Where can I listen to this podcast?

This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.

Does this podcast accept guests?

Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.

Is This Working?!

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by Connor Diemand-Yauman

5.0(14 reviews)

14 episodes

Updated Daily

Accepts GuestsHas SponsorsLocation 🇺🇸

Podcast Overview

What if the most interesting thing about work isn’t what we do—but what it does to us? Is This Working?! dives into meaningful work and the messy humans who do it. As AI reshapes industries and upends old definitions of success, social entrepreneur and Stanford GSB lecturer Connor Diemand-Yauman talks with extraordinary people about both sides of the story: the outer work (what they built, how they pivoted, the tactics that actually worked) and the inner work(the therapy, the doubt, the failure) it took to get there. Because when the world is changing this fast, maybe these stories are the only way to know if any of this is actually working.

Language

🇺🇲

Publishing Since

11/12/2025

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Recent Episodes

June 24, 2026

How to Actually Change Your Behavior (No, It's Not Willpower) — Behavioral Scientist Kristen Berman

Behavioral scientist Kristen Berman explains to host Connor how environment and incentives, not willpower, drive behavior, offering practical strategies for lasting change.

June 10, 2026

Politics Is the Problem. Politics Is the Solution — Manny's Founder Manny Yekutiel

What if politics didn't feel like homework? What if, instead, it was built on a foundation of love, community, and — most importantly — joy? Disowned by his Orthodox Jewish father for coming out, he showed up in San Francisco fourteen years ago with nothing. He says the city gave him everything. So he got to work giving it back. First, he built Manny's, the Mission gathering space where engagement, disagreement, action, and hope can flourish (and a required campaign stop for Democratic presidential candidates). Now, Manny is running for District 8 supervisor, Harvey Milk's old seat. Connor and Manny get into why joy is the most serious tool any politician has, how a guy who lost his dad built a home for a whole city, and why running for office might be the best dating strategy out there. If you're tired of politics feeling like a chore, this one's for you. Chapters 00:00:00 Intro — Politics is the problem, politics is the solution 00:01:46 Coming out, being disowned, finding home in SF 00:04:55 Building Manny's — A civic gathering space for democracy 00:06:37 Dating a ballet dancer and enjoying the journey 00:09:01 Loneliness and feeling outside the camp 00:10:58 The craziest moments at Manny's 00:17:16 Why I'm running for office — I owe the city 00:23:34 Change is possible — Politics is the only thing standing in our way 00:33:06 The Civic Joy Fund — Why joy matters in politics 00:35:01 Community organizing 101 — How to build from scratch 00:37:24 Gay, Jewish, and faithful — Reconciling identity and spirituality 00:44:10 The housing crisis — Building 10,000 new homes in District 8 00:49:55 Burning bright — Harvey Milk's legacy and living fully IS THIS WORKING?! What if the most interesting thing about work isn't what we do—but what it does to us? Is This Working?! is about meaningful work and the messy humans who do it. Host Connor Diemand-Yauman talks to the leaders, builders, and creatives navigating the chaos through the moments they question everything and show up anyway. Next episode dropping soon - subscribe to get notified!

May 27, 2026

Why Real Leadership Feels Like Crap — Farmgirl Flowers Founder Christina Stembel

Christina Stembel started Farmgirl Flowers in 2010 with $49,000 in her bank account, no college degree, and no VC funding. Sixteen years later, it’s a $35-million-a-year company. "We joke at Farmgirl that we're like cockroaches. You can't get rid of us. You just get stomped on, you just keep going." In this conversation, Christina and Connor talk about: the costs of building a company without the credentials the 28-hour test that saved the company during the pandemic why leaders can't always stick to their values why real leadership means feeling like crap most of the time If you're sick of leadership platitudes and hungry for the story of someone doing the hard work, against the odds, this conversation is for you.

14 total episodes available with 10 transcripts

Recent guests on Is This Working?!

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Kristen Berman

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Missy Narula

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Patti Poppe

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Jin Ha

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Jan Sramek

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Ravi Kumar

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Anthony Romero

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What is Is This Working?!?: What if the most interesting thing about work isn’t what we do—but what it does to us?

Is This Working?! dives into meaningful work and the messy humans who do it. As AI reshapes industries and upends old definitions of success, social entrepreneur and Stanford GSB lecturer Connor Diemand-Yauman talks with extraordinary people about both sides of the story: the outer work (what they built, how they pivoted, the tactics that actually worked) and the inner work(the therapy, the doubt, the failure) it took to get there.

Because when the world is changing this fast, maybe these stories are the only way to know if any of this is actually working.
How often does this podcast release new episodes?: This podcast updates daily.
Where can I listen to this podcast?: This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
Does this podcast accept guests?: Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.

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