• 38 minutes
    The power of constraints with David Epstein

    Freedom is revered Western culture, but it turns out that we do our most creative thinking within constraints and boundaries. David Epstein is a journalist who specializes in the science of success, and he joins Adam to talk about his new book, Inside the Box, and what he learned by setting his own constraints while writing it. They break down how innovators use limitations to drive breakthroughs, take a closer look at why a lack of restrictions can actually limit potential, and riff on how our favorite sports could harness new rules to make the games more interesting.


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    ReThinking is produced by Cosmic Standard. Our Senior Producer is Jessica Glazer, our Engineer is Aja Simpson, our Technical Director is Jacob Winik, and our Executive Producer is Eliza Smith.


    For the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/rethinking-with-adam-grant-transcripts


    Learn more about our flagship conference happening this April at attend.ted.com/podcast

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    5 May 2026, 4:00 am
  • 36 minutes 19 seconds
    Elevating your self-awareness with Jim Collins

    When leadership researcher Jim Collins was choosing a career, he used an unusual method: he studied himself like a scientist. In this episode, Adam and Jim dive into the techniques for self-study and how self-comparison can be more effective than comparison to others. Jim shares takeaways from his investigation of people who have found their callings, and highlights how he’s learned to stop being disappointed by others. They also rethink the relationship between freedom and responsibility.


    Featured guest


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    ReThinking is produced by Cosmic Standard. Our Senior Producer is Jessica Glazer, our Engineer is Aja Simpson, our Technical Director is Jacob Winik, and our Executive Producer is Eliza Smith.


    For the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/rethinking-with-adam-grant-transcripts


    Learn more about our flagship conference happening this April at attend.ted.com/podcast

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    28 April 2026, 4:00 am
  • 41 minutes 23 seconds
    Kristen Bell on delivering honesty with empathy

    You probably know Kristen Bell as the star behind characters like Veronica Mars, Princess Anna from Frozen, and Eleanor from The Good Place. In this episode, Adam sits down with Kristen live at BetterUp’s Uplift leadership summit to examine how she’s learning to overcome her people pleasing tendencies and stop internalizing other people’s emotions. Kristen gets in character to demonstrate how to be honest without being unkind. She also makes the case that compliments are underrated, opens up about her strategies for dealing with envy, and offers a surprising theory of why we overexplain.


    Featured guest


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    ReThinking is produced by Cosmic Standard. Our Senior Producer is Jessica Glazer, our Engineer is Aja Simpson, our Technical Director is Jacob Winik, and our Executive Producer is Eliza Smith.


    For the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/rethinking-with-adam-grant-transcripts


    Learn more about our flagship conference happening this April at attend.ted.com/podcast

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    21 April 2026, 4:00 am
  • 27 minutes 34 seconds
    Creative collaboration with Jon Batiste and Suleika Jaouad

    Grammy-winning musician Jon Batiste and Emmy-winning writer Suleika Jaouad have a unique creative partnership, and it’s not just because they’re married. In this episode, Adam sits down with the dynamic duo at the World Economic Forum in Davos to discuss the lessons they’ve learned from watching each other live and work. Suleika gives advice on overcoming writer’s block, Jon reframes music as a restorative practice, and Adam challenges each of them to describe the other’s creative process.


    Featured guest


    Connect with the team

    ReThinking is produced by Cosmic Standard. Our Senior Producer is Jessica Glazer, our Engineer is Aja Simpson, our Technical Director is Jacob Winik, and our Executive Producer is Eliza Smith.


    For the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/rethinking-with-adam-grant-transcripts


    Learn more about our flagship conference happening this April at attend.ted.com/podcast

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    14 April 2026, 4:00 am
  • 38 minutes 6 seconds
    Can you trust your gut? with GI doctor Trisha Pasricha

    You’ve probably experienced a “gut feeling” before—that sense of uneasiness in your stomach that tells you something is off, but your brain hasn’t quite worked out what it is yet. But can you really trust what your gut tells you? In this episode, Adam is joined by Harvard gastroenterologist Trisha Pasricha to decode what’s really going on between your mind and your stomach. Trisha breaks down the science behind brain-gut communication and offers tips for when and how to listen to your gut when making decisions or assessing a new environment. She also seeks Adam’s advice on helping doctors empathize with patients’ pain and invites him to rethink his position on poop. Building on her book You’ve Been Pooping All Wrong, she explains what your bowel movements can tell you about your overall health, how to experience “poophoria,” and why you shouldn’t bring your smartphone to the bathroom.


    Featured guest


    Connect with the team

    ReThinking is produced by Cosmic Standard. Our Senior Producer is Jessica Glazer, our Engineer is Aja Simpson, our Technical Director is Jacob Winik, and our Executive Producer is Eliza Smith.


    For the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/rethinking-with-adam-grant-transcripts


    Learn more about our flagship conference happening this April at attend.ted.com/podcast

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    7 April 2026, 4:00 am
  • 27 minutes 20 seconds
    David Beckham on thriving under pressure and learning from mistakes

    In 1998, soccer star David Beckham made international news at his first World Cup when he lost his cool and got a critical red card. But he went on to lead his teams to numerous titles, become runner up for World Player of the Year, and even be knighted for his contributions to the game. In this episode, David joins Adam at the World Economic Forum in Davos to talk about the thrill of performing under pressure, strategies for managing strong emotions, and the unifying power of sport. Adam also grills David about his competitive drive and his unwavering commitment to showing up early.


    Featured guest


    Connect with the team

    ReThinking is produced by Cosmic Standard. Our Senior Producer is Jessica Glazer, our Engineer is Aja Simpson, our Technical Director is Jacob Winik, and our Executive Producer is Eliza Smith.


    For the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/rethinking-with-adam-grant-transcripts


    Learn more about our flagship conference happening this April at attend.ted.com/podcast

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    31 March 2026, 4:00 am
  • 58 minutes 51 seconds
    Brené and Adam on What They Will Never Agree On | from The Curiosity Shop with Brené Brown and Adam Grant

    Welcome to The Curiosity Shop! In the inaugural episode, Brené and Adam discuss how a public disagreement about authenticity almost ended their relationship before it began. For the first time, they discuss where they went wrong, why they changed their minds about each other, and what they learned about repair and trust. They also explore what healthy authenticity looks like, and dive into the many things they may still never fully see eye to eye on – from email vs. texting to remote work to faith.

    ReThinking is produced by Cosmic Standard. Our Senior Producer is Jessica Glazer, our Engineer is Aja Simpson, our Technical Director is Jacob Winik, and our Executive Producer is Eliza Smith.


    For the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/rethinking-with-adam-grant-transcripts


    Learn more about our flagship conference happening this April at attend.ted.com/podcast

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    24 March 2026, 4:00 am
  • 37 minutes 3 seconds
    Breaking leadership barriers with hockey coach Jessica Campbell

    Jessica Campbell is a hockey coach with the Seattle Kraken, and the first full-time female assistant coach in NHL history to work behind the bench. In this episode, Jessica and Adam reflect on the lessons from being the first or only girl on a team, break down Jessica’s three core tenets of leadership, and discuss different ways of delivering effective feedback and tough love to help individuals and teams reach their full potential.


    Featured guest


    Connect with the team

    ReThinking is produced by Cosmic Standard. Our Senior Producer is Jessica Glazer, our Engineer is Aja Simpson, our Technical Director is Jacob Winik, and our Executive Producer is Eliza Smith.


    For the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/rethinking-with-adam-grant-transcripts


    Learn more about our flagship conference happening this April at attend.ted.com/podcast

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    17 March 2026, 4:00 am
  • 35 minutes 25 seconds
    How to spot psychopaths and narcissists, with Leanne ten Brinke

    Leanne ten Brinke is a social psychologist at the University of British Columbia and an expert on narcissists, psychopaths, and liars. In this episode, Leanne and Adam debunk common myths about people with these dark personality traits and share tips for spotting them.They also break down strategies for connecting with and managing people with these traits, discuss how to reduce any dark tendencies you might see in yourself, and rethink their place in workplaces.


    Featured guest


    Connect with the team

    ReThinking is produced by Cosmic Standard. Our Senior Producer is Jessica Glazer, our Engineer is Aja Simpson, our Technical Director is Jacob Winik, and our Executive Producer is Eliza Smith.


    For the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/rethinking-with-adam-grant-transcripts


    Learn more about our flagship conference happening this April at attend.ted.com/podcast

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    10 March 2026, 4:00 am
  • 36 minutes 55 seconds
    Esther Perel on the relationship baggage we bring to work

    Esther Perel is a psychotherapist known for her innovative approach to relationships. In this episode, Adam and Esther discuss the relational baggage we all carry through our lives and into our work, and how our differing personalities and relationship styles can affect collaboration and culture. They break down the differences between relationship- and task-oriented personalities, and consider the fine balance between risk-taking and rule-following that makes for a healthy relationship with ourselves and others.


    Featured guest


    Connect with the team

    ReThinking is produced by Cosmic Standard. Our Senior Producer is Jessica Glazer, our Engineer is Aja Simpson, our Technical Director is Jacob Winik, and our Executive Producer is Eliza Smith.


    For the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/rethinking-with-adam-grant-transcripts


    Learn more about our flagship conference happening this April at attend.ted.com/podcast

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    3 March 2026, 5:00 am
  • 28 minutes 9 seconds
    Matt Damon on solving one of the planet’s biggest problems, in partnership with Gary White

    Matt Damon is best known as the Hollywood icon from movies like Good Will Hunting and The Martian, but he has another passion offscreen: ensuring access to clean, safe water around the world. When he met social entrepreneur Gary White in 2008, they realized they could combine their efforts to reach more people and created water.org, which Gary leads as CEO. In this episode, Adam sits down with Matt and Gary at the World Economic Forum in Davos to talk about their innovative approach to problem-solving, handling rejection in high-stakes work environments, and Matt’s knack for forging strong partnerships. Adam also invites the two to office hours to tackle one of their ongoing challenges.


    Connect with the team

    ReThinking is produced by Cosmic Standard. Our Senior Producer is Jessica Glazer, our Engineer is Aja Simpson, our Technical Director is Jacob Winik, and our Executive Producer is Eliza Smith.


    For the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/rethinking-with-adam-grant-transcripts


    Learn more about our flagship conference happening this April at attend.ted.com/podcast

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    24 February 2026, 5:00 am
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