Uncertainty is Not the Enemy

<p>Today's episode is about learning to sit with uncertainty. The episode opens with a discussion of listener questions on how to handle risk, the ingredients of a great apology, and why people stay loyal to relationships and organizations that quietly drain them. Then Brené and Adam turn to uncertainty – how our brains are wired for a threat response, what intolerance of uncertainty actually is, and why it can drive people toward authoritarian leaders.  </p>
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<p><br>0:00 - Introduction and Guest Questions</p>
<p>3:20 - Is Risk Something to Review or Reveal</p>
<p>13:40 - Why do People Stay Loyal to Bad Relationships?</p>
<p>22:28 - Strategies for Apologizing and Repair</p>
<p>32:33 - Is Uncertainty a Strength or Deficit for Leaders?</p>
<p>40:15 - Intolerance for Uncertainty</p>
<p>52:00 - Terror Management Theory and our Response to Uncertainty</p>
<p>59:50 - How Can We Manage Uncertainty</p>
<p>1:05:00 - Closing</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>Show Notes:</p>
<p><a href="https://www.hbs.edu/ris/Publication%20Files/00-067_cdcafdf1-d946-44ec-96ad-558ad606477d.pdf"><em>Capabilities, Cognition and Inertia: Evidence from Digital Imaging</em><u> - Tripsas and Gavetti, 2000, Harvard Business School (Polaroid Study)</u></a></p>
<p><a href="https://amycedmondson.com/psychological-safety/"><em>The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation, and Growth</em><u> - Amy Edmondson, 2019, Book</u></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.ted.com/talks/worklife_with_adam_grant_is_it_safe_to_speak_up_at_work"><u>I</u><em>s it Safe to Speak Up at Work?</em><u> - Adam Grant and Amy Edmonson, July 2021, Worklife with Adam Grant Podcast</u></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Anchored-Aligned-Accountable-Transcending-Transforming/dp/0593732162"><em>Anchored, Aligned, Accountable: A Framework for Transcending Bullsh*t and Transforming Our Lives and Work </em><u>(Foreword by Brené Brown) - Aiko Bethea, 2026, Book</u></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Predicting-Exit,-Voice,-Loyalty,-and-Neglect.-Withey-Cooper/fcb359fca6d04aacc3c560f0bd11fb2bfc281aa8"><em>Predicting Exit Voice Loyalty and Neglect</em><u> - Withey and Cooper, 1989, Administrative Science Quarterly</u></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/268485669_Hirschman_and_Voice/link/5b571700aca27217ffb7b806/download?_tp=eyJjb250ZXh0Ijp7ImZpcnN0UGFnZSI6InB1YmxpY2F0aW9uIiwicGFnZSI6InB1YmxpY2F0aW9uIn19"><u>Exit, Voice, and Loyalty: Responses to Decline in Firms, Organizations, and States -  Albert Hirschman,1970, Book</u></a></p>
<p><a href="https://thedecisionlab.com/reference-guide/sociology/system-justification-theory"><u>The Decision Lab: System Justification Theory</u></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.ted.com/pages/the-secrets-of-a-great-apology-transcript"><em>The Secrets of a Great Apology - Adam Grant and Beth Polin, 2025, </em><u>WorkLife with Adam Grant Podcast</u></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dance-Anger-Changing-Patterns-Relationships/dp/0062319043"><em>The Dance of Anger: A Woman's Guide to Changing the Patterns of Intimate Relationships </em><u>- Harriet Lerner, 2025, Book</u></a></p>
<p><a href="https://brenebrown.com/podcast/harriet-lerner-and-brene-im-sorry-how-to-apologize-why-it-matters-part-1-of-2/"><em>I’m Sorry: How to Apologize and Why It Matters, Part 1 of 2 - Brené Brown and Harriet Lerner, 2020, </em><u>Unlocking Us with Brene Brown Podcast</u></a></p>
<p><a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/conclave-robert-harris/8e71e23a28df2e93?source=aw&amp;sv1=affiliate&amp;sv_campaign_id=449857&amp;utm_source=awin&amp;utm_medium=Affiliate&amp;utm_campaign=449857&amp;utm_term=0&amp;sscid=92005_1776076021_301f35b7503e6d13630c0fd15d67ed9c&amp;awc=92005_1776076021_301f35b7503e6d13630c0fd15d67ed9c"><em>Conclave</em><u> - Robert Harris, 2016, Book</u></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/383395233_A_Comprehensive_Analysis_of_COVID-19_Misinformation_Public_Health_Impacts_and_Communication_Strategies_Scoping_Review"><em>A Comprehensive Analysis of COVID-19 Misinformation, Public Health Impacts, and Communication Strategies: Scoping Review - </em><u>Kisa, 2024, Journal of Medical Internet Research  </u></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0887618516300251"><em>Into the Unknown: A Review and Synthesis of Contemporary Models Involving Uncertainty - </em><u>Carleton, 2016, Journal of Anxiety Disorders</u></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/269477556_Conceptual_Models_of_Generalized_Anxiety_Disorder"><em>Conceptual Models of Generalized Anxiety Disorder - </em><u>Fisher and Wells, 2011, Psychiatric Annals </u></a></p>
<p><a href="https://mayashankar.com/"><em>The Other Side of Change: Who We Become When Life Makes Other Plans - </em><u>Maya Shankar, 2026, Book </u><em> </em></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sheldon-Cohen/publication/15796493_Aftereffects_of_stress_on_human_performance_and_social_behavior_A_review_of_research_and_theory/links/02e7e52a86a0842d4f000000/Aftereffects-of-stress-on-human-performance-and-social-behavior-A-review-of-research-and-theory.pdf"><em>Aftereffects of Stress on Human Performance and Social Behavior: A Review of Research and Theory - </em><u>Cohen (Includes the work of Glass and Singer), 1980, Carnegie Mellon Research University</u></a></p>
<p><a href="https://geerthofstede.com/culture-geert-hofstede-gert-jan-hofstede/6d-model-of-national-culture/"><u>Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions on Uncertainty Avoidance</u></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/12032918_Compensatory_conviction_in_the_face_of_personal_uncertainty_Going_to_extremes_and_being_oneself"><em>Compensatory Conviction in the Face of Personal Uncertainty: Going to Extremes and Being Oneself - </em><u>Mcgregor et al., 2001, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology</u></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/6216707_Are_Needs_to_Manage_Uncertainty_and_Threat_Associated_With_Political_Conservatism_or_Ideological_Extremity"><em>Are Needs to Manage Uncertainty and Threat Associated With Political Conservatism or Ideological Extremity</em><u>? - Jost et al, 2007, Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin</u></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Tom-Pyszczynski/publication/200008816_Public_Self_and_Private_Self/links/548f78840cf2d1800d86276b/Public-Self-and-Private-Self.pdf"><em>The Causes and Consequences of a Need For Self-esteem: A Terror Management Theory - </em><u>Greenberg, Pyszczynski, &amp; Solomon, 1986, Book chapter</u></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.sandervanderlinden.com/"><em>Foolproof: Why We Fall for Misinformation and How to Build Immuninity - </em><u>Sander van der Linden, 2023, Book</u></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.npr.org/2006/12/18/6631954/utterly-humbled-by-mystery"><em>Utterly Humbled by Mystery - </em><u>Richard Rohr, 2006, NPR Morning Edition</u></a></p>
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