In this episode, Erin Wade discusses her journey from being a practicing lawyer to making mac and cheese...as a business. Wade shares how surfing became a personal escape while managing a busy life as a CEO and mother, and how she applied lessons from her career to build a restaurant known for its strong workplace culture. She introduces the concept of open book management, which empowers employees by involving them in the company's financials and decisions, leading to higher engagement and performance.
Erin also highlights her innovative approach to tackling sexual harassment in the workplace with the “color code of conduct,” a system now used globally in the restaurant industry. She reflects on the power of titles in shaping both external perception and self-identity, and the importance of managing for impact rather than intent. The conversation is packed with insights on leadership, culture-building, and how to create work environments where employees feel valued and empowered.
Erin Wade is a chef, author, and entrepreneur. She is the Founder and CEO of Homeroom, a restaurant in Oakland, California, known in equal parts for its unique workplace culture and incredible macaroni and cheese. She has a degree in public policy from Princeton University and a law degree from UC Berkeley.

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Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tkppodcast

(00:00) Intro

(02:30) Wade's surfing obsession

(04:42) Defeating overthinking

(05:00) Wade's background in food

(06:40) Wade's law detour

(10:20) On being fired

(12:40) Early mistakes and freedom

(20:00) Employee-centric companies

(32:30) Homeroom Hard Times

(34:40) How Wade's law background helped (and hurt)

(42:40) The Color Code of Conduct

(49:30) Why Wade sold Homeroom (and how she felt)

(55:58) Impact vs. Intent

(59:00) Why titles are important

(01:04:00) On success

Shane Parrish sits down with Matthew Dicks, a renowned storyteller, author, and teacher, to explore the nuanced art of storytelling. They go deep into the techniques that turn mediocre stories into masterful ones.

You’ll learn what makes a story truly resonate with an audience, how to identify and highlight the pivotal moments that create emotional impact, the architecture of compelling stories, how to structure narratives for maximum engagement and how to use techniques like suspense, stakes, and humor to keep audiences on the edge of their seats. This conversation covers broad frameworks, like how to structure a great story—and the granular details, like when you should talk quietly to refocus the audience.

Matthew Dicks is novelist, storyteller, columnist, playwright, blogger, and teacher. He’s published fiction and non-fiction books, the latter of which include: Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life Through the Power of Storytelling and Someday Is Today: 22 Simple, Actionable Ways to Propel Your Creative Life.

(00:00:00 Intro

(00:03:28) What makes a good story

(00:06:57) Stories vs anecdotes

(00:08:29) A Story: The Spoon of Power

(00:17:42) The art of story architecture

(00:21:28) Create compelling stories

(00:36:30) Common mistakes & how to fix them

(00:55:01) Strategic listening

(01:03:32) Can you lie in stories?

(01:05:10) 'And' stories vs. 'but / therefore' stories

(01:10:05) Finding engaging stories in everyday life

(01:20:05) Structuring a story

(01:24:00) Storytelling for an unforgettable brand

(01:31:20) Learn confidence

(01:38:40) Writing vs telling a story

(01:51:53) Teach kids to love writing

(01:55:15) Define success

Newsletter - The Brain Food newsletter delivers actionable insights and thoughtful ideas every Sunday. It takes 5 minutes to read, and it’s completely free. Learn more and sign up at https://fs.blog/newsletter/

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Upgrade — If you want to hear my thoughts and reflections at the end of the episode, join our membership: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fs.blog/membership/⁠⁠ and get your own private feed.

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Follow me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://beacons.ai/shaneparrish⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tkppodcast

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Sponsor: Overlap https://www.joinoverlap.com/ - Listen to podcasts like never before.

Unlock the secrets of product positioning with April Dunford.

Learn how to:

• Identify customer pain points
• Craft compelling sales copy
• Stand out from big competitors

Whether you're a startup founder or corporate executive, this episode will revolutionize your marketing strategy. Designers, engineers, and marketers: discover insider tips to boost your career and drive results.

Don't miss this deep and practical conversation on positioning your product for success.

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Newsletter - The Brain Food newsletter delivers actionable insights and thoughtful ideas every Sunday. It takes 5 minutes to read, and it’s completely free. Learn more and sign up at https://fs.blog/newsletter/

--

Upgrade — If you want to hear my thoughts and reflections at the end of the episode, join our membership: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fs.blog/membership/⁠⁠ and get your own private feed.

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Follow me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://beacons.ai/shaneparrish⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(02:07) Positioning, explained

(16:47) Why is positioning important?

(20:40) B2B vs. B2C positioning

(29:03) When re-positioning a product failed

(32:31) How to identify customer's pain points

(34:35) How to position a product on a sales page

(38:06) How technology has changed positioning

(41:40) How to evaluate product positioning

(45:43) Who's in charge of positioning at a company?

(50:27) On storytelling

(56:35) Should a company have a point of view on the market?

(1:00:21) Dealing with gatekeepers in B2B marketing

(1:03:02) Mistakes people make with positioning

(1:05:21) What schools get wrong about marketing

(1:08:59) Secrets of B2B decision-making

(1:11:18) On success