Best Adam Kruger Podcasts (2025)

1
How to say no 35:44

3d ago35:44

35:44

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 s…

1
Shonda Rhimes on saying yes to what scares you 45:16

10d ago45:16

45:16

Shonda Rhimes is the revolutionary creator, writer, and executive producer behind so many groundbreaking TV shows—from Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal to Bridgerton and How To Get Away With Murder. Her work has changed the way stories are told on TV and the lives of viewers who see themselves represented on the screen for the first time. Shonda and Adam…

1
Melinda French Gates on navigating change 30:39

17d ago30:39

30:39

Melinda French Gates is a philanthropist, business leader, advocate, and self-proclaimed “recovering perfectionist.” In her new book, The Next Day, she opens up about the lessons she’s learned about change, from getting divorced to leaving the Gates Foundation that she co-founded and co-chaired for decades. Melinda and Adam discuss how derailment c…

1
We’re wrong about what makes us happy with Dan Gilbert 38:21

24d ago38:21

38:21

What do you think will make you happy next year? According to Dan Gilbert’s research, your guess is probably wrong. Dan is a Harvard psychologist, bestselling author of Stumbling on Happiness, and popular TED talker, and he and Adam discuss why it’s so difficult to make accurate predictions about our own future and how to figure out what actually m…

1
Megan Rapinoe & Sue Bird on leading great teams and moving on 42:13

1M ago42:13

42:13

Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird are two of the greatest athletes of all time — Megan is an Olympic gold medalist and was named the best soccer player in the world by FIFA. Sue has won five of her own Olympic gold medals in basketball and four WNBA championships. Now that the couple have each retired from their legendary sports careers, they host a podca…

1
How David Fajgenbaum saved his own life — and thousands of others 40:08

1M ago40:08

40:08

David Fajgenbaum had his last rites read to him at 25 years old after a brutal struggle with an inflammatory disease that attacks the vital organs. As a medical student with two weeks left to live, he repurposed a drug and tested it on himself—and saved his own life. Now, he’s repeating the same process for many others through his nonprofit, Every …

1
What hibernating animals can teach us about human sleep with Vladyslav Vyazovskiy 39:25

2M ago39:25

39:25

Do you ever wish you could hibernate like a bear during the winter? Vladyslav Vyazovskiy thinks it might be possible. As a sleep physiologist at Oxford, Vladyslav studies why humans sleep and the sleep patterns of other species. He and Adam discuss the possibility of unlocking a hibernation ability in humans and its potential benefits – from curing…

1
The voices in your head with Ethan Kross 37:45

2M ago37:45

37:45

Do you have an inner monologue? Ethan Kross is a psychologist and neuroscientist who studies our inner lives, from how you respond to the voice in your head to how you manage your emotions. Ethan and Adam compare notes on their inner voices (or lack thereof), share advice on how to calm an anxious mind, and discuss the benefits of mental time trave…

1
The emotions you’ve felt but never named with John Koenig 32:06

2M ago32:06

32:06

Have you heard of the word sonder? It’s the realization that each “random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own.” John Koenig introduced it in his book The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows—a compilation of new words aiming to capture the nuance and complexity of emotions that can be hard to put a finger on. In this vocabulary-expa…

1
Decoding cross-cultural communication with Erin Meyer 39:01

2M ago39:01

39:01

When talking and working with people from different cultures, sometimes meanings and intentions can get lost in translation. Erin Meyer is an expert on how we communicate and collaborate differently around the world. She and Adam discuss how cultural norms affect honesty and assertiveness, unpack the science behind some common American stereotypes,…

1
The importance of validation with therapist Caroline Fleck 37:17

2M ago37:17

37:17

Seeking acceptance is a natural part of the human experience — but do you know how to dish it out? Clinical psychologist Caroline Fleck believes that validating others is a key to building stronger relationships. She and Adam discuss strategies for recognizing another person’s feelings, the distinction between empathetic validation and exaggerated …

1
Rewriting your story with Allison Sweet Grant 42:27

3M ago42:27

42:27

Allison Sweet Grant is the author of the debut novel I Am the Cage — and also Adam’s wife. In this special episode, Allison and Adam dive into Allison’s book, inspired by her experience growing up with a congenital limb discrepancy and undergoing a complicated medical procedure at a formative age. They explore the lessons for identity, shame, trust…

1
Cancelling cancel culture with Loretta Ross 36:38

3M ago36:38

36:38

As a public intellectual, activist and professor at Smith College, Loretta Ross is no stranger to confrontation and debate. But years of working to change the minds of others have led her to rethink her own ideas about approaching difficult conversations. Loretta and Adam discuss why shaming rarely changes behavior and her powerful alternative to c…

1
Reimagining the US political system with Sharon McMahon 37:47

3M ago37:47

37:47

Sharon McMahon is a government expert, but that doesn’t mean she wants to run for office. As an author, podcaster and civics teacher, Sharon finds that her time is best spent kindly correcting people on the internet and leading her millions of Instagram followers — who call themselves the Governerds — in conversations about how to improve democracy…

1
Improving teen mental health with Lisa Damour 41:10

3M ago41:10

41:10

Adolescence can be an emotionally volatile time, and in the age of social media, concerns about teenage mental health are more pressing than ever — for teens and parents alike. Dr. Lisa Damour is a clinical psychologist who specializes in teenagers and their mental health, consulting on the Pixar film Inside Out 2 and authoring the New York Times b…

1
Fixing the trust crisis with Rachel Botsman 43:17

4M ago43:17

43:17

Who do you trust — and when? Rachel Botsman is a leading expert on trust in the modern world, and her new audiobook, How to Trust and Be Trusted, offers bold new ways of thinking about building, maintaining and restoring relationships. Rachel and Adam redefine trust, examine why we often trust the wrong people and question the assumption that trans…

1
Sam Altman on the future of AI and humanity 39:42

4M ago39:42

39:42

Sam Altman is the CEO and cofounder of OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT. He and Adam discuss AI's advances in creativity and empathy, its ethical challenges, and the role of human oversight. Sam and Adam also discuss strategies for adapting to a changing world and their hopes for technology that enhances human progress while maintaining human val…

1
Merve Emre on emotional intelligence as corporate control (Re-release) 53:44

4M ago53:44

53:44

It's been 25 years since the concept of emotional intelligence exploded onto the scene. Cultural critic Merve Emre makes a bold case that in the wrong hands, it can be used to exploit people. We unpack the surprising roots of emotional intelligence, how it's been co-opted as a form of corporate control and why you might want to rethink some of your…

1
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on doing death, truth-telling in comedy and getting wiser (from On with Kara Swisher) 41:20

4M ago41:20

41:20

Actor Julia Louis-Dreyfus is most famous for her comedic TV characters Elaine Benes in Seinfeld and Selina Meyer in Veep. But in recent years, she's been showing her dramatic chops, including in her latest film, Tuesday, in which she takes on grief, denial and death. She's also been winning awards as the host of her podcast Wiser Than Me. In this e…

1
Befriending your impostor syndrome with Iceland's president Halla Tómasdóttir 33:44

5M ago33:44

33:44

When Halla Tómasdóttir lost her bid for the Icelandic presidency in 2016, she wasn't sure she wanted to run again. But after battles with self-doubt, encouragement from her supporters and an epiphany about leadership, she ran again this year — and this time, she won. Halla joins Adam to discuss dealing with impostor syndrome, why leadership is wort…

1
How Mark Rober hides "science vegetables" in viral videos 41:08

5M ago41:08

41:08

If you don't know Mark Rober, your kids do. He's best known for his viral engineering feats — like creating an obstacle course for squirrels, designing glitter bombs to get revenge on package thieves and building the world's largest Nerf gun. Before launching YouTube's most followed science channel, he was a NASA engineer, and he now runs his own c…

1
Jane Goodall on leadership lessons from primates 42:50

5M ago42:50

42:50

Have you ever felt like your work colleagues sometimes act like animals? In this conversation, Jane Goodall and Adam take that idea literally, exploring what Jane's expertise on chimp behavior can teach us about how humans relate and organize. With grace and wisdom, she shares primal insights on how we acquire and keep power, the difference between…

1
The art of invention with Nathan Myhrvold 26:30

5M ago26:30

26:30

Nathan Myhrvold may be the closest thing we have to a modern-day Renaissance man. A cofounder, inventor, chef, photographer, dinosaur hunter, author and former Chief Technology Officer at Microsoft, Nathan infuses creativity and innovation into everything he does. Nathan and Adam dive into the science behind the creative process, discussing what it…

1
The science of fighting crime with Nick Cowen 32:57

5M ago32:57

32:57

Criminologist Nick Cowen doesn't just analyze crime — he studies how to prevent it. As a professor at the University of Lincoln in the UK, he explores the unexpected factors that influence crime rates. Nick joins Adam to discuss how social norms and incentives helped the UK curb drunk driving, and the two talk through the science behind what actual…

1
Malcolm Gladwell on the importance of self-correction 46:16

6M ago46:16

46:16

Malcolm Gladwell joins Adam for a lively discussion and debate, recorded live at the Authors@Wharton series. More than 20 years after releasing his blockbuster book The Tipping Point, Malcolm has decided to rethink his first famous ideas by writing his new book, Revenge of the Tipping Point. He and Adam riff on the value of acknowledging our past m…

1
Finding the joy of service with Milk Bar's Christina Tosi and restaurateur Will Guidara 34:18

6M ago34:18

34:18

Christina Tosi and Will Guidara have found many winning recipes — in food, business and love. Christina is the chef-owner at Milk Bar, a James Beard award winner and the author of multiple cookbooks. Will transformed Eleven Madison Park into a three-Michelin-star restaurant ranked among the world's best. The power couple joins Adam to share remarka…

1
Should leaders be feared or loved? with historian Niall Ferguson 40:05

6M ago40:05

40:05

Niall Ferguson is an intellectual provocateur. His specialty is counterfactual history — imagining how events could have unfolded differently. And he and Adam disagree on nearly everything. In this episode, Niall and Adam have a vigorous debate about the vital qualities of effective leadership in government, sports, business, and education. Availab…

1
Overcoming loneliness with Surgeon General Vivek Murthy 31:30

6M ago31:30

31:30

Surgeon General Vivek Murthy thinks about public health holistically. Whether he's addressing youth mental health crises, the loneliness epidemic or serving on the White House's COVID-19 pandemic response team, Vivek is dedicated to improving well-being. In a live conversation, Vivek and Adam discuss the individual and collective foundations of bel…

1
The dark side of charisma 23:46

7M ago23:46

23:46

You may think no leader could ever be too charismatic, but the evidence is clear: a dazzling personality doesn't always drive success. In this episode, Adam investigates why an excess of charm can actually be detrimental to people and organizations. He chats with bestselling author and executive coach Liz Wiseman and one of her clients, CEO Hazel J…

1
How to design teams that don’t suck 37:43

7M ago37:43

37:43

Too many teams are less than the sum of their parts, and building a great team requires more than just picking an all-star roster or doing trust falls. Adam dives into the hard-hitting research on what makes teams work — with members of the “Miracle on Ice" Olympic hockey team and organizational behavior professor Anita Woolley. You’ll also hear so…

1
The wrong way to think about culture fit 33:45

7M ago33:45

33:45

Many workplaces hire, reward and promote on culture fit. But that can come with real costs to individuals and organizations. In this episode, Adam dives into the evidence on why overemphasizing fit can overlook promising people — and shows how organizations can fight conformity and support self-expression. Guests include Ellevest founder Sallie Kra…

1
John Legend on the creative process and "mumbling" his way to a hit 35:23

7M ago35:23

35:23

Before John Legend was coaching The Voice and winning Emmys, Grammys, Oscars and Tonys, he was a twenty-something consultant living in Boston. In this episode, John sits down with Adam to share how he hustled from the boardroom to the studio and crafted the creative career that led him to the top of the entertainment industry. John also talks about…

1
The secret to success isn't power — it's status 32:45

7M ago32:45

32:45

Many people believe that success depends on gaining power, but it turns out that status is a more sustainable path to accomplishment and impact. Adam is joined by Survivor star Parvati Shallow, organizational psychologist and author Alison Fragale, and Chynna Clayton — former special assistant to Michelle Obama — to break down the best strategies f…

1
Sarah Silverman on being wrong — and treating trolls with kindness 30:00

8M ago30:00

30:00

Sarah Silverman is a comedian, actor and writer who doesn;t shy away from saying what she thinks. Her bold, distinctive voice has taken her from Saturday Night Live and Seinfeld to Broadway plays, late-night TV and Disney animated movies. Sarah shares surprising stories about turning haters into fans, and she and Adam discuss strategies for defusin…

1
#68 - Elliot Billingsley: Effective Altruism, Coaching, Podcasting, Andrew Yang 57:27

8M ago57:27

57:27

The following is a conversation with Elliot Billingsley. Elliot is an effectiveness coach and the host of The Effecting Our Altruism Podcast. I first met Elliot a few months ago through the Effective Altruism community in Canada. In this episode, we chatted about the recent Effective Altruism conference in Toronto, Elliot’s coaching practice, his p…

1
How to stop doom scrolling — and have a better experience online with Jay Van Bavel 33:56

8M ago33:56

33:56

Jay Van Bavel is an award-winning professor of psychology and neural science at NYU — and he's an expert on the causes of and cures for division. Adam and Jay discuss the science of virality, why bad news often commands our attention, and how we can find common ground around more uplifting content. Jay's latest book, The Power of Us, is out now. Ho…

1
Fixing college campuses with political scientist Danielle Allen 35:49

8M ago35:49

35:49

Danielle Allen thinks and writes about the institutions that hold society together. As a professor of public policy and political philosophy at Harvard, she's one of the most insightful voices on improving education and renovating democracy. Danielle and Adam discuss the current culture of college campuses, steps for promoting critical thinking and…

1
Trevor Noah on the importance of context 44:40

8M ago44:40

44:40

Trevor Noah is widely admired for his quick wit. He's hosted The Daily Show and the Grammy Awards, sold out huge arenas around the world, had numerous hit comedy specials on Netflix, and published a bestselling memoir, Born a Crime. One of the keys to his success is his ability to read people and communicate clearly. In a lively discussion with Ada…

1
Fighting against the status quo with filmmaker Jon M. Chu 35:06

9M ago35:06

35:06

Before becoming the director of major films like Crazy Rich Asians, In the Heights and the upcoming Wicked, Jon M. Chu wondered if he missed his chance to make it big. After a great deal of trial and error, his path to success is its own cinematic hero's journey. Jon and Adam discuss what it takes to reach your own potential, the creative process, …

1
How to fight prejudice with Betsy Levy Paluck 35:22

9M ago35:22

35:22

How can we reduce hostility between people and groups? Social psychologist Betsy Levy Paluck has done groundbreaking work on an approach to fighting prejudice that's faster than trying to change institutions and more feasible than trying to change individuals. Betsy and Adam explore the origins of animosity, discuss her experiments in Rwanda and in…

1
How to build a great culture with restaurateur Danny Meyer 33:35

9M ago33:35

33:35

At 27, long before he gained acclaim as the restaurateur behind Shake Shack and Gramercy Tavern, Danny Meyer launched his first venture, Union Square Cafe. More than 20 James Beard Foundation awards later, Danny shares the strategies and insights that fueled his restaurant empire. He and Adam discuss how to build a culture of excellence and care, h…

1
The art and science of trash talk with Rafi Kohan 37:09

9M ago37:09

37:09

Journalist Rafi Kohan says talking trash can do more than spice up a sport. His latest book, Trash Talk: The Only Book About Destroying Your Rivals That Isn’t Total Garbage, is a fascinating look at the art and history of competitive insults. From women's basketball to the Olympics to the TED stage, Adam and Rafi dissect the mind games that fuel pe…

1
Beyond breaking the glass ceiling with Julia Gillard, Australia’s first female prime minister 47:27

9M ago47:27

47:27

Julia Gillard served as the Prime Minister of Australia from 2010 to 2013. During her tenure as the first woman to hold that role, she gave an electrifying speech about sexism and how it impacts all women, even those in power. Since then, she has continued to fight for gender equality. In this interview, she opens up about the challenges faced by w…

1
Explaining the Dunning-Kruger effect and overcoming overconfidence with David Dunning 37:51

10M ago37:51

37:51

The Dunning-Kruger effect is a rare psychological concept that has achieved pop culture fame. David Dunning -- the lead author and one of the world’s most-cited psychologists -- joins Adam to discuss his famous findings about the arrogance of ignorance, the challenges of knowing what you don’t know, and the dangers of “doing your own research.” The…

1
Mellody Hobson on taking tough feedback (re-release) 37:18

10M ago37:18

37:18

Criticism rarely comes wrapped in a shiny gift box, tied with a bow. As a trailblazing leader, one of Mellody Hobson’s gifts is finding the diamond in the rough. She and Adam unpack how to look for the grain of truth in any critique, when to discount feedback, and what it takes to be honest without being brutal. Find the full text transcript at go.…

1
Decoding Gen-Z slang and grammar pet peeves with linguist Anne Curzan 37:23

10M ago37:23

37:23

Anne Curzan is a professional word nerd. As a linguist and English professor, Anne studies the history of the English language — and how public attitudes about words shift over time. Adam and Anne geek out over whether the grammar rules you learned in school are justified, why some language peeves are (or aren't) worth holding onto, and confess wha…

1
How novelist Gabrielle Zevin learned to enjoy failure 38:36

10M ago38:36

38:36

Gabrielle Zevin wrote the runaway bestseller Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, but she doesn’t expect anyone to know most of her other nine books. The acclaimed novelist joins Adam to discuss how to face failure, find inspiration, make sure success doesn't hinder creativity, and stay motivated when your goals don't align with your skills. Then,…

1
Richard Branson on saying yes now and figuring it out later 29:46

11M ago29:46

29:46

Sir Richard Branson has spent his lifetime taking dreams and making them reality. As the founder of the Virgin Group, he's built more than 400 businesses spanning from retail to music to transport. In his spare time, he’s advocated for human rights and sustainability — and set world records for hot air ballooning and kitesurfing. Richard talks with…

1
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on facing impostor syndrome and taking criticism 39:24

11M ago39:24

39:24

Justin Trudeau has served as the Prime Minister of Canada since 2015. And there’s a lot to dig into from his years in office — and from his life before, as well. Adam sits down with him to discuss lessons learned about leadership. The Prime Minister opens up for the first time about his early struggles with impostor syndrome and how he maintains hi…

1
The internet doesn't need your opinion on everything with Rebecca Solnit 31:35

11M ago31:35

31:35

American writer Rebecca Solnit thinks deeply and writes evocatively about our world. Her must-read essays and award-winning books span hope, history, art, leadership, and sustainability. Adam and Rebecca reflect on what we lose when public discourse is diluted to fit into social media, debate how to bring back good conversations online, and share w…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Adam Kruger Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen