Radical Candor: Communication at Work

Kim Scott, Jason Rosoff & Amy Sandler

Moving from command-and-control to successful collaboration isn’t easy. But telling people what to do doesn’t work. Learn how to kick ass at work without losing your humanity by practicing the principles of Radical Candor. Host Amy Sandler leads...

  • 48 minutes 11 seconds
    What is a Problem I Can Help Solve? S8 | E11

    While the podcast team is taking a Radical Sabbatical, Kim is interviewing authors of the books that have had a big impact on her in the past two years. In this episode she’s speaking with Tom Rath about his new book What’s The Point.

    Graduation speeches are often filled with lofty advice for how to approach the upcoming transition from school to the real world–a topic that feels especially fraught at this moment of AI Anxiety.  Speakers often urge newly minted graduates to “follow your passion.” But is that the best way to decide what type of work to focus on as a career?  Perhaps a better approach is to figure out what the world needs and how you can best contribute.

    Tom Rath stresses the importance of surveying the landscape and identifying the big problems the world is facing. Then, identify your skills and develop them so that you can help address the issues that concern you. 

    One fascinating point Tom makes is that 90% of people in the workforce fall into roughly 50 different occupations. However, most of us are only exposed to a handful of these 50, often only what their parents or parents’ friends do for a living. Wouldn’t it be better to give young adults exposure to a much wider range of careers before they pursue career goals?  In fact, we could all benefit from this exposure. It’s never too late to change careers. Tom Rath’s CareerSight team brings together industry experts committed to helping people discover career possibilities and find purpose.

    Background on Tom Rath: Tom is an author and researcher who studies how careers impact health and well-being. He has written 12 books that have sold more than 10 million copies and made hundreds of appearances on global bestseller lists.

    Tom's first book, How Full Is Your Bucket?, was an instant #1 New York Times bestseller. His book StrengthFinder 2.0 was listed as Amazon's top-selling non-fiction book of all time. Tom's other bestsellers include Strengths Based Leadership, Wellbeing, Eat Move Sleep, and Are You Fully Charged? Tom is currently co-founder and CEO of CareerSight. He previously led Gallup's workplaces business and served as a Senior Scientist. Tom was also a Vice-Chair of the VHL cancer research organization. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan and the University of Pennsylvania, where he has also been a guest lecturer.


    CHAPTERS:

    (00:00) Introduction to Radical Sabbatical and Tom Rath's Book

    (01:52) The Problem with Passion

    (06:56) Purpose vs. Passion: Finding Meaning in Work

    (11:22) Job, Career, and Calling: Understanding the Differences

    (13:10) Shifting Focus: From What You Do to Who You Help

    (21:28) Skepticism About Childhood Dreams and Career Paths

    (24:29) Reevaluating Life Choices

    (28:01) Exploring Career Options

    (30:40) The Importance of Exploration

    (33:02) Navigating Career Pressures

    (34:40) The Evolution of Work

    (39:57) Understanding Comparison Detox

    (43:10) Finding Meaning in Daily Life


    Connect with the Radical Candor team:


    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    22 April 2026, 4:00 am
  • 44 minutes 44 seconds
    The Fund - an interview with Rob Copeland S8 | E10

    While the podcast team is taking a Radical Sabbatical, Kim is interviewing authors of the books that have had a big impact on her in the past two years.

    Office culture is a fascinating topic.  It can be the special sauce that helps bring together team members to achieve excellence.  But what happens when the company culture becomes a toxic mess?  What happens when a very charismatic CEO becomes obsessed with both cataloging people’s weaknesses and then broadcasting them to the entire company?  What happens when that same CEO mandates “internal reporting” on fellow co-workers, techniques that appear to be drawn directly from the playbook of the Stasi (the former East German secret police force, famous for deep surveillance to control and punish their citizens)?  What happens when the CEO steadfastly refuses to hear criticism about himself?Why would people join and then remain at such an organization? 

    Kim welcomes New York Times’ business reporter and author, Rob Copland, to talk about his fascinating, deeply researched, and best-selling book, The Fund: Ray Dalio, Bridgewater Associates and The Unraveling of a Wall Street Legend.  Rob’s book dives deep on Ray Dalio, the iconic founder and leader of Bridgewater Associates and the culture he created there.  Under Dalio, there is no disputing that Bridgewater Associates became one of the largest and most successful hedge funds in history.  At the same time, Dalio appeared to use promises of vast riches to control and intimidate his employees.  Rob shares some incredible stories to illustrate these points.  When someone dared to push back on any of Dalio’s techniques or vision, he famously would shut them down with, “If you’re so smart, why aren’t you rich?!”  Rob talks about what he learned in the years of research he did for this book.  This conversation presents a cautionary tale of what can happen when a charismatic leader, flush with vast wealth decides his mission is also to dictate how people should live.
    Background on Rob Copeland: Rob Copeland is a New York Times finance reporter covering Wall Street, banks, and corporate power. He was previously the longtime hedge-fund beat reporter at The Wall Street Journal.  He is best known for investigative, narrative-driven stories and is the author of the bestselling book, "The Fund: Ray Dalio, Bridgewater Associates and the Unraveling of a Wall Street Legend".

    CHAPTERS:

    (00:00) Introduction to Rob Copland

    (01:04) The Pissing Anecdote: A Lesson in Self-Awareness

    (05:11) Investigating the Absurd: Culture of Petty Conflicts

    (09:59) The Dark Side of Radical Transparency

    (12:04) The Pain of Reflection: A Closer Look at Confrontation

    (16:24) The Cost of Self-Improvement: Why People Endure

    (18:48) The Allure of Success: How Ray Dalio Captivates Minds

    (22:43) The Challenge of Self-Awareness

    (23:58) The Power Dynamics of Self-Knowledge

    (24:46) Cult Dynamics and Personal Freedom

    (25:52) The Role of Powerful Figures in Toxic Environments

    (26:38) Radical Transparency and Its Pitfalls

    (31:05) The Importance of External Tethers

    (33:28) Navigating Career Choices and Exit Strategies

    (37:38) The Journey of Self-Discovery and Feedback

    Connect with the Radical Candor team:


    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    15 April 2026, 4:00 am
  • 46 minutes 44 seconds
    How to Remake America S8 | E9

    While the podcast team is taking a Radical Sabbatical, Kim is interviewing authors of the books that have had a big impact on her in the past two years.

    Again we discuss the topic of wealth inequality and the accompanying concentration of political power.  It is tempting to think that we live in an unprecedented era, and yet there are lessons to be learned from the past.  Today, Kim talks to Professor John Witt of Yale Law School about his recent book, The Radical Fund.  It is a fascinating story of The Garland Fund, established by Charles Garland in the early 1920s.  The book takes us on a journey showing how the Garland Fund was able to lay the foundation for much less powerful groups in society to fight for their rights such as safe working conditions, free speech, and equal rights.  And how those movements help drive the economic successes later in the 20th century.  Kim and John discuss these lessons learned and how we can apply those lessons in our communities today. 

    Background on John Watt: John Witt is the Allen H. Duffy class of 1960 professor of law at Yale Law School and a professor in the Yale history department. He is the author of a number of books, including Lincoln’s Code, which was awarded the Bancroft Prize and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, The Nation, and The New Republic, among other publications. He lives with his family in Connecticut where he tends an orchard, watches baseball, and fishes in the Long Island Sound.

    Resources: 

    CHAPTERS:

    (00:00) Introduction to the Radical Fund and Its Impact

    (03:04) Historical Context of Civil Rights and Labor Movements

    (06:12) The Role of the Foundation in Landmark Cases

    (09:09) Sidney Hillman's Vision for Industrial Democracy

    (12:04) The Evolution of Worker Participation in Capitalism

    (15:07) Building Solidarity Across Demographics

    (18:10) Lessons from History: The Importance of Unity

    (21:05) James Weldon Johnson and the Quest for Democracy

    (23:45) The Rise of W.E.B. Du Bois and the NAACP

    (24:33) Collaboration Between Black Leaders and White Labor Unions

    (26:02) The Power of Propaganda in Social Change

    (30:24) The Role of Money and Foundations in Social Justice

    (31:43) The Origins of the Garland Fund

    (35:15) The Debate on Philanthropy and the 'Dead Hand' Problem

    (37:27) Lessons from History: Economic Inequality and Social Change

    (40:09) The Future of Democracy and Social Justice

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    8 April 2026, 4:00 am
  • 49 minutes 52 seconds
    Revolt of the Rich S8 | E8

    While the podcast team is taking a Radical Sabbatical, Kim is interviewing authors of the books that have had a big impact on her in the past two years.

    Wealth concentration in the United States is top of mind these days. While it’s tempting to see this as a recent trend, it is instructive to look at what was happening in American politics decades ago and see how many of these forces were set in motion in the 1970’s. 

    Kim talks with Prof. David Gibbs about his book, Revolt of the Rich, How the Politics of the 1970s Widened America's Class Divide. Prof. Gibbs reviews decisions that were made during the Nixon and Carter administrations that continue to reverberate in our world today.  For example, during the first oil shock in the early 1970s, President Nixon actively worked to keep oil prices high to support the Shah of Iran and to prop up the dollar.  The result was financialization and deindustrialization. Later in the decade, President Carter was central to the trend of deregulation.  The net effect of these decisions was an erosion of the foundations of the American middle class. 

    Technical note: we had an issue with one of the microphones on this interview that affected the sound quality.  Sorry if this affects your enjoyment of this episode.

    Background on David Gibbs: David N. Gibbs is professor of history at the University of Arizona, whose past research has emphasized political conflicts in Sub-Saharan Africa, Eastern Europe, and Afghanistan. He has published extensively in academic journals as well as the London Guardian, Los Angeles Times, Christian Science Monitor, Le Monde Diplomatique, Salon, and Jacobin. His third and most recent book is entitled: Revolt of the Rich: How the Politics of the 1970s Widened America’s Class Divide. His detailed personal website is at: https://dgibbs.arizona.edu/

    Resources: 
    Buy Revolt of the Rich on Bookshop.org 


    (00:00) Introduction to the Radical Sabbatical Podcast

    (01:33) The Oil Crisis of the 1970s

    (04:46) Nixon's Role in the Oil Price Increase

    (09:59) Petrodollars and U.S. Economic Power

    (12:37) Financialization and Deindustrialization

    (15:05) Impact on Ordinary Americans

    (18:28) The Revolt of the Rich

    (21:34) The Shift in Economic Power

    (24:41) Political and Economic Alternatives

    (26:01) The Evolution of Taxation and Economic Policies

    (27:48) The Shift in Political Ideologies

    (30:18) Coalitions and the Rise of the Christian Right

    (32:30) Economic Conservatism and Social Issues

    (36:00 )Navigating Economic Uncertainty

    (40:43) Building Inclusive Economies

    (46:30) The Consequences of Inequality and Austerity

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1 April 2026, 4:00 am
  • 23 minutes 17 seconds
    Your Privacy: Why You Should Care and Tools to Protect It 8 | 7

    We all love the convenience of our digital devices and connected services.  But what about our ever expanding pile of digital breadcrumbs we leave behind as we go about our day? These breadcrumbs can be swept up by private companies to learn quite about us and target us with specific goods and services.  They can also be collected by government agencies who might use this information for legitimate police work or in some instances, political repression.  So, many people are asking themselves, should I be doing more to protect my personal privacy and how should I go about this.   

    Tech evangelist and prolific author Guy Kawasaki had asked that same question about a year ago. It started him on a journey to learn more about how to use some of the latest communications tools built from the ground up with personal privacy as its primary goal.  This led Guy to install and use Signal, one of the most popular tools today for personal privacy protection.  But as he started to put Signal into his communications work flow, he realized it was not obvious how to use Signal to its full potential. So, Guy collaborated with Madisun Nuismer to publish a “how to” book for using Signal, “Everybody Has Something to Hide” in January of 2026.  

    In this episode of the Radical Candor Podcast, Kim and Guy have a wide ranging conversation about Guy’s concerns about privacy that inspired him to start using Signal and then to write the book.  They discuss the centrality of privacy in a free and democratic society and how tools like Signal can enhance privacy. Kim also shares her experiences with privacy and censorship in her years working in the Soviet Union (and later Russia) in the early 1990s.  They also debate how much we should all trust so much of our personal data with these large tech companies.  As Guy mentions the old saying, “If you aren’t paying for the product, you ARE the product!”.  

    In the media rollercoaster, tech’s reputation is at a low point right now. It’s worth remembering that there are a lot of idealistic people in tech who are working hard to solve problems with the goal of making the world a better place. That is part of why we want to highlight Guy’s messages and what Meredith Whitaker, Brian Acton, Moxie Marlinspike, and the whole team at Signal are doing.

    Background on Guy Kawasaki:

    Guy Kawasaki is the chief evangelist of Canva and the creator of Guy Kawasaki’s Remarkable People podcast. He is an executive fellow of the Haas School of Business (UC Berkeley), and adjunct professor of the University of New South Wales. He was the chief evangelist of Apple and a trustee of the Wikimedia Foundation. He has written Wise Guy, The Art of the Start 2.0, The Art of Social Media, Enchantment, and eleven other books. Kawasaki has a BA from Stanford University, an MBA from UCLA, and an honorary doctorate from Babson College.

    Resources: 

    CHAPTERS:

    (00:00) Exploring the New Book: Everybody Has Something to Hide

    (00:51) The Importance of Signal and Privacy

    (06:46) Personal Experiences with Privacy and Censorship

    (11:57) Trust in Tech Companies and Data Privacy

    (14:27) The Idealistic Problem Solvers in Tech

    (15:01) Philanthropy vs. Government Aid

    (15:38) Universal Basic Income as an Experiment

    (17:02) The Importance of Privacy in Democracy

    (19:09) The Role of Technology in Privacy

    (21:04) Evangelizing Signal for Privacy Protection

    Connect with the Radical Candor team:

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    25 March 2026, 4:00 am
  • 40 minutes 59 seconds
    How Tech Employees Can Organize for Change with Lisa Conn and Anne Wootton 8 | 6

    When tech is at its best, it is a group of people working together to solve hard problems in a way that makes the world a better place. That goal is what motivated so many folks in Silicon Valley to come here. How then did we cede the microphone to a small number of people who espouse an authoritarian, rich get richer algorithm? How can people working inside tech companies grab the bullhorn away from the authoritarians to describe the world we want to create? How we can take action to advocate for our vision of a better future?

    One recent manifestation of this is the ⁠ICEout.tech⁠ movement. In this episode, Kim speaks with Lisa Conn, founder of Gatheround and former Meta employee, and Anne Wootton, co-founder of Pop Up Archive and current senior engineering manager at Apple, about why they signed the pledge and what they hope it can accomplish.

    Kim, Lisa and Anne also discuss more generally ideas for people who are frustrated with the state of affairs at their companies or in tech more broadly, but are not sure where to start and how to find a community of similarly civic-minded people to take action. They discuss ways to host meetups for your like-minded co-workers while still working hard at your day job and staying within your company’s policies.  

    They also talk about how important it is to speak respectfully with people who disagree with you. A good goal is to deepen your own thinking, not to change a person's mind. You probably won’t change their mind, and you probably won’t change yours. That doesn’t mean you’re wasting your breath. When you invite discussion about your beliefs with people who disagree, two good things can happen. One, you get to know them a bit better. Two, you challenge yourself to think more deeply. JS Mill said that belief without discussion can give way to prejudice.

    Background on ICEout.tech:

    ⁠⁠ICEout.tech⁠⁠, started by and for people in tech, wants the tech industry to use its influential position in our economy to stop ICE. The pledge, which was started after Renee Good was murdered in Minneapolis, has more than 2,000 verified signatures from people across major companies including NVIDIA, Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, and dozens more. The call to speak up against ICE in tech gained momentum after Border Patrol agents killed Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse, and has drawn public support from leaders like Dario and Daniela Amodei (Anthropic), Reid Hoffman, and Vinod Khosla. Tech professionals want their CEOs to join them in this effort, to protect our neighbors and communities and stop ICE's terror.

    Resources: 

    CHAPTERS:

    (00:00) Introduction to iceOut.tech Movement

    (02:00) Understanding the Pledge and Its Impact

    (04:59) Navigating Ethical Dilemmas in Tech

    (10:02) The Role of Affluence and Courage

    (15:20) Building Solidarity and Taking Action

    (20:04) Employee Power and Organizing for Change

    (22:53) The Role of Technology in Society

    (26:10) Tactics for Influencing Corporate Decisions

    (29:51) Building Internal Solidarity and Communication

    (34:04) Navigating Polarization and Finding Common Ground

    (39:03) Self-Care and Community Engagement


    Connect with the Radical Candor team:


    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    18 March 2026, 4:00 am
  • 1 hour 5 minutes
    Rethinking Authenticity and What to Do Instead with Dr. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic 8|5

    “Be yourself.” “Bring your whole self to work.” “Don’t worry what people think.”

    These phrases sound empowering—but in real workplaces, they can create confusion, conflict, and even harm.

    In this episode of The Radical Candor Podcast, Kim Scott and Amy Sandler sit down with organizational psychologist Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic—Chief Science Officer at Russell Reynolds Associates, professor of business psychology at University College London and Columbia University, and author of Don’t Be Yourself: Why Authenticity Is Overrated and What to Do Instead.

    They start with a moment of actual Radical Candor: Kim reached out after Tomas and Amy Edmondson accidentally conflated Radical Candor with “brutal honesty.” Instead of stewing, she did the hard (and human) thing—she talked to him. That conversation sets the tone for a bigger question: What does it really mean to be “authentic” at work?

    Tomas breaks down four “authenticity traps” that sound like wisdom but often backfire:

    • Always be honest with yourself and others

    • Don’t worry what people think of you

    • Always stay true to your values, no matter what

    • Bring your whole self to work

    Together, they explore what replaces these traps: self-complexity, emotional intelligence, feedback you can absorb without defensiveness, and the discipline to regulate your impulses so you can build trust and safety—without turning the workplace into either chaos or conformity.

    If you’ve ever felt stuck between being “real” and being effective, this episode offers a more useful frame: your right to be you should never override your obligation to others.

    Resources:

    Mentioned on the podcast: 

    Chapters:

    (00:00) IntroductionKim and Amy welcome Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic and reflect on how this conversation began with Radical Candor.

    (03:10) Radical Candor vs. “Brutal Honesty”How a misinterpretation sparked a real conversation about kindness, nuance, and impact.

    (07:20) Why “Don’t Be Yourself”The meaning behind the provocative title and why authenticity advice often backfires at work.

    (14:10) The Four Authenticity TrapsAlways be honest, don’t care what people think, never compromise your values, and bring your whole self to work.

    (19:30) Confidence, Competence, and FeedbackWhy developing skill comes first—and how confidence is often about timing and delivery.

    (27:30) Staying True to Values Without Becoming DogmaticWhy uncompromising values can divide teams and what leadership actually requires.

    (30:10) Authenticity as PrivilegeWhy complete self-expression is often a luxury of the powerful, not a universal standard.

    (36:15) Psychological Safety Isn’t ComfortWhy safety should enable productive discomfort, not chaos or bullying.

    (41:55) Emotional Intelligence vs. Unfiltered AuthenticityWhy adapting to others is a strength, not a lack of integrity.

    (49:10) Regulating Impulses as a LeaderHow filtering behavior builds trust without sacrificing humanity.

    (01:03:50) Conclusion

    Connect:Resources for show notes: 

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    11 March 2026, 4:00 am
  • 49 minutes 36 seconds
    Why We Don’t Do What We Know We Should: Beliefs, Habits, and AI Practice with Nir Eyal 8|4

    What if the reason you don’t give feedback, follow through, or change your habits… isn’t willpower?

    What if it’s a belief?

    In this episode of The Radical Candor Podcast, Kim Scott talks with Nir Eyal — author of Hooked, Indistractable, and his new book Beyond Belief — about the hidden force behind motivation: the stories we tell ourselves.

    They explore:

    • Why AI can’t replace human relationships — but can help us practice hard conversations

    • The limiting belief that keeps people silent at work

    • Why knowing what to do isn’t enough

    • How pain (not pleasure) drives behavior

    • The difference between addiction and habit

    • Why “time management is pain management.”

    • How to reinterpret anxiety as readiness

    • And why beliefs are tools — not truths

    If you’ve ever struggled to speak up, follow through, or break a bad habit — this conversation will help you see what’s really getting in the way.Chapters

    (00:00) Introduction

    Kim welcomes Nir Eyal and introduces AI portraits and scaling human insight.

    (04:30) Can AI Replace Relationships?

    Why AI can’t replace human connection — but may be the safest place to practice hard conversations.

    (10:15) Refining AI Voice & Identity

    What it means to “scale yourself” without losing your humanity.

    (16:40) The Limiting Belief That Keeps You Silent

    “If you don’t have anything nice to say…” — and why that belief causes harm.

    (23:10) Beliefs Are Tools, Not Truths

    Nir explains the core thesis of Beyond Belief.

    (29:30) Placebos, Pain, and Perception

    What belief can change — and what it can’t.

    (36:20) Stage Fright vs. Readiness

    Reinterpreting anxiety as oxygen for performance.

    (43:10) Time Management Is Pain Management

    Why distraction is about escaping discomfort.

    (50:40) Addiction vs. Habit

    Why addiction is about escaping pain — not seeking pleasure.

    (57:00) Why We Don’t Do What We Know

    The missing link between knowledge and action.

    (01:04:00) Radical Candor and the “Nice” Trap

    The story of Bob — and why staying silent isn’t kind.

    (01:10:00) If It’s Yellow, Let It Mellow

    Marriage, feedback, and choosing what truly matters.

    (01:13:00) Conclusion


    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    4 March 2026, 5:00 am
  • 1 hour 6 minutes
    AI Gods, Space Empires, and the Stories Tech Uses to Justify Power with Adam Becker 8|3

    What if the loudest stories about the future—AI gods, Mars colonies, digital immortality—aren’t science at all, but science fiction masquerading as inevitability?

    In this episode of The Radical Candor Podcast, Kim Scott and Amy Sandler are joined by science journalist and astrophysicist Adam Becker (PhD in computational cosmology), author of More Everything Forever. Adam breaks down the “big three” myths that dominate Silicon Valley’s imagination: space colonization, superintelligent god-like AI, and the singularity. He explains why both the utopian and apocalyptic versions of AI stories often share the same assumption—unimaginable AI power—and why that assumption doesn’t match reality.

    They also explore the deeper pattern underneath these myths: the belief that every problem can be solved with technology (usually computer technology), even when the barriers are political and social—collective action, persuasion, solidarity, and power. Along the way, Adam shares how he stayed sane while writing about “seriously disturbing ideas,” and why reconnecting with the natural world (and real human relationships) is a necessary antidote to screen-mediated life.

    If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the “AI will save us” vs. “AI will doom us” debate, this conversation offers a clearer, more grounded frame—and a reminder that being human matters.

    Resources for show notes:

    Referenced in conversation:

    • Blade Runner (as an example of dystopian sci-fi being misunderstood)
    • Star Wars / Jabba the Hutt (as an example of misreading stories)
    • Lord of the Rings / Palantír (as a cautionary reference)
    • Jurassic Park (“they didn’t stop to consider whether they should”)
    • Public libraries (as a civic good worth supporting)

    Chapters:

    (00:00) Introduction

    Kim and Amy welcome Adam Becker to unpack Silicon Valley’s stories about the future.

    (06:06) The Myths Driving Tech Ideology

    Space colonization, superintelligent AI, and the singularity—and why they don’t hold up.

    (11:52) When Sci-Fi Turns into Strategy

    How dystopian stories get misread as roadmaps (Palantir, “Torment Nexus,” and more).

    (15:06) More Everything Forever

    Why endless expansion feels inevitable in tech—and why Adam argues it’s flawed.

    (21:24) “Can” vs. “Should”

    Why tech leaders dodge both questions—and what that reveals about power.

    (23:19) You Can’t Escape Politics by Going to Space

    Why “Mars as a reset button” is a fantasy—and politics follows humans everywhere.

    (33:22) AI Doom vs. AI Utopia

    Why both narratives rely on the same shaky assumption about “AGI.”

    (37:21) Solidarity as a Counterbalance

    Why labor organizing matters when leadership values diverge from workers’ values.

    (41:02) “AGI Will Fix Climate”

    Why betting on future AI while burning more energy now is a dangerous logic trap.

    (01:03:50) Conclusion



    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    18 February 2026, 5:00 am
  • 56 minutes 28 seconds
    The 7 Hidden Beliefs That Hold Leaders Back with Muriel Wilkins 8|2

    Why do so many leaders work hard to change — only to end up in the same place months later? What if the problem isn’t effort, but the beliefs running in the background?

    In this episode of The Radical Candor Podcast, Kim Scott and Amy Sandler are joined by Muriel Wilkins — executive coach, C-suite advisor, host of Coaching Real Leaders, and author of Leadership Unblocked. Together, they unpack why high performers default to action, how action bias can backfire when internal beliefs stay the same, and what it takes to create sustainable leadership growth.

    Muriel introduces seven common “hidden blockers,” including I need it done now, I can’t say no, and I don’t belong here, and explains how these beliefs drive behavior that feels productive in the short term but creates dissonance over time. The conversation also explores how leaders can build the muscle of noticing what’s happening internally, ask better coaching questions without attachment, and reduce unnecessary suffering by changing how they respond to challenges.

    If you’ve ever wondered, “Why do I keep ending up here again?” this episode offers a grounded, practical way forward.

    Connect:

    Resources for show notes: 

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    11 February 2026, 5:00 am
  • 42 minutes 33 seconds
    It’s Not Too Late: Getting Unstuck Mid-Career with Adrion Porter 8|1

    What do you do when the career path that once felt clear no longer is? What if that stuck, uneasy feeling in the middle of your career isn’t a failure, it’s information and an opportunity to rewrite your career story.

    On this episode of The Radical Candor Podcast, Adrion Porter founder of Mid-Career Mastery, host of the podcast Gen X Amplified, and a LinkedIn top voice joins Kim and Jason to talk honestly about the “Messy Middle” and what to do when your old definitions of success no longer fit. 

    Together, they explore Adrion’s Mastery Map, a practical framework for getting unstuck by letting go of limiting beliefs, finding meaning, and making intentional choices even when the next step isn’t obvious.  They also dig into navigating generational differences, the reality of different lived experiences and the divisive stories we tell ourselves and how to strengthen relationships across generations.

    If you’re feeling stuck, uncertain about what’s next, or frustrated that doing your best work feels harder than it used to, this conversation offers grounded ways to move forward.


    Get all of the show notes at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RadicalCandor.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.


    Episode Links:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


    Connect:


    Chapters:

    (00:00) Introduction

    (02:04) Adrion’s Origin StoryA layoff at 40 forces Adrion to rethink what’s next.

    (06:51) Owning Your StoryKim & Adrion explore the narratives that had Kim stuck and how she rewrote those.

    (09:02) Mindset & Limiting BeliefsWhy reframing how you think is the first step forward.

    (11:48) The Mastery Map FrameworkThe pillars of the framework: mindset, meaning, and milestones.

    (16:23) When You Feel TrappedNavigating change when money, family, or expectations limit options.

    (17:48) The Framework in ActionAdrion tells the story of  a specific application of the framework.

    (20:39) Breakthrough Moments from the WorkWhat Adrion sees when people finally rewrite their story.

    (23:04) From Messy Middle to Magical MiddleWhy mid-career can be a season of reinvention.

    (26:42) Generations & Work StoriesHow different generations think about success and work.

    (32:37) Wisdom, Age & Radical CandorWhat experience adds to communication and feedback.

    (37:25) One Action to Take This WeekA practical step to start changing your story now.
    (38:21) Conclusion

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    21 January 2026, 8:00 am
  • More Episodes? Get the App