Ever tried giving someone feedback about their tone…without sounding like the tone police? This episode was sparked by a listener wrestling with just that—and let’s be real, it’s something we’ve all tripped over. Join Kim and Jason as they dive into the messy, nuanced world of tone: why it matters, how to talk about it without getting judgmental, and what to do when someone’s words are technically fine but their delivery leaves the room on edge. Using the CORE framework—Context, Observation, Result, and Expected next steps—they break down how to be specific about what happened, how it landed, and how to move forward without sounding accusatory or vague. Tune in to hear Kim and Jason unpack real-life examples, share the coaching that worked (and what didn’t), and explore how bias, culture, and identity play into how tone is received. Bonus: Kim gets personal about a recent experience that reminded her why kindness and courage matter—on and off the mic.
Get all of the show notes at RadicalCandor.com/podcast.
Episode Links
Transcript
The Evil Translator & The Fundamental Attribution Error | Radical Candor Podcast 7 | 21
How To Measure Feedback | Radical Candor Podcast 6 | 41
The Word Police | Radical Candor Podcast 6 | 25
The Importance Of Communication In The Workplace | Radical Candor
8 Ways To Fix Communication Issues In The Workplace | Radical Candor
Are You Giving Biased Feedback? 5 Ways To Overcome Protective Hesitation | Radical Candor
How To Give Candid Feedback With the Radical Candor CORE Method
Radical Candor Community: CORE Course
Radical Respect Newsletter
Textio
Connect:
Website
Instagram
TikTok
LinkedIn
YouTube
Bluesky
Chapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Kim and Jason introduce a listener’s question about addressing tone with CORE.
(00:02:51) When “Technically Fine” Still Feels Off
How misinterpretations and sensitivities around tone impact teams.
(00:03:54) Observing vs. Interpreting Tone
Avoiding misattributions by observing, not just interpreting.
(00:06:39) Shifting from “You Statements” to “I Statements”
Using reactions to provide grounded, less judgmental feedback.
(00:07:30) Using Impact to Shift Perspective
How describing the impact of tone keeps the conversation constructive.
(00:08:51) Coaching Through Goals, Not Emotions
A story about using feedback to overcome sounding arrogant.
(00:11:42) Reframing CORE to Match Your Audience
Using CORE to focus on tangible outcomes, not just feelings.
(00:13:57) What Not to Do: Avoiding Coded Language
The biased undertones certain words like "shrill" or "aggressive" carry.
(00:16:22) Be Specific: Volume, Pace, Tension
Being specific when giving feedback about tone delivery.
(00:18:00) Extending Grace
Giving the benefit of the doubt when something lands poorly.
(00:20:10) Praise When They Get It Right
The positive impact of giving feedback when tone lands well.
(00:22:03) Handling Tone in Public Meetings
When to react in real time and when it’s better to follow up privately.
(00:24:16) Breaking the False Harmony in the Room
A story about addressing passive-aggressive tension in a meeting.
(00:27:43) Private Inquiry or Public Repair
A story about how Google’s CEO gracefully handled a tone misstep.
(00:29:41) Radical Candor Tips
Practical tips on how to give feedback on tone.
(00:31:27) ICE Deportation & Bearing Witness
A story about a beloved community member deported by ICE.
(00:34:25) The Danger of Secret Cruelty
The dehumanization of silent suffering and concealed harm.
(00:37:05) This Isn’t a One-Off: It’s Systemic
Broader systemic issues and how routine cruelty has become normalized.
(00:39:49) There’s Still Hope: Do the Right Thing
The Radical Candor mission to care personally and challenge directly.
(00:41:16) Conclusion
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45:54
Becoming a Not-So-Secretly Candid Leader with Chloé van Bergen 7 | 24
Fun fact: this episode exists thanks to a few pints and a little Radical Candor in the wild. Our audio engineer Nick met today’s guest, Chloé van Bergen, VP of Operations at Secretly Group, at his brother’s stag do. One loud London pub and an honest conversation later—we knew we had to get her on the show. Join Kim and Amy for a candid conversation with Chloé about what it really takes to lead change inside a legacy-driven music company. She gets real about navigating unionization, confronting indifference, and learning—sometimes the hard way—that being “nice” isn’t the same as being kind. From UK-style politeness to Dutch directness, Chloé shares what worked (and what didn’t) when rolling out Radical Candor across continents. Spoiler: no sugarcoating here — just straight up kind and clear.
Get all of the show notes at RadicalCandor.com/podcast.
Episode Links:
Transcript
Chloé van Bergen | LinkedIn
Nick Carissimi
Secretly Group
Secretly Canadian | Info
Granny Alice
Avoid The Feedback Sandwich | Radical Candor Podcast 5 | 15
Toxic Positivity | Radical Candor Podcast 5 | 27
Navigating Radical Candor and Cultural Differences
How To Navigate Feedback Conversations On Diverse Teams | Radical Candor
Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect | Will Guidara
Scaling People: Tactics for Management and Company Building | Claire Hughes Johnson
Pivot: Eight Principles for Transforming your Business in a Time of Disruption | Will Page
Secretly Group: Workers at Indie-Music Company Begin Efforts to Unionize | Rolling Stone
Secretly Group Union Earns Contract In Major Milestone for Indie Music Organizing | Rolling Stone
Connect:
Website
Instagram
TikTok
LinkedIn
YouTube
Bluesky
Chapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Kim and Amy introduce Chloé van Bergen, VP of Operations at Secretly Group.
(00:01:04) From Stag Do to Podcast Guest
How a chance meeting at a UK pub led to Chloé joining the show.
(00:05:25) What Is Secretly Group?
The structure, history, and collaborative ethos of Secretly Group.
(00:09:05) Discovering Radical Candor
Being introduced to Radical Candor and the mindset shift it inspired.
(00:10:42) Struggling with Direct Feedback
Using Radical Candor to move past the fear of being too blunt.
(00:12:43) Giving Feedback Across Borders
Navigating cultural differences in feedback styles across countries.
(00:17:25) Practicing Vulnerability Through Action
Building confidence by starting to speak up, one moment at a time.
(00:20:07) Pandemic Leadership & Operational Overhaul
Navigating starting during COVID and legacy infrastructures.
(00:25:13) Rockstar vs. Superstar: Rethinking Growth
Learning not everyone wants to climb—some excel where they are.
(00:29:50) Unionization During COVID
How a union announcement led to a company-wide listening reset.
(00:34:57) Adapting to AI & Industry Shifts
Staying open by staying honest—even without having all the answers.
(00:36:28) Kind ≠ Nice: Facing Hard Truths
How kindness isn’t niceness—and can slow down change.
(00:39:33) Chloé’s Radical Candor Tip
Having the courage to say the thing, even if it feels uncomfortable.
(00:42:46) Conclusion
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46:52
What Real Inclusion Looks Like at Work When You’re LGBTQ+ 7 | 23
We’re celebrating Pride Month, and to kick us off, Amy and Brandi get real about the unfiltered, often uncomfortable truth of being LGBTQ+ in the workplace—where invisibility can feel safer than honesty, and “inclusion” doesn’t always include you. In this 'best of' episode, they unpack the messy layers of LGBTQ+ identity at work—from pronoun politics and people-pleasing to being “the only one” in the room. If you’ve ever felt unseen at work—or want to ensure your team doesn’t have to—this one’s for you. Showing up matters more than getting it perfect.
Get all of the show notes at RadicalCandor.com/podcast.
Episode Links:
Transcript
Radically Candid Pride: Coming Out at Work
Coming Out – Human Rights Campaign
7 Myths About Coming Out at Work
Coming Out at Work
Pride Month Shows Employers Have a Long Way to Go
Supporting LGBTQ+ Workers’ Mental Health
Beyond rainbow washing: Supporting LGBTQ+ at work and beyond
How to support the LGBTQ+ community at work and beyond
What Not To Say to Someone Who Has Come Out As Bisexual
Coming out at work: transgender scientists share their stories
Nearly half of LGBTQ employees in the US think being “out” at work is a bad career move
Why Bisexual Adults Report Higher Rates of Mental Distress – The New York Times
The 10 Most Groundbreaking Bisexual Characters of All Time
Your Guide to the Best Online LGBTQ+ Counseling Options in 2023
Read the ‘Yep, I’m Gay’ Ellen DeGeneres Interview From 1997
Attitude: As Bisexual Awareness Week approaches, four bisexuals tell us if they feel accepted in 2023
Connect:
Website
Instagram
TikTok
LinkedIn
YouTube
Bluesky
Chapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Kim and Amy introduce the episode focusing on coming out at work.
(00:01:42) Why Representation Matters
Statistics on workplace discrimination faced by LGBTQ+ employees.
(00:05:22) Pronouns, Labels & Personal Identity
The limiting nature of pronouns and labelling oneself.
(00:09:52) Living a Double Life
Dating secretly and the sense of being "othered" in mainstream culture.
(00:13:06) The Limited Supply
The isolation created by the absence of a visible queer community.
(00:17:37) The Spiritual Journey & Other Closets
How the act of coming out led to a deeper exploration of spirituality.
(00:19:37) The Cost of Hiding at Work
The emotional and psychological toll of being closeted in the workplace.
(00:21:04) Finally Coming Out at Work
The slow, iterative process of coming out and how Radical Candor helped.
(00:23:21) The Bisexual Experience at Work
The unique stigmas bisexuals face within and outside LGBTQ+ spaces.
(00:28:15) Words, Labels & Inner Homophobia
The complexity of identity labels and how internalized bias can shape them.
(00:32:37) The Power of Representation in Media
The importance of media characters who normalize LGBTQ+.
(00:36:26) Inclusion & the Privilege of Presentation
Soliciting inclusive feedback and how privilege shapes perceptions.
(00:40:21) Hair as Identity & Microaggressions
A painful but powerful story about being judged for appearances.
(00:43:40) Being the Only One in the Room
The exhaustion of being the sole representative of marginalized identities.
(00:46:30) Making Mistakes & Owning Them
The role of feedback and straight allies in creating inclusive spaces.
(00:49:43) What Allies Can Do
A story about support when encountering a homophobic comment.
(00:52:03) Setting Boundaries
The importance of respecting privacy and rejecting invasive curiosity
(00:54:29) Radical Candor Tips
Key takeaways on supporting LGBTQ+ colleagues
(00:58:12) Conclusion
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1:00:56
Leading Through Chaos With Stephanie Chung 7 | 22
Leadership sounds empowering—until you're navigating chaos, clunky systems, and a team giving you major side-eye. Amy and Kim talk with Stephanie Chung—trailblazing exec, leadership strategist, and accidental trust-builder—about the messy reality of stepping into high-stakes roles. Stephanie gets candid about what it’s really like to walk into a company mid-crisis, how to lead teams that don’t look, think, or operate like you, and why asking the right questions beats having all the answers. From decoding broken sales processes to building authentic relationships, her approach blends Radical Candor with radical curiosity. Her book Ally Leadership isn’t just a guide—it’s a wake-up call for anyone ready to lead with heart, backbone, and an open mind. If you’ve ever doubted your instincts or feared saying the wrong thing, this episode is your invitation to lead anyway—and lead better.
Get all of the show notes at RadicalCandor.com/podcast.
Episode Links:
Transcript
Stephanie Chung and Associates, Inc. | LinkedIn
Stephanie Chung
The Radical Candor Guide to Leading Through Uncertainty
Ally Leadership: How to Lead People Who Are Not Like You
Connect:
Website
Instagram
TikTok
LinkedIn
YouTube
Bluesky
Chapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Kim and Amy introduce leadership expert Stephanie Chung.
(00:01:31) Leading Through Change: Where to Start
The process of evaluating and addressing organizational challenges.
(00:05:43) Diagnosing Sales Challenges
How process inefficiencies—not people—often hinder sales teams.
(00:07:21) Building Trust as a New Leader
Strategies for establishing trust with new teams from day one.
(00:10:07) Transforming JetSuite: From Commodity to Luxury
Lessons from leading cultural and brand transformation.
(00:11:46) Feedback & Self-Awareness in Leadership
The importance of vulnerability and inviting radical feedback.
(00:17:50) Ally Leadership & Generational Diversity
Why curiosity is key to leading across generations and identities.
(00:24:20) Being an Underrepresented Leader
Navigating workplace bias and building allyship in leadership.
(00:30:11) Courageous Leadership & Using Your Voice
The importance of speaking up and building leadership muscle early.
(00:33:27) Neuroscience of Bias & Rewiring the Brain
How to overcome in-group bias through exposure and curiosity.
(00:38:13) Asking Questions to Build Trust
Using questions to uncover personal connections and build rapport.
(00:40:26) Listening to Understand, Not to Respond
Tactics for active, empathetic, and observant listening.
(00:43:07) Where to Find Stephanie
Leadership legacy, travel tips, and connecting with Stephanie.
(00:47:08) Conclusion
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51:57
The Evil Translator & The Fundamental Attribution Error (Best of) 7 | 21
On this Best of episode of the Radical Candor podcast, Kim, Jason and Amy discuss how the fundamental attribution error makes us more likely to use personality attributes to explain someone else’s behavior rather than considering our own behavior or situational factors that were probably the real cause of the behavior. This is where the “not about personality” part of Radical Candor comes into play. Plus, Jason shares a hilarious (and painfully relatable) story about the “evil little translator” in his head that used to turn even well-meaning feedback into: 🗣️ “You’re terrible. You’re completely incompetent. It’s a miracle you tied your shoes this morning.” Sound familiar? You’re not alone. Tune in, laugh, and maybe rethink the way you hear feedback.
Get all of the show notes at RadicalCandor.com/podcast.
Episode Links:
Transcript
Beware The Fundamental Attribution Error: Radical Candor Podcast 5 | 8
6 Tips for Giving Helpful Feedback
Get to the CORE of Giving Radically Candid Feedback
Fundamental attribution error – Wikipedia
Fundamental Attribution Error: What It Is & How to Avoid It
Giving Feedback: 4 Ways To Avoid Personalizing It
Fundamental Attribution Error – The Decision Lab
The Three Components of Self-Compassion
Connect:
Website
Instagram
TikTok
LinkedIn
YouTube
Bluesky
Chapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Amy, Kim, and Jason introduce the episode topic of the Fundamental Attribution Error.
(00:01:46) Humility Before Feedback
Why feedback opens the door to better understanding and solutions.
(00:04:50) The Empty Boat
A parable highlighting how misjudgments stem from our own triggers.
(00:07:59) Blame the System or the Person?
How systemic forces shape behavior more than we realize.
(00:09:05) Building Relationships to Overcome Bias
Whether relationships reduce our tendency to make assumptions.
(00:11:15) Reframing How We Give Feedback
How a simple language shift transforms conflict into connection.
(00:14:54) Feedback Without Personality Labels
How focusing on action makes feedback more impactful.
(00:16:12) The CORE (or CORN) Framework
Overview of a framework that makes feedback clear and actionable.
(00:18:33) Real-World Examples of CORE
An example of how CORE could have de-escalated a situation.
(00:22:24) CORE Keeps Feedback Focused
How CORE shifts feedback from past-focused to future-focused.
(00:27:01) Internal Critic and Self-Compassion
Unpacking how our harsh inner voice colors how we hear feedback.
(00:34:29) Managing Sensitive Team Members
How to support colleagues with self-doubt through clarity and care.
(00:36:12) From Furious to Curious
Alternatives to personality-based criticism to make feedback constructive.
(00:38:19) Radical Candor Tips
Practical, actionable tips for giving and receiving feedback with care.
(00:42:44) Conclusion
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Ready to love your job, crush your career goals, and become the kind of leader everyone actually wants to work with?
Welcome to the Radical Candor podcast, where you'll learn how to kick ass at work without losing your humanity. Host Amy Sandler and Radical Candor co-founders Kim Scott and Jason Rosoff to break down how you can Care Personally and Challenge Directly — the deceptively simple but powerful formula for building stronger teams, giving (and getting) better feedback, and leading with heart and clarity.
Each episode is packed with real talk, relatable stories, and actionable tips to help you do the best work of your life while building the best relationships of your career. Whether you’re a manager, a team player, or dreaming bigger for your future, this is the podcast that will change how you show up at work — and in life. P.S. Don’t forget to check out Kim Scott’s New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller, Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity! Want even more Radical Candor? Join the Radical Candor Community — free forever.