The Curiosity Shop with Brené Brown and Adam Grant
Vox Media Podcast Network
Research professor Brené Brown and organizational psychologist Adam Grant are partnering on a new weekly podcast grounded in an unflinching commitment to learning and unlearning. At a time when public discourse rewards certainty over inquiry, The Curiosity Shop features two of the world's most sought-after experts on connection, change, and leadership making the case for slowing down, asking better questions, and embracing informed complexity over easy answers. Bringing together their left and right brain sensibilities — she’s a qualitative researcher; he’s a quantitative researcher — they explore some of the defining questions of our time, unpack the research reshaping how we live, lead, and love, and dive deep into the ideas, evidence, and cultural moments intriguing them the most. New episodes drop every Thursday. Part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.
Episodes
Mentioned books
147 snips
May 7, 2026 • 1h 8min
BS Disclaimers, Invisible Armies, and the Importance of the Words We Choose
A lively conversation about the sneaky phrases people use to dodge ownership and manufacture fake consensus. It digs into anonymous feedback, psychological safety, and why some workplaces push people to speak through invisible crowds. It also explores hedging, bias around gender and identity, and how word choice can shape trust, conflict, and tough conversations.
131 snips
Apr 30, 2026 • 50min
What the Return-to-Office Debate Gets Wrong
A lively debate on why the office question is really about solving the right problem. They explore hybrid work, weak ties, creativity, culture, belonging, and why attendance still gets mistaken for performance. There is also a sharp look at hidden assumptions behind workplace rules, plus detours into birth order and the tension between authenticity and editing.
352 snips
Apr 23, 2026 • 60min
The Emotion Few Talk About, But Many Feel
A deep dive into shame, humiliation, and why both still shape life from school to work to social media. They explore how public belittling can spiral into anger and violence, why self-protective habits backfire, and how empathy changes the dynamic. The conversation also turns to imposter feelings, cultural pressure, and the fear of becoming irrelevant.
264 snips
Apr 16, 2026 • 1h 8min
Uncertainty is Not the Enemy
They dig into why people stay loyal to draining relationships and workplaces, what makes an apology feel real, and how leaders handle doubt. Then the conversation turns to uncertainty, anxiety, polarization, strongman appeal, misinformation, and the strange comfort people find in certainty.
503 snips
Apr 9, 2026 • 60min
Overconfidence and the Art of Knowing Yourself
A freestyle skiing press conference sparks a lively dive into metacognition, overconfidence, and the Dunning-Kruger effect. There’s talk of journaling, feedback, and why people are terrible at estimating timelines. Pickleball, ping pong, therapy, and team meetings all become surprising arenas for spotting blind spots and testing self-awareness.
345 snips
Apr 2, 2026 • 1h 3min
Mission vs. Ego: The Dangers of Narcissistic Leadership
They explore why people fall for narcissistic leaders and the social conditions that enable them. They unpack shame-driven fear, grandiose versus vulnerable narcissism, and how anxiety and reward systems amplify self-serving leadership. They discuss credit-hoarding, the costs of emotional labor, and concrete survival tactics for people stuck under narcissistic bosses.
404 snips
Mar 26, 2026 • 1h 11min
How This Podcast Could Fail
They imagine ways their collaboration could fail and run a premortem to surface hidden risks. They unpack how sarcasm, teasing, and differing communication styles create misunderstandings. They compare personality frames and systems thinking to explain recurring conflicts. They brainstorm concrete failure modes like misaligned goals, unspoken expectations, and design disagreements.
544 snips
Mar 20, 2026 • 1h 2min
Brené and Adam on What They Will Never Agree On
A candid retelling of a public clash that almost ended a friendship and how repair restored trust. A debate about what healthy authenticity looks like and where empathy and boundaries matter. Playful disagreements about texting versus email, remote work, and faith. Reflections on apologies, code-switching, and how people grow through uncomfortable conversations.
23 snips
Mar 15, 2026 • 27sec
Welcome to The Curiosity Shop
Two researchers team up to champion curiosity, questioning certainty, and learning over easy answers. They contrast qualitative and quantitative thinking while teasing big cultural and scientific questions. The conversation promises thoughtful inquiry, sharper questions, and an invitation to slow down and explore complex ideas.
185 snips
Nov 5, 2025 • 22min
Brené on Strong Ground Ask Me Anything, Part 2 of 2
Brené dives into the transformative Above/Below the Line practice, revealing how it shapes leadership and self-awareness. She shares personal stories of its impact, illustrating the difference between fear-driven reactions and conscious responses. With insights into roles like Hero and Villain, she emphasizes the power of naming fears. Real-life examples showcase the importance of pausing and acknowledging emotions. Brené argues that recognizing hidden fears can lead to cultural shifts, likening this practice to building muscle for personal growth.
