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The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway · September 10, 2026 · 1h 4m

Why “Follow Your Passion” Is Bad Advice — with Bill Burnett and Dave Evans

Bill Burnett, Dave Evans

Stanford professors Bill Burnett and Dave Evans argue that chasing a single true purpose is the wrong goal. They explain why the familiar advice to “follow your passion” often backfires, discuss whether a job must deliver both money and meaning, and describe how small experiments can get you unstuck. Scott also shares a personal story about sending his son to college and how a central role in his life is beginning to shift. Their latest book is How to Live a Meaningful Life.

This summary was generated from show notes and public descriptions, not from a full transcript review. Details may contain inaccuracies.

Canon

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“Follow your passion” is bad advice
Burnett and Evans argue that the common advice to “follow your passion” can be counterproductive because most people don’t have a clear single passion, and the phrase creates unrealistic pressure to find one true calling.
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Highlights

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Your job doesn’t need to deliver both money and meaning
Burnett and Evans say it’s fine for a job to be just a paycheck, and it’s reasonable to find meaning outside of work rather than expecting every role to be a passion project.
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Use small experiments to move forward when you feel stuck
Burnett and Evans recommend trying low-risk prototypes—like informational interviews, short projects, or shadowing—to test potential life paths before making a big commitment.
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Editorial

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When the role that gave your life purpose changes
Scott shares his experience of sending his son to college and the emotional challenge of losing a primary identity that had structured his purpose.
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References

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How to Live a Meaningful Life — Bill Burnett, Dave Evans — discussed in the episode

Misc

✧Recorded live at Odoo Experience in San Francisco.
✧Scott opens up about the emotional experience of sending his son to college and reflecting on how his role as a parent is shifting.
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