Worklife With Adam Grant

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

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 he is doing with refugees around the world, and why he invests in projects with adaptable plans and resilient people. Transcripts for ReThinking are available at go.ted.com/RWAGscripts

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 do your best thinking. Transcripts for ReThinking are available at go.ted.com/RWAGscripts

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 career. This conversation was recorded live at Authors@Wharton. The transcript for this episode is available at go.ted.com/rethinkingmackey Transcripts for ReThinking are available at go.ted.com/RWAGscripts

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.

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 challenges—big and small. If you want to be on Fixable, email fixable@ted.com or call our hotline at 234-Fixable (that’s 234-349-2253) to leave Anne and Frances a voicemail with your workplace problem. You can listen to Fixable wherever you're listening to this.

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 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 opportunities for the next generation. Transcripts for ReThinking are available at go.ted.com/RWAGscripts.

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 operations, and is now a top executive in the NBA. Joe speaks with Adam about his leadership style both on and off the court, and shares the wisdom he’s learned about managing all kinds of people – and making teams better. Transcripts for ReThinking are available at go.ted.com/RWAGscripts.

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.com/RWAGscripts.

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 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 valuing the friends you make along the way. Transcripts for ReThinking are available at go.ted.com/RWAGscripts. For 15% off So Many Steves, use the code ADAMGRANT at pushkin.fm.

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 accountability for failures, the differences between regard and respect, and the rituals he’s 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

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 in a Mormon survivalist family. Tara and Adam talk about the triumphs and struggles of educating yourself and others, what it takes to open other people’s minds, and the difficult and surprising emotions that arise when we challenge –and even change– our beliefs. Transcripts for ReThinking are available at go.ted.com/RWAGscripts

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 -- and when and why they backfire. Uri’s latest book “Mixed Signals: How Incentives Really Work” is out now. Transcripts for ReThinking are available at go.ted.com/RWAGscripts

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 doesn’t actually love the act of writing itself – so how does he motivate himself to do it anyway? Adam talks with Andy about the creative process, the skills involved in discarding bad ideas, finding joy in worldbuilding and research, and why you should never be writing with a sequel in mind. Transcripts for ReThinking are available at go.ted.com/RWAGscripts

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 value of sitting with discomfort, and strategies for guarding against performance anxiety. Transcripts for ReThinking are available at go.ted.com/RWAGscripts

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 innovation and entrepreneurship professor Ethan Mollick to discuss the capabilities of ChatGPT, debate its merits and downfalls, and ponder what we should -- and shouldn’t -- leave to AI. Transcripts for ReThinking are available at go.ted.com/RWAGscripts

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 what draws us to fiction – and how it affects us. Jennifer and Adam discuss the psychology of reading and writing, fiction and fandom, and the role of imagination in the stories we love most. Then a special guest co-host (Adam’s daughter!) asks Jennifer about creativity, her favorite characters, and what makes a piece of writing original. Transcripts for ReThinking are available at go.ted.com/RWAGscripts

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 smart, and his most recent book is “If Nietzsche Were a Narwhal.” In an expansive conversation, Justin and Adam discuss what makes the human mind unique, muse over the life lessons we might learn from the animal world, and debate whether or not, when it comes to consciousness, ignorance is really bliss. Transcripts for ReThinking are available at go.ted.com/RWAGscripts

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 he’s won both the National Medal of the Arts and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Yo-Yo talks with Adam about his experience with burnout, how he sustains his energy and creativity, and what it means for music to connect –and celebrate– humanity. Transcripts for ReThinking are available at go.ted.com/RWAGscripts

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 stories on acclaimed shows like ESPN’s 30 for 30, Freakonomics, and 99% Invisible. Now he’s the host of Good Sport, a new podcast from the TED Audio Collective. Jody and Adam dive into what forges great leadership on and off the field, explore why certain cities and communities become hotbeds of talent, and discuss why sports are more than just fun and games. Transcripts for ReThinking are available at go.ted.com/RWAGscripts