{"podcast":{"title":"If/Then","slug":"if-then-6755579","podcast_index_feed_id":6755579,"rss_url":"https://rss.art19.com/if-then","website_url":"https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/business-podcasts/if-then","image_url":"https://content.production.cdn.art19.com/images/28/04/2b/7b/28042b7b-1c3a-4622-a740-cf59788d9267/04b3b67f15897b5741af021d8f32df36381db23142d5237a6db356c35a7b135300a21a4ae9087e646581cfdeab76f9c1a857b0df5642736720527df359593444.jpeg","author":"Stanford GSB","episode_count":57,"summary":"How do we lead with purpose, make better decisions, and navigate an uncertain future? On If/Then , Stanford GSB faculty break down cutting-edge research on leadership, strategy, and more, exploring enduring questions and the forces reshaping business and society today, from AI to geopolitics. Hosted by senior editor Kevin Cool.","last_synced_at":"2026-07-08T16:18:37.918861+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/if-then-6755579"},"episode":{"title":"The Future of Everything: \"The Future of Motivation\"","slug":"the-future-of-everything-the-future-of-motivation","published_at":"2025-07-30T07:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/if-then-6755579/the-future-of-everything-the-future-of-motivation","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/if-then-6755579","url":"https://op3.dev/e/tracking.swap.fm/track/zA4xtlPBvf2K1K9zesjz/mgln.ai/e/p853501/rss.art19.com/episodes/07293765-0b59-4f9f-94aa-0dd0d429230d.mp3?rss_browser=BAhJIg90cmFuc2NyaWJyBjoGRVQ%3D--952c5701c84ad333c69d5faa668f8177091704f0","audio_url":"https://op3.dev/e/tracking.swap.fm/track/zA4xtlPBvf2K1K9zesjz/mgln.ai/e/p853501/rss.art19.com/episodes/07293765-0b59-4f9f-94aa-0dd0d429230d.mp3?rss_browser=BAhJIg90cmFuc2NyaWJyBjoGRVQ%3D--952c5701c84ad333c69d5faa668f8177091704f0","summary":"This week on If/Then , we’re sharing an episode of The Future of Everything , a podcast hosted by Stanford School of Engineering professor and friend of the show Russ Altman. Everyone has goals — some are monumental, others modest — but every goal matters. Szu-chi Huang, an associate professor of marketing at Stanford Graduate School of Business, is an expert on sustaining enthusiasm for individuals, customers, and employees across global corporations and organizations. On this episode, Huang shares what it takes to stay motivated over time — not just at the beginning of a goal, when energy runs high, or at the end, when the finish line is in sight, but through the toughest part: the middle. She explains why motivation is a dynamic process that requires different tools at different stages, and offers practical advice drawn from her research on everything from retirement savings and loyalty programs to children’s health and social apps. Along the way, she and Altman explore how purpose, progress, and even a little social pressure can help us keep going — and how AI might someday coach us through. More Resources:  Szu-chi Huang, faculty profile & If/Then episode  Russ Altman, faculty profile   The Future of Everything If/Then is a podcast from Stanford Graduate School of Business that examines research findings that can help us navigate the complex issues we face in business, leadership, and society. Chapters: (00:00:00) Introduction Russ Altman introduces Szu-Chi Huang, professor of marketing at Stanford GSB. (00:03:31) Studying Motivation Szu-chi shares what led her to study motivational science (00:04:03) Defining Motivation Motivation as the drive to close the gap between current and ideal self. (00:04:57) The Science of Motivation Studying motivat…","meta_description":"This week on If/Then , we’re sharing an episode of The Future of Everything , a podcast hosted by Stanford School of Engineering professor and friend of t…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":2042,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/if-then-6755579/episodes/the-future-of-everything-the-future-of-motivation/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/if-then-6755579/the-future-of-everything-the-future-of-motivation.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}