This week, Amy talks with Harvard Business School professor and author of The Ritual Effect, Michael Norton, about how simple acts—like tapping your lucky pen or that sacred coffee run—can do more than you think. We're talking stress relief, team bonding, and (yes) actually making work feel meaningful. They unpack the difference between rituals and habits, why your team’s goofy lunch routine might be a stealth morale boost, and how even a tiny shared check-in—emoji-style—can reconnect us across the remote void. No kumbaya circles required. Tune in for a surprising, deeply human take on how we find connection, purpose, and a little weird joy in the everyday.
Get all of the show notes at RadicalCandor.com/podcast.
Episode Links:
Transcript
Michael Norton
Behavioral Science Books | Michael Norton
Michael I. Norton | Harvard Business School
Humblebragging: A Distinct—and Ineffective—Self-Presentation Strategy
Matchmaking Promotes Happiness | Social Psychological and Personality Science
Rituals Quiz | What Are Your Rituals? | Michael Norton
The Calming Power of Rituals | WSJ
Connect:
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LinkedIn
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Bluesky
Chapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Amy Sandler introduces guest Michael Norton and his book The Ritual Effect.
(00:00:55) The Meaning in Small Rituals
A fun and engaging ritual exercise to demonstrate emotional connections.
(00:02:52) From Skeptic to Advocate
Michael’s journey from being a ritual skeptic to writing The Ritual Effect.
(00:05:49) The Meaning of Rituals
How rituals naturally emerge to provide structure and meaning.
(00:07:53) Rituals vs. Habits
The emotional difference between habits and rituals.
(00:10:06) Rituals as Emotion Generators
The dual role of rituals in generating and managing emotions.
(00:12:49) The Power of Collective Rituals
How shared rituals strengthen bonds and emotional resonance.
(00:14:07) Rituals in the Workplace
Examples of team rituals that foster bonding and purpose.
(00:16:39) Testing Rituals in Experiments
Research showing even made-up rituals increase group cohesion.
(00:20:37) Creating Work Rituals
Advice for leaders to co-create rituals for new work teams.
(00:23:12) Adapting Rituals for Remote Work
How teams have developed virtual rituals to maintain connection online.
(00:25:53) Meaningful Rituals in the Workplace
The significance of rituals in the workplace for individuals and leaders.
(00:29:11) Evaluating the Benefits of Rituals
How rituals contribute positively to mental health and well-being.
(00:32:40) Leaders Supporting Organic Rituals
Encouraging authentic rituals without imposing corporate mandates.
(00:35:40) Aligning Rituals with Team Values
Using rituals to express and reinforce organizational values.
(00:37:20) Discovering Your Rituals
Exploring the rituals in your life through Michael’s Ritual Quiz.
(00:40:52) Conclusion
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44:59
From Complaining to Collaboration: Shifting 1:1 Dynamics 7 | 29
When your one-on-ones start sounding like therapy sessions with zero breakthroughs, it’s time to ask—what’s really going on here? Jason and Amy unpack a Reddit post from a manager caught in a swirl of venting, defiance, and total burnout from their team. They dive into what venting actually signals, why some people shoot down every idea (even the good ones), and how to rebuild trust when the whole vibe is off. Sometimes it’s not about “fixing” people—it’s about listening like you mean it and why “don’t bring me problems, bring me solutions” might be the most toxic advice you never meant to give. It’s a deep dive into messy middle management moments, complete with hard truths, small wins, and the uncomfortable art of getting unstuck—without just slapping on a smile and pretending everything’s fine.
Get all of the show notes at RadicalCandor.com/podcast.
Episode Links:
Transcript
Effective 1:1s - Tips For One-on-One Meetings With Your Team | Radical Candor
7 Ways To Improve One-on-One Meetings | Radical Candor
Have More Effective 1:1 Meetings | Radical Candor Podcast 2 | 9
Resistant Direct Reports | Radical Candor Podcast 7 | 8
The Go-To Question | Radical Candor Podcast 2 | 8
Some direct reports have nothing to say during 1-on-1s | Reddit
Connect:
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LinkedIn
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Bluesky
Chapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Jason and Amy introduce a Reddit post about managing one-on-ones that turn into venting sessions.
(00:02:35) Complaining vs. Valid Frustration
How to treat repeated venting as a signal, not background noise.
(00:04:00) The Manager’s Middle Role
The challenges of managing from the middle of the org chart.
(00:05:12) Listening as a Strategic Tool
Why reflective listening helps clarify what really matters to your team.
(00:06:33) Soliciting Specific Feedback Effectively
Using targeted questions to gather feedback from frustrated reports.
(00:09:52)Tailoring Feedback Questions
Why not all feedback questions are equal: timing and specificity are key.
(00:10:37) Celebrating Small Wins
How to acknowledge constraints while celebrating progress.
(00:12:17) Shifting from Emotion to Action
Encouraging forward motion by focusing on what can be done now.
(00:14:19) Managing Venting Time
Balancing space to vent with the need to move forward.
(00:17:03) Venting Culture & Peer Influence
How one person’s negativity can shape the entire team dynamic.
(00:19:01) Manipulative Insincerity & Unmet Needs
Understanding venting as a shortcut to connection and belonging.
(00:20:35) “Don’t Bring Me Problems” – Helpful or Harmful?
Why banning complaints can backfire—and what to do instead.
(00:22:14) The Roleplay: Shooting Down Every Idea
A roleplay showing how to respond when every idea gets shot down.
(00:27:00) Solutions Without Overpromising
How to be honest about constraints without losing trust.
(00:28:54) Radical Candor Tips
Actionable tips to guide productive, empathetic one-on-ones.
(00:31:38) Conclusion
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36:40
Kim vs. Kim: Human vs. AI on Workplace Cultural Differences 7 | 28
People in the U.S. get fewer days off than folks in Europe, and most of us still feel guilty taking them. Kim and Amy dive headfirst into a viral Reddit post that reads like a love letter to European work-life sanity (and a roast of U.S. grind culture). From vanishing vacations to broken healthcare, Kim reflects on what she’s learned leading teams, taking parental leave, and watching her inbox balloon on every trip. They dig into the messy reality of “unlimited PTO,” why burnout can’t be yoga’d away, and how leaders can build workplaces that actually honor rest. Plus, Kim reacts live to advice on this problem from her own Google Portrait—an AI that Kim helped design with Google to tackle workplace BS when real Kim is off the clock. It’s part cultural reckoning, part vacation manifesto, and 100% Radical Candor.
Get all of the show notes at RadicalCandor.com/podcast.
Episode Links:
Transcript
Kim Scott Portrait From Google Labs | Radical Candor
Kim Scott’s Portrait | Google Labs
Try My Google Portrait | YouTube
Humanizing AI: Meet the Kim Scott Google Portrait | Radical Candor Podcast 7 | 27
Radical Candor, Real-Time With Google's AI Portraits | YouTube
As a European, The U.S. Work Culture Looks Like Dystopia With Better Branding: r/antiwork
European Employee Blasts US Work Culture in Viral Post: 'Dystopia' | Newsweek
What Is The Lazy Girl Job Trend And Why Should You Care? | Radical Candor
A Brief History: Universal Health Care Efforts in the US | PNHP
Connect:
Website
Instagram
TikTok
LinkedIn
YouTube
Bluesky
Chapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Kim and Amy introduce a viral Reddit thread comparing U.S. and European work cultures.
(00:03:01) Personal Vacation Needs
How vacation needs differ based on individual rhythms and roles.
(00:06:43) Unlimited Time Off – Does It Work?
The pitfalls of unlimited PTO and whether it discourages actual rest.
(00:10:29) Healthcare History & Economic Impact
How employer-tied health coverage burdens both people and businesses.
(00:14:53) Cultural Mindsets, AI & Policy Gaps
The need for government mandates to help protect overall wellbeing.
(00:20:28) Leading with Compassion in Organizations
The role of leadership in building burnout-resistant workplace cultures.
(00:24:25) Centeredness Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All
How forced wellness fails and support must be personalized.
(00:26:36) Introducing Kim’s Google Portrait
The motivation behind Radical Candor AI and Google Portraits.
(00:31:47) Human vs. Portrait Kim
Kim reacts to her Portrait’s response to the Reddit thread.
(00:35:04) Radical Candor as a Solution
The Portrait outlines how Radical Candor helps challenge toxic norms.
(00:37:30) Portraits as Scalable Empathy
Amy shares her own impressive interaction with the Portrait.
(00:39:41) Radical Candor Tips
Tips to support wellbeing and long-term, human-centered success.
(00:41:43) Judging Work Styles & Power Dynamics
The influence leaders have on working preferences and email etiquette.
(00:44:23) Conclusion
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48:29
Humanizing AI: Meet the Kim Scott Google Portrait 7 | 27
Most leaders learn on the fly—and Kim knows the bruises that come with it. In this episode she joins longtime Google Distinguished Designer Ryan Germick to discuss the innovative "Kim Scott Portrait," an AI-powered tool designed by Google Labs (and trained by the real Kim) to scale Kim's expertise and deliver Radically Candid advice 24/7. Discover how this new technology aims to humanize AI, free authors from the burden of answering repetitive questions, and foster more productive communication in the workplace.
Get all of the show notes at RadicalCandor.com/podcast.
Episode Links:
Transcript
Now You Can Talk Radical Candor 24/7 With the Kim Scott Portrait
Google Portrait | Kim Scott
Ryan Germick - Google | LinkedIn
Connect:
Website
Instagram
TikTok
LinkedIn
YouTube
Bluesky
Chapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Kim and Ryan Germick introduce the “Portrait” collaboration—an AI version of Kim designed to scale her coaching.
(00:01:33) Live Coaching Demo
Kim’s Portrait answers a tough management question.
(00:03:36) Why the Portrait Matters
How the Portrait helps Kim reach more people and free up time for writing.
(00:05:38) Kim’s Next Book
A look into Kim’s upcoming optimistic novel set in 2070.
(00:06:30) Family Interactions with the Portrait
Funny and revealing story of Kim’s son debating the AI.
(00:08:10) The “Automated Kim” Origin Story
How a team joke at Google inspired the Portrait concept.
(00:09:29) Coaching at Scale
Why books and AI scale Kim’s message better than 1:1 coaching.
(00:11:41) Personalized vs Generic AI
The value of expert-driven Portraits over average LLM responses.
(00:12:57) Training the Portrait
Kim explains her hands-on role in fine-tuning its responses.
(00:14:44) Solving Repetitive Questions
How Portraits provide patient, consistent answers to FAQs.
(00:16:07) Productive Disagreement Through Portraits
The vision for AI-facilitated, respectful debates.
(00:17:26) Expanding Globally
Plans for multi-language and international Portrait availability.
(00:17:48) Real-World Use Cases
The ways Portraits support work, life, and social media decisions.
(00:20:23) Empathy-Driven AI
AI as a personal board of directors, with lived-experience expertise.
(00:23:51) Empowering Creators
Portraits can be embedded on creators’ own platforms—no lock-in.
(00:26:19) Lived Experience as Research
Kim defends storytelling as a valid path to truth and insight.
(00:28:24) Supporting New Managers
Portraits offer guidance during the lonely transition into leadership.
(00:31:11) Navigating Difficult Bosses
Portraits can help employees manage up with empathy and agency.
(00:33:30) Changing Workplace Culture
Helping people shift from silence or aggression to Radical Candor.
(00:36:17) Personality Extenders
Portraits as scalable human touchpoints for the future.
(00:38:51) Creating Your Own Portrait
How to create your own Portrait and scale your voice.
(00:39:48) Conclusion
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43:53
Andrew Palmer: How to Lead Without Losing Your Mind 7 | 26
Being a boss is hard—and most people are thrown into it with zero training and a vague job description. Kim and Jason are joined by Andrew Palmer—yes, that Andrew Palmer from The Economist’s “Bartleby” column and host of the Boss Class podcast—for a wide-ranging, no-BS conversation about what leadership looks like when it’s done well…and when it’s not. Together, they dig into the hilarious, maddening, and meaningful realities of modern management: from the awkward feedback moments and the myth of the “natural leader,” to power corruption and the poetry-prose balance of real leadership. Andrew brings the receipts (read: research), and together they swap tips on blocking your calendar like a boss, making your expectations explicit, and the underrated power of writing things down (including what not to do). This isn’t about chasing the latest leadership trend—it’s about holding on to the stuff that actually helps people thrive at work. Whether you're a seasoned manager, a team player, or simply trying not to lose your mind in a sea of emails, this one’s for you.
Get all of the show notes at RadicalCandor.com/podcast.
Episode Links
Transcript
Andrew Palmer
Managing Is Hard—Here’s What Actually Helps | Radical Respect LinkedIn
Boss Class podcast
Bartleby | The Economist
Connect:
Website
Instagram
TikTok
LinkedIn
YouTube
Bluesky
Chapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
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Ready to love your job, crush your career goals, and become the kind of leader everyone actually wants to work with?
Welcome to the Radical Candor podcast, where you'll learn how to kick ass at work without losing your humanity. Host Amy Sandler and Radical Candor co-founders Kim Scott and Jason Rosoff to break down how you can Care Personally and Challenge Directly — the deceptively simple but powerful formula for building stronger teams, giving (and getting) better feedback, and leading with heart and clarity.
Each episode is packed with real talk, relatable stories, and actionable tips to help you do the best work of your life while building the best relationships of your career. Whether you’re a manager, a team player, or dreaming bigger for your future, this is the podcast that will change how you show up at work — and in life. P.S. Don’t forget to check out Kim Scott’s New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller, Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity! Want even more Radical Candor? Join the Radical Candor Community — free forever.
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