Uploaded February 2020 | Updated September 2026, 23 hours ago
In chapter 47, I sit down with Derek The Hype Man, also known as Derek Forgie.
Who is Derek Forgie?
Well, as background, there’s a huge daytime talk show in Canada called The Social. (Some people say it’s similar to The View — a series of interesting women, talking about interesting issues of the day, in a really interesting way.) I’ve been lucky enough to have been a guest on The Social a number of times and have always noticed that it has an incredible chemistry and audience connection. And every single time I go on that TV show, I notice that there is this guy hanging around, an energy-packed red-headed guy, dressed really snazzily dressed in a vest and brightly colored shoes, and he is just working the audience like nobody’s business. Yes, he is … the hype man!
This man is Derek Forgie.
He stands on a little box, he cheers, he yells, he laughs, he gets everyone clapping. When you’re on The Social or when you watch The Social, you notice the audience basically, in Derek’s words, brings out their inner Jerry Springer. They cheer or they boo or they laugh or they clap after every point made on the show. As a guest it fills you with energy and what I feel is happening is Derek’s energy, the energy that erupts from this one guy, helps fill an audience, fill a set, fill the hosts, fill the guests, fill the TV show, and, of course, fill the millions of viewers watching on TV. Derek’s energy beams out of him like the sun! Every time I talk to him I get such a warm glow inside me.
In addition to being a hype man Derek became the host and producer of his own television show, called Planet Skwirl on MTV, when he was 17 years old. He became an activist (you’ll hear why) and founded HSSE (Heterosexuals for Same-Sex Equality), with the slogan ‘straight not narrow’, and was also recognized as a leading voice by the World Wildlife Foundation. Derek is also a standup comic who’s toured and presented to over 2000 audiences and has been featured on NBC’s Last Comic Standing. And he currently hosts a great show called the 10 Minute Talk Show. Derek is a passionate believer in many causes and gives environmental and anti-bullying presentations in schools as well as — get this — even founding of International Kiss a Ginger Day!
I was thrilled when Derek Forgie accepted my invitation to sit down in the green room of The Social, live in the CTV studios, and share his 3 most formative books with us.
SUBSCRIBE: bit.ly/2HHWPYg
Hey there,
I'm Neil and I spend a ton of time thinking, writing, podcasting, and speaking about living intentionally. I'm the New York Times bestselling author of six books including The Book of Awesome and The Happiness Equation. I've been lucky to speak at places like TED, SXSW, and Google. And I host a huge passion project called the 3 Books podcast.
Want to read more of my stuff?
https://www.neil.blog/archive/
Want to check out my podcast?
3books.co
Want to learn about my live events?
globalhappiness.org/speaking
Want my monthly book recos?
1000awesomethings.com/reading-club
Want my articles on intentional living?
https://www.neil.blog/newsletter/
I am also on the following drugs:
Facebook: facebook.com/NeilPasricha
Twitter: twitter.com/neilpasricha
Instagram: instagram.com/neilpasricha
Lastly, thanks so much for watching this vid.
👊,
Neil
neil@globalhappiness.org
In chapter 47, I sit down with Derek The Hype Man, also known as Derek Forgie.
Who is Derek Forgie?
Well, as background, there’s a huge daytime talk show in Canada called The Social. (Some people say it’s similar to The View — a series of interesting women, talking about interesting issues of the day, in a really interesting way.) I’ve been lucky enough to have been a guest on The Social a number of times and have always noticed that it has an incredible chemistry and audience connection. And every single time I go on that TV show, I notice that there is this guy hanging around, an energy-packed red-headed guy, dressed really snazzily dressed in a vest and brightly colored shoes, and he is just working the audience like nobody’s business. Yes, he is … the hype man!
This man is Derek Forgie.
He stands on a little box, he cheers, he yells, he laughs, he gets everyone clapping. When you’re on The Social or when you watch The Social, you notice the audience basically, in Derek’s words, brings out their inner Jerry Springer. They cheer or they boo or they laugh or they clap after every point made on the show. As a guest it fills you with energy and what I feel is happening is Derek’s energy, the energy that erupts from this one guy, helps fill an audience, fill a set, fill the hosts, fill the guests, fill the TV show, and, of course, fill the millions of viewers watching on TV. Derek’s energy beams out of him like the sun! Every time I talk to him I get such a warm glow inside me.
In addition to being a hype man Derek became the host and producer of his own television show, called Planet Skwirl on MTV, when he was 17 years old. He became an activist (you’ll hear why) and founded HSSE (Heterosexuals for Same-Sex Equality), with the slogan ‘straight not narrow’, and was also recognized as a leading voice by the World Wildlife Foundation. Derek is also a standup comic who’s toured and presented to over 2000 audiences and has been featured on NBC’s Last Comic Standing. And he currently hosts a great show called the 10 Minute Talk Show. Derek is a passionate believer in many causes and gives environmental and anti-bullying presentations in schools as well as — get this — even founding of International Kiss a Ginger Day!
I was thrilled when Derek Forgie accepted my invitation to sit down in the green room of The Social, live in the CTV studios, and share his 3 most formative books with us.
SUBSCRIBE: bit.ly/2HHWPYg
Hey there,
I'm Neil and I spend a ton of time thinking, writing, podcasting, and speaking about living intentionally. I'm the New York Times bestselling author of six books including The Book of Awesome and The Happiness Equation. I've been lucky to speak at places like TED, SXSW, and Google. And I host a huge passion project called the 3 Books podcast.
Want to read more of my stuff?
https://www.neil.blog/archive/
Want to check out my podcast?
3books.co
Want to learn about my live events?
globalhappiness.org/speaking
Want my monthly book recos?
1000awesomethings.com/reading-club
Want my articles on intentional living?
https://www.neil.blog/newsletter/
I am also on the following drugs:
Facebook: facebook.com/NeilPasricha
Twitter: twitter.com/neilpasricha
Instagram: instagram.com/neilpasricha
Lastly, thanks so much for watching this vid.
👊,
Neil
neil@globalhappiness.org
