Fixable

How do you build a working relationship after you've gotten off on the wrong foot? In this episode, Anne and Frances coach a caller who has been brought in to support a team that doesn't want his help—and doesn't trust his organization. Together, they brainstorm ways to reset the partnership, offer genuine support, and fix a broken system from the inside out. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We all know Taylor Swift as an international pop superstar—her albums shoot to the top of the Billboard charts, and her recent Eras Tour grossed over $2 billion. But what can we learn from Taylor the businesswoman? In this episode, Anne and Frances sit down with Kevin Evers, author of There's Nothing Like This: The Strategic Genius of Taylor Swift, to dig into the vision, entrepreneurial instincts, and bold decision-making that built Swift's global empire.FollowHosts: Anne Morriss (@annemorriss | LinkedIn: @anne-morriss), Frances Frei (@francesxfrei | LinkedIn: @francesfrei)Guest: Kevin Evers Linkshttps://anneandfrances.comSubscribe to TED Instagram: @tedYouTube: @TEDTikTok: @tedtoksLinkedIn: @ted-conferencesWebsite: ted.comPodcasts: ted.com/podcastsFor the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/fixable-transcripts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Quick Fixes episode, Anne and Frances work to solve three different callers' tricky problems in under 30 minutes. One listener asks for tips on stepping into a first-time leadership role with confidence, the next wants to motivate her disengaged peers, and a final caller worries about navigating their company's growth strategy when it's not at all clear who is in charge. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The resurrection of Barnes & Noble is one of the most remarkable turnaround stories of the modern business era. Chief revival architect and CEO James Daunt joins Anne and Frances to discuss the unconventional leadership strategies that helped him navigate through the pandemic and keep bookstores alive in the age of Amazon and e-books. They explore James's non-hierarchical approach to team building, dive into the challenges he faced on his mission to revitalize the company, and discover the principle at the heart of his strategy: being nice. FollowHosts: Anne Morriss (@annemorriss | LinkedIn: @anne-morriss), Frances Frei (@francesxfrei | LinkedIn: @francesfrei) Guest: James Daunt (Instagram | LinkedIn | Website) Linkshttps://anneandfrances.com/https://www.barnesandnobleinc.com/management/james-daunt/Subscribe to TED Instagram: @tedYouTube: @TEDTikTok: @tedtoksLinkedIn: @ted-conferencesWebsite: ted.comPodcasts: ted.com/podcastsFor the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/fixable-transcripts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When you spot workplace practices that seem less-than-fair, what can you do to stand up for better treatment of someone else? In this episode, Anne and Frances guide a troubled caller who wants to help fix the lopsided pay structures in her organization and advocate for higher compensation for her junior colleagues. Together, they design a plan to gather data and make a rigorous and optimistic case to the higher-ups while supporting those affected in the meantime. FollowHosts: Anne Morriss (@annemorriss | LinkedIn: @anne-morriss), Frances Frei (@francesxfrei | LinkedIn: @francesfrei) Linkshttps://anneandfrances.com/Subscribe to TED Instagram: @tedYouTube: @TEDTikTok: @tedtoksLinkedIn: @ted-conferencesWebsite: ted.comPodcasts: ted.com/podcastsFor the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/fixable-transcripts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Quick Fixes episode, Anne and Frances work to solve three different callers' tricky work problems in under 20 minutes. One listener wants to prepare herself mentally to become a senior leader in her organization, the next struggles to move on from a past conflict with a coworker, and a final caller wonders if it's time to call it quits on their small business.FollowHost: Anne Morriss (Instagram | LinkedIn), Frances Frei (Instagram | LinkedIn)Linkshttps://anneandfrances.com/Subscribe to TED Instagram: @tedYouTube: @TEDTikTok: @tedtoksLinkedIn: @ted-conferencesWebsite: ted.comPodcasts: ted.com/podcastsFor the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/fixable-transcripts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Establishing trust with customers and constituents is the cornerstone of a healthy organization—but frontline teams must learn how to do it. In this episode, Anne and Frances help a concerned caller who worries that her team isn't handling the public's concerns with enough empathy.​​ Together, they brainstorm actionable ways to improve her team's trust-building skills by celebrating wins, leaning on each other to solve problems, and using the tried-and-true “trust triangle” framework to better understand the costs of their communication patterns. For the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/fixable-transcripts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Parenthood and leadership have a shared mission to set other people up for success. Renowned “parenting whisperer” Dr. Becky Kennedy (@drbeckyatgoodinside) joins Anne and Frances to discuss the lessons that parenthood and leadership have to offer each other, from how to repair damaged relationships to the importance of embodying your authority and leading with sturdiness.​​ They also dig into some of the advice in Dr. Becky's bestselling book Good Inside, and reflects on how childhood experiences can affect your adult relationship with conflict.You can find transcripts for Fixable at ted.com/podcasts/fixable-transcripts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When an organization lays people off , those who remain are often left scrambling to find their footing – and hold other people up – in an environment that no longer feels stable. In the wake of ongoing tech layoffs and the Trump administration's efforts to reshape the public sector, Anne and Frances are back with a new Unsolicited Advice segment to set the record straight about what layoffs mean for an organization — and the responsibility leaders have to own what went wrong.For Fixable transcripts, please visit https://www.ted.com/podcasts/fixable-transcripts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Quick Fixes episode, Anne and Frances work to solve three different callers' tricky work problems in under 20 minutes. One listener searches for the best way to level up his small business, the next plans to approach their manager about a dramatic role change, and a final caller is interviewing for a new leadership position that would require him to manage problematic colleagues.What problems are you dealing with at work? Text or call 234-FIXABLE or email fixable@ted.com to be featured on the show.You can find transcripts for Fixable at ted.com/podcasts/fixable-transcripts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, we're bringing you a special episode from Rapid Response featuring Frances in conversation with Bob Safian the former editor-in-chief of Fast Company.Frances and Bob dive into one of the biggest workplace debates today: the real impact of return-to-office mandates. Together, they challenge conventional wisdom about in-person work, reveal the unspoken motivations behind pro-RTO leadership decisions, and share practical strategies for running more efficient meetings — whether remote or in-office. Plus, Frances unpacks how AI is reshaping corporate life in ways that might surprise you.Rapid Response features candid conversations with top business leaders navigating real-time challenges. The pace of change in business is faster than ever — and leaders need to adapt just as quickly. So tune in to Rapid Response for sharp insights and actionable strategies for innovators, creators, and decision-makers.Subscribe to Rapid Response on YouTube: youtube.com/@RapidResponseShow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What do the most powerful people in the world do after they've achieved success? Jared Cohen is a history buff and a presidential historian. His latest book, “Life After Power,” is a fascinating exploration about what seven American presidents did after leaving the most influential job in the world. In this episode of ReThinking with Adam Grant, another podcast in the TED Audio Collective, Adam and Jared discuss the psychology of the founding fathers, debate the pros and cons of pursuing a legacy, and share what these historic figures can teach us all about pursuing and finding purpose.Transcripts for ReThinking are available at go.ted.com/RWAGscriptsFor more, follow ReThinking with Adam Grant wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What should you do when Cupid's arrow strikes at work? Just in time for Valentine's Day, Anne and Frances are digging into the complicated dynamics of office relationships with the help of Tia Silas, HR expert and the new Chief People Officer at MrBeast, after having served in people leadership roles at some of the most influential companies in the world. Together, they discuss best practices for disclosing a new workplace relationship, how to approach your office crush respectfully, and the challenges that romance can create in organizations. What problems are you dealing with at work? Text or call 234-FIXABLE or email fixable@ted.com to be featured on the show.For the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/fixable-transcripts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When negative feedback shakes your confidence, it can be difficult to get back to feeling like yourself at work. In this episode, Anne and Frances help a struggling listener who has spent years toning herself down in the workplace after being told that she was too assertive — now, she feels that her modest approach is holding her back. Together, they use Anne and Frances's “trust triangle” framework to explore how empathy, authenticity, and logic can help you rebuild confidence and trust with your colleagues, and share helpful confidence hacks for getting comfy with discomfort. What problems are you dealing with at work? Text or call 234-FIXABLE or email fixable@ted.com to be featured on the show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sometimes the only way to win is by finding the courage to lose. This week, Anne and Frances want you to “dare to be bad” in order to free up capacity to excel at more important things. They share insight on the power of strategic “no”s, the value of ruthless prioritization, and how Steve Jobs and Apple delivered breakthrough innovation by strategically underperforming. Frances explains why you can't always trust your own instincts, and Anne reflects on the lessons she learned in her early days of parenting. What problems are you dealing with at work? Text or call 234-FIXABLE or email fixable@ted.com to be featured on the show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever felt like something about your identity was getting in the way of your success? This week, a listener needs help pushing through the resistance she's facing as a woman navigating a male-dominated workplace. Anne and Frances discuss what you can do when someone else's bias is standing in your way. Together, the three uncover how you can find your agency in unexpected places – and why you must use it unapologetically. This episode originally aired January 29, 2024.Transcripts for Fixable are available at go.ted.com/fixablescripts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kelli is a nurse at a leading teaching hospital where communication issues are not only leading to resentment – they could also be affecting patient care. After hearing from Kelli about the larger problems at play in the healthcare space, Anne and Frances discuss the link between communication and transparency and guide Kelli into taking matters into her own hands. This episode originally aired on April 3, 2023. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is an episode of a podcast we think you'll love, The Anxious Achiever. Sanyin Siang is an advisor, coach, and adjunct professor at Duke University where she leads the Fuqua/Coach K Leadership and Ethics Center or COLE. She's also someone who believes in being your own best friend, and that starts with the self-talk we have going on in our heads all day long. In this episode, she walks The Anxious Achiever host Morra Aarons-Mele through her superpowers framework, her own quest to find her strengths, and how high-achievers can zero in on our gifts instead of what we need to improve. You can find more The Anxious Achiever wherever you're listening to this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David and his brother have co-founded a non-profit helping Black youth in Miami… but David still has a full-time job. Wanting to turn his passion project into paid, full-time work, David asks Anne and Frances how he can grow his organization without losing his energy. After, Anne and Frances share strategies for fundraising and approaching non-profit work like an entrepreneur. This episode was originally released on April 17, 2023. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What to do when your boss is your father-in-law, your colleague is your cousin, and your business partner is also your life partner? In the last episode of the season, Anne and Frances help a frustrated listener discover new ways to help her family business bounce back. She struggles to innovate when disagreements with her colleagues — who also happen to be her in-laws — repeatedly undermine progress. Together, they explore how to navigate personal relationships in business and how brave communication can help you overcome organizational stalemates. What problems are you dealing with at work? Text or call 234-FIXABLE or email fixable@ted.com to be featured on the show next season. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DEI efforts are focused on giving everyone in the workplace a fair shot at success – and better positioning organizations to excel at what they do. So why is DEI work under attack? And what are some practical ways to avoid setbacks and continue making progress on these goals? Anne and Frances are joined by Dr. Stephanie Creary, a professor at the Wharton School and expert in building more inclusive organizations. Anne, Frances, and Stephanie discuss how diversity strengthens teams, and share strategies leaders can use to make sure everyone on your team can thrive. 

In this Quick Fixes episode, Anne and Frances work to solve three different callers' tricky work problems in under 20 minutes. One listener contemplates the downsides of a promotion, the next wants to learn how to REALLY identify a company's culture, and a final caller needs help interpreting unskilled feedback from their boss. What problems are you dealing with at work right now? Text 234-FIXABLE or email fixable@ted.com to be featured on the show.

From vetting resumes to screening candidates, many employers are using AI tools to identify top talent. But what happens when companies start relying on AI to help them decide who to hire or promote… and who to fire? In this episode of The TED AI Show, another podcast in the TED Audio Collective, host Bilawal Sidhu speaks with journalist Hilke Schellmann, whose research on the rapidly growing use of AI in the workplace highlights where algorithms are helping – and hurting – business. Hilke shares the surprising (and not surprising) ways AI works in the hiring process, and argues that transparency, regulation, and oversight are essential if AI is going to actually benefit employees and employers. For transcripts for The TED AI Show, visit go.ted.com/TTAIS-transcripts  Get more The TED AI show wherever you're listening to this.

Looking for a new job can be daunting for everyone. When you're neurodivergent, the stakes can be even higher in your search for the right role, team, and culture. How can you make the experience less frustrating and more liberating? In part two of Anne and Frances's conversation with psychologist and author Ludmila Praslova they are joined by a caller who is curious about what his recent autism diagnosis means for his job hunt. The four explore questions about disclosure on the job, how to tell if a role is right for you, and how to use self-awareness to your advantage.What problems are you dealing with at work right now? Call or text 234-FIXABLE or email fixable@ted.com to be featured on the show.

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 fixable@ted.com 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 fixable@ted.com 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 fixable@ted.com 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 fixable@ted.com 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 fixable@ted.com 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 fixable@ted.com 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 fixable@ted.com to be featured on the show.Transcripts for Fixable are available at https://go.ted.com/fixablescripts 

To be human is to fail — period. And not just to fail once, but to fail a lot. As the author Samuel Beckett said: “Fail again. Fail better.” Why are we, and so many others, so deeply concerned by failure? And if it's something we all do so often, why are we so afraid of it — especially those of us here in win-at-all-costs America? This is an episode of Fail Better with David Duchovny, from Lemonada Media. Join host David Duchovny as he sits down with actor and comedian Kumail Nanjiani as they share Kumail's recently found new ways of approaching his life, relationship and career with more presence and joy, rather than stressing about the outcome. Listen to new episodes of Fail Better wherever you get your podcasts.

We are back! To kick off the season, Anne and Frances provide some simple but impactful insights that can help you be the best leader you can be. They describe a powerful framework for creating the conditions for other people's success by setting high standards and devotion. Frances shares the right and wrong ways she's been a leader for her students, and Anne contemplates the impact of a growth mindset when it comes to leadership, parenting, and love. What problems are you dealing with at work right now? Call or text 234-FIXABLE or email fixable@ted.com to be featured on the show.Transcripts for Fixable are available at https://go.ted.com/fixablescripts 

Moving fast is essential for companies to do well, especially if they're just starting out, but so making thoughtful, informed decisions. This week, Anne and Frances talk to the head of strategy at a small food startup to help her navigate how to balance thinking things through with and making quick decisions required of her. Anne and Frances help discover how reframing this issue from one of speed to one of trust allows for max productivity in the listener's decision-making processes. Brand new episodes of Fixable will be back next week!If you want to be on Fixable, call our hotline at 234-Fixable (that's 234-349-2253) to leave Anne and Frances a voicemail with your workplace problem or email fixable@ted.com

On Fixable, we're always trying to help listeners solve problems in the best way possible, but holding yourself to impossibly high standards is the other side of the coin that can make solving any work problem miserable. We're sharing an episode of The Happiness Lab, hosted by Dr. Laurie Santos where she hears from researcher Thomas Curran about a worrying growth in perfectionism in society, and asks "recovering perfectionist" Jordana Confino how to tackle the nagging voice in your head telling you to always psh yourself and work harder. Yale professor Dr. Laurie Santos has studied the science of happiness and found that many of us do the exact opposite of what will truly make our lives better. Each week, she will take you through the latest scientific research and share some surprising and inspiring stories that will change the way you think about happiness on The Happiness Lab.We'll be back soon with more episodes from Fixable! If you want to be on Fixable, call our hotline at 234-Fixable (that's 234-349-2253) to leave Anne and Frances a voicemail with your workplace problem or email fixable@ted.com

Today is all about work-life balance, how to raise capital for your business, and what makes a good vs. bad entrepreneur. In this episode of The Prof G Pod with friend of Fixable and best-selling author, professor, and entrepreneur Scott Galloway, we hear from a college student who is about to graduate and wondering whether he's cut out for entrepreneurship. Then, Scott shares the trials and tribulations of getting funding for his businesses. Finally, we hear why Scott is against the idea of balance. You can get more Scott and The Prof G Pod wherever you get your podcasts.We'll be back with more Fixable soon!  If you want to be on Fixable, call our hotline at 234-Fixable (that's 234-349-2253) to leave Anne and Frances a voicemail with your workplace problem or email fixable@ted.com

AI is disrupting the ways we work so this week, we bring you a TED Talks Daily episode that we think will bring you a fresh perspective. Tune in for a TED Talk exploring the introduction of AI into the workforce and what embracing technological progress means for the people who could be replaced. This talk is from another podcast in the TED Audio Collective, TED Talks Daily. It's a show that gives you the latest TED talks in audio every week day to ignite your curiosity and learn something new. You can listen to TED Talks Daily wherever you get your podcasts.

Sometimes the best way to fix a work problem is by taking a vacation. Yet, people tend to not use all their paid time off. This week, we have an episode of WorkLife for you that explores why vacation and actual rest time on the weekends can help you be your most productive and happiest self at work. Host Adam Grant examines the evidence on recovery and burnout, and might help you learn to turn on do not disturb.WorkLife is another podcast from the TED Audio Collective where organizational psychologist Adam Grant takes you inside the minds of some of the world' most unusual professionals to discover the keys to a better work life. These insightful conversations will make you never see your job the same way again. Find WorkLife wherever you get your podcasts.Available transcripts for WorkLife can be found at go.ted.com/WLtranscripts