Radical Candor: Communication at Work
- Episodes
- 235
- Released
- every two weeks
- Latest episode
- Nov 10, 2026
About the podcast
Ready to love your job, crush your career goals, and become the kind of leader everyone actually wants to work with? Welcome to the Radical Candor podcast, where you'll learn how to kick ass at work without losing your humanity. Host Amy Sandler and Radical Candor co-founders Kim Scott and Jason Rosoff to break down how you can Care Personally and Challenge Directly — the deceptively simple but powerful formula for building stronger teams, giving (and getting) better feedback, and leading with heart and clarity. Each episode is packed with real talk, relatable stories, and actionable tips to help you do the best work of your life while building the best relationships of your career. Whether you’re a manager, a team player, or dreaming bigger for your future, this is the podcast that will change how you show up at work — and in life. P.S. Don’t forget to check out Kim Scott’s New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller, Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity! Want even more Radical Candor? Join the Radical Candor Community — free forever.
Episodes 235
AI Isn’t Passing You By - How to Catch Up (with Jeremy Utley)
While the podcast team is taking a Radical Sabbatical, Kim is interviewing authors whose books have had a big impact on her over the past two years. Feeling behind on AI? Embarrassed that you don’t know more by …
Show notes
While the podcast team is taking a Radical Sabbatical, Kim is interviewing authors whose books have had a big impact on her over the past two years.
Feeling behind on AI? Embarrassed that you don’t know more by now? You’re not alone, and you’re probably more prepared than you think. In this episode, Kim sits down with Jeremy Utley, author of The Human Advantage, to explore how the people management skills you’ve spent years developing are exactly what you need to lead your personal AI team effectively.
Jeremy introduces one of the most practical frameworks for managers getting started with AI. Rather than thinking about AI as a single tool, he explains how to build and manage a team of specialized AI agents, each playing a distinct role in what he calls your “Team of Five”.
You - your judgment, voice, and leadership are what make the team work
Your AI Assistant - handling research, scheduling, and information gathering
Your AI Coach - giving you honest feedback on your performance and decisions
Your AI Expert - bringing deep knowledge to specific problems and challenges
Your AI Creative Partner - helping you think differently and generate better ideas
But building your personal AI team is only half the battle. Kim and Jeremy also dive deep into how to manage these AI agents effectively - because just like managing people, getting great work out of AI requires clear communication, honest feedback, and strong leadership.
Jeremy also addresses one of the most common feelings among leaders today - the embarrassment of feeling like you should already know how to use AI. His message is clear and reassuring: everyone feels behind, even the experts. What matters is that you start.
In this episode you’ll learn:
Why experienced managers have a head start on AI - not a handicap
How to give AI feedback so it produces better output
Why your prompting skills are your most important AI skill
How to use voice instead of typing to get richer AI responses
Why thinking carefully before you prompt is the most valuable habit you can build
How to stop being a “meat router” and start adding real value to AI output
Guest Background: Jeremy Utley is a lecturer at Stanford University’s d.school and author of The Human Advantage: What AI Can't Do Without You. He teaches leaders and organizations how to work effectively with AI and is one of the most practical voices on AI adoption in the workplace today. Find him at jeremyutley.com and on LinkedIn and YouTube.
CHAPTERS
(01:15) Introduction to AI and Its Practical Applications
(04:24) Building Your AI Team: The Five Personas
(07:11) Leveraging AI for Research and Daily Tasks
(11:37) Creative Thinking with AI: Embracing Absurdity
(15:43) Evaluating AI Output: The Role of Human Judgment
(23:41) The Importance of Prompting I
(27:44) Garbage In, Garbage Out: The AI Input Challenge
(30:25) Feeling Behind: Normalizing the Learning Curve
(35:05) Voice as a Tool: Enhancing AI Interaction
(38:13) AI as a Thought Partner: Benefits and Risks
(42:02) The Human-AI Relationship: Finding Balance
Connect with the Radical Candor team:
Keywords
AI at work, artificial intelligence for managers,AI productivity, AI tools for leaders, workplace AI, creativity, productivity, human advantage, team dynamics, radical candor, personas, feedback, evaluation AI, prompting, garbage in garbage out, learning curve, voice interaction, thought partner, human relationship
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Manipulation vs. Persuasion: A Clear Distinction (with Jay Conger)
While the podcast team is taking a Radical Sabbatical, Kim is interviewing authors whose books have had a big impact on her over the past two years. Kim welcomes Jay Conger to the show and they discuss Jay’s …
Show notes
While the podcast team is taking a Radical Sabbatical, Kim is interviewing authors whose books have had a big impact on her over the past two years.
Kim welcomes Jay Conger to the show and they discuss Jay’s new book, The Persuasive Leader: Proven Strategies for Moving People and Ideas. They delve into the intricacies of persuasion, exploring its historical roots, the skepticism surrounding it, and the distinction between manipulation and genuine persuasion. They discuss Aristotle's framework for effective persuasion, emphasizing the importance of understanding the audience and the role of listening in the persuasion process. Through case studies, they illustrate the challenges and strategies involved in becoming a persuasive leader. Later, they explore aspects of leadership and persuasion, particularly in the context of healthcare. They discuss the importance of building trust, establishing credibility, and the art of borrowing credibility from others. The conversation covers how to frame arguments effectively, the role of emotion in persuasion, and the order of credibility, logic, and emotion in influencing others. Through storytelling and practical examples, they provide insights into how leaders can navigate challenges and inspire action without being manipulative.
Guest Background: Jay Conger holds the Henry R. Kravis Chaired Professor of Leadership Studies at Claremont McKenna College. As an executive educator, coach, and program designer, he has worked with over five hundred organizations in his twenty-five year career. An outstanding teacher, the Financial Times and other business periodicals ranked him as one of the world’s top management educators. He works with individuals and organizations to create unique learning environments that accelerate and celebrate the potential of leaders.
Over the years of leading and studying leadership, he discovered a set of remarkable patterns that characterize how truly effective leaders learn, act, and communicate. He explored the pathways to developing these capabilities and came to realize that a wider variety of approaches - or learning interventions - were necessary. Through his work with thousands of leaders and hundreds of organizations, he learned the importance of customization and honed his skills at it. Today, he designs learning experiences that not only build deep self-awareness and inspire action but also incorporate the cultural and strategic demands of organizations.
CHAPTERS
(00:42) Introduction to Persuasion and Skepticism
(03:29) The Ancient Roots of Persuasion
(06:33) Understanding Manipulation vs. Real Persuasion
(09:27) Aristotle's Framework for Persuasion
(12:25) The Importance of Audience Understanding
(15:26) The Curse of Knowledge in Persuasion
(18:05) Effective Listening in Persuasion
(21:06) Case Studies in Persuasion
(21:28) Building Trust in Healthcare Leadership
(24:14) Establishing Credibility as an Outsider
(25:16) The Art of Borrowing Credibility
(27:20) Framing Arguments for Persuasion
(31:43) Harnessing Emotion in Persuasion
(38:37) The Order of Persuasion: Credibility, Logic, Emotion
Connect with the Radical Candor team:
Keywords
persuasion, manipulation, Aristotle, leadership, communication, audience understanding, ethical persuasion, effective listening, credibility, negotiation leadership, persuasion, credibility, healthcare, trust, emotion, communication, change management, storytelling, influence
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How can you confront a bullying boss without losing your job? (with Christina Wing)
While the podcast team takes a Radical Sabbatical, Kim interviews authors of books that have had a big impact on her over the past two years. We live in a world where the list of off-limits topics keeps …
Show notes
While the podcast team takes a Radical Sabbatical, Kim interviews authors of books that have had a big impact on her over the past two years.
We live in a world where the list of off-limits topics keeps growing. Age, failure, succession, failure, death, work-family conflict, money, fear, layoffs, governance, race, religion, and politics: these subjects often feel too hot to touch. So we avoid them and stick to small talk. But avoidance comes at an enormous cost. When we can't address the realities shaping our lives and careers, trust and relationships suffer, making it impossible to achieve results together. There IS a better way!
In this episode, Kim Scott speaks with Christina Wing about her latest book, Unspeakable: The Taboo Topics We Avoid and How to Talk About Them.
They start their conversation by talking about explained how and why Christina decided to take the risk to confront an abusive boss, and why staying silent would have been more risky in the end. Her Radical Candor paid off for both of them. He hadn't realized how his behavior was affecting others, and ultimately his career. When she explained the consequences, he changed his behavior.
Christina and Kim explore the costs of avoiding uncomfortable conversations, and some tactics for how and why to embrace the discomfort. Christina shares a story about a family business where people were arguing about where to invest–but nobody knew how much was available to invest. Next, Christina explains how she’s learned to be more open about race, religion, and politics.
Guest Background: Christina Wing is a Senior Lecturer in the Technology and Operations Management Unit at Harvard Business School. Her research focuses on families in business, and she is the creator of Demystifying the Family Enterprise, a course that explores family dynamics, operating companies, family offices, and legacy opportunities. In recognition of her contributions to the field, she was named a Top 25 Family Enterprise Academic by Family Capital.
CHAPTERS
(00:40) Introduction to Radical Sabbatical and Christina Wing
(01:30) Facing Bullying in the Workplace
(03:58) Confronting a Difficult Boss
(06:54) The Transformation of a Bully
(09:21) The Importance of Direct Communication
(10:41) Ruinous Empathy vs. Radical Candor
(13:14) The Consequences of Avoiding Difficult Conversations
(13:14) The Role of Respect in Communication
(13:14) The Need for Open Conversations
(14:11) Curiosity and Understanding in Conversations
(17:20) Navigating Difficult Moments vs. Difficult Conversations
(19:07) The Art of Role-Playing in Conversations
(21:21) Understanding Different Perspectives
(23:40) Navigating Difficult Conversations
(27:43) The Importance of Timing in Discussions
(29:49) The Impact of Technology on Communication
(33:50) Addressing Money Matters in Family Dynamics
(38:25) The Power of Money and Its Societal Impact
(41:00) The Necessity of Open Dialogue
Connect with the Radical Candor team:
Keywords
Christina Wing, Unspeakable, workplace bullying, direct communication, radical candor, empathy, difficult conversations, respect, curiosity role-playing, perspectives, timing, technology, money matters, family dynamics, societal impact, open dialogue, emotional intelligence
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How Microaggressions can have significant negative impacts (with Dr. Kecia Thomas )
While the podcast team is taking a Radical Sabbatical, Kim is interviewing authors of the books that have had a big impact on her in the past two years. In this episode, Kim Scott speaks with Dr. Kecia Thomas …
Show notes
While the podcast team is taking a Radical Sabbatical, Kim is interviewing authors of the books that have had a big impact on her in the past two years.
In this episode, Kim Scott speaks with Dr. Kecia Thomas, an organizational psychologist renowned for her research on workplace dynamics. Kim discusses Dr. Thomas’ research on the 'Pet to Threat' framework, which explores the experiences of women, particularly women of color, in organizational settings. They discuss the transition from being seen as a 'pet' to a 'threat' in the workplace, the impact of gender and leadership dynamics, and the resistance to diversity within organizations. Dr. Thomas emphasizes the importance of recognizing covert forms of discrimination and the need for organizations to embrace discomfort to foster inclusivity. They also explore the complexities of race, advertising, microaggressions, and the challenges faced by marginalized groups in leadership roles. They discuss the impact of colorblind messaging in organizations, the emotional labor involved in diversity work, and the intersectionality of class and race in higher education. The dialogue emphasizes the importance of understanding and addressing these issues to create more inclusive environments.
Both Kim and Dr. Thomas agree that embracing discomfort is crucial for organizations to evolve. They discuss how rejecting these feelings only exacerbates issues within workplace cultures. Instead, recognizing and addressing this discomfort can create pathways for growth and improvement.
Guest Background: Dr. Kecia Thomas is an industrial-organizational psychologist, diversity scientist, keynote speaker, board advisor, and leadership coach. She helps leaders align culture, trust, belonging, and performance to build healthier, higher-performing organizations. Dr. Thomas is the lead psychologist behind Pet to Threat™, a groundbreaking framework examining how high-potential marginalized employees can experience celebration and exploitation, followed by promotion and alienation, at work. Her expertise has been sought by major corporations, national institutions, universities, school districts, and healthcare organizations.
CHAPTERS
(00:21) Introduction to Pet to Threat Framework
(03:16) Experiences of Women in Leadership
(06:10) Understanding the Pet to Threat Transition
(09:01) The Impact of Gender and Leadership
(11:45) Diversity Resistance in Organizations
(14:39) The Role of Organizational Culture
(17:12) The Importance of Naming Experiences
(19:26) The Covert Forms of Resistance
(22:27) The Consequences of Exclusion
(24:56) Good Intentions Gone Awry
(27:22) The Impact of Advertising on Racial Perceptions
(29:31) Microaggressions and Their Consequences
(32:54) Colorblindness in Organizational Messaging
(36:57) Navigating Unintended Offenses in Communication
(39:33) The Emotional Labor of Diversity Work
(40:51) Leadership Challenges for Marginalized Groups
(48:43) Class Bias in Higher Education
(52:13) Intersectionality and Social Distance
Connect with the Radical Candor team:
Keywords
Pet to Threat, organizational psychology, diversity, inclusion, women in leadership, gender bias, workplace culture, resistance, covert discrimination, leadership dynamics advertising, racial perceptions, microaggressions, colorblindness, diversity, emotional labor, leadership, class bias, intersectionality
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Fixing the Employee Experience (with Tiffani Bova)
While the podcast team is taking a Radical Sabbatical, Kim is interviewing authors of the books that have had a big impact on her in the past two years. Today, employees working in organizations both large and …
Show notes
While the podcast team is taking a Radical Sabbatical, Kim is interviewing authors of the books that have had a big impact on her in the past two years.
Today, employees working in organizations both large and small are faced with incredible pressure to integrate AI into their workflows both to save costs and to do more. But many of those same employees express fears, “am I just training robots to put me out of a job?!” While it can be tempting for leaders in the C-suites to use AI to “finally get the upper hand on these whiny/needy/entitled employees!”, they risk damaging their core mission, specifically providing value to their customers. In fairness, those same leaders in the C-suite are rightly under pressure to integrate these new tools or risk getting wiped out by more nimble competition. So, what’s the best way to go about this?
In this episode, Kim Scott speaks with Tiffani Bova about her latest book The Experience Mindset.
In this conversation, they explore the critical relationship between employee experience and customer experience, emphasizing the importance of self-reflection, effective feedback mechanisms, and the necessity of training employees. The discussion also highlights the disconnect between executives and employees regarding training and feedback, illustrated through real-world examples like the 'Undercover Boss' show. Ultimately, the conversation underscores the need for organizations to prioritize employee engagement and actionable feedback to foster a positive workplace culture and drive business success. They discuss specifics such as the importance of addressing workplace irritations, the need for effective management training, and the significance of streamlining processes to enhance productivity. Tiffani especially stresses the critical role of office culture in fostering open communication and the necessity of training managers to improve employee satisfaction.
The discussion also highlights the impact of automation and technology in optimizing processes and the importance of aligning incentives to encourage growth and innovation. They explore the intersection of technology and human experience, particularly focusing on the role of AI in the workplace. They discuss the importance of understanding the human element in technology adoption, the balance between tech and human interaction, and the critical role of company culture in driving business success. The conversation highlights real-world examples of AI implementation, the challenges of technology overload, and the necessity of fostering a cohesive culture that aligns with organizational values.
Guest Background: As both a practitioner and academic Tiffani Bova offers a unique perspective and has helped lead the tech industry through several evolutions over her nearly 30-year career as Salesforce’s former Growth and Innovation Evangelist, and previously as a Research Fellow at Gartner and a sales, marketing and customer service executive for start-ups and Fortune 500 companies. She is the author of two Wall Street Journal bestsellers: GrowthIQ and The Experience Mindset.
At The Futurum Group, she runs the research and strategy organization, while working closely with the entire leadership team to develop and scale its data and intelligence platform and insights for its clients. She also leads the team’s efforts within the technology and telecom channels, demonstrating the power and performance of connected go-to-market strategies and alliances.
While at Gartner, her forward-looking insights and guidance helped some of the largest technology companies in the world including Microsoft, Cisco, Salesforce, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Oracle, SAP, AT&T, Dell, Amazon-AWS, expand their market share and grow their revenues. She was a trusted advisor to multiple senior executives who were responsible for shifting from on-premise to as-a-service business models resulting in new billion-dollar divisions.
In the late 90’s and early 2000s she was a pioneer of cloud computing, she previously led direct and indirect sales, marketing and customer service for two of the largest web-based start-ups in the US and spearheaded a newly formed division of a Fortune 500 company to $300 million in revenue over two and a half years.
Tiffani has been featured in Harvard Business Review, Fortune, Fast Company, Bloomberg, MSNBC-TV, Yahoo Finance, INC and Forbes. She is also the host of the podcast What’s Next! with Tiffani Bova. More info here: https://www.tiffanibova.com/
[links for YouTube description]
(Bio) https://www.tiffanibova.com/biography/
(book: The Experience Mindset) https://www.tiffanibova.com/the-experience-mindset/
(how to contact) https://www.tiffanibova.com
CHAPTERS
(00:44) Introduction to the Experience Mindset
(02:19) Self-Reflection and Critical Feedback
(04:56) The Importance of Employee Experience
(05:39) Understanding Employee Feedback
(07:23) The Undercover Boss Example
(11:25) The Value of Training Employees
(15:29) Disconnect Between Executives and Employees
(17:30) Real-World Application of Employee Feedback
(20:05) Identifying and Fixing Workplace Irritations
(24:31) The Importance of Management Training
(27:58) Understanding Processes and Their Impact
(36:36) Streamlining Processes for Productivity
(41:51) Understanding the Human Element in Technology
(44:33) AI: Triumphs and Disasters in Implementation
(47:32) The Balance of Technology and Human Experience
(50:17) Creating a Cohesive Company Culture
(55:20) The Impact of Culture on Business Success
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The Science Behind High-Performing Teams (with Ron Friedman)
While the podcast team is taking a Radical Sabbatical, Kim is interviewing authors whose books have had a big impact on her over the past two years. In this episode, Kim Scott speaks with Ron Friedman, PhD. Ron …
Show notes
While the podcast team is taking a Radical Sabbatical, Kim is interviewing authors whose books have had a big impact on her over the past two years.
In this episode, Kim Scott speaks with Ron Friedman, PhD. Ron has written extensively about the sciences of building high-performing teams. Ron’s latest book is Superteams: The Science and Secrets of High-Performing Teams. They discuss the importance of the creative process, the role of restoration in productivity, and the key strengths that distinguish super teams from average teams. The conversation delves into effective meeting strategies, communication norms, and the significance of laughter in fostering team cohesion. Ultimately, they emphasize the need for customized approaches to team dynamics and the value of building supportive relationships within teams. They also explore the dynamics of effective teamwork, the importance of maintaining focus in a distracted world, and the role of hobbies in enhancing productivity. They discuss the attributes of great teammates, the significance of productive disagreement, and the necessity of effective feedback for continuous improvement. The dialogue emphasizes that super teams thrive on collaboration, shared goals, and a culture of open communication.
Guest Background: Ron Friedman, PhD, is an award-winning psychologist who helps leaders build high-performing teams. He is the bestselling author of The Best Place to Work and Decoding Greatness, and the founder of Superteams, Inc., where he delivers keynotes, workshops, and executive advisory to senior leaders around the world. An expert on human motivation, Friedman has served on the faculties of the University of Rochester, Nazareth College, and Hobart and William Smith Colleges. He contributes regularly to Harvard Business Review, and his work has been featured in The New York Times, Financial Times, Bloomberg, NPR, CBS, FOX, NBC, Fast Company, The Washington Post, Forbes, and Inc. To learn more about his work, visit SuperteamsInc.com.
CHAPTERS
(00:41) Introduction to Super Teams
(01:45) The Creative Process and Incubation
(04:12) Restoration and Productivity
(06:27) Research Behind Super Teams
(07:50) Key Strengths of Super Teams
(09:00) Meetings: The Double-Edged Sword
(11:24) Effective Meeting Strategies
(12:51) Customizing Team Dynamics
(15:06) Communication Norms and Email Management
(18:05) The Role of Laughter in Teams
(20:57) Building Relationships Through Support
(23:00) Navigating Humor and Inclusivity
(26:52) Time Affluence and Productivity Strategies
(30:08) Staying Focused in a Distracted World
(32:51) The Power of Hobbies and Side Hustles
(36:10) Attributes of Great Teammates
(39:10) Building Effective Teams
(41:40) The Importance of Productive Disagreement
(45:02) Mastering Feedback for Improvement
Connect with the Radical Candor team:
Keywords
Super Teams, productivity, creative process, meetings, team dynamics, communication, laughter, leadership, time management, workplace culture focus, hobbies, teamwork, feedback, productivity, super teams, attributes, disagreement, communication, leadership
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Ways to Manage - Back by Brain Science (with Caroline Webb)
While the podcast team is taking a Radical Sabbatical, Kim is interviewing authors whose books have had a big impact on her over the past two years. In this episode, Kim Scott speaks with Caroline Webb about …
Show notes
While the podcast team is taking a Radical Sabbatical, Kim is interviewing authors whose books have had a big impact on her over the past two years.
In this episode, Kim Scott speaks with Caroline Webb about her latest book, Leadership Intelligence. They explore the principles of effective leadership: the importance of widening perspectives; the role of cognitive load in decision-making; and the significance of intrinsic motivation through competence and connection. The conversation also delves into the dynamics of disagreement, the necessity of feedback, and practical strategies for fostering a collaborative team environment. They review effective feedback techniques and the significance of public praise. Caroline also emphasizes the role of gratitude and giving praise in building strong workplace relationships, the importance of understanding stress and resilience in leadership, and how leaders can foster team resilience through structured conversations and practices. The discussion culminates in the introduction of the five C's of team resilience, emphasizing the need for communication, clarity, calm, connection, and capacity in creating a supportive work environment.
Guest Background: Caroline Webb is a leadership coach, economist, and speaker known for being one of the world's leading experts in using insights from behavioral science to improve professional life. She is the author of Leadership Intelligence and of How To Have A Good Day, a global bestseller published in 20 editions and over 60 countries. She is also a Senior Advisor to McKinsey, where she was previously a Partner. She has been rated one of the top 50 leadership and management thinkers by Inc. magazine, and one of Thinkers50's top 50 executive coaches in the world.
CHAPTERS
(00:38) Introduction to Leadership Intelligence
(03:24) Deliberate Wisdom: Widening Perspectives
(06:29) Causal Maps and Driver Trees
(09:27) Navigating Disagreements in Leadership
(12:30) The Importance of Turn-Taking in Discussions
(15:22) Lightening Cognitive Load for Better Leadership
(19:19) Intrinsic Inspiration: Competence and Connection
(22:21) The Power of Feedback in Engagement
(30:29) Effective Feedback and Praise Techniques
(32:57) The Importance of Public Praise
(37:01) Cultivating Gratitude and Appreciation
(37:32) Understanding Stress and Resilience
(44:45) Building Team Resilience with the Five C's
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Get Situated for Success (with Angela Duckworth)
While the podcast team is taking a Radical Sabbatical, Kim is interviewing authors of the books that have had a big impact on her in the past two years. In this episode, Kim Scott speaks with Angela Duckworth …
Show notes
While the podcast team is taking a Radical Sabbatical, Kim is interviewing authors of the books that have had a big impact on her in the past two years.
In this episode, Kim Scott speaks with Angela Duckworth. Her first book Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, is a #1 New York Times bestseller. Her second book is Situated: Find the People and Places That Bring Out Your Best.
In this conversation, Kim interviews Angela about her new book, 'Situated.' They explore a deceptively simple three-box model that explains all of human behavior. Angela emphasizes the power of environment in shaping our thoughts and leading us to–or away from–the results we want. She and Kim discuss the limitations of willpower. Angela describes the two key ingredients of a good situation: challenge and support. Kim and Angela explore why it is important to seek managers and peers who both challenge and support us. They discuss the importance of feedback and why Ruinous Empathy is so damaging to both personal and professional growth. If you’re looking for one thing you can control to get better situated, Angela shares some practical advice on curating your personal space to foster positive habits and growth.
Guest Background: Prof. Angela Duckworth, PhD, is the Rosa Lee and Egbert Chang Professor at the University of Pennsylvania and faculty co-director of the Penn-Wharton Behavior Change for Good Initiative.
Prior to her career in research, Angela founded an academic enrichment program for low-income children that was profiled as a Harvard Kennedy School case study and today serves hundreds of students each year. She has also been a McKinsey management consultant and a math and science teacher at public schools in New York City, San Francisco, and Philadelphia. Angela co-founded Character Lab, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing scientific insights that help children thrive.
Angela completed her undergraduate degree in Advanced Studies Neurobiology at Harvard, graduating magna cum laude. With the support of a Marshall Scholarship, she completed an MSc with Distinction in Neuroscience from Oxford University. She completed her PhD in Psychology as a National Science Foundation Graduate Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania.
Angela's TED talk is among the most viewed of all time.
CHAPTERS
(00:00) Introduction to Radical Sabbatical and Angela Duckworth's New Book
(03:23) The Snorkeling Incident: A Metaphor for Situational Awareness
(05:58) Finding Your Best Situations: The Power of Environment
(08:31) The Three Boxes Model: Understanding Behavior and Thoughts
(11:13) The Role of Situations in Shaping Our Thoughts
(14:16) Changing Your Situation vs. Changing Your Thoughts
(17:10) The Limitations of Willpower and Self-Control
(20:13) The Quest for Control: Understanding Human Nature
(23:15) Creating Supportive and Challenging Situations
(27:11) Understanding Radical Candor
(32:56) Navigating Ruinous Empathy
(33:19) The Dilemma of Short-Term Comfort vs Long-Term Growth
(34:30) Feeding the Good Wolf: A Metaphor for Growth
(36:40) Economic Disparities and Their Impact
(39:23) Agency and the Power of Choice
(43:09) Curating Your Personal Space for Better Outcomes
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Revolutionizing Meetings: From Sabotage to Strategy (with Rebecca Hinds)
While the podcast team is taking a Radical Sabbatical, Kim is interviewing authors of the books that have had a big impact on her in the past two years. In this episode, Kim speaks with Rebecca Hinds, the …
Show notes
While the podcast team is taking a Radical Sabbatical, Kim is interviewing authors of the books that have had a big impact on her in the past two years.
In this episode, Kim speaks with Rebecca Hinds, the author of Your Best Meeting Ever: 7 Principles for Designing Meetings That Get Things Done. They explore the evolution of meetings from wartime sabotage tools to the challenges and strategies for improving meetings in today's technology-driven workplace. They discuss the increasing time spent in meetings, especially post-pandemic, and present seven solutions to eliminate unnecessary meetings and to redesign the necessary ones. They discuss the impact of distractions, the importance of effective meeting structures, and the need for a culture that encourages open disagreement. The conversation also highlights the significance of asynchronous communication, preparation, and technology's role in enhancing collaboration. Ultimately, they emphasize the need for meetings to be engaging and aligned with natural rhythms to foster productivity and creativity.
Guest Background: Rebecca Hinds, PhD, is the author of Your Best Meeting Ever: 7 Principles for Designing Meetings That Get Things Done. She is a leading expert on organizational behavior and the future of work. For more than 15 years, she has helped organizations rethink how work gets done, challenging outdated management playbooks and offering leaders a more ambitious and more human vision for the future.
Rebecca has founded and led two first-of-their-kind research institutes dedicated to reinventing work. In 2022, she launched the Work Innovation Lab at Asana, building it into an influential source of practical workplace research. In 2025, she founded the Work AI Institute at Glean to help organizations navigate the next transformation of work.
CHAPTERS
(00:00) The Origins of Meetings as Sabotage Tools
(02:45) The Evolution of Meeting Culture
(05:14) Radical Meeting Solutions
(08:20) Measuring Meeting Effectiveness
(11:05) The Minimalism Approach to Meetings
(14:06) Optimizing Meeting Flow and Communication
(16:56) The Role of Tools in Meeting Efficiency
(23:40) Managing Distractions in a Tech-Heavy World
(25:58) The Importance of Effective Meetings
(28:58) Creating a Culture of Open Disagreement
(29:49) Building Strong Asynchronous Communication
(32:01) The Role of Preparation in Meetings
(36:51) Designing Engaging Meetings
(38:47) Timing and Rhythm in Meetings
(41:31) Leveraging Technology for Better Meetings
Connect with the Radical Candor team:
Keywords
meetings, productivity, communication, meeting culture, meeting effectiveness, meeting solutions, meeting minimalism, meeting flow, tools for meetings, workplace efficiency distractions, technology, meetings, asynchronous communication, open disagreement, engagement, timing, productivity, collaboration, AI
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Why some leaders are incorruptible, many get corrupted by power/money (with Rob Lalka)
While the podcast team is taking a Radical Sabbatical, Kim is interviewing authors of the books that have had a big impact on her in the past two years. In this episode, Kim speaks with Rob Lalka, the author of …
Show notes
While the podcast team is taking a Radical Sabbatical, Kim is interviewing authors of the books that have had a big impact on her in the past two years.
In this episode, Kim speaks with Rob Lalka, the author of The Venture Alchemists - How Big Tech Turned Profits Into Power.
In this episode of Radical Sabbatical, Kim sits down with Rob Lalka, author of Venture Alchemist, to study what the founders of Facebook, Google, and the “PayPal Mafia” were saying and writing before anyone was paying attention to them. They explore what separates the leaders who stayed grounded from the ones who didn't. They ask a hard question: does it matter if a leader got corrupted by too much money and power or if they started out bad to the bone?
Every leader (indeed, every one of us) has good and bad inside. The one that wins is usually the one that gets fed. The question is whether the venture capital model feeds the good — or does it feed the bad, setting founders up to be corrupted by their own success?
Kim and Rob explore the contrasting origins of major tech companies like Facebook and Google. They discuss the implications of Mark Zuckerberg's early actions (for example, an IM while in college with a friend who asked him how he got access to people’s personal information and he replied “they trusted me, the dumb f–ks;”). What does it mean that Google’s founders started out thinking Google would have to be a non-profit so that advertising wouldn’t bias information but wound up selling trillions of ads?
The conversation also delves into the impact of the PayPal Mafia and the controversial book by Thiel and Sachs, The Diversity Myth. Rob discusses the complexities of free speech and the implications of outlier behavior. He emphasizes the importance of moral leadership in corporate culture and critiques the philosophical influences of figures like Ayn Rand and Milton Friedman on business ethics. Rob expresses hope for the future, particularly through the potential of his students to create positive change in society.
Books & Articles mention by Rob:
George Packer - article in The Atlantic - The Venture-Capital Populist
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/2026/06/david-sacks-crypto-ai-venture-capital/686941/
Max Chafkin - The Contrarian: Peter Thiel and the Rise of the Silicon Valley Oligarchs
https://elmstreetbooks.com/book/9781984878557
Jimi Soni - The Founders: The Story of Paypal and the Entrepreneurs Who Shaped Silicon Valley
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1501197266?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback
Guest Background: Rob Lalka is the author of The Venture Alchemists - How Big Tech Turned Profits Into Power. He is also the Albert R. Lepage Professor in Business and executive director of the Albert Lepage Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Tulane University. He is on the board of directors of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, Public Democracy, Inc., and Venture For America in New Orleans. Previously, he served on the U.S. Secretary of State’s policy planning staff and in the State Department’s Office of Global Partnerships, was a director at Village Capital, and was a senior advisor at the Howard G. Buffett Foundation.
CHAPTERS
(00:40) Introduction to Alchemy and Venture Capital
(03:04) The Power Dynamics in Business Models
(05:33) Zuckerberg's Origin Story and Its Implications
(07:40) The Contrast with Google's Founding Philosophy
(09:47) The Role of Advertising in Business Models
(12:43) The Historical Context of Business Practices
(14:59) The Golden Spike and Economic Inequality
(14:59) The Impact of the PayPal Mafia and Diversity Myth
(22:00) The Controversy of Free Speech and Homophobia
(25:07) Outlier Behavior and Its Implications
(28:03) The Rape Issue and Its Consequences
(30:27) Moral Leadership and Corporate Culture
(33:08) Philosophical Influences on Business Ethics
(40:30) Hope for the Future and the Role of Education
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Keywords
venture capital, alchemy, business models, Zuckerberg, Google, advertising, economic inequality, PayPal Mafia, diversity myth, entrepreneurship free speech, outlier behavior, corporate culture, moral leadership, business ethics, philosophy, education, AI
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How Great Leaders Make Everyone Better (with Liz Wiseman)
While the podcast team is taking a Radical Sabbatical, Kim is interviewing authors of the books that have had a big impact on her in the past two years. Building high-performance teams, especially in dynamic …
Show notes
While the podcast team is taking a Radical Sabbatical, Kim is interviewing authors of the books that have had a big impact on her in the past two years.
Building high-performance teams, especially in dynamic industries, can be one of the biggest challenges a leader faces. Sometimes passionate founders or senior leaders can go from passionate advocate to authoritarian autocrat. Left unchecked, this can lead to organizations underperforming in the long term and missed opportunities. So where is the balance?
In this episode, Kim speaks with Liz Wiseman, the author of multiple New York Times bestsellers. Liz and Kim explore the pitfalls of authoritarian leadership, the power of multipliers, and how leaders can foster environments where everyone does the best work of their lives and builds the best relationships of their careers. Liz does point out that there are certain, limited instances where a top down, “command and control” approach is the right choice (for example, during an acute crisis), but these instances should be rare and targeted. They also discuss practical strategies for managing diminishing leaders and creating impact regardless of leadership style. They also talk about the importance of understanding power dynamics in leadership.
Guest Background: Liz Wiseman is a researcher and executive advisor who teaches leadership to top organizations worldwide. She wrote the New York Times bestsellers Multipliers, The Multiplier Effect, and Wall Street Journal bestsellers Rookie Smarts and Impact Players.
CHAPTERS
(00:33) Introduction to Radical Sabbatical and Guest Liz Wiseman
(02:06) The Flaws of Authoritarian Leadership
(06:06) Diminishers vs. Multipliers: Leadership Styles
(12:16) When Authoritarian Leadership is Necessary
(20:27) The Balance of Command and Collaboration
(23:36) The Impact of Leadership Styles
(26:34) Navigating Innovation and Crisis
(29:30) The Balance of Authority and Collaboration
(32:35) Lessons from Great Leaders
(36:38) Understanding Accidental Diminishers
(45:03) The Impact of Perfectionism on Team Dynamics
(46:09) Understanding Accidental and Intentional Diminishers
(47:26) The Drive to Contribute: Empowering Impact Players
(48:56) Leading Through Influence: The Role of Impact Players
(51:06) Strategies for Thriving Under Diminishing Leadership
(52:26) Multiplying Up: Turning Diminishment into Empowerment
(55:47) The Power of Listening and Adapting
(01:01:04) Leveraging Bosses' Strengths for Better Outcomes
(01:03:01) Building Relationships on a Level Playing Field
(01:03:55) Understanding and Sharing Power in Leadership
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How to Raise Emotionally Resilient Kids — and Lead the Same Way (with Dr. Becky Kennedy)
While the podcast team is taking a Radical Sabbatical, Kim is interviewing authors of the books that have had a big impact on her in the past two years. How can parenting skills help us become better team …
Show notes
While the podcast team is taking a Radical Sabbatical, Kim is interviewing authors of the books that have had a big impact on her in the past two years.
How can parenting skills help us become better team members and leaders in the workplace? Sure, you can’t “ground” your direct report when they screw up an important project, but the lessons of good parenting can certainly help us all be better at building effective and healthy teams.
In this episode, Kim speaks with Dr. Becky Kennedy, the author of Good Inside, a New York Times #1 bestseller. Dr. Becky’s background as a clinical psychologist and years of experience working with families give her valuable insights into navigating the stresses of raising kids amid a busy work schedule. She has developed a loyal following among parents. Kim and Dr. Becky talk about how these two worlds overlap and, in some cases, where they don’t. For example, they talk about how “repair” and taking responsibility for handling something poorly can play a key role in increasing connection among team members.
Guest Background: Dr. Becky is the clinical psychologist and mom of three behind the breakthrough parenting company Good Inside. She specializes in helping parents become sturdy leaders in their homes by sharing the skills and strategies parents need to raise resilient kids. Dr. Becky is a #1 New York Times bestselling author, a TED speaker, and the host of the chart-topping podcast Good Inside with Dr. Becky, and has amassed a global following of millions of parents.
Dr. Becky received a BA in Psychology and Human Development, Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude, from Duke University and a PhD in Clinical Psychology from Columbia University. She has a certificate in Relational Psychotherapy from the Steven Mitchell Center.
CHAPTERS
(00:00) Introduction to Radical Kindness and Good Inside
(03:02) Balancing Boundaries and Connection in Parenting
(05:56) The Impact of Unfinished Business from Childhood
(08:54) Curiosity as a Tool for Effective Communication
(12:02) Connection Capital: Building Relationships with Kids
(14:55) The Importance of High-Impact Moments
(17:53) Repairing Relationships After Mistakes
(20:56) Modeling Accountability for Children
(24:09) Changing the Narrative Around Parenting and Guilt
(27:06) Compassionate Criticism in Parenting and Work
(29:04) Understanding Anger and Setting Boundaries
(29:59) Compassionate Discipline: Balancing Boundaries and Understanding
(32:24) Two Truths: Boundaries and Emotions
(34:38) The Power of Belief: Encouraging Better Behavior
(36:01) Redefining 'Nice': The Importance of Respectful Communication
(39:31) Emotions as Information: Listening to Our Feelings
(41:27) The Role of Emotions in Leadership and Parenting
(44:32) Curiosity Over Fury: Navigating Emotional Responses
(52:04) Preventing Bullying: Safety and Intervention Strategies
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Why Racial Inequality Costs Everyone (with Heather McGhee)
While the podcast team is taking a Radical Sabbatical, Kim is interviewing authors of the books that have had a big impact on her in the past two years. In this episode, Kim speaks with Heather McGhee, the …
Show notes
While the podcast team is taking a Radical Sabbatical, Kim is interviewing authors of the books that have had a big impact on her in the past two years.
In this episode, Kim speaks with Heather McGhee, the author of The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together, a New York Times bestseller. Heather takes Kim on a journey through US history, demonstrating how efforts to exclude some of us from public goods harm all of us, starting with public swimming pools in the United States. As Heather describes in The Sum of Us, “By World War II, the country’s two thousand pools were glittering symbols of a new commitment by local officials to the quality of life of their residents, allowing hundreds of thousands of people to socialize together for free…A Pennsylvania county recreation director said, “Let’s build bigger, better, and finer pools. That’s real democracy. Take away the sham and hypocrisy of clothes, don a swimsuit, and we’re all the same.” These swimming pools were remarkable public resources. The Fairground Park Pool had a sandy beach, elaborate diving boards, and a capacity of 10,000 people. However, when cities across the country were forced to integrate these pools, they chose to fill them in with dirt instead. Nobody got to swim–except people wealthy enough to join private clubs.
Starting in the late 1960s, the same illogic was applied to more consequential areas of life than swimming pools. As the public began to perceive that government programs like welfare, healthcare, education, and infrastructure funding would benefit Black and Brown Americans, political support for these public goods collapsed. For example, when Texas rejected Obamacare, its rural hospitals began going bankrupt, resulting in medical deserts and economic devastation in rural Texas towns.
Today, we have a choice: the solidarity dividend that results from public goods that benefit everyone; or the devastation for everyone that results from the kind of zero-sum thinking that would cause a community to destroy public goods rather than make them available to everyone.
Guest Background: Heather McGhee designs and promotes solutions to inequality in America. The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together spent 10 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and was long-listed for the National Book Award and Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction, among numerous other awards. In the summer of 2022, The Sum of Us was adapted into a Spotify podcast by Higher Ground, the production company of Barack and Michelle Obama. The Sum of Us was adapted into a young adult readers’ version by Random House Children’s in February 2023. The adaptation for middle and high-school students received starred reviews from School Library Journal and Booklist, and Kirkus named it a Best Young Adult Book of the Year.
CHAPTERS
(00:00) Introduction to Radical Sabbatical and Bacon's Rebellion
(02:05) Bacon's Rebellion: A Historical Perspective on Race Relations
(04:49) The Economic Impact of Racism on Society
(06:34) The Race Class Narrative Project and Its Implications
(16:30) Education: The Cost of Inequality
(22:09) Healthcare: The Consequences of Drained Public Goods
(24:37) Racialized Healthcare Politics
(26:32) The Impact of Medicaid Expansion
(28:38) The Mortgage Crisis and Racial Discrimination
(31:24) The Canary in the Coal Mine
(34:58) Unionization and Economic Power
(38:54) Cross-Racial Solidarity in Labor Movements
(42:18) Environmental Justice and Collective Action
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Where the World's Dirty Money Actually Goes (with Oliver Bullough)
While the podcast team is taking a Radical Sabbatical, Kim is interviewing authors of the books that have had a big impact on her in the past two years. In this episode, Kim speaks with Oliver Bullough …
Show notes
While the podcast team is taking a Radical Sabbatical, Kim is interviewing authors of the books that have had a big impact on her in the past two years.
In this episode, Kim speaks with Oliver Bullough, journalist and author of the highly acclaimed books: Butler to the World: How Britain Helps the World's Worst People Launder Money, Commit Crimes, and Get Away with Anything and Moneyland: Why Thieves and Crooks Now Rule the World and How To Take It Back. Oliver’s new book is called Everybody Loves Our Dollars - How Money Laundering Won.
Oliver describes a moment in his life that shaped each of these books. He was touring the palace of Yanukovych, the corrupt pro-Russian ex-President of Ukraine, horrified at the extravagant opulence, all stolen from the Ukrainian people. “How did you let him get away with this?” Oliver asked his friend. “Well, actually you’re technically in London, not Ukraine, right now,” his friend responded. Who is corrupt, the people who stole the money, or the lawyers, bankers, and accountants in countries that tout their lack of corruption? Oliver describes the systems in place to help the wealthy dodge taxes and the deeply corrupt to hide their theft. Kim and Oliver talk about the corrosive effect on our political institutions and our economy; and how we got here in the post-WWII era.
Guest Background: Oliver Bullough is a journalist and author from Wales who writes about financial crime, the former Soviet Union, and offshore skulduggery.
He lives near Hay-on-Wye, and has previously lived in London, Moscow, St Petersburg and Bishkek. When not working, he likes watching rugby, cooking pizzas, swimming in the river and walking in the hills. You can find him on Twitter at @oliverbullough.
CHAPTERS
(00:00) Introduction to Oliver Bullough and His Works
(03:03) The Evolution of Offshore Finance
(06:06) Naughty Money vs. Evil Money
(09:01) Exploring Yanukovych's Palace and Corruption
(12:11) Understanding Modern Corruption and Kleptocracy
(15:03) The Role of Cryptocurrency in Financial Crime
(18:14) The Dark World of Scams and Trafficking
(21:03) The Banality of Evil in Financial Crimes
(24:03) Legal Challenges in Exposing Corruption
(27:04) Personal Fascination with Eastern Europe and Russia
(29:42) The Allure of Russia: A Personal Journey
(32:06) Putin's Rise: Observations from the Ground
(34:17) The Impact of Neoliberalism on Eastern Europe
(35:22) Bretton Woods: Lessons from History
(40:21) The Corruption of Wealth: Offshore Finance's Role
(44:22) AI and Corruption: A New Era
(48:19) Reputation Laundering: The Case of Dmitry Firtash
(55:19) The Future of Money Laundering: Insights from 'Everybody Loves Our Dollars'
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The Rise and Fall of the Neoliberal Order (with Prof Gary Gerstle)
While the podcast team is taking a Radical Sabbatical, Kim is interviewing authors of the books that have had a big impact on her in the past two years. In this episode, Kim speaks with Gary Gerstle …
Show notes
While the podcast team is taking a Radical Sabbatical, Kim is interviewing authors of the books that have had a big impact on her in the past two years.
In this episode, Kim speaks with Gary Gerstle, best-selling author of The Rise and Fall of the Neoliberal Order and ten other books.
Kim said that after reading this book, she began to feel that when it comes to economic policy, we really have a one-party system. The architect of the New Deal Order was FDR, a Democrat, but its general contractor was Eisenhower, arguably the most progressive of all American presidents. The architect of the Neoliberal order was Reagan, but its general contractor was Clinton. Kim also said that reading this book made her realize that, time and again throughout her career, she thought she was working towards progressive ends, not understanding how neoliberalism had taken hold of the Democratic Party.
Gerstle explains that “the phrase political order is meant to connote a constellation of ideologies, policies, and constituencies that shape American politics in ways that endure beyond the two-, four-, and six-year election cycles. In the last hundred years, America has had two political orders: the New Deal order that arose in the 1930s and 1940s, crested in the 1950s and 1960s, and fell in the 1970s; and the neoliberal order that arose in the 1970s and 1980s, crested in the 1990s and 2000s, and fell in the 2010s
At the heart of each of these two political orders stood a distinctive program of political economy. The New Deal order was founded on the conviction that capitalism left to its own devices spelled economic disaster. It had to be managed by a strong central state able to govern the economic system in the public interest.
The neoliberal order, by contrast, was grounded in the belief that market forces had to be liberated from government regulatory controls that were stymying growth, innovation, and freedom. The architects of the neoliberal order set out in the 1980s and 1990s to dismantle everything that the New Deal order had built across its forty-year span. Now it, too, is being dismantled. Alarmingly, there seems to be no coherent policy around whatever it is replacing the Neoliberal order–just a mad grab for wealth, leading to even greater disparities than those that led to the Gilded Age’s excesses and to the Great Depression.
Guest Background: Gary Gerstle is Paul Mellon Professor of American History Emeritus and Paul Mellon Director of Research at the University of Cambridge. He is the author and editor of more than ten books, including two prizewinners, American Crucible (2017) and Liberty and Coercion (2015). He is a Guardian columnist and has also written for the Atlantic Monthly, the New Statesman, Dissent, The Nation, and Die Zeit, among others. He frequently appears on BBC Radio 4, BBC World Service, ITV 4, Talking Politics, and NPR.
CHAPTERS
(00:00) Introduction to Radical Sabbatical and Guest
(03:03) Understanding Liberalism and Neoliberalism
(06:11) The Evolution of Liberalism in America
(09:06) The New Deal and Its Impact
(12:10) Violence and Wealth Inequality in Capitalism
(14:59) The Great Depression and Its Consequences
(18:07) Defining Political Order
(21:11) The Rise of the Neoliberal Order
(24:05) Clinton's Role in Neoliberalism
(26:58) The Gorky Automobile Factory and Communism's Appeal
(31:19) The Rise of Soviet Communism as a Challenge to Capitalism
(36:18) The Treaty of Detroit: Compromise Between Labor and Capital
(41:43) Transition to Neoliberalism: The Powell Memo and Its Impact
(49:13) Telecom Act of 1996: Deregulation and Its Consequences
(54:16) The 2008 Financial Crisis: A Turning Point for Neoliberalism
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How a 19th-Century Bombing Shaped Modern Surveillance (with Steven Johnson)
While the podcast team is taking a Radical Sabbatical, Kim is interviewing authors of the books that have had a big impact on her in the past two years. In this episode, Kim speaks with Steven Johnson …
Show notes
While the podcast team is taking a Radical Sabbatical, Kim is interviewing authors of the books that have had a big impact on her in the past two years.
In this episode, Kim speaks with Steven Johnson, co-founder of Notebook LM, not about AI but about his book, The Infernal Machine: A True Story of Dynamite, Terror, and the Rise of the Modern Detective. They start with the story of how the Swiss dominated the watch industry for over a century, thanks to a highly decentralized network of cottage laborers in the Jura mountains. The culture of autonomy in the industry was so strong that it turned Swiss watchmakers into some of history's first anarchists, which in the 19th century simply meant self-organization. The movement became associated with disorder and violence after many anarchists adopted Nobel’s invention of dynamite as their weapon. The public outcry against their violent attacks on heads of state and industry led to many modern surveillance techniques, including wiretapping and fingerprinting.. Steven and Kim speculate that some approaches to company-building in Silicon Valley have embraced bottom-up self-organization principles of the Jura mountains. They explore how we might have a viable alternative to capitalism and socialism today if anarchists had not embraced dynamite. They agree it’s not too late to imagine that viable alternative–maybe one of them will write that book.
Guest Background: Steven Johnson is the Co-Founder and Editorial Director, NotebookLM; Author of 14 books on science, technology, and innovation; co-creator and host of BBC/PBS series How We Got To Now and Extra Life. He is the host of the podcast The TED Interview and the author of the newsletter Adjacent Possible. He lives in Brooklyn, New York, and Marin County, California, with his wife and three sons.
CHAPTERS
(00:00) Introduction to Radical Sabbatical and Steven Johnson
(03:02) The Relevance of History in Today's Context
(06:02) The Evolution of Anarchism and Political Violence
(09:03) Kropotkin and the Philosophy of Anarchism
(12:06) The Watchmakers of Switzerland and Technological Innovation
(15:02) The Irony of Kropotkin's Life and Legacy
(18:05) The Influence of Anarchism on Modern Thought
(21:01) Silicon Valley's Bottom-Up Ethos and Its Evolution
(24:02) The Emergence of Google and Bottom-Up Systems
(25:54) The Transformation of Pinkerton: From Idealism to Violence
(30:27) Nobel and the Dual Nature of Dynamite
(35:16) The Political Ramifications of Dynamite
(40:34) The Ludlow Massacre and the Siege of Tarrytown
(43:14) Lessons from History: Nonviolence vs. Violence
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Why You Want What Other People Want (with Luke Burgis)
While the podcast team is taking a Radical Sabbatical, Kim is interviewing authors of the books that have had a big impact on her in the past two years. In this episode, she’s speaking with Luke Burgis about …
Show notes
While the podcast team is taking a Radical Sabbatical, Kim is interviewing authors of the books that have had a big impact on her in the past two years.
In this episode, she’s speaking with Luke Burgis about his new book, The One and the Ninety-Nine, Forging Identity in the Age of Social Contagion. Through stories ranging from the parable of the lost sheep to August Landmesser, the only person in a huge crowd to refuse to salute to Hitler, Luke describes the missing skill that makes real community possible: learning how to remain oneself while staying connected to others. He offers practical, tactical advice for how to recognize false belonging, escape coercive dynamics, and pass through the rites of passage that produce people with integrity and courage. This is a book that will help you figure out what YOU want, so that you can go get it rather than being distracted by what others want.
Guest Background: Luke Burgis is the director of The Cluny Institute and a professor at The Catholic University of America, where he studies the invisible forces that shape human behavior. He is the author of Wanting: The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life. He lives in Washington, D.C., and Michigan with his wife, Claire, and their children.
CHAPTERS
(00:00) Introduction to the Radical Sabbatical and Luke Burgis' Book
(02:09) The Meaning Behind 'The One and the 99'
(03:24) Exploring the Parable of the Lost Sheep
(06:05) August Landmesser: Standing Alone Against the Crowd
(10:48) Family Dynamics and the Solid Self
(17:55) Education and the Self: Navigating Expectations
(22:37) The Role of Technology in Education
(29:13) The Loss of Subtle Cues in Communication
(31:37) The Evolution of Education and Rites of Passage
(35:18) The Importance of Ownership in Learning
(37:45) Mimetic Desire and Its Impact on Choices
(40:44) Understanding Political Mimesis
(46:20) The Tension of Relationships and Community
(51:36) Finding Meaning in Tension and Discomfort
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How to Build Teams That Actually Flourish (with Daniel Coyle)
While the podcast team is taking a Radical Sabbatical, Kim is interviewing authors of the books that have had a big impact on her in the past two years. In this episode, she’s speaking with Daniel Coyle about …
Show notes
While the podcast team is taking a Radical Sabbatical, Kim is interviewing authors of the books that have had a big impact on her in the past two years. In this episode, she’s speaking with Daniel Coyle about his new book, Flourish, The Art of Building Meaning, Joy and Fulfillment.
What is a meaningful life, and how do we make one? How do certain communities foster closeness, fulfillment, happiness, and energy? Daniel Coyle has spent the last few years trying to crack this code. He talks about the transformation that happened during the famous story of the 33 miners trapped 2000 feet underground in a mine in Chile. It turns that the key to survival was a leader who was willing to let go of control. You can’t command and control your way to flourishing--or surviving in a crisis.
Background on Daniel Coyle: Daniel is the New York Times bestselling author of The Culture Code, which was named Best Business Book of the Year by Bloomberg, BookPal, and Business Insider. Coyle has served as an advisor to many high-performing organizations, including the Navy SEALs, Microsoft, Google, and the Cleveland Guardians. His other books include The Talent Code, The Secret Race, The Little Book of Talent, and Hardball: A Season in the Projects, which was made into a movie starring Keanu Reeves. Coyle was raised in Anchorage, Alaska, and now lives in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, during the school year and in Homer, Alaska, during the summer with his wife, Jenny, and their four children.
CHAPTERS
(00:00) Introduction to Flourishing Leadership
(03:03) The Distinction Between Living Systems and Machines
(06:02) The Importance of Relationships in Leadership
(09:02) The Miners in Chile: A Story of Brotherhood
(12:06) Creating Space for Connection
(15:06) The Role of Curiosity in Conversations
(18:03) The Power of Community in Adversity
(19:04) The Gottman Method and Relationship Dynamics
(22:25) Personalized Criticism vs. Respectful Challenges
(24:25) The Importance of Context in Relationships
(27:19) Creating Self-Organizing Systems
(30:39) Leadership as Design: Building Living Systems
(32:36) Transformative Education: The Jigsaw Classroom
(36:58) Reverent Leadership: The Kibera School for Girls
(41:55) The Guardians: A New Approach to Coaching
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How Great Companies Stay Great (with Eric Ries)
While the podcast team is taking a Radical Sabbatical, Kim is interviewing authors of the books that have had a big impact on her in the past two years. In this episode she’s speaking with Eric Ries about his …
Show notes
While the podcast team is taking a Radical Sabbatical, Kim is interviewing authors of the books that have had a big impact on her in the past two years. In this episode she’s speaking with Eric Ries about his new book, Incorruptible, Why Good Companies Go Bad... and How Great Companies Stay Great.
All too often, founders start a company and hire an incredible team dedicated to building a company that will solve an important problem and leave the world better off. Then they get a taste of success and life is good. But all too often, the bankers and lawyers swoop in and the demands to “maximize shareholder value” set in. More often than not, the company succumbs to the gravitational pull of mediocrity–or worse. Compromises are made, rationalizations abound, and after a while people start to wonder “how did this happen?!”
Eric has thought deeply about how to structure companies so that they can remain true to their purpose and achieve great financial results. In his interview with Kim, he shares his extensive research on companies, both contemporary and some many decades old, who have been able to make this work.
Background on Eric Ries: Over the last two decades, Eric Ries’s ideas about continuous innovation, long-term thinking, governance, and market reform have reshaped company building and management practices. He is the creator of the Lean Startup method and the author of the New York Times bestseller The Lean Startup, The Leader’s Guide, and The Startup Way. As a founder, Eric has put his own ideas into practice with the Long-Term Stock Exchange (LTSE); Answer.AI, an AI R&D lab; Virgil, a legal services startup; and IMVU. On The Eric Ries Show, he talks with world-class technologists, thought leaders, and executives building for the long-term. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife and three children. His new book, Incorruptible, will be released in May of 2026.
CHAPTERS
(00:00) Introduction to Eric Ries and His Work
(01:31) The Motivation Behind 'Incorruptible'
(04:28) The Dark Side of Business Practices
(05:08) The Haunting Story of Vectura and Philip Morris
(12:58) The Consequences of Corporate Governance
(15:20) The Historical Context of Corporate Purpose
(18:37) The Evolution of Corporate Purpose
(22:07) The Impact of Purpose-Driven Companies
(25:33) Understanding Financial Gravity
(30:55) The Unconscious Forces in Corporations
(34:43) Resisting the Pull of Mediocrity
(39:14) Navigating Power Dynamics in Organizations
(40:04) The Naivety of Value Creation
(41:05) The Dilemma of Founder Control
(42:34) Building Institutional Protections
(43:36) Costco's Governance Fortress
(45:57) The Cost of Governance Ratings
(47:58) The Challenge of Public Companies
(51:08) Taking Action for Ethical Leadership
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What is a Problem I Can Help Solve? (with Tom Rath)
While the podcast team is taking a Radical Sabbatical, Kim is interviewing authors of the books that have had a big impact on her in the past two years. In this episode she’s speaking with Tom Rath about his …
Show notes
While the podcast team is taking a Radical Sabbatical, Kim is interviewing authors of the books that have had a big impact on her in the past two years. In this episode she’s speaking with Tom Rath about his new book What’s The Point.
Graduation speeches are often filled with lofty advice for how to approach the upcoming transition from school to the real world–a topic that feels especially fraught at this moment of AI Anxiety. Speakers often urge newly minted graduates to “follow your passion.” But is that the best way to decide what type of work to focus on as a career? Perhaps a better approach is to figure out what the world needs and how you can best contribute.
Tom Rath stresses the importance of surveying the landscape and identifying the big problems the world is facing. Then, identify your skills and develop them so that you can help address the issues that concern you.
One fascinating point Tom makes is that 90% of people in the workforce fall into roughly 50 different occupations. However, most of us are only exposed to a handful of these 50, often only what their parents or parents’ friends do for a living. Wouldn’t it be better to give young adults exposure to a much wider range of careers before they pursue career goals? In fact, we could all benefit from this exposure. It’s never too late to change careers. Tom Rath’s CareerSight team brings together industry experts committed to helping people discover career possibilities and find purpose.
Background on Tom Rath: Tom is an author and researcher who studies how careers impact health and well-being. He has written 12 books that have sold more than 10 million copies and made hundreds of appearances on global bestseller lists.
Tom's first book, How Full Is Your Bucket?, was an instant #1 New York Times bestseller. His book StrengthFinder 2.0 was listed as Amazon's top-selling non-fiction book of all time. Tom's other bestsellers include Strengths Based Leadership, Wellbeing, Eat Move Sleep, and Are You Fully Charged? Tom is currently co-founder and CEO of CareerSight. He previously led Gallup's workplaces business and served as a Senior Scientist. Tom was also a Vice-Chair of the VHL cancer research organization. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan and the University of Pennsylvania, where he has also been a guest lecturer.
CHAPTERS:
(00:00) Introduction to Radical Sabbatical and Tom Rath's Book
(01:52) The Problem with Passion
(06:56) Purpose vs. Passion: Finding Meaning in Work
(11:22) Job, Career, and Calling: Understanding the Differences
(13:10) Shifting Focus: From What You Do to Who You Help
(21:28) Skepticism About Childhood Dreams and Career Paths
(24:29) Reevaluating Life Choices
(28:01) Exploring Career Options
(30:40) The Importance of Exploration
(33:02) Navigating Career Pressures
(34:40) The Evolution of Work
(39:57) Understanding Comparison Detox
(43:10) Finding Meaning in Daily Life
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When Work Cultures Turn Toxic (with Rob Copeland)
While the podcast team is taking a Radical Sabbatical, Kim is interviewing authors of the books that have had a big impact on her in the past two years. Office culture is a fascinating topic. It can be the …
Show notes
While the podcast team is taking a Radical Sabbatical, Kim is interviewing authors of the books that have had a big impact on her in the past two years.
Office culture is a fascinating topic. It can be the special sauce that helps bring together team members to achieve excellence. But what happens when the company culture becomes a toxic mess? What happens when a very charismatic CEO becomes obsessed with both cataloging people’s weaknesses and then broadcasting them to the entire company? What happens when that same CEO mandates “internal reporting” on fellow co-workers, techniques that appear to be drawn directly from the playbook of the Stasi (the former East German secret police force, famous for deep surveillance to control and punish their citizens)? What happens when the CEO steadfastly refuses to hear criticism about himself? Why would people join and then remain at such an organization?
Kim welcomes New York Times’ business reporter and author, Rob Copland, to talk about his fascinating, deeply researched, and best-selling book, The Fund: Ray Dalio, Bridgewater Associates and The Unraveling of a Wall Street Legend. Rob’s book dives deep on Ray Dalio, the iconic founder and leader of Bridgewater Associates and the culture he created there. Under Dalio, there is no disputing that Bridgewater Associates became one of the largest and most successful hedge funds in history. At the same time, Dalio appeared to use promises of vast riches to control and intimidate his employees. Rob shares some incredible stories to illustrate these points. When someone dared to push back on any of Dalio’s techniques or vision, he famously would shut them down with, “If you’re so smart, why aren’t you rich?!” Rob talks about what he learned in the years of research he did for this book. This conversation presents a cautionary tale of what can happen when a charismatic leader, flush with vast wealth decides his mission is also to dictate how people should live.
Background on Rob Copeland: Rob Copeland is a New York Times finance reporter covering Wall Street, banks, and corporate power. He was previously the longtime hedge-fund beat reporter at The Wall Street Journal. He is best known for investigative, narrative-driven stories and is the author of the bestselling book, "The Fund: Ray Dalio, Bridgewater Associates and the Unraveling of a Wall Street Legend".CHAPTERS:
(00:00) Introduction to Rob Copland
(01:04) The Pissing Anecdote: A Lesson in Self-Awareness
(05:11) Investigating the Absurd: Culture of Petty Conflicts
(09:59) The Dark Side of Radical Transparency
(12:04) The Pain of Reflection: A Closer Look at Confrontation
(16:24) The Cost of Self-Improvement: Why People Endure
(18:48) The Allure of Success: How Ray Dalio Captivates Minds
(22:43) The Challenge of Self-Awareness
(23:58) The Power Dynamics of Self-Knowledge
(24:46) Cult Dynamics and Personal Freedom
(25:52) The Role of Powerful Figures in Toxic Environments
(26:38) Radical Transparency and Its Pitfalls
(31:05) The Importance of External Tethers
(33:28) Navigating Career Choices and Exit Strategies
(37:38) The Journey of Self-Discovery and Feedback
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How to Remake America S8 | E9
While the podcast team is taking a Radical Sabbatical, Kim is interviewing authors of the books that have had a big impact on her in the past two years. Again we discuss the topic of wealth inequality and the …
Show notes
While the podcast team is taking a Radical Sabbatical, Kim is interviewing authors of the books that have had a big impact on her in the past two years.
Again we discuss the topic of wealth inequality and the accompanying concentration of political power. It is tempting to think that we live in an unprecedented era, and yet there are lessons to be learned from the past. Today, Kim talks to Professor John Witt of Yale Law School about his recent book, The Radical Fund. It is a fascinating story of The Garland Fund, established by Charles Garland in the early 1920s. The book takes us on a journey showing how the Garland Fund was able to lay the foundation for much less powerful groups in society to fight for their rights such as safe working conditions, free speech, and equal rights. And how those movements help drive the economic successes later in the 20th century. Kim and John discuss these lessons learned and how we can apply those lessons in our communities today.
Background on John Watt: John Witt is the Allen H. Duffy class of 1960 professor of law at Yale Law School and a professor in the Yale history department. He is the author of a number of books, including Lincoln’s Code, which was awarded the Bancroft Prize and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, The Nation, and The New Republic, among other publications. He lives with his family in Connecticut where he tends an orchard, watches baseball, and fishes in the Long Island Sound.
Resources:
CHAPTERS:
(00:00) Introduction to the Radical Fund and Its Impact
(03:04) Historical Context of Civil Rights and Labor Movements
(06:12) The Role of the Foundation in Landmark Cases
(09:09) Sidney Hillman's Vision for Industrial Democracy
(12:04) The Evolution of Worker Participation in Capitalism
(15:07) Building Solidarity Across Demographics
(18:10) Lessons from History: The Importance of Unity
(21:05) James Weldon Johnson and the Quest for Democracy
(23:45) The Rise of W.E.B. Du Bois and the NAACP
(24:33) Collaboration Between Black Leaders and White Labor Unions
(26:02) The Power of Propaganda in Social Change
(30:24) The Role of Money and Foundations in Social Justice
(31:43) The Origins of the Garland Fund
(35:15) The Debate on Philanthropy and the 'Dead Hand' Problem
(37:27) Lessons from History: Economic Inequality and Social Change
(40:09) The Future of Democracy and Social Justice
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How the Ultra-Wealthy Captured American Democracy (with Prof David Gibbs)
While the podcast team is taking a Radical Sabbatical, Kim is interviewing authors of the books that have had a big impact on her in the past two years. Wealth concentration in the United States is top of mind …
Show notes
While the podcast team is taking a Radical Sabbatical, Kim is interviewing authors of the books that have had a big impact on her in the past two years.
Wealth concentration in the United States is top of mind these days. While it’s tempting to see this as a recent trend, it is instructive to look at what was happening in American politics decades ago and see how many of these forces were set in motion in the 1970’s.
Kim talks with Prof. David Gibbs about his book, Revolt of the Rich, How the Politics of the 1970s Widened America's Class Divide. Prof. Gibbs reviews decisions that were made during the Nixon and Carter administrations that continue to reverberate in our world today. For example, during the first oil shock in the early 1970s, President Nixon actively worked to keep oil prices high to support the Shah of Iran and to prop up the dollar. The result was financialization and deindustrialization. Later in the decade, President Carter was central to the trend of deregulation. The net effect of these decisions was an erosion of the foundations of the American middle class.
Technical note: we had an issue with one of the microphones on this interview that affected the sound quality. Sorry if this affects your enjoyment of this episode.
Background on David Gibbs: David N. Gibbs is professor of history at the University of Arizona, whose past research has emphasized political conflicts in Sub-Saharan Africa, Eastern Europe, and Afghanistan. He has published extensively in academic journals as well as the London Guardian, Los Angeles Times, Christian Science Monitor, Le Monde Diplomatique, Salon, and Jacobin. His third and most recent book is entitled: Revolt of the Rich: How the Politics of the 1970s Widened America’s Class Divide. His detailed personal website is at: https://dgibbs.arizona.edu/
Resources:
Buy Revolt of the Rich on Bookshop.org(00:00) Introduction to the Radical Sabbatical Podcast
(01:33) The Oil Crisis of the 1970s
(04:46) Nixon's Role in the Oil Price Increase
(09:59) Petrodollars and U.S. Economic Power
(12:37) Financialization and Deindustrialization
(15:05) Impact on Ordinary Americans
(18:28) The Revolt of the Rich
(21:34) The Shift in Economic Power
(24:41) Political and Economic Alternatives
(26:01) The Evolution of Taxation and Economic Policies
(27:48) The Shift in Political Ideologies
(30:18) Coalitions and the Rise of the Christian Right
(32:30) Economic Conservatism and Social Issues
(36:00 )Navigating Economic Uncertainty
(40:43) Building Inclusive Economies
(46:30) The Consequences of Inequality and Austerity
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Your Privacy: Why You Should Care and Tools to Protect It 8 | 7
We all love the convenience of our digital devices and connected services. But what about our ever expanding pile of digital breadcrumbs we leave behind as we go about our day? These breadcrumbs can be swept up …
Show notes
We all love the convenience of our digital devices and connected services. But what about our ever expanding pile of digital breadcrumbs we leave behind as we go about our day? These breadcrumbs can be swept up by private companies to learn quite about us and target us with specific goods and services. They can also be collected by government agencies who might use this information for legitimate police work or in some instances, political repression. So, many people are asking themselves, should I be doing more to protect my personal privacy and how should I go about this.
Tech evangelist and prolific author Guy Kawasaki had asked that same question about a year ago. It started him on a journey to learn more about how to use some of the latest communications tools built from the ground up with personal privacy as its primary goal. This led Guy to install and use Signal, one of the most popular tools today for personal privacy protection. But as he started to put Signal into his communications work flow, he realized it was not obvious how to use Signal to its full potential. So, Guy collaborated with Madisun Nuismer to publish a “how to” book for using Signal, “Everybody Has Something to Hide” in January of 2026.
In this episode of the Radical Candor Podcast, Kim and Guy have a wide ranging conversation about Guy’s concerns about privacy that inspired him to start using Signal and then to write the book. They discuss the centrality of privacy in a free and democratic society and how tools like Signal can enhance privacy. Kim also shares her experiences with privacy and censorship in her years working in the Soviet Union (and later Russia) in the early 1990s. They also debate how much we should all trust so much of our personal data with these large tech companies. As Guy mentions the old saying, “If you aren’t paying for the product, you ARE the product!”.
In the media rollercoaster, tech’s reputation is at a low point right now. It’s worth remembering that there are a lot of idealistic people in tech who are working hard to solve problems with the goal of making the world a better place. That is part of why we want to highlight Guy’s messages and what Meredith Whitaker, Brian Acton, Moxie Marlinspike, and the whole team at Signal are doing.
Background on Guy Kawasaki:
Guy Kawasaki is the chief evangelist of Canva and the creator of Guy Kawasaki’s Remarkable People podcast. He is an executive fellow of the Haas School of Business (UC Berkeley), and adjunct professor of the University of New South Wales. He was the chief evangelist of Apple and a trustee of the Wikimedia Foundation. He has written Wise Guy, The Art of the Start 2.0, The Art of Social Media, Enchantment, and eleven other books. Kawasaki has a BA from Stanford University, an MBA from UCLA, and an honorary doctorate from Babson College.
Resources:
Electronic Freedom Foundation (EFF) information on how to use Signal.
Interviews with Meredith Whittaker is the President of The Signal Foundation.
Guy’s interview with Meredith Whittaker on his Remarkable People Podcast.
Also an informative interview with Meredith on Scott Galloway’s Podcast.
CHAPTERS:
(00:00) Exploring the New Book: Everybody Has Something to Hide
(00:51) The Importance of Signal and Privacy
(06:46) Personal Experiences with Privacy and Censorship
(11:57) Trust in Tech Companies and Data Privacy
(14:27) The Idealistic Problem Solvers in Tech
(15:01) Philanthropy vs. Government Aid
(15:38) Universal Basic Income as an Experiment
(17:02) The Importance of Privacy in Democracy
(19:09) The Role of Technology in Privacy
(21:04) Evangelizing Signal for Privacy Protection
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How Tech Employees Can Organize for Change (with Lisa Conn and Anne Wootton)
When tech is at its best, it is a group of people working together to solve hard problems in a way that makes the world a better place. That goal is what motivated so many folks in Silicon Valley to come here …
Show notes
When tech is at its best, it is a group of people working together to solve hard problems in a way that makes the world a better place. That goal is what motivated so many folks in Silicon Valley to come here. How then did we cede the microphone to a small number of people who espouse an authoritarian, rich get richer algorithm? How can people working inside tech companies grab the bullhorn away from the authoritarians to describe the world we want to create? How we can take action to advocate for our vision of a better future?
One recent manifestation of this is the ICEout.tech movement. In this episode, Kim speaks with Lisa Conn, founder of Gatheround and former Meta employee, and Anne Wootton, co-founder of Pop Up Archive and current senior engineering manager at Apple, about why they signed the pledge and what they hope it can accomplish.
Kim, Lisa and Anne also discuss more generally ideas for people who are frustrated with the state of affairs at their companies or in tech more broadly, but are not sure where to start and how to find a community of similarly civic-minded people to take action. They discuss ways to host meetups for your like-minded co-workers while still working hard at your day job and staying within your company’s policies.
They also talk about how important it is to speak respectfully with people who disagree with you. A good goal is to deepen your own thinking, not to change a person's mind. You probably won’t change their mind, and you probably won’t change yours. That doesn’t mean you’re wasting your breath. When you invite discussion about your beliefs with people who disagree, two good things can happen. One, you get to know them a bit better. Two, you challenge yourself to think more deeply. JS Mill said that belief without discussion can give way to prejudice.
Background on ICEout.tech:
ICEout.tech, started by and for people in tech, wants the tech industry to use its influential position in our economy to stop ICE. The pledge, which was started after Renee Good was murdered in Minneapolis, has more than 2,000 verified signatures from people across major companies including NVIDIA, Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, and dozens more. The call to speak up against ICE in tech gained momentum after Border Patrol agents killed Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse, and has drawn public support from leaders like Dario and Daniela Amodei (Anthropic), Reid Hoffman, and Vinod Khosla. Tech professionals want their CEOs to join them in this effort, to protect our neighbors and communities and stop ICE's terror.
Resources:
ICEout.tech information and how to get involved.
Resist and Unsubscribe Resist and Unsubscribe - movement by Prof. Scott Galloway to encourage individuals to use their economic power by unsubscribing from big tech web services as a way to press these leaders to push for government reforms.
CHAPTERS:
(00:00) Introduction to iceOut.tech Movement
(02:00) Understanding the Pledge and Its Impact
(04:59) Navigating Ethical Dilemmas in Tech
(10:02) The Role of Affluence and Courage
(15:20) Building Solidarity and Taking Action
(20:04) Employee Power and Organizing for Change
(22:53) The Role of Technology in Society
(26:10) Tactics for Influencing Corporate Decisions
(29:51) Building Internal Solidarity and Communication
(34:04) Navigating Polarization and Finding Common Ground
(39:03) Self-Care and Community Engagement
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Rethinking Authenticity and What to Do Instead with Dr. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic 8|5
“Be yourself.” “Bring your whole self to work.” “Don’t worry what people think.” These phrases sound empowering—but in real workplaces, they can create confusion, conflict, and even harm. In this episode of The …
Show notes
“Be yourself.” “Bring your whole self to work.” “Don’t worry what people think.”
These phrases sound empowering—but in real workplaces, they can create confusion, conflict, and even harm.
In this episode of The Radical Candor Podcast, Kim Scott and Amy Sandler sit down with organizational psychologist Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic—Chief Science Officer at Russell Reynolds Associates, professor of business psychology at University College London and Columbia University, and author of Don’t Be Yourself: Why Authenticity Is Overrated and What to Do Instead.
They start with a moment of actual Radical Candor: Kim reached out after Tomas and Amy Edmondson accidentally conflated Radical Candor with “brutal honesty.” Instead of stewing, she did the hard (and human) thing—she talked to him. That conversation sets the tone for a bigger question: What does it really mean to be “authentic” at work?
Tomas breaks down four “authenticity traps” that sound like wisdom but often backfire:
Always be honest with yourself and others
Don’t worry what people think of you
Always stay true to your values, no matter what
Bring your whole self to work
Together, they explore what replaces these traps: self-complexity, emotional intelligence, feedback you can absorb without defensiveness, and the discipline to regulate your impulses so you can build trust and safety—without turning the workplace into either chaos or conformity.
If you’ve ever felt stuck between being “real” and being effective, this episode offers a more useful frame: your right to be you should never override your obligation to others.
Resources:
Fast Company: To create psychological safety, don't bring your whole self to work
Next Big Idea Club: The Surprising Science of Why Being Authentic Can Hold You Back
Why Do So Many Incompetent Men Become Leaders? (And How To Fix It) [book]
Don't Be Yourself: Why Authenticity Is Overrated and What to Do Instead [book]
I, Human: AI, Automation, and the Quest to Reclaim What Makes Us Unique [book]
Dr. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic [website]
Mentioned on the podcast:
Seinfeld episode: Life Hack “Do the opposite” [YouTube short]
The Best Leaders are Great Followers HBR article by Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic and Amy C. Edmondson
Chapters:
(00:00) IntroductionKim and Amy welcome Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic and reflect on how this conversation began with Radical Candor.
(03:10) Radical Candor vs. “Brutal Honesty”How a misinterpretation sparked a real conversation about kindness, nuance, and impact.
(07:20) Why “Don’t Be Yourself”The meaning behind the provocative title and why authenticity advice often backfires at work.
(14:10) The Four Authenticity TrapsAlways be honest, don’t care what people think, never compromise your values, and bring your whole self to work.
(19:30) Confidence, Competence, and FeedbackWhy developing skill comes first—and how confidence is often about timing and delivery.
(27:30) Staying True to Values Without Becoming DogmaticWhy uncompromising values can divide teams and what leadership actually requires.
(30:10) Authenticity as PrivilegeWhy complete self-expression is often a luxury of the powerful, not a universal standard.
(36:15) Psychological Safety Isn’t ComfortWhy safety should enable productive discomfort, not chaos or bullying.
(41:55) Emotional Intelligence vs. Unfiltered AuthenticityWhy adapting to others is a strength, not a lack of integrity.
(49:10) Regulating Impulses as a LeaderHow filtering behavior builds trust without sacrificing humanity.
(01:03:50) Conclusion
Connect:Resources for show notes:
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Why We Don’t Do What We Know We Should: Beliefs, Habits, and AI Practice with Nir Eyal 8|4
What if the reason you don’t give feedback, follow through, or change your habits… isn’t willpower? What if it’s a belief? In this episode of The Radical Candor Podcast, Kim Scott talks with Nir Eyal — author …
Show notes
What if the reason you don’t give feedback, follow through, or change your habits… isn’t willpower?
What if it’s a belief?
In this episode of The Radical Candor Podcast, Kim Scott talks with Nir Eyal — author of Hooked, Indistractable, and his new book Beyond Belief — about the hidden force behind motivation: the stories we tell ourselves.
They explore:
Why AI can’t replace human relationships — but can help us practice hard conversations
The limiting belief that keeps people silent at work
Why knowing what to do isn’t enough
How pain (not pleasure) drives behavior
The difference between addiction and habit
Why “time management is pain management.”
How to reinterpret anxiety as readiness
And why beliefs are tools — not truths
If you’ve ever struggled to speak up, follow through, or break a bad habit — this conversation will help you see what’s really getting in the way.Chapters
(00:00) Introduction
Kim welcomes Nir Eyal and introduces AI portraits and scaling human insight.
(04:30) Can AI Replace Relationships?
Why AI can’t replace human connection — but may be the safest place to practice hard conversations.
(10:15) Refining AI Voice & Identity
What it means to “scale yourself” without losing your humanity.
(16:40) The Limiting Belief That Keeps You Silent
“If you don’t have anything nice to say…” — and why that belief causes harm.
(23:10) Beliefs Are Tools, Not Truths
Nir explains the core thesis of Beyond Belief.
(29:30) Placebos, Pain, and Perception
What belief can change — and what it can’t.
(36:20) Stage Fright vs. Readiness
Reinterpreting anxiety as oxygen for performance.
(43:10) Time Management Is Pain Management
Why distraction is about escaping discomfort.
(50:40) Addiction vs. Habit
Why addiction is about escaping pain — not seeking pleasure.
(57:00) Why We Don’t Do What We Know
The missing link between knowledge and action.
(01:04:00) Radical Candor and the “Nice” Trap
The story of Bob — and why staying silent isn’t kind.
(01:10:00) If It’s Yellow, Let It Mellow
Marriage, feedback, and choosing what truly matters.
(01:13:00) Conclusion
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AI Gods, Space Empires, and the Stories Tech Uses to Justify Power with Adam Becker 8|3
What if the loudest stories about the future—AI gods, Mars colonies, digital immortality—aren’t science at all, but science fiction masquerading as inevitability? In this episode of The Radical Candor Podcast …
Show notes
What if the loudest stories about the future—AI gods, Mars colonies, digital immortality—aren’t science at all, but science fiction masquerading as inevitability?
In this episode of The Radical Candor Podcast, Kim Scott and Amy Sandler are joined by science journalist and astrophysicist Adam Becker (PhD in computational cosmology), author of More Everything Forever. Adam breaks down the “big three” myths that dominate Silicon Valley’s imagination: space colonization, superintelligent god-like AI, and the singularity. He explains why both the utopian and apocalyptic versions of AI stories often share the same assumption—unimaginable AI power—and why that assumption doesn’t match reality.
They also explore the deeper pattern underneath these myths: the belief that every problem can be solved with technology (usually computer technology), even when the barriers are political and social—collective action, persuasion, solidarity, and power. Along the way, Adam shares how he stayed sane while writing about “seriously disturbing ideas,” and why reconnecting with the natural world (and real human relationships) is a necessary antidote to screen-mediated life.
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the “AI will save us” vs. “AI will doom us” debate, this conversation offers a clearer, more grounded frame—and a reminder that being human matters.
Resources for show notes:
- Adam Becker’s website
- More, Everything, Forever book page
- Adam Becker on Star Talk podcast
- Dave Troy presents: Understanding TESCREAL with Dr. Timnit Gebru and Émile Torres
- Why Silicon Valley’s Most Powerful People Are So Obsessed With Hobbits
Referenced in conversation:
- Blade Runner (as an example of dystopian sci-fi being misunderstood)
- Star Wars / Jabba the Hutt (as an example of misreading stories)
- Lord of the Rings / Palantír (as a cautionary reference)
- Jurassic Park (“they didn’t stop to consider whether they should”)
- Public libraries (as a civic good worth supporting)
Chapters:
(00:00) Introduction
Kim and Amy welcome Adam Becker to unpack Silicon Valley’s stories about the future.
(06:06) The Myths Driving Tech Ideology
Space colonization, superintelligent AI, and the singularity—and why they don’t hold up.
(11:52) When Sci-Fi Turns into Strategy
How dystopian stories get misread as roadmaps (Palantir, “Torment Nexus,” and more).
(15:06) More Everything Forever
Why endless expansion feels inevitable in tech—and why Adam argues it’s flawed.
(21:24) “Can” vs. “Should”
Why tech leaders dodge both questions—and what that reveals about power.
(23:19) You Can’t Escape Politics by Going to Space
Why “Mars as a reset button” is a fantasy—and politics follows humans everywhere.
(33:22) AI Doom vs. AI Utopia
Why both narratives rely on the same shaky assumption about “AGI.”
(37:21) Solidarity as a Counterbalance
Why labor organizing matters when leadership values diverge from workers’ values.
(41:02) “AGI Will Fix Climate”
Why betting on future AI while burning more energy now is a dangerous logic trap.
(01:03:50) Conclusion
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The 7 Hidden Beliefs That Hold Leaders Back with Muriel Wilkins 8|2
Why do so many leaders work hard to change — only to end up in the same place months later? What if the problem isn’t effort, but the beliefs running in the background? In this episode of The Radical Candor …
Show notes
Why do so many leaders work hard to change — only to end up in the same place months later? What if the problem isn’t effort, but the beliefs running in the background?
In this episode of The Radical Candor Podcast, Kim Scott and Amy Sandler are joined by Muriel Wilkins — executive coach, C-suite advisor, host of Coaching Real Leaders, and author of Leadership Unblocked. Together, they unpack why high performers default to action, how action bias can backfire when internal beliefs stay the same, and what it takes to create sustainable leadership growth.
Muriel introduces seven common “hidden blockers,” including I need it done now, I can’t say no, and I don’t belong here, and explains how these beliefs drive behavior that feels productive in the short term but creates dissonance over time. The conversation also explores how leaders can build the muscle of noticing what’s happening internally, ask better coaching questions without attachment, and reduce unnecessary suffering by changing how they respond to challenges.
If you’ve ever wondered, “Why do I keep ending up here again?” this episode offers a grounded, practical way forward.
Connect:
Resources for show notes:
Leadership Unblocked: Break Through the Beliefs That Limit Your Potential book
The Hidden Beliefs That Hold Leaders Back Harvard Business Review article
Own the Room: Discover Your Signature Voice to Master Your Leadership Presence book
Muriel Wilkins on Radical Candor podcast
Chapters:
(00:00) Introduction + Muriel Returns
(01:20) Why Muriel Wrote Leadership Unblocked
(01:50) Action Bias: Why Change Doesn’t Stick
(03:00) Actions vs. Your Internal Operating System
(04:04) The Fix-It Reflex in Work and Life
(06:01) Discomfort, Control, and the Urge to Solve
(09:25) Hidden Blockers: What They Are and Why They’re Hidden
(10:57) The 7 Hidden Blockers (Overview)
(11:48) “I Need It Done Now” and Reframing Time
(17:03) Building the Noticing Muscle
(39:58) Coaching Yourself Before Coaching Others
(53:33) Conclusion
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It’s Not Too Late: Getting Unstuck Mid-Career with Adrion Porter 8|1
What do you do when the career path that once felt clear no longer is? What if that stuck, uneasy feeling in the middle of your career isn’t a failure, it’s information and an opportunity to rewrite your career …
Show notes
What do you do when the career path that once felt clear no longer is? What if that stuck, uneasy feeling in the middle of your career isn’t a failure, it’s information and an opportunity to rewrite your career story.
On this episode of The Radical Candor Podcast, Adrion Porter founder of Mid-Career Mastery, host of the podcast Gen X Amplified, and a LinkedIn top voice joins Kim and Jason to talk honestly about the “Messy Middle” and what to do when your old definitions of success no longer fit.
Together, they explore Adrion’s Mastery Map, a practical framework for getting unstuck by letting go of limiting beliefs, finding meaning, and making intentional choices even when the next step isn’t obvious. They also dig into navigating generational differences, the reality of different lived experiences and the divisive stories we tell ourselves and how to strengthen relationships across generations.
If you’re feeling stuck, uncertain about what’s next, or frustrated that doing your best work feels harder than it used to, this conversation offers grounded ways to move forward.
Get all of the show notes at RadicalCandor.com/podcast.Episode Links:
- Transcript
- About Adrion Porter
- Follow Adrion on LinkedIn
- Learn More About Mid-Career Mastery
- Listen to Adrion's Podcast, Gen X Amplified
- Explore Adrion's Framework, The Mastery Map
Connect:
- Website
- Instagram
- TikTok
- LinkedIn
- YouTube
- Bluesky
Chapters:
(00:00) Introduction
(02:04) Adrion’s Origin StoryA layoff at 40 forces Adrion to rethink what’s next.
(06:51) Owning Your StoryKim & Adrion explore the narratives that had Kim stuck and how she rewrote those.
(09:02) Mindset & Limiting BeliefsWhy reframing how you think is the first step forward.
(11:48) The Mastery Map FrameworkThe pillars of the framework: mindset, meaning, and milestones.
(16:23) When You Feel TrappedNavigating change when money, family, or expectations limit options.
(17:48) The Framework in ActionAdrion tells the story of a specific application of the framework.
(20:39) Breakthrough Moments from the WorkWhat Adrion sees when people finally rewrite their story.
(23:04) From Messy Middle to Magical MiddleWhy mid-career can be a season of reinvention.
(26:42) Generations & Work StoriesHow different generations think about success and work.
(32:37) Wisdom, Age & Radical CandorWhat experience adds to communication and feedback.
(37:25) One Action to Take This WeekA practical step to start changing your story now.
(38:21) ConclusionLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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