Elliot Aronson is one of the preeminent psychologists of the 20th century his mentors were Abraham Maslow and Leon Festinger, and his award-winning psychology textbooks are seminal even for non-psychologists. Adam asks Elliot about his pioneering work on making mistakes and cognitive dissonance, or the discomfort we feel when we realize that our attitudes or actions contradict our values. Then, the two discuss the dangers (and upsides) of rationalizing our beliefs and strategies for making bette...
Dec 05, 2023•45 min•Transcript available on Metacast We usually wear our thickest armor at work, and Bren Brown has blazed the trail of teaching us why and how to shed it. In this conversation, Adam and Bren unpack the power of showing vulnerability at work and explore how much is too much. Learn when and where to set boundaries, find out how to get more comfortable with being uncomfortable, and hear Bren rethink a key assumption that she took for granted in her own work. The transcript for this episode is available at go.ted.com/RT-vulnerability ...
Nov 28, 2023•40 min•Transcript available on Metacast Poet and author Maggie Smith isnt sure where she falls on the spectrum from optimism to pessimism. But her viral poem Good Bones and her bestselling books have inspired countless readers with profound insights on the messiness of being human. In this episode, Maggie and Adam discuss strategies for handling complex emotions, sustaining hope while acknowledging reality, and accepting ambiguity in life and art. They explore the value of asking questions that may not have a satisfying answer or any ...
Nov 21, 2023•44 min•Transcript available on Metacast Rainn Wilson was a late bloomer: he landed the role of Dwight Schrute on The Office after over a decade of struggling as an actor. But success didnt solve all of his problems and it even created some new ones. In this live conversation for the Authors@Wharton series, Adam asks Rainn about his unlikely journey to stardom and how it led him into exploring the insights that philosophy, psychology, and the worlds great spiritual traditions can offer on modern lifes existential questions. They also d...
Nov 14, 2023•46 min•Transcript available on Metacast Many people are obsessed with optimizing their lives, but this might be a suboptimal way to live. Adam brings together psychologist Barry Schwartz (author of The Paradox of Choice) and applied mathematician Coco Krumme (author of Optimal Illusions) to discuss the dark side of maximizing everything. The three discuss the unintended consequences of always aiming for the best, debate different strategies for individuals and societies to make better choices, and explore how its possible to pursue su...
Nov 07, 2023•48 min•Transcript available on Metacast Before his stories regularly appeared in The New Yorker, before the MacArthur and Guggenheim Fellowships, and before being named one of the worlds most influential people by TIME, George Saunders was a roofer. And a doorman. And a technical writer. In this episode, George sits down with Adam and shares what hes learned from his winding path towards becoming a professional author, the secrets of creating work that sticks, and how to receive feedback and elevate our rough drafts. Available transcr...
Oct 31, 2023•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast Malcolm Gladwell hosts a rollicking live discussion about Adam's new book, "Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things," which is out today. They explore why we overemphasize innate talent, how Adam grappled with impostor syndrome as a writer and perfectionism as an athlete, and how to chart a path toward achieving greater things. They also discuss the evidence on affirmative action and riff on topics ranging from humility to psychoanalysis to whether Lions or Bills fans suffer mo...
Oct 24, 2023•45 min•Transcript available on Metacast Mentoring plays an important role in growth and success for both mentors and mentees. But finding the right mentor and being an effective one is easier said than done. Adam digs into the science of what makes a good mentor, learns what it takes to build a strong bond from an extraordinary mentor-mentee pair, and busts lasting myths that prevent us from unlocking our potential. Available transcripts for WorkLife can be found at go.ted.com/WLtranscripts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for m...
Oct 17, 2023•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast Bureaucracy exists to provide consistency and structure, but it often stifles creativity and productivity and breeds misery. In this episode, Adam investigates why we wind up with stupid rules, how to cut red tape without creating chaos, and what it takes to hack bad policies for a greater good. Available transcripts for WorkLife can be found at go.ted.com/WLtranscripts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Oct 10, 2023•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast Many people dont use all their paid time off from work and struggle to relax and recover on nights and weekends too. What does it take to make our breaks more restorative? Adam examines the evidence on recovery and burnout, explores how workplaces can reimagine vacation policies, and highlights what kinds of hobbies are best suited to different times of day. Available transcripts for WorkLife can be found at go.ted.com/WLtranscripts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Oct 03, 2023•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast Meetings often drain our joy and sap our focus and meeting overload kills productivity. So why do we have so many of them, and is a better world possible? Adam investigates the science of improving meetings and explores how workplaces are fighting meeting bloat. Available transcripts for WorkLife can be found at go.ted.com/WLtranscripts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Sep 26, 2023•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast As a therapist, Nedra Glover Tawwab has spent years helping people set boundaries in their personal and professional lives. As the New York Times bestselling author of the books Drama Free and Set Boundaries, Find Peace, her wisdom often goes viral on Instagram and beyond. Nedra sits down with Adam for an insightful discussion on why people struggle with creating boundaries, how we can deal with saying no, and why setting a boundary is the ultimate act of self-respect. Transcripts for ReThinking...
Aug 22, 2023•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast As the founder and CEO of Khan Academy, Sal is a pioneer in the education technology space. With millions of users and billions of views, hes been recognized as one of Times 100 Most Influential People, and now hes at the forefront of using AI to enrich learning. Sal and Adam have an exciting discussion about the role of AI in the classroom, discuss the opportunities and challenges of designing tools that foster true critical thinking, and share their visions for the future of education. Hosted ...
Aug 15, 2023•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast With his sharp observational comedy and dry wit, Jim Gaffigan has been making people laugh for decades. Hes a stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and producer who has earned an Emmy award and multiple Grammy nominations. He opens up about his early career shift from marketing to comedy, the art of crafting jokes that land, and the often exasperatingly funny experience of parenting. Jims latest special, Dark Pale, is now streaming on Amazon. Transcripts for ReThinking are available at go.ted.com/RW...
Aug 08, 2023•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast Chip and Joanna Gaines are best known for their hit reality TV home renovation show Fixer Upper. The married couple has delighted audiences by finding charm in unexpected places, and now Chip and Joanna are building their own empire extending from furniture and homewares to a Gaines TV channel. But their greatest achievement has been building a thriving partnership at work and home despite dramatic differences between their personalities. Chip and Joanna talk with Adam about how introverts and e...
Aug 01, 2023•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast As they dreamed up iconic characters like Buzz and Woody, Pixar reinvented how animated movies are made. But first, they had to build a culture to make this magic possible. Pixar's co-founder and longtime president Ed Catmull and Oscar-winning Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter talk with Adam about how to spark and sustain creative collaboration. They also reveal the secret to great storytelling, discuss how to maintain and evolve a vision, and reflect on the lessons learned from working closely...
Jul 25, 2023•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast Baratunde Thurston is an Emmy-nominated writer, activist and comedian. Whether its through his witty and thoughtful work at The Onion or The Daily Show, or via in-depth reflections in a New York Times best-selling book or a hit podcast, Baratunde is adept at addressing complex ideas with compelling stories and serious issues with levity. Baratunde speaks with Adam about the evolution of his communication style, shares ideas on what kind of storytelling actually moves the needle for an audience, ...
Jul 18, 2023•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast Award-winning researcher and pioneering psychologist Brian Little has plenty of accomplishments under his belt. Hes the author of the bestselling books Me, Myself, and Us and Who Are You, Really? His TED Talk on the science of personality has tens of millions of views and hes been elected a Favorite Professor multiple times at Harvard. And hes also Adams favorite psychologist and personal mentor. Brian and Adam talk about how our personal projects shape our well-being, the nuances of introversio...
Jul 11, 2023•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast Margot Lee Shetterly used to be an investment banker, a business owner, and a content marketing and editorial consultant. Now shes the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Hidden Figures, which chronicles the challenges and contributions of the Black women who worked at NASA from the 1930s through the 1960s. Margot and Adam talk about the process of finding and researching the story behind Hidden Figures, how to navigate career transitions, and why reframing familiar tales creates more com...
Jul 04, 2023•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast As a blogger and executive coach, James Clear spent years studying how to form and change habits. His research culminated in the book "Atomic Habits, which has sold more than 15 million copies and been translated into over 50 languages. James speaks with Adam about changing our systems for achieving goals, building habits around identities as well as actions, and accumulating small wins that add up to big change. Transcripts for ReThinking are available at go.ted.com/RWAGscripts Hosted on Acast....
Jun 27, 2023•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast When Chobani founder and CEO Hamdi Ulukaya first arrived in the U.S., he had little money and no big plans. But combine his childhood growing up in a nomadic dairy-farming Kurdish family, some college-level business courses, and a lot of spunk, and his winding trajectory is a unique story of an entrepreneur finding his north star. Today, Adam asks Hamdi about his anti-CEO playbook and the business philosophies he leads with, which aim to prioritize people over profit. Hamdi also shares the work ...
Jun 20, 2023•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast Before Agnes Callard was a philosophy professor at the University of Chicago, she was on her high school debate team and she still loves to debate anything and everything. Her work regularly appears in major outlets such as The New York Times, and she was recently profiled in The New Yorker for her radical openness to rethinking her life. Agnes and Adam discuss the difference between ambition and aspiration, the art of thought-provoking conversations, and whether listening or arguing helps you d...
Jun 13, 2023•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast When John Mackey co-founded Whole Foods, he didn't consider himself an entrepreneur. But after 42 years of leading the company and spearheading its sale to Amazon Mackey has proven that a business with purpose can succeed and scale. John speaks with Adam at an Authors@Wharton live event about his Whole Foods journey, from living in his first store to selling the company. They discuss the pros and cons of 5-year plans, strategies for staying flexible and adaptable, and the role of passion in a ca...
Jun 06, 2023•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast Admiral Linda Fagan is the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard and the first woman to ever lead a branch of the U.S. military. She speaks with Adam about facing impostor syndrome and breaking glass ceilings, spearheading a bold vision for change in the military, and why she believes good leadership requires confidence and humility. Transcripts for ReThinking are available at go.ted.com/RWAGscripts . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
May 30, 2023•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast WorkLife will be back for Season 6 in September. Until then, check out this preview of Fixable, a new work call-in podcast from the TED Audio Collective. Harvard Business School professor Frances Frei and her wife, CEO and bestselling author Anne Morriss, host unfiltered conversations to help solve everyday organizational challengesbig and small. If you want to be on Fixable, email fixable@ted.com or call our hotline at 234-Fixable (thats 234-349-2253) to leave Anne and Frances a voicemail with ...
May 24, 2023•3 min•Transcript available on Metacast Bren Brown and Simon Sinek are two of the world's most influential thought leaders. Theyve shared their insights on the power of vulnerability and purpose in viral TED talks, hit podcasts, and bestselling books. Adam invites Bren and Simon to a lively discussion about the most important skills for leaders to build -- and the most vital steps for organizations to put people first. Together, they also field audience questions on earning trust, giving upward feedback, and creating better leadership...
May 23, 2023•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast Six-time NBA All-Star and Hall of Famer Joe Dumars spent 14 years with the Detroit Pistons. As the quiet leader of multiple championship teams, he guarded Michael Jordan who said he did it better than anyone else and helped keep teammates like Dennis Rodman focused. Although it was the Bad Boys era, Joe was the first-ever recipient of the NBA Sportsmanship Award, which is now named after him. After playing hard and fair Joe went on to spend another 14 years as the Pistons president of basketball...
May 16, 2023•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast Ginni Rometty rose through the ranks at IBM to become their first female CEO. After leading the iconic tech company from 2012 to 2020, Ginni chronicled the experiences and lessons learned in her memoir, Good Power. In a candid conversation at the Authors@Wharton series, Ginni talks with Adam about cultivating and harnessing influence, leading change through highlighting what will stay the same, and her cautious optimism about the future of AI. Transcripts for ReThinking are available at go.ted.c...
May 09, 2023•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast Steve Martin has made an award-winning career out of taking on new identitiesfrom actor and comedian to musician and novelist. Over the years, hes learned that the best way to find yourself is by imitating your role models. He explores how to do that in a new audiobook, So Many Steves, with his longtime friend Adam Gopnik, the New Yorker writer and author. Steve and Adam join Adam Grant for a riveting discussion about impersonation and authenticity, humor and writing, success and happiness, and ...
May 04, 2023•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast How do you build a team capable of winning the Super Bowl? Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll believes it comes down to strong relationshipsones that extend beyond the field and last for a lifetime. He talks with Adam about taking accountability for failures, the differences between regard and respect, and the rituals hes developed over years on the job that have helped him create trust and communication in his team. Transcripts for ReThinking are available at go.ted.com/RWAGscripts Hosted on A...
Apr 25, 2023•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
