Lavin Voices

The Lavin Agency

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Conversations with the world’s top voices—curated by The Lavin Agency. Pulitzer Prize winners, bestselling authors, C-suite executives, and visionary entrepreneurs share the big ideas shaping business, culture, and society. Each week, Lavin Voices brings you insights that will change how you think, feel, and act. Consider this your front-row seat to the conversations moving the world forward.

11/25/2025

Corinne Low: How to Build Stronger Workplaces Where Women Can “Have It All”

Women are on an uneven playing field at work and at home—which means the companies that help them thrive will unlock a lasting advantage over the competition. This week on Lavin Voices, we talk to Wharton professor Corinne Low, author of Having It All: What Data Tells Us About Women's Lives and How to Get the Most Out of Yours. A "40 Under 40" MBA professor, Corinne has spent her career helping women carve out their joy and helping companies support women in ways that maximize profits and staff retention. She's a workplace consultant who's advised Fortune 500 companies, as well as a brilliant, accessible, high-energy keynote speaker whose talks equip women, men, and organizations to get the best out of their economic lives and build a stronger workplace—and, as a result, a stronger democracy. In this episode, you'll learn: How parenting and jobs have simultaneously become more intensive What "the squeeze" is for working parents and how to survive itWhy flexibility isn't what working mothers actually need (and what is)How simple workplace changes can help you keep your best talent foreverThe hidden advantages of retaining talented women mid-careerWhy investing in women's careers is actually investing in the future of our families and our democracy In conversation with The Lavin Agency's Director of Intellectual Talent, Charles Yao, Corinne answers these questions and more: What keeps women from advancing in organizations?How can firms create work-life balance?Why does the gender wage gap persist?Should you "lean in" at work?How can women negotiate better working conditions? Learn more about Corinne or book her as a keynote speaker: https://thelavinagency.com/speakers/corinne-low/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=corinne+low+lavin+voices Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok for more big ideas: ‪@TheLavinAgency ‬Credits: Producers: Alethea Ng and Kshiteej Sawhney Host: Charles Yao Guest: Corinne Low

49 min
11/18/2025

Alexandra Samuel: My AI Coach Changed My Life

Can AI be your coach? Or even... your friend? One tech journalist explains how a 10-week experiment with AI turned into a relationship that changed everything. This week on Lavin Voices, we talk to Lavin Exclusive Speaker Alexandra Samuel: tech journalist and AI workplace expert, contributor to The Wall Street Journal and Harvard Business Review, and author of multiple books on workplace tech. She is also the creator of the new podcast "Me + Viv": a deeply personal exploration of her journey to build an AI coach, and what that taught her about humanity, technology, community, and even her own self. She's also a sought-after keynote speaker who helps audiences understand how to harness AI's potential while avoiding its pitfalls, showing leaders and teams how to use technology to strengthen (not replace) human connection. In this episode, you'll learn: How to build a custom AI assistant that actually understands youWhy AI works better as an interviewer than an oracleThe psychological risks of AI companionship (and how to manage them)How to overcome AI's tendency toward "sycophancy" and get real feedbackWhy treating AI as imaginative space (not search engine) unlocks its true powerThe importance of making human connection your default, not your backup In conversation with The Lavin Agency's Director of Intellectual Talent, Charles Yao, Alexandra answers these questions and more: Can AI be a companion?How can AI isolate you?How can AI strengthen your human relationships instead of replacing them?Is it healthy to use ChatGPT as a friend? Learn more about Alexandra or book her as a keynote speaker: https://thelavinagency.com/speakers/alexandra-samuel/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=alexandra+samuel+lavin+voices Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok for more big ideas: ‪@TheLavinAgency Listen to Me + Viv now: ‬https://www.tvo.org/podcasts/me-plus-viv ------ Credits: Producers: Alethea Ng and Kshiteej Sawhney Host: Charles Yao Guest: Alexandra Samuel

50 min
11/11/2025

Jacob Ward: Helping Millions of Viewers Separate AI Hype from Reality

“I've often been called the Black Mirror correspondent, because that's what this is,” says Jacob Ward. For seven years, Jake was the on-air technology correspondent for NBC News, covering the monumental rise of AI for millions of mainstream viewers of NBC Nightly News and The Today Show. His influential book, The Loop, is credited with being one of the first to predict the rise of commercial AI and ChatGPT before they became part of our everyday lives. In it, he makes a powerful argument for how AI is uniquely capable of preying on our psychological vulnerabilities—and how to make sure it doesn’t. In this week’s episode of Lavin Voices, Jake helps host Charles Yao separate hype from reality at this fever pitch moment in AI, and he talks about why covering AI as a journalist is a “universal” beat, akin to democracy or capitalism. Jake also shows, from real-world examples, how it’s possible to regulate AI to ensure it has the widest possible benefits for all of society. “Where are the places in which we're using this technology to amplify the best parts of being human, the things that are really fragile and important about being human?” he asks. “And where are the places where we are using it to empower the least attractive qualities we have?” In this episode, you’ll learn: Why AI coverage is now a “universal beat” like democracy or capitalismHow AI exploits our psychological blind spots—and what we can do about itWhy Jacob Ward predicted the AI boom before ChatGPTHow to regulate AI for societal benefitWhy the future of AI depends on human restraint and choice In conversation with The Lavin Agency’s Director of Intellectual Talent, Charles Yao, Jacob answers these questions and more: What are the biggest ethical risks companies face with AI today?How can businesses avoid becoming the “bad guys” in the AI narrative?What is the “Super Villain Test” for AI innovation?How can AI enhance employee experience instead of replacing jobs?What’s the difference between using AI as a tool and using it as entertainment?How can regulation keep pace with the speed of AI development?Can AI ever help us make better human choices?Why is restraint the most underrated principle in innovation today?What does it truly mean to be human in the age of AI? Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok for more big ideas: @TheLavinAgency ------ Credits: Producers: Alethea Ng and Kshiteej Sawhney Host: Charles Yao Guest: Jacob Ward

45 min
11/04/2025

Bree Groff: How to Make Work Fun. Really

Work can be fun, says Bree Groff. In fact, work should be fun! And enjoying our workdays will make us not only more productive, but also more human. This week on Lavin Voices, we talk to Lavin Exclusive Speaker Bree Groff. Bree is a workplace culture expert and author of Today Was Fun: A Book About Work (Seriously). A hotly in-demand consultant and keynote speaker, Bree has worked with organizations like Pfizer and Microsoft to transform how teams think about work, boosting productivity and happiness along the way. In her dynamic keynotes, Bree challenges audiences to rethink the "patently ridiculous" norms we've accepted about work culture and shows leaders how to create environments where people thrive. "I'm a human being with only so many days on the planet," Bree says. "It's worth making these days fun—for myself and my team." In this episode, you'll learn: Why we've normalized unhealthy work practices (and how to undo them)The difference between work-life balance and work-life integrationWhy fun at work isn't about ping pong tables or happy hoursHow to design "Do Nothing Days" that spark creativityWhat psychological safety really looks like in practiceWhy professionalism often gets in the way of great work In conversation with The Lavin Agency's Director of Intellectual Talent, Charles Yao, Bree answers these questions and more: Can you have fun at work?Can customer service be fun?Should you really "do what you love"?What's the first step to changing workplace culture?How can you tell if your employees are happy?Why should business leaders care about employee engagement?How can AI help us be more human at work? Learn more about Bree or book her as a keynote speaker: https://thelavinagency.com/speakers/bree-groff/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=bree+groff+lavin+voices Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok for more big ideas: ‪ @TheLavinAgency ------ Credits: Producers: Alethea Ng and Kshiteej Sawhney Host: Charles Yao Guest: Bree Groff

42 min
10/28/2025

Nick Thompson on Running and "Doing Things That Seem Impossible."

"If you keep moving forward, things will get better." Nick Thompson is the CEO of the Atlantic and the former editor in chief of Wired; he's also an American record-holding distance runner. In his new memoir, The Running Ground, Nick philosophizes on what running can teach us about life, work, resilience, confidence, commitment, focus, and good habits. "The effort is what you remember," he tells us. Also: "Discipline is cumulative." What does "talent" actually mean? How important is goal-setting? Nick talks to host Charles Yao about why showing up every day is the most important thing you can do. They also delve into how Nick's fascinating family history and hectic work schedule impact his running and vice versa. Success is not a mountain, he reminds us. It's a series of rolling peaks. In this episode, you'll learn: How to overcome mental barriers in running and lifeWhy your brain limits your performance (and how to trick it)The science of pain during exercise and endurance sportsWhat makes someone talented at running (and why it's not what you think)How to balance career ambitions with athletic training In conversation with The Lavin Agency's Director of Intellectual Talent, Charles Yao, Nick answers these questions and more: Can you get faster at running in your 40s?What are the best marathon training tips for busy professionals?What is ultra marathon training like?Can you improve running performance with age?How can you stay motivated during long training cycles? Learn more about Nick or book him as a keynote speaker: https://thelavinagency.com/speakers/nick-thompson/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=nick+thompson+lavin+voices Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok for more big ideas: ‪@TheLavinAgency‬ ------ Credits: Producers: Alethea Ng and Kshiteej Sawhney Host: Charles Yao Guest: Nick Thompson

35 min
10/21/2025

Cas Holman: On the Power of Play (and Why Adults Need to Play Too)

When was the last time you played? Not just playing a video game or a sport, where the goal is to win, but just playing for play's sake? This week on Lavin Voices, we talk to Lavin Exclusive Speaker Cas Holman. Cas is a world-renowned toy designer who's been featured on Netflix's award-winning series Abstract: The Art of Design. She's also the author of Playful (out today!), which reveals how play can boost creativity and collaboration, help us connect and recharge, and show us how to find fulfilment at work. Elizabeth Gilbert (Eat Pray Love) calls it "a radiant and essential book for our anxious age." In this episode, you'll learn: What free play is and why it's fundamentally different from structured activities or gamesThe scientific reasons play directly impacts problem-solving abilities and creativityWhy play is so necessary for innovation (and why a focus on efficiency and productivity might be killing it)How to integrate play into everyday adult life without making it feel forced In conversation with The Lavin Agency's Director of Intellectual Talent, Charles Yao, Cas answers these questions and more: What is free play vs. structured play?How does play affect brain development in adults?How does play relate to productivity?How to make more innovative corporate cultures?How to make meetings more productive?How can we live together better?Why is play important for children?How to reconnect children with unstructured play? Learn more about Cas or book her as a keynote speaker: https://thelavinagency.com/speakers/cas-holman/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=cas+holman+lavin+voices Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok for more big ideas: ‪@TheLavinAgency‬ ------ Credits: Producers: Alethea Ng and Kshiteej Sawhney Host: Charles Yao Guest: Cas Holman

50 min
10/07/2025

Judd Kessler: Understand Hidden Markets and Tip the Scales in Your Favor

Every day, you play a game you don't even know you're playing. Daycare slots, good jobs, medical care, concert tickets: all these are allocated through a powerful phenomenon called "hidden markets." And by understanding their rules, you can make them work for you. This week on Lavin Voices, we talk to Lavin Exclusive Speaker Judd Kessler. Judd is a Wharton professor who has spent two decades researching how hidden markets work and how to use them to your advantage. He's also the author of Lucky by Design, in which he offers a wealth of examples of everyday hidden markets, and offers a framework for identifying and succeeding in them. Annie Duke (Thinking in Bets) says that "Kessler reveals the hidden rules of the game, and arms you with the strategies you need to win them." In this episode, you'll learn: What hidden markets are—and how you're already competing in dozens of them without realizing itThe "go for gold vs. settle for silver" strategy that can help you win restaurant reservations, concert tickets, and daycare spotsWhy Taylor Swift left billions on the table—and what it reveals about the psychology of pricing and demandHow to design markets that are fair to everyone, and how to win in markets where the rules aren't clear In conversation with The Lavin Agency's Director of Intellectual Talent, Charles Yao, Judd answers these questions and more: What are hidden markets and how do they work?How do I get a reservation at a popular restaurant?Why are concert tickets so hard to get?How do daycare waitlists work?What strategies help you win lotteries and raffles?How are promotions really decided at work?How should I manage my calendar to protect my time Learn more about Judd or book him as a keynote speaker: https://thelavinagency.com/speakers/judd-kessler/?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Lavin+Voices+Judd+Kessler Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok for more big ideas: @TheLavinAgency ------ Credits: Producers: Alethea Ng and Kshiteej Sawhney Host: Charles Yao Guest: Judd Kessler

48 min
09/30/2025

Jeff Chang: Bruce Lee and the Making of Asian America

Bruce Lee rose to prominence at the same time as Asian America. And in doing so, he changed all of our lives. This week on Lavin Voices, we talk to Lavin Exclusive Speaker Jeff Chang. Named "a preeminent chronicler of Asian American history" (Publishers Weekly), Jeff is a celebrated social historian whose powerful work on culture and history helps us better understand our country and ourselves. In his new book, Water Mirror Echo: Bruce Lee and the Making of Asian America, Jeff turns his eye to the story of this martial arts icon and how he shaped the America that we know today. He shows us why Bruce still matters today, and how his story continues to influence us now and into the future. In this episode, you'll learn: How Bruce Lee became a symbol of the underdogHow Bruce challenged Hollywood stereotypes and paved the way for Asian American representation in mediaHow Bruce's struggle for recognition mirrors the rise of broader social movements even beyond America In conversation with The Lavin Agency's Director of Intellectual Talent, Charles Yao, Jeff answers these questions and more: Who was Bruce Lee?Why does Bruce Lee's life story matter today?What was Bruce Lee's philosophy on martial arts and self-improvement?Why did Bruce Lee leave Hollywood?How did Bruce Lee change the representation of Asians in Hollywood? Learn more about Jeff or book him as a keynote speaker: https://thelavinagency.com/speakers/jeff-chang/?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Lavin+Voices+Jeff+Chang Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok for more big ideas: @TheLavinAgency ----- Credits: Producers: Alethea Ng and Kshiteej Sawhney Host: Charles Yao Guest: Jeff Chang

46 min
09/23/2025

Rutger Bregman: Moral Ambition and How to ACTUALLY Make the World a Better Place

We only get 4000 weeks on this earth. Why are so many of us wasting them? This week on Lavin Voices, we talk to Lavin Exclusive Speaker Rutger Bregman. Named “one of Europe’s most prominent young thinkers” by TED, Rutger is a New York Times bestselling author whose books (Moral Ambition, Humankind, and Utopia for Realists) have sold over 2 million copies and been translated into 46 languages. He has shared the stage with Yuval Noah Harari, been interviewed by Jon Stewart, gone viral at the World Economic Forum conference at Davos, and given a TED Talk which TED curator Chris Anderson named one of the 10 best of the year. Rutger is a warm, passionate keynote speaker who argues that we need more than good intentions to change the world. We need "moral ambition": the idealism of an activist and the ambition of an entrepreneur. And he can show us how to muster both in order to make real change. In this episode, you'll learn: Why making the world "a little bit better" is the wrong goal—and what to aim for insteadHow small groups of committed people can spark outsized movementsThe counterintuitive truth about doing good (hint: it's not about being a good person) In conversation with The Lavin Agency's founder and CEO, David Lavin, Rutger answers these questions and more: How can ordinary people change the world?Why do good people do nothing about injustice?Is universal basic income a good idea?What can you do if you hate your job?How can you find meaningful work? Learn more about Rutger or book him as a keynote speaker: https://thelavinagency.com/speakers/rutger-bregman/?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=Video&utm… Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok for more big ideas: @TheLavinAgency ----- Credits: Producers: Alethea Ng and Kshiteej Sawhney Host: David Lavin Guest: Rutger Bregman

34 min
09/16/2025

Karen Hao: Will AI Return Us to an "Age of Empire"?

The AI revolution will have consequences for our democracy. But there's still time to take the power into our own hands. This week on Lavin Voices, we talk to Lavin Exclusive Speaker Karen Hao, author of Empire of AI and one of the 2025 TIME100 AI. As the first journalist to ever profile OpenAI, Karen is a long-time Silicon Valley insider who has spent years investigating the most consequential tech arms race in history. A passionate, hopeful speaker, Karen shows us how thoroughly AI will alter society, and what role we can all play in shaping AI so that it benefits everyone. “The way we develop technology is now fundamentally broken,” she says. “But I truly believe that we can fix it.” --- In this episode, you'll learn: How a handful of tech companies are consolidating unprecedented power—and what this means for usWhy AI FOMO is driving adoption of technology that doesn't actually improve productivityHow citizens can stand up for democracy and build an AI future that benefits us all----- Learn more about Karen or book her as a keynote speaker: https://thelavinagency.com/speakers/karen-hao/ Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok for more big ideas: @TheLavinAgency ----- Credits: Producers: Alethea Ng and Kshiteej Sawhney Host: Charles Yao Guest: Karen Hao

49 min
09/09/2025

Hans Peter Brondmo: Why AI SHOULD Take Our Jobs

The robots are coming… and they can’t get here soon enough. This week on Lavin Voices, we talk to Lavin Exclusive Speaker Hans Peter Brondmo. As the founder of Everyday Robots at Google, Hans Peter has spent decades helping to make AI-powered robots that will tackle our biggest societal problems and free us up to find more purpose, serve our communities, and, ultimately, be more human. A thoughtful, clear-eyed leader and speaker, Hans Peter shows us how we can all flourish in a future where AI helps us rethink purpose and fulfillment. “We want to take all the robotic stuff and give it to the robots—and allow for us humans to be more human,” he says. -- In this episode, you’ll learn: Why the biggest AI opportunities might not be what we thinkWhat today’s leaders get wrong about AI adoption, and how to get it rightWhy AI SHOULD take our jobs—and how that will help us live better, more fulfilling lives Learn more about Hans Peter or book him as a keynote speaker: https://thelavinagency.com/speakers/hans-peter-brondmo/ ------ Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok for more big ideas: @TheLavinAgency ------ Credits: Producers: Alethea Ng and Kshiteej Sawhney Host: Charles Yao Guest: Hans Peter Brondmo

59 min

11 Episodes

Conversations with the world’s top voices—curated by The Lavin Agency. Pulitzer Prize winners, bestselling authors, C-suite executives, and visionary entrepreneurs share the big ideas shaping business, culture, and society. Each week, Lavin Voices brings you insights that will change how you think, feel, and act. Consider this your front-row seat to the conversations moving the world forward.

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The Lavin Agency
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2K
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11
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Clean
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Lavin Voices