The Occupational Philosophers - A not-so-serious business podcast to spark Creativity, Imagination and Curiosity

In episode 107, The Occupational Philosophers chat with the highly curious Dr Jochen Schweitzer: Strategy, innovation and entrepreneurship researcher and education leader at UTS, director Executive MBA, advisor and author.  His research, teaching and consulting focus on issues of strategy, collaboration, entrepreneurship and innovation with a special interest in design thinking, emerging technologies and open innovation.  Jochen was a visiting Scholar at Stanford University and Hasso Plattner Institute (HPI) School of Design Thinking at Potsdam University. Before joining the UTS Business School, he taught at the UTS schools of Design and Architecture and Macquarie University. Jochen is a passionate educator who has taught at universities in the UK, Japan, China, the US, Germany, the Netherlands and New Zealand and won numerous awards, too many to mention.  He was a principal at PricewaterhouseCoopers, a production engineer at Volkswagen and a program manager at the Goethe Institute. Jochen is also the founder of U.lab, an interdisciplinary think tank and platform for innovation projects. Apart from his academic pursuits, Jochen is an active member of the entrepreneurship community and has mentored and advised numerous startups.  Interesting titles from co-authored papers  A Very Short, Fairly Interesting and Reasonably Cheap Book About Studying Strategy Herding cats to co-create cross-university courses in record time Avoid being the Turkey: How big data analytics changes the game of strategy in times of ambiguity and uncertainty So a very interesting guest!!  In this episode, the Occupational Philosophers explore: The five key attributes for an entrepreneurial mindset and behaviours  How entrepreneurialism comes from 'doing it' The importance of building your own startup  How Stoicism is a key part of entrepreneurialism  What 90% of startups that failed haven't found  The challenge of implementing design and design thinking in organisations  If you want to solve a problem, start with what pisses you off  Failing that, ask “what do you desire and what makes you itch?”  Find your tribe, find your network, maintain it  Why boards need to embrace curiosity and look around the corner  What is Design Thinking?  As always, there is a thought experiment to stretch the mind. In this episode, it's Ferret or Fantasy? The start-up world animal kingdom. There are also some listener questions, which are always a treat.  The Occupational Philosophers hope you enjoy listening to the show as much as they did making it.  Jochen Links Linktree (all links): https://linktr.ee/jochenschweitzer UTS Academic Profile: https://profiles.uts.edu.au/jochen.schweitzer  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jochenschweitzer Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=3aWHIb4AAAAJ ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jochen-Schweitzer ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1807-6720 Academia.edu: https://uts-academia.academia.edu/JochenSchweitzer Personal/Project Website: https://besyd.com Say Hello www.occupationalphilosophers.com Their day jobs: JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/ SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg    

Hello and welcome back to 2025! (Noting the irony that is is now April...)  The Occupational Philosophers have returned from walking the Earth, exploring the heavens and astral travelling beyond the stratosphere - metaphorically and literally. Feeling refreshed, joyous and 1.27% more wise, they are excited for the new season of the show.  This episode combines the loves of both John and Simon: Great questions and raucous dinner parties.  As it's a new season, John and Simon explored a bunch of new dinner party questions that move beyond the usual, "What do you do?" (SNORE....)  These include:  Is there a habit or ritual in your day that feels somewhat sacred and you don't like to miss? You're putting together a diverse team you would love to work with. Who might they be and why? What's something you've recently started looking at differently? What's a question you wish people asked you more often? When do you feel most intellectually alive? It's a curious discussion to kick off a most curious new season for a show that's a lot about curiosity.  Simon and John hope you enjoy the show.  Say Hello www.occupationalphilosophers.com Their day jobs: JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/ SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg  

Reflecting on the year of 2024 seemed like such a good idea. That's the thing right?  Launching that episode as quickly as planned didn't go as well as planned....   Drinking their own Kool-Aid and embracing serendipity, mistakes and experimentation The Occupational Philosophers still hit launch and took on the gift of a slightly delayed episode like a gift from the Norse Gods.  In this episode the deep themes of:  Are bananas and tape art? If not, who said so?  Brain Rot (very festive)  The Occupational Philosophers wish you all the best for 2025 whilst they take a short break. Simon's vanity will be in full forward as he desperately tries to lose some weight for summer beach vibes and John will be sadly staring out the window looking at a grey, drab British day and looking forward to June when the sun comes out They both look forward to catching up in mid Feb when back on deck - ahoy 2025!  Say Hello www.occupationalphilosophers.com   Their day jobs: JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/ SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg  

SHOW NOTES In this short, sharp Inbetweener episode, The Occupational Philosophers continue to delve back into some highlights from the first 100 episodes and some sage advice from guests who have helped populate the ‘Maniguesto' tree… Ian Gilbert…Do things no-one else does Mike Parsons …If you want to transform the world, start by transforming yourself Professor David Cropley….Creativity is like spinach! Tiffany Markman….In order to be creative, don't be an insular arsehole …or asshole…. Dr Barbara Doran ….Draw, use your hands Tim Vaughan-Hughes….Fail again but fail better Jemma Enright….Stay curious They hope you enjoy the show.    FYI: The Inbetweeners episodes are just that - smaller episodes 'in between' the longer format episodes designed to give a fruity burst of energy to enable you to be the most curious, creative and imaginative cat you can be - and have some fun in the process.   References: https://www.independentthinking.co.uk/speakers/ian-gilbert/ https://www.moonshots.io/ https://people.unisa.edu.au/David.Cropley https://tiffanymarkman.co.za/ https://www.barbaradoran.org/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-vaughan-hughes https://www.linkedin.com/in/jemmaenright   Say Hello www.occupationalphilosophers.com   Their day jobs:   JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/ SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

In episode 103, The Occupational Philosophers chat with Creative Director, Brand Strategist and Poly-Disciplinary Creative Chameleon, Rozhia Tabnak.  Her work includes interior design, art curation, film production design, and graphic work across the spectrum of media. which unite under the umbrella of spatial design. She believes that the design of a space is holistic yet interpretive and that the experience of the client is inextricable from the intent of the designer. From Manhattan to Miami and several cities in between, Rozhia has designed dozens of restaurants, including the highly acclaimed and award-winning Sofreh in Brooklyn, for which she incorporated a historic and traditional Persian aesthetic into a chic contemporary design. She has been featured in The New York Times, The New Yorker, Eater and New York Magazin to name a few and divides her time between New York and Sydney. In this episode, the Occupational Philosophers and Rozhia explore:  How does a project have a soul?  How curiosity is at the heart of great design  Why branding is not just thinking about a logo (and a dirty word) What is steampunk?  Exactly, what is a Polydisciplinary creative chameleon?  The importance of asking why  What's my personal why?  Why does the world need what I am producing?  How Curiosity starts with being present  Can you create workspaces that can be both productive and creative?  Why there is no middle ground  And the future hashtag of "Kitch is just past cheesy"  As always, there are some great thought experiments. This time it is the design challenge of "Mission Impossible"  The Occupational Philosophers hope you enjoy listening to the show as much as they enjoyed making it.  www.occupationalphilosophers.com  About Rozhia Rozhia Website https://rozhiatabnak.com/ Insta https://www.instagram.com/rozhia/  Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/rozhia-tabnak-725b0319/  Show notes & Resources Everything is alive https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/everything-is-alive/id1388419519  London poetry shop cafe https://www.poetrypharmacy.co.uk/oxford-street Book - Wabi Sabi for artists, poets and Designers https://www.amazon.com.au/Wabi-Sabi-Artists-Designers-Poets-Philosophers/dp/0981484603           

In this short, sharp Inbetweener episode, The Occupational Philosophers celebrate their “One hundred and something” birthday! As well as an opportunity to blow up some balloons, eat some cake, and pat themselves on the back…they delve back into some highlights from the first 100 episodes and some sage advice from guests who have helped populate the ‘Maniguesto' tree…   Dr Brock Bastian….Social psychologist…just remember to enjoy the journey Professor Sophie Scott….Neuroscientist….how laughter is the gateway drug to creativity Dr Jen Frahm….change fairy….take more hot showers to spark ideas (literally and metaphorically!) Ash Perrin…The Flying Seagull Project….every great idea starts out as rubbish Neil Mullarkey….improv genius and general legend…remember that people are trying their best Dr Cyndi Burnett….creativity in education….be open to the novel   They hope you enjoy the show.    FYI: The Inbetweeners episodes are just that - smaller episodes 'in between' the longer format episodes designed to give a fruity burst of energy to enable you to be the most curious, creative and imaginative cat you can be - and have some fun in the process.   References: https://www.brockbastian.com/ https://www.ucl.ac.uk/icn/people/sophie-scott https://drjenfrahm.com/ https://www.theflyingseagullproject.com/ https://neilmullarkey.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/cyndi-burnett/   Say Hello   www.occupationalphilosophers.com   Their day jobs   JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/   SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au   SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

To Simon's delight, this week's guest is fellow Tasmanian Toby Wilkin.  For over 15 years, Toby has been a noteworthy leader in the entrepreneurial space. Born and raised in Tasmania Toby, thoroughly understands tourism and business in the state and beyond. Growing up in an entrepreneurial family in the construction, business and development industry he has shared this passion and success in his entrepreneurial adventures.  Toby has a series of different companies under the groups control including: Wealth Lab - Taking our experience and world-class sales systems to help other businesses thrive, offering sales & marketing coaching, events and digital presence products. Torple Energy - An energy rating consultancy firm focusing on sustainable outcomes for new development across Australia. Zippi Electric Bikes - Focussed on Raising Balanced Kids, this innovative startup was all about fun and kid-focused with Electric eBikes. In this show, John and Simon dive into Change Overnight. Toby and cofounder Sam Haberle conjured up the idea behind Change Overnight in early 2018 while dreaming of ways they could extend their mission to make a positive impact in the world. Outside of being a serial entrepreneur, Toby enjoys technology, making a difference and thinking big! In this episode, The Occupational Philosophers explore:  If you're open, people seem to present themselves at the right time  How a little wine can bring about some big ideas  How colours and design can make us feel and connect to emotion  It's OK to be a little uncomfortable  The importance of allowing serendipity and how it can open up opportunity  Why it's important to put some good energy into the world  How 12 months can seem a long time to some people and a short time to others  Why a little red wine can be the start of a good idea  As always, there is a thought experiment. For this show, it's Trip(advisor) of a lifetime The Occupational Philosophers hope you enjoy listening to the show as much as they enjoyed making it.    Resources  Toby Wilkin website https://tobywilkin.com/  Change Overnight Hotel https://changeovernight.co/ Why Worry Wally Books https://whyworrywally.com/why-worry-wally  Derren Brown The Secret of Luck (featuring the unlucky butcher!) https://youtu.be/RuRGzZAk7S4?si=z7x84NeFSZPfKPKR   Say Hello to the Occupational Philosophers www.occupationalphilosophers.com Their day jobs: JOHN: www.bowlandconsulting.com SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

In Episode 100, The Occupational Philosophers chat with Julie Trell, whose career has been an adventurous journey spanning three decades and various corners of the world. She started as an inner-city classroom teacher and later became a middle school technology specialist, where she embraced inner playfulness (as well as fixing - and breaking - the computers and network).  Through serendipity and curiosity, she evolved into the VP of All Things Fun, Meaningful, & Rewarding at a (then) startup called Salesforce.  Her path then took her through the vibrant landscapes of Atlanta, San Francisco, Singapore, and Sydney, venturing into the realms of technology and corporate foundation leadership with the Salesforce and Workday Foundations. In Australia, she led Telstra's corporate startup accelerator, muru-D - There she managed a team and a portfolio of over 140 companies, focusing on supporting the founders across various cohorts.    As the Chief Play Officer of Playful Purpose, she embraces the power of an improv mindset to foster growth and playful spirits among adults. She co-designs and facilitates dynamic workshops for accelerators, portfolio funds, and corporate teams, helping participants unleash curiosity, build confidence, and deepen their understanding of DEI and empathy. My passion for new technologies and continuous learning blends artificial intelligence, AI, with applied improv, AI!   In this episode, they explore: Exciting job titles to share at your next dinner party How applied improvisation is the AI we should really be focused on! Using play to help individuals, teams and organisations fire up their creative synapses How Generative applied improv helps us exercise our critical thinking skills How to make people feel heard and feel good when working together What is curiosivity? Julie's work with startups, founders and incubators Techniques to tackle the ‘play skeptcis' And how to create floral bouquets out of old toilet roll tubes!   And as ever, enjoy the Thought Experiments …this time it's: Through the port (manteau) hole Listeners questions   Learn more about Julie https://www.linkedin.com/in/julietrell/ https://playfulpurpose.com/   References https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8erpgy727jo https://www.nosuchthingasafish.com/ Toilet paper roll flowers - You can check link here.  https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/1163022-act-social https://www.appliedimprovisationnetwork.org/   The quote: "Being heard is so close to being loved that for the average person, they are almost indistinguishable”. (David W. Augsburger) - BOOK:Caring Enough to Hear and Be Heard: How to Hear and How to Be Heard in Equal Communication https://muru-d.com/ https://www.sxswsydney.com/ Clip from Whose Startup Is It Anyway   Books: https://www.breakthroughplay.com/playful-rebellion/ https://www.improvwisdom.com/index.html https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44333271-playful-mindfulness   Say Hello to the Occupational Philosophers www.occupationalphilosophers.com Their day jobs: JOHN: www.bowlandconsulting.com SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

In episode 99, The Occupational Philosophers, as an antidote to the worrying rise of 'play at work'. ponder the idea of "Is it time for a National Serious Day? Sure, play is good for many things (that the show talks about a lot), but what about the forgotten folk? Those who like to start blankly at a wall, never smile and love doing spreadsheets? What about the person who hasn't smiled since 1997?  Who is thinking of them?  They should be celebrated!  Possible activities could be:  Mandatory silence for the first three hours of the day (with fines for facial expressions and any type of talking)  A meeting about meetings (Mandatory of course)  Mandatory team activity of going through all HR handbooks or any ISO 9001 Quality Manual  It's almost like a corporate liver cleanse diet to flush out any frivolity and fun.  Worryingly, John started to realise that he actually likes the sound of this and realised that he just wants to get on with looking at his screen.  Numerous studies also back up what's possible when teams, families and even couples embrace a more serious outlook. It's like a modern-day version of stoicism that is about to take off.  They hope you enjoy the show.  FYI: The Inbetweeners episodes are just that - smaller episodes 'in between' the longer format episodes designed to give a fruity burst of energy to enable you to be the most curious, creative and imaginative cat you can be - and have some fun in the process.   Is your company innovative? Take the Scorecard for an instant report https://empoweringinnovation.scoreapp.com/  Say Hello www.occupationalphilosophers.com  Their day jobs JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/  SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au  SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg   

How might one think like a Philosopher in the workplace?  In this short, sharp Inbetweener episode, diving into a book by a previous guest, Dr Julian Baggini's “How to Think like a Philosopher” " the Occupational Philosophers discuss exactly that!  Julian Baggini has 12 key principles that the book is built around for a more humane, balanced, and rational approach to thinking.  These include:  Pay attention  Question everything (including your questions) Watch your steps Follow the facts  Watch your language  Be eclectic  Be a psychologist  Know what matters  Lose your ego  Think for yourself, not by yourself  Only connect  Don't give up. Whilst they don't want to big themselves up, The Occupational Philosophers think that diving into Julian's Book helps them sound a little more intelligent than normal! Whilst you may not agree that they sound smarter, the book is excellent.  They hope you enjoy the show.  FYI: The Inbetweeners episodes are just that - smaller episodes 'in between' the longer format episodes designed to give a fruity burst of energy to enable you to be the most curious, creative and imaginative cat you can be - and have some fun in the process.   References: Selective Attention: Gorilla walking video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJG698U2Mvo  Julian Baggini “How to think like a Philosopher”  https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/62708028-how-to-think-like-a-philosopher    Say Hello www.occupationalphilosophers.com   Their day jobs JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/ SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg  

Have you ever sat in a brainstorm and thought, "Well this is pretty shit." Most of us have and it sucks the energy out of the room like a backwards tornado.  John had a great week, read a book and got so excited about it, he wanted to share some of the possible antidotes to those crap house brainstorms.  In this short, sharp Inbetweener episode, The Occupational Philosophers discuss: How conventional structures for the way teams meet, problem-solve, and think creatively may be holding them back Why “Liberating Structures' can help unleash a culture of innovation What happens when you get bats, nans and hippos in the room Some examples of liberating structures; 1-2-4-All, Troika consulting and Min Specs What is the difference between an MVP and a prototype?  Why we still need to think about the environment along with structures How to reach out beyond your immediate domain of knowledge to open up minds to possibilities  As ever, The Occupational Philosophers hope you enjoy the show (and tell your friends)  FYI: The Inbetweeners episodes are just that - smaller episodes 'in between' the longer format episodes designed to give a fruity burst of energy to enable you to be the most curious, creative and imaginative cat you can be - and have some fun in the process. References: https://www.liberatingstructures.com/ https://www.barbaradoran.org/   Say 'Hello'... www.occupationalphilosophers.com Their day jobs JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg Get in touch  letschat@simonbanks.com.au   

In Episode 96, The Occupational Philosophers chat with a returning guest, Neil Mullarkey! Neil who embodies the ethos of this shows and plays at the intersection of curiosity, creativity, and serendipity! His last conversation with the show was way back in 2021 when the world was still reeling from the pandemic, the Tories were still in power, and Jeff Bezos was launching himself into space into a strangely shaped spacecraft…. He co-founded the world-famous improvisation group The Comedy Store Players here in the UK with Mike Myers, later appearing with him in the fabulous Austin Powers movies….who can forget “This sort of thing is my bag baby”...and more recently with Mike Myers in the Pentaverate sporting a lovely moustache. He is also highly accomplished in the field of management training, running many workshops and conferences for private and public organisations, using the techniques of theatre improvisation to inspire business people to embrace their creativity and enhance their communication skills.  He is a published author of Seven Steps to Improve Your People Skills, and the more recent, In the Moment - both great books and highly recommended It's a real delight to welcome back, the man both ‘In the moment' and man of the moment....Neil Mullarkey!!!! In this episode, the Occupational Philosophers explore: The different ways you can organise your bookshelves What is a moment? How you can build a Cathedral if everyone brings a brick! What is adaptive leadership? Why you need to trust the process of collaborative creativity, saying ‘Yes to the mess' When you need to be prepared and when you need to let go Could AI replace Neil? The experience of writing his book ‘In the Moment' Why don't people say ‘ancillary' or ‘flan' anymore? When is a LAGER a LASER? And what does that have to do with Improv? The wave-particle duality of light…..quantum facilitation anyone? Why is curiosity the yin to serendipity's yang? The story of the ‘lucky butcher'... And as ever, enjoy the Thought Experiment …this time it's: In the What? Learn more about Neil https://neilmullarkey.com https://neilmullarkey.com/inthemomentbook (Discount code available!) https://www.linkedin.com/in/neilmullarkey https://comedystoreplayers.com https://www.improvyourbiz.com https://acknowledgements.substack.com References https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-67871679.amp https://news.sky.com/story/hotel-looking-to-hire-banter-merchant-to-entertain-guests-during-edinburgh-festival-fringe-13175451 https://www.michaelconnelly.com https://www.waterstones.com/book/my-family/david-baddiel/9780008487607 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambozola    

In episode 95, whilst exploring the nuances of everyday occurrences and slipping between conscious states of being, The Occupational Philosophers dive into the concept of ambiguity.  Why?  The reason? So many challenges that need to be solved have a huge amount of ambiguity around them.  There may be multiple answers  It's a multi-faceted question  It's something where there are no comparable, predictable scenarios As such, there is risk What to do?  It's hard for organisations to sit in this space as they are hardwired to try and rationally avoid risk and to look after their profits and shareholders.  However, innovation is born from that space of uncertainty, experimentation and what often hasn't been done before.  Herein lies a conundrum!  The Occupational Philosophers go for a swim in the lake of ambiguity, backstroking through curious questions and diving to the bottom to pick up some rocks of enlightenment.  Whilst not having all the answers, they did feel slightly smarter at the end of the episode.  They also dive into the ambiguous mind puzzle of the Rubix Cube. Mmmm.... The Occupational Philosophers hope you enjoy the show!  FYI: This is a shorter episode 'in between' the longer format episodes designed to give a little kickstart to enable you to be the most curious, creative and imaginative cat you can be - and have some fun in the process Say 'Hello'... www.occupationalphilosophers.com Their day jobs JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg Get in touch  letschat@simonbanks.com.au         

Professor of Engineering Innovation and expert in creative problem solving In Episode 94, The Occupational Philosophers chat with Dr David Cropley, a Professor of Engineering Innovation at the University of South Australia. He specialises in helping people and organisations become better, more effective, problem solvers.  After serving for four years in the United Kingdom's Royal Navy, David joined the School of Engineering at the South Australian Institute of Technology (SAIT) in 1990,. Following the establishment of the University in 1991, he completed a PhD in Measurement Systems Engineering in 1997, and a Graduate Certificate in Higher Education in 2002. He has taught a variety of courses on engineering, including digital electronics, linear electronics, systems engineering, and engineering design. He teaches creativity and innovation across programs, from gifted education through to management, and his research interests span creativity in education, the assessment of creativity and innovation in organisations, the role of creativity and innovation in terrorism and crime, and the nexus of creative problem-solving and engineering. Most recently, he has been researching the intersection of creativity and artificial intelligence (AI). David is author/co-author of 10 books including Creativity in Education: A user's guide for educators, parents and students (Hawker Brownlow, 2022), Core Capabilities for Industry 4.0 – Foundations of the Cyber-Psychology of Engineering (Wbv Media, 2021) and The Psychology of Innovation in Organizations (Cambridge University Press, 2015). He is also a recognised expert in creative problem solving and innovation, Dr David Cropley was a scientific consultant and on-screen expert for the Australian ABC TV Documentaries Redesign My Brain (2013), Life at 9 (2014) and Redesign My Brain, Series 2 (2015). For more than 25 years, he has helped schools and organisations in Australia, the US, and Europe develop more effective, creative problem solvers.   In this episode, they explore: The gap between creativity research and application What is the difference between creativity and innovation Whether David has built an intergalactic transporter or it's still just an idea The different phases of innovation How personality, motivations, past experience and environment  affects our ability to be creative  What ‘Life at 9' discovered about children's levels of creativity as they grow How AI and LLMs will improve opportunities to objectively measure creativity What assessments provide the most holistic measure of creativity in individuals  What is ‘malevolent creativity'?  How we can cultivate creativity as a habit What three things do we need to provide teams to unleash their creativity? Why creativity is like spinach….and why we need to start eating more of it!   And as ever, enjoy the Thought Experiment …this time it's: Malevolent or Benevolent?     Learn more about David   https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidcropley   https://unisa-au.academia.edu/DavidCropley   https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dark-Side-Creativity-David-Cropley/dp/0521139600   https://www.amazon.co.uk/Homo-Problematis-Solvendis-Problem-solving-Man-Creativity/dp/9811331006   References https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habituation https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/2024/miami-grand-prix/results https://www.unsw.edu.au/newsroom/news/2018/06/a-winning-formula--new-professor-of-practice-richard-hopkins https://www.abc.net.au/contentsales/programsandgenres/life-9/13962452 https://studylib.net/doc/8167692/the-test-for-creative-thinking---drawing-production https://www.amazon.co.uk/Against-Gods-Remarkable-Story-Risk/dp/0471295639   Say Hello to the Occupational Philosophers www.occupationalphilosophers.com Their day jobs: JOHN: www.bowlandconsulting.com SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

In this short, sharp inbetweener episode The Occupational Philosophers explore Synesthesia...when senses get their wires crossed... Amongst other things, they discuss: How artists notice the world through multiple senses What happens when different senses blend together How does synesthesia affect how Pharrell Williams composes music? Why we should listen to our 'gut brain' more often  What does Billy Joel smell when he plays piano? The Occupational Philosophers hope you enjoy the show!  FYI: The Inbetweeners episodes are just that - smaller episodes 'in between' the longer format episodes designed to give a little kickstart to enable you to be the most curious, creative and imaginative cat you can be - and have some fun in the process Say 'Hello'... www.occupationalphilosophers.com Their day jobs JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg Get in touch  letschat@simonbanks.com.au 

Behavioral Expert, Author, Speaker and Curiosity Guru!  Dr Diane Hamilton is an expert in curiosity, perception, emotional intelligence, and behavioural science with nearly four decades of real-world experience and creator of the Curiosity Code Index®, the Perception Power Index, and the author of five books sold worldwide. She is a thought leader in the fields of leadership, sales, marketing, management, engagement, personality, curiosity, perception, and motivation and is known for increasing engagement, improving productivity and reducing conflict.  Thinkers50 Radar, considered the Academy Awards for Leadership, chose her as one of the top minds in management and leadership. She was named to Global Leaders Today's list of top leaders along with Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Richard Branson, and Sheryl Sandberg. LeadersHum included her on their list of 200 Biggest Voices in Leadership and in the Top 10 Most Powerful Women Leaders in HR. (Pretty impressive hey...)  In this episode they explore  How curiosity is the spark to creativity, motivation, innovation and just about everything Why fear, assumptions, technology and the environment we operate in are the factors which inhibit our curiosity  What organisations can do to foster a culture of curiosity How curiosity breaks down ‘status quo' thinking Why curiosity is the foundation of empathy Why making sure you are not the smartest person in the room will accelerate your learning and curiosity What will unlock curiosity in your teams  How to ensure you don't suffer the same FATE as Kodak Just how much Diane loves history…..! Learn more about Dr Diane https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdianehamilton/ https://drdianehamilton.com/ https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cracking-Curiosity-Code-Unlocking-Potential/dp/164237346X References and show notes  https://time.com/6837166/iris-apfel-dead-age-102-fashion-icon https://ian-leslie.com/curious https://www.waterstones.com/book/elon-musk/walter-isaacson/9781398527492 https://variety.com/2024/digital/news/george-carlin-ai-generated-comedy-special-1235868315/#! https://www.charitywater.org/uk/about/scott-harrison-story https://davidepstein.com/range/   Say Hello to the Occupational Philosophers www.occupationalphilosophers.com Their day jobs: JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/ SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

In Episode 91, The Occupational Philosophers chat with Dr. Anthony Simcoe, a multi-hyphenate, creative polymath! He is as comfortable on stage as he is in infrastructure projects in leadership, interpersonal and communication skills, and organisational culture. He is an Australian actor, a graduate of the National Institute of Dramatic Arts i Sydney and has appeared in over 20 TV shows and films including everything from A Country Practice to The Inbetweeners Movie 2…! He is widely adored for his portrayal of Steve Kerrigan in the 1997 film The Castle and Ka D'Argo in the science fiction television series Farscape  He was nominated for a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Television Series in 2002 for his work on the show.  He holds a MFA specialising in Actor Training and has taught for NIDA, as well as teaching and directing at various other institutions including QUT.  But that's not all!  He has a doctorate in creative industries, organisational storytelling and knowledge management, which enables him to create engaging, lively, and dynamic learning spaces where adults are challenged and inspired. As a multi-hyphenate, with over 15 years of experience in training and coaching, Anthony is the company owner of a Consulting firm that links human potential to outstanding business results.  Anthony has a global track record of success in assisting his partners to win work in the billions of dollars through his bid coaching services. He has also coached and facilitated top executives, leaders, and teams in various industries and sectors, helping them to improve their communication, influence, and leadership skills.  Unsurprisingly, our guest leverages his background in the arts, to bring creativity, innovation, and pragmatism to his work. In this episode, they explore: How AI is changing the creative industry right here, right now! What can you accomplish at the limit of your talent? What Anthony discovered through his Doctorate in Creative Industries How storytelling accelerates learning and knowledge transfer Why great stories help you walk in someone else's shoes The art of leadership as demonstrated by Jodie Foster! The advantages of being a polymath What is the critical success factor when it comes to curiosity in teams  Why you can't ‘out body language, terrible content'! What a hashtag! What will help you be a leader who inspires your organisation (Hint.. build a bridge to your audience) Whether you should imagine your audience are naked when giving a presentation… Why you should ‘Be like Bowie' Another hashtag! And as ever, enjoy the Thought Experiments …this time it's:  Film plot in 6 words or less! Learn more about Anthony https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Simcoe  https://www.linkedin.com/company/anthony-simcoe-consulting-asc/ https://www.anthonysimcoeconsulting.com/    References https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-11/discrimination-ruling-mona-ladies-lounge-when-is-exclusion-ok/103690878 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-68384657 https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-coming-wave/mustafa-suleyman/michael-bhaskar/9781847927484 https://www.waterstones.com/book/leonardo-da-vinci/walter-isaacson/9781471166785   Say Hello to the Occupational Philosophers www.occupationalphilosophers.com Their day jobs: JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/ SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg  

In this short, sharp inbetweener episode The Occupational Philosophers explore Humility, and it's Sith brother, Hubris... Amongst other things, they discuss: How curiosity needs to be wedded to humility What the Greeks made of humility and why hubris was a crime Why you should listen to your father (Heads up Icarus!) What is an 'Idea Baby' and why you need to let your baby be called ugly How humility fuels learning and listening What's a 'brumble'? And why is Linkedin full of them? And finally, Simon and John are shocked, awed and humbled to be hosting a Top 10 (%) podcast.... The Occupational Philosophers hope you enjoy the show!  FYI: The Inbetweeners episodes are just that - smaller episodes 'in between' the longer format episodes designed to give a little kickstart to enable you to be the most curious, creative and imaginative cat you can be - and have some fun in the process Say 'Hello'... www.occupationalphilosophers.com Their day jobs JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/ SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg Get in touch  letschat@simonbanks.com.au 

Have you been at a business event and someone, with a very serious face, stands on the stage and talks about a VUCA environment? If so, there is help! (and if not, still read on!) In this short, sharp inbetweener episode The Occupational Philosophers dive into the world of acronyms used to describe the current business environment/s we are in.  Amongst other things, they explore:  What does VUCA mean?  Why are all VUCA speakers so serious?  What happens if you are VUCA'd?  Why do people who speak about a TUNA environment seem happier?  Will a TURD environment ever catch on?  And seriously, (yes there was a moment), is it time to be a little more positive in the way we look at the world?  What the acronym for the best and worst days may look and sound like  The Occupational Philosophers hope you enjoy the show!  FYI: The Inbetweeners episodes are just that - smaller episodes 'in between' the longer format episodes designed to give a little kickstart to enable you to be the most curious, creative and imaginative cat you can be - and have some fun in the process   Say Hello www.occupationalphilosophers.com   Their day jobs JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/ SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg Get in touch  letschat@simonbanks.com.au     

In episode 88, The Occupational Philosophers chat with Friska Wirya: Top 50 Change Management Thought Leader | TEDx Speaker | #1 Best-Selling Author "The Future Fit Organisation" Friska is a change and transformation expert for nearly a decade, obsessed with all things organisational change. She's led change programs influencing up to 23,000 people across 6 of the seven continents having worked for some of the biggest names in mining, engineering and technology. She has appeared in Sydney Morning Herald, SmartCompany, Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, GRAZIA, AICD, Women's Agenda, Digital Transformation Live, Wonder Women Tech, Future of Mining, Women in Construction & Engineering, Women in Mining & Energy Indonesia She is the founder of Fresh by Friska  Building the change intelligence of global organisations so change is an advantage, not an Achilles heel. In this episode, they explore:  The importance of turning contempt into curiosity  Why you need both a great tech stack and a people stack  Why the opposite of play is disengagement  The importance of change in our physical surroundings  Swift-Onomics and hearing the words cock blocked and Swift-Onomics in the same sentence  Why understanding your personal dress style may be more important than you think  How to know when a digital transformation has actually worked - speed, adoption and proficiency If you're not getting the right info, ask!  Why we need to watch out for one bed/ten dreams  Action creates motivation  What a future fit mindset looks and feel like Equestrian riding whilst wearing mankinis  As always, there are some great thought experiments. This episode it's "Do you have any change?". Friska is also gracious enough to answer some listeners' questions.  Friska is an absolute delight with a great sense of humour and The Occupational Philosophers hope you enjoy the show  Meet Friska https://www.linkedin.com/in/friska/ https://www.freshbyfriska.com/ Book  https://www.amazon.com.au/Future-Fit-Organisation-Leaders-Transformation/dp/1923007246       Say Hello to the Occupational Philosophers www.occupationalphilosophers.com Their day jobs: JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/ SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg        

In this reboot episode from 2021, The Occupational Philosophers chat with Dr. Brock Bastian - Professor, Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne. Brock is a social psychologist whose research focuses on pain, happiness, and morality.  His book, The Other Side of Happiness, was published in January 2018.  Brock completed his PhD in 2007 and has published more than 100 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters since then.  His work has been featured in outlets such as The Economist, The New Yorker, TIME, New Scientist, Scientific American, Harvard Business Review, and The Huffington Post, among many others. He has delivered popular talks, such as at TEDx StKilda, The Ethics Centre Sydney, and Effective Altruism Australia; and appeared on radio shows such as The Minefield.  In this episode, they explore: Why pain is good for us How believing in the role luck plays in life allows you to take more risks How being curious is really important in managing our emotional world Why leaders need to share their failures more often What helps teams build trust How to lead organisations through tough times As always, there are some great thought experiments such as: Guess the source of my pain Defend, Live, Party! What hybrid animal would you choose? Links http://www.brockbastian.com http://www.brockbastian.com/book/the-other-side-of-happiness https://www.lego.com/en-gb/aboutus/news/2021/september/lego-rebuild-the-world-2021 https://tim.blog/2021/09/08/henry-shukman/  What Human Animal Hybrid would you rather fight/hang out with/have at home? Read his article https://theconversation.com/wary-of-human-animal-hybrids-its-probably-just-your-own-moral-superiority-72720  https://www.adamgrant.net/book/think-again    Say Hello to The Occupational Philosophers www.occupationalphilosophers.com   Their day jobs: JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/ SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

In this reboot episode from 2021, The Occupational Philosophers chat with glorious, amazingly talented, and hilarious comedian and performer Tamara Campbell.  Tamara has literally performed all over the world: 23 countries in 6 different languages for over a million people in her 18-year career. Tamara believes that "laughter should be a force for good. Bringing humans together to share and connect, breaking down the barriers and masks that inhibit our progress as a race. I also believe that it is fundamental that we have a bloody good time together as often as possible."  In this episode, we explore:  What it means to be human  How vulnerability comes before trust rather than the other way around (leaders, take note!)  Why it's important to look for “something awesome about you” in other people  The different alter egos we all have and how to ensure the right one turns up  Where creativity comes from - and it takes a lot of practice  Breaking out of comfort zones and how to make people feel amazing  How the human race is evolving to have herd immunity against arseholes  Lessons learned from performing all over the world and training at the world-renowned Dell'Arte School of Physical Theatre As with all episodes, we have some great thought experiments as we explore Famous Love Parents and have some great listener questions.  Tamara is an absolute star and there is so much joy and wisdom in this episode. Enjoy!    Links  Laughterhouse Entertainment https://www.laughterhouseentertainment.com/  Brag sheet (places Tamara has performed) https://www.laughterhouseentertainment.com/about/places-performed/  Tamara Campbell https://www.tamaracampbell.com.au/ Kikki Bittovabitsch https://www.facebook.com/KikiBittovabitsch/  Dell'Arte School of Physical Performance https://dellarte.com/ MONA Gallery https://mona.net.au/    Say Hello to The Occupational Philosophers www.occupationalphilosophers.com Their day jobs: JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/ SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg  

As they take a quick break to record new episodes, The Occupational Philosophers wanted to reshare one of their favourite guests and their very first with Dr. Peter Lovatt. Dr Lovatt is a Dance Psychologist, multi TED speaker and best selling author, who through his work on the psychology of movement and dance, is more widely known as 'Dr. Dance'!  Listen in as Peter shares: 3 top tips for everyday living from his new book 'The Dance Cure' How teams and organisations can use movement to fuel innovation & creativity How individuals can 'move to improve'! They also explore: Why dance and movement is fundamentally about communication  What type of movement is best to help your children revise for their exams? What stops us dancing (apart from when we're drunk at a wedding...)? How school shaped Peter's life and success....it's quite a journey Whether movement is a "gateway drug" to dancing....... And as ever, the Occupational Philosophers will also engage in some (not so serious) 'Thought Experiments' which delve into topics such as "Did someone really say that?" and "What dance should I do if I get mugged?". Finally, as discussed in the show, please check out: Dr.Peter Lovatt - https://www.peterlovatt.com TEDx Observer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihCh5wzNjYY Derek Sivers: Leadership Lessons from the Dancing Guy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fW8amMCVAJQ    Say Hello: www.occupationalphilosophers.com Their day jobs: JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/ SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

In this short 'in the wild' episode, Simon (one-half of The Occupational Philosophers) connects with Dr Barbara Doran, Director of Strategic Innovation and Creative Intelligence live from the World Building Studio Day at the University of Technology (UTS)  In the episode, they explore:  The importance of a transdisciplinary approach to solving complex problems and navigating unchartered territory  Why engaging with storytelling is essential to turning something from an idea to something that is scaleable and how it can influence culture  Why we are all creative and how it can be catalysed in many ways How collaboration drives radical change   How storytelling and film making can drive sustainability  What is the adjacent possible?  FYI: The Inbetweeners episodes are just that - smaller episodes 'in between' the longer format episodes designed to give a little kickstart to enable you to be the most curious, creative and imaginative cat you can be - and have some fun in the process.   Say Hello: www.occupationalphilosophers.com Their day jobs: JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/ SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg    

In Episode 82, The Occupational Philosophers chat with the amazing Dr Cyndi Burnett - Author, Academic and Creative on a on a mission to infuse creative thinking into every classroom around the world! Dr Burnett has studied, taught, and written about both the art (expression) and the science (problem-solving) of creativity for the last 25 years. As an academic, she spent 20 years teaching deliberate creativity to undergrad and graduate students at the International Center for Studies in Creativity at SUNY Buffalo State. During her tenure, she was awarded the President's Medal for Excellence in Teaching and co-designed and delivered a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on Everyday Creativity to over 60K participants. Three years ago, she left my tenured position to build Creativity and Education, whose mission is to empower educators to infuse creativity into the classroom. Cyndi's goal is to bridge the gap between creativity researchers, practitioners, administrators, and educators and move the conversation about creativity in education forward. She is the co-author of several books including, Weaving Creativity into Every Strand of Your Curriculum, 20 Lessons to Weave Creative Thinking into Your Curriculum, and My Sandwich is a Spaceship: Creative Thinking for Parents and Young Children, and numerous articles. She has also been featured in the NYTimes, Women's Health Magazine, and Woman's World Magazine. She is also the host of the smash hit podcast, Fueling Creativity in Education (Pretty impressive resume!)  In this episode, they explore:  Why creativity is at the heart of managing change How we should look at things that are obvious to you and ask questions Why homework should be about finding questions rather than answers How leaders need to give the space for new ideas Understanding if you want to see creativity you have to model that creativity Why we don't need a script for creativity (think schools and organisations)  The difference between creative thinking and creative problem-solving The importance of staying open to novelty Why we should all be reading “Why you should be orbiting a giant hairball” Why we should all beware of alcoholic pigs As always, there are some great thought experiments. This time it's "Funny or Fake?"  The Occupational Philosophers hope you enjoy the show as much as they did making it.    About Cyndi  Socials https://www.linkedin.com/in/cyndi-burnett/ https://twitter.com/cyndiburnett?lang=en https://www.facebook.com/cyndiaburnett/  https://www.youtube.com/@creativityandeducation  Podcast https://fuelingcreativity.podbean.com/ Company https://creativityandeducation.com/   References: https://dreamachine.world https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halo_effect   Say Hello to The Occupational Philosophers www.occupationalphilosophers.com Their day jobs JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/  SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg    

In this special, 'In the Wild' episode , The Occupational Philosophers get out of the studio (well, one of them does) to have a nice, cosy fireside chat in a London pub, with Dr Samuel West, a previous guest on the show - Samuel was in London attending the Global Innovation Forum, and as well as speaking about the topic of failure, he had a travelling ‘Museum of Failure' pop-up, with some choice exhibits from his vast collection of the products and services which didn't quite set the world alight… In this episode, as the beer flows, they chat about: The Global Innovation Forum (GIF) in London and the topics being explored Samuel's research into ‘play' and the power of improvisation How people are just too serious these days….and who is the least fun…! Why ideas are nothing without another crucial element…listen in to find out What General Magic can tell us about the nature of creativity and innovation Why the Museum of Failure resonates so much with people What beer they're drinking….   Learn more about Samuel https://samuelwest.org/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuelwest/   References https://giflondon.com/ https://www.generalmagicthemovie.com/   Say Hello: www.occupationalphilosophers.com Their day jobs: JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

In this short, sharp Inbetweener episode, The Occupational Philosophers discuss “What is Philosophy”, after a teenager asked Simon that very question and he struggled a little to answer! He set off to explore and their conversation together highlights just what he uncovered: How ChatGPT can help Philosophy sound cool to a 14-year old teenager Some definitions that help get to the essence of what Philosophy is all about Just how little John and Simon know….rock on Socrates…! The 7 main branches of Philosophy How Philosophy helps challenge beliefs, assumptions and ‘sacred cows'  Philosophy promotes critical thinking and new lenses to view problems and opportunities How organisations can adopt philosophical thinking to improve creativity, collaboration and innovation The fact that Simon and John cannot pronounce ‘Epistemology'... FYI: The Inbetweeners episodes are just that - smaller episodes 'in between' the longer format episodes designed to give a little kickstart to enable you to be the most curious, creative and imaginative cat you can be - and have some fun in the process.   References: https://www.philosophy-foundation.org/ https://1000wordphilosophy.com/2020/10/10/philosophy/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigel_Warburton https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilles_Deleuze   Say Hello: www.occupationalphilosophers.com Their day jobs: JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/ SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

In this short, sharp inbetweener episode, The Occupational Philosophers introduce their latest experiment, a new Radio play, The Parkers! Listen as Simon tries to convince John this is a good idea, before they lead you into the world of The Parkers with the first (and possibly last) episode. Parkers is a family run, pet care business, based in Peterborough, UK - meet Beryl, a (previously) high flying marketing executive, and Craig, the gruff IT manager from Cornwall (or at least we think he's from Cornwall...it's difficult to tell by the actors performance), and hear them wrestle with work, life and gerbils...   Hope you enjoy the show!   FYI: The Inbetweeners episodes are just that - smaller episodes 'in between' the longer format episodes designed to give a little kickstart to enable you to be the most curious, creative and imaginative cat you can be - and have some fun in the process. Say Hello www.occupationalphilosophers.com Their day jobs JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/ SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au

In this short-ish, sharp-ish inbetweener episode, The Occupational Philosophers explore a test for curiosity called The need for cognition (NFC) What is the NFC?  It's a personality variable reflecting the extent to which individuals are inclined towards effortful cognitive activities (thanks Wikipedia)  Whilst it has originally come in a longer format, the one that The Occupational Philosophers explore has 18 questions/statements. (Cacioppo & Petty, 1984) Some of these include:  Thinking is not my idea of fun  I only think as hard as I have to The idea of relying on thought to make my way to the top appeals to me.. They also explore:  Some classic lines from Oscar Wilde's last gig at the Brixton Academy  Empathic Curiosity - the desire to know others  Simon also felt happy he had discovered a big phrase -'Epistemic Curiosity'.  The Occupational Philosophers need to do some more exploration to provide a worthwhile link to this test. That will also be followed by links to Simon and John's scores.  Hope you enjoy the show!  FYI: The Inbetweeners episodes are just that - smaller episodes 'in between' the longer format episodes designed to give a little kickstart to enable you to be the most curious, creative and imaginative cat you can be - and have some fun in the process. Reading  Read the 18 NFC Questions here https://centerofinquiry.org/uncategorized/need-for-cognition-scale-wabash-national-study/ High NFC = lower ADI  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8759714/  Other articles  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7545655/ https://www.researchgate.net/publication/326410291_The_Very_Efficient_Assessment_of_Need_for_Cognition_Developing_a_Six-Item_Version https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8759714/  Say Hello www.occupationalphilosophers.com   Their day jobs JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/ SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg      

In Episode 77, The Occupational Philosophers chat with Dr Marco Motta, who specialises in data analysis and visualisation, with a strong track record transforming the performance reporting culture of large organisations. He marries this with a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Queensland and uses his background in critical thinking to help organisations and clients identify, define, break down and solve complex business challenges. More importantly, he used to have a funk-rock band together with his brother in their teenage years, and they recently decided to record a cover of the Eurythmics classic, "Sweet Dreams," - we heartily recommend this…YouTube link below! This is a great conversation with a guest who puts the Aristotle in Analytics!   In this episode, they explore, and scuttle down some real rabbit holes, on some mind-bending topics: How morality and ethics are culture dependent [12:00] What's a slash chord?! (Listen to the first piano accompaniment on this podcast!) [17:50] What is truth? How do we know we exist? Should we put Descartes before the horse? [25:05] Is Gravity an absolute fact? Is it just a dip in Space-Time? Might John float out of his chair? [28:50] Is Schroedinger's cat alive or dead? The answer was finally revealed! [35:39] How Philosophy usefully informs data analytics and visualisation [37:55] Why organisations that can manage uncertainty are better equipped to navigate the future [41:25] What are ‘weak truths' and how do help us? [43:01] How does creativity and painting play into data visualisation? [48:01] Will our robot overlords vaporise us? [54:00] What advice does Marco have for teams and organisations? [1:05:17] When is the ‘Occupational Philosophers After Dark' podcast launching? And as always, they expand Marco's thinking with their very own ‘Thought Experiments'; this episode they have: Busting Urban Myths  Learn more about Marco https://www.linkedin.com/in/mottamarco01/   https://www.mottaconsulting.com.au   References https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/jul/06/leading-actors-and-artists-back-labours-push-for-more-creativity-in-schools   https://theamazingthundercat.com/   What if Red Hot Chilli Peppers played Sweet Dreams https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=id9PvdbYUGA   https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2023/06/23/the-ethics-of-ai-navigating-bias-manipulation-and-beyond/   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gianni_Vattimo   Say Hello www.occupationalphilosophers.com Their day jobs JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/  SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg  

In this short, sharp Inbetweener episode, The Occupational Philosophers discuss what John discovered when he attended the recent ‘How the Light Gets In' festival in London; a curly mash up of philosophy, music and comedy: What were the big themes being explored this year? [02:30] What is the golden rule to live by? [04:10} What 3 things did John learn from sitting with fellow chin-stroking, bat milk latte drinking, roll-neck sweater wearing explorers? [05:40] What are takeaways for us as individuals, teams and leaders of organisations? [09:20] How does the light get in? FYI: The Inbetweeners episodes are just that - smaller episodes 'in between' the longer format episodes designed to give a little kickstart to enable you to be the most curious, creative and imaginative cat you can be - and have some fun in the process. Say Hello www.occupationalphilosophers.com Their day jobs JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/ SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au

In episode 75, The Occupational Philosophers chat with Design Guru, Chi Ryan.   Chi is a designer, writer, researcher, learner, educator and all-round creative polymath. She is obsessed with design that puts experience first She helped everyone from hungry startups to global giants transform through design and has led, taught and been part of teams designing digital and physical products, services, brands, events, physical spaces, processes, values, systems, learning experiences, rituals, models, methods and almost everything in between. She has led cross-functional research, design and innovation practices (Fjord/Accenture Song, Idean/Frog/Capgemini Alumni) around the world (from London to Milan and Hong Kong to New York.  Chi is currently a higher-degree by research candidate at Torrens University where my practice-based research focuses on exploring the nexus of design, post-humanism, economics, ethics and philosophy through the lens of radical design theory. She is also Adjunct Faculty at RMIT University in Melbourne In this episode, they explore:  What is design and why does great design matter?  What's behind the groundbreaking talk of “Dude, where's my creativity?”  What is post-design? (Get ready for the best answer ever)  Why you will never look at an LA bus stop in the same way Why absurdity, provocativity, spectacle, nostalgia and mythology need to be in the conversation of great design Why Derida was a polarising philosopher  Why all leaders should smile a little more  As always, there are some great thought experiments. This time they explore the minds of French Philosophers through the thought experiment of Blankety Blanc… There is so much insane depth and insight and Chi is a very funny guest so The Occupational Philosophers hope you enjoy the show as much as they enjoyed making it.  More about Chi linkedin.com/in/chiryan http://www.chiryan.design/makeshop https://chiryan.com/

In this short, sharp inbetweener episode, The Occupational Philosophers explore dreams and how they reveal the wild jungle of our mind! We have all had those bizarre dreams which connect random and seemingly disparate ideas; the koala surfing on a water buffalo, or a man made of cheese trying to sell you a time share apartment in Benidorm….or is that just us? Listen as we discuss: What can various research studies tell us about dreams and their link to creativity? What is happening when we sink into REM state…the peak dream state? How even the most bizarre dreams seem to follow a story What did artists do to help them harness the power of their dreams? How can we as individuals and teams use these insights to improve the level of creative thought in our organisations? Just what do John and Simon dream about? FYI: The Inbetweeners episodes are just that - smaller episodes 'in between' the longer format episodes designed to give a little kickstart to enable you to be the most curious, creative and imaginative cat you can be - and have some fun in the process.   Show Notes https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/creativity-you/201704/can-paying-attention-dreams-increase-creativity https://www.thenakedscientists.com/articles/questions/why-are-we-so-creative-our-dreams https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/heres-how-to-use-dreams-for-creative-inspiration   Say Hello www.occupationalphilosophers.com   Their day jobs: JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/ SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

In Episode 73, The Occupational Philosophers chat with Professor Sophie Scott, who is the Director of the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London and a Fellow of the British Academy.    Sophie is an expert in cognitive neuroscience studying human vocal communication, from speech and sound to social interactions and nonverbal emotional expressions, and has become very well known for her work on laughter. As a pioneering researcher in the science of laughter, she's made some unexpected discoveries -- including my favourite, that rats are ticklish, and that the one tactic that's almost guaranteed to get someone to laugh is to show them someone else laughing. She has appeared on UK TV many times, including The One Show (BBC1), Sunday Brunch (C4), Horizon (BBC2) - AND has presented the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures. She also represented the Polytechnic of Central London in University Challenge (BBC2).  In podcasting she co-hosts The Neuromantics (Great pun!), and is a series regular on the wonderful Infinite Monkey Cage. She is an accomplished public speaker, her TED talks have amassed millions of views online, and she has presented at the World Economic Forum, The Royal Institute, and the Wired UK conference. She has performed science-based stand-up comedy and has appeared at the Hammersmith Apollo, the Bloomsbury Theatre and the Latitude Festival. And to top it off, also an author or many books!  In this episode, they explore: How laughter is contagious and social What words are genuinely funny…'Flank' is one…! Why brains are so fascinating these days How laughter is the ‘gateway drug' to play What happens in the brain when we are creative Why organisations need to build social spaces where laughter can live Who is Brian Helverston? And in this episode, they are lucky enough to have their listener's questions to share with Sophie.    Learn more about Sophie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophie_Scott https://www.ted.com/talks/sophie_scott_why_we_laugh https://www.amazon.co.uk/Brain-Things-You-Should-Know-ebook/dp/B09RF221H8/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= References https://inews.co.uk/opinion/susie-dent-slips-tongue-english-language-2431363 https://hbr.org/2014/12/innovation-leadership-lessons-from-the-marshmallow-challenge

In this short-ish Inbetweener episode, The Occupational Philosophers dive into and muse on the idea of Serendipity. Between them they explore:  Actually, what is Serendipity? (you will have to listen)  Why dumb luck isn't a thing - despite that person always getting a job they don't deserve or are qualified for  The danger of trying to manifest middle-class moments Why it's essential to be open to the world around us - as chance encounters are everywhere  How our biases rationalise chance encounters to pretend they didn't happen  Why curiosity is at the heart of moments of serendipity  How being a super explorer can create moments of serendipity  How the discovery of Penicillin is considered a triumph of serendipity  The power of a watermelon, an earbud and a jelly bean in the right hands And finally, how the unlucky butcher can be a metaphor for us all  The Occupational Philosophers hope you enjoy the show!  Links: The Serendipity Mindset: The art and science of good luck    FYI: The Inbetweeners episodes are just that - smaller episodes 'in between' the longer format episodes designed to give a little kickstart to enable you to be the most curious, creative and imaginative cat you can be - and have some fun in the process.   Take the Innovation Scorecard!    https://empoweringinnovation.scoreapp.com/  Take the creativity & innovation to the next level Answer 25 questions and we'll send you a personalised report to benchmark the  level of creativity and innovation in your organisation It just takes a few minutes takes just a few minutes It's completely free Receive customised results instantly It takes just few minutes to complete Say Hello www.occupationalphilosophers.com   Their day jobs JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/ SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg  

In this guest episode, The Occupational Philosophers chat with Dr Louise Mahler.  Dr Louise is the polymath's polymath and is recognised as a Top 30 Global Guru in both Body Language and Communication. She was an Opera singer for 10 years with the Vienna State Opera.  Louise's qualifications include B.Econ; B. Mus; Post Grad Dip Music; L.Mus.A; Master of Applied Science in Organisational Change and a Master Practitioner in Neuro-Linguistic Programming.  She has completed an award-winning PhD around the unsung wisdom of the mind-body-voice connection she named Vocal Intelligence. She is a sought-after commentator discussing leadership, body language and effective presentation on television, radio and in the media. Her recent interviews with Channel 7 where she analyses the body language of Harry and Meghan Sussex have over 2 million views. Louise's clients include Fortune 500 clients around the globe.  Louise was voted Keynotes Speaker of the Year in 2021 by the Professional Speakers Association and is the author of "Resonate: for people who need to be heard"  She is the virtuoso of the voice, the high priestess of hot air and the femme fatale of unfailing attraction.  In this episode we explore:  The importance of breathing out (not just in)  Why we all need to channel ancient Rome and have way more Grrrrrrrravitas  Why communication should not just be a linear give and receive  Why we need to stop making excuses for communication (including being left-handed)  How we need to embrace Move, Move, Move  How wit and levity are wingmen for all types of communication  Why it's important to be an active listener, not just a passive listener The importance of saying ‘yes, please!' more often More about Louise https://louisemahler.com.au/   Say Hello www.occupationalphilosophers.com Their day jobs JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/ SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg   Take the Innovation Scorecard! https://empoweringinnovation.scoreapp.com/   Take creativity & innovation to the next level Answer 25 questions and we'll send you a personalised report to benchmark the  level of creativity and innovation in your organisation It just takes a few minutes takes just a few minutes It's completely free Receive customised results instantly    

In this inbetweener episode, The Occupational Philosophers explore the seven deadly sins of power point presentations - we've all been there…you face an avalanche of slides, information overload, the back of someone's head as they read the slides out loud….it's time to discover a different way as we explore: How to ensure people do not suffer ‘Death by Powerpoint' or any other attempt on their life What we can learn from cats being scared of cucumbers and other viral memes How great keynote speakers capture their audience's attention Why data proves, but stories move What sucks the energy out of the room and how to stop it Why is Simon so vexed?   The Occupational Philosophers hope you enjoy the show.  FYI: The Inbetweeners episodes are just that - smaller episodes 'in between' the longer format episodes designed to give a little kickstart to enable you to be the most curious, creative and imaginative cat you can be - and have some fun in the process.   Take the Innovation Scorecard!  https://empoweringinnovation.scoreapp.com/  Take creativity & innovation to the next level Answer 25 questions and we'll send you a personalised report to benchmark the  level of creativity and innovation in your organisation It' just takes a few minutes takes just a few minutes It's completely free Receive customised results instantly   Say Hello   www.occupationalphilosophers.comIt takes just few minutes to complete Their day jobs   JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/   SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au   SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

In this inbetweener episode, The Occupational Philosophers dive into the world of job advertisements - the good, the not so good and the inbetween (ers). Mmmm, did you see what they did there…? When you are being asked for flexibility, do you turn up in a Yoga outfit?  Does a workplace rockstar need to throw computers out the window and have half a shaved head?  Would a ninja need to have a set of throwing stars?  If you hit the ground running, what type of shoes would you need to wear?  And finally, whilst it's important, to be honest in recruitment ads, how honest can you be?  The Occupational Philosophers hope you enjoy the show. FYI: The Inbetweeners episodes are just that - smaller episodes 'in between' the longer format episodes designed to give a little kickstart to enable you to be the most curious, creative and imaginative cat you can be - and have some fun in the process.   Take the Innovation Scorecard! https://empoweringinnovation.scoreapp.com/     Take creativity & innovation to the next level Answer 25 questions and we'll send you a personalised report to benchmark the  level of creativity and innovation in your organisation It just takes a few minutes takes just a few minutes It's completely free Receive customised results instantly Say Hello www.occupationalphilosophers.com   Their day jobs JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/ SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg Innovation Scorecard https://empoweringinnovation.scoreapp.com/

In Episode 68, The Occupational Philosophers chat with Chris Barez Brown, author, keynote speaker, and founder of 'Upping Your Elvis', which looks to embed a human, energetic and creative working culture in corporations across the globe, making work easier, more fun, and more extraordinary in the process Chris has a deep passion to help people work out who they are, what they stand for and how they can use their unique talents to bring energy to everything they do as individuals, as members of  teams, or as leaders. He spent ten years at ?What If!, the world's largest innovation consultancy, and is a published author of many books, including: ‘How to Have Kick Ass Ideas'  ‘Shine. How to survive and thrive at work'. ‘Free. Love your work, love your life'. Wake Up! Escaping a life on autopilot  Upping Your Elvis His latest venture, Talk it Out, is a social enterprise determined to make a positive impact on people's mental wellbeing around the world. In this episode, they explore: Why slowing down to connect with people reveals how everyone has a gift How movement leads to improvement; try stuff out, experiment, don't stop Why experimentation is at the heart of any successful organisation How we are hooked on being busy How we can make work fit us, rather then make us fit us What 'talking it out' can do for our mental wellbeing And whether Chris truly is the love child of Richard Branson and a wizard... As ever they throw in a few ‘Thought Experiments', this time they have: Knowing Your Elvis   Learn more about Chris   https://www.uppingyourelvis.com/ https://www.barez-brown.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-bar%C3%A9z-brown-0695531/ https://www.talkitout.app/   References https://www.munchmuseet.no/en/ https://theamazingthundercat.com/ https://open.spotify.com/artist/3vWKFSpMV1vc1cRTjY1cl3?si=IYig3dfkSWe030pHvbtRCw https://www.waterstones.com/book/lost-connections/johann-hari/9781408878729    

In episode 67, The Occupational Philosophers dive into the world of personal biases, filters and perceptions or the way we take in information.  And what did they discover? We ALL take in information differently - whether we believe it or not.  In this episode, they explore:  Confirmation bias  Perception bias and how two people can see the same situation differently Frequency bias. Why am I now seeing red cars everywhere?  How a muffin can appear 50% bigger if you are hungry (even though its not!)  Change blindness (say what?)  How we don't see change in real-time - even though we think we do  Why Heraclitus has some good advice for modern-day change  If you have read this far, well done and you have made it past some of your biases and filters. Turn up your curiosity bias and tune in!  FYI: The Inbetweeners episodes are just that - smaller episodes 'in between' the longer format episodes designed to give a little kickstart to enable you to be the most curious, creative and imaginative cat you can be - and have some fun in the process.   Say Hello www.occupationalphilosophers.com Their day jobs JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/ SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

In this short, sharp inbetweener episode, The Occupational Philosophers do a little bit of time travel and in the process explore:  What an abstract artwork can teach us about how we react to something out of our comfort zone  Why at times it's all too easy to jump to outrage  Why a creative shock can create long-lasting change  What the hell is Blue Poles?  Why a good philosopher will always ask questions first  The importance of always, always being open to the new Why it's important to keep an eye out for Blue Poles in your organisation... They Occupational Philosophers hope you enjoy the show!    FYI: The Inbetweeners episodes are just that - smaller episodes 'in between' the longer format episodes designed to give a little kickstart to enable you to be the most curious, creative and imaginative cat you can be - and have some fun in the process.   Say Hello www.occupationalphilosophers.com Their day jobs JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/ SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

In Episode 65, The Occupational Philosophers chat with Dr Jason Fox a wizard-philosopher masquerading as a leadership advisor. His clients include the senior leadership teams of Fortune 500 companies around the world including Microsoft, Toyota, Honda, Sony, Salesforce,  KPMG,  The International Institute of Research (not to mention: financial institutions, universities, telcos, government agencies, insurers, software developers, associations, intergovernmental forums, and so on). He has lectured at three universities (systems and behaviour), and is the bestselling author of ‘The Game Changer' and ‘How to Lead a Quest' and his Museletter is read by more than 11,000 folk around the world. In addition to serving as a leadership adviser, Dr Fox is also a globally in-demand keynote speaker who works particularly well with sceptical audiences who have ‘seen it all before', and in 2016 he was awarded Keynote Speaker of the Year. He lives with an illustrator-veterinarian and a cat called ‘π' in an old chocolate factory in Melbourne, Australia. When not liberating the world from the delusion of progress, He enjoys partaking in extreme sports such as reading, sun avoidance and coffee snobbery. In this episode, they explore: How teams and organisations can make meaningful progress and not suffer under the ‘delusion of progress'  What is ‘anti-fragile brooding' and how doubt is key to progress When is a good time to give audiences a good ‘intellectual spanking'? What does curiosity look like? The value of just being together as a team and allowing the ‘fireside chats' to emerge at the end of the day Why finding your own ‘Suicide Squad' is the key to fellowship and creativity As ever they throw in a few ‘Thought Experiments', this time they have: Philosophy or Foolosophy? Listeners questions  Learn more about Jason  https://www.foxwizard.com/   References https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/play-your-way-sane/202303/7-research-backed-benefits-of-improv-comedy?utm_source=pocket_saves https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2023/may/03/italian-historian-claims-to-have-identified-bridge-in-mona-lisa-backdrop https://www.amazon.co.uk/Finite-Infinite-Games-James-Carse/dp/1476731713

In this short sharp in-betweener episode, the Occupational Philosophers explore the habits of creative door kickers and kick-arse inventors and ponder, "What can we learn from these curious cats?" As it happens, we can learn a hell of a lot such as:  How to find your flow and what works for you Why it's worth packing a pair of swimming trunks if you want a great idea  How Churchill won the war despite not getting out of bed until 11 am  Why having a micro creative habit in your office may be the best productivity hack since micro dosing....(not that we have tried that, just sayin...) They hope you enjoy the show!    FYI: The Inbetweeners episodes are just that - smaller episodes 'in between' the longer format episodes designed to give a little kickstart to enable you to be the most curious, creative and imaginative cat you can be - and have some fun in the process.   Say Hello www.occupationalphilosophers.com Their day jobs JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/ SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

Jemma Enright is a strategic and creative innovator who has an entrepreneurial spirit bigger than Mt Everest.  She takes opportunities from little beans to full Jack and the Beanstalk scenario but with a much friendlier ending with no real Giants dying in the process. She is strongly connected to the startup and innovation community, as well as the media and advertising community. She plays an active role in mentoring startups and future innovators as well as being a strong advocate for women and diversity in innovation. She has been an angel investor and has been both an intrapreneur, driving change in large companies, and an entrepreneur, taking an exciting new startup in the personal finance space, MoneyBrilliant, from idea to an exit in the role of CEO and Cofounder.  She is a real-world, kick-ass, start-up Mega star and one awesome person to boot!  In this episode, the Occupational Philosophers explore:  What surprised her most about launching and selling a business?  The make-up of a perfect team to launch, scale and then sell a business The how/when/where of looking for funding for your idea  The one key thing to nail on your start-up journey What is customer centricity and importantly, how do we become more customer-centric? What do potential entrepreneurs need to consider before doing the work of launching a startup?  Why you need to be careful with the term entrepreneur porn  As always, there are some great thought experiments including “start up or wind up?”  The Occupational Philosophers hope you enjoy the show as much as they enjoyed making it! Learn more about Jemma  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jemmaenright/   Say hello to the Occupational Philosophers  www.occupationalphilosophers.com Their day jobs JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/ SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg  

In this short, sharp Inbetweener episode, The Occupational Philosophers explore ‘Generic Parts Technique' or GPT. (Not to be confused with chat GPT)  It's quite hard to explain in words so we think it's best to just listen really….   FYI: The Inbetweeners episodes are just that - smaller episodes 'in between' the longer format episodes designed to give a little kickstart to enable you to be the most curious, creative and imaginative cat you can be - and have some fun in the process.   Say Hello www.occupationalphilosophers.com   Their day jobs JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/ SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

In this short, sharp Inbetweener episode, The Occupational Philosophers, inspired by the banning of hip-hop at Sydney's Royal Easter Show, turn their attention to wicked problems. In this episode, they explore:  How do you solve a challenge with multiple truths?  What's the secret sauce when every problem is different?  How can you flourish in a FUCA world....(not VUCA...!)? The importance of reframing challenges  Why curiosity, empathy and Hip Hop belong together  Why saying "It's banned" may not be the best approach.... We hope you enjoy the show AND as The Occupational Philosophers always say: stay curious, make stuff, play more, have fun and date life... FYI: The Inbetweeners episodes are just that - smaller episodes 'in between' the longer format episodes designed to give a little kickstart to enable you to be the most curious, creative and imaginative cat you can be - and have some fun in the process.   Say Hello www.occupationalphilosophers.com Their day jobs JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/ SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

In Episode 60, The Occupational Philosophers chat with Julian Baggini, a philosopher, journalist and the author of over 20 books about philosophy. He is a co-founder of The Philosophers' Magazine and has written for numerous international newspapers and magazines. In addition to writing on the subject of philosophy, he has also written books on atheism, secularism and the nature of national identity. In 2012 he was commissioned by the National Trust to be the philosopher-in-residence for the White Cliffs of Dover where he was required to reflect on the chalk cliffs and their significance to the national identity. His books include  How The World Thinks: A Global History Of Philosophy Freedom Regained: The Possibility of Free Will  Should You Judge This Book by Its Cover?  The Duck That Won the Lottery: And 99 Other Bad Arguments  The Pig that Wants to be Eaten and 99 other thought experiments  What's It All about? Philosophy and the Meaning of life  And his most recently published book - ‘How to think like a philosopher' In this episode, they explore: The 12 practices, habits and attitudes to help us think like a philosopher Why paying attention is the key to sound thinking Why ‘faffing' isn't a waste of time How to put some ‘speed bumps' in your organisation so you arrive at better solutions Whether curiosity killed the cat? Well, yes, and no… Is creativity an attempt to become immortal?  How listening to David Gilmour of Pink Floyd might explain the meaning of life Why Croissants and Coffee are the secrets to a happy life And if an eyebrow is transplanted to above the top lip, is it still an eyebrow? Learn more about Julian https://www.julianbaggini.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbaggini/ References https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Think-Like-Philosopher-Principles/dp/1783788518

What would you do if every time you sent an email, a bag of coal would turn up next to your desk? Would it change how you think about emails?  Would you send a few fewer emails to play your role in not crapping on the planet?  Would an ever-expanding collection of coal in your office make you think about how much energy you use? Is it time to do a personal energy audit over where and how you spend your energy - emotional/mental/physical?  Is it time to do an energy audit with your team?  Where are we most wasting our energy?  Where do we need more energy?  What outdated practices consume too much energy - literally and physically?  Join the Occupational Philosophers to discuss how we may reimagine how our behaviours and actions can both consume and create energy. It's maybe not the usual discussion but a fantastic topic to get curious about... FYI: The Inbetweeners episodes are just that - smaller episodes 'in between' the longer format episodes designed to give a little kickstart to enable you to be the most curious, creative and imaginative cat you can be - and have some fun in the process. Say Hello www.occupationalphilosophers.com Their day jobs JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/ SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg  

In this short, sharp Inbetweener episode, The Occupational Philosophers, turn their attention to meditations, or well-known philosophical quotations which may offer some insights into how we work, play and collaborate together. In this episode,  they explore: The quotation attributed to Confucius, “If you are the smartest person in the room, you are in the wrong room' How ensuring you have diversity of thought in your ‘room' is key to problem-solving and creative thinking Why changing the word ‘room' to ‘meeting' may offer a very practical way to challenge yourself before any group discussion And why ‘smart' doesn't just mean IQ FYI: The Inbetweeners episodes are just that - smaller episodes 'in between' the longer format episodes designed to give a little kickstart to enable you to be the most curious, creative and imaginative cat you can be - and have some fun in the process.   Say Hello www.occupationalphilosophers.com Their day jobs JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/ SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

In this episode, the Occupational Philosophers (having looked down at their calendar and realised that it's the end of February) thought it may be a good time to revisit what everyone was talking about 8 weeks ago - New Year's Resolutions.  As absolute non-experts in achieving goals and being productive, they thought it may be worthwhile to throw the idea of New Year's Resolutions up in the air and look at it from all angles (not just the sciency type stuff)   We hope you enjoy the show AND we hope you join us for another year of a not-so-serious business podcast. And as The Occupational Philosophers always say: stay curious, make stuff, play more, have fun and date life. FYI: The Inbetweeners episodes are just that - smaller episodes 'in between' the longer format episodes designed to give a little kickstart to enable you to be the most curious, creative and imaginative cat you can be - and have some fun in the process. Say Hello www.occupationalphilosophers.com Their day jobs JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/ SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

In Episode 56, The Occupational Philosophers chat with Dr Samuel West, a licensed psychologist with a PhD in Organisational Psychology. He has explored the psychology of happiness, in particular happiness related to work. He has taught courses on positive psychology, creativity, and organizational science, and in his PhD, in organizational psychology, he focused on how workplace playfulness boosts innovation.  More recently, he is the founder and creator of the Museum of Failure, which is a collection of failed products and services from around the world, with every item providing a unique insight into the risky business of innovation. He has become the leading expert in helping teams and organizations understand the role of failure in innovation and progress, improve the acceptance of failure, and appreciate the benefits of psychological safety. He is a global keynote speaker and seeks to educate and inspire with the fascinating stories of the artefacts at the Museum of Failure. In this episode, they explore: Why leaders need to listen more to those around them How organisations can flip their view on failure and embrace it What we can do as individuals to be more creative in our own work The critical importance of having psychological safety in your team and how to create it How fostering a playful environment can kick start innovation What's the best way to rebrand the side effect of Diarrhea on your product? As always, there are some original thought experiments with this episode featuring: Hit or Miss? Learn more about Samuel https://samuelwest.org/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuelwest/ https://museumoffailure.com/ References https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/news/2023/01/is-toadzilla-a-sign-of-enormous-cane-toads-to-come/ https://petkeen.com/do-goldfish-grow-to-the-size-of-their-tank/ https://www.greenmatters.com/news/japan-birth-rate-decline https://www.liveabout.com/what-is-oud-oudh-346101   About the show The Occupational Philosophers hope you enjoy the show (they really enjoyed making this episode of their not-so-serious business podcast.) And as The Occupational Philosophers always say: stay curious, make stuff, play more, have fun, and date life. Say Hello to the OP's www.occupationalphilosophers.com Their day jobs JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/ SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg