The Week: Elon’s $366 Million of Influence, Washington’s Corruption Problem, and the Skill AI Can’t Replace

From Washington to Wall Street to our credit cards, borrowing has become a way of life. In this Deep Dive, Scott examines America’s reliance on debt and who ultimately pays the price. Then, Morgan Housel joins him to discuss the difference between borrowing that builds wealth and borrowing that leaves you vulnerable, how housing costs are reshaping young people’s financial choices, and why lasting financial success depends less on predicting the future than being able to withstand it. Follow Morgan, @morganhousel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is a bonus episode of The Prof G Pod — beginning this week, we’re publishing an extra Conversations episode every Tuesday. Oliver Burkeman, author of Four Thousand Weeks and Meditations for Mortals, joins Scott Galloway to discuss why our obsession with optimizing every part of life is making us more anxious, not more fulfilled. He explains why productivity systems and “maxxing” culture tend to backfire, how embracing our limits can be freeing rather than defeatist, and why AI won’t solve the deeper problem of trying to outrun our own finitude. Plus, how to tell the difference between healthy discipline and an optimization mindset that’s gone too far. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Scott Galloway answers listener questions on whether frontier AI labs can compete with cheaper open-weight models, his college stint as a sperm donor, Flock license plate cameras, taking a job at an online sports betting company, and what consulting firms look for in new hires. Want to be featured in a future episode? Send a voice recording to [email protected], or drop your question in the r/ScottGalloway subreddit. Plus, you can now call or text Scott a question at our new Office Hours hotline: ‪(201) 472-3656‬. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As read by George Hahn. https://www.profgmedia.com/p/each-other Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

George Hahn connects the dots across the week's biggest stories: what Elon’s political spending actually buys, why Kimberly Guilfoyle shouldn’t be the only one resigning, and what we lose when we outsource reading and writing to AI. We’d love your feedback as we build this show! Let us know what you think: [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We’re a Signal Finalist! Vote for us ⁠here⁠. Josh Tyrangiel, staff writer at The Atlantic, joins Scott Galloway to discuss the rivalry between Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos—and what their ambitions in space mean for the rest of us. He explains why SpaceX pulled ahead of Blue Origin, how satellites and proposed data centers in space could reshape the AI race, and why America’s dependence on Musk poses a national security risk. Plus, what Washington can do to encourage innovation without handing billionaires control of the next frontier. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

AI was supposed to replace writing. Instead, it made storytelling more valuable. In this Deep Dive, Scott explains why companies are paying a premium for perspective and taste in a world flooded with AI-generated content. He also breaks down what this shift means for jobs, media, and the future of brands. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As read by George Hahn. https://www.profgmedia.com/p/asymmetry Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

George Hahn connects the dots across the week's biggest stories: why the S&P, oil, and treasury yields are all hitting record highs, the tradeoffs of giving up privacy for safety, and what happens when Americans stop believing anyone is coming to help. We’d love your feedback as we build this show! Let us know what you think: [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anand Giridharadas, journalist and author of Man in the Mirror, joins Scott Galloway to discuss what Jordan Neely’s death reveals about homelessness, public safety, and America’s crisis of belonging. He explains why cities struggle to help their most vulnerable residents, the difficult questions around involuntary mental health treatment, and how community can help people rebuild their lives. Plus, what the reactions to Daniel Penny and Luigi Mangione reveal about Americans’ growing sense of abandonment—and the line between protecting others and taking justice into your own hands. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices