I Wish They Knew

Hosted by Joe Hirsch

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Episodes

274

Latest episode

Mar 2026

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About the show

Joe Hirsch hosts I Wish They Knew, a podcast where some of the world’s brightest thinkers share big ideas that deserve more attention… in about the time it takes to enjoy a cup of coffee. In these short-form conversations, we explore everything from learning to loss, giving to goal-setting, work to wellbeing, and career to compassion. Our guests include bestselling authors, top-rated business professors, CEOs of Fortune 100 companies, media personalities, and the occasional car enthusiast, NFL player, and CIA officer. New episodes air each Tuesday

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60 recent

March 18, 202617 min

(Ep. 266) James Laughlin: Habits of High Performers

High performers don’t thrive on hustle – they succeed with habits. In Episode 266, James Laughlin drops by to discuss the habits of high performers – and they’re accessible to everyone: How to visualize your goals for success How to sustain motivation over long periods of time How to build better habits of mind, body and spirit How to stay focused on “what’s now,” not just “what’s next” LINKS: James's book : Https://www.thehabitbook.com Habits planner: https://www.jjlaughlin.com/planner LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameslaughlincoaching/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamesLaughlinOfficial Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jameslaughlinofficial/

March 11, 202616 min

(Ep. 265) Sunita Sah: How to speak up at work

Defiance is a practice, not a personality - and it's something anyone can do. In Episode 265, Dr. Sunita Sah drops by to redefine defiance. We discuss why people avoid speaking up, the cost of staying silent, and how we can apply acts of "quiet defiance" in the workplace.

March 4, 202617 min

(Ep. 264) Muriel Wilkins: Unblock your leadership

You can't lead others unless your first unblock yourself. In Episode 264, Muriel Wilkins explores the hidden beliefs that hold leaders back. We discuss ways to unblock your leadership potential, how to develop strong self-awareness, and how leaders should practice unblocking at every stage of their careers.

February 25, 202615 min

(Ep. 263) Garry Ridge: Culture makers and breakers

WD-40 created a company culture where people can make a contribution, learn something new, feel safe and protected, and go home happy. Do you wish that your company culture looked just like that? In Episode #263, who spent two decades as WD-40's CEO and chairman, explains why "learning moments" drive the culture, how leaders can balance candor with caring, and why ego is the #1 culture killer.

February 18, 202614 min

(Ep. 262) Natalie Pickering: Your leader identity

IN EPISODE 262: Leadership is uncomfortable. Finding your leader identity doesn't have to be. In Episode 262, Natalie Pickering explains how leaders can develop their inside game and amplify their impact. We discuss how personal narratives influence leadership style, how to become more comfortable with discomfort, and how to take feedback with more grace. Good leaders operate from the inside out -- and after listening to Natalie, you'll know how to bring out your leadership best. ABOUT NATALIE PICKERING: Natalie Pickering, PhD, is a TEDx speaker, organizational psychologist, and executive coach who helps leaders trade performance pressure for authentic influence. For more than two decades, she's helped executives, founders, and teams navigate change, strengthen culture, and lead with courage. She is the author of Leading Becomes You: A Real-World Framework for Leading from Inside Out.

August 8, 202316 min

(Ep. 144) Bruce Feiler: Be the hero of your own story

IN EPISODE 144: Have you ever experienced a sudden and significant disruption in your work life? It may not be the end of life as you know it, but the start of a new life you never knew. In Episode 144, Bruce Feiler explores the power and possibilities of "workquakes" and their impact on our happiness, meaning and balance. We explore the tension between linear expectations and non-linear realities, why the happiest people "dig" instead of "climb," and how the wisdom of others can help us discover our innermost truths. We can be hero of our own story -- and after listening to Bruce, you'll develop the script and strength to write a new narrative. ABOUT BRUCE FEILER: Bruce Feiler is the author of seven New York Times bestsellers, including Life is in the Transitions , The Secrets of Happy Families , and Council of Dads . His three TED Talks have been viewed more than four million times, and he teaches the TED course, "How to Master Life Transitions." His latest book is T he Search: Finding Meaningful Work in a Post-Career World .

August 1, 202316 min

(Ep. 143) Sara Canaday: Unlock your inner coach

IN EPISODE 143: We know that coaches help us do better. But did you know that anyone can become better at coaching? In Episode 143, Sara Canaday helps us hone our coach approach. We discuss why people have more coaching chops than they think, the difference between performance and developmental coaching, and five steps we can take to improve our coaching skillset. There's a coach inside each of us...and after listening to Sara, you'll unlock your inner coach to maximize better results and relationships. ABOUT SARAH CANADAY: Sara Canaday is a leadership consultant, speaker and author of three books. Her work has appeared in Forbes, Entrepreneur, and The Wall Street Journal, and she's a popular instructor for LinkedIn Learning and a member of the National Speakers Association. Sara's latest book is "Essential Coaching Skills for Managers: The Tools You Need to Ignite Greatness in Each Employee."

March 11, 202516 min

(Ep. 222) Keith Ferrazzi: You can't succeed alone

IN EPISODE 222: Good leaders give feedback to teams. Great leaders get teams to share feedback with each other. In Episode 222, Keith Ferrazzi describes the shift to "teamship," a team-oriented model that emphasizes team transformation. Keith shares practical techniques for fostering a culture of candor, the significance of humility in leadership, and the necessity of building strong relationships to enhance teamwork. We highlight the transformative power of peer-to-peer feedback and the role of shared responsibility in achieving team success. ABOUT KEITH FERRAZZI: Keith Ferrazzi is a renowned executive team coach, keynote speaker, influential thought leader and founder of Ferrazzi Greenlight, where he has spent more than 20 years coachingFortune 500 companies, unicorn startups, and even governments. Keith leads the Greenlight Research Institute, which is focused on team transformation. His latest book is Never Lead Alone: 10 Shifts from Leadership to Teamship. LINKS: https://www.keithferrazzi.com/books https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithferrazzi/ https://www.instagram.com/keithferrazzi/ https://www.youtube.com/@keithferrazzi https://www.tiktok.com/@keithferrazzi https://www.facebook.com/keithferrazzi/ https://x.com/ferrazzi

March 14, 202315 min

(Ep. 124) Kim Scott: Radical caring

IN EPISODE 124: Some of our best relationships begin with a good disagreement. In Episode 124, Kim Scott offers fresh takes on radical candor and shares why we don't need to choose between love and truth. We explore how radical candor should look and feel (and debunk myths about how to use it); discuss how candor can be used, no matter your personality type; highlight techniques to seek authentic feedback; and identify the surprising ways radical candor has been applied in the field. The only way out of discomfort is through...and after listening to Kim, you'll be ready to bring more candor and caring to life's most important conversations. ABOUT KIM SCOTT: Kim Scott is the best-selling author of J ust Work and Radical Candor , and is the co-founder of Radical Candor. Previously, Kim was a CEO coach at Dropbox, Qualtrics and Twitter; was a faculty member at Apple University; and led the AdSense, YouTube and DoubleClick teams at Google. LINKS: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kimmalonescott/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimmalonescott/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/kimballscott LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimm4 Website: https://kimmalonescott.com/ Book, "Just Work": https://www.justworktogether.com/ Book, "Radical Candor": https://www.radicalcandor.com/

December 17, 202412 min

(Ep. 211) Heather Younger: How to lead yourself

IN EPISODE 211: We can't lead others unless and until we know how to lead ourselves. In Episode 211, Heather Younger explores the art of self-leadership and identifies ways leaders can deepen their self-awareness, curiosity and listening. Want to know how to become a better leader? Start by knowing yourself. ABOUT HEATHER YOUNGER: Heather R. Younger is a two-time-TEDx and keynote speaker and the Founder and CEO of Employee Fanatix, a leading employee engagement and consulting firm. Her work has appeared major media outlets like NBC, ABC, Bloomberg and Forbes, among others. Heather's latest book is The Art of Self Leadership.