WorkLife with Adam Grant

By TED

Business

What's WorkLife with Adam Grant about?

You spend a quarter of your life at work. You should enjoy it! Organizational psychologist Adam Grant takes you inside the minds of some of the world’s most unusual professionals to discover the keys to a better work life. From learning how to love your rivals to harnessing the power of frustration, one thing’s for sure: You’ll never see your job the same way again. Produced in partnership with Transmitter Media.

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Admiral Linda Fagan on serv...

05.30.2023

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 ...

WorkLife with Adam Grant episodes:

05.30.2023 Admiral Linda Fagan on servant leadership 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 ...
05.24.2023 Have a work problem? Call Fixable! 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 ...
05.23.2023 Brené Brown and Simon Sinek on the leadership skills we need to build Brené Brown and Simon Sinek are two of the world's most influential thought leaders. They’ve shared their insights on the power of vulnerability and purpose in viral TED talks, hit podcasts, and bestselling books. Adam invites Brené and Simon to ...
05.16.2023 NBA Hall of Famer Joe Dumars on managing eclectic personalities 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 ...
05.09.2023 Cultivating good power with longtime IBM CEO Ginni Rometty 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 ...
05.04.2023 Steve Martin on finding your authentic voice Steve Martin has made an award-winning career out of taking on new identities–from actor and comedian to musician and novelist. Over the years, he’s learned that the best way to find yourself is by imitating your role models. He explores ...
04.25.2023 Getting to the heart of team culture with Pete Carroll How do you build a team capable of winning the Super Bowl? Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll believes it comes down to strong relationships–ones that extend beyond the field and last for a lifetime. He talks with Adam about taking ...
04.18.2023 Reconsidering your beliefs with Tara Westover The first time Tara Westover ever stepped into a classroom, she was seventeen. Today, Tara has a PhD in history and a #1 New York Times bestselling book, “Educated”, a memoir about her experience growing up undereducated in rural Idaho ...
04.11.2023 How do incentives really work? with Uri Gneezy What motivates us to do… well, anything? Uri Gneezy is a behavioral economist who has changed our understanding of how incentives influence our decisions and actions. Adam and Uri take a deep dive into the psychology of rewards and punishments ...
04.04.2023 Sci-fi writer Andy Weir doesn't love writing Andy Weir is the bestselling author of The Martian and Project Hail Mary. He’s known for weaving deep, carefully researched science into his novels, building intricate sci-fi worlds that have captivated millions of readers. But here’s a plot twist: Andy ...
03.28.2023 The science of performing under pressure with Sian Beilock Sian Beilock is a cognitive scientist who specializes in why we choke under pressure. She’s also the first woman to be elected President of Dartmouth College. Sian shares with Adam her unique perspective on delivering results in high-stress environments, the ...
03.21.2023 ChatGPT did NOT title this podcast (w/ Allie Miller & Ethan Mollick) ChatGPT, the artificial intelligence chatbot capable of generating human-like text, seems to be everywhere. But how trustworthy are these tools -- and what do they mean for the future of writing and work? Adam brings AI entrepreneur Allie Miller and ...
03.14.2023 The psychology of fiction with Jennifer Lynn Barnes As a novelist, Jennifer Lynn Barnes has earned acclaim from critics and fans alike – her series The Inheritance Games has sold over a million copies. Before she became a bestselling author, she was a leading researcher in psychology on ...
03.07.2023 What animal intelligence reveals about human stupidity with Justin Gregg Justin Gregg is an animal cognition expert -- he studies what goes on inside the heads of other creatures, and what that means for us. He’s a captivating science writer: one of his specialties is explaining whether dolphins are actually ...
02.28.2023 How Yo-Yo Ma sustains his creative energy Yo-Yo Ma began playing the cello at age four, played for Presidents John F. Kennedy and Dwight D. Eisenhower at age seven, and has been touring the world since. He’s released over 100 albums and won 19 Grammy awards, and ...
02.21.2023 Life lessons from sports with Jody Avirgan Jody Avirgan has played and reported on sports at the highest levels. After being one of the few professional Ultimate Frisbee players to be featured in a Sportscenter highlight, he pivoted to a career in radio, where he’s produced thoughtful ...
02.14.2023 Bringing out the good in kids—and parents—with Becky Kennedy As a clinical psychologist, Becky Kennedy works with parents to raise good kids. She’s best known as Dr. Becky on Instagram, and has been called the "Millennial parenting whisperer" for good reason. Becky and Adam challenge the widespread belief that ...
02.07.2023 Soccer star Abby Wambach on being good enough Abby Wambach is one of soccer’s all-time greats. But in 2015, after she retired with two Olympic medals, a FIFA World Cup Championship, and six U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year awards under her belt, she wasn’t sure what would ...
01.31.2023 Estonia’s Prime Minister Kaja Kallas on leading with strength and sincerity Kaja Kallas is the current Prime Minister of Estonia – and the first woman to hold the position. Her perceptive communication and bold action against the threat of Russian authoritarianism has bolstered her reputation as a leader we should all ...
01.24.2023 Breaking free of stereotype threat with Claude Steele Claude Steele is one of the most influential social psychologists of all time. As a Stanford professor, he’s best known for his groundbreaking research on how the threat of being stereotyped undermines our performance. Adam talks with Claude about why ...
01.17.2023 The surprising effects of video games with Ash Brandin As an educator, Ash Brandin’s mission is to make learning in school as fun as playing a game. In exploring the science and practice on the effects of video games, Ash (@TheGamerEducator on Instagram) has an unusually insightful–and unusually balanced–perspective. ...
01.10.2023 Finding–and becoming–great mentors and sponsors with Carla Harris Carla Harris is a fierce leader, a devoted mentor, and a dynamic speaker. A Wall Street veteran who has been named one of the most powerful Black executives in America, Carla’s worked across multiple industries in her 30+ year career, ...
01.03.2023 Knowing when to quit with world poker champion Annie Duke Annie Duke dropped out of a PhD program in cognitive psychology– and went on to win the World Series of Poker. At the [email protected] Series, Adam and Annie discuss the evidence on when to pull the plug, delve into decision-making ...
12.28.2022 Malcolm Gladwell Questions Everything For our final episode of the year, let’s revisit Adam and Malcolm’s conversation from the archive. When Adam Grant and Malcolm Gladwell sit down to challenge each other, everything is fair game. Sit ringside for this collegial cage match in ...
12.20.2022 Dolly Parton is burning up, not burning out As we get ready for 2023, we’re excited to bring you a conversation Adam had earlier this year with beloved musician Dolly Parton. Adam talks with Dolly about her creative process, how she balances getting things right with getting things ...
12.13.2022 The science of healthy relationships with John and Julie Gottman For decades, renowned psychologists John and Julie Gottman have studied–and guided–healthy relationships. They share insights from their research–and their marriage–on how to avoid a relationship apocalypse, handle conflict, and make love last. Their latest book, “The Love Prescription” is out ...
12.12.2022 The Science of Motivation \| A Slight Change of Plans This week, we’re sharing a preview of A Slight Change of Plans, from Pushkin Industries. Cognitive scientist Dr. Maya Shankar blends compassionate storytelling with the science of human behavior to help us understand who we are and who we become ...
12.06.2022 Why data don’t have all the answers with data scientist Andrea Jones-Rooy Andrea Jones-Rooy is a data scientist who’s skeptical about data—and a comedian. Andrea and Adam talk about the perks and perils of sharing data on social media, the similarities between the scientific method and comedy, and the value of adding ...
11.29.2022 How to have good arguments with world debate champion Bo Seo Growing up, Bo Seo avoided arguments at all costs–until he discovered competitive debate. He went on to win the world debate championship twice and coach the Australian national team as well as the Debating Union at Harvard. Adam and Bo ...
11.22.2022 The four-day work week: luxury or necessity? Why do we work five days a week? Could we be just as productive, healthier and happier by working less? And if so, how can leaders and workers successfully make the transition to a new way of working? Adam led ...
11.15.2022 The problem with setting goals, with NFL linebacker Emmanuel Acho For someone who doesn’t believe in goal-setting, Emmanuel Acho is highly accomplished. He’s a former NFL linebacker, an Emmy-winning TV sports analyst, and the New York Times bestselling author of “Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man” – and hosts a ...
11.08.2022 The psychology of human delusions with filmmaker Adam McKay Adam McKay is one of the great satirists of our screens–he’s the writer, director, and producer behind Don’t Look Up, Succession, and The Big Short. Before that, he was best known for making us laugh at Anchorman and as the ...
11.01.2022 If teachers took over the government with Sharon McMahon If you were online during the historic 2020 election cycle, you may have seen Sharon McMahon’s viral videos. A former high school educator now known as “America’s Government Teacher,” Sharon fights polarization with nonpartisan facts. Sharon and Adam discuss how ...
10.25.2022 Reese Witherspoon on turning impostor syndrome into confidence When Reese Witherspoon was in rehearsals for her lead role in the 2005 film Walk the Line, she wanted to quit–every day. But she went on to win the Oscar for her performance as June Carter Cash. Since then, she’s ...
10.18.2022 Life, the universe, and everything with Nobel laureate physicist Saul Perlmutter Growing up, Saul Perlmutter just wanted to know how the world worked. In 2011, he was part of the Nobel Prize-winning team that discovered the accelerating expansion of the universe. Saul and Adam talk about how science and knowledge evolve, ...
10.11.2022 How Celeste Ng writes fiery prose It took Celeste Ng a long time to believe she could write for a living. Now she’s the New York Times bestselling author of the novels “Everything I Never Told You” and “Little Fires Everywhere”-- which was developed into a ...
10.04.2022 Busting the myths of the brain with neuroscientist Chantel Prat Have you ever thought you can’t do something because you’re “not wired that way”? Neuroscientist Chantel Prat might challenge you to rethink your beliefs. Chantel dispels some sticky myths about right-brainers and left-brainers, shares her research on how learning to ...
10.01.2022 Malcolm Gladwell Experiments with Adam's Class This week, we’re sharing a special episode from one of Adam's favorite podcasts, Revisionist History. Revisionist History is Malcolm Gladwell’s podcast about things misunderstood and overlooked. This season, Malcolm is obsessed with experiments – natural experiments, scientific experiments, thought experiments. ...
09.27.2022 Surgeon Atul Gawande wants everyone to have a coach Atul Gawande was advised by a colleague to say yes to every opportunity until he turned 40. Since then he’s been a renowned surgeon, a public health leader and government policymaker, and a bestselling author and “New Yorker” writer. He ...
09.20.2022 How free solo climber Alex Honnold faces fear In 2017, Alex Honnold did what even the world’s best rock climbers thought was impossible. He climbed to the top of El Capitan– a granite rock mountain more than 3,000 feet high– without a rope, harness, or net. His audacious ...
09.13.2022 Mark Cuban doesn’t believe in following your passions Mark Cuban has gone from selling garbage bags door-to-door to selling internet companies for billions, acquiring an NBA team, and becoming a beloved “Shark” on Shark Tank. Mark reveals to Adam how he turns problems into opportunities in entrepreneurship, basketball, ...
09.09.2022 Introducing ReThinking with Adam Grant Great news WorkLifers! You told us you wanted more episodes of Taken for Granted, and we listened. We’ve renamed the show Re:Thinking with Adam Grant, and we’ll be back with more episodes, all year round. In every episode Adam will ...
09.01.2022 Michael Schur on every moral question ever \| The TED Interview Michael Scott, Leslie Knope, Detective Jake Peralta–television producer and writer Michael Schur has created some of TV’s most beloved sitcom characters on shows like The Office, Parks and Recreation, and The Good Place. Still, his shows and his philosophy are ...
06.28.2022 How to Change Your Workplace It’s hard to make change at work happen. But wherever you sit in the hierarchy, there are steps you can take to overcome resistance and motivate people to embrace new ideas. In this episode, Adam brings in an education change ...
06.21.2022 The 4 Deadly Sins of Work Culture How do you avoid joining a toxic culture– and build a healthy one once you’ve arrived? In this episode, Adam explores how to recognize the four deadly sins of work culture before you join an organization, and shares strategies that ...
06.14.2022 It’s Time To Stop Ignoring Disability Disability is far more common and far more diverse than we might realize. But often, people are reluctant to reveal their disabilities, and managers don’t know how to address them. In this episode, Adam investigates some extraordinary steps workplaces are ...
06.07.2022 The Do’s And Don'ts Of Returning To The Office It’s been two years since offices around the world were thrown into virtual environments to do their jobs, and now many leaders are itching to get everyone back in the office. But new evidence demonstrates that hybrid work can be ...
05.31.2022 Ava DuVernay is Triumphant Before Ava DuVernay became the first Black woman director to win Sundance and get nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars, she was a publicist with a little hobby, a big dream, and a lot of patience. Adam talks to ...
05.24.2022 Satya Nadella is building the future Satya Nadella is a modern renaissance man; he’s a cricket enthusiast, poetry lover, oh, and the chairman and CEO of Microsoft with a nearly perfect approval rating on Glassdoor. Satya has led a transformation at Microsoft, up-ending the culture, and ...
05.17.2022 Is Emotional Intelligence Really So Important? \| No Stupid Questions Today, something a little different. We're sharing an episode of No Stupid Questions, a podcast about human behavior hosted by Adam’s colleague and friend Angela Duckworth—a worldwide expert on grit—and Stephen Dubner, host of Freakonomics Radio. In this episode, Angela ...

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