I'm Rufus Griscom and this is the next big idea.

Today, daring leadership, courageous vulnerability, and the wisdom of embracing Paradox.

Thank you. So I'll start with this. An event planner called me because I was going to do a speaking event.

And she called and she said...

In June 2010, a social work professor took the stage at a TEDx conference in Houston.

Like a lot of TEDx events, the production was, how do I put this nicely, a little rough around the edges.

But if the setting was unremarkable, the professor's talk was anything but.

There was only one variable that separated the people who have a strong sense of love and

belonging and the people who really struggle for it.

And that was the people who have a strong sense of love and belonging believe they're

worthy of love and belonging.

That's it.

They believe they're worthy.

69 million views later, it is the fourth most popular TED talk ever.

And the woman who gave it, she went on to write six number one New York Times bestsellers,

starred in a Netflix documentary, and host a chart-topping podcast where she's interviewed everyone

from Dolly Parton to Barack Obama.

Her name is Bray Brown, and she's my guest today.

We talk about what drives her.

Wow, I don't think I've ever been asked that question before.

The unexpected path she took to get here.

I hitchhiked through Europe when I was 17. I've waited tables for 12 years. I've done a lot of wild shit, really. I learned more in that than I did a PhD program for sure. And her new book, Strong Ground, which is a playbook for any leader, whether you're already in the C-suite or just starting out. We need braver leaders, more courageous leaders. That's the future of leadership.

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