ReThinking

Many people regularly plunge into ice-cold water to soothe soreness or boost energy—but for some, the plunge itself is a sport. As a sports journalist, Chris Ballard was reporting on cold water immersion when he got into ice swimming himself and ended up competing on the US team at world championships. In this episode, Adam dives into Chris’s book The Plunge, and the two discuss the psychology behind risk taking, endurance, and resilience in the face of discomfort. They explore why people seek out extreme challenges that push their minds and bodies to the limit, and separate myth from science about the health benefits of cold water immersion.Featured guestFollow Chris Ballard on Instagram, LinkedIn, and chrisballardwritings.com/Buy The Plunge: Maverick Swimmers, an Unlikely Quest, and the Transformative Power of Cold WaterConnect with the teamFollow Adam on Instagram, LinkedIn, and at adamgrant.net/Subscribe to Adam’s Substack GrantedWatch ReThinking videos on YouTube at TEDPodsFollow TED on X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTok

AI has become a part of all of our lives in recent years—even for kids. Dana Suskind is a pediatric cochlear implant surgeon and the author of the new book Human Raised, a science-backed guide to parenting in the age of AI. In this episode, Adam and Dana take a closer look at the impact AI can have on kids, and they break down the key components of healthy development that only human caregivers can provide. Dana also shares her HOPE framework for navigating our relationship with this new technology and she emphasizes the importance of friction in relationships when it comes to learning valuable soft skills.Featured guestFollow Dana Suskind on Instagram, LinkedIn, and at https://humanraised.org/Buy Human RaisedConnect with the teamFollow Adam on Instagram, LinkedIn, and at adamgrant.net/Subscribe to Adam’s Substack GrantedWatch ReThinking videos on YouTube at TEDPodsFollow TED on X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTok

Corruption in organizations is one of the biggest problems of our time, and many people believe it may be unsolvable—but Eric Ries doesn’t think so. As entrepreneur and author, Eric has dedicated his career to helping businesses succeed and do the right thing. His new book, Incorruptible, focuses on how to help organizations stay aligned with their ideals. In this episode, Adam and Eric break down why it’s so easy for modern companies to go astray from their missions, the incentives that encourage organizations to deprioritize their principles, and what differentiates companies that have managed to avoid corruption over long periods of time. Eric recommends a series of practices that any workplace can adopt, and shares what he learned from establishing a stock exchange anchored on long-term value instead of short-term returns.Featured guestFollow Eric Ries on LinkedInBuy IncorruptibleConnect with the teamFollow Adam on Instagram, LinkedIn, and at adamgrant.net/Subscribe to Adam’s Substack GrantedWatch ReThinking videos on YouTube at TEDPodsFollow TED on X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTok

Ann Patchett is an award-winning novelist—her most recent bestseller is Whistler—and she also owns an independent bookstore in Nashville. In this episode, Adam asks Ann about where she finds her ideas and how she shapes them into great stories. Along with the craft of writing, they discuss the mindsets and skillsets involved in seeing and bringing out the best in others. Ann also recounts the challenge she set herself to rethink her stance on social interaction.Featured guestFollow Ann Patchett on at https://www.annpatchett.com/Follow Parnassus Books on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and at https://parnassusbooks.net/Buy WhistlerConnect with the teamFollow Adam on Instagram, LinkedIn, and at adamgrant.net/Subscribe to Adam’s Substack GrantedWatch ReThinking videos on YouTube at TEDAudioCollectiveFollow TED on X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTok

Before Alexander Stubb became the president of Finland, he left his position as prime minister thinking he’d never return to politics. But after returning to academia and writing his book The Triangle of Power, public service eventually called him back. In this episode, Adam asks Alex about his path to leadership and the relevant lessons from his days as a political scientist and an athlete. Alex shares what he learned from golfing with Donald Trump and meeting Vladimir Putin, and makes the case for listening as an underrated skill in leadership. Featured guestFollow President Alex Stubb on InstagramBuy President Stubb's book The Triangle of PowerConnect with the teamFollow Adam on Instagram, LinkedIn, and at adamgrant.net/Subscribe to Adam’s Substack GrantedWatch ReThinking videos on YouTube at TEDAudioCollectiveFollow TED on X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTok

If you feel like you don’t know what you’re doing, you’re in good company. Fredrik Backman is the author of 11 books, including his latest hit “My Friends” and his first novel “A Man Called Ove,” which hit the New York Times bestseller list and was made into a film starring Tom Hanks. But he still struggles with self-confidence. In this episode, Fredrik speaks candidly with Adam about his battles with anxiety and procrastination, and the two discuss the psychology of pursuing happiness, building self-esteem, and living with grief. It’s a conversation unlike any other we’ve had.Featured guestFollow Fredrik Backman on Instagram and at https://www.fredrikbackman.com/Buy Fredrik's books hereConnect with the teamFollow Adam on Instagram, LinkedIn, and at adamgrant.net/Subscribe to Adam’s Substack GrantedWatch ReThinking videos on YouTube at TEDAudioCollectiveFollow TED on X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTok