Derek Thompson

Derek Thompson is an American journalist and podcaster who spent 17 years at The Atlantic before leaving in June 2025 to write independently on Substack. A Northwestern University graduate, he is the author of 'Hit Makers: How to Succeed in an Age of Distraction,' winner of the Leonard L. Berry Marketing Book Award, and co-author of 'Abundance' with Ezra Klein. Since 2021, he has hosted the weekly podcast 'Plain English' on The Ringer Podcast Network.