Creative anxiety, self-doubt, and procrastination with Fredrik Backman | ReThinking

ℹ️ EPISODE INFO

Released

June 25, 2026

Duration

35m

Channel

Re:Thinking with Adam Grant

Watch on YouTube

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📝 EPISODE DESCRIPTION

If you feel like you don’t know what you’re doing, you’re in good company. Fredrik Backman is the author of 11 books, including his latest hit “My Friends” and his first novel “A Man Called Ove,” which hit the New York Times bestseller list and was made into a film starring Tom Hanks. But he still struggles with self-confidence. In this episode, Fredrik speaks candidly with Adam about his battles with anxiety and procrastination, and the two discuss the psychology of pursuing happiness, building self-esteem, and living with grief. It’s a conversation unlike any other we’ve had. Follow our podcasts! ReThinking with Adam Grant: https://link.mgln.ai/kdYcyx The TED Podcasts is a collection of podcasts for the curious. The TED Podcasts videos may be used for non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons License, Attribution–Non Commercial–No Derivatives (or the CC BY – NC – ND 4.0 International) and in accordance with our TED Talks Usage Policy (https://www.ted.com/about/our-organiz...). For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), please submit a Media Request at https://media-requests.ted.com.

🎤 SPEAKERS

• Fredrik Backman

  guest

  Swedish novelist and author of books including "Anxious People".

• Adam Grant

  host

  Organizational psychologist and host of the podcast "Re:Thinking with Adam Grant".

🧾 EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of Re:Thinking with Adam Grant, featuring Fredrik Backman and Adam Grant, Creative anxiety, self-doubt, and procrastination with Fredrik Backman | ReThinking explores Fredrik Backman on creative anxiety, procrastination, and self-acceptance struggles Backman describes enduring, book-by-book crises of confidence—where each new project feels like a free fall regardless of past success.

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