Derek Thompson On Meaning In Our Web World
From The Dishcast with Andrew Sullivan by Andrew Sullivan
April 10, 2026 · 37 min
About this episode
Derek Thompson discusses the evolution of writing, the impact of technology on society, and the search for meaning in modern life.
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit andrewsullivan.substack.com Derek Thompson is a long-time writer at The Atlantic. His books include Hit Makers , On Work , and Abundance , which he co-wrote with Ezra Klein. Derek also has an excellent substack and hosts a podcast called “Plain English.” This episode was recorded on March 17. For two clips — on the impact of Abundance , and the difference between being alone and anti-social — head to our YouTube page . Other topics: growing up near DC; theater his first love; the two of us trading stories of stage acting; pursuing journalism after 9/11; how writing has evolved in the 21st century; conspiracy theories online; AI creating doubt; strategizing the Abundance book; Virtually Normal ; books as totems; blue vs red city governance; housing deregulation; “procedural fetish” vs Trumpian chaos; government spurring innovation; Derek’s piece “ The Anti-Social Century ”; OnlyFans; looking at smartphones in a gay bar; Kierkegaard; Camus; tradition as a ballast; meaning through limits; fatherhood; Hegseth reveling in dominance; Nietzsche; the tribalism of early humans; wokeness and the Trump cult; liquid modernity…
People in this episode
Host: Andrew Sullivan
Guest: Derek Thompson
Topics covered
- meaning in the digital age
- journalism evolution
- conspiracy theories
- AI and doubt
- cultural commentary
- fatherhood
- tribalism
Keywords
- Derek Thompson
- Andrew Sullivan
- Abundance
- journalism
- conspiracy theories
- AI
- fatherhood
- tribalism
- meaning
- digital age
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: The Atlantic
Books & works: Hit Makers, On Work, Abundance
Places: DC, Israel
More episodes of The Dishcast with Andrew Sullivan
- Daniel McCarthy On Trump And Conservatism · June 12, 2026 · 53 min
- Ben Rhodes On Iran, Israel, And America · June 5, 2026 · 56 min
- HW Brands On George Washington And Power · May 29, 2026 · 51 min
- Harvey Mansfield On Machiavelli And Modernity · May 22, 2026 · 52 min
- Jerusalem Demsas On Liberalism And The Dems · May 15, 2026 · 44 min
- Adrian Wooldridge On Liberalism's Genius · May 8, 2026 · 50 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Dishcast with Andrew Sullivan podcast page.