Guy Kawasaki's Remarkable People

What if the secret to organizational success isn’t another management fad but a return to the basics of how work actually gets done? Don Kieffer, senior lecturer at MIT Sloan and former Harley-Davidson executive, joins me on Remarkable People to unpack the five principles of Dynamic Work Design. With stories ranging from factory floors to biotech startups, Don reveals why firefighting cultures stall progress and how small,...

Jane Goodall transformed how we see the natural world and our place in it. In this tribute episode, Guy Kawasaki revisits their past conversations filled with humor, courage, and wisdom. Jane reflects on her early journey to Africa, the groundbreaking discoveries with chimpanzees, and her tireless advocacy for conservation and youth through Roots & Shoots. Thank you Jane for making this world a better place. 

---

Gu...

What happens when a former CIA operative turns bestselling novelist? Barry Eisler has the answer. In this episode of Remarkable People, Guy Kawasaki explores Barry’s transformation from covert missions to crafting thrillers that keep readers up all night. From his early days in intelligence to his sharp-eyed commentary on government overreach, Barry shares how truth and fiction often blur. His newest book, The System, is a...

What does it take to truly reinvent yourself? Ilana Golan knows. From breaking barriers in her career to building new paths where none existed, Ilana’s story is proof that reinvention isn’t just possible—it’s necessary. In this episode of Remarkable People, she shares how to pivot with purpose, embrace uncertainty, and turn setbacks into opportunities. Her journey offers powerful lessons in resilience, adaptability, and co...

What does it take to build a brand that dominates the mind—and outlasts the competition? Positioning strategist Laura Ries has the answer.

As the president of Ries & Ries and co-author of the classic 22 Immutable Laws of Branding, Laura has advised Fortune 500 companies around the world. In this conversation, she shares how growing up with her father, branding legend Al Ries, shaped her career, and how her new book The ...

We’ve got a bonus episode for you on Remarkable People! This feedswap with Rapid Response features Canva co-founder and COO Cliff Obrecht.

For more than a decade, Canva has made design accessible to everyone. Now, as AI reshapes the creative world, the company faces new challenges and opportunities. Cliff reveals how Canva is navigating this shift, why values-driven leadership matters, and what inspired him a...

What happens when one man reshapes movies, television, e-commerce, and tech—then tells you exactly how he did it, flaws and all? That’s Barry Diller. From running Paramount Pictures and Fox to steering IAC and Expedia, he’s been at the center of cultural and business revolutions for decades. In this candid conversation, Barry opens up about his unconventional path, his belief in bold ideas, and why “creative conflict” is e...

What if the path to building a lasting company isn't about explosive growth and quick exits? Dave Whorton, former venture capitalist, challenges Silicon Valley's "get big fast or die" mentality in this eye-opening conversation. After witnessing the Netscape IPO transform startup culture forever, Dave discovered an alternative approach: evergreen companies built for profitability, purpose, and generational endurance. From h...

What happens when the Secretary of State becomes a target for standing up to the most powerful person in America? Meet Jocelyn Benson, Michigan's fearless Secretary of State who has faced down violent mobs, presidential threats, and assassination lists—all while protecting democracy and voting rights. From her undercover work investigating the KKK as a young journalist to her current run for Michigan governor, Jocelyn embo...

What happens when you combine groundbreaking genetic research with deep spiritual wisdom? Meet Francis Collins - the physician-geneticist who led the Human Genome Project, directed the NIH under five presidents, and helped develop the cure for cystic fibrosis. In this fascinating conversation, Francis reveals how he searches for three missing letters among 3 billion, why the COVID vaccine represents one of science's greate...

What happens when a high school government teacher becomes America's most trusted voice on democracy? Sharon McMahon transformed from classroom educator to social media sensation by explaining politics with facts, civility, and clarity. Known as "America's Government Teacher," she reveals how she accidentally became a democratic educator during the pandemic and shares insights from her book The Small and the Mighty about u...

What if the secret to effective communication isn't adding more—but cutting ruthlessly? Harvard behavioral scientist Todd Rogers joins Guy to reveal the counterintuitive science behind writing that actually gets read. From his groundbreaking research on voter engagement to reducing student absenteeism, Todd has cracked the code on what makes busy people stop scrolling and start responding.

In this episode, you'll discover t...

Can cynicism actually be killing us? Stanford psychology professor Dr. Jamil Zaki reveals the shocking truth about how our negative assumptions about humanity are destroying our health, relationships, and success. In this eye-opening conversation, Jamil explains the crucial difference between cynicism and skepticism, showing how "hopeful skepticism" can transform your life. From his groundbreaking research on empathy as a ...

What drives us to seek revenge, and why does it feel so satisfying yet leave us worse off? Guy Kawasaki sits down with James Kimmel Jr., a lawyer turned behavioral science researcher who presents a radical reinterpretation of revenge in our society. Kimmel argues that much of what we call justice-seeking is actually a dopamine-driven revenge cycle that perpetuates violence and suffering rather than solving problems.

Drawing...

What if the secret to better relationships isn't fixing problems but simply making people feel understood? Clinical psychologist Caroline Fleck reveals why validation—not agreement—transforms how we connect with others. In her groundbreaking book Validation, Caroline shares the science behind why feeling seen matters more than being right. Discover the eight-step validation ladder, learn why accepting emotions leads to rea...

What if the secret to high-performing teams isn't hiring the smartest people, but creating the right environment? Vanessa Druskat, organizational psychologist and associate professor at the University of New Hampshire, reveals how emotionally intelligent teams outperform their competition through trust, collaboration, and psychological safety.

Vanessa's research identifies nine specific norms that separate top-performing te...

Four years out of law school, and she's taking on the entire U.S. Department of Justice? Meet Cindy Cohn, the attorney who turned a Haight-Ashbury party connection into one of the most pivotal legal victories in internet history. As Executive Director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation—the world's leading digital rights organization—Cindy commands a team of 125 lawyers, technologists, and activists fighting the surveill...

What if the ancient practice of drilling holes in skulls was actually an early attempt at emotion regulation? In this fascinating episode, Guy Kawasaki sits down with psychologist and neuroscientist Ethan Kross to explore how we can master our inner voice and harness our emotions as powerful tools.

Ethan directs the Emotion and Self-Control Laboratory at the University of Michigan and is the author of two groundbreaking boo...

Ever wonder why you choose an orange over an apple, or why your grandmother's feedback hits differently than a stranger's opinion? Meet Emily Falk, pioneering neuroscientist and author of What We Value, who reveals how we can transform our relationship with daily decisions by thinking like scientists about our own minds. Emily breaks down three brain systems that drive every choice we make: our value system (the final deci...