Guy Kawasaki's Remarkable People

What if success depends less on merit and more on the quiet transfer of status? In this episode, Guy Kawasaki interviews Toby Stuart, UC Berkeley Haas professor and leading expert on innovation and social networks, to break open the unseen systems that shape who rises and why. Drawing from his new book Anointed, Toby explains how institutions — universities, investors, employers — confer credibili...

Erin Nance is an orthopedic surgeon who has seen firsthand how often patients—especially women—are misdiagnosed, dismissed, or overlooked. In this conversation with Guy Kawasaki, she unpacks why curiosity and humility matter more than hierarchy, how AI is reshaping diagnosis, and why being believed can be lifesaving. Drawing from her book Little Miss Diagnosed, Erin challenges how medicine is prac...

What makes ordinary people do extraordinary things? In this episode of Remarkable People, bestselling author and historian Lynne Olson joins Guy Kawasaki to uncover the powerful story behind The Sisterhood of Ravensbrück—a true account of courage, solidarity, and resistance inside Hitler’s largest concentration camp for women. Through her signature storytelling, Olson shares how a group of French...

What makes humans so predictably irrational? Nobel Laureate Richard Thaler and Alex Imas join Guy Kawasaki to reveal the quirks that shape our decisions—from golf greens to stock markets. Drawing from their new book, The Winner’s Curse: Then and Now, they revisit the field they helped pioneer: behavioral economics. This episode is a masterclass in understanding why the smartest people make the str...

How do you know what to believe online? In this re-run episode of Remarkable People, Guy Kawasaki talks with Mike Caulfield, research scientist at the University of Washington’s Center for an Informed Public, about the SIFT method—a practical framework for evaluating online information. Mike explains how to stop, investigate sources, find trusted coverage, and trace claims back to their origins, d...

What does leadership look like when the world keeps shifting beneath you? Dara Treseder—Chief Marketing Officer of Autodesk—joins Guy to share how people-first decision-making and focusing on what you can control help leaders stay grounded in uncertain times. Dara breaks down how Autodesk’s design-and-make platform touches everything from buildings to Oscar-winning films, and why bold moves like p...

Ann Wolbert Burgess is no ordinary nurse or researcher—she helped shape the FBI’s profiling program and redefined forensic nursing. In this episode of Remarkable People, she shares gripping insights from the Menendez brothers trial, the Duke lacrosse case, and decades of work with victims of trauma. We also discuss her new book Expert Witness, which shines light on what really happens inside court...

What does it take to stay grounded when the world feels increasingly disconnected and tech-driven? That’s the question at the center of this conversation with Baratunde Thurston. A cultural critic, outdoor explorer, author, technologist, and host of Life With Machines and America Outdoors, Baratunde is impossible to categorize—and that’s exactly why this episode lands with such force. We dig into...

Behind every delayed diagnosis and dismissed symptom is a woman who deserved better. In this moving conversation, Guy Kawasaki talks with Rebecca Bloom, author of When Women Get Sick, about how women’s pain is too often overlooked—and what we can do to change that. With compassion and clarity, Rebecca offers a roadmap for advocacy, empowerment, and hope within a system that desperately needs refor...

What if the key to real leadership isn’t standing tall—but standing firm? In this episode, Brené Brown and Guy Kawasaki unpack the lessons behind her new book Strong Ground. From pickleball injuries to the physics of leadership, Brené explains why teams and societies can’t build on dysfunction—and how true courage begins with stability and self-awareness. Together, they explore what it means to le...

When democracies falter, it’s easy to lose hope. Harvard’s Erica Chenoweth reveals how organized, nonviolent resistance has repeatedly restored freedom where violence failed—and why democracy endures through the courage of ordinary people. Listen now to learn how courage—not violence—changes the course of history. --- Guy Kawasaki is on a mission to make you remarkable. His Remarkable People podca...

What happens when a world-class chef learns that success doesn’t taste like he imagined? David Chang—the culinary force behind Momofuku and author of Eat a Peach—joins Guy Kawasaki to talk about ambition, burnout, scaling the unscalable, and learning to trade Michelin stars for family time. From plumbing disasters to poetic revelations, Chang opens up about the messy, beautiful art of creating som...

Dr. Tom Frieden has spent his career on the front lines of public health, leading the fight against smoking, tuberculosis, influenza, and more as NYC Health Commissioner and CDC Director. In this episode of Remarkable People, Guy Kawasaki explores Frieden’s powerful philosophy for better living, drawn from his book The Formula for Better Health. Together, they discuss the six keys to healthier com...

Before you can lead others, you have to know what leads you. In this episode of Remarkable People, Guy Kawasaki talks with Robert Glazer — bestselling author of The Compass Within — about the hidden forces that shape our choices, define our values, and ultimately determine our direction in life. Robert reveals how to uncover your “magnetic north,” align your work with your personal truth, and reco...

What if the secret to organizational success isn’t another management fad but a return to the basics of how work actually gets done? Don Kieffer, senior lecturer at MIT Sloan and former Harley-Davidson executive, joins me on Remarkable People to unpack the five principles of Dynamic Work Design. With stories ranging from factory floors to biotech startups, Don reveals why firefighting cultures sta...

Jane Goodall transformed how we see the natural world and our place in it. In this tribute episode, Guy Kawasaki revisits their past conversations filled with humor, courage, and wisdom. Jane reflects on her early journey to Africa, the groundbreaking discoveries with chimpanzees, and her tireless advocacy for conservation and youth through Roots & Shoots. Thank you Jane for making this world...

What happens when a former CIA operative turns bestselling novelist? Barry Eisler has the answer. In this episode of Remarkable People, Guy Kawasaki explores Barry’s transformation from covert missions to crafting thrillers that keep readers up all night. From his early days in intelligence to his sharp-eyed commentary on government overreach, Barry shares how truth and fiction often blur. His new...

What does it take to truly reinvent yourself? Ilana Golan knows. From breaking barriers in her career to building new paths where none existed, Ilana’s story is proof that reinvention isn’t just possible—it’s necessary. In this episode of Remarkable People, she shares how to pivot with purpose, embrace uncertainty, and turn setbacks into opportunities. Her journey offers powerful lessons in resili...

What does it take to build a brand that dominates the mind—and outlasts the competition? Positioning strategist Laura Ries has the answer. As the president of Ries & Ries and co-author of the classic 22 Immutable Laws of Branding, Laura has advised Fortune 500 companies around the world. In this conversation, she shares how growing up with her father, branding legend Al Ries, shaped her career...

We’ve got a bonus episode for you on  Remarkable People ! This feedswap with  Rapid Response  features Canva co-founder and COO Cliff Obrecht. For more than a decade, Canva has made design accessible to everyone. Now, as AI reshapes the creative world, the company faces new challenges and opportunities. Cliff reveals how Canva is navigating this shift, why values-driven leadership m...

What happens when one man reshapes movies, television, e-commerce, and tech—then tells you exactly how he did it, flaws and all? That’s Barry Diller. From running Paramount Pictures and Fox to steering IAC and Expedia, he’s been at the center of cultural and business revolutions for decades. In this candid conversation, Barry opens up about his unconventional path, his belief in bold ideas, and wh...

What if the path to building a lasting company isn't about explosive growth and quick exits? Dave Whorton, former venture capitalist, challenges Silicon Valley's "get big fast or die" mentality in this eye-opening conversation. After witnessing the Netscape IPO transform startup culture forever, Dave discovered an alternative approach: evergreen companies built for profitability, purpose, and gene...

What happens when the Secretary of State becomes a target for standing up to the most powerful person in America? Meet Jocelyn Benson, Michigan's fearless Secretary of State who has faced down violent mobs, presidential threats, and assassination lists—all while protecting democracy and voting rights. From her undercover work investigating the KKK as a young journalist to her current run for Michi...

What happens when you combine groundbreaking genetic research with deep spiritual wisdom? Meet Francis Collins - the physician-geneticist who led the Human Genome Project, directed the NIH under five presidents, and helped develop the cure for cystic fibrosis. In this fascinating conversation, Francis reveals how he searches for three missing letters among 3 billion, why the COVID vaccine represen...

What happens when a high school government teacher becomes America's most trusted voice on democracy? Sharon McMahon transformed from classroom educator to social media sensation by explaining politics with facts, civility, and clarity. Known as "America's Government Teacher," she reveals how she accidentally became a democratic educator during the pandemic and shares insights from her book The Sm...