ReThinking

John Green wants you to pay attention to your attention (bonus)

28 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Do you pay attention to your attention? John Green is the beloved author of The Fault In Our Stars, and when he started tracking his attention, he rea...

A company is not a family with Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky

21 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Brian Chesky, the CEO and cofounder of Airbnb, is firmly in the trust business. His focus isn't only on building a trusted platform for people to rent...

Reimagining technology – and talking to animals – with Aza Raskin

14 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Years ago, Aza Raskin invented the infinite scroll – and yes, he regrets it. Today, Aza is the co-founder of the Center For Humane Technology and th...

The art of failure with David Duchovny

07 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

David Duchovny knows a lot about success — he’s a Golden Globe-winning actor who has had iconic roles from The X-Files to Californication. But as ...

The art of vulnerability and connection with comedian Mae Martin

30 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mae Martin is a comedian, improviser, screenwriter, and podcast host. Their work on Netflix includes the stand-up special Sap and the aptly named TV s...

Kara Swisher on speaking truth to power

23 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Kara Swisher made her name by being disarmingly direct with the who’s who of tech – from Steve Jobs to Bill Gates to Elon Musk. So why doesn’t s...

Anne Lamott's thoughts on love, writing, and being judgy

16 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Anne Lamott may be your favorite writer’s favorite writer. The author of many beloved books, including the modern classic Bird by Bird, Anne’s wri...

How to make the most of your twenties with Meg Jay

09 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How important are your twenties — and how bad are they? Meg Jay is a clinical psychologist who specializes in young adult development in twenty year...

Yuval Noah Harari on what history teaches us about justice and peace

02 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Yuval Noah Harari is a historian best known for his book Sapiens, which has sold more than 25 million copies and been translated into 65 languages. Ad...

Life, the universe, and everything with Nobel laureate physicist Saul Perlmutter (Bonus)

01 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 acceler...

The science of memory with Charan Ranganath

26 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Charan Ranganath is a psychologist and neuroscientist who has spent his career studying memory. His new book, Why We Remember, surveys the latest scie...

Understanding the pendulum swing of global power with Ian Bremmer

19 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As a political scientist and founder of Eurasia Group, Ian Bremmer helps business leaders, policymakers and the general public make sense of the world...

will.i.am on AI — and the future of creativity

12 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

You may know will.i.am as the seven-time Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, producer, and frontman of The Black Eyed Peas. But his interests bey...

How to be productive without burning out, with Cal Newport

05 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Cal Newport knows a thing or two about productivity: when he’s not teaching computer science at Georgetown, he’s writing for The New Yorker, hosti...

Is your organization a little culty? with NXIVM whistleblower Sarah Edmondson

27 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Sarah Edmondson escaped and blew the whistle against NXIVM, the cult masquerading as a “personal and professional development company.” With clari...

Redefining hustle culture with Robin Arzón

20 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Robin Arzón is the head instructor at Peloton and an ultramarathon runner, but she didn’t plan to make her career based on her athletic prowess. In...

Revising the stories we hold dear with Denise Hamilton

13 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Denise Hamilton is an inclusion strategist who works with organizations ranging from the UN to the WNBA. She is also the author of Indivisible: How to...

Power, purpose, and the American presidency with Jared Cohen

06 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Jared Cohen is a history buff with a career that boasts its own remarkable story. From the State Department to founding Jigsaw at Google to leading gl...

How to become a "friction-fixer" with Bob Sutton

30 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Bob Sutton is an organizational psychologist and bestselling author. In this zesty conversation with Adam, Bob shares insights on how to overcome fric...

Overcoming toxic positivity with Susan David

23 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

You don’t always decide what you feel, but you do own how you react to those feelings. In her bestselling book and TED Talk, Harvard Medical School ...

You have more control over your emotions than you think with Lisa Feldman Barrett

16 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Emotions are like opinions — everyone has them. Thanks to the pioneering research of today’s guest, we know that it’s possible to transform our ...

Jennifer Garner realizes her hidden potential

09 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Jennifer Garner’s roles — from “13 Going on 30” to “Juno” to “Alias” — often center strong women who know how to achieve great thing...

Bringing out the good in kids —and parents— with Becky Kennedy (Re-release)

02 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Daniel Kahneman doesn't trust your intuition (Re-release)

26 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Daniel Kahneman is a Nobel Prize winner who transformed our understanding of the biases that cloud our thinking. In this conversation, he and Adam exp...

Chess grandmaster Maurice Ashley on why mistakes are our greatest teachers

19 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Maurice Ashley is a trailblazing chess grandmaster — the first African-American player to claim that prestigious title. He’s also a chess coaching...

Your brain on art with Ivy Ross and Susan Magsamen

12 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

If you think of the arts as entertainment or luxury, Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross might ask you to reconsider. The authors of the New York Times bestse...

The psychology of self-persuasion with Elliot Aronson

05 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Elliot Aronson is one of the preeminent psychologists of the 20th century — his mentors were Abraham Maslow and Leon Festinger, and his award-winnin...

Brené Brown on What Vulnerability Isn't

28 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We usually wear our thickest armor at work, and Brené Brown has blazed the trail of teaching us why and how to shed it. In this conversation, Adam an...

Poet Maggie Smith on embracing ambiguity

21 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Poet and author Maggie Smith isn’t sure where she falls on the spectrum from optimism to pessimism. But her viral poem “Good Bones” and her best...

The Office's Rainn Wilson on meaning and happiness

14 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 d...

Why aiming for the best isn't always good for you (w/ Barry Schwartz and Coco Krumme)

07 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Many people are obsessed with optimizing their lives, but this might be a suboptimal way to live. Adam brings together psychologist Barry Schwartz (au...

The art of rough drafts with George Saunders

31 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Before his stories regularly appeared in The New Yorker, before the MacArthur and Guggenheim Fellowships, and before being named one of the world’s ...

Unlocking Hidden Potential with Malcolm Gladwell

24 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Malcolm Gladwell hosts a rollicking live discussion about Adam's new book, "Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things," which is out t...

Why Meetings Suck and How to Fix Them

26 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 p...

How to set boundaries with therapist Nedra Glover Tawwab

22 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As a therapist, Nedra Glover Tawwab has spent years helping people set boundaries in their personal and professional lives. As the New York Times best...

Khan Academy founder Sal Khan on AI and the future of education

15 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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, he’s been ...

Jim Gaffigan on how comedy leaves an aftertaste

08 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

With his sharp observational comedy and dry wit, Jim Gaffigan has been making people laugh for decades. He’s a stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and...

When an introvert and an extrovert fall in love with Chip and Joanna Gaines

01 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Chip and Joanna Gaines are best known for their hit reality TV home renovation show “Fixer Upper.” The married couple has delighted audiences by f...

How Pixar's Ed Catmull and Pete Docter make magic on and off screen

25 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 mak...

How to tell your own story with Baratunde Thurston

18 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Baratunde Thurston is an Emmy-nominated writer, activist and comedian. Whether it’s through his witty and thoughtful work at “The Onion” or The ...

The science of personality and the art of well-being with Brian Little

11 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Award-winning researcher and pioneering psychologist Brian Little has plenty of accomplishments under his belt. He’s the author of the bestselling b...

Hidden Figures author Margot Lee Shetterly on reframing the stories we tell

04 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Margot Lee Shetterly used to be an investment banker, a business owner, and a content marketing and editorial consultant. Now she’s the author of th...

Building atomic habits with James Clear

27 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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”...

Chobani CEO Hamdi Ulukaya’s “Anti-CEO Playbook”

20 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Ambition vs. aspiration with philosopher Agnes Callard

13 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Whole Foods founder John Mackey doesn’t follow business plans

06 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

When John Mackey co-founded Whole Foods, he didn't consider himself an entrepreneur. But after 42 years of leading the company – and spearheading it...

Admiral Linda Fagan on servant leadership

30 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Brené Brown and Simon Sinek on the leadership skills we need to build

23 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 an...

NBA Hall of Famer Joe Dumars on managing eclectic personalities

16 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 gua...

Cultivating good power with longtime IBM CEO Ginni Rometty

09 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 chronicle...

Steve Martin on finding your authentic voice

04 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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’...

Getting to the heart of team culture with Pete Carroll

25 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 t...

Reconsidering your beliefs with Tara Westover

18 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 bo...

How do incentives really work? with Uri Gneezy

11 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What motivates us to do… well, anything? Uri Gneezy is a behavioral economist who has changed our understanding of how incentives influence our deci...

Sci-fi writer Andy Weir doesn't love writing

04 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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,...

The science of performing under pressure with Sian Beilock

28 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 Dartmout...

ChatGPT did NOT title this podcast (w/ Allie Miller & Ethan Mollick)

21 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

ChatGPT, the artificial intelligence chatbot capable of generating human-like text, seems to be everywhere. But how trustworthy are these tools -- and...

The psychology of fiction with Jennifer Lynn Barnes

14 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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...

What animal intelligence reveals about human stupidity with Justin Gregg

07 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 captiv...

How Yo-Yo Ma sustains his creative energy

28 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 wo...

Life lessons from sports with Jody Avirgan

21 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Bringing out the good in kids—and parents—with Becky Kennedy

14 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Soccer star Abby Wambach on being good enough

07 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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....

Estonia’s Prime Minister Kaja Kallas on leading with strength and sincerity

31 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Kaja Kallas is the current Prime Minister of Estonia – and the first woman to hold the position. Her perceptive communication and bold action agains...

Breaking free of stereotype threat with Claude Steele

24 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Claude Steele is one of the most influential social psychologists of all time. As a Stanford professor, he’s best known for his groundbreaking resea...

The surprising effects of video games with Ash Brandin

17 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 o...

Finding–and becoming–great mentors and sponsors with Carla Harris

10 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 exec...

Knowing when to quit with world poker champion Annie Duke

03 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Annie Duke dropped out of a PhD program in cognitive psychology– and went on to win the World Series of Poker. At the Authors@Wharton Series, Adam a...

Malcolm Gladwell Questions Everything

28 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Dolly Parton is burning up, not burning out

20 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 D...

The science of healthy relationships with John and Julie Gottman

13 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

For decades, renowned psychologists John and Julie Gottman have studied–and guided–healthy relationships. They share insights from their research–...

Why data don’t have all the answers with data scientist Andrea Jones-Rooy

06 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 o...

How to have good arguments with world debate champion Bo Seo

29 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

The four-day work week: luxury or necessity?

22 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 success...

The problem with setting goals, with NFL linebacker Emmanuel Acho

15 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 ana...

The psychology of human delusions with filmmaker Adam McKay

08 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 Sh...

If teachers took over the government with Sharon McMahon

01 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Reese Witherspoon on turning impostor syndrome into confidence

25 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Life, the universe, and everything with Nobel laureate physicist Saul Perlmutter

18 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 acceler...

How Celeste Ng writes fiery prose

11 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Busting the myths of the brain with neuroscientist Chantel Prat

04 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever thought you can’t do something because you’re “not wired that way”? Neuroscientist Chantel Prat might challenge you to rethink y...

Surgeon Atul Gawande wants everyone to have a coach

27 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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...

How free solo climber Alex Honnold faces fear

20 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 mou...

Mark Cuban doesn’t believe in following your passions

13 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 “...

Ava DuVernay is Triumphant

31 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Satya Nadella is building the future

24 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Jon Batiste on the art of pushing your limits

10 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Jon Batiste has had a record year—he was the most nominated artist at the Grammys, winning five of his ELEVEN nominations across multiple categories...

Esther Duflo wants you to think like a plumber

09 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

When Esther Duflo took her first economics class, she hated it. In 2019, she won a Nobel Prize in economics. Esther talks with Adam about her groundbr...

Indra Nooyi Says It’s Time for Leaders to Care

02 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

PepsiCo's trailblazing former CEO drove record profits—but did so while investing in employee well-being, consumer health, and environmental sustain...

Indra Nooyi wants us to reimagine the return to work

26 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The longtime PepsiCo CEO is one of the world’s most powerful women and Time’s 100 most influential people. In the first of two rich conversations,...

Allyson Felix on defeating disappointment and savoring success

19 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

At the age of 18, Allyson Felix took home the Olympic silver medal in the 200 meter dash. She was devastated. Where others saw “second-best in the w...

Lin-Manuel Miranda Daydreams, and His Dad Gets Things Done

29 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In a world obsessed with efficiency, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s smash Broadway hits Hamilton and In the Heights began with idle curiosity. Adam interviews...

John Green Wants You to Pay Attention to Your Attention

22 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Do you pay attention to your attention? John Green is the beloved author of The Fault In Our Stars, and when he started tracking his attention, he rea...

Mellody Hobson on Taking Tough Feedback

15 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Criticism rarely comes wrapped in a shiny gift box, tied with a bow. As a trailblazing leader, one of Mellody Hobson’s gifts is finding the diamond ...

Merve Emre on Emotional Intelligence as Corporate Control

08 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It’s been 25 years since the concept of emotional intelligence exploded onto the scene. Cultural critic Merve Emre makes a bold case that in the wro...

Daniel Kahneman Doesn't Trust Your Intuition

16 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Daniel Kahneman is a Nobel Prize winner who transformed our understanding of the biases that cloud our thinking. In this conversation, he and Adam exp...

Malcolm Gladwell Questions Everything

09 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

When Adam Grant and Malcolm Gladwell sit down to challenge each other, everything is fair game. Sit ringside for this collegial cage match in which tw...

Jane Goodall on Leadership Lessons from Primates

02 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever felt your work colleagues sometimes act like animals? In this conversation, Jane and Adam take that idea literally, exploring what Jane'...

Brené Brown on What Vulnerability Isn't

23 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We usually wear our thickest armor at work, and Brené Brown has blazed the trail of teaching us why—and how to shed it. In this conversation, Adam ...