Worklife with Adam Grant

Matt Damon is best known as the Hollywood icon from movies like Good Will Hunting and The Martian, but he has another passion offscreen: ensuring access to clean, safe water around the world. When he met social entrepreneur Gary White in 2008, they realized they could combine their efforts to reach more people and created water.org, which Gary leads as CEO. In this episode, Adam sits down with Matt and Gary at the World Economic Forum in Davos to talk about their innovative approach to problem-solving, handling rejection in high-stakes work environments, and Matt’s knack for forging strong partnerships. Adam also invites the two to office hours to tackle one of their ongoing challenges.

Host & Guest
Adam Grant (Instagram: @adamgrant | LinkedIn: @adammgrant | Website: https://adamgrant.net/)
Matt Damon (Website: https://water.org/about-us/founders-board-team/matt-damon/)
Gary White (Website: https://water.org/about-us/founders-board-team/gary-white/)
For the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/worklife/worklife-with-adam-grant-transcripts

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Sara Seager is an astrophysicist and planetary scientist whose research focuses on exoplanets—planets outside our solar system orbiting other stars. In this episode, Adam and Sara investigate the possibility of finding alien lifeforms in other solar systems or even on planets or moons closer to home, and Sara breaks down how scientists detect exoplanets and why this kind of science is so important for advancing discoveries here on Earth. They debate the likelihood of discovering intelligent alien life in our lifetime, and Sara reflects on the unique childhood circumstances that led to her groundbreaking work.

Host & Guest
Adam Grant (Instagram: @adamgrant | LinkedIn: @adammgrant | Website: https://adamgrant.net/)
Sara Seager (Instagram: | Website: https://www.saraseager.com/)
For the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/worklife/worklife-with-adam-grant-transcripts

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Hélène Landemore is a political scientist at Yale who studies democracy. She has a radical idea for fixing politics: what if we replaced career politicians with citizen assemblies, filled with people chosen by lottery? In this episode, Hélène and Adam discuss the history of this idea, tracing back to Ancient Greece and the birth of democracy, as well as recent examples of countries and states that have tried this bold method of governance. Hélène responds to some common questions and concerns about citizen assemblies, and Adam breaks down some evidence supporting the notion that ordinary citizens may be more fit to serve and lead than professional politicians.

Host & Guest
Adam Grant (Instagram: @adamgrant | LinkedIn: @adammgrant | Website: https://adamgrant.net/)
Hélène Landemore (Website: https://www.helenelandemore.com/)

Links
Politics Without Politicians: The Case for Citizen Rule - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0593713982
For the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/worklife/worklife-with-adam-grant-transcripts

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Zarna Garg is a stand-up comic, screenwriter, bestselling author, and one of the busiest people in comedy right now. But before she ever set foot onstage, she went to law school and tried her hand at entrepreneurship, failing at a vegan chili company, a tomato sauce brand, and even a matchmaking service. In this episode, Adam and Zarna reflect on how her daughter challenged her to consider a career pivot, debate the usefulness of a humanities degree, and break down the meticulous process that goes into developing a hit performance. Zarna also delivers some hot takes and tells the story of how she found her husband by posting a shockingly no-nonsense online ad.

Host & Guest
Adam Grant (Instagram: @adamgrant | LinkedIn: @adammgrant | Website: https://adamgrant.net/)
Zarna Garg (Instagram: @zarnagarg | YouTube: @zarnagarg | TikTok: @ZarnaGarg | Website: https://zarnagarg.com/)

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

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What does it take to build a strong community? In his new book Flourish, journalist and bestselling author Dan Coyle unveils novel insights. He and Adam discuss the simple step that united over 700 strangers in Paris, the unusual habit that has helped Norwich, Vermont become a breeding ground for Olympians, and the recipe for connection in Dan’s favorite Alaskan town. They also explore unexpected ways to build bridges in a fractured world.

Host & Guest
Adam Grant (Instagram: @adamgrant | LinkedIn: @adammgrant | Website: https://adamgrant.net/)
Dan Coyle (Website: https://danielcoyle.com/)

Links
Flourish: The Art of Building Meaning, Joy, and Fulfillment (https://www.amazon.com/Flourish-Art-Building-Meaning-Fulfillment/dp/0525620702)

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

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