Fixable

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 Lemonad...

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 m...

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 spee...

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 a...

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 tribu...

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 give...

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...

How do I send my message clearly when put on the spot? How do I write emails to get my point across? How can I easily convey complex information? How do I manage my reputation? Whether you’re giving a toast or presenting in a meeting, communication is critical to success in business and in life. This is an episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart from Stanford Graduate School of Business. Join Matt Abrah...

This is an episode of Design Matters featuring Fixable hosts Anne Morriss and Frances Frei. You'll receive a deep dive into the lives of them both, learning how they became the influential leaders they are today, as well as their process writing their new book, Move Fast and Fix Things.  Design Matters with Debbie Millman is one of the world's very first podcasts. Broadcasting independently for ov...

Here on Fixable, we've addressed countless tough problems people face at work. One of the toughest problems companies deal with is when leaders don't see eye to eye. We know you enjoyed our previous episode about OpenAI, so we thought we'd share more insight into how the company behind ChatGPT went about solving their leadership problem on this episode from The TED AI Show, a new podcast from the...

If you listen to Fixable, then maybe you've sometime wished someone would just help you figure out your life. John Paul Brammer’s job is to do exactly that – he’s the writer behind the hit advice column Hola Papi. Today, in an episode from another podcast in the TED Audio Collective, How to Be a Better Human, John talks about how he's helped all kinds of people on topics big and small. John reveal...

This is an episode of another podcast we think you'll enjoy, A Slight Change of Plans, hosted by former TED Speaker Dr. Maya Shankar. Brené Brown is a bestselling author and social scientist known for her work on complex emotions like shame and vulnerability. She opens up to Maya about the evolution of some of her most important identities: big sister, recovering perfectionist, and reluctant publi...

Whether it's a hiccup at your job or a systemic issue that affects everyone you know, we've all encountered obstacles that just seem impossible to overcome. This week, Anne and Frances are joined by Master Fixer, journalist, and Revisionist History host Malcolm Gladwell, who shares his experience tackling big, complex challenges -- from rethinking homelessness in America to dysfunction in college...

Experience is not always seen as an asset in a world that equates innovation and youth, particularly in fast-moving industries like tech and art. How do you convince others that your work still matters…now more than ever? This week, Anne and Frances help digital artist and TED Fellow Julie Freeman break free from her own story about aging and relevance. What problems are you dealing with at work r...

This week, we wanted to give you a chance to check out another amazing show from the TED Audio Collective, The TED AI Show – a podcast meant to guide us through the mystifying world of artificial intelligence. We heard you when you said you enjoyed our AI episode with A.J. Jacobs – so we think this is going to be right up your alley. Our host and creative technologist, Bilawal Sidhu, sits down wit...

It happens all the time - new leaders come in and make big changes. So how do we adapt to new styles and strategies? And protect the things we don’t want to change? This week, Anne and Frances help a senior executive build a more resilient future for his organization. Our listener leaves with a plan of action that is relevant for anyone who wants to leave a legacy they’re proud of. What problems a...

Starbucks’ stock price dropped sharply after the company reported a significant slowdown in visits to its stores in both the U.S. and China, its two biggest markets. Sales and profits are also not going in the right direction. Everybody seems to be worked up about company performance, especially former chairman and CEO Howard Schultz. Anne and Frances spill the tea (er, coffee) on how Starbucks an...

In a new Quick Fixes segment, Anne and Frances swiftly tackle the work problems of not one but two listeners, delivering relatable advice for both hard-working professionals in under 20 minutes. One listener struggles with how to quit gracefully, and another is challenged by their team’s slow pace. Both issues require a shift in perspective to understand how other people experience us in the workp...

Listen to Fixable ’s first live show at TED2024! Anne and Frances sat down with NYU professor, entrepreneur, best-selling author and celebrity podcaster Scott “Prof G” Galloway for a fascinating conversation on loneliness, resilience, inclusion in the workplace, raising healthy boys and what it takes to be personally and financially successful. Stick around to the end to hear how Scott learned to...

What do you do when there’s too much work but not enough people to do it? Bring in some support! This week, Anne and Frances talk to a listener whose expert sales team can no longer keep up with everything the company offers. Together, Anne and Frances outline ways to simplify work for a stressed out team—including the use of AI to reduce complexity and increase capacity. They also offer advice fo...

This is an episode of The TED Interview, another podcast from the TED Audio Collective, that we think you'll enjoy. To get a free copy of the Infectious Generosity book, visit ted.com/generosity Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft and the co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is one of the top ten richest people in the world. But since 2008, he has traded his day-to-day role with M...

Bullies can’t bully alone – they need other people to participate in their campaigns to shame, discredit, and exclude their targets. This means that we often have more power than we realize to stop bullying in the workplace. In Part 2 of Anne and Frances’s conversation with Master Fixer and social psychologist Amy Cuddy, they explore smart, simple actions all of us can take to prevent bullying and...

(Note: This is an updated version of this episode – if you previously downloaded audio and got a different podcast, thanks for your patience as we deliver you the right episode, which is this one! The original episode is also updated and you can find it in this same feed.) Where do bullies go when they grow up? New research shows they just move from the playground to the workplace. This week, Mast...

Where do bullies go when they grow up? New research shows they just move from the playground to the workplace. This week, Master Fixer and social psychologist Amy Cuddy joins Anne and Frances to walk us through the strikingly stable patterns bullies follow to undermine and ostracize their targets – patterns that are way more common than you might think. Stay tuned for part two where Cuddy details...

Multiple deadly crashes, a door flying off mid-flight, a CEO forced to step down Boeing has had more than a few disasters. And in case anyone at Boeing is listening, Anne and Frances have some advice to offer for our first ever “Unsolicited Advice” episode. How can a company redeem itself after so many appalling headlines? Where does the leadership team go from here? Listen for valuable takeaways...