Radical Candor: Communication at Work

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 Luke Burgis about his new book, The One and the Ninety-Nine, Forging Identity in the Age of Social Contagion.  Through stories ranging from the parable of the lost sheep to August Landmesser, the only person in a huge crowd to refuse to salute to Hitler, Luke describes the missing skill that makes real community possible: learning how to remain oneself while staying connected to others. He offers practical, tactical advice for how to recognize false belonging, escape coercive dynamics, and pass through the rites of passage that produce people with integrity and courage. This is a book that will help you figure out what YOU want, so that you can go get it rather than being distracted by what others want.

Guest Background: Luke Burgis is the director of The Cluny Institute and a professor at The Catholic University of America, where he studies the invisible forces that shape human behavior. He is the author of Wanting: The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life. He lives in Washington, D.C., and Michigan with his wife, Claire, and their children.

CHAPTERS

(00:00) Introduction to the Radical Sabbatical and Luke Burgis' Book

(02:09) The Meaning Behind 'The One and the 99'

(03:24) Exploring the Parable of the Lost Sheep

(06:05) August Landmesser: Standing Alone Against the Crowd

(10:48) Family Dynamics and the Solid Self

(17:55) Education and the Self: Navigating Expectations

(22:37) The Role of Technology in Education

(29:13) The Loss of Subtle Cues in Communication

(31:37) The Evolution of Education and Rites of Passage

(35:18) The Importance of Ownership in Learning

(37:45) Mimetic Desire and Its Impact on Choices

(40:44) Understanding Political Mimesis

(46:20) The Tension of Relationships and Community

(51:36) Finding Meaning in Tension and Discomfort

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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 Daniel Coyle about his new book, Flourish, The Art of Building Meaning, Joy and Fulfillment. 

What is a meaningful life, and how do we make one? How do certain communities foster closeness, fulfillment, happiness, and energy?  Daniel Coyle has spent the last few years trying to crack this code.  He talks about the transformation that happened during the famous story of the 33 miners trapped 2000 feet underground in a mine in Chile.  It turns that the key to survival was a leader who was willing to let go of control.  You can’t command and control your way to flourishing--or surviving in a crisis. 

Background on Daniel Coyle: Daniel is the New York Times bestselling author of The Culture Code, which was named Best Business Book of the Year by Bloomberg, BookPal, and Business Insider. Coyle has served as an advisor to many high-performing organizations, including the Navy SEALs, Microsoft, Google, and the Cleveland Guardians. His other books include The Talent Code, The Secret Race, The Little Book of Talent, and Hardball: A Season in the Projects, which was made into a movie starring Keanu Reeves. Coyle was raised in Anchorage, Alaska, and now lives in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, during the school year and in Homer, Alaska, during the summer with his wife, Jenny, and their four children.

CHAPTERS

(00:00) Introduction to Flourishing Leadership

(03:03) The Distinction Between Living Systems and Machines

(06:02) The Importance of Relationships in Leadership

(09:02) The Miners in Chile: A Story of Brotherhood

(12:06) Creating Space for Connection

(15:06) The Role of Curiosity in Conversations

(18:03) The Power of Community in Adversity

(19:04) The Gottman Method and Relationship Dynamics

(22:25) Personalized Criticism vs. Respectful Challenges

(24:25) The Importance of Context in Relationships

(27:19) Creating Self-Organizing Systems

(30:39) Leadership as Design: Building Living Systems

(32:36) Transformative Education: The Jigsaw Classroom

(36:58) Reverent Leadership: The Kibera School for Girls

(41:55) The Guardians: A New Approach to Coaching

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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 Eric Ries about his new book, Incorruptible, Why Good Companies Go Bad... and How Great Companies Stay Great.  

All too often, founders start a company and hire an incredible team dedicated to building a company that will solve an important problem and leave the world better off.  Then they get a taste of success and life is good.  But all too often, the bankers and lawyers swoop in and the demands to “maximize shareholder value” set in.  More often than not, the company succumbs to the gravitational pull of mediocrity–or worse.  Compromises are made, rationalizations abound, and after a while people start to wonder “how did this happen?!”  

Eric has thought deeply about how to structure companies so that they can remain true to their purpose and achieve great financial results.  In his interview with Kim, he shares his extensive research on companies, both contemporary and some many decades old, who have been able to make this work.  

Background on Eric Ries: Over the last two decades, Eric Ries’s ideas about continuous innovation, long-term thinking, governance, and market reform have reshaped company building and management practices. He is the creator of the Lean Startup method and the author of the New York Times bestseller The Lean Startup, The Leader’s Guide, and The Startup Way. As a founder, Eric has put his own ideas into practice with the Long-Term Stock Exchange (LTSE); Answer.AI, an AI R&D lab; Virgil, a legal services startup; and IMVU. On The Eric Ries Show, he talks with world-class technologists, thought leaders, and executives building for the long-term. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife and three children.  His new book, Incorruptible, will be released in May of 2026.  

CHAPTERS

(00:00) Introduction to Eric Ries and His Work

(01:31) The Motivation Behind 'Incorruptible'

(04:28) The Dark Side of Business Practices

(05:08) The Haunting Story of Vectura and Philip Morris

(12:58) The Consequences of Corporate Governance

(15:20) The Historical Context of Corporate Purpose

(18:37) The Evolution of Corporate Purpose

(22:07) The Impact of Purpose-Driven Companies

(25:33) Understanding Financial Gravity

(30:55) The Unconscious Forces in Corporations

(34:43) Resisting the Pull of Mediocrity

(39:14) Navigating Power Dynamics in Organizations

(40:04) The Naivety of Value Creation

(41:05) The Dilemma of Founder Control

(42:34) Building Institutional Protections

(43:36) Costco's Governance Fortress

(45:57) The Cost of Governance Ratings

(47:58) The Challenge of Public Companies

(51:08) Taking Action for Ethical Leadership

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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

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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:


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