Worklife with Adam Grant

Melinda French Gates, a philanthropist and advocate for women and girls, shares her journey through personal and professional change. She discusses lessons from her divorce and leaving the Gates Foundation, emphasizing growth through adversity. Melinda highlights the importance of a support system and how giving with both heart and head can lead to meaningful philanthropy. The conversation also covers effective leadership during transitions and the value of focused giving to create a lasting impact.

Daniel Gilbert, a Harvard psychologist and bestselling author of 'Stumbling on Happiness,' reveals why our predictions about what will make us happy are often wrong. He shares his unconventional journey from high school dropout to esteemed professor. The conversation dives into affective forecasting and how small annoyances can overshadow significant events. They also explore the intricacies of regret and the surprising ways our life choices impact happiness, emphasizing the importance of embracing the present.

Megan Rapinoe, an Olympic gold medalist and FIFA's best soccer player, joins her partner, Sue Bird, a basketball legend with five Olympic golds and four WNBA championships. Together, they share insights on building great teams, drawing parallels between sports and work. They open up about their retirement journeys, the emotional challenges of stepping away from competition, and finding new purposes in life. The duo also discusses leadership in women’s sports and the importance of character over competence, all while fusing humor into their conversation.

David Fajgenbaum, a physician-scientist who defied death at 25 by repurposing a drug to save his own life, shares his remarkable journey. He discusses the potential of AI in drug discovery and how his nonprofit, EveryCure, aims to unlock existing medicines for various diseases. The conversation dives into the emotional toll of illness and the importance of resilience and innovation in medical research, as well as the need for a mindset shift in the pharmaceutical industry to prioritize affordable treatments for rare diseases.

Vladyslav Vyazovskiy, a sleep physiologist at Oxford University, explores the fascinating world of sleep and hibernation. He discusses the potential for humans to hibernate, suggesting it could revolutionize medicine and space travel. The conversation dives into common sleep myths, the individuality of sleep needs, and the implications of sleep quality on wellbeing. Vyazovskiy also shares insights on dreaming and the evolutionary aspects of sleep, painting a picture of how much we still have to learn about our nightly rhythms.

Ethan Kross, a University of Michigan psychologist and author of "Chatter," dives into the fascinating world of our inner voices. He shares strategies for emotional regulation, emphasizing how self-talk can shape our mental state. The discussion includes the unexpected downsides of venting and the concept of mental time travel to navigate anxiety. Kross also highlights the importance of humor in managing the inner critic and provides tips for using self-distancing techniques to build emotional resilience.

In this engaging conversation, John Koenig, author of 'The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows,' introduces fascinating concepts like 'sonder,' the realization that every passerby has a rich inner life. He and Adam Grant discuss the emotional nuances of finishing a great book, the dread of pursuing dreams, and the power of language to connect us. John shares his creative process for inventing new words, shedding light on how naming emotions can deepen our empathy and improve our connections in a complex world.

Erin Meyer, a Professor at INSEAD and author of "The Culture Map," discusses the nuances of cross-cultural communication. She highlights how meanings can get lost in translation due to cultural norms affecting honesty and assertiveness. Through engaging anecdotes, they explore how feedback varies globally and the challenges of implementing direct communication styles in diverse settings like Netflix. Meyer stresses the importance of empathy and self-awareness in fostering successful interactions across cultures.

Caroline Fleck, a clinical psychologist at Stanford and author of "Validation," dives into the importance of recognizing and affirming emotions in building stronger relationships. She explores the distinctions between empathetic validation and exaggerated praise, highlighting that sometimes less is more. The conversation also touches on the challenges of oversharing, the need for emotional boundaries, and how social media alters our connection styles. Ultimately, she emphasizes empathy and mindful communication as keys to fostering genuine connections.

Allison Sweet Grant, author of 'I Am the Cage' and Adam Grant's wife, shares her journey of overcoming a congenital limb discrepancy and the emotional weight of identity and shame. They delve into the healing power of storytelling, revealing how confronting personal trauma fosters self-acceptance. The couple discusses parenting lessons on building meaningful friendships, the complexities of self-expression, and the joy found in nostalgia through beloved films. Their intimate reflections illuminate the transformative nature of love and vulnerability.