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.
Being a boss is hard—and most people are thrown into it with zero training and a vague job description. Kim and Jason are joined by Andrew Palmer—yes, that Andrew Palmer from The Economist’s “Bartleby” column and host of the Boss Class podcast—for a wide-ranging, no-BS conversation about what leadership looks like when it’s done well…and when it’s not. Together, they dig into the hilarious, maddening, and meaningful realities of modern management: from the awkward feedback moments and the myth o...
Ever tried giving someone feedback about their tone…without sounding like the tone police? This episode was sparked by a listener wrestling with just that—and let’s be real, it’s something we’ve all tripped over. Join Kim and Jason as they dive into the messy, nuanced world of tone: why it matters, how to talk about it without getting judgmental, and what to do when someone’s words are technically fine but their delivery leaves the room on edge. Using the CORE framework—Context, Observation, Res...
Fun fact: this episode exists thanks to a few pints and a little Radical Candor in the wild. Our audio engineer Nick met today’s guest, Chloé van Bergen, VP of Operations at Secretly Group, at his brother’s stag do. One loud London pub and an honest conversation later—we knew we had to get her on the show. Join Kim and Amy for a candid conversation with Chloé about what it really takes to lead change inside a legacy-driven music company. She gets real about navigating unionization, confronting i...
We’re celebrating Pride Month, and to kick us off, Amy and Brandi get real about the unfiltered, often uncomfortable truth of being LGBTQ+ in the workplace—where invisibility can feel safer than honesty, and “inclusion” doesn’t always include you. In this 'best of' episode, they unpack the messy layers of LGBTQ+ identity at work—from pronoun politics and people-pleasing to being “the only one” in the room. If you’ve ever felt unseen at work—or want to ensure your team doesn’t have to—this one’s ...
Leadership sounds empowering—until you're navigating chaos, clunky systems, and a team giving you major side-eye. Amy and Kim talk with Stephanie Chung—trailblazing exec, leadership strategist, and accidental trust-builder—about the messy reality of stepping into high-stakes roles. Stephanie gets candid about what it’s really like to walk into a company mid-crisis, how to lead teams that don’t look, think, or operate like you, and why asking the right questions beats having all the answers. From...
On this Best of episode of the Radical Candor podcast, Kim, Jason and Amy discuss how the fundamental attribution error makes us more likely to use personality attributes to explain someone else’s behavior rather than considering our own behavior or situational factors that were probably the real cause of the behavior. This is where the “not about personality” part of Radical Candor comes into play. Plus, Jason shares a hilarious (and painfully relatable) story about the “evil little translator”...
Growth sounds beautiful—until you’re knee-deep in failure, self-doubt, and a garden full of dead plants. Amy gets real with Debbie Millman—design legend, branding expert, and accidental gardener—to unpack the not-so-glamorous side of creativity, leadership, and learning to suck at something new. Debbie shares how screwing up (repeatedly) can actually make you better at just about everything and why success can kill your spark, how confidence actually works (spoiler: it’s not magic), and what gar...
Are you the cool boss that everyone loves, but no one respects? Join Kim and Jason as they address a pressing question from a production supervisor struggling with their team's lack of accountability. Learn the importance of sharing personal stories, soliciting feedback, and giving timely criticism, all while remembering that accountability is an act of kindness. If you're struggling with setting boundaries and holding people accountable, we've got your back. Get all of the show notes at Radica...
From malfunctioning WiFi to epic commutes and offices mysteriously out of toilet paper, the “return to office” era is serving up workplace absurdity on a silver platter. Jason and Amy blow past the corporate spin and get Radically Candid about the “back to the office” push: why it’s often more about control than collaboration, how companies overlook basic human needs, and the ways these policies can quietly erode trust, productivity, and psychological safety. From generational gripes to the myth...
Move fast, break things, and hope no one notices? Not so fast. In this episode, Kim and Jason rip into the shiny promise of speed at all costs—and the very real damage it leaves behind. From slashing vital research to chasing clicks with outrage bait, they expose how a lack of debate, accountability, and thoughtful decision-making can spiral into chaos. This isn’t just about tech; it’s about what happens when leaders skip the hard conversations and dodge the consequences. Drawing from their own ...
Cut through workplace red tape—without burning bridges. Ever feel like getting anything done at work means running a marathon through molasses? You’re not alone. In this episode, Amy and Jason go full throttle on the soul-sucking systems that slow teams down and wear people out. Sparked by a listener stuck in a tangle of outdated processes, they unpack how well-meaning rules morph into momentum killers—and what to do when speaking up feels like you’re just making it worse. With a blend of straig...
When contracts hide misconduct, it’s not policy—it’s a cover-up. What do NDAs, forced arbitration, and emotionally manipulating teenagers have in common? Sadly, more than you'd hope. Kim, Jason and Amy rip the lid off the corporate culture of hush-hush harm, legal gymnastics and why emotional manipulation is a feature—not a bug—in some marketing strategies. They dig into the story behind Careless People by Sara Wynn-Williams, the book someone definitely doesn’t want you to read, and expose how c...
Being the boss isn’t about power trips—it’s about leaving your jerk card at the door. Turns out, surviving the workplace often comes down to one simple rule: don’t be an asshole. Kim Scott and Amy Sandler sit down with Stanford’s Bob Sutton, author of The No Asshole Rule and The Friction Project, to talk about how real leadership means treating people like people, not just cogs in a machine. Bob gets straight to the point about why toxic behavior kills productivity, how organizational “friction”...
Stop playing it safe—embrace the bold, unexpected traits that actually get you ahead. Success doesn’t come to those who wait—it comes to those who take it. For years, you’ve been told to be humble, play nice, and wait your turn. Jenny Wood says that’s exactly why so many talented people stay stuck. As a former Google executive turned author of Wild Courage: Go After What You Want and Get It, she’s here to expose the real traits that drive success—ones that might make you uncomfortable. Forget th...
Ditch the awkwardness and start owning every conversation. Talking to people shouldn’t feel like a struggle—but let’s be honest, it often does. Maybe you’re stuck in small talk hell, getting ignored in meetings, or watching conversations die mid-sentence. Why is this so hard? Amy sits down with Dr. Alison Wood Brooks, Harvard Business School professor and author of Talk: The Science of Conversation and the Art of Being Ourselves, to expose the hidden science behind great conversations—and why mo...
When a PIP feels like a setup, how do you handle it without compromising your integrity? Trapped between an HR-driven process that feels like a sham and a direct report who’s not meeting expectations? That’s a management nightmare. When a boss hands you a struggling employee with the unspoken expectation that you’ll “manage them out,” how do you stay honest, maintain trust, and avoid turning into the workplace grim reaper? Kim, Jason, and Amy break down the emotional and ethical toll of Performa...
Kim and Amy discuss effective strategies for managers overseeing large teams, emphasizing the importance of creating a culture where employees feel heard and valued. They explore methods like implementing idea teams, practicing management by walking around, and restructuring one-on-ones to maximize impact. The episode highlights balancing listening, empowering direct reports, and soliciting feedback to promote radical candor within the team.
Avoiding tough conversations? Lean in, speak up, and make them count. Ever find yourself avoiding a tough conversation at work because, well…it’s just easier? We get it. But what if leaning into discomfort could actually make things better—for you, your team, and your company? In this episode, Kim and Amy sit down with Amandeep (Aman) Kochar, CEO of Baker & Taylor, to talk about how he uses Radical Candor to break down barriers, build trust, and create a culture where feedback fuels growth i...
Undermining, defiant and disengaged direct report—coach them or cut them loose? Dealing with a direct report who questions everything, isolates their team, and actively undermines leadership? YIKES. That’s not just frustrating—it’s a full-blown leadership headache. When radical candor turns into outright defiance, how do you respond without losing your mind (or your team’s trust)? In this episode, Kim and Amy tackle the tricky reality of managing someone who refuses to engage, blames leadership ...
Vague feedback is a fail—neurodivergent minds need clear, direct guidance to thrive. Is vague feedback just bad management, or are we failing neurodivergent employees by not giving them what they actually need? Kim sits down with the legendary Dr. Temple Grandin to challenge common misconceptions about feedback and explore why clarity is key—especially for those who think and process the world differently. They break down the myth that all employees should “just know” how to adjust their behavio...
Why most career conversations fail—and how to make them actually matter. Are career conversations a game-changer, or just another corporate mirage? In part two of this two-part episode, Kim, Amy, and Russ Laraway cut through the fluff and expose why most career talks fail before they even start. Managers love to preach growth, but when it comes to actually helping their people build meaningful careers, too many fall flat. Russ brings the fire with his “gravity assist slingshot” method—forget the...
Russ Laraway breaks down why your leadership isn’t working—and how to fix it. Stuck in a cycle of vague goals, half-hearted feedback, and meaningless career talks? Let’s call it what it is—bad leadership. In part one of this two part episode, Kim, Amy, and Russ Laraway rip into the mistakes that are killing your team’s engagement and results. Russ brings the heat with his “Big Three” leadership essentials—direction, coaching, and career—and doesn’t hold back on why so many managers fail to deliv...
What happens when you gut the glue holding your team together? Is middle management really dead weight, or are we cutting off the wrong limb? In this episode, Amy and Jason take on the hype around “The Great Flattening” and call out the risks of gutting the layer that keeps organizations running smoothly. Sure, middle managers have their flaws—what role doesn’t? But eliminating them entirely isn’t the brilliant shortcut some leaders think it is. They dig into how this trend often creates chaos, ...
Tech’s “meritocracy” is broken—Ellen Pao unpacks how to fix it. Alright, let’s get real—tech’s so-called “meritocracy” is doing more harm than good, and it’s time to face it head-on. This week we’re bringing you an episode of the Radical Respect podcast. Kim and Wesley sit down with Ellen Pao, founder of Project Include, to dig into how the industry’s obsession with merit often masks deep-seated bias, exclusion, and outright harassment. Ellen doesn’t hold back as she breaks down why quick fixes ...
Ditch the drama and rebuild connection where it counts. Feeling overwhelmed by workplace polarization, the loneliness epidemic, and the constant whirl of change? You’re not alone—and neither are your teams. On this episode of Radical Candor, Kim and Amy bring in Heather McGowan, future-of-work strategist, to dig into why we’re so divided and distracted at work—and what leaders can actually do about it. Heather gets real about the deeper roots of these challenges, from shifting demographics to te...
Everyday actions, when turned into rituals, can manage emotions and create a sense of meaning. Amy Sandler is joined by Harvard Business School Professor Michael Norton to discuss his latest book, The Ritual Effect. Norton explores the significance of rituals in reducing stress and enhancing productivity, both at work and in personal life. He shares compelling research and personal anecdotes that illustrate how everyday actions, when turned into rituals, can manage emotions and create a sense of...
Practicing Radical Candor with your family members this holiday season. Holiday communication with your family can be rife with stress. And while you love your family, let’s be frank, family togetherness during the holidays often goes sideways. So much so that it’s become a trope that’s spawned dozens of holiday movies. But you can survive it by practicing Radical Candor with your nearest and dearest this holiday season to avoid defaulting to Obnoxious Aggression, Manipulative Insincerity or Rui...
How the CORE method can help you thrive in the messy middle. Caught in the middle of a boss who’s all care but no action and a team lead who’s full steam ahead with no brakes? That’s a workplace tightrope no one wants to walk. Your ability to Care Personally and Challenge Directly can seriously be affected when communication falls apart on both ends of the spectrum, and it’s not just frustrating—it’s debilitating. How do you stay productive and keep your sanity when you’re managing up and down w...
Showing respect when you just don’t connect. Ever feel like caring about a coworker is just...not in the cards? Same. Here’s the thing though – you don’t have to be besties to show respect and keep things productive. In this episode, Kim, Amy, and Jason tackle the tough question of how to Care Personally when someone’s driving you up the wall. With relatable stories (yes, even a deodorant conversation makes an appearance) and practical tips, they break down how to stay curious, address frustrati...
Tune in to the Radical Candor podcast to learn to love your job and kick ass at work without losing your humanity by practicing the principles of Radical Candor. Host and Lead Radical Candor Coach Amy Sandler leads discussions with Radical Candor Author and Co-founder Kim Scott and CEO and Co-founder Jason Rosoff about what it means to be Radically Candid, why it’s simple but not easy to Care Personally and Challenge Directly on the daily, and why it’s worth it. Learn more about your ad choices....
