Family bonding with John & Hank Green and Julia & Jim Curtis

To celebrate the launch of his new book Vibe: The Secrets of Strong Connections in a Lonely World, Adam sits down with two pairs of collaborators who also happen to be family members. John and Hank Green are brothers who have co-created hugely successful YouTube projects together—including the educational channel Crash Course—and Jim and Julia Curtis are a father/daughter pilot duo who recently went viral on Jim’s last flight with Southwest Airlines. In this episode, the pairs tell Adam how connecting over a shared project has strengthened their bonds, and how their relationships have evolved over time. John and Hank share their experiences running a business together and how they navigate conflict as creative partners. Jim and Julia reflect on how their relationship shifted as Julia grew up, and Jim outlines the clear communication and tough love he used to encourage his kids to follow their dreams. Follow our podcasts! Fixable: https://link.mgln.ai/o91Usw How to Be a Better Human: https://link.mgln.ai/WXo5qg ReThinking with Adam Grant: https://link.mgln.ai/kdYcyx WorkLife with Molly Graham: https://link.mgln.ai/nWar83 TED Talks Daily: https://link.mgln.ai/JGrSiq TED Business: https://link.mgln.ai/NB2CmK TED Health: https://link.mgln.ai/k1DTTu TED Tech: https://link.mgln.ai/k212LC 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.

Adam GranthostJulia CurtisguestJim Curtisguest

Oct 29, 202656mWatch on YouTube ↗

EPISODE INFO

Released: October 29, 2026
Duration: 56m
Channel: Re:Thinking with Adam Grant
Watch on YouTube: ▶ Open ↗

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

To celebrate the launch of his new book Vibe: The Secrets of Strong Connections in a Lonely World, Adam sits down with two pairs of collaborators who also happen to be family members. John and Hank Green are brothers who have co-created hugely successful YouTube projects together—including the educational channel Crash Course—and Jim and Julia Curtis are a father/daughter pilot duo who recently went viral on Jim’s last flight with Southwest Airlines. In this episode, the pairs tell Adam how connecting over a shared project has strengthened their bonds, and how their relationships have evolved over time. John and Hank share their experiences running a business together and how they navigate conflict as creative partners. Jim and Julia reflect on how their relationship shifted as Julia grew up, and Jim outlines the clear communication and tough love he used to encourage his kids to follow their dreams. Follow our podcasts! Fixable: https://link.mgln.ai/o91Usw How to Be a Better Human: https://link.mgln.ai/WXo5qg ReThinking with Adam Grant: https://link.mgln.ai/kdYcyx WorkLife with Molly Graham: https://link.mgln.ai/nWar83 TED Talks Daily: https://link.mgln.ai/JGrSiq TED Business: https://link.mgln.ai/NB2CmK TED Health: https://link.mgln.ai/k1DTTu TED Tech: https://link.mgln.ai/k212LC 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

Adam Grant
host
Organizational psychologist and professor known for hosting Re:Thinking and interviewing guests about work, relationships, and ideas.
Julia Curtis
guest
Airline pilot and daughter in the featured father–daughter flying story, discussing her aviation path and relationship with her dad.
Jim Curtis
guest
Retired Southwest Airlines captain and former chief pilot, sharing parenting and cockpit leadership lessons alongside his daughter Julia.

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of Re:Thinking with Adam Grant, featuring Adam Grant and Julia Curtis, Family bonding with John & Hank Green and Julia & Jim Curtis explores how shared projects, honesty, and values create lasting family bonds Hank and John Green describe “vibe” as something they consciously curate, shaped by early experiences like wanting to be liked and memories of being bullied.

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