DeepSummary
Derek Thompson, a staff writer at The Atlantic and host of the podcast Plain English, discusses his career journey from being a theater actor to becoming an economics writer during the Great Recession. He shares insights on how his theater background influences his writing and podcasting approach, aiming to dramatize ideas and solve mysteries that intrigue him.
Thompson talks about his process of exploring different beats, from macroeconomics to the economics of media and entertainment, and his current focus on American social disconnection, medical innovation, and the psychology of American voters. He emphasizes the importance of staying curious, asking simple questions, and maintaining an optimal level of openness to feedback.
The conversation also covers Thompson's experience writing books, balancing different writing formats, and his approach to making predictions about the future. He highlights the value of being a generalist while acknowledging the challenges of covering diverse topics and the need to organize ideas effectively in longer works like books.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Derek Thompson's diverse background in theater and economics has shaped his unique approach to writing and podcasting, where he aims to dramatize ideas and solve mysteries.
- Thompson values curiosity, embracing new subjects, and constantly seeking out the 'unlit spaces' that need to be explored and illuminated.
- He emphasizes the importance of staying open to feedback, even negative comments, as a sign of strength and an opportunity for growth.
- Thompson is willing to acknowledge his mistakes and embrace humility, which is refreshing for someone in his position as a respected writer and podcaster.
- He provides insightful perspectives on the writing process across different formats, highlighting the organizational challenges involved in writing a book.
- Thompson appreciates the power of simplicity in questioning, drawing from his observation of Charlie Rose's interviewing style and how straightforward questions can elicit profound insights.
- His diverse interests span economics, social issues, medical innovations, and the psychology of American voters, reflecting his embrace of being a generalist.
- Thompson balances various writing formats, including articles, columns, books, and podcasts, while maintaining a sense of authenticity and connection with his audience.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “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 you solve one, two, three mysteries in a space, then the meta-mystery of that space begins to dim. And all these other subjects-that's the new unlit space that needs the flashlight. And that's the part of the job that I love the most: that there are so many dark corners in the world. And I've just got this flashlight, and I can just shine it wherever the hell I want.“ by Derek Thompson
- “You know, the last podcast I did was, I think it was literally titled what economists and I got wrong about the economy. So, and this is a podcast about how I've been underrating the effect of higher interest rates on Americans negative sentiment about the economy. I get stuff wrong all the time.“ by Derek Thompson
- “Our dumb questions. Good radio is something I'm constantly thinking about. I mean, I remember my dad was obsessed with Charlie Rose, and I'd watch Charlie Rose with him from time to time, and I was constantly shocked by how simple Charlie Rose's questions were. Like, it sometimes seemed like he would have these enormous tomes, these books that looked like they weighed 20 pounds, you know, be like, whatever. It'd be like Napoleon. And Charlie Rose begins the interview by being like, now Napoleon. How big a deal was he? You know, it's like, it starts so simple, and it managed to, like, uncork some really interesting answers.“ by Derek Thompson
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3/13/24