The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway

Episode: Women Who Out-Earn Their Partners, Trump’s War on Science, and Managing Depression
Date: September 15, 2025
Host: Scott Galloway
Producer: Vox Media Podcast Network

Episode Overview

In this "Office Hours" episode, Scott Galloway answers listener questions about three distinct but timely topics:

• The dynamics when women out-earn their partners in relationships and households
• Concerns over massive cuts to public science funding, particularly under the Trump administration
• Personal strategies for managing depression and keeping ambition alive during dark periods

Galloway provides a mix of business insight and deeply personal reflection, mixing data, cultural analysis, and candid advice throughout the episode.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Women Who Out-Earn Their Partners (02:04–07:26)

Listener Question:
Randy Braun from Washington, DC asks for Galloway’s thoughts on women who earn significantly more than their husbands, how they function in marriages/society, and advice for guiding daughters on this reality.

Scott’s Insights:

• Personal Attraction to Successful Women:
  • “I’ve always been really drawn to women who are, for lack of a better term, professional ballers...that just turns me out.” (03:33)
  • Shares anecdotes about his first wife (COO, CPA, MBA) and partners who've been high achievers.
• Changing Gender Roles:
  • “While women are ascending professionally...a lot of men haven’t picked up the slack domestically, emotionally or logistically.” (04:03)
  • Notes a societal friction: women taking on more economic responsibility, but men not matching on home front.
• Impact on Relationships:
  • “Marriages are more likely to end in divorce when the woman starts making more money. Now, is that because the woman is not as attracted to her partner or because the partner, the male, gets insecure and...becomes just more difficult to live with? I bet the answer is yes.” (05:12)
• Advice for Men in These Dynamics:
  • “Sometimes economic viability and taking economic responsibility for your household as a man is getting out of the way and being more supportive of your partner, who happens to be better at this whole money thing than you.” (06:07)
  • “One of the keys to a healthy relationship is really advocating for your partner, really enjoying and appreciating and creating stages that strangers applaud for them.” (06:35)
• Societal Trends:
  • "Now that more women are graduating from college than men, you’re just going to have more and more situations where the woman’s background and credentials lend herself to greater economic opportunity." (06:18)
• Reflection on Gendered Self-Esteem:
  • “Men are disproportionately evaluated on their economic well-being. And so you have to at least be aware of that...the dude has to be aware of that and say, well, if I’m feeling insecure, that’s natural, but I need to get over it in this age.” (06:46)

Notable Quote:
“The women’s ascent professionally has not been matched by men’s ascent domestically.” (04:23)

2. Trump’s War on Science & Public Funding Cuts (07:26–11:20)

Listener Question:
Prof. Kevin from Gainesville, FL asks about the decline in public funding for science, its impact on the U.S.'s standing, and the pipeline for scientific talent.

Scott’s Insights:

• The U.S. Government–University Partnership:
  • “The most successful private-public partnership in the world is the relationship between government, university research, and then how that university research spills over into the private sector...” (08:48)
  • References the American Association for the Advancement of Science: Trump's 2026 budget would cut federal funding for basic research by 34%, from $45 billion to $30 billion. (09:19)
• Long-Term vs. Short-Term Thinking:
  • “Generally speaking, what I see is a common theme across the Trump administration, and that is: let’s have a sugar high now. Let’s party with champagne and cocaine and stop making the requisite long-term investments.” (09:54)
• Societal Importance:
  • “The spillover from research funded at universities has been arguably the greatest investment in history.” (09:47)
  • “The job of every elected politician [is] to plant trees the shade of which they will not sit under.” (10:42)
• What Can Be Done?:
  • “What do we do about it? We elect new leaders. I just don’t think there’s any educating the current administration around university funding.” (08:42)
• Cultural Reflection:
  • “Anything that gets news probably isn’t very good governance, and it’s the hard, boring shit that moves the needle.” (10:02)

Notable Quote:
“The most effective governing doesn’t get headlines...it’s the hard, boring shit that moves the needle.” (10:04)

3. Managing Depression While Maintaining Ambition (18:36–29:40)

Listener Question:
Practical Zone 2476 asks for advice on staying ambitious while dealing with depression, and how to shield children from the effects of a parent's mental health struggles.

Scott’s Insights and Strategies:

• Personal Disclosure:
  • Shares his self-doubt about advice (“I have no domain expertise in psychiatry.”) but speaks openly about his own mental health cycles.
  • “I think I’m more prone to anger and depression and sadness than most people.” (19:14)
• Cognitive Habits:
  • “I have trouble forgiving people...and more than anything, I have trouble forgiving myself.” (20:06)
  • “I get so upset and angry at myself. I have a difficult time forgiving myself. And that anger, that acid, wears out my veins, my arteries, and I just go numb and get depressed for a few days.” (20:19)
• Philosophy for Coping:
  • “The best revenge I can have on anything that’s gone wrong...is to have a fucking amazing life.” (21:01)
  • Says gratitude helps pull him out of darkness: “...my worst day is better than most people’s best days.” (21:08)
  • As an atheist, contemplates mortality for perspective: “I am a rabid atheist and recognizing I’m going to be dead soon...why would I not allow myself to be happy?” (21:18)
• Behavioral Tools—The SCAFA Framework:
  • S: Sweat
    • “I try to sweat. Something about jet lag triggers a propensity for depression...” (22:08)
  • C: Clean
    • “I try and eat clean. I do think sugary, shitty food is not good for you.” (23:19)
  • A: Abstinence
    • “Not from sex, but from alcohol and THC...when I feel myself going dark, I just cut that shit out.” (23:54)
  • F: Family
    • “I find being around my kids and my partner really helps me. It helps ground me.” (24:28)
  • A: Affection
    • “Human touch and weird things like I let the dogs on the couch when I’m not feeling well.” (25:22)
• Notable Story:
  • Describes a depressive episode in a Hong Kong hotel, flying home abruptly:
    “I was so fucking depressed. I just remember sitting there looking at the reflection of the window at this amazing hotel, just so upset, thinking, what series of bad decisions led me to this situation...” (22:45)
• Parenting & Depression:
  • Openness with his kids: “I’ll even say to my kids, I’m not feeling great, can we watch some TV together?” (25:41)
• Closing Perspective:
  • “Nothing is ever as good or as bad as it seems.” (26:09)

Notable Quotes:

• “Why would I be embarrassed or angry that I’m not more successful when no one’s going to remember me anyways in 50 or 70 years?” (21:44)
• “Try to check that shit at the door. You’re incredibly blessed and fortunate. It’s all going to be over soon. Show some empathy.” (22:04)
• “Nothing is ever as good or as bad as it seems.” (26:09)

Notable Moments & Quotes with Timestamps

• On Gender Roles Shifting:
  “The women’s ascent professionally has not been matched by men’s ascent domestically.” — Scott Galloway, (04:23)

• On Conceiving Good Policy:
  “The most effective governing doesn’t get headlines...it’s the hard, boring shit that moves the needle.” — Scott Galloway, (10:04)

• On Coping with Depression:
  “The best revenge I can have on anything that’s gone wrong...is to have a fucking amazing life.” — Scott Galloway, (21:01)

• On Mortality and Happiness:
  “Why would I not allow myself to be happy?...Why wouldn’t I forgive myself? Why wouldn’t I just enjoy this?” — Scott Galloway, (21:26)

• SCAFA Framework for Mental Health:

  • Sweat, Clean, Abstinence, Family, Affection — (22:08–25:22)

• On Long-Term Perspective:
  “The job of every elected politician [is] to plant trees the shade of which they will not sit under.” — Scott Galloway, (10:42)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [02:04] — Women Out-Earning Partners (Randy’s Question)
• [03:14] — Scott’s Personal Experience & Relationship Thoughts
• [07:26] — The War on Science/Public Funding (Prof. Kevin’s Question)
• [08:33] — Scott on U.S. Research Funding & Trump’s Cuts
• [18:36] — Managing Depression & Ambition (Practical Zone 2476’s Question)
• [19:14] — Scott’s Description of His Own Depression Symptoms
• [22:08–25:22] — SCAFA Framework Behavior Tips
• [26:09] — Final Thoughts & Summary

Episode Tone

Scott Galloway maintains his signature blend of bluntness, dry humor (“champagne and cocaine”), and self-deprecating honesty, never shying away from hard truths about gender, politics, or mental health. His advice is both practical and informal, appealing to both business-minded and general listeners.

Summary

This episode of The Prof G Pod offers a nuanced discussion of shifting relationship dynamics, the real-world stakes of science funding policy, and deeply personal tips for managing ambition in the face of depression. Through candid anecdotes, research-backed opinion, and actionable advice, Scott Galloway underscores the importance of empathy, long-term thinking, and self-forgiveness in both public life and personal growth.