What if the reason you don’t give feedback, follow through, or change your habits… isn’t willpower?
What if it’s a belief?
In this episode of The Radical Candor Podcast, Kim Scott talks with Nir Eyal — author of Hooked, Indistractable, and his new book Beyond Belief — about the hidden force behind motivation: the stories we tell ourselves.
They explore:
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Why AI can’t replace human relationships — but can help us practice hard conversations
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The limiting belief that keeps people silent at work
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Why knowing what to do isn’t enough
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How pain (not pleasure) drives behavior
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The difference between addiction and habit
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Why “time management is pain management.”
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How to reinterpret anxiety as readiness
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And why beliefs are tools — not truths
If you’ve ever struggled to speak up, follow through, or break a bad habit — this conversation will help you see what’s really getting in the way.Chapters
(00:00) Introduction
Kim welcomes Nir Eyal and introduces AI portraits and scaling human insight.
(04:30) Can AI Replace Relationships?
Why AI can’t replace human connection — but may be the safest place to practice hard conversations.
(10:15) Refining AI Voice & Identity
What it means to “scale yourself” without losing your humanity.
(16:40) The Limiting Belief That Keeps You Silent
“If you don’t have anything nice to say…” — and why that belief causes harm.
(23:10) Beliefs Are Tools, Not Truths
Nir explains the core thesis of Beyond Belief.
(29:30) Placebos, Pain, and Perception
What belief can change — and what it can’t.
(36:20) Stage Fright vs. Readiness
Reinterpreting anxiety as oxygen for performance.
(43:10) Time Management Is Pain Management
Why distraction is about escaping discomfort.
(50:40) Addiction vs. Habit
Why addiction is about escaping pain — not seeking pleasure.
(57:00) Why We Don’t Do What We Know
The missing link between knowledge and action.
(01:04:00) Radical Candor and the “Nice” Trap
The story of Bob — and why staying silent isn’t kind.
(01:10:00) If It’s Yellow, Let It Mellow
Marriage, feedback, and choosing what truly matters.
(01:13:00) Conclusion
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