TruthWorks

In this thought-provoking episode of Truth Works, organizational visionary Michele Zanini joins Jessica Neal and Bob Sutton to unpack the tyranny of bureaucracy and the bold promise of humanocracy. Co-author of the updated book Humanocracy, Michele explains why traditional management systems fail to inspire innovation, agility, or meaning—and how companies like Netflix, Roche, and even the U.S. Army are rewriting the rules.

Together...

Why do we instinctively add when the better answer might be less?

In this episode of the Truth Works Podcast, we sit down with Leidy Klotz—behavioral scientist, engineer, and author of Subtract—to explore why subtraction is one of the most underused tools in problem-solving, design, and even life itself. From ancient architecture to modern innovation, Leidy unpacks the hidden bias that keeps us adding complexity instead of removing ...

This week on Truth Works, we’re joined by guest Alison Fragale, award-winning professor and author of Likeable Badass.

She brings sharp insight into leadership, power, and how women can thrive in high-stakes environments.

Welcome to Truth Works.

This month’s cohost is the brilliant Robert Sutton, back with fresh takes on workplace dynamics!

Chapters in this podcast

1. Introduction to Casual Conversations  
2. Explorin...

In this episode of Truth Works, Jessica Neal and Patty McCord break down the power, pitfalls, and practices of candid feedback—from Netflix boardrooms to personal moments that stick for life. Discover how feedback (both good and bad) becomes the engine of trust, growth, and culture.

This episode is a rerun but an important topic for us to keep in mind.

Topics & Timestamps:

• [00:00] Opening story: a small act of appreciatio...

This episode is a re-eun of a past episode. New episode upcoming this Monday.

In this episode, Jessica Neal and Patty McCord welcome executive coach and bestselling author Charles Feltman, known for The Thin Book of Trust. They dive into the four essential “domains of trust” – clarity, compassion, reliability, and consistency – and unpack how these foundational behaviors create a culture where teams can truly thrive.

Charles sha...

This week Jessica is joined by Danaya Wilson, CEO of BetterCertify and author of Changemakers Wanted. They dive into Danaya's unconventional career journey, and the challenges of balancing motherhood with leadership. Together, they explore the need for workplace flexibility, cultural shifts around women’s roles, and community-driven solutions to support working parents.

Do you have an ongoing work issue you need guidanc...

Jessica talks with Dr. Margie Warrell about how fear holds us back, both in life and at work. They discuss her book The Courage Gap, the power of small brave steps, and what it really takes to lead with courage.

Do you have an ongoing work issue you need guidance solving? Or maybe you want to know how Patty and Jess would have dealt with a past problem. Share your stories and questions with our producers here.

TruthWorks is h...

Joining Jessica this week is Jeff LeBlanc, a leadership strategist and lecturer at Bentley University. Listen in as they dive into the misconceptions about the next generation, how self-advocacy is a skill we should all be developing and why clarity in communication can help us all thrive.

Do you have an ongoing work issue you need guidance solving? Or maybe you want to know how Patty and Jess would have dealt with a past p...

On the show this week is former Head of Innovation and Creativity at Disney, Duncan Wardle. Join him and Jess as they dive into the importance of embedding a culture of innovation within organizations, the barriers that stifle creativity, and the tools he developed to make innovation accessible to everyone. Find out more about Duncan, and his toolkit, here.

Do you have an ongoing work issue you need guidance solving? Or mayb...

For Mental Health Awareness Month, we thought we’d reshare an episode from last year- Join hosts Patty McCord and Jessica Neal as they welcome co-founder of Bonobos Inc. Andy Dunn. Andy, a thought leader in entrepreneurship and mental health advocacy. Listen in as he shares insights from his journey and personal experiences as a CEO with bipolar disorder.

Do you have an ongoing work issue you need guidance solving? Or maybe...

Join Patty and Jess for this special live episode with our friends at Accel at their 2025 People Summit.

Hosted by Accel's Talent Partner Pete Clarke, this episode dives into how the Netflix Culture Deck came to be, lessons from their career, and what they still lose sleep over.

Check out the episode with Iris Bohnet mentioned here.

Do you have an ongoing work issue you need guidance solving? Or maybe you want to know h...

How do you get that promotion? Is it better to jump ship or expect loyalty to be rewarded? There isn’t a set route when it comes to career paths. Join Jessica and Patty as they answer your questions about promotions, moving up and down the career ladder, and more!

Do you have an ongoing work issue you need guidance solving? Or maybe you want to know how Patty and Jess would have dealt with a past problem. Share your stories...

Dr. Bernard A. Harris Jr joins Jessica and guest co-host Nellie Peshkov on this episode of TruthWorks to dive into the lessons he’s learnt in his career as an astronaut. From achieving the career he dreamed of as a kid, to his recent induction into the Astronaut Hall of Fame, listen in as he shares  lessons from space and what it really means to make a  leap of faith. Find out more about his new book, Embracing Infinite Pos...

Joining Jessica Neal today is the CEO of Milo’s Tea, Tricia Wallwork. Together they dive into what makes the “79 year old Start Up” culture thrive and why having the founders mindset when taking over the family business can lead to success.

Find out more about Tricia and the Milo’s Tea story here!

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Patty and Jessica dive straight into your Career Confessions and explore your questions and problems! From changes in work life balance to knowing when to retire to who should be buying who coffee, they get into it all!

Do you have a workplace dilemma, anecdote or story to share with the show?

You can submit your career confession or question with our producers here.

TruthWorks is hosted by Jessica Neal and Patty McCord. Th...

Joining Jessica and Patty this week is Professor of Business and Public policy at University of Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government- Karthik Ramanna.

Together they delve into the challenges leaders are facing in a polarized world and how to build the trust that empowers your teams.

Find out more about Karthik and The Age Of Outrage here.

Do you have an ongoing work issue you need guidance solving? Or maybe you want to kno...

Apparently 55 million meetings are held in the US every day, and Steven Rogelberg is out to change that. Today he gives up some of his own time to join Jessica and Patty, and help you manage yours better. Steven says: rework your agendas; consider who really needs to be in the room; and don’t skip your 1-to-1s. Suddenly your calendar looks a lot clearer, and your workforce will be more productive and more engaged. Find out ...

Joining Patty and Jessica this week is Behavioral economist and Harvard Professor Iris Bohnet. In this episode they dive into the behavioral economics that can drive workplace gender equity. They also discuss the power of data-driven decisions, and how to design fairer workplaces. Iris also shares some surprising research on performance evaluations, self-assessments, and the persistent gender pay gap... Find out more about ...

Join Patty and Jessica as they look back on the year and some of their favorite episodes.

Featuring:

Innovation at the Largest Scale with Donna Morris

The Company You Keep with Ted Sarandos

Transparency in Practice with Kara Swisher

Self-Reflections On Growth with Nirav Tolia

AI: The Secret to Skill Building with Matt Beane

Investing In The Next Generation with Sachin Shivaram

Minimize Distraction and Maximize Results with Richard...