logo
episode-header-image
Sep 9
38m 49s

Facing your fears with cliff diver Molly...

TED
About this episode

Molly Carlson is a professional high diver, three-time runner-up at the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series, and the founder of Brave Gang, an online community of people who encourage each other to face their fears together. In this episode, Molly and Adam reflect on anxiety and motivation, the functions and dysfunctions of fear, and how to harness the benefits and overcome the costs. They also discuss what Molly has learned from her challenges with mental health, body image, and asking for help.


Follow

Host: Adam Grant (Instagram: @adamgrant | LinkedIn: @adammgrant | Website: adamgrant.net/)

Guest: Molly Carlson (Instagram: @mollycarlson1 | TikTok: @mollycarlson | YouTube: @mollycarlson1


Links

https://www.mollycarlsonofficial.com/

https://bravegang.co/


Subscribe to TED 

Instagram: @ted

YouTube: @TED

TikTok: @tedtoks

LinkedIn: @ted-conferences

Website: ted.com

Podcasts: ted.com/podcasts

For the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/rethinking-with-adam-grant-transcripts


Interested in learning more about upcoming TED events? Follow these links:

TEDNext: ted.com/futureyou

TEDAI Vienna: ted.com/ai-vienna

TEDAI San Francisco: ted.com/ai-sf


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Yesterday
What we’re getting wrong about mental health with RaQuel Hopkins
RaQuel Hopkins is a therapist and HR professional whose hot takes on growth and well-being have challenged how many people talk and think about mental health. In this episode, Adam and RaQuel explore how some people use mental health labels as a crutch, discuss ways to expand our ... Show More
33m 53s
Sep 30
Brené Brown on courageous leadership
Brené Brown is a researcher, storyteller, and author who hosts the podcast Dare to Lead and has given some of the most popular TED Talks of all time. Brené joins Adam live at Authors@Wharton to talk about her new book, Strong Ground. They discuss how to identify your core values, ... Show More
41m 22s
Sep 23
Matthew McConaughey on avoiding cynicism and finding gratitude
Matthew McConaughey is the Academy Award-winning star of Dallas Buyers Club, Dazed and Confused, and Interstellar. But he’s not just an actor—he’s also an entrepreneur, philanthropist, teacher, and prolific writer. His second book, Poems and Prayers, was built on decades of his j ... Show More
34m 41s
Recommended Episodes
Sep 9
ReThinking: Facing your fears with cliff diver Molly Carlson
Molly Carlson is a professional high diver, three-time runner-up at the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series, and the founder of Brave Gang, an online community of people who encourage each other to face their fears together. In this episode, Molly and Adam reflect on anxiety and m ... Show More
38m 49s
May 2025
How do you take the right risks? A photographer and brand builder answer | David Suh and Molly Graham
How do you find the courage to take risks — and succeed? Portrait photographer David Suh and brand builder Molly Graham explore the challenges of building confidence, navigating setbacks and learning to embrace the real "you." (This conversation is part of "TED Intersections," a ... Show More
28m 56s
Jul 2022
TSTP 56- The Dive
Steve jumps at the opportunity to leave the kids behind and step out of his babysitter role, but we were not prepared for him to do so! The Dive, episode 6 of Stranger Things' 4th season, left us wanting more! With the citizens of Hawkins in a frenzy thanks to Jason's accusations ... Show More
1h 28m
Jun 2020
The immigrant I love
Kyle Quinn shares his awakening to the immigrant experience in the United States as seen through his Brazilian wife’s eyes. This talk was filmed at TEDxUCincinnati. All TEDx events are organized independently by volunteers in the spirit of TED's mission of ideas worth spreading. ... Show More
7m 39s
Aug 2
How to make learning as addictive as social media | Luis von Ahn (re-release)
When technologist Luis von Ahn was building the popular language-learning platform Duolingo, he faced a big problem: Could an app designed to teach you something ever compete with addictive platforms like Instagram and TikTok? He explains how Duolingo harnesses the psychological ... Show More
13m 52s
Mar 2025
Molly Ringwald
This week on Reclaiming, we sit down with the incomparable Molly Ringwald, the actress who defined a generation and shaped '80s pop culture forever. In this intimate conversation, Molly pulls back the curtain on her meteoric rise to fame, sharing candid revelations about navigati ... Show More
1h 2m
Sep 8
How nearly dying helped me discover my own cure (and many more) | David Fajgenbaum
Physician-scientist David Fajgenbaum was dying from a rare disease that didn't have a cure — until he discovered a lifesaving drug that wasn't originally intended for his condition. In an astonishing talk, he shares how his near-death experience led him to cofound the nonprofit E ... Show More
15m 33s
Sep 30
ReThinking: Brené Brown on courageous leadership
Brené Brown is a researcher, storyteller, and author who hosts the podcast Dare to Lead and has given some of the most popular TED Talks of all time. Brené joins Adam live at Authors@Wharton to talk about her new book, Strong Ground. They discuss how to identify your core values, ... Show More
41m 22s
Nov 2020
The case for a purpose-driven university
Debbie Haski-Leventhal discusses the emerging movement of purpose-driven universities, in which leadership, faculty and students work together to shift from being best in the world to being best for the world.This talk was filmed at TEDxMacquarieUniversity. All TEDx events are or ... Show More
8m 28s
Jun 2025
WorkLife: The psychology of forgiveness with Michael McCullough
In this season of WorkLife, we’re pairing each of our regular episodes with a companion interview to do a deeper dive into the topic. This is the companion for our episode on the secrets of a great apology. Michael McCullough is a psychology professor at UC San Diego and a pionee ... Show More
29m 52s