What Works

Good luck going anywhere today without running into a message about creativity. I was going to say, "anywhere online," but really, it's just about anywhere. We get creative in the kitchen. Creative in our workouts. Creative in bed. And of course, creative at work. Creativity is somewhat of a "cult object," as Samuel Franklin put it in his cultural history of creativity. Today, I want to get uncomfortably close to that cult object and ask, "What is our fascination with creativity hiding?" So join me as I venture onto the third rail of the 21st-century economy. Footnotes: The Cult of Creativity: A Surprisingly Recent HistoryThe Surprising Origins of Our Obsession with CreativityBehavioral ScientistThe Origins of CreativityThe New YorkerCapitalist RealismAlso in this series: Organizing Indie LaborFiguring Out the Creator EconomyBuilding Solidarity in the Creator Economy Find an essay version of this episode at whatworks.fyi *** I'm teaching a new workshop on May 15 & 16, 2024! It's called World-Building for Business Owners, and it's based on a process I've been honing for more than a decade. I'll help you apply creative, even playful thinking to your business strategy—and help you create an internally consistent business that causes fewer headaches, meets your needs more efficiently, plays to your strengths, and creates satisfying work. Click here for all the details or go to explorewhatworks.com/world *** If you enjoy What Works, please consider supporting this work by becoming a premium subscriber for just $7 per month. ★ Support this podcast ★

I'm teaching a new workshop on May 15 & 16, 2024! It's called World-Building for Business Owners, and it's based on a process I've been honing for more than a decade. I'll help you apply creative, even playful thinking to your business strategy—and help you create an internally consistent business that causes fewer headaches, meets your needs more efficiently, plays to your strengths, and creates satisfying work. Click here for all the details or go to explorewhatworks.com/world ★ Support this podcast ★

"How do I want to live?" Philosopher Rahel Jaeggi says this question is bound up in the concept of alienation. Our disconnection and dissatisfaction keep us from answering that question—but they also keep us from asking it in the first place. So in this episode, Kate, Charlie, and I ask that question—and five more. We examine how work in the creator economy can reinforce competition and individualism when what we really need is solidarity and collective action. If you're curious what you can do to join with others for your own success and theirs, this episode has some ideas. Footnotes: Whiskey FridaysWanderingsWanderwell ConsultingProductive FlourishingBetter Team HabitsWhat the creator economy promises and what it actually doesThe New YorkerSurplus populations are all around usAlienationMetrics, Incentives, and the Seduction of ClarityCasey Newton on Decoder with Nilay PatelAlgorithms at WorkAs always, find an essay version of today's episode at whatworks.fyi And speaking of the creator economy, if you appreciate the work I do, I'd be so grateful if you became a premium subscriber of What Works for just $7/month. Your support makes a world of difference when it comes to my ability to do this work. ★ Support this podcast ★

It seems the creator economy is booming. Or is it? And what even is the creator economy?? Platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and TechTalk are quite happy to advertise the ways they support creators with features and advice. Their aspirational creator hubs give the distinct impression that becoming a creator is akin to getting paid to be yourself. But that said, when Kate Tyson told me that she doesn’t think the creator economy should exist but that she couldn’t put that in writing, I told her she was wrong—about not being able to put that in writing. Turns out, our mutual friend Charlie Gilkey had told her the same thing. So I arranged a meeting of the minds. Today's episode is Part 1 of 2 of that conversation. We get into who a creator is, how the creator economy really works, why we value what we value, and how platforms distort the market for our creative work. Footnotes: Whiskey FridaysWanderingsWanderwell ConsultingProductive FlourishingBetter Team HabitsMillions work as content creators. In official records, they barely exist.The Washington PostDigital sharecroppingPreferential attachmentYou Gotta Be in it to Win ItCapital Is Dead: Is This Something Worse? Wait, I think you're platform-pilledenshittificationtoo big to careThe Twittering Machine ★ Support this podcast ★

The labor market has undergone a sea change in the last 20 years. A full third of US workers are part of the independent workforce, including gig workers, contract workers, freelancers, and sole proprietors. And yet, key provisions in our labor regulations do not cover independent workers. What's more, platform companies have further changed our idea of work. If you sell your labor on a platform, you're not an employee of the platform—you're an entrepreneur. Well, those entrepreneurs are starting to ask questions. I am, too. Today's episode examines one organization's attempt to organize the indie workforce. The Indie Sellers Guild formed in the wake of a strike action in April 2022 by 30,000 Etsy sellers. I spoke with executive director Chiarra Lohr about what they've been up to, the challenges they face, and the victories they've already celebrated. Plus, you'll learn a bit about the history of working women's organizing in the US—starting back in the 1830s! Footnotes: Indie Sellers GuildWho do you work for?The Lowell OfferingThe Voice of IndustryHistory & CulturePlatform CapitalismMonopsony 101National Labor Relations ActIndie Sellers Guild Convention ★ Support this podcast ★

The Center for Nonviolent Communication describes what they teach as "empathy in action." And so it seems fitting to close out this series on Decoding Empathy with a look at nonviolence, Nonviolent Communication, and making social spaces at work & beyond that work for more people. I talked with Leonie Smith, founder of The Thoughtful Workplace, about how she uses the tools and practices of nonviolence to help individuals and teams feel more seen and understood. Footnotes: Leonie Smith and The Thoughtful WorkplaceAsk LeonieThe Expulsion of the OtherAhimsaThe Center for Nonviolent CommunicationThe 'Magic' of Meeting in PersonThe Notebooks of Simone WeilRelated: My conversation with Mara GlatzelMy conversation with Charlie Gilkey Check out the full Decoding Empathy series! Every episode of What Works is also released in essay form at whatworks.fyi! ★ Support this podcast ★

I have learned a lot about cognitive empathy by learning copywriting. After all, copywriting is a puzzle—the puzzle of figuring out what someone is thinking or feeling and how you can connect your idea to that thought or feeling. So, it seemed only fitting that I would invite a copywriter to this series on decoding empathy to share her process and give you a behind-the-scenes look at cognitive empathy in practical application. In this episode, I get real nerdy with Samantha Pollack, a positioning strategist and copywriter, and think about how the digital doppelgangers we create via our personal brands might help us get curious about who is behind others' digital doppelgangers. Footnotes: Samantha Pollack and Cult of PersonalityDoppelganger Multiculturalism Find every essay and episode in the Decoding Empathy series. Every episode of What Works is also released in essay form at whatworks.fyi! ★ Support this podcast ★

Typically, the question of accessibility online is considered in technical terms: How does this website need to be designed? What ALT text is appropriate for this image? Are captions available for this video? And obviously, knowing the technical aspects of accessibility is important. But if accessibility stops at the technical requirements, we forget that there are people on the other side of those checklists and manuals. We forget that even the most rigorous checklist can’t account for everyone and their experiences. We forget to ask critical questions that seem obvious when it comes to a backstage pass but are readily dismissed when it comes to most other social spaces. In the 3rd episode of my 5-part series on Decoding Empathy, I talk with Erin Perkins, an accessibility educator and the founder of MabelyQ, and draw on the work of disability studies scholar Tanya Titchkosky to theorize the overlap between access and empathy—and what it means for you. Footnotes: Erin Perkins and MabelyQThe Question of AccessImpact of post-COVID symptoms on US adultsWC3's Web Accessibility Initiative tips for online contentAutism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis as biographical illuminationComing Out Disabled Every episode of What Works is also available in essay form at whatworks.fyi What Works is funded by readers and listeners. To help support this work, upgrade to a premium subscription for just $7 per month. ★ Support this podcast ★

How do you get seen in a world that doesn't see you? How do you get recognized when so many systems are designed to keep you unrecognized? Those are the questions at the heart of today's episode. In the 2nd episode in my 5-part series on decoding empathy, I talk with behavioral scientist and brand strategist N. Chloé Nwangwu about how she helps underrecognized people "emerge from the margins" and get noticed. Footnotes: Chloé Nwangwu and Nobi WorksSister Outsider: Essays and SpeechesThe Question of AccessWhy We Should Stop Saying UnderrepresentedRacial attention deficitambition penaltyreallySpeech by Angela Bassett Every episode of What Works is also available in essay form at whatworks.fyi What Works is funded by readers and listeners. To help support this work, upgrade to a premium subscription for just $7 per month. ★ Support this podcast ★

Today, we peel back the layers of a term that's become ubiquitous in the business world and beyond: empathy. In this episode, empathy's origin story. Er, stories. We'll explore its philosophical roots deep in the 19th century, through my personal trials and errors with empathy, to some of the challenges we face in empathizing with people we have less in common with. Ultimately, I want to explore the ways empathy invites curiosity, leverages imagination, and recognizes our differences. This is the first in a 5-part series in which I'm decoding empathy. We'll talk brand strategy, non-violent communication, disability, and copywriting. And all throughout the series, we'll look for ways to recognize difference instead of assuming sameness. Footnotes: Build Your Creative Confidence: Empathy MapsBewildermentDouble empathy, explainedOn the Ontological Status of Autism: the 'double empathy' problemDon't Mourn for UsEmpathy: Philosophical and Psychological PerspectivesWaiting for GodNot Mentioned: Cognitive processing19Every episode of What Works is also published in essay form at whatworks.fyi If you love deep dives like this series, please consider becoming a premium subscriber. You get access to my premium columns, quarterly live workshops, and discussion thread. Visit: whatworks.fyi/subscribe ★ Support this podcast ★

Are you waiting for a glorious day with your system, plan, or business just work? I hate to tell you this—but you will be waiting a long time. Plans, systems, and businesses evolve. Change isn't a bad thing—it's the only thing. In today's edition of This is Not Advice, I share how I recently coached Sean through a run-in with process entropy and process evolution. To get the full essay or episode, visit: https://www.whatworks.fyi/p/process-entropy-and-process-evolution ★ Support this podcast ★

Our beliefs leave an indelible mark on how we interact with others and our environment. Even when those beliefs aren't conscious. Beliefs about quality of life are a whole other can of worms. Who gets to decide the relative quality of a life? Or what lives are worth living? And how do our beliefs about quality of life and worthiness impact the way interact with others and the way we treat ourselves? In this episode, I reflect on how my beliefs about quality of life were influenced by my favorite Star Trek character, Data. I discuss technoableism, narratives of overcoming, and the unnecessary self-judgment we can put ourselves through on the path to becoming like everyone else. Footnotes: Rethink WorkStar Trek: NemesisAgainst TechnoableismValuing Disability, Causing DisabilityWhat WorksIf you're a sci-fi nerd like me, check out my limited podcast, Strange New Work, wherever you listen to podcasts! All new episodes of What Works are available in written essay form at whatworks.fyi *** If you’re questioning your relationship to work but finding it difficult to make lasting changes, I’d love to help. I’m committed to helping you confront and deconstruct big assumptions that compete with your good intentions. And that’s exactly what we’re doing in my new 8-week cohort-based course, Rethink Work. We’ll examine the beliefs, stories, and systems that keep us hustling—even when it hurts—so you can make changes that last and create a more sustainable approach to work. ★ Support this podcast ★

The proliferation of derivative nonsense on various social media platforms begs the question: Is it possible to make a TikTok video, Instagram post, or LinkedIn update that's remarkable? Is it possible for repetition to be an asset? For repetition to even be remarkable? In this episode, I take a deep dive into gimmicks—the formulaic and repetitive media that can help us think in new ways. Specifically, I'm looking at Frankie's Cultural Observations. If you don't know the series, I'm delighted to share it with you today! This is the 3rd in my series, What Makes This Remarkable, where I break down remarkable content I come across to give you new perspectives on your own work (creative or otherwise). Premium subscribers also get "Remarkable Homework"—prompts for thinking differently about your projects—and the chance to ask questions or discuss that week's lessons. Upgrade your subscription to join in! Footnotes: 60 Songs That Explain the '90sSavior ComplexFrankie's Cultural ObservationsObserving Frankie McNamara's ObservationsPaper MagazineSandwiches of HistoryGirl with the DogsgimmickA gimmick is a nonsequential series of works that utilize a novel scheme, angle, or device to explore a network of ideas.Why Write In Form?Amusing Ourselves to DeathHypercultureTed Nelson & "intertwingularity"The Cluetrain Manifesto All new episodes are available in written essay form at whatworks.fyi *** If you’re questioning your relationship to work but finding it difficult to make lasting changes, I’d love to help. I’m committed to helping you confront and deconstruct big assumptions that compete with your good intentions. And that’s exactly what we’re doing in my new 8-week cohort-based course, Rethink Work. We’ll examine the beliefs, stories, and systems that keep us hustling—even when it hurts—so you can make changes that last and create a more sustainable approach to work. ★ Support this podcast ★

Last week, Vox published an article by internet culture reporter Rebecca Jennings about how everybody needs to be a self-promoter now—and we all hate it. Then, I read a response by writer and book coach Leigh Stein, who was quoted in the Vox piece, in which she admitted to actually enjoying creating her social media content. Stein said that she was considerably more optimistic about the state of things than Jennings article was. I found the exchange fascinating. I find it hard to disagree with either of their perspectives! And Stein wasn't really disagreeing with Jennings either—which left me with one thought: I don't think we're talking about the same things here. So I resurrected an old piece from July 2021 that made the case I wanted to make—that self-promotion sucks and is contentless, but that self-promotion is not the only mode for creating content that gets the job done on social media—and updated it for today's social media moment. This episode has my response to both Jennings's and Stein's articles, as well as a description of how enshittification doesn't only apply to platforms but to creators, too. And then, I share the 3 Rs of Digital Content. Footnotes: Everyone's a sell-out nowVoxwho told you it would be easy?The Attention EconomyautofanficThe Attention EconomyThe 'Enshittification' of TikTokWiredAlways On: The Hidden Labor We Do EverydayWhat WorksTo Quit or Not to Quit Social MediaWhat WorksRevisiting Remarkable Content to Consider Digital EcologyWhat WorksAll new episodes are available in written essay form at whatworks.fyi *** If you’re questioning your relationship to work but finding it difficult to make lasting changes, I’d love to help. I’m committed to helping you confront and deconstruct big assumptions that compete with your good intentions. And that’s exactly what we’re doing in my new 8-week cohort-based course, Rethink Work. We’ll examine the beliefs, stories, and systems that keep us hustling—even when it hurts—so you can make changes that last and create a more sustainable approach to work. ★ Support this podcast ★

Layers. Unless we're talking about cake, you can have too many layers. In today's episode, I share a recent metaphorical revelation I had about sound and sensory sensitivity. And then, I introduce you to a different way of thinking about stress that can help you identify better ways to manage it. Footnotes: Rethink WorkThe Highly Sensitive BrainStress: A Brief History Stress, Appraisal, and CopingEvery episode of What Works is also published in essay form at whatworks.fyi! ★ Support this podcast ★

So, you're stressed. Or work feels intense. Or you're putting more energy than you should into manifesting a day with "no surprises." But why? Even if you're not working on an especially challenging project or hustling to get in under a deadline, the work we do can be stressful in a sort of ambient and ambiguous way. And we might downplay that stress because, hey, aren't we just lucky to have a cool job like this? When we think about work, we're often dealing with an outdated metaphor—The Factory. But if you work in a creative, knowledge-based, service, or caring field, that metaphor doesn't have as much to offer as we think it does, especially when it comes to understanding work stress. Today's episode offers a way to rethink the ways your work can be stressful so you can rethink the resources you need to feel better and do more remarkable work. Footnotes: Rethink WorkSources of intensity in work organizationsCreating Sustainable Work Systems Every episode of What Works is also published in essay form at whatworks.fyi! ★ Support this podcast ★

Why is it that our bodies and brains tend to function on so much outdated code? Our personal algorithms and mental shortcuts are often stuck in a different time and place. We jump to conclusions or inadvertently flood our systems with cortisol because some stray line of code gets triggered. In this episode, I examine the tricky way that our beliefs have a way of creating our reality—not just describing it. What we believe ends up being what we see. Case in point: work-life balance. Footnotes: The Second ShiftSystems UltraUnderstanding Mindset: Trade-offs, Heuristics, and Navigating Change⭐️ NEW: Rethink Work, an 8-week cohort-based course ⭐️ Join me for a live and interactive course on rethinking our beliefs about work—including work-life balance, productivity, data, passion, and purpose. Get all the details here. ★ Support this podcast ★

The only sure bet is uncertainty. As we start a new year, I want to take a closer look at navigating uncertainty and how we can normalize not knowing. In this episode, I introduce you to a nerdy, wire-rimmed-glasses-wearing badass of a German pastor and guide you through 4 questions you can ask whenever you're navigating uncertainty (which is all the time...). Footnotes: Dietrich BonhoefferLetters & Papers from PrisonSmall Arcs of Larger CirclesDancing With SystemsCreating Sustainable Work SystemsOn ReligionNote: I talk at length about God in this episode—but there's no evangelizing. It's about "religionless Christianity." Just trust me. Love What Works? Support the show by telling a friend about today's episode or the What Works newsletter. Or by becoming a premium subscriber for just $7 per month. Learn more! You can also read today's piece at whatworks.fyi ★ Support this podcast ★

Today, a short meditation on time, the end-of-year season, and how we might carry what we experience now into the next season of work. Footnotes: Wibbly-Wobbly, Timey-WimeyTime On Our SideDaniel Dombeck's 2018 study of mice and timeExhalationRead today's piece at whatworks.fyi Love What Works? Support the show and my work by becoming a premium subscriber for just $7 per month. Learn more! ★ Support this podcast ★

This is the 3rd edition of Cold Pitch, an experimental project from YellowHouse.Media exploring media, curiosity, and identity. I'll be sharing one more episode from this project next week before returning to the usual What Works program in 2024! How do you feel about "showing up" in online spaces? What fears or anxieties do you have about hitting the publish button or connecting with strangers on social platforms? My husband and YHM partner Sean has long avoided the public side of working online. But that's changing. In this edition of Cold Pitch, I ask him about his fears, where they come from, and how he's getting on now that he's been a bit more public with him work. Plus, I offer some analysis on how recognition—or perhaps more importantly, misrecognition—shapes our identities. The conversation ends up in a place that neither he nor I expected but were glad to have arrived at. Footnotes: YellowHouse.MediaTamar EttunThe Politics of RecognitionRead the essay version of this edition ★ Support this podcast ★