ReThinking

Latest Episodes:

The psychology of compatibility with Malcolm Gladwell Oct 22, 2026

Show notes

On tour for his new book, Vibe: The Secrets of Strong Connections in a Lonely World, Adam sits down for a crackling live event with journalist and author Malcolm Gladwell. They discuss and debate the building blocks of compatibility. Adam and Malcolm reflect on why our first impressions of people are often wrong, why people are so drawn to astrology, and how we can fix dating apps. They also explore which relationships are actually toxic, how parent-child bonds change as kids grow, and what it means to be a nerd.

To order Vibe, join Adam on tour, and take a quiz about how you connect, visit www.adamgrant.net/vibe.

Featured guest

Follow Malcolm Gladwell on Instagram and at his website
Buy Malcom's books here

Connect with the team

Follow Adam on Instagram, LinkedIn, and at adamgrant.net/
Subscribe to Adam’s Substack Granted
Watch ReThinking videos on YouTube at TEDPods
Follow TED on X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTok

ReThinking is produced by Cosmic Standard. Our Senior Producer is Jessica Glazer, our Engineer is Aja Simpson, our Technical Director is Jacob Winik, and our Executive Producer is Eliza Smith.

For the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/rethinking-with-adam-grant-transcripts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to shift a vibe with M. Night Shyamalan Oct 14, 2026

Show notes

On tour for his new book, Vibe: The Secrets of Strong Connections in a Lonely World, Adam sits down with filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan to discuss how to spark, strengthen, and shift a vibe, how many close connections it’s possible to have, and why instant chemistry doesn’t always lend itself to long-term compatibility. Adam also shares insights on connection from basketball teams and married couples, and Night pulls back the curtain on how he changes his crews to set up surprising twists in movies like The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, and The Village.

To preorder Vibe, join Adam on tour, and take a quiz about how you connect, visit www.adamgrant.net/vibe.

Featured guest

Follow M. Night Shyamalan on Instagram, YouTube, and X

Connect with the team

Follow Adam on Instagram, LinkedIn, and at adamgrant.net/
Subscribe to Adam’s Substack Granted
Watch ReThinking videos on YouTube at TEDPods
Follow TED on X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTok

ReThinking is produced by Cosmic Standard. Our Senior Producer is Jessica Glazer, our Engineer is Aja Simpson, our Technical Director is Jacob Winik, and our Executive Producer is Eliza Smith.

For the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/rethinking-with-adam-grant-transcripts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to sustain a vibe with Olympic champions Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir Oct 06, 2026

Show notes

To celebrate the launch of his new book, Vibe, Adam is doing a special series on how to build strong connections. First up are Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, the most decorated figure skaters in Olympic history, who teamed up before they were ten and won three golds and two silvers over 22 years together. In this episode, Tessa and Scott share how stark differences in their personalities helped and hindered their work together, demonstrate how they learned to have difficult conversations, and explain why you don’t need to be alike to be aligned around a common goal. Adam introduces the three different wavelengths people can connect on, and explores how Tessa and Scott’s vibe evolved to support their success over time.

To preorder Vibe, join Adam on tour, and take a quiz about how you connect, visit www.adamgrant.net/vibe.

Featured guest

Follow Tessa Virtue on Instagram, TikTok, and listen to her podcast Virtuoso
Follow Scott Moir on Instagram

Connect with the team

Follow Adam on Instagram, LinkedIn, and at adamgrant.net/
Subscribe to Adam’s Substack Granted
Watch ReThinking videos on YouTube at TEDPods
Follow TED on X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTok

And for more from Tessa, check out her new podcast Virtuoso: https://www.instagram.com/tessavirtue17/?hl=en

ReThinking is produced by Cosmic Standard. Our Senior Producer is Jessica Glazer, our Engineer is Aja Simpson, our Technical Director is Jacob Winik, and our Executive Producer is Eliza Smith.

For the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/rethinking-with-adam-grant-transcripts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The case for male vulnerability with Luke Bateman Sep 29, 2026

Show notes

Women are frequently disenfranchised and discriminated against by systems that favor men, but these same systems hurt men, too. Luke Bateman is a former professional rugby player who has gained a following online making videos about his love of fantasy novels and the hidden costs of patriarchy for men and boys. In this episode, Luke opens up about how narrow ideals of masculinity led him into a cycle of addiction, and how he pulled himself out by deconstructing his beliefs about what it means to be a man. Luke and Adam discuss the psychology of “precarious manhood,” the power of vulnerability as a skill that builds resilience, and the strategies for helping men express their emotions and evolve their beliefs. Luke also reframes when it means to be a protector and provider, and encourages men and boys to find themselves in books.

Featured guest

Follow Luke Bateman on Instagram and TikTok
Listen to In the Good Books podcast

Connect with the team

Follow Adam on Instagram, LinkedIn, and at adamgrant.net/
Subscribe to Adam’s Substack Granted
Watch ReThinking videos on YouTube at TEDPods
Follow TED on X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTok

ReThinking is produced by Cosmic Standard. Our Senior Producer is Jessica Glazer, our Engineer is Aja Simpson, our Technical Director is Jacob Winik, and our Executive Producer is Eliza Smith.

For the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/rethinking-with-adam-grant-transcripts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why you shouldn’t wait for inspiration to strike with Harlan Coben Sep 22, 2026

Show notes

Harlan Coben has written 35 bestsellers in the past three decades, selling over 90 million novels and spawning some of the most popular miniseries on Netflix– including I Will Find You. He recently published his first nonfiction book, Plot Twist: a writing guide packaged inside a memoir. In this episode, Adam and Harlan take a closer look at the routines and habits that help Harlan stay so prolific with his writing, and Harlan emphasises the importance of being comfortable with boredom and treating writing like a job. Harlan also reflects on what he learned while collaborating with Reese Witherspoon on their novel Gone Before Goodbye, and the difference between equality and equity in relationships. Adam shares insights on the biggest mistakes people make while pursuing happiness, and why successful people aren’t free of doubts.

Featured guest

Follow Harlan Coben on Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and through his website
Buy Plot Twist

Connect with the team

Follow Adam on Instagram, LinkedIn, and at adamgrant.net/
Subscribe to Adam’s Substack Granted
Watch ReThinking videos on YouTube at TEDPods
Follow TED on X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTok

ReThinking is produced by Cosmic Standard. Our Senior Producer is Jessica Glazer, our Engineer is Aja Simpson, our Technical Director is Jacob Winik, and our Executive Producer is Eliza Smith.

For the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/rethinking-with-adam-grant-transcripts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rethinking your career identity with Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan Sep 15, 2026

Show notes

You probably know Ke Huy Quan as the Academy Award-winning actor who played Waymond Wang in the 2022 film Everything Everywhere All at Once, and Short Round in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom when he was just 12 years old. But for a long stretch of his career, Ke wasn’t acting at all. In this episode, Adam sits down with Ke to reflect on the winding story arc of his life, from his early childhood as a Vietnamese refugee to being thrust into Hollywood, only to be forced into a new career path before finding his way back to acting in his 50s. Ke shares the lessons he learned about persistence and resilience as he rethought his identity as an actor and built a career behind the camera. Adam also explains why refusing to ask for help is a disservice to those around you, and Ke explains how he maintains kindness and humility in a cutthroat industry.

Featured guest

Follow Ke Huy Quan on Instagram
Buy Ke's book, Never Say Die

Connect with the team

Follow Adam on Instagram, LinkedIn, and at adamgrant.net/
Subscribe to Adam’s Substack Granted
Watch ReThinking videos on YouTube at TEDPods
Follow TED on X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTok

ReThinking is produced by Cosmic Standard. Our Senior Producer is Jessica Glazer, our Engineer is Aja Simpson, our Technical Director is Jacob Winik, and our Executive Producer is Eliza Smith.

For the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/rethinking-with-adam-grant-transcripts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The difference between joy and relief with Allison Sweet Grant Sep 08, 2026

Show notes

If you or a loved one has suffered from severe illness, you know that recovery isn’t always as joyful as it sounds. In this episode, Adam’s wife Allison Sweet Grant is back to talk about her new memoir “Lump,” a collection of poetry and prose about her experience with breast cancer. Allison and Adam reflect on their experience as a family dealing with a difficult diagnosis in the middle of the COVID pandemic, and Allison shares her complicated relationship with being called a “survivor.” They discuss how many patients downplay their pain to appease their providers, explain why many patients feel more relief than joy during recovery, and address how we can provide better support to our loved ones. They also talk about Allison’s synesthesia, revisit their beloved driving debate (is the lead or following car responsible for staying together on a multi-car trip?) and open several new ones (is Seinfeld better than Friends, and is true crime scarier than fiction?).

Featured guest

Follow Allison Sweet Grant on Instagram, LinkedIn, and https://www.allisonsweetgrant.com/
Buy Allison's books!

Connect with the team

Follow Adam on Instagram, LinkedIn, and at adamgrant.net/
Subscribe to Adam’s Substack Granted
Watch ReThinking videos on YouTube at TEDPods
Follow TED on X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTok

ReThinking is produced by Cosmic Standard. Our Senior Producer is Jessica Glazer, our Engineer is Aja Simpson, our Technical Director is Jacob Winik, and our Executive Producer is Eliza Smith.

For the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/rethinking-with-adam-grant-transcripts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How leaders build a collective identity with Vanessa Beasley Sep 01, 2026

Show notes

The way leaders communicate can have a big impact on how we see ourselves. Vanessa Beasley is an expert on presidential rhetoric—and the president of Trinity University in San Antonio. In this episode, Adam and Vanessa take a closer look at how rhetoric used by past US presidents has shaped the identity of the American people, and explore some common rhetorical mistakes that leaders make when trying to persuade their audience. They also discuss why so many students are booing commencement speeches on AI, whether listening skills are declining, and how we can improve critical thinking on college campuses.

Featured guest

Follow Vanessa Beasley on LinkedIn and at trinity.edu/president/beasley-bio

Connect with the team

Follow Adam on Instagram, LinkedIn, and at adamgrant.net/
Subscribe to Adam’s Substack Granted
Watch ReThinking videos on YouTube at TEDPods
Follow TED on X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTok

ReThinking is produced by Cosmic Standard. Our Senior Producer is Jessica Glazer, our Engineer is Aja Simpson, our Technical Director is Jacob Winik, and our Executive Producer is Eliza Smith.

For the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/rethinking-with-adam-grant-transcripts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dolly Parton is burning up, not burning out | from WorkLife with Adam Grant (re-release) Aug 28, 2026

Show notes

Dolly Parton's hit songs — like "9 to 5," "Jolene" and "I Will Always Love You" — have captured generation after generation. In this episode, recorded around the release of "Run, Rose, Run" (her novel co-written with James Patterson and paired with a full-length companion album), host Adam Grant talks with Dolly about her creative process, how she balances getting things right with getting things done and how she manages the hefty cup of ambition she pours herself each morning.

(This episode originally aired in 2022.)

ReThinking is produced by Cosmic Standard. Our Senior Producer is Jessica Glazer, our Engineer is Aja Simpson, our Technical Director is Jacob Winik, and our Executive Producer is Eliza Smith.

For the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/rethinking-with-adam-grant-transcripts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is emotional regulation always a good thing? with Julie Bowen and Aliza Pressman Aug 25, 2026

Show notes

Julie Bowen is an Emmy Award-winning actress best known from her roles as Claire on Modern Family and Virginia in Happy Gilmore. She’s also a former host of the podcast Quitters, which she eventually quit. In this episode, Adam and Julie are joined by developmental psychologist Aliza Pressman for a delightful conversation about authenticity, emotional intelligence, and parenting. Julie makes the case for why sometimes quitting is the most mature thing to do, and shares what she’s learned from coaching her sons through commitments they no longer wanted to uphold. She interrogates Adam about his inability to get angry, and he and Aliza speculate on what would happen if everyone was perfectly emotionally regulated. The three also reflect on the difficult truth that you cannot change how others act, and explore strategies for teaching kids (and yourself) how to handle conflict between the values you hold and the way you actually behave.

Featured guests

Follow Julie Bowen on Instagram and TikTok
Follow Aliza Pressman on Instagram, LinkedIn, Substack, and at draliza.com/

Connect with the team

Follow Adam on Instagram, LinkedIn, and at adamgrant.net/
Subscribe to Adam’s Substack Granted
Watch ReThinking videos on YouTube at TEDPods
Follow TED on X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTok

ReThinking is produced by Cosmic Standard. Our Senior Producer is Jessica Glazer, our Engineer is Aja Simpson, our Technical Director is Jacob Winik, and our Executive Producer is Eliza Smith.

For the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/rethinking-with-adam-grant-transcripts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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