Rephonic
Artwork for What Works

What Works

Tara McMullin
Empathy
Creator Economy
Creativity
Social Media
Artificial Intelligence
Content Creation
Openai
Business Strategy
Capitalism
Values
Self-Help
Identity
Nonviolent Communication
Work Culture
Productivity
Recognition
Busyness
Hacking
Platforms
Tipping

Work is central to the human experience. It helps us shape our identities, care for those we love, and contribute to our communities. Work can be a source of power and a catalyst for change. Unfortunately, that's not how most of us experience work—even those who work for themselves. Our labor and creative spirit are used to enrich others and maintain the status quo. It's time for an intervention. ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes432Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EntrepreneurshipPhilosophyBusinessSociety & Culture

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Artwork for What Works

Latest Episodes

"No matter how hard you post or what sites you do it in it’s never going to be 2019 again." — Amanda Mull on Bluesky

I'm thinking about getting back on social media. Weird, I know. But (1) I have a distribution problem, and (2) it's not what it used... more

Eight months before ChatGPT launched to the world, I wrote about "the eggbeater effect," or the tendency for labor-saving tools to create new labor. Four years later, I'm revisiting that idea. Remember: just because you can doesn't mean you should.

more

YouTube

You can always rely on me to channel my righteous indignation at shoddy data analysis into a lengthy podcast episode.

Footnotes:

• Read the essay version of this episode.

• "How Short-Form Clips Took Over the Internet" on Galaxy Brain with Charlie... more

YouTube

Another episode featuring HBO's The Pitt? You know it. This time: finding your course of action in the space between personal challenges and systemic and structural failings.

Footnotes:

• Read the essay version here.

• "Rethinking Busyness" on What... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Sponsors
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Recent Guests

Sarah Marshall
Host of You're Wrong About
You're Wrong About
Episode: Just Because You Can: The Eggbeater Effect Revisited
Edward Elson
Analyst and author discussed in the episode
Editor/Analyst referenced in Galaxy Brain discussion
Episode: Apples, Oranges, and Iceberg Metrics
Dr. Lauren Lassabe Shepherd
Historian of higher education and host of the American Campus Podcast.
American Campus Podcast
Episode: Rethinking Higher Ed for the 21st-Century Economy with Lauren Lassabe Shepherd
Mauro Guillén
Sociologist and political economist, author of Perennials
Episode: EP 500: What if you're not off track... and never have been?
Neelai Patel
Host of The Verge's Decoder podcast
The Verge
Episode: EP 482: Seeing Software
David Pearce
Contributor at The Verge
The Verge
Episode: EP 482: Seeing Software
Sari Azout
Founder of Sublime, a writer, and a thinker known for her innovative approaches to technology and business.
Sublime
Episode: EP 481: Preservation in the Post-Information Age with Sari Azout
Sara Petersen
Author of Momfluenced and writer of the newsletter In Pursuit of Clean Countertops.
Episode: The Spectacle of Influence(rs) with Sara Petersen
Steph Barron Hall
Founder of Nine types Co., a coaching and consulting business leveraging the Enneagram for better communication
Nine types Co.
Episode: What's Your Type? with Steph Barron Hall

Host

Tara McMullin
Host of What Works, a show that analyzes work, business, and leadership from an interdisciplinary perspective.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 342 ratings
  • Thoughtful, brilliant, and deeply useful

    Tara brings clarity and depth to complex ideas. Her episode on enabling structure is a standout—it shifted how I think about creating the right conditions for growth and evolution, both personally and professionally. Smart, inspiring, and thought-provoking in all the right ways.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Goldenrust
    Canadaa year ago
  • What a brilliant show!

    I just listened to one of the newest episodes (Freedom to Buy). I appreciated the well-researched history of how we ended up with our current healthcare system. But more importantly, it left me reflecting on how I think of freedom - what it IS and what it is NOT. Such a thoughtfully produced podcast!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Leap Like Me Listener
    United Statesa year ago
  • ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    What Works is a game-changer for anyone rethinking the traditional work model. Each episode offers valuable insights into navigating the modern economy without losing oneself. A must-listen for entrepreneurs, independent workers, and employees seeking to redefine success in the 21st century. Highly recommend!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Andieo1997
    United States2 years ago
  • Tara puts into words concepts, ideas, and critiques for the modern era of creative work.

    Really well-produced and written. Highly recommended!

    Podchaser
    5
    Justin Jackson
    3 years ago
  • Incredibly compelling

    Tara puts into words concepts, ideas, and critiques for the modern era of creative work.

    Really well produced and written. Highly recommended!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mijustin
    Canada3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests and topics are consistently described as insightful and well-researched.
Listeners praise rigorous, thoughtful analysis and practical usefulness for real-world business decisions.
The show is valued for challenging conventional wisdom and encouraging deep reflection on work and leadership.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

EP 500: What if you're not off track... and never have been?
Q: What are some changes leading to this postgenerational revolution?
People are living longer and healthier, necessitating a rethink of how we view work and life stages.
EP 500: What if you're not off track... and never have been?
Q: What is a perennial?
A perennial is someone who doesn't think and doesn't act his or her age.
EP 452: This Daily YouTube Show is a Rich Text
Q: How does Good Mythical Morning foster a multi-sided relationship with its viewers?
The speakers discuss how Good Mythical Morning invites participation from its audience and encourages them to play along with the show, moving beyond the typical one-sided nature of parasocial relationships.
EP 452: This Daily YouTube Show is a Rich Text
Q: What do you feel about having a parasocial relationship with Rhett and Link?
Both speakers acknowledge that they do have a parasocial relationship with Rhett and Link and the mythical crew, as they feel a connection to them through the show.
EP 465: Learning Empathy from Copywriters & Doppelgangers with Samantha Pollack
Q: How do you learn to write in someone else's voice?
Samantha discusses her method of asking for voice memos and absorbing the cadence of her clients' speech, while being careful not to create a caricature of them.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About What Works

What is What Works about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Across recent episodes, the show probes how work and leadership shape modern life, blending philosophy, economics, and practical business insight. Listeners get thoughtful critique of productivity culture, explorations of wage dynamics, and strategies for sustainable entrepreneurship—often through guest perspectives from media, academia, and industry. Notable throughlines include the tension between independence and collaboration, the politics of labor, and a preference for systems-thinking over quick-fix hacks. The host's interdisciplinary approach and willingness to challenge conventional wisdom make it a compelling listen for founders, managers, and anyone rethinking what work should look like in the 21st century.

A standout niche is th... more

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To see how many followers or subscribers What Works has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to What Works?

These podcasts share a similar audience with What Works:

1. ReThinking
2. Tara Brach
3. Creative Pep Talk
4. Financial Feminist
5. The Amy Porterfield Show

How many episodes of What Works are there?

What Works launched 11 years ago and published 432 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on What Works?

Recent guests on What Works include:

1. Sarah Marshall
2. Edward Elson
3. Dr. Lauren Lassabe Shepherd
4. Mauro Guillén
5. Neelai Patel
6. David Pearce
7. Sari Azout
8. Sara Petersen

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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