Guy Kawasaki's Remarkable People

What if the secret to high-performing teams isn't hiring the smartest people, but creating the right environment? Vanessa Druskat, organizational psychologist and associate professor at the University of New Hampshire, reveals how emotionally intelligent teams outperform their competition through trust, collaboration, and psychological safety. Vanessa's research identifies nine specific norms that...

Four years out of law school, and she's taking on the entire U.S. Department of Justice? Meet Cindy Cohn, the attorney who turned a Haight-Ashbury party connection into one of the most pivotal legal victories in internet history. As Executive Director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation—the world's leading digital rights organization—Cindy commands a team of 125 lawyers, technologists, and activ...

What if the ancient practice of drilling holes in skulls was actually an early attempt at emotion regulation? In this fascinating episode, Guy Kawasaki sits down with psychologist and neuroscientist Ethan Kross to explore how we can master our inner voice and harness our emotions as powerful tools. Ethan directs the Emotion and Self-Control Laboratory at the University of Michigan and is the autho...

Ever wonder why you choose an orange over an apple, or why your grandmother's feedback hits differently than a stranger's opinion? Meet Emily Falk, pioneering neuroscientist and author of What We Value, who reveals how we can transform our relationship with daily decisions by thinking like scientists about our own minds. Emily breaks down three brain systems that drive every choice we make: our va...

What happens when two friends decide to learn about successful acquisitions and accidentally create one of the world's most popular business podcasts? Meet Ben Gilbert, co-founder and co-host of Acquired, the show that transforms company histories into captivating 4-hour audio experiences. With millions of listeners worldwide, Acquired has become the Harvard Business School case study of the podca...

Can menstruation and menopause policies reshape democracy? Find out in this electrifying conversation with Jennifer Weiss-Wolf, the powerhouse behind the "menstrual equity" movement and Executive Director of the Burnbaum Women's Leadership Center at NYU Law. She reveals how periods became political, why women's bodily autonomy connects directly to democratic participation, and what's next in the f...

Ever wondered how small psychological shifts can create massive life changes? Stanford psychology professor Greg Walton reveals the science behind "wise interventions" - evidence-based strategies that tackle psychological barriers and transform educational outcomes. Through fascinating research and compelling stories, Walton explains how feeling like you don't belong, approaching challenges with f...

Could your questions be holding you back? Drawing from decades of experience as an educational innovator and organizational leader, Jeff Wetzler, author of Ask, reveals why most of us ask poor questions and how mastering the art of inquiry can dramatically improve our decision-making, relationships, and leadership. He shares his proven five-step ASK approach—Choose Curiosity, Make it Safe, Pose Qu...

Can AI and spirituality coexist? Deepak Chopra, world-renowned pioneer in integrative medicine and personal transformation, challenges our perceptions by embracing artificial intelligence as a spiritual tool. In this mind-expanding conversation, Chopra reveals why he believes AI represents "the most powerful technology for expanding awareness in every area" and how it's revolutionizing our path to...

Is the tech industry rotting from the inside out? Ed Zitron thinks so. As a PR expert, media critic, and outspoken tech industry commentator, Zitron pulls no punches discussing what he calls the "ROT economy" - where growth at all costs has replaced innovation and customer value. In this brutally honest conversation with Guy Kawasaki, Zitron dissects OpenAI's unsustainable business model, critique...

Is there such a thing as a sustainable competitive advantage anymore? Step into the strategic mind of Rita McGrath, one of the foremost thinkers in innovation and strategy. In this eye-opening conversation, the Columbia Business School professor challenges conventional thinking about market disruption, inflection points, and how organizations can stay agile in rapidly changing environments. From d...

Can design shape not just how things look, but how we see the world? Debbie Millman, host of the legendary "Design Matters" podcast and chair of the Masters in Branding program at the School of Visual Arts, answers this question and more in this captivating conversation. From her childhood drawings predicting her future career to her insights on what makes brands truly connect with audiences, Mill...

Can we truly understand what drives desperate families to risk everything at the border? Rachel Rutter, Executive Director of Project Libertad and CNN Hero, delivers a powerful reality check about America's immigration system. Her organization provides legal representation and wraparound services to unaccompanied immigrant children navigating a complex and often hostile immigration system. Rachel...

Can a volleyball coach's mindset transform your leadership approach? In this captivating episode of Remarkable People, Guy Kawasaki talks with legendary volleyball coach John Cook, who led Nebraska to four national championships and more Division I wins than any other coach this century. Cook shares his coaching philosophy centered on "coaching with love" rather than anger, and reveals how social...

Can dance transform how girls engage with STEM? Yamilée Toussaint, founder of STEM From Dance and 2024 CNN Hero, is breaking barriers by fusing creative movement with technical learning to empower young girls of color. Her innovative approach has reached over 4,000 girls nationwide, helping them build confidence in math and science through dance. In this inspiring conversation, Yamilée shares her...

Can a secretary to a billionaire become his business partner and go on to lead communications for Google and Netflix in the Middle East? Maha Abouelenein proves that with self-reliance and value creation, extraordinary paths unfold. Born in Minnesota but building her career across Egypt and Dubai, Maha shares her journey from small-town America to international communications maven. Her book Influ...

"Is American democracy more fragile than we realize?" This question anchors Guy Kawasaki's riveting conversation with Philip Klinkner, professor of government at Hamilton College. Throughout this eye-opening episode, Klinkner dissects the current challenges facing our constitutional system, comparing today's expansion of executive power with historical precedents during the Civil War and Great Dep...

What if the secret to innovation isn't having a dedicated innovation department, but rather unleashing the creative potential in every employee? In my latest Remarkable People episode, I sat down with Duncan Wardle, former Head of Innovation and Creativity at Disney, who transformed how one of the world's most creative companies approaches innovation. Through captivating stories - like "borrowing"...

From the halls of Harvard to the pages of The Atlantic, Yoni Appelbaum's story defies conventional career paths. As Deputy Executive Editor and author of Stuck, Appelbaum illuminates how America's declining mobility is transforming our social fabric and political landscape. Drawing from his unique background as both historian and journalist, he examines the intersection of housing policy, communit...

Guy Kawasaki sits down with Steve Gordon, Director of the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Gordon, a former Cisco Systems executive, shares how he transformed one of the state's most crucial yet historically frustrating agencies into a customer-focused operation. From implementing digital signatures to managing a network of 220+ offices, Gordon reveals the innovative approaches that...

Step into the fascinating world of moral psychology with Kurt Gray, professor of psychology and neuroscience at UNC Chapel Hill, who explores the psychology of outrage and moral understanding. As director of the Deepest Beliefs Lab and the Center for the Science of Moral Understanding, Kurt unveils how we can bridge America's deepest divides through his groundbreaking CIV approach - Connect, Invit...

What can your Google searches reveal about your personality? In this episode of Remarkable People, Guy Kawasaki explores the fascinating world of psychological targeting with Sandra Matz, Professor at Columbia Business School. Matz shares eye-opening insights about how our digital footprints expose our deepest traits and behaviors. She reveals how companies predict our personalities through social...

Join Guy Kawasaki for a fascinating conversation with Alison Wood Brooks, Harvard Business School professor and author of Talk. As the creator of the innovative "How to Talk Gooder" course, Brooks reveals the science behind great conversations, sharing insights on everything from the power of asking sensitive questions to navigating difficult discussions. Learn her TALK framework and discover why...

Buckle up for a mind-bending journey into the heart of startup innovation! On this episode of Remarkable People, Guy Kawasaki goes deep with Silicon Valley's master of disruption, Mike Maples Jr. As the wizard behind Floodgate who spotted Twitter and Twitch before they exploded, Mike shatters conventional wisdom about what makes startups soar. Forget everything you think you know about "better pro...

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the physician-scientist who helped steer America through its greatest public health challenges, joins Guy Kawasaki for an illuminating conversation on Remarkable People. From his early days combating the AIDS epidemic to leading the nation's COVID-19 response across seven presidential administrations, Dr. Fauci takes us behind the scenes of the most pivotal moments in modern pub...