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 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

Connect with the Radical Candor team:


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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:


⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠


⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠

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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.

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
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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.

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
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