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Episode 572: Derek Thompson

Overview

Shownote

Highlights

Transcript

Chapters

Pins

Episode 572: Derek Thompson

Longform

2024/03/13
Longform

Longform

2024/03/13
OverviewShownoteHighlightsTranscriptChaptersPins

Shownote

Derek Thompson is a staff writer for The Atlantic and host of the podcast Plain English. “I am an inveterate dilettante. I lose interest in subjects all the time. Because what I find interesting about my job is the invitation to solve mysteries. And once y...

Highlights

Derek Thompson, staff writer for The Atlantic and host of Plain English, discusses his intellectual approach to journalism—less as a fixed discipline and more as a dynamic, curiosity-driven exploration of societal mysteries.
02:42
Theater provides a great education in understanding audiences, which is crucial for journalists
16:03
He was told he’d be fired back to a communications intern if he failed at economics blogging—a low-stakes opportunity that enabled fearless learning.
21:12
Due to both parents dying of cancer in their 20s, they're interested in why the war on cancer is so hard to win
29:17
Success in journalism relies on luck, niche expertise, and writing for the reader—not the editor
35:01
Reading comments is important as it allows exposure to negative feedback and learning
39:06
Asking 'dumb questions' can yield substantive answers
40:01
A more journalistic approach is describing the present to make predictions about the next steps
45:43
A walk can fix the switching costs between podcast recording and book writing

Chapters

Hit Makers: How to Succeed in an Age of Distraction
00:00
"Why Americans Suddenly Stopped Hanging Out"
05:00
"The Americans Who Need Chaos"
18:00
"America’s Loneliness Epidemic Comes for the Restaurant"
23:00
"Stop Trying to Ask 'Smart Questions'"
35:00
"The Future of Everything With Derek Thompson"
39:00
"What Many Economists (and I) Got Wrong About This Economy"
40:00
"How Hollywood’s Hit Formula Flopped—and What Could Come Next"
43:00

Transcript

Max Linsky: Recommendations can be great. Maybe someone recommended this podcast, and here you are. But home projects are a little different. If the podcast isn't your thing, you might lose a few minutes from your day. But if you hire your cousin's neighbo...