moving again and they're behind. So what's the danger? If oil prices fall, some of the urgency fades, but history suggests the memory of scarcity. Alas, the crisis itself. That's interesting. The 1973 shock didn't just sell Subarus, it reshaped energy policy for decades. This could do the same for EVs. I would argue that the better analogy is not Subaru, but Honda. I've been in a BYD in Brazil. The way I saw it is it's like 70 or 80% of a Tesla for 40% of the price. I just, I think it's the Old Navy or the Southwest of EVs. And those companies are the fastest zero to a billion dollar retailer and airline respectively in history. I think BYD's, I mean you can hold them from your shores, but eventually that just means you lose all share internationally and at some point you have to take them in and you're behind because you haven't had the forces of competition keeping you kind of innovative. Also, I think Elon Musk is basically, I don't say given up on Tesla, but It's focused on SpaceX and X. And I think the Tesla lineup quite frankly just feels a little bit stale. All right, we'll be right back after a quick break.

[Carvana Customer]

Foreign.

[Nutrafol/LinkedIn Advertiser]

The number one dermatologist Recommended hair growth supplement brand Trusted by over one and a half million people. Nutrafol now offers hair growth supplements tailored

[Scott Galloway]

to men at every age because the

[Nutrafol/LinkedIn Advertiser]

root cause of hair thinning change over time and your routine should as well. Nutraful men for ages 18 to 49 can help improve hair growth and achieve thicker, fuller hair in three to six months and their new product Nutrafol Men 50 plus is the first and only hair growth product specifically formulated for men 50 and older. You can feel great about what you're putting into your body. Since Nutrafol hair growth supplements are backed by peer reviewed studies and NSF Content Certified, the gold standard in third party certification for supplements, adding Nutrafol to your daily routine is easy. You can order online, no prescription needed. Plus with a Nutrafol subscription you can save up to 20% and get added perks to support your hair growth journey. Start Nutrafol today and and make the hat optional. Visit nutrafol.com and enter promo code PROFG for $10 off your first month subscription and free shipping. Find out why Nutrafol is the best selling hair growth supplement [e-mail] spelled n u t r-a f o l.com promo code Prof. G that's nutrafol.com promo code

[Scott Galloway]

Prof. G.

[Nutrafol/LinkedIn Advertiser]

Support for the show comes from LinkedIn. If you're a small business owner, you don't need me to tell you how much hiring great people matters. But the time and resources you have to spend to get it right are precious commodities. Sourcing, connecting with and screening candidates can quickly eat into time better spend on your customers. That's where LinkedIn Hiring Pro comes in. It's designed to be your hiring partner, helping you source the right candidates faster. That way you can hire with confidence without making it feel like a full time job. LinkedIn hiring pro simplifies the entire process all the way from writing your job post to shortlisting candidates and running AI powered initial interviews.

[Scott Galloway]

Plus, it does it all through a

[Nutrafol/LinkedIn Advertiser]

conversational interface where you can just describe

[Scott Galloway]

what you're looking for in plain language.

[Nutrafol/LinkedIn Advertiser]

LinkedIn says nearly 60% of hires find

[Scott Galloway]

someone to interview within a week.

[Nutrafol/LinkedIn Advertiser]

With Hiring Pro, you spend less time searching and more time connecting with the right talent. So instead of sifting through piles of resumes, you get a tight, high quality shortlist that actually moves things forward. Join the 2.7 million small businesses using LinkedIn to hire. Get started by posting your job for [e-mail] profile.

[Scott Galloway]

Terms and conditions apply.

[Carvana Customer]

Now. At McDonald's, a McDouble is $2.50 so you can get your gym gains on

[Scott Galloway]

or just get lunch for only $2.50.

[Carvana Customer]

Get more value on the under $3 menu.

[Scott Galloway]

Limited time only. Prices and participation may vary. Prices may be higher for delivery. Welcome back. Our last question comes from jobmiserable1017 on Reddit. Hi Scott, I'm an urban planning student and I'm if the way cities are built in America, the streets, buildings and public access affects the social and emotional lives of young men, do you think suburbia, car commuter culture, or just overall design and feel of the urban fabric play a role in the crisis we often talk about? If so, we'd love to hear your thoughts. I'm sure it does, but the answer is I don't have a thoughtful answer here. So one piece of data the team got was that every 10 minutes of commuting reduces all forms of social capital by 10%. If you're spending all your time in a car, you don't have time to join sports leagues or go to church or go to bars. I think that there's a really weird dynamic, and that is cities offer so much opportunity. Two thirds of all economic growth is going to take place in 20 cities globally. And the aesthetic draw, the kind of fabulous draw I think is a stronger pull for young women than young men. That's a sexist thing to say, but I'm sticking to it. And there's data that shows men have a tendency, or young men have a tendency to stay on the farm. A lot of them don't even live out of their house. One in three men under the age of 25 are still living at home and women head to cities. The result is an imbalance and there's usually more women than men in cities. And also, it is so expensive to be in a city that your currency as a man is even more dependent upon your ability to make a living such that you can date. I imagine dating, and this is a bit of a stereotype in a mid sized city or a rural area, it's like, okay, there's not a lot to do, let's go to the high school football game or let's go see a movie and it's not crazy expensive and maybe you can afford a home and you're quote unquote a viable mate. To be a viable mate as a man in a city means you just gotta make a shit ton of money and there'll be a bunch of, you know, Brooklyn sandaled wokeness that oh, men don't need to make a lot of money. That's not only on criteria bullshit in a big city, you're just not viable as a mate as a man if you're not clocking it unless you're smart enough to be born to rich parents. So more women in cities than men and the men that are there are tend to be making a very good living which helps them engage in Porsche polygamy, which means that they don't have incentive to create long term relationships. So a lot of the women can't find emotionally available or economically viable men. And you know, cities are, cities are optimized. Well, I'm talking about New York. Cities are optimized for two people. And this is going to upset people, I'm going to say it anyway. It's rich men and hot women and for everyone else it's a soul crushing experience. And I realize that's a broad generalization, but it is the ultimate in capitalism, it's the ultimate in consumption. So what happens if you're just a nice dude making a good living, you're really lonely. If you're a nice woman who's attractive and making a good living, you're really lonely. So I find that cities are the most crowded places in the world with the most lonely people. At the same time, if you want to get ahead and have influence, you got to get to the city. Because the reason I spend so much time in New York and LA is this morning I do four podcasts. I have a meeting with a guy about this great documentarian about turning my last book into a documentary and then I'm going on the Andrew Huberman podcast. When I go to New York I'll do, you know, I'll do like five meetings every goddamn. I mean it's just so productive. You bump into so. And then every night I'll go to something cool or a new members club. The density and collision of capital, creativity and cool is just extraordinary. You're going to make more progress if you can figure out a way to survive in a city in three years than you might make in a rural area in 10 years. So. But yeah, I do think in a strange way it creates a lot of loneliness. So what is the answer? I don't know. More affordable housing, better infrastructure and transportation such that people can live in peripheral areas that aren't as expensive and still get into the city. But effectively, I would argue New York right now is Elysium. I think it's in a golden age. You never realize when you're in a golden age, you realize it in retrospect. We are in a golden age. In New York. New restaurants shed a skin from COVID I find it clean. I don't find that many homeless in Manhattan. A members club opening every three weeks. Incredible events. It's just amazing. The problem is there's basically A giant velvet rope around Manhattan. And that is, it's just so goddamn expensive. Unless you have rich parents or you're extraordinary, you're in tech or finance, making a living. When I first moved to New York, you could kind of dance between the raindrops. I had friends who were artists, musicians, and it wasn't easy, but they could figure it out and they'd live downtown and sure it was more dangerous, but they could find a loft somewhere and share with two other people. My first apartment on the Upper west side, I shared with two guys. It was 1900 bucks, 633 bucks a person. We took the subway everywhere. You know, it was doable. Now you're a young person, unless you have rich parents, you're making a shit ton of money in tech or finance. There's just no way, no way Ubers are crazy expensive. Not that you can't take the subway, which I still think is the best transportation infrastructure in the world. But you know, try going out and having a good time and meeting people, you're talking about 3, 400 bucks. I mean it's just anyways, higher pay, more, you know, elevated minimum wage, more low income housing, better infrastructure to help people commute in and out of work. No one has a birthright to live in a city. But I do think it's, I do think it's gotten to the point where we want to create more economic incentives for low, for, I want to call it low, low income, affordable housing in the US and also quite frankly, more men just need to realize the agency they have, have a plan, get their shit together and take that leap and move it out of their parents house and move to a city and just try and do what a lot of young people do, and that is figure out a way to make it. But yeah, there's something about cities being incredibly crowded and at the same time being incredibly lonely. See above. I don't know. I don't know. But I very much appreciate the question. That's all for this episode. If you'd like to submit a question, please email a voice recording to officehoursopropertymedia.com that's officehoursoroptymedia.com or if you prefer to ask on Reddit, just post your question on the Scott Galloway subreddit and we just might feature it in an upcoming episode. Episode. This episode was produced by Jennifer Sanchez and Laura Gennar. Cammie Reek is our social producer, Brad Williams is our editor, and Drew Burrows is our technical director. Thank you for listening to the propaganda pod from Propag Media.

[Carvana Customer]

Hey, sweetie. Your mother showed me this Carvana thing for selling the car. I'm going to give it a try. Wish me luck. Me again. I put in the license plate. It gave me an offer. Unbelievable. Okay, I accepted the offer. They're picking it up Tuesday from the driveway. I haven't even left my chair. It's done. The car is gone. I'm holding a check anyway. Carvana. Give it a whirl. Love ya.

[Scott Galloway]

So good you'll want to leave a voicemail about it.

[Stitch Fix Advertiser]

Sell your car today on Carvana.

[Scott Galloway]

Pick up fees may apply.

[Stitch Fix Advertiser]

Stitch Fix Shopping is hard. Let's talk about it.

[Dan Egan]

I don't have time to shop, so I buy all my clothes, where I buy my seafood. I just want someone to tell me what shirt goes with what pants.

[Stitch Fix Advertiser]

I just want jeans that fit. Stitch Fix makes shopping easy. Just show your size, style and budget. And your stylist sends personalized looks right to your door. No subscription required, plus free shipping and returns.

[Adobe Acrobat Narrator]

Man, that was easy. That looked good.

[Stitch Fix Advertiser]

Stitch Fix Online personal styling for everyone. Take your style quiz today@stitch fix.com.