The Democratic Party lost big in the 2024 election cycle. What are the lessons party leaders should take from what happened? In this special Unsolicited Advice episode, Anne and Frances share their thoughts on how the Democratic Party failed to understand what voters needed most. They explore how the party can identify its underlying problems, rebuild trust, and craft a rigorous and optimistic way forward – skills all leaders need in a complex, fast-moving world.  

Neurodiversity is not always visible, understood, or valued in the workplace. But systems and cultures that support neurodivergent team members can lead to increased productivity and healthier workplaces – for everyone. Psychologist Dr. Ludmila Praslova joins Anne and Frances to discuss her groundbreaking book, The Canary Code, which guides readers through the work of “neuro-inclusion.” Together, they explore ways that better communication, innovative people practices, and more flexible job design can reduce stress and increase engagement across social, cognitive, and emotional differences. 

The only thing we can guarantee will happen…is change. So how do you make transitions less painful and more empowering? This week, Anne and Frances get a call from a listener — a doctor and Senior Director of a healthcare non-profit — whose organization’s success means new ways of working for her team. Anne and Frances help her find ways to avoid burnout, recenter her team, and collectively accelerate the mission. They share clear communication tactics for managing fast-moving change and retaining your best people.

What problems are you dealing with at work right now? Call or text 234-FIXABLE or email [email protected] to be featured on the show.

Is kindness (and a little math) all it takes to save a company? James Rhee, professor of entrepreneurship, author, and impact investor, believes the answer is yes. This week he joins Anne and Frances to share lessons from his remarkable turnaround of Ashley Stewart — a retail company primarily serving Black, moderate income, plus size women — as a Korean American private equity investor who had never been a CEO before. Learn how deep respect for your employees can lead you to unprecedented success.

What problems are you dealing with at work right now? Call or text 234-FIXABLE or email [email protected] to be featured on the show.

You’ve done the hard work to turn your ambitious vision into a viable organization. Now how do you thrive and expand? Listener Nate Johnson is the founder of FreeWriters, a fast-growing organization that provides mindful writing opportunities to inmates in Minnesota county jails. This week, he asks Anne and Frances to help him position FreeWriters for an even bigger impact. The three get real about the resources you need to scale, the role of a visionary in any business model, and what to do as a leader when you feel stuck.

What problems are you dealing with at work right now? Call or text 234-FIXABLE or email [email protected] to be featured on the show.

Orlando Ashford is the superstar Chief People Officer for Fanatics, the fast-growing digital sports platform that does everything from sell licensed merchandise to host iGaming and special events. Orlando comes to Anne and Frances to ask how to unify his complex organization’s culture. The three break down how to craft a convincing message to freedom lovers, why putting on different hats is a mission-critical leadership skill, and the kind of alignment that drives real progress.

What problems are you dealing with at work right now? Call or text 234-FIXABLE or email [email protected] to be featured on the show.

The evidence is clear that hybrid work is good for both people and organizations. So why are companies as big as Amazon now asking employees to come into the office all five days of the work week? Could “magical hallway conversations” actually make teams better — or is this a leadership play based on nostalgia and wishful thinking? In this provocative Unsolicited Advice segment, Anne and Frances debate what Amazon’s new return-to-office mandate means for the company’s future.

Can you make yourself happier at work? Dr. Laurie Santos is a cognitive scientist and psychology professor at Yale University, where she teaches a wildly popular course about the science of happiness, and host of the breakout podcast The Happiness Lab. She joins Anne and Frances to discuss the concept of time famine, why you need a best friend at work, and where your employer is responsible for your wellbeing. Their conversation will show you how to turn your workplace into your happy place.

Looking for a job can be frustrating and exhausting. Unsolicited Advice is back and this time Anne and Frances are helping YOU find work you actually want to do. They share useful tips and tricks for anyone facing today's daunting job market — from navigating rejection burnout to standing out in interviews. They also give employers advice you didn’t ask for on how to find great candidates who will elevate your team.

What problems are you dealing with at work right now? Call or text 234-FIXABLE or email [email protected] to be featured on the show.

This week, Anne and Frances are back in the hot seat to help a listener tackle a common workplace problem: having less influence than we think we deserve. But how can you get more people to listen to your ideas? And figure out what’s getting in the way? Their advice offers valuable insights for anyone feeling stuck in their career – and gives you tools and inspiration to ask for what you need in your own workplace. 

What problems are you dealing with at work right now? Call or text 234-FIXABLE or email [email protected] to be featured on the show.

Do you brush your teeth before or after you take a shower? It’s a question author and Harvard Business School professor Mike Norton has asked countless people in his research to find out how intentional, repetitive actions – also known as rituals – create outsized meaning and purpose in our lives. Mike, Anne, and Frances discuss how rituals deeply inform our relationships, work lives, and views of the world while sharing a few of their own special rituals.

What problems are you dealing with at work right now? Call or text 234-FIXABLE or email [email protected] to be featured on the show.

Transcripts for Fixable are available at https://go.ted.com/fixablescripts