In a recent podcast episode, Scott Galloway, a speaker and author, answered questions about remote work, the economy, and whether moving to America still makes sense.
As usual, he spoke honestly and didn’t sugarcoat anything.
‘America used to love the unremarkable’
When asked what advice he had for “mediocre” people, Galloway challenged the term.
“Mediocre is a weird word. I call us the unremarkable,” he said, adding, “I was unremarkable growing up, didn’t do well academically, didn’t test well. But back then, America loved the unremarkable.”
Galloway criticized how higher education and public policy have become skewed in favor of the elite.
“Higher education in America is about helping the bottom 90%, not identifying tax breaks and programs to make the top 10% the top 1%,” he said.
“I feel like higher education is leading this downfall by deciding that we are there for the children of rich people or for the freakishly remarkable.”
He also called for more respect for people who work hard and live modestly.
“Living a good life at modest means getting up, taking care of your family, being a good partner, being a good citizen, there’s real honor in that.”
The generational wealth divide
Galloway pointed out that America’s economic system favors older generations.
“My sense is that young people are not only suffering from this incredible transfer of wealth from young to old, fermented by old people who have figured out a way to vote themselves more money over and over and over,” he said.
According to Galloway, the average 70-year-old is now 72% wealthier than they were 40 years ago, while the average person under 40 is 24% less wealthy.
Reconsidering college and championing trades
Galloway urged Americans to stop shaming those who don’t go to college and to bring back a culture of apprenticeships and vocational training. “We need to stop fetishizing the college degree,” he said.
He pointed to Europe, where 11% of LinkedIn profiles include “apprentice” in their job title. In the U.S., it’s only 3%.
“We need to do a better job of creating aspiration around those jobs,” he added.
Remote work isn’t one-size-fits-all
A listener also asked Galloway for encouragement after being told they had to return to the office five days a week after five years of working remotely.
Galloway said remote work can be harmful to young professionals because they miss out on connections and mentors. But he had sympathy for caregivers.
“Smart corporations should offer the benefit… to try and facilitate remote work for people who need to be home more,” he said.
“For them to go from zero days a week and with someone with small children to 5 days a week, that seems a little rough.”
Is it still worth moving to America?
When asked if he would move to the U.S. today, Galloway said yes, depending on your stage of life.
“I think it’s time for people who are worried about what is going on in America to return home, not to leave but to return home.”
He remains optimistic about the country’s economic potential.
“I’m bullish on America just because I think the agility, the risk aggressiveness, the rule of law, the universities, the DNA, the opportunities in the U.S. are just absolutely unrivaled.”
In typical Galloway fashion, he wrapped the conversation with a reminder: most people won’t become tech moguls or influencers, and that’s okay.
“God must have loved the common man. He made so many of them.”
For Galloway, the goal isn’t fame or fortune. It’s living a meaningful life, contributing to your community, and not getting caught up in a system that only celebrates the ultra-successful.
Why Galloway Thinks the System Is Broken for Young People
Galloway’s message about older generations “voting themselves more money” cuts to the heart of today’s growing wealth gap.
While young people struggle with debt, high living costs, and flat wages, the system continues to reward those who already have the most.
His bottom line: the unremarkable built America. It’s time the system started working for them again.