Fixable

Most of us try to avoid conflict, particularly at work. But when done right, conflict can be a tool to strengthen interpersonal bonds and generate better results. In this episode, Anne and Frances team up with Amanda Ripley, global conflict journalist and author of the bestselling book High Conflict: Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out . They tackle the missteps teams often make when it comes to...

When your organization is bending under the weight of external pressures, it can be difficult to lead your team with strength and clarity. In this episode, Anne and Frances guide a caller who is grappling with burnout as she leads her LGBTQ+ organization through a challenging political climate. Together, they identify strategies for motivating a team with low morale, adapting to a changing environ...

You might know Kate Moennig and Leisha Hailey from their iconic roles as best friends Shane and Alice on The L Word—they’re best friends in real life, too! In this special episode, Anne and Frances talk with Kate and Leisha about their new book So Gay for You and uncover the story of their friendship and its critical role in their success as actors on the show (and beyond). They dig into the benef...

A good boss is a rare breed. That’s because running an organisation is hard. It means getting to grips with the world’s most baffling substance: people. The Economist ’s management columnist, Andrew Palmer, is here to help. With his trademark wit, he distills advice and experience from bosses across business and the public sector.  Whether you manage people now or want to in the future; wheth...

In a world filled with requests, many of us are struggling to stay afloat. Even if you’re not a people-pleaser, the desire to maintain a positive reputation can make it hard to turn others down. In this episode, Adam explores the art and science of delivering an effective “no.” He highlights strategies for setting boundaries with others to create space for yourself—and healthier relationships with...

Fixable receives calls and questions from listeners all over the world—including Antarctica! In this Quick Fixes episode, Anne and Frances work to solve three callers’ tricky work problems in under 30 minutes. One listener struggles to build trust within his constantly changing expedition team, the next has a creative idea to encourage healthy conflict, and a final caller finds themself caught in...

Studies show that companies would benefit from having fewer and better meetings. So how can you turn your workplace gatherings from time-wasters to productivity boosters? In this episode, Anne and Frances are joined by Priya Parker—acclaimed speaker, facilitator, and best-selling author of The Art of Gathering—to unlock the true power of bringing people together. They brainstorm helpful tips for p...

Today, we’re bringing you a special episode from What It's Like To Be... a podcast from Dan Heath where he explores the world of work, one profession at a time, and interviews people who love what they do. Dan is speaking with Dr. Hindatu Mohammed, a veterinarian from Austin who opens up about the tough, yet crucial, decisions she helps pet owners make regarding their pets’ health care. It’s a fas...

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...

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. For the full text transcript, visit te...

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...

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. Follow Hosts: Anne...

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 buil...

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 cas...

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. Follow Host: Anne Morriss ( I...

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...

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...

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...

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 prob...

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 d...

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...

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...

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” framewo...

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 ca...

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...