The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway

Scott Responds to the Paternity Leave Backlash, Patriotism in America, and more

March 13, 2026

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  • Scott Galloway retracted his previous comments on paternity leave as "stupid" and stated that his actions, such as offering parental leave at his companies, reflect his true supportive stance. 
  • The discussion on paternity leave should shift from privileged conversations to economic flexibility for all parents, advocating for expanded child tax credits and universal childcare, while acknowledging the biological importance of the mother in the newborn stage. 
  • True patriotism, according to Scott Galloway, involves actively working to restore and strengthen core American values like the rule of law and respect for diverse groups, rather than leaving the country in disillusionment. 

Segments

Paternity Leave Backlash Response
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(00:00:00)
  • Key Takeaway: Scott Galloway admitted his prior comments on fathers being useless during early paternity leave were stupid and regretted making them.
  • Summary: Galloway clarified his controversial paternity leave comments were made provocatively to a friend and were taken out of context. He confirmed all his companies offer parental leave and he is a fan of it. He emphasized that actions, like offering leave, speak louder than ill-considered words.
Parental Leave Economics
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(00:04:48)
  • Key Takeaway: The focus for parental support should be on economic flexibility for the majority of Americans lacking paid leave, such as through expanded child tax credits.
  • Summary: Three-quarters of Americans lack access to paid parental leave, making the conversation often limited to affluent circles. Galloway advocates for policies like expanded child tax credits and universal childcare to empower parents economically. He stressed that the mother’s biological role via breastfeeding and oxytocin is dramatically more important in the newborn stage.
Masculinity and Protection
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(00:09:51)
  • Key Takeaway: Evolved masculinity requires men to establish economic viability first, then transition that strength toward protection, including celebrating the victories of female counterparts.
  • Summary: Galloway defined a core aspect of masculinity as being an economic provider, even if that means supporting a higher-earning partner. The ultimate goal of strength is to move toward protection, which includes celebrating sisters’ victories, demonstrating an evolved understanding beyond mere coarseness.
Hockey Controversy Analysis
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(00:08:02)
  • Key Takeaway: The U.S. men’s hockey team laughing at the President’s sexist remark was an understandable reaction to being caught flat-footed by a terrible role model.
  • Summary: Galloway placed 110% of the fault for the locker room incident on the President for making a sexist joke, not on the young players celebrating. He argued that challenging the sitting President in that moment was an impossible decision for the 23-year-olds. The incident reflects a right-wing conflation of masculinity with cruelty, which is not the path forward.
Patriotism vs. Disillusionment
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(00:14:09)
  • Key Takeaway: The most genuine form of patriotism is actively working to restore and strengthen American values like the rule of law and respect for marginalized groups.
  • Summary: Galloway struggles with balancing patriotism against resentment of current policies that attack bodily autonomy and equality. He believes the American diaspora should return home to focus efforts on making America better, rather than threatening to leave. Including diverse groups in prosperity is both morally right and economically smart for the nation.
Kara Swisher Partnership Memories
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(00:20:39)
  • Key Takeaway: Galloway values Kara Swisher’s example of balancing intense professional commitment with deep parental engagement, citing a thoughtful gesture she made during a Pivot tour.
  • Summary: A favorite memory involved Swisher tracking down Galloway’s childhood friend, Debbie Brubaker, to attend a live show, which was deeply moving. Galloway learns from Swisher how to be highly engaged as a parent while remaining professionally committed. Despite occasional disagreements, especially regarding Israel, he values her loyalty and considerate nature.