Jordan Patrick James

Claire Stapleton joined Google at 21, became the company’s internal voice, known as “the Bard of Google,” and spent 12 years writing the story of a company that promised to change the world. Then, in 2018, she helped lead the Google Walkout, where 20,000 employees protested how the company handled sexual harassment. A few months later, she says, she was demoted for it.

We talk about how Google turned work into an identity, why smart people buy into the myth, what happened when she spoke up, the women in leadership who shut her out, losing her brother, raising kids in the age of AI, and what “Don’t be evil” means to her now.

Her book: Don’t Be Evil: Bad Bosses, Fake Promises, and My Escape from Big Tech Buy the Book Here
Her newsletter: Tech Support on Substack
Tech Support Substack

Chapters
00:00 Cold open
[intro] Meet Claire Stapleton
01:39 Why “Don’t Be Evil”
02:00 Joining Google at 21
04:00 Becoming the Bard of Google
06:15 “How didn’t you see through it?”
09:13 Why work becomes your identity
14:13 Performance reviews and emotional control
17:02 The road to the walkout
19:30 The $90 million exit package
23:39 Becoming the villain
26:03 When the pushback came from women
31:16 Faith, family, and “don’t be a victim”
35:00 Losing her brother Scott
38:19 AI, her kids, and tech’s new royalty
42:15 Big Tech and political power
42:50 Advice if your job is your identity
46:16 What “Don’t be evil” means now

#BigTech #Google #CareerAdvice #WorkCulture #Podcast

Today is World Mental Health Day, and this one is personal. I’ve struggled with my mental health for about 20 years, starting when I was a 16-year-old wrestler who thought he had to fight it alone. In this episode I talk about the stigma that keeps people quiet, especially men, the friends I’ve lost, what social media is doing to our heads, and why the way you talk to yourself matters more than you think.

If you’re carrying something heavy right now, you are wanted, you are loved, and you are needed. Please reach out to a friend, a professional, or me.

If you’re in the U.S. and struggling, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, any time. Outside the U.S., findahelpline.com lists free support in your country.

00:00 My story: 20 years of struggling in silence
01:55 Why men push it down
03:17 You are needed in this world
04:07 Bonus years
04:50 Social media and the scroll
06:15 Your mind believes what you tell it
07:50 Check on your strong friends
08:45 Be there for each other

#WorldMentalHealthDay #MentalHealth #MensMentalHealth #YoureNotAlone

In this conversation, Jordan Patrick James discusses the themes presented in Evan Barker's book, 'Nothing Left,' which critiques the current state of the Democratic Party and the political landscape in general. He reflects on his own political journey, the disillusionment with traditional party politics, and the rise of indifference among voters.

Takeaways

• Disillusionment with political parties
• Indifference is a growing concern

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to 'Nothing Left'
• 03:11 Disillusionment with the Democratic Party
• 05:59 The Rise of Indifference in Politics
• 09:01 The Impact of Indifference on Society

In 2013, a woman calling herself Mair Smyth moved into Johnathan Walton's Los Angeles apartment building and introduced herself as an Irish heiress. Over four years she became his best friend, and took nearly $100,000 from him. When police turned him away, the Emmy-winning former reporter built the case himself. She was eventually convicted in Los Angeles, then again in Northern Ireland.

Johnathan is the author of Anatomy of a Con Artist: The 14 Red Flags to Spot Scammers, Grifters, and Thieves. In this conversation we get into how con artists "out-feel" you instead of outsmarting you, the red flags people miss most, why Dale Carnegie's playbook doubles as a con manual, how to get police to actually take your case, and why AI voice cloning makes his red flags more important than ever.

If you've been conned, you're not stupid, and you're not alone. Your silence is exactly what the con artist is counting on.

📖 Anatomy of a Con Artist
🎧 Hardcore Con and Queen of the Con, wherever you get podcasts
🌐 https://johnathanwalton.com/

Chapters
00:00 Intro
01:46 How a professional storyteller got conned
06:28 "They don't outsmart you, they out-feel you"
08:07 Red Flags #1–3: Help, kindness, and drama
11:53 The woman with 23 aliases
12:42 Can it happen to anyone? Psychopaths vs. sociopaths
16:20 The voicemail that made him fearless
20:55 From victim to vigilante
23:13 How to get police to take your case
25:29 The aftermath nobody talks about
27:26 How the con strained his relationship
29:09 The red flags people miss: faraway stories and TMI
33:26 Dale Carnegie as a con artist's playbook
35:19 Gladwell, trust, and "trust but verify"
39:40 The justice system and politics
47:53 AI, voice cloning, and deepfake scams
53:52 To anyone ashamed to come forward
56:04 The documentary and what's next

The conversation explores the importance of adapting to new situations and the key elements of effective adaptation. It emphasizes the need to accept reality, get oriented, embrace a beginner mindset, practice adaptation, and view change as an opportunity for growth.

Takeaways

• Adapting to new situations is a crucial skill
• Change is inevitable, but growth is optional

Chapters

• 00:00 Adapting to New Situations
• 03:06 Accepting the Situation and Moving Forward
• 04:36 Getting Oriented and Surveying the Field
• 05:55 Embracing the Beginner Mindset
• 06:46 Practicing Adaptation and Building Confidence
• 09:17 Change is Inevitable, Growth is Optional
• 10:04 Tools for Building Adaptation Skills

Stop Chasing Perfection. It doesn't exist.

But you can do your best today, be happy with effort and try, try again.

Simple but not easy.

The conversation covers the experience of being laid off and navigating through the challenges of unemployment, as well as the positive aspects of redirection and personal growth. It also delves into the impact on identity, self-doubt, and the importance of mental and physical health during this period.

Takeaways

• Redirection over rejection
• Unlearning and reinventing oneself

Chapters

• 00:00 Navigating Through Unemployment
• 08:59 The Impact of Being Laid Off
• 15:01 Redirection Over Rejection
• 21:06 Unlearning and Reinventing Oneself
• 32:56 Personal Growth and Positive Outlook

The conversation covers the importance of consistency in habits and the role of success and luck in achieving goals. Jordan discusses the significance of maintaining daily habits and the impact of overcomplicating simple routines. Additionally, he explores the concept of luck and the role of experience in achieving success.

Takeaways

• Consistency in habits
• Success and luck

Chapters

• 00:00 Consistency in Habits
• 15:26 Success and Luck

The conversation explores the concept of 'lifequake' and its impact on individuals. It delves into the idea of life disruptions and the liberating effect of labeling major life events as 'lifequakes'.

Takeaways

• Life is full of disruptions
• The concept of 'lifequake' provides a non-judgmental label for major life disruptions

Chapters

• 00:00 Anatomy of a Breakthrough
• 03:14 The Liberating Concept of Lifequakes

The conversation delves into the impact of self-talk on our lives and the importance of reframing it. It also explores the concept of choosing change and the significance of exposure to different lifestyles. Additionally, it emphasizes the value of posting content to gain visibility and practice.

Takeaways

• Self-talk shapes our lives
• The importance of exposure to different lifestyles

Chapters

• 00:00 The Power of Self-Talk
• 03:09 Choosing Change
• 04:55 Exposure to Different Lifestyles
• 07:07 The Value of Posting Content