What does it take to lead a great company? During his 44 years as CEO of Whole Foods, John Mackey found his answer: Don't worry about acting like a CEO, serve the business, serve its people, and never abandon yourself. Mackey discusses this, along with his book The Whole Story.
Mar 11, 2025•32 min
Your story is one of your strongest assets. It can make you relatable and memorable, and it can draw people to you — but only if you tell it right. Today, Jason will show you a four-step framework for turning personal stories into compelling narratives.
Mar 06, 2025•12 min
Have you ever felt misunderstood by a manager? If so, you know how frustrating—and downright demoralizing—it can be. Today’s caller, Mike, is stuck in that very situation. His manager constantly second-guesses his work, and Mike is desperate to find a way to get on the same page. To tackle this challenge, Jason is joined by Jenny Wood, former Google executive and author, to break it all down. Together, they equip Mike with a clear, actionable framework to transform his next conversation with his...
Mar 04, 2025•44 min
You’re about to meet someone important. And you’re nervous. In scenarios like these, Jason has one rule: Treat the conversation like a joint project. Today, he’ll show you how it works. Then he’ll explain how he uses it to great effect.
Feb 27, 2025•12 min
As you know, many parts of Los Angeles were devastated by recent wildfires. Today, Nicole shares her story. All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. Brokerage services for US-listed, registered securities, options and bonds in a self-directed account are offered by Open to the Public Investing, member FINRA & SIPC. Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest an...
Feb 25, 2025•18 min
You want to do something new. But there’s a problem: Your current thing is so comfortable. So how do you escape the trap of being too comfortable? How do you overcome the fear of leaving something behind, and move forward? Here’s how: Jason calls it transfer of value. It’s a way to move on from old things — and once you master it, you’ll feel more empowered able to seize new opportunities. Today, he explains how you can do it. All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal....
Feb 20, 2025•10 min
You have to reach out to someone— and they're a big deal. Maybe they run a huge company and would be a life-changing client for your business, or maybe it's the recruiter at a job you really want. Whoever they are, they're important, and you want to get their attention. How should you do it? Today, Jason calls the perfect person to answer this question: Jenny Wood, author of the upcoming book Wild Courage and former Google executive. Jenny has sent cold outreach to some of the biggest celebritie...
Feb 18, 2025•44 min
You’re being misunderstood. You shared a great idea, or made something wonderful, or told someone something — and they are confused. Now you’re upset. Why don’t they just understand!? But here’s the problem: You started in the wrong place. Jason falls victim to this all the time… So today, he’ll share some of his own stumbles — and a powerful, two-step exercise that will make your intentions and ideas clearer, so everyone understands you. All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss o...
Feb 13, 2025•12 min
Jason and his wife, Jen, keep trying to make plans with another couple— but this couple keeps flaking. Now Jason and Jen are wondering: Do they just not like us? To get some insight, they call up their friend Katie Sturino (body acceptance advocate and founder of Megababe), who proudly admits she's not the easiest person to make plans with. Together, they unpack what might really be going on and land on a theory we're calling Social Competency Index. If you have a friend you can never make plans...
Feb 12, 2025•37 min
Do you ever feel like time is moving by too fast? Well, Jason has good news: it is possible to create more time… in a way. Today, Jason will explain what that means, why it works — and how this year can be even richer, more memorable, and feel longer (in the best way!) than the years before. All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. Brokerage services for US-listed, registered securities, options and bonds in a self-directed account are offered by Open to the Public I...
Feb 06, 2025•11 min
Jason just had lunch with a professional contact he genuinely clicked with—someone he could see becoming a real friend. But now, he's wondering: Is it too soon to follow up and plan another lunch? If he reaches out now, will he seem too eager... or just plain weird? Enter Taryn Southern, storyteller and AI strategist, filling in for Nicole while she's on maternity leave. She and Jason tackle the awkward art of follow-ups, creating a foolproof "onboarding system" for new friendships that you can ...
Feb 04, 2025•39 min
You want to end something. But you’re not sure how to tell people. You don’t want to disappoint anyone. You don't want to say the wrong thing… but you do have to say something. Today, Jason will teach you a four-part formula to effectively and compassionately communicate the end of something. All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. Brokerage services for US-listed, registered securities, options and bonds in a self-directed account are offered by Open to the Public ...
Jan 30, 2025•16 min
Today, Jason shares a question that's been stuck on his mind: if someone uses AI in their work, does that signal that they’re not good at it? In other words: does use of AI indicate a lack of natural competency or skill? To get some answers (and maybe even permission to use AI in his own work!), Jason calls up storyteller and AI strategist Taryn Southern. Together, Jason and Taryn explore whether it's time to embrace AI openly in our professional lives and how AI affects perceptions of authentic...
Jan 28, 2025•37 min
We often don’t celebrate endings. We think of them as failures or mistakes — as if the end invalidated everything else. But endings can be many things: They’re how we preserve time and energy, how we reach a healthy conclusion, and how we prepare for something new. Today, Jason wants to help you embrace endings. He’ll give you three questions to ask yourself — and after you do, you may find yourself feeling lighter and freer. And he’ll start with something he just ended. He loved it, truly. But ...
Jan 23, 2025•14 min
You do awesome work, you just need people to pay you to do it. So now, you need to figure out: how do you describe your work in a way that gets people to recognize that they want, or better yet, need it? That’s the question that today’s caller, Lisa Pircher-Reid, wants answered. To help, Jason phones in a friend: Richelle DeVoe, marketing and positioning expert. Richelle shares scripts for two conversations that every entrepreneur needs to have in order to craft marketing language that attracts ...
Jan 21, 2025•47 min
You made the wrong decision. Now you’re doubting yourself. Today, Jason will give you three questions to ask yourself — and once you truly consider them, you’ll have an easier time growing, changing, and making peace with the past. All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. Brokerage services for US-listed, registered securities, options and bonds in a self-directed account are offered by Open to the Public Investing, member FINRA & SIPC. Public Investing offers a High...
Jan 16, 2025•16 min
While Nicole is out on maternity leave, Jason will be joined by several guest cohosts. In this episode, Jason’s cohost is his wife, Jennifer Miller! Jen is a parent and a writer— and she wants to know: why does she feel more validation from her work in the latter role versus the former? We all know parenting is the most important job there is… so, what gives? Jason and Jen analyze which micro and macro features have contributed to this imbalance, and find that the key to unlocking more validatio...
Jan 14, 2025•34 min
If you’re having a tricky time communicating at work, Jason has a solution: he calls it “bricks and mortar” — and it is the single most important insight he’s had as a communicator. He explains how to use it next time you need to hold someone's attention at work.
Jan 09, 2025•17 min
Today, Nicole opens up about how she's been thinking about taking parental leave; from the logistical side of taking time off as a self-employed person to the emotional side of stepping away from your work if you're someone who defines yourself by your work. Jason shares how he and his wife figured out these logistical and emotional questions and how Nicole (and any listeners interested in being parents!) can too.
Jan 07, 2025•49 min
'Tis the season to set goals for the New Year. But the way we create our goals often sets us up for failure. Today, Jason helps you set goals you can actually reach — by avoiding the goals that’ll drag you down. And to start, he’ll tell you about the goal he hears all the time… and why he keeps telling people to ditch it.
Jan 02, 2025•13 min
Today, you're going to hear a new segment Nicole and Jason are calling The Smartest People We Know In Business, where they ask the most brilliant people they know what they're doing that's working, so you can use their winning strategies. Today, Nicole and Jason talk with Stephanie Latham, VP of Global Brand Partnerships & Advertising of the super popular gaming platform Roblox. Stephanie shares tips on how to successfully engage Gen Z, building meaningful partnerships, what to prioritize if you...
Dec 31, 2024•42 min
You have too much to do. Too many tasks, too many deadlines, too many things to track. Jason has the same problem — and today, he shares a simple solution that’s helped him. It’s called a list funnel, and it’s something he learned from Google’s in-house productivity expert. The list funnel helps you get things done and reduces your stress. Today he shares how it works — but first, he explains why our current solutions don’t.
Dec 26, 2024•16 min
On the show, Jason and Nicole read a lot of bad emails. Today, you're going to hear a good one— featuring the person who sent it, Julie Griggs, cofounder of the app Fourplay (a social platform where single friends match with other pairs and go on double dates). In this episode, Jason and Nicole explain why Julie's email was so good that they're still talking about it two years later. Learn more about Fourplay here: https://www.fourplaysocial.com/ To keep up with Julie, click here: https://www.li...
Dec 26, 2024•38 min
A few years back, Nicole created a course and... it flopped. Now, she's thinking about giving it another go, but wants to understand what went wrong the first time so she doesn't make the same mistakes again. Today, Jason and Nicole are joined by Abi Prendergast, an expert on marketing and sales strategy for courses. Abi diagnoses what she sees as the problem with Nicole's first course, and gives advice anyone can use if they want to make— and more importantly, sell— a course. For more on Abi, v...
Dec 19, 2024•44 min
Are you dreading a conversation because you know it will be awkward? Today, Jason explains how to use awkwardness as its own solution— and to do that, he shares a story from this very podcast!
Dec 12, 2024•10 min
If someone says the wrong thing, is it actually helpful to tell them? Today's caller, Jeff, got a message from an acquaintance asking if Jeff could secure an internship for his son. Jeff told his acquaintance that it would have been better if the son had reached out directly... should he have said that? Today, Jason and Nicole help you find the line that separates helpful feedback from overkill.
Dec 10, 2024•32 min
Today, Jason teaches you how to chill out… while getting everything important done. Because for all the wild stories out there about hustlers hustling, there’s something important you need to know. Jason explains.
Dec 05, 2024•12 min
Can challenges socializing at work stunt your career growth? It's possible - but if small talking and networking aren't your jam, don't worry! Today, Jason and Nicole share strategies you can use to connect with colleagues— whether you're an introvert or an extrovert.
Dec 03, 2024•35 min
Maybe you started a business. Or pursued ambitious goals. You set the bar high, which meant that your life is often busy and complex — and sometimes you wonder: Did I do this wrong? Here’s Jason’s answer: Don’t question your past. Instead, take what you need from it. Today, Jason tells you how to do that— which will lead you to the right path.
Nov 28, 2024•11 min
Want to attract new business? Or just build valuable relationships? Here’s one of the best ways: Give away your knowledge. This may sound like a bad idea. Won’t people just steal your work and not pay you? In fact, the opposite is true: When you give away knowledge, you build trust and authority — and then people want you more! Today, Jason will show you how this works, and how to use it to your advantage. But to start, he’ll tell you about someone who did not do this — and how it led to the mos...
Nov 21, 2024•12 min