I think sometimes we get locked into our own ideas of where life is going or what we're supposed to do or who we're supposed to be.
Hey everyone, it's Adam Grant.
Welcome back to Rethinking, my podcast on the science of what makes us tick with the TED Audio Collective.
I'm an organizational psychologist and I'm taking you inside the minds of fascinating people to explore new thoughts and new ways of thinking.
My guest today is Melinda French Gates, philanthropist, businesswoman, and advocate for women and girls.
In her new book, The Next Day, she opens up about the major changes in her life,
from getting divorced to leaving the Gates Foundation that she co-founded and co-chaired for decades.
It's a poignant look at ending one chapter of our lives and starting another,
which isn't always a choice we make deliberately.
That's how life transitions are, right?
They come sometimes whether you want them or not.
Melinda French Gates, welcome to Rethinking.
Thank you.
Thanks for having me, Adam.
Well, there's so much I want to talk to you about.
I think the place for me to begin is you have a brand new book, which is all about transition and change.
Tell me why.
I turned 60 this past year and you don't get to be my age without going through a lot of transitions.
And as I started to reflect on some of those,
I was lucky enough to be asked to do this speech at Stanford's commencement last June.