Guest · 47:40
It. And I think often the more difficult journey that I've seen is the kids who were lied to and not told because then in their adulthood, it's just this big piece of biological piece of them that they didn't understand. And so... But I think, I think understanding it and the truth of it and, you know, what's wild is that there is a biological connection that you wouldn't expect. But I've become really close with several of my siblings and some of the, some of the similarities are what are are truly incredible. Yeah. But it's a complex thing. Scott, have you developed any relationships with them, Scott? I mean, that's...
Kara Swisher · 48:19
Yeah, Scott.
Scott Galloway · 48:22
So I I have not signed up. I'm I'm... To be honest with you, I find it it's an unusual situation to think that you might have somewhere between one and twelve hundred kids out there.
Kara Swisher · 48:35
Yeah. That's problem. They
Scott Galloway · 48:37
let you calibrate it. They don't let you say, yeah, I'd like to read a statistically significant sampling of the ones who aren't going to ask me for money. I can... I also just hate the idea of a bunch of 38 year olds recognizing they're losing their hair and having trouble maintaining an erection and getting increasingly angry. You're welcome. You're welcome.
Kara Swisher · 48:55
Let me just say, Scott, they can find you without your consent. That's the thing.
Scott Galloway · 49:00
But When you say it's rewarding and there's biologic, it it... Do you feel something meeting them? Do you feel... It's just such a fascinating experiment. Do you do you feel something emotionally? Is there something in the air about biological connection, or is it because they walk the same way or they look the same way or you do have a shared history?
Guest · 49:20
You know, that's something I'm still parsing out, but there is something to biology that's hard to explain.
Scott Galloway · 49:28
Mhmm.
Guest · 49:29
And I do feel an instant closeness. I'm sure part of that is... But, you know, in the same way that you have family members where some of them you resonate with in a deeper way than other ones. It has a lot to do with what you have in common, your proximity to each other as a... In a location. So... But from a nature nurture perspective, I think a lot of the kids, it's... It gives them... So for me, you know, I have a complex relationship with my father now. He's struggled with homelessness and some mental illness or some mental health stuff. And that that was hard for me growing up because I really cared about this man who had wound up playing a role in my life. And so I think connecting with the siblings in a in a strange way is a way of connecting with him.
Kara Swisher · 50:17
Right. A 100%. And I
Guest · 50:19
think for some of them, it's a way of connecting with a biological side of themselves that perhaps they didn't grow
Kara Swisher · 50:24
up with. Yeah. So last question. With the overturn of Roe versus Wade, there's concern that IVF could be banned. Your message to lawmakers? Should we regulate the sperm donation industry? Where do you think this is going with the overturn of Roe v Wade?
Guest · 50:38
Well, I I obviously think it's it's terrible. I think that, you know, something that that I share with all of my siblings is that we each had at least one parent who desperately wanted us to exist. And how lucky were we for this? Mhmm. And there are so many kids that don't have that. And I think that, you know, for... I I think that for kids born into a family where they're wanted this deeply, we should we should help those families have kids as much as possible. And if people don't feel prepared to be parents, then they shouldn't be forced to because Yep. Raising kids is a lot. Yeah. I know as as you know, as I know. And I think that to feel desired is the best gift you can give a kid.
Kara Swisher · 51:19
That's a very good point. Just so people know, one million babies were born using IVF or other assisted reproductive technology between 1987 and 2015. It's gonna be a big issue for a lot of people. Anyway, Chris, this is a wonderful book. I'm so thrilled you wrote it. I loved hearing about it at the time, and I love the book. It's fantastic. The book is called On Truth, Love, and How I Met My 35 Siblings. Now it's more. You'll have to change the book for the paperback. Thank you so much, Krista.
Guest · 51:47
Thank you so much for having me.
Scott Galloway · 51:49
Thanks, Krista. Nice to meet you.
Guest · 51:51
Nice to meet you, Scott.
Kara Swisher · 51:53
Scott, how did you become a sperm donor?
Scott Galloway · 51:55
I was a junior in college, and I lived... I was close friends with a couple of athletes, and the athletes at UCLA had a different job board. And one was for sperm donation. And you could make $100 to $200 a week doing something that we were doing anyways.
Kara Swisher · 52:12
Knew a lot. Probably knew quite a bit.
Scott Galloway · 52:14
Hey, don't rag on my hobbies. Anyway, so I went to this place in Santa Monica with my two friends who were both world class water polo players. And these guys were like golden gods. I mean, were physical specimens, but they were also really smart. And it was interesting that they do a full analysis and create a file on you. They take pictures of you in your underwear, that you take an IQ test, they do a personality test. A couple of things I remember, one, they said, Do you do any drinking or drugs? I'm like, Well, I'm an attorney. I do some drinking. And I said, What about drugs? I'm like, Pot every once in a while. And this guy looked up at me and gave me the stare, and he looked and he said, in the most earnest, upset way possible, he said, that stuff kills sperm dead. Like, I was literally like like, that sperm was the
Kara Swisher · 52:57
Oh, I'll tell I'll tell my kids. And
Scott Galloway · 52:59
then, okay, and then the last part of the test, and this a little graphic, but it's funny and it's relevant, is a test for venereal disease. And let's just say, I won't go into detail, but Big Ed and the twins were not expecting the violation of autonomy that is a venereal test for men.
Kara Swisher · 53:15
Oh, okay.
Scott Galloway · 53:16
I don't have no idea what about. Being the big man I am, I fainted. I passed out, and I woke up. I woke... It's a totally true story. I woke up, and there was a semicircle of very concerned people looking down at me. And the first thing I said was, I'm like, you're not gonna want my sperm, are you? Oh, yeah. I was so upset because I really needed the money, and I'm like, I had to pass out.
Kara Swisher · 53:40
Anyways Oh, man. What did you... Two things. I have two questions. What did do with the money? And paid two tuition. Pay... You used it for tuition. And then
Scott Galloway · 53:48
Swarm donation put me through my junior year at UCLA.
Kara Swisher · 53:52
Wow. So you have a lot of kids, I have.
Scott Galloway · 53:54
Well, that's the fear. I've thought about this a lot. But the thing was
Kara Swisher · 53:58
They're gonna find you
Scott Galloway · 53:59
for long my two water polo player. I mean, it was like a competition where we're all gonna see how much. They said, we'll let you know. We'll call you in. And I thought, there's no way. I was literally like, you know, the, the least attractive Kardashian or the... You know, I was I... It was just on the ride home. It was pretty obvious. I was not gonna get called a lot. I got called three or four times a week for a year, and my friends didn't get called that much. Wow. And we couldn't figure it out because they were smarter than me, much better looking than me. Yeah. And I I asked the the folks at the clinic. I said, why is my my man gravy so in fashion?
Kara Swisher · 54:36
I can't say that.
Scott Galloway · 54:37
And they said, you have the peanut butter and chocolate of sperm donation. Do you want to guess what those two things were? I think I just
Kara Swisher · 54:43
put it... Oh, what? I don't know.
Scott Galloway · 54:46
I was tall and Jewish, and that was the gangster cocktail of sperm donors is that a lot of parents in West LA were Jewish. They like the idea of having Yeah. A Jewish donor, and I'm I'm six foot two, which was also, I guess, they wanted their kids.
Kara Swisher · 54:59
The peanut butter. Thank you for that visual. Isn't that nice? No. It's not.
Scott Galloway · 55:03
Isn't that nice?
Kara Swisher · 55:03
Let me just say, I know a lot about my kids, and so does Amanda, about Clarencell's father. I know a lot about him and his family. I didn't get the pictures, but I have since gotten pictures, and it's really quite something. They look just like my kids. He looks just like my kids. I don't have adult pictures, but it's... I think about it a lot. I I did agree not to contact him. My kids did not. You know what I mean? Like, I can't sign a contract for my kids. And so it'll be interesting to see if any of these kids meet him. They certainly would be able to if one of his relatives does one of these genetic tests, one of the testing thing, which is interesting. But Scott, a year, three or four times a week for a year?
Scott Galloway · 55:46
And I still found time to do it recreationally.
Kara Swisher · 55:48
Of course you did. Of course you did. I'm not gonna even ask how or what your methodology was because I think we've gone... We had enough detail for today.
Scott Galloway · 55:56
Back then, it didn't take much, Kara.
Kara Swisher · 55:58
But you are not the father of my children.
Scott Galloway · 56:00
Your kids seem too well adjusted.
Kara Swisher · 56:02
That is true. That is... And they have fantastic hair. That is correct.
Scott Galloway · 56:05
They do. Actually, you know what? I got... Back then, I had a ponytail.
Kara Swisher · 56:08
Okay.
Scott Galloway · 56:09
I had a lot of hair.
Kara Swisher · 56:10
Alright. Well
Scott Galloway · 56:11
That was my best feature. I used to roam around Berkeley on a skateboard with a ponytail.
Kara Swisher · 56:15
Oh my god. Well Anyways. That's another story. Anyway, one more quick break. We'll be back for predictions.
[Ad break]
— Predictions segment begins —
Kara Swisher · 57:39
Okay, Scott. Let's stop talking about sperm, and here's some predictions.
Scott Galloway · 57:43
Maungravy. I
Kara Swisher · 57:45
have a prediction that you're gonna meet all your kids, but go ahead. Go ahead. Go ahead.
Scott Galloway · 57:49
My prediction's a little bit different.
Kara Swisher · 57:50
I'm so excited. Little Scottlets.
Scott Galloway · 57:53
So super interesting, think, obviously, the stuff with Twitter. What people are... Missed this week, there was another fairly big event in the world of corporate governance and shareholder activism, and that is Elliott took a 9% stake in Pinterest.
Kara Swisher · 58:07
Yes. I saw.
Scott Galloway · 58:08
And it's... It'll be interesting because Ben still controls 30% of the voting shares, so it's not entirely clear how much... I mean, Musk could show up to a single class of shares at Twitter and and paint them into a corner, which ended up... Which it ended up being ironically him painting himself into a corner. That's gonna be the most expensive bout of Manian history. Harvard
Kara Swisher · 58:28
law case. I mean, the Harvard Business School case. But go ahead.
Scott Galloway · 58:31
So... But I think, essentially in social media, the subscale players, Twitter, Snap, and Pinterest, one or two of them in twelve months is probably not going to be an independent company. Because here's the reality, I think they're all now trading below their IPOs. They just haven't worked. And they're great products. Addictive products. They kind of remind me a little bit of The New York Times, and that is... I remember when I was involved with The New York Times, there's all these amazing stats. 40% of world leaders, including leaders in Muslim countries Mhmm. The first thing they read, the leaders read when they wake up in the morning is The New York Times.
Kara Swisher · 59:06
Right.
Scott Galloway · 59:07
If you watch any news program, it's like reading the front page. The front page of the New York Times dictates what the world thinks is important in media. Mhmm. But it was always a shitty business. We could never figure out a way to scale it. It's gotten better, but the stock's still below where it was twenty years ago.
Kara Swisher · 59:22
Not a big business. Not as big as its reputation for sure.
Scott Galloway · 59:25
And then you could say the same thing about Snap Yeah. Pinterest, and Twitter. Especially Twitter, its influence vastly outsizes the quality of its business. Snap's very creative, has incredibly loyal and a lot of attention. Pinterest was always kind of a little engine that couldn't. We've always wanted Pinterest to win, but it's never been able to build a sustained business. I think of these three companies, you already have you have one guy who's painted himself into a corner is gonna have to show up with $54.20.
Kara Swisher · 59:52
It's just version of that.
Scott Galloway · 59:54
Yeah. It's just weird to imagine where Twitter will be in twelve months. You have an activist, Elliot, which is one of the deepest pockets and also very smart people
Kara Swisher · 1:00:01
They are.
Scott Galloway · 1:00:02
In a Pinterest. And so my prediction is it just makes sense. The third domino to fall here, even though I believe it's also dual class shareholder, Snap is off 50%
Kara Swisher · 1:00:14
in the last several months. Creative. They have so many creative people there. They just hired someone else.
Scott Galloway · 1:00:18
It's a great product. It's a great product. It's just all of these things are ending up to be shitty businesses, which means Well, they
Kara Swisher · 1:00:24
have been do... They've been getting some traction in some of the stuff they're doing. It's a lot of having to do with the market right now, but I would say among those, probably Pinterest, no question. It will get bought by someone. Twitter, probably. We'll see what Parag Agarwal will do once he's got, Elon in his rearview mirror.
Scott Galloway · 1:00:40
They could change their business model. That's what Twitter needs to do. But anyways
Kara Swisher · 1:00:43
100%.
Scott Galloway · 1:00:43
I think the next point to prediction is you're gonna see something happen in the next twelve months Yep. Around Snap because it's a great product.
Kara Swisher · 1:00:51
Okay.
Scott Galloway · 1:00:51
Alright. It's like all the... It's like the other two companies. They're great products. They're addictive, and they've proven to be unreliable to
Kara Swisher · 1:00:57
because he'd be coming to, code. Maybe you could do the interview with me.
Scott Galloway · 1:01:00
He's dreamy.
Kara Swisher · 1:01:01
Evan Evans.
Scott Galloway · 1:01:02
He is dreamy.
Kara Swisher · 1:01:03
He's a lovely guy. He's turned out to be a lovely guy in the end.
Scott Galloway · 1:01:06
And he could be my son. He's the right age. Introduce me as daddy.
Kara Swisher · 1:01:11
No. Come here. No. No. You're stupid.
Scott Galloway · 1:01:14
I'm gonna be like, Evan, family's hug
Kara Swisher · 1:01:17
and hug him. He's gonna run screaming.
Scott Galloway · 1:01:19
Was he born in LA in the late eighties?
Kara Swisher · 1:01:21
You to stay away from him and his
Scott Galloway · 1:01:22
love way that guy is related to me. That guy looks like a different species than me. You see how dreamy he is?
Kara Swisher · 1:01:28
He's he's a lovely guy. I I... Not gonna call him dreamy, but he's a lovely guy. He's he's he's really evolved really well as as of of the many people I cover. A big surprise. He's turned out to be really interesting and creative. And, anyway, we we have such an interesting life. We wanna hear from you. Send us your questions.
Scott Galloway · 1:01:46
You're my biological kid. We do not wanna hear from you.
Kara Swisher · 1:01:50
All those kids, call me. Use 23andMe and call me. Anyway, we... You'll you'll find out before I will. We wanna hear from you. Send us your questions about business heck or whatever's on your mind. Go to nymag.com/pivot to submit a question for the show or call 85551 Scott, that is the show. It's turned out to be quite a fecking show. Mhmm. We'll be back on Friday for more.
— Predictions segment ends —
Scott Galloway · 1:02:13
There you go. Today's show was produced by Lara Naaman, Evan Engel, and Taylor Griffin. Ernie Intertaud engineered this episode. Thanks also to Drew Burrows and Emil Silverio. Make sure you're subscribed to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. Thanks for listening to Pivot from New York Magazine and Vox Media. We'll be back later this week for another breakdown of all things tech and business. And just just FYI, I don't even enjoy hearing from my former students.
