The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway

Episode: Why America Feels So Unhappy — with Derek Thompson

Date: February 5, 2026

Overview

In this rich conversation, Scott Galloway interviews acclaimed journalist and author Derek Thompson to explore American unhappiness, the power of negativity in media, and how technology—from AI to GLP-1 weight-loss drugs—are shaping culture, health, and the economy. They weave through personal stories on fatherhood, substance use, and professional evolution, with keen insights and plenty of candor. The episode is a mix of societal critique, future-gazing, practical advice, and humor.

Key Discussion Points

1. Scott’s “Resist and Unsubscribe” Campaign (01:38–11:15)

• Scott announces his "Resist and Unsubscribe" campaign, responding to what he perceives as America's drift towards autocracy, especially through inaction by business leaders and technology elites (03:00).
• He advocates for consumer non-participation—cancelling subscriptions and disengaging from overvalued companies—as a method for signaling dissatisfaction in a capitalist society.
• Scott details his own efforts: cancelling Amazon Prime, most streaming subscriptions, and deleting his Uber account—only realizing then the extensive costs he incurs with these services (08:30).
• “The most radical act you can perform in a capitalist society is nothing—specifically non-participation.” (10:55, Scott Galloway)
• He encourages listeners to take similar steps and to share their actions on social media.

2. Parenting, Paternity Leave, and Gender Inequality (11:18–21:52)

• Derek opens up about just returning from 2 months of paternity leave with his second child and describes the emotional dynamic of early fatherhood (11:47).
• He and Scott discuss the value and economics of paternity leave:
  • Derek: “Most relationships where we use the word love are two-way streets. But babies… they give you very, very little. It’s an act of pure giving.” (14:00)
  • Scott is skeptical of mandatory paternity leave but acknowledges the complexities of biology and early parenthood.
  • Derek counters with a “capitalist defense” of paternity leave, arguing it helps close income gaps caused by the motherhood penalty (17:14).
  • They agree on the importance of dads finding their instinctual role in parenting, despite its challenges and delayed rewards.

3. Trends Shaping America in 2026 (21:52–27:08)

• Derek recaps the themes he identified at the end of 2025: AI, the revolution in GLP-1 drugs, youth mental health crises, and America’s “casino economy.”
• He asserts that Trump and AI are the two most powerful forces shaping American life, with AI comparable to Excel’s transformation of white-collar work:
  • “Everyone’s job is going to be an AI job soon, just like after Excel, every white-collar job became a spreadsheet job.” (23:14, Derek)
• Despite negative news cycles, he highlights data points showing America is actually safer and healthier than it seems—violent crime, traffic deaths, overdoses, suicides, and obesity are all declining for the first time simultaneously (26:00).

4. Why Are Americans So Unhappy? (27:08–31:21)

• Scott’s thesis: Social media algorithms fuel division and unhappiness by promoting ragebait and unrealistic comparisons (27:08).
  • “The algorithms want us fighting with each other… No one is comparing themselves to people 100 years ago, only the Instagram versions of other people’s lives.” (28:00, Scott)
• Derek agrees, noting negativity is viral:
  • “If we build machines of comparison, we are going to be stealing from ourselves the joy that we should feel.” (28:50)
  • Negative content, in-group/out-group framing, and comparison culture all “juice” engagement but breed unhappiness.

5. Negativity Bias in Media (31:21–34:22)

• Derek describes how articles or headlines with a negative valence vastly out-perform neutral or positive pieces:
  • “The most profound bias in all of news is a bias toward negativity… that really is the beating heart of modern virality.” (33:17, Derek)
• He encourages media consumers to seek out “vegetables”—solutions-focused or optimistic stories—to balance the “junk food” of outrage-driven news (33:55).

6. The Transformative Impact of GLP-1 Drugs (37:47–44:21)

• Derek explains the origins and multi-system effects of GLP-1 drugs (Ozempic, Wegovy, etc.)—originally for diabetes but now shown to reduce weight, cardiovascular risk, possibly even neurodegenerative disease, and addiction (38:14–41:50).
• He calls them “a kind of magical whisperer of moderation for entire biological systems.”
• Scott proposes a radical deficit reduction plan: government bulk-purchasing GLP-1s and distributing them to cut healthcare costs (43:45).
  • Derek is cautiously optimistic but warns of potential unknown side effects, especially for healthy Americans or for end-of-life care (44:21).

7. Substance Use, Moderation, and the Loneliness Crisis (51:00–59:58)

• Derek is candid about his moderate, mostly wine-based alcohol consumption, interest in cocktails, and occasional edible use, but largely abstains from harder drugs (51:00).
• They riff on health guidelines vs. pleasure, with Scott self-deprecating about realizing he was drinking too much.
• Scott provocatively claims: “I think young people need to drink more.” (55:34)
• Derek agrees, up to a point, as long as it supports social connection:
  • “I think the benefits of increased sociality far outweigh the demerits of two extra cocktails a week.” (56:43)
  • They discuss “social fitness” and how spending time with friends is as important to health as exercise.

8. AI as a Driver of Inequality (62:36–64:39)

• Derek outlines how AI is dividing the American economy, with booming stocks, jobs, and profits at AI-centric firms, and lagging performance everywhere else:
  • “At the macroeconomic level, the stock market level, the labor force level—AI is generating inequality.” (63:35, Derek)
• He warns about a possible “K-shaped” economy, with AI winners soaring and non-adopters left behind.

9. Media Careers and the Substack Model (64:39–77:47)

• Scott and Derek compare notes on building personal media flywheels: books, podcasts, newsletters, speaking gigs.
• Derek details his transition from The Atlantic to Substack, finding more readers and more control over his work:
  • “From a reach standpoint and financial standpoint, Substack has been a win for me.” (75:35, Derek)
• They touch on newsletter paywall strategies, pricing, and the relative permanence of books versus ephemeral articles or podcasts (70:07–72:25).

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On Unhappiness:
  “If we build machines of comparison, we are going to be stealing from ourselves the joy that we should feel.” (28:50, Derek)

• On Negativity Bias:
  “The most profound bias in all of news media is a bias toward making you think that something that happened or someone who exists is or could cause a catastrophe.” (33:17, Derek)

• On AI’s Impact:
  “I see AI as being this sort of machine for generating inequality at the macroeconomic level, at the stock market level, and at the labor force level.” (63:35, Derek)

• On GLP-1s:
  “They seem to be a kind of magical whisperer of moderation for entire biological systems.” (41:54, Derek)

• On Sociality vs. Drinking:
  “The benefits of that increased sociality far outweigh the demerits of those two cocktails.” (56:43, Derek)
  “Sociality should be thought of as not just something that's fun, but something that's almost like social fitness.” (58:50, Derek)

• On the Power of Non-Participation:
  “The most radical act you can perform in a capitalist society is nothing—specifically non-participation.” (10:55, Scott)

Important Timestamps

• 01:38–11:15: Scott’s monologue on the Resist and Unsubscribe campaign and economic protest
• 11:18–21:52: Derek on paternity leave, parenting, and gendered income gaps
• 21:52–27:08: 2025–26 trend review—AI, GLP-1s, positivity vs. negativity in outcomes
• 27:08–31:21: The roots of American unhappiness: media, comparison, algorithms
• 31:21–34:22: Negativity bias, solutions vs. “junk food” media
• 37:47–44:21: The promise and perils of GLP-1 drugs for health and healthcare costs
• 51:00–59:58: Alcohol, cannabis, and why young people need to socialize more (maybe by drinking)
• 62:36–64:39: AI’s deepening economic divides
• 64:39–77:47: Building a modern media career, Substack’s benefits and challenges

Episode Takeaways

• The source of American unhappiness is not just the prevalence of real problems, but the amplification of negativity through media and technology that incentivizes division and comparison.
• AI and GLP-1 drugs are transforming society in fast and unpredictable ways—one driving economic upheaval, the other promising a revolution in health.
• Moderation—in consumption, substances, and media—is key to happiness and health, as is prioritizing social relationships.
• The future of media is hybrid: Direct-to-consumer platforms like Substack empower journalists but don’t fully replace institutional credentials or editorial value.

For more:

• Derek’s Substack: [search for Derek Thompson Substack]
• The Plain English Podcast
• Scott’s “Resist and Unsubscribe” campaign (www.resistandunsubscribe.com)