Radical Candor: Communication at Work

Why do so many leaders work hard to change — only to end up in the same place months later? What if the problem isn’t effort, but the beliefs running in the background?

In this episode of The Radical Candor Podcast, Kim Scott and Amy Sandler are joined by Muriel Wilkins — executive coach, C-suite advisor, host of Coaching Real Leaders, and author of Leadership Unblocked. Together, they unpack why high performers default to action, how action bias can backfire when internal beliefs stay the same, and what it takes to create sustainable leadership growth.

Muriel introduces seven common “hidden blockers,” including I need it done now, I can’t say no, and I don’t belong here, and explains how these beliefs drive behavior that feels productive in the short term but creates dissonance over time. The conversation also explores how leaders can build the muscle of noticing what’s happening internally, ask better coaching questions without attachment, and reduce unnecessary suffering by changing how they respond to challenges.

If you’ve ever wondered, “Why do I keep ending up here again?” this episode offers a grounded, practical way forward.

Connect:


⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠


⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠


⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠


⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠


⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠


⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠

Resources for show notes: 


Leadership Unblocked: Break Through the Beliefs That Limit Your Potential book 


The Hidden Beliefs That Hold Leaders Back Harvard Business Review article


Coaching Real Leaders podcast


Own the Room: Discover Your Signature Voice to Master Your Leadership Presence book


Muriel Wilkins website


Muriel Wilkins on Radical Candor podcast

Chapters:

(00:00) Introduction + Muriel Returns

(01:20) Why Muriel Wrote Leadership Unblocked

(01:50) Action Bias: Why Change Doesn’t Stick

(03:00) Actions vs. Your Internal Operating System

(04:04) The Fix-It Reflex in Work and Life

(06:01) Discomfort, Control, and the Urge to Solve

(09:25) Hidden Blockers: What They Are and Why They’re Hidden

(10:57) The 7 Hidden Blockers (Overview)

(11:48) “I Need It Done Now” and Reframing Time

(17:03) Building the Noticing Muscle

(39:58) Coaching Yourself Before Coaching Others

(53:33) Conclusion

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What do you do when the career path that once felt clear no longer is? What if that stuck, uneasy feeling in the middle of your career isn’t a failure, it’s information and an opportunity to rewrite your career story.

On this episode of The Radical Candor Podcast, Adrion Porter founder of Mid-Career Mastery, host of the podcast Gen X Amplified, and a LinkedIn top voice joins Kim and Jason to talk honestly about the “Messy Middle” and what to do when your old definitions of success no longer fit. 

Together, they explore Adrion’s Mastery Map, a practical framework for getting unstuck by letting go of limiting beliefs, finding meaning, and making intentional choices even when the next step isn’t obvious.  They also dig into navigating generational differences, the reality of different lived experiences and the divisive stories we tell ourselves and how to strengthen relationships across generations.

If you’re feeling stuck, uncertain about what’s next, or frustrated that doing your best work feels harder than it used to, this conversation offers grounded ways to move forward.

Get all of the show notes at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RadicalCandor.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Episode Links:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Transcript⁠⁠

About Adrion Porter⁠⁠

Follow Adrion on LinkedIn⁠⁠

⁠Learn More About Mid-Career Mastery⁠


⁠Listen to Adrion's Podcast, Gen X Amplified⁠⁠

Explore Adrion's Framework, The Mastery Map⁠⁠

Connect:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Chapters:

(00:00) Introduction

(02:04) Adrion’s Origin StoryA layoff at 40 forces Adrion to rethink what’s next.

(06:51) Owning Your StoryKim & Adrion explore the narratives that had Kim stuck and how she rewrote those.

(09:02) Mindset & Limiting BeliefsWhy reframing how you think is the first step forward.

(11:48) The Mastery Map FrameworkThe pillars of the framework: mindset, meaning, and milestones.

(16:23) When You Feel TrappedNavigating change when money, family, or expectations limit options.

(17:48) The Framework in ActionAdrion tells the story of  a specific application of the framework.

(20:39) Breakthrough Moments from the WorkWhat Adrion sees when people finally rewrite their story.

(23:04) From Messy Middle to Magical MiddleWhy mid-career can be a season of reinvention.

(26:42) Generations & Work StoriesHow different generations think about success and work.

(32:37) Wisdom, Age & Radical CandorWhat experience adds to communication and feedback.

(37:25) One Action to Take This WeekA practical step to start changing your story now.(38:21) Conclusion
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The early internet was built on big hopes—access, openness, connection, and the belief that technology could make the world fairer. In this episode of The Radical Candor Podcast, Kim & Jason are in conversation with Steven Levy. His recent article, “I thought I knew Silicon Valley. I was wrong.”, becomes the lens through which they revisit tech’s early promise and its reality today.

They take an honest look at the optimism that shaped Silicon Valley’s early culture and how those ideals unraveled. Kim & Steven candidly share their unique perspective of  how it feels to recognize the gap between what they believed and what actually happened as two people who had a front row seat. 

If you’re looking for a thoughtful, grounded, and honest conversation about how tech’s story was written—and rewritten—in real time, and what today’s leaders can learn from examining both intention and impact, this episode offers clarity and perspective you can apply right now.

Get all of the show notes at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RadicalCandor.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Episode Links:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"I Thought I Knew Silicon Valley, I was Wrong"

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠About Steven Levy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Steven Levy's Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Steven Levy's Books⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"Virtual Love" by Kim Scott

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"Enshittification" by Cory Doctorow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"The Age of Extraction" by Tim Wu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Chapters:

(00:00) Introduction

Kim, Jason, and Steven set the stage for a reflective look at Silicon Valley’s promise and reality.

(01:39) “I Thought I Knew Silicon Valley. I Was Wrong.”

Steven shares what led him to write the article and how his perspective shifted.

(03:38) From Idealism to Influence: When Tech’s Culture Shifted

Exploring the moment Silicon Valley’s playful, rebellious spirit hardened into something more powerful—and less accountable.

(06:30) Recalling the Internet We Hoped For

Revisiting the early optimism that shaped the web and the disillusionment that followed.

(12:27) The Claims of AI

Examining the bold promises tech leaders make about AI—and why skepticism matters.

(15:01) The Long Tail

Early optimism about the internet’s potential to democratize opportunity.

(16:56) Enshittification & The Age of Extraction

Cory Doctorow’s framework, antitrust debates, and how market consolidation reshaped the online ecosystem.

(20:05) Do a CEO’s Values Matter?

A look at how leaders like Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos have evolved—and what that means for their companies.

(24:37) What to Do When You Don’t Align With Your Company

Reflecting on how to stay true to your values when the culture around you shifts.

(29:36) Looking Back with Clearer Eyes

Kim reckons with past choices, blind spots, and what accountability looks like now.

(32:29) What Corrupted Silicon Valley

When too much money and power are concentrated in too few hands.

(33:56) Conclusion
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How do you fix what’s not working without losing trust in the process? On this episode of The Radical Candor Podcast, Kim and Amy talk with beloved Harvard Business professor Frances Frei and her wife, CEO and bestselling author Anne Morriss, about why speed and care aren’t opposites — and how the right sequence of actions can help you go faster and strengthen relationships along the way.

Anne and Frances break down the five-day framework behind their book Move Fast and Fix Things, share real stories from coaching leaders and teams, and explain why so many of us misdiagnose the problems we’re trying to solve. They also walk through their “trust triangle” — authenticity, logic, and empathy — and reveal how understanding your own “wobbles” can help you communicate more clearly, lead with confidence, and create momentum without leaving people behind.

Get all of the show notes at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RadicalCandor.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Episode Links:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Transcript⁠

Get a Copy of "Move Fast and Fix Things"

Learn more about Anne & Frances

Listen to the Fixable podcast

Connect:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Chapters:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:49) The Why & Origins of Move Fast and Fix Things

Frances and Anne explain how speed and care can work together.

(05:03) Monday: Start by Diagnosing the Right Problem

Why so many leaders fix the wrong thing—and how to avoid it.

(07:38) The Velvet Coffin

The Dangers of moving too slowly

(12:55) How to Solve the Right Problem

Approaches to use to get to the true problem

(15:49) Coaching Effectively

 A real world story of getting to & solving  the correct problem.

(19:09) The Trust Triangle: Logic, Empathy, Authenticity

How trust wobbles show up and what to do about them.

(30:55) Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

The remaining steps in the framework

(32:09) Dealing with Bosses

How to speak truth to power using the trust triangle and scripts

(38:30) Scooby Snacks

Examples of positive feedback

(42:44) Conclusion
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Difficult conversations don’t get easier by avoiding them—but they can get better when you prepare for them by getting curious. On this episode of The Radical Candor Podcast, Kim talks with Jeff Wetzler, author of ASK, about how staying curious helps us understand what others are really thinking and feeling.

Jeff walks us through the curiosity curve and explains how to move into greater curiosity to reduce misunderstandings, deepen trust, and make space for more honest, helpful conversations—at work and at home.

If you’ve ever faced a moment where you weren’t sure how to start, what to say, or how someone might react, this episode offers simple tools to help you connect with care and communicate with greater clarity.

Get all of the show notes at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RadicalCandor.com⁠

Episode Links:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


⁠Transcript⁠


⁠Jeff Wetzler


⁠Book | Ask


⁠Article | The Right Way To Prepare for High Stakes Conversations


⁠Jason Rosoff : Get Curious Not Furious | YouTube

Connect:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Chapters:

(00:00) Preparing for High Stakes Conversations

 Jeff and Kim chat about why curiosity is essential for high stakes conversations

(03:17) The Curiosity Arc

Jeff introduces the sections of the Arc

(12:34) The Curiosity Check

Checking in to see where you are and where you want to be

(18:16) How to Move Along the Arc

Jeff explains head, heart, and hand-based ways to move along the Arc

(27:06) Letting Go

The importance of exhaling and letting go of the agenda in leadership

(31:34) Dialectical Behavioural Therapy

Kim & Jeff discuss the use of DBT 

(32:43) Checking Someone Else’s Curiosity Level

Jeff explains how to help others get curious 

(37:56) Curiosity and Candor

Kim explores why curiosity is essential to candor

(41:54) Conclusion
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