Lessons from a Whistleblower: The Cost of Staying Silent with Susan Fowler Rigetti 6 | 44

Radical Candor: Communication at Work

Susan Rigetti on speaking up, keeping receipts, and why silence is never the answer.
We’re shaking up the workplace and diving deep into the raw reality of whistleblowing and the courage it takes to speak up with this special episode from the Radical Respect podcast. Kim, Wesley, and special guest Susan Rigetti, author of Whistleblower, break down the challenges of calling out toxic systems while being real with yourself. When harmful practices go unchecked, they don’t just derail careers—they damage the core of psychological safety that we all need to do our best work. So how do you find the strength to raise your voice when the stakes feel impossibly high? Susan shares her own powerful story of calling out the broken culture at Uber, laying out what happens when you decide you’ve had enough and choose to act. If you’ve ever struggled to raise your voice in the face of workplace dysfunction, learn why silence is never the answer and how respect and courage can transform even the most challenging environments.
Get all of the show notes at RadicalCandor.com/podcast.
Episode Links:

• How Susan Fowler Rigetti Inspired Me to Step Up and Speak Out
• Susan Fowler Rigetti
• Reflecting on One Very, Very Strange Year at Uber
• Whistleblower: My Unlikely Journey to Silicon Valley and Speaking Out Against Injustice

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Chapters:

(00:00:00) Introduction
Amy introduces the Radical Respect podcast with Kim, Wesley and guest Susan Rigetti, author of Whistleblower.

(00:03:24) Whistleblower and Lessons from Uber
Susan discusses her book, Whistleblower, and her challenges at Uber.

(00:07:13) Advice to Younger Self
The hard lesson of recognizing when a system can’t be fixed from the inside.

(00:10:33) The Cost of Staying Silent
The psychological and financial struggles many face when they stay silent.

(00:14:25) Staying True to Your Values
How keeping a list of values helped navigate a toxic work culture.

(00:16:20) Writing Whistleblower
Addressing misconceptions and setting the record straight with Whistleblower.

(00:21:18) Understanding Systemic Barriers
The systemic barriers that individuals face in the workplace.

(00:23:55) Reporting to HR
Documenting and reporting issues to hold organizations accountable.

(00:26:20) Keeping the Receipts
Advice on documenting conversations and emails to protect oneself.

(00:29:07) Conclusion