DiscoverRadical Candor: Communication at WorkThe Cult of The Credo: How a Beloved Brand Betrayed Your Trust 7 | 36
The Cult of The Credo: How a Beloved Brand Betrayed Your Trust 7 | 36

The Cult of The Credo: How a Beloved Brand Betrayed Your Trust 7 | 36

Update: 2025-09-10
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When a company’s values don’t match its actions, the impact can be devastating. Kim and Amy speak with investigative journalist Gardiner Harris about his book, No More Tears: The Dark Secrets of Johnson & Johnson. Harris uncovers how a company once seen as the gold standard of integrity used its famous “Credo” to build emotional trust while covering up harmful practices—from baby powder linked to cancer to its role in the opioid crisis. The conversation goes beyond one company, raising bigger questions about accountability, transparency, and the systems meant to keep us safe. It’s a candid look at how misplaced trust can cause lasting damage—and what it really takes to create a culture where honesty and responsibility come first.




Get all of the show notes at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RadicalCandor.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.




Episode Links:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠





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(00:00:00 ) Introduction


Kim and Amy introduce Gardiner Harris, investigative journalist and author.




(00:01:01 ) No More Tears


Why Gardiner’s book hasn't been widely covered by the media.




(00:07:35 ) Hidden Dangers of Products


Overview of Johnson & Johnson’s vast range of dangerous products.




(00:15:13 ) Antipsychotics in Nursing Homes


How antipsychotics were pushed to sedate elderly patients.




(00:16:58 ) Opioids & Corporate Responsibility


The role Johnson & Johnson played in the opioid epidemic.




(00:24:04 ) The Power of Branding & Emotional Trust


The exploitation of emotional branding to avoid accountability.




(00:27:28 ) Incentives, Conflicts, & Complicity


How financial incentives corrupted doctors, researchers, and hospitals




(00:39:12 ) Breaking Points & Speaking Up


Stories about the individuals affected by Johnson & Johnson.




(00:47:27 ) The Cult of the Credo


How J&J weaponized its corporate credo to silence whistleblowers.




(00:52:19 ) How J&J Got Away With It


The ways J&J avoided accountability and hid decades of misconduct.




(00:57:36 ) Tylenol, Safety, & the Illusion of Trust


The FDA’s inability—or unwillingness—to enforce safety despite evidence.




(01:03:29 ) Hope, Oversight & Individual Action


How individual action and awareness can drive systemic change.




(01:08:10 ) Conclusion

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The Cult of The Credo: How a Beloved Brand Betrayed Your Trust 7 | 36

The Cult of The Credo: How a Beloved Brand Betrayed Your Trust 7 | 36

Kim Scott, Jason Rosoff & Amy Sandler