Fixable

How can you be caring at work while still maintaining personal boundaries? Gina Gutierrez, founder of the audio erotica app Dipsea, loves her close-knit team — but she’s worried that she might be acting too much like a parent as opposed to a boss. In this episode, Anne and Frances show Gina how to empower both herself AND her team while establishing limits at work.

Transcripts for Fixable are available at go.ted.com/fixablescripts.

How can you make change in your workplace as a newer hire? That’s the problem Al is dealing with. He's an enthusiastic middle school teacher who is finding that his more senior colleagues are hesitant to embrace change and address bias in education. In this episode, Anne and Frances discuss ways Al can empower himself to be a change maker in the community and have more productive conversations with his colleagues in order to improve education for his students.

Transcripts for Fixable are available at go.ted.com/fixablescripts.

How will AI change the way you work? This episode’s caller A.J. Jacobs is a journalist and author who has written books like The Year of Living Biblically, The Puzzler, and Thanks a Thousand. He's built a career off of his creative ideas, but the rise of ChatGPT has made him concerned whether there’ll still be a place for his work as technology gets more advanced. In this episode, Anne and Frances discuss why AI is a resource (not a replacement) and the ethical dilemmas that must be confronted as AI becomes a greater part of our lives.

Transcripts for Fixable are available at go.ted.com/fixablescripts.

It’s hard to be honest about something not going well at work. Eliana, today’s caller, is struggling to navigate a classic problem — a coworker unwilling to improve or communicate. She knows it’s time for a drastic change but still wants to be kind. Anne and Frances share how to get over the fear of giving feedback and discuss why we can all benefit from having tough conversations at work.

Transcripts for Fixable are available at go.ted.com/fixablescripts.

How can you make sure everyone on your team is on the same page? That’s the question posed by this episode’s caller, Luís Martín. Luís is the founder and CEO of an early stage startup, and he’s noticed some tension between his older employees and their Gen Z colleagues due to their different work styles. With the help of Anne and Frances, Luís gets to the root of the problem: when a company lacks focus, it’s hard for the employees to be aligned. Together, they create a roadmap to bring the company together on projects with a singular, united goal.

Transcripts for Fixable are available at go.ted.com/fixablescripts.

As a standup comedian and the host of the TED podcast How to Be a Better Human, Chris Duffy knows how to be engaging in front of a microphone. However, he feels awkward about posting on social media yet worries that not posting is costing him opportunities and a bigger audience. It's a problem that Anne and Frances have faced too. Together, they talk about the art and mindset of self-promotion and the ways YOU can rethink your online presence so it feels more aligned with what you stand for.

Transcripts for Fixable are available at go.ted.com/fixablescripts.

What’s the best way to transition back to work after going on leave? Wren is a newly minted director at a fintech company who got promoted into the role just a few months before going on maternity leave–and now she’s returning as the mom of a child with health challenges. However, her job and team have changed dramatically in her absence, and Wren doesn’t feel like the same person she was before her baby, either. Not knowing how to go into the office again, Wren turns to Anne and Frances for help. Anne and Frances give Wren a bombshell—she’s not going back to her old job, she’s starting a new one. Together, they create a plan for a successful restart and making the most of any transition.

Transcripts for Fixable are available at go.ted.com/fixablescripts.

"There are unhelpful managers, and then there are ones who make you actively question your own skills. Rachel is a mid-level employee facing one big obstacle at work: a boss who refuses to hear her thoughts. The repeated stonewalling has made Rachel question her ability to do her job, and she turns to Anne and Frances for help. Together, they help Rachel unlock her inner fierceness and give her tips that can help anyone confront a dismissive boss.

Transcripts for Fixable are available at go.ted.com/fixablescripts."

Remote work is here to stay — but even for companies that did it pre-pandemic, new challenges are popping up. Dean’s accounting firm has 4,000 employees, and people once happily alternated between working from home and the office. But recently there's been a shift, and the once-thriving hybrid environment is not quite as bustling. Afraid of losing the supportive and social in-office culture, Dean turns to Anne and Frances for help. Together, they find a balance between remote flexibility and in-person interaction. Anne and Frances also share tips on making office days not only productive but exciting for everyone who joins.

Transcripts for Fixable are available at go.ted.com/fixablescripts.

Welcome back to Fixable. This one’s a little different! This week, Anne and Frances dive into their area of expertise: trust. Frances recounts the time when she was brought in to help Uber fix their huge trust breakdown. Using Uber as a case study, they explain the three pillars of trust – authenticity, empathy, and logic – and actionable solutions to strengthen each leg when they’re on shaky ground.

Transcripts for Fixable are available at go.ted.com/fixablescripts.