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

JOHN Bowland Consulting
SIMON www.simonbanks.com.au
SIMON SHOWREEL

Their day jobs

Ep.111: Why fun and play are the gateway to curiosity and creativity, with guest, Cristy Burne.

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 11:07:46 +1000

Episode 111 Cristy Burne: Scientist, Author, Creator, Storyteller Author, science communicator and adventure-loving human Cristy Burne joins The Occupational Philosophers to explore creativity, play, curiosity and the joy of living boldly.

In this episode, John and Simon chat with award-winning author and science communicator Cristy Burne. With 23 books under her belt, a stint at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider, and a mission to ignite curiosity in kids and adults alike, Cristy brings her signature mix of energy, humour and insight. The conversation goes everywhere from how to spark creativity in everyday life, to why we all need to play more and embrace the chaos of being human. Also, there’s a leech-in-your-eyeball story. Of course there is.

In this episode, they chat about

Why fun and play are the gateway drugs to creativity and curiosity
The role of adults in showing kids that growing up can be joyful
How to find creativity in the corners and gaps of your day
Why perfection is the enemy of progress (especially when dancing)
How to reframe drudgery by reconnecting with your higher purpose
Giving yourself permission to try, fail, and keep going
The Large Padron Collider, Bonbon Collider and other very real science experiments
Why Cristy recommends you don’t visit crustybum.com

Along the way, they cover Bluey, book week, Barack Obama’s suits, marshmallow metaphors, AI bosses, and the very underrated joy of sitting in dirt.

About Cristy Burne

Cristy is a science writer, presenter, former patent translator and a STEM ambassador who has worked with astronauts, Nobel Prize winners and yes, a surprising number of chefs. She’s passionate about science communication, joy, adventure, and bringing stories to life. Her work includes everything from graphic novels to science thrillers, and she recently launched a creative stage show with Trudy Boatwright for World Expo in Japan.

Find Cristy Burne at
cristyburne.com
Cristy on Goodreads
Cristy on Instagram

Mentions and references

Say Hello

JOHN Bowland Consulting
SIMON www.simonbanks.com.au
SIMON SHOWREEL

Their day jobs

Ep 110: How to Turn Any Stupid Thing Into a LinkedIn Business Lesson

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 21:08:33 +1000

Have you noticed everyone on LinkedIn now turns the most mundane crap into a business lesson? Stubbed toe...that's leadership. Wrinkly socks...team dynamics. Toothbrush running flat...how do you lead a team? So Simon and John built a template. Now you can too.

The formula is this simple:

Something happens…
Which made me think…
Here's the thing...(insight)
Question?
Join my webinar (optional but very thought leadership vibes)

That's it. That's the whole LinkedIn thought leadership industry. Once you see it, you can't unsee it.

In this episode, they test the template on:

A squirted orange (lesson: risk is everywhere)
An overcooked egg (lesson: stop overworking)
A three-legged rescue dog called Peggy (lesson: conversation starters at work, "where's your Peggy?")
A toilet that won't flush (lesson: dealing with disappointment)
A surprise kitten a child said they'd pay for (lesson: colleagues who over-promise and never deliver)
A stubbed toe, a butterfly, and several other things that should not be business lessons but absolutely are now

LinkedIn already gave the world the humble brag. The life lessons are next-level LinkedIn.

Warning: strong irony, sharp humour, and a deep affection for the absurdity of business content. If you've ever posted "what my morning coffee taught me about strategy," this one's for you. And about you.

One of John and Simon's favourite no-guest episodes. Send it to the worst LinkedIn poster you know.

As always, stay curious, make stuff, have fun, play more, and date life.

Say Hello

www.occupationalphilosophers.com

Substack

https://occupationalphilosophers.substack.com/

Their day jobs (get in touch!)

JOHN Bowland Consulting
SIMON www.simonbanks.com.au
SIMON SHOWREEL

Episode 109: What Benjamin Franklin can teach us about curiosity, creativity, imagination and play,with Eric Weiner, New York Times bestselling author & travel Philosopher

Fri, 04 Jul 2025 19:53:20 +1000

In Episode 109, The Occupational Philosophers chat with Eric Weiner, an award-winning journalist, a New York Times bestselling author, and much sought-after keynote speaker on a variety of topics, including happiness, innovation strategies and the "power of place." He regularly leads writing workshops around the world.

He is a former foreign correspondent for NPR and reporter for The New York Times. He's reported from more than 30 nations, from Iraq to Indonesia, covering some of the major international events of recent times. He is the recipient of several journalism awards, including the Angel Award for coverage of Islamic affairs in Asia.

His work has appeared in The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Atlantic, National Geographic, AFAR, among other publications.

And his books include The Geography of Bliss, The Geography of Genius, Man Seeks God and The Socrates Express. His latest book, Ben & Me, has recently been published this year.

In this episode, they explore:

What colour is Tuesday?
The philosophy of place
How many bags Eric has….and whether he has a collection or an obsession
Narrative truth vs factual truth
Moving between being a journalist and being a writer
How creative genius springs from place and environment
Why openness to experience is at the root of creativity
What Benjamin Franklin can teach us about curiosity, creativity, imagination and play
How rituals can help focus your creative energy
Creating a ‘sandbox’ to experiment in
The meaning of life….purpose and gritty bits…

And as ever, enjoy the Thought Experiment …this time it’s:

Your place or mind?

Learn more about Eric

http://www.ericweinerbooks.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-weiner-17aa8639/

References

https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibition/michelangelo-leonardo-raphael

https://www.independentthinking.co.uk/speakers/ian-gilbert/

https://europa.nasa.gov/mission/about/

https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/133768-one-s-destination-is-never-a-place-but-a-new-way

https://www.carryology.com/

https://freedom.to/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomodoro_Technique

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yi-Fu_Tuan

https://www.celticglory.com/thin-place

Episode 108 Inbetweener - Rick Rubin and the Creative Act

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 15:21:30 +1000

Ep.108 Rick Rubin and the Creative Act

John and Simon explore the creative wisdom of music producer Rick Rubin and what it means to bring creativity into everyday work and life

What does it really mean to be creative? In this Inbetweener episode, The Occupational Philosophers explore the insights of legendary music producer Rick Rubin, whose work spans from the Beastie Boys to Adele. Drawing on his book The Creative Act: A Way of Being, John and Simon unpack practical ways anyone can bring more creativity, curiosity and openness into their life and work.

In this episode, Simon and John chat about

Why creativity is not a job title or output, but a way of being
The artist as a vessel, and how great ideas often come from creating the space for them to arrive
Detaching from outcomes and letting the creative process unfold
Why constraints and rituals are powerful tools to spark creativity
Why originality is overrated. Everything is a remix
Sensitivity as a superpower. How tuning in helps you see what others miss

Along the way, they cover Sistine Chapel replicas, rugby league fandom, urban sketching, and how sensitivity and curiosity are deeply linked.

Links and references

Say Hello

JOHN Bowland Consulting
SIMON www.simonbanks.com.au
SIMON SHOWREEL

Their day jobs

Ep.107: Design thinking and the entrepreneurial mindset, with guest, Dr Jochen Schweitzer

Tue, 13 May 2025 18:28:06 +1000

In episode 107, The Occupational Philosophers chat with the highly curious Dr Jochen Schweitzer, a strategy, innovation, and entrepreneurship researcher and education leader at UTS, Director of the 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

Ep.106: Hello 2025 - Curious Questions for Curious Dinner Parties - and other fun events

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 18:12:16 +1000

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

Ep.105 - Happy (late) New Year, Christmas Vibes and what caught our curious eye in 24

Sun, 05 Jan 2025 19:58:59 +1000

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

Ep.103: Why curiosity is at the heart of great design, with Rozhia Tabnak.

Sat, 07 Dec 2024 07:09:46 +1000

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.

https://www.brockbastian.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

Ep. 102 - Inbetweener - We are 100 and something!

Wed, 06 Nov 2024 19:20:42 +1000

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.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

Ep.101: How serendipity can open up opportunity, with guest, Toby Wilkin

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 20:10:00 +1000

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

https://www.linkedin.com/in/julietrell/

SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

Ep. 100 - Using play to help teams and organisations supercharge their creativity, with guest, Julie Trell.

Thu, 17 Oct 2024 05:05:09 +1000

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://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 SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

Ep.99 - Play at Work Has Gone Too Far. Time for a National Serious Day?

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 11:15:19 +1000

Everyone's banging on about play at work. But what about the forgotten people? The ones who haven't smiled since 1985, who stare blankly at walls, who genuinely love a spreadsheet. Where's their day?

In this Inbetweener, John and Simon make the case for a National Serious Day. An antidote to all the frivolity. A corporate liver cleanse to flush out the fun. A chance to finally celebrate the colleagues who have absolutely no personality, hobbies, or sense of humour, and have been quietly enduring forced smiles for decades.

Proposed activities include:

Mandatory silence for the first three hours of the day, with pay docked for any facial expression
A meeting about meetings, with no outcomes, bring your own sandwich
A team-building event where everyone reads the HR handbook out loud, line by line, footnotes included
The ISO 9001 Quality Manual, optional second reading
No jammy dodgers. None.

Halfway through, John realises he actually quite likes the sound of this.

The studies, allegedly, back it up.

A Romanian corporation has introduced No Laughter Mondays and it's now the most attended day of the week. One middle manager reports staring at her apartment wall, thinking about spreadsheets while her colleagues are out golfing, and she's never felt more efficient. Couples who switched to serious-chat-only marriages are going to bed at 9 pm and have never been happier. Children, fed in silence with no bedtime stories, are thriving.

It's basically modern stoicism. Seneca would approve.

The Occupational Philosophers think this idea has legs. Listeners are invited to nominate a date, suggest other national days, and join the movement. Just don't enjoy it.

Stop playing, don't make stuff, stop having fun for goodness sake. Come back inside, open some spreadsheets, and knuckle down some serious work.

Say Hello

Substack

https://occupationalphilosophers.substack.com/

Is your company innovative? Take the Scorecard for an instant report

https://www.liberatingstructures.com/

Their day jobs

JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/
SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au
SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

Ep.98 - Inbetweener - How might one think like a Philosopher (at work) ?

Fri, 20 Sep 2024 14:31:16 +1000

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.

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

Ep.97 - Inbetweener - Is your thinking a little bland? Time to liberate structures

Thu, 22 Aug 2024 18:50:21 +1000

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)

References:

https://www.barbaradoran.org/

Say 'Hello'...

Their day jobs

JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com
SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au
SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

Get in touch

Ep.96 - Using Improv to improve your leadership and creativity, with Neil Mullarkey, Author of 'In the Moment'

Fri, 16 Aug 2024 19:01:19 +1000

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

Ep.95 - Inbetweener - If everything is so ambiguous, why is ambiguity avoided?

Mon, 29 Jul 2024 21:15:10 +1000

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'...

Their day jobs

JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com
SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au
SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

Get in touch

https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidcropley

Ep. 94 - Three things you need to provide teams to unleash their creativity, with guest, Dr. David Cropley.

Fri, 12 Jul 2024 19:24:39 +1000

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://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 SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

Ep.93 Inbetweeners - I smell coffee when I see blue. What's happening?

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 22:42:54 +1000

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'...

Their day jobs

JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com
SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au
SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

Get in touch

Ep.92 - What organisations can do to foster a culture of curiosity, with guest, Dr Diane Hamilton, Author of Cracking the Curiosity Code

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 20:25:50 +1000

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

References and show notes

Say Hello to the Occupational Philosophers

www.occupationalphilosophers.com

Their day jobs:

SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

Ep.91 Leadership through storytelling and connection, with guest, Dr Anthony Simcoe, polymath and Farscape legend!

Thu, 06 Jun 2024 21:00:24 +1000

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 in 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

References

Say Hello to the Occupational Philosophers

www.occupationalphilosophers.com

Their day jobs:

SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

Ep. 90 - Inbetweener - Humility v Hubris v Brumble

Tue, 14 May 2024 05:45:02 +1000

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!

Say 'Hello'...

Their day jobs

JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/
SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au
SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

Get in touch

Ep. 89 Inbetweeners: Are we living in a VUCA, TUNA or a TURD environment?

Mon, 06 May 2024 15:57:54 +1000

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!

Say Hello

Their day jobs

JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/
SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au
SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

Get in touch

https://www.linkedin.com/in/friska/

Ep.88: The future fit organisation, with guest, Friska Wirya, Author and TEDx speaker.

Tue, 23 Apr 2024 10:37:40 +1000

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.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

Ep.87 - Reboot Guest episode with Dr Brock Bastian

Fri, 15 Mar 2024 15:42:20 +1000

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

https://dreamachine.world

Their day jobs:

JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/

SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au

SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

Ep 86: Reboot guest episode with Comedian Tamara Campbell (AKA Kiki Bittovabitsch!)

Fri, 01 Mar 2024 17:31:10 +1000

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

Ep.84 - Reboot guest episode with Dr Peter Lovatt (AKA Dr Dance!)

Sun, 11 Feb 2024 19:24:29 +1000

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

Ep. 83 - In the wild with Dr Barbara Doran

Wed, 31 Jan 2024 21:11:48 +1000

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?

Say Hello:

www.occupationalphilosophers.com

Their day jobs:

JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/

SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au

SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

Ep. 82: Creative thinking, creative problem solving and staying open to novelty, with guest, Dr Cyndi Burnett.

Sat, 30 Dec 2023 08:56:28 +1000

In Episode 82, The Occupational Philosophers chat with the amazing Dr Cyndi Burnett - Author, Academic and Creative 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 her 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

Podcast https://fuelingcreativity.podbean.com/

Company h ttps://creativityandeducation.com/

References:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halo_effect

Say Hello to The Occupational Philosophers

https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuelwest/

Their day jobs

JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/
SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au
SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

Ep. 81 In the Wild with Dr.Samuel West at the Global Innovation Forum, London

Thu, 07 Dec 2023 21:56:24 +1000

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/

References

https://giflondon.com/

https://www.generalmagicthemovie.com/

Say Hello:

Their day jobs:

JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com

https://www.philosophy-foundation.org/

SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

Ep.80 - Inbetweeners - So, just checking, what is Philosophy (and why do I need some?)

Thu, 16 Nov 2023 19:22:38 +1000

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’...

References:

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

Ep 79 - Inbetweeners: Introducing The Parkers - A Radio Drama

Mon, 06 Nov 2023 06:17:59 +1000

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!

Say Hello

www.occupationalphilosophers.com

Their day jobs

JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/
SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au

Ep.78 - Inbetweeners: High or low curiosity? What’s an NFC? Say what?

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 21:12:52 +1000

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!

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

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mottamarco01/

Their day jobs

JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/
SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au
SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

Ep 77 Getting creative with data visualisation, with guest, Dr Marco Motta.

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 19:34:25 +1000

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.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

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/creativity-you/201704/can-paying-attention-dreams-increase-creativity

Their day jobs

JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/
SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au
SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

Ep.76 - Inbetweeners - How the light gets in

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 17:53:45 +1000

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?

Say Hello

www.occupationalphilosophers.com

Their day jobs

JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/
SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au

Ep. 75: Why does great design matter, with guest, Chi Ryan.

Thu, 05 Oct 2023 21:58:52 +1000

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

Ep.74 - Inbetweeners - Sweet dreams are made of this

Thu, 21 Sep 2023 18:48:17 +1000

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?

Show Notes

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

The Serendipity Mindset: The art and science of good luck

Their day jobs:

JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/

SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au

SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

Ep.73 - What happens in the brain when we are creative, with Professor Sophie Scott, Neuroscientist.

Wed, 13 Sep 2023 22:02:37 +1000

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

References

Ep.72 - Is it just Dumb Luck? (or how to cultivate moments of Serendipity)

Thu, 17 Aug 2023 19:35:44 +1000

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:

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

https://louisemahler.com.au/

Their day jobs

JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/
SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au
SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

Ep.71: The art of public speaking and gravitas, with guest, Dr Louise Mahler.

Wed, 02 Aug 2023 22:07:13 +1000

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

Say Hello

Their day jobs

JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/
SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au
SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

Take the Innovation Scorecard!

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

Ep 70. Inbetweeners - It’s time to end shit PowerPoint Presentations! Please!!

Thu, 20 Jul 2023 08:55:55 +1000

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.

Take the Innovation Scorecard!

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

Ep.69 - Inbetweeners: If your job add is looking for a workplace Ninja, do they need throwing stars?

Mon, 03 Jul 2023 21:42:29 +1000

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.

Take the Innovation Scorecard!

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

https://www.uppingyourelvis.com/

Their day jobs

JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/
SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au
SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg
Innovation Scorecard https://empoweri nginnovation.scoreapp.com/

Ep. 68 Why experimentation is the key to success of any organisation, with Chris Barez Brown, founder of Upping Your Elvis.

Tue, 27 Jun 2023 18:24:55 +1000

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 work
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.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

Ep. 67 - Inbetweeners: Bias, filters, perceptions - how are yours?

Mon, 19 Jun 2023 21:48:07 +1000

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!

Say Hello

www.occupationalphilosophers.com

Their day jobs

JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/
SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au
SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

Ep.66 - Inbetweeners: Blue Poles, Time Travel, Long Socks for Business and Outrage

Thu, 08 Jun 2023 18:31:30 +1000

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!

Say Hello

www.occupationalphilosophers.com

Their day jobs

JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/
SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au
SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

Ep.65: How teams and organisations can make meaningful progress, with Dr Jason Fox, Wizard Philosopher.

Tue, 30 May 2023 22:38:11 +1000

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

Ep.64: Inbetweeners - Dirty Habits of creative, interesting, innovative people....

Wed, 17 May 2023 16:53:12 +1000

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!

Say Hello

www.occupationalphilosophers.com

Their day jobs

JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/
SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au
SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

Ep. 63: What entrepreneurs can miss when launching a start-up, with guest, Jemma Enright

Wed, 10 May 2023 21:34:00 +1000

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

Ep.62 - Inbetweeners: When is a pen not a pen? (and other GPT questions)

Wed, 26 Apr 2023 18:53:07 +1000

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….

Say Hello

www.occupationalphilosophers.com

Their day jobs

JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/
SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au
SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

Ep.61 - Inbetweeners: How to tackle wicked problems (and other HIP HOP related challenges)

Tue, 18 Apr 2023 17:26:19 +1000

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...

Say Hello

www.occupationalphilosophers.com

Their day jobs

JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/
SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au
SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

Ep. 60: How to think like a philosopher, with guest, Julian Baggini.

Thu, 06 Apr 2023 09:29:13 +1000

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

References

Ep.59 - Inbetweeners: How much coal does it take to send an email?

Thu, 23 Mar 2023 13:07:01 +1000

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...

Say Hello

www.occupationalphilosophers.com

Their day jobs

JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/
SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au
SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

Ep.58: Inbetweeners - If you are the smartest person in the room, you are in the wrong room

Thu, 16 Mar 2023 20:48:26 +1000

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

Say Hello

www.occupationalphilosophers.com

Their day jobs

JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/
SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au
SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

Ep.57 - Inbetweeners - The Elephant in the room

Mon, 06 Mar 2023 10:08:49 +1000

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.

Say Hello

www.occupationalphilosophers.com

Their day jobs

JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/
SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au
SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

Ep.56: How to embrace failure and create psychological safety in teams, with Dr Samuel West, curator of the Museum of Failure.

Tue, 21 Feb 2023 19:00:53 +1000

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

References

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

Their day jobs

SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

Ep.55: Why we need to get curious not furious in our conversations, with Kathy Taberner and Kirsten Siggins from The Institute of Curiosity

Thu, 02 Feb 2023 15:18:54 +1000

In Episode 55, The Occupational Philosophers again chat with another ‘delight’ of guests, Kathy Taberner and Kirsten Siggins

Mmmm, sounds interesting. Tell me more….

Kathy and Kirsten are the Mother/Daughter Founders of the Institute Of Curiosity and with a name like that, we just had to have them on the show!!

And a little more information about them both:

Kathy Taberner: Coach, Author, Speaker, MA, CEC, PCC. Kathy enjoys hiking, skiing, kayaking, and sharing delicious food and wine with family and friends.
Kirsten Siggins: Coach, Author, TEDx Speaker, BA, CEC. Kirsten is a curiosity nerd, wannabe chef, and adventurer who loves a full table and all things design.

Both are the co-authors of “The Power of Curiosity” - How To Have Real Conversations That Create Collaboration, Innovation and Understanding'

(Yes, they are as nice as they sound!)

In this episode, they explore:

Why curiosity should be at the heart of all conversations
When a professional’s back is up against the wall, they hear their parent’s voice come out of their mouth.
Why we need to get curious and not furious
Three essential curiosity skills to use in conversations
Why Gremlins can be our biggest obstacle to becoming more curious
How setting the intention to be curious can change everything
Why we need to be more curious and less furious
Why checking bathing costume fabric is so important

As always, there are some great thought experiments including Mother and Daughter Bingo with “Who said that?”

Links

Say Hello to the OP's

Their day jobs

SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

Ep. 54: Well, that didn’t go so well.....Mea Culpa

Mon, 16 Jan 2023 06:49:48 +1000

Is this even an episode? In this 5-minute conversation, (with Simon recording from a cupboard in deep, dark Suffolk - so please excuse the audio), John and Simon talk about what can happen to best-laid plans.....when designing the twelve days of Xmas.

In the spirit of experimenting quickly, they then move on and go straight to what's exciting about 2023 - which is LOADS.

Say Hello

John and Simon's day jobs

JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/

SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au

SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

Ep.53 - The 12 days of Christmas: Day 1

Wed, 28 Dec 2022 07:44:24 +1000

In this short, sharp festive Inbetweener episode, John and Simon offer their first tasty morsel from the ‘12 Days of Christmas’, a reflection on some of the highlights from 2022, and something to savour in between Mince Pies, Sherry, and Karaoke with Uncle Kevin….

On this first day of Christmas, they explore:

The wisdom of Neil Mullarkey and insights from the world of improv
How ‘Yes, and’ enables you to build on the unexpected and make the best of what is given
Top tip for surviving the family Xmas using improv

FYI: The 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

Their day jobs

JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/

SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au

SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

Ep. 52 - Inbetweeners: Does your organisation have a Chief Philosophy Officer? They will soon...

Sun, 11 Dec 2022 20:41:16 +1000

In this short, sharp Inbetweener episode, John and Simon explore the rise in interest of companies wishing to employ Chief Philosophy Officers (CPOs) within their organisations, signalling the beginning of a true movement in keeping with the aims of The Occupational Philosophers!

Amongst other things, they explore:

What is the role of a Chief Philosophy Officer?
Why organisations are becoming more interested in hiring CPOs
How asking ‘curly’ questions is an activity anyone can undertake
How CPOs can make sure people wear the right clothes and eat socially acceptable lunches….

Say Hello

www.occupationalphilosophers.com

Their day jobs

JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/
SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au
SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

Ep.51 - Inbetweeners: Corporate sayings that really need to DIE...

Wed, 30 Nov 2022 20:19:53 +1000

In this Inbetweeners episode, the Occupational Philosophers explore the true meaning, origin story and get really curious about some of those hackneyed, over-used corporate sayings that really need to pass away and live in the after life.

Really, what does 'circle around' mean?
What is the origin and true meaning of low-hanging fruit? How low is low fruit before it's on the ground?
Who is measuring the right angle to pivot?
Can we really give 110% if the scale ends at 100%? Is there a level of maths we don't know about?
Were cavemen and cave women encouraged to think outside the cave?
Do we need to wear lead pants to protect our 100%?
When you say deep dive, do you mean with air or free diving?

Whilst this episode is a little loose, The Occupational Philosophers (as always) ask those really deep and meaningful questions that we should all ponder - in the corporate world and beyond.

They hope you enjoy the show...

The Occupational Philosophers promise you won't be overly disappointed - maybe a little but not too much....And as they 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 to the OP's

https://independentthinking.co.uk

Their day jobs

JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/

SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au

SIMON SHOWREEL: (please watch, he needs some hits on Youtube) https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

Ep.50: How to improve thinking and creativity in your team, with educationalist, Ian Gilbert.

Tue, 22 Nov 2022 19:34:38 +1000

In Episode 50, The Occupational Philosophers chat with Ian Gilbert, the founder of Independent Thinking, a unique and highly influential organisation in education across the UK. Independent Thinking seeks to move beyond teaching and learning, into motivation, creativity and leadership, social justice, neuroscience, inclusion, the environment and well-being.

He is a prolific author with many books including the ever-popular Thunks collection, and ‘Why Do I Need a Teacher When I’ve Got Google?’

He is committed to ongoing classroom work with children and young people, delivering keynotes and workshops at conferences around the world, and through his continuous work with teachers and leaders in schools, Ian has shown a whole generation of educators that there is always another way.

He sets the bar when it comes to speaking to teachers, children and school leaders about his vision for education and unless someone is complaining their brain hurts, he knows he hasn't got the message across yet.

In this episode, Ian and The Occupational Philosophers explore:

How we all need to capture those ‘sparks’ of creativity and imagination
Why the mainstream education system is fundamentally flawed
What education and learning might look like in 2052
The power of ‘Thunks’ and how they can help you think more deeply
How to harness the diversity of thought and creativity within your team
Why not thinking is the best way to improve your thinking
Can you solve a problem through the medium of mime?

As always, there are some original thought experiments with this episode featuring:

Whose question is it anyway?
Thunk Tank

Learn more about Ian

https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisiangilbert

The Little Book of Thunks

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Little-Book-Thunks-questions-Independent-ebook/dp/B005R25LKK

Why do I need a teacher when I have Google?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Why-Need-Teacher-When-Google/dp/0415468337

The Working Class

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Working-Class-Poverty-education-alternative/dp/178135278X

Toria Bono - Tiny Voices

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tiny-Voices-Talk-Engagement-Empowerment/dp/1781354111/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2S8EVO98VNIOD&keywords=tiny+voices&qid=1668164141&s=books&sprefix=%2Cstripbooks%2C389&sr=1-1

References

Say Hello to the OP's

Their day jobs

SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

Ep.49 - Inbetweeners: Beware of flying mammals...they are innovation killers

Wed, 09 Nov 2022 21:29:09 +1000

In this inbetweener episode, The Occupational Philosophers explore the problem of flying mammals that can exist in organisations, and how they can be one of the biggest innovation killers around (as well as getting stuck in your hair, making a screeching noise and leaving a big mess everywhere)

What the hell are they talking about? Well, you will just have to tune in.

The Occupational Philosophers promise you won't be overly disappointed - maybe a little but not too much....And as they 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.

Links

https://gfda.co/ (Good f#*king design advice - we love this site!)

Say Hello to the OP's

Their day jobs

JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/

SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au

SIMON SHOWREEL: (please watch, he needs some hits on Youtube) https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

Ep.48 - Using play to spark creativity and innovation, with Dr Barbara Doran and Rodger Watson, authors of 'Creative Reboot'.

Mon, 31 Oct 2022 16:34:06 +1000

In Episode 48, The Occupational Philosophers chat with a ‘delight’ of guests, Dr Barbara Doran and Rodger Watson.

Mmmm, sound interesting. Tell me more….

Barbara Doran (PhD) specialises in identifying creative opportunities that respond to complex challenges and putting them in action. She is an experienced speaker, mentor, educator, project innovator, and artist who directs her energies to building our collective capacities to improve how we live. She has worked with some of Australia’s leading practitioners and award-winning productions, including Jungle Boys, Australia’s largest TV commercials production company; Mythbusters in San Francisco; and alongside key filmmaking professionals whose credits include The Matrix, Moulin Rouge, and Gatsby.

Rodger Watson is an innovator for public good and has worked as a public servant, a strategic human-centred design consultant, bartender, pizza deliverer, emu farmhand, and the leader of an academic research centre. He is now Course Director of the Master of Creative Intelligence and Strategic Innovation at the UTS Faculty of Transdisciplinary Innovation and is about to complete a Doctorate in Transdisciplinary Innovation and Philosophy.

In this episode they explore:

How we need to get out of analysis paralysis - in life and organisations
Why reframing the way we look at things can bring new solutions
Why we are all creatively intelligent
How innovation needs to start with a playful space and why we need to globally embrace play
How the opposite of play is depression
Design Abduction - different ways of thinking - put aside the ‘what’ and the ‘how’
Why their new book is just such an amazing read
Building on the above, they dive into why we all need to embrace more:
- Creativity/Play and Flow
- Probing and Blitzing
- Visualising
- Conversations
- Scaling
- Stories

As always, there are some great thought experiments including:

Guess the school report (yes, the name needs some work)
Something’s afoot Moriarty!

Links:

Creative Catalyzer course https://open.uts.edu.au/uts-open/study-area/communication--media/critical--creative-thinking/creative-intelligence-catalyser/
Book - Creative Reboot https://open.uts.edu.au/uts-open/study-area/communication--media/critical--creative-thinking/creative-intelligence-catalyser/
Transdisciplianary course uts.edu.au/about/td-school
Rodger's Dads band - The Easybeats https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Easybeats

About our guests

Rodger Watson

Dr. Barbara Doran

Say Hello to the OP's

Their day jobs

SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

Ep.47: Inbetweeners - Is it time to do a fluffing manifesto?

Tue, 18 Oct 2022 06:00:00 +1000

Do you sometimes get out of bed and wonder why you do what you do?

Maybe you're wondering about your 'why' or 'purpose'?

Are you so passionate about what you do that maybe a simple 'why' statement is just not enough?

Well most likely then, it's time to write your Manifesto!!

What's a manifesto?

According to Wikpedia, a manifesto is "A published declaration of the intentions, motives, or views of the issuer, be it an individual, group.....A manifesto is often political, social or artistic in nature, sometimes revolutionary, but may present an individual's life stance."

In this episode, John and Simon read out a manifesto that fluffing fires them up from https://gfda.co/ and they explore why we should all get a little more passionate about what we do, why we do it, and why it matters

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.

Links

https://gfda.co/ (Good f#*king design advice - we love this site!)

Say Hello to the OP's

https://fortune.com/2022/09/15/patagonia-ceo-says-founder-views-billionaires-as-policy-failure/

Their day jobs

JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/

SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au

SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

Ep. 46: Using comedy to fuel curiosity, creativity & imagination, with humour & leadership expert, Dr Vanessa Marcie.

Wed, 12 Oct 2022 06:00:00 +1000

In Episode 41, The Occupational Philosophers chat with Dr Vanessa Marcié, an expert on Humour and Leadership, who is the founder and CEO of Leading With Humour, an innovative consulting firm that helps executives to harness the power of humour in their change management strategies. She is a two times TEDx speaker and guest speaker at several top business schools and universities: Cambridge Judge Business School, HEC Paris, London Business School, Oxford University, and Toulouse Business School

Her research work on Humour and Leadership has been published in The Financial Times, The European Business Review, La Tribune and Harvard Business Review France and Elle Magazine.

She is also a stand-up comedian who has created two comedy clubs, one in London and one in Cannes, scenes on which she regularly performs. Her main message: If you want to accelerate your business or career success, you need to understand the art and science of humour in leadership.

In this episode, they explore:

Why humour is a serious business
How learning the art of standup can radically improve your ability to present to an audience
The link between comedy, curiosity, creativity and imagination
Tips for staying creative and curious, whatever your work
Why Vanessa’s headstone will need to be 12 feet tall

As always, there are some original thought experiments and this time they have:

Learn more about Vanessa

References

Ep. 45: Inbetweeners - What Neolithic men & women did when they weren’t catching Mammoths

Tue, 27 Sep 2022 21:47:56 +1000

In this short, sharp Inbetweener episode, John reflects more on his recent trip to the far-flung reaches of the UK, including Shetland and Orkney Islands.

Here he discovered evidence of creativity, imagination, and play amongst the well-preserved Neolithic remains of family life some 5,000 years ago.

Amongst other things, the Occupational Philosophers explore:

What did Neolithic men and women do when they weren’t catching Mammoths?
What can Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs tell us about our innate desire to create?
How we should still find time to innovate, stay curious and creative despite adverse conditions

Say Hello

Their day jobs

SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

Ep.44 - Inbetweeners: Works in Progress

Thu, 15 Sep 2022 06:00:00 +1000

In this short, sharp Inbetweener episode, John reflects more on his recent Edinburgh Fringe Festival experience where he saw many performers showcasing a ‘Work in Progress’... something not quite finished, something which needs feedback, and where the expectation from the audience is different than if they were performing a completed set or show.

Amongst other things, they explore:

How does a ‘Work in progress’ show differ from a finished show?
How might you bring the ‘Work in progress’ idea into your organisation?
What are the advantages of a ‘Work in progress’ when it comes to innovation and creative thinking?
When will Chris & Rosie Ramsay appear as guests on this podcast?

Say Hello

www.occupationalphilosophers.com

Their day jobs

JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/

SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au

SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

Ep. 43: Vincent Van Gogh walks into a bar.....

Wed, 07 Sep 2022 06:00:00 +1000

In episode 43, The Occupational Philosophers explore the life, times, and creative inspiration one of the most enigmatic, admired, and misunderstood artists of all time (possibly but not backed up with quantitative evidence), Vincent Van Gogh.

Mr Van Gogh is maybe the originator of two false myths about art and artists:

Artists don't get famous until you die
All artists are a bit mad

In a repeated theme throughout time (by all early adopters), Vincent was a true disruptor and was so far ahead of his time that his work was derided by almost everyone at the time. His empathetic nature enabled him to see the diversity that existed all around him and he was able to bring that to life in his art.

What's not known to most was that it was an entrepreneurial single mother that showed the world what a wonder he was.

There are some great insights into what we can learn about change, breaking rules and why if you are in change management, why Vincent Van Gogh should be your poster child.

Once and for all, they try to settle how to say his last name!

As usual, there are some great thought experiments such as:

Can a squirrel truly be happy?
Do AI and good manners mix?

The Occupational Philosophers hope you enjoy the show! (and tell your friends)

What's the show about?

The Occupational Philosophers is a not-so-serious business podcast to spark creativity, curiosity, and imagination.

Every fortnight, John, a mild-mannered, middle-aged British man with a love of curiosity and philosophy, and a slightly louder, middle-aged Australian surfer man, artist, and published author on creativity chat with guests drawn from many walks of life who have woven creativity, curiosity and play into their everyday lives - and thrived personally and professionally in the process.

So, if you would like to listen to a “not so serious business podcast” and would like some thoughts, tools, and tips on staying curious, creative, and asking those really great questions (and leading a most interesting life in the process) then this is the podcast you have been waiting for all your life. Well, maybe not all your life, but for a while…

You can check it all out at https://www.occupationalphilosophers.com/

Ep.42: Inbetweeners: Should your organisation embrace some festival vibes? We think so.....

Tue, 30 Aug 2022 06:00:00 +1000

In this short, sharp Inbetweener episode, John reflects more on his recent Wilderness Festival experience as he and Simon ask the question: What can a corporate conference learn from a kick-ass festival experience? (And it's quite a lot as it happens....)

Amongst other things, they explore:

How to create an environment where it's OK to fail at new things (and it's actively encouraged)
Why it's important to create a plethora of stimuli and things to experience
Why inspiration is important
The joy of random connections and conversations
Why disconnection may be the key to human connection
The importance of sharing expertise and an open mind
How we all need a multi-sensory explosion
Why safe places are happy places

Links:

https://www.wildernessfestival.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

Ep. 41: Stepping outside your creative comfort zone, with guest, Tiffany Markman.

Wed, 17 Aug 2022 07:30:45 +1000

In Episode 41 The Occupational Philosophers chat with Tiffany Markman, an international speaker, trainer and writer, known for her work on communication, messaging, marketing and more.

She’s collaborated with over 450 brands worldwide — both big and small — over the last 17 years, encountering writing that ranges from the sublime to the absurd. She’s also delivered keynote addresses, created masterclasses and presented training in 14 countries.

She likes her coffee strong and black, her paragraphing short and tight and her apostrophes in all the right places. She also has insatiable appetite for reading about cults, multi-level marketing schemes and crypto scammers who fake their own deaths!

In this episode, they explore:

The global study that explores the 4 creative competencies which will help boost your own creative awesomeness
Why you need to capture & record your ideas…without judgement!
How challenging yourself and stepping outside your comfort zone is essential to creativity & growth
Why broadening your skills beyond your current niche will help improve your creative output
How to immerse yourself in different environments and seek out new stimuli which will feed into your work
The top 3 tips to be a successful freelancer
And why you should never, ever, be an insular arsehole!

As always, there are some original thought experiments and this time they have:

Copyright or Copywrong?
Cat or Bat?

Learn more about Tiffany Markman

References

Portugese Tart https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pastel_de_nata
Wilderness Festival https://www.wildernessfestival.com

The Occupational Philosophers is a not-so-serious business podcast to spark creativity, curiosity, and imagination.

You can check it all out at https://www.occupationalphilosophers.com/

Ep.40 Inbetweeners: Curiosity Tour Flavas and Intersections

Mon, 25 Jul 2022 06:00:00 +1000

Have you ever been on a curiosity tour? John and Simon jump into some insights around what can happen when you tour all five of your senses and they pull the metaphorical golf balls from Simon's mind after his NYC sojourn.

Amongst other things, they explore:

What we can learn from public space and how it can influence workplace culture in making everyone feel welcome
What happens when we create serendipitous cross overs or people and ideas
How life changes when we look at the world in a different angle
Does it really feel a little more woo-woo at intersections? (and can you measure it?)

Say Hello

www.occupationalphilosophers.com

Their day jobs

JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/

SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au

SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

Ep.39: Bumper edition! Did you say Thought Experiments? Ohhh, yes please......

Mon, 11 Jul 2022 06:23:28 +1000

In episode 39, The Occupational Philosophers honour their Philosopher forefathers and foremothers and unleash their Northern Hemisphere summer solstice Thought Experiment extravaganza!

Or in language with more brevity.....revisit some of their favourite thought experiments with their guests over the last year.

These include:

Famous love parents with Tamara Campbell
Is this a real job? with Ash Perrin
What's in the box? with Neil Mullarkey
Curious garden of delights Jez Rose
Tweddle or twaddle? with author Eleanor Tweddle
Guess the source of my pain? with Dr Brock Bastian
Moonshot or Moonshite? with Mike Parsons

These are a lot of fun and I hope you enjoy them as much as we did 'running' the experiments.

We hope you enjoy the show AND we hope you join us for another great 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.

Say Hello

www.occupationalphilosophers.com

Their day jobs

JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/

SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au

SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

Ep. 38 - Inbetweeners: Are you asking purposeful questions?

Fri, 01 Jul 2022 01:33:57 +1000

As John and Simon traverse the northern hemisphere summer, John takes on a little walk into the world of Purposeful Questions.

Questions which:

Ask for clarity on their thoughts
Ask to challenge proposals
Ask to examine ideas
Ask to draw out someone's perspective
Ask to understand the impact of an idea
Ask to find out what are the right questions to ask!

Key Things to Remember:

Ask with a curious mind and tone
Be careful with language ...Asking 'Why' can feel confrontational
Use questions to have people 'raise their gaze' or 'delve in deep'
Ask yourself 'What's the right question to ask?'
Think about the order of your questions
If your question draws blank looks, then reframe it
Declare the intent of your question 'Hey, I am curious about the impact of this idea?

So whilst it's a short episode, there is LOADS of goodness.

As a side note, whilst the Occupational Philosophers have been steadily improving as Podcast hosts, today's show makes us realise that they still have a long way to go......

Say Hello

www.occupationalphilosophers.com

Their day jobs

JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/

SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au

SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

Ep. 37: Why embracing failure should be in your team charter, with Tim Vaughan-Hughes (and did we mention Monty Python?)

Thu, 23 Jun 2022 22:13:11 +1000

In episode 37, The Occupational Philosophers chat with highly engaging, world class storyteller and very funny Tim Vaughan-Hughes.

Tim is one interesting cat!

He began his career with the stage management team at Glyndebourne Opera, and trained as an actor at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. He has subsequently performed extensively in all media. He joined the Monty Python production team for their feature films Monty Python and The Holy Grail, Monty Python’s Life of Brian, and Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life.

He now acts as a mentor and 'enabler' to senior management and executives in the areas of creating impact, change, confidence building, presentation skills and personal development. His clients include Sony, HSBC, PwC, Cisco Systems, BT, Lloyds Bank, DHL and HBOS to name a few.

He is also one of the most entertaining keynote speakers and after dinner speakers going around!

His training skills and personal development include media coaching, Presentation Polishing and script writing for Business executives. He helps individual clients with finishing touches to their speeches, rehearsing and prepares them for camera or conference appearances.

As well as working with business executives privately or in a group, he runs open classes, and regularly presents a popular master-class to help people create impact in both their business and private lives (with the course being delivered across the globe).

In this episode, they explore:

What we can learn from the principles of stage management
How we can find more confidence from finding our inner alter ego
Why it’s important to recognise the difference between nerves and fear
Why all great performers practice, practice, practice and get loads of help
How the right to fail is a god-given right - it should be in your team charter
How if you're not nervous you are either drunk or you died yesterday (one of our favourite lines ever)
John also struggles to even get out a basic sentence then looks to blame others....

As always, there are some great thought experiments.

This time it's "Whose speech is it anyway?"

You can connect directly with Tim on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-vaughan-hughes-927930a/

We hope you enjoy the show!

Ep.36 - Inbetweeners: Oooh Yeah....Navigating tensions

Tue, 14 Jun 2022 06:30:00 +1000

In ep.36, The Occupational Philosophers explore the idea of tensions. Mmmm, what does the mean?

Que music...."Tensions here, tensions there, tensions everywhere, yeah, yeah, yeah..." Whilst this lyric may never win a grammy (but lets not put boundaries on what's possible), tensions are everywhere

i.e.

Working harder to achieve success v.s taking that little bit of extra time off to look after yourself
The tension of breathing in v.s breathing out. Both are essential and one is not more important than the other - or are they?
The tension of being a man child vs. not doing things that will break your ankle
The tension between John and Simon. John thinks Simon is an idiot bogan from Australia and Simon thinks John is and old posh grey head.

So, tensions are everywhere and there is a real excitement in managing and navigating this.

We hope you enjoy the show AND we hope you join us for another great 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.

Say Hello

Their day jobs

SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

Ep.35 - Inbetweeners:The half baked idea.....

Mon, 06 Jun 2022 21:50:17 +1000

In their 1st birthday anniversary show spectacular most amazing achievement podcast (yes, they made it to 1 year old - we are surprised as you are), the Occupational Philosophers explore the concept of the half baked idea and most importantly, how we need to create an environment where these 'half-baked ideas' thrive.

Half baked ideas and overcoming our addiction to perfection is at the heart of a culture of innovation.

You will also why bears can make great electricians (loosely) and John and Simon have a moment of enlightenment when they share two half-baked ideas to form something even better.

We hope you enjoy the show AND we hope you join us for another great 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.

Say Hello

Their day jobs

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2022/feb/06/ai-weiwei-i-am-like-a-cat-cats-can-play-for-a-whole-day?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

Ep.34 - I am like a cat, I can play all day....

Mon, 30 May 2022 20:56:07 +1000

In Episode 34, The Occupational Philosophers explore the topic of play and ponder the crucial question “Why does any game of Monopoly always end in a fist fight?

In this episode, they discuss:

What happens to our brains when we play?
Why unstructured play is key to our development as children (and adults!)
How play improves our cognitive skills so we can problem solve, create and learn more effectively
Who said ‘play is the highest form of research’?
How play enables us to produce our best work in whatever form that takes
How there is an actual national institute of play (true fact)
Why playing like a cat is at the heart of art and creativity

As always, there are original thought experiments and this time they ask:

To play or to play?

We hope you enjoy the episode as much as The Occupational Philosophers enjoyed making it.

You can learn more about the show at www.occupationalphilosophers.com

Remember, if you like the show (or found it mildly tolerable) tell your friends and leave a review and rating …we mean a positive review not as a warning to others….

References

https://www.nifplay.org

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jan/17/the-guardian-view-on-lego-for-adults-play-is-a-serious-business

Ep.33 - Inbetweeners: Looking at the world with Travellers Eyes

Tue, 17 May 2022 08:14:35 +1000

In episode 33, The Occupational Philosophers explore the idea of looking at the world with travellers' eyes. Mmmm, what do you mean by that? Great question!

Think back to one of those great trips you have been on.....Just think about how curious you were about everything that you saw around you. It was eyes wide open taking in as much as possible.

Imagine.....What would things be like (at work or otherwise) if we spent more time looking at the world with travellers' eyes?

Imagine, what would be possible? What would we see?

Tune in to go on a great travel adventure and get your eyes wide open.

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' our 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

Their day jobs

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferfrahm

SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

Ep.32 - What are the essential elements of successful organisational change, with change expert, Dr. Jen Frahm.

Mon, 09 May 2022 21:44:58 +1000

In Episode 32, The Occupational Philosophers chat with Dr Jen Frahm…a tamer of ambiguity, speaker of truths and a solver of problems. She is a global expert in change and organisational transformation.

She is the author of two books, with the most recent being “Change.Leader” which offers 33 areas in which leaders can make small but intentional personal changes in the way they lead that will result in being able to navigate disruption better.

Jen lectured and developed university-level curriculum for over 8 years and is known for her ability to bust silos, empower big ideas to come to life and is more agile than a leaping gazelle on steroids.

In this episode, they explore:

How curiosity, creativity and imagination are the fuel for transformative change
When the drive for resilience within organisations masks the real problems in the system
What the agile mindset and methodology can offer as we navigate change
How teams need to stress test their team charter before embarking on a change initiative
Why great digital transformation is really about risk
How to tell if the lint filter in your washing machine needs changing

As always, there are some original thought experiments and this time they have:

Wand of Change
Listener questions

Learn more about Jen

https://drjenfrahm.com

Find Jen on Twitter - @jenfrahm

References

Wim Hof

https://www.wimhofmethod.com/

Change. Leader

https://drjenfrahm.com/change-leader/

Agile Manifesto

https://agilemanifesto.org/

Agile Change Leadership Institute

https://aclinstitute.com/

Kanban Canvas

https://canvanizer.com/new/kanban-canvas

Ep.31 - Inbetweeners: Jez Rose’s lost garden of curious delights

Mon, 02 May 2022 21:34:16 +1000

In Episode 31, The Occupational Philosophers reconnect with the amazing Jez Rose as they design a garden of creativity, curiosity and imagination. They loved this piece so much that it needed its own episode.

With Jez's love of nature, he became a landscape gardener as he designed his own garden of creativity, curiosity and imagination.

You will hear about what's needed for:

The soil, providing nutrients, foundations and roots
Flowers, providing sensory stimuli, sights, sounds, sense and touch
Fauna providing......

Jez is a wonderful storyteller and you will not be disappointed as we journey into his imagination.

Simon also makes a pledge to bring this garden to life via an artwork as well! (watch this space)

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 our 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

Their day jobs

SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

Ep.30 - Inbetweeners: Need some inspiration? We have the answer!

Tue, 19 Apr 2022 10:53:55 +1000

Would you like to have better ideas? Do you sometimes need more inspiration? Would you like an easy way to achieve both of these? If so, read on (and listen to this episode)

In episode 30, The Occupational Philosophers explore a really simple technique to create a bunch of new ideas, seek inspiration and have an enjoyable time in the process.

Importantly, it's easy, free and anyone can do it.

We hope you enjoy the show.

And as The Occupational Philosophers always say: stay curious, make stuff, play more, have fun and date life.

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/apr/04/mind-blowing-ai-da-becomes-first-robot-to-paint-like-an-artist?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Ep.29 - Is technology killing our creativity?

Tue, 12 Apr 2022 08:12:51 +1000

In episode 29, the Occupational Philosophers ask the very important question of "Is technology killing our creativity?"

Fulfilling John's high school dreams of a career in law they take a for and against argument and explore both sides of the argument.

In this episode, they discuss:

The different types of curiosity and how technology drives each of them
How technology both fuels and diminishes empathy
Why it's important to consider the spaces and places we create for curiosity and creativity
How travelling pre-mobile phone may have been a very different experience
Why we need to create online and offline spaces for creativity
How interrupting your flow can drop your IQ (watch out!)
Why our humanness is more important than ever
Can robots create art (or is it just craft?)
Why data is nothing without.....

As always, (and in the tradition of the great philosophers of the past - not the John and Simon count themselves in that space by any means - John is in training, however), there are some great thought experiments.

For episode 29, the thought experiment is:

App or Crap?

We hope you enjoy the episode as much as The Occupational Philosophers enjoyed making it.

You can learn more about the show at www.occupationalphilosophers.com

Remember, if you like the show (fingers crossed...) tell your friends and leave a review and rating and you will be showered with 10,000,001 blessings.

Show Links

AI, robots and painting

Ep.28 - Inbetweeners: Priming the pump for curiosity

Mon, 04 Apr 2022 21:38:10 +1000

In this short, sharp episode of starting your week goodness, The Occupational Philosophers explore the idea of priming the pump for creativity and curiosity, and why it's important.

Think of it like this..... Imagine if someone at work said, "the whole company is going to run a marathon, it will be great for company morale, raise money and we are going to do it RIGHT NOW!

It just wouldn't work. You don't go and run a marathon without doing some warming up, stretching and practice and it's the same for creativity and curiosity. We need to prime the pump.

Tune in for seven minutes as The Occupational Philosophers explore a great way to do that with a team and get the curiosity firing.

They hope you enjoy the show.

Check us out at www.occupationalphilosophers.com

If you haven't checked out Simon's showreel, you can do that right here https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg (yes, it's a little plug)

Ep.27 - What leadership needs to do to spark creativity, with renowned behaviourist, Jez Rose.

Mon, 28 Mar 2022 17:26:19 +1000

n Episode 27, The Occupational Philosophers chat with Jez Rose, a true example of someone with boundless curiosity and a hunger to keep learning. He has been a presenter on children’s television, hosted his own show for ITV1, been a co-host of Saturday Kitchen (BBC1) and special guest on James Martin’s Saturday Morning.

He’s written six books, including ‘Flip the Switch: achieve extraordinary things with simple changes to the way you think’. He’s a podcaster with the Roots, Wings & Other Things podcast AND more recently the human podcast, which over 23 episodes, explores what it really means to be human.

Jez is an internationally renowned behaviourist, professional speaker, and the “go-to” guy for memorable presentations on how to change human behaviour. Today, Jez travels extensively, presenting to organizations worldwide and for more than sixteen years has been working with organisations worldwide to help engage, inspire and upskill their teams. Phew....that's a LOT of stuff.

In this episode, they explore:

What it means to be human
Why ‘grow slow’ could be a more useful mantra as everything else speeds up
How observing nature and the seasons can teach us valuable lessons about change
What can you do with a team to unleash its’ innovation and imagination
How leaders need to provide the fuel which sparks the fire of creativity
Why John knows more about Jez than his Mum does

As always, there are some original thought experiments and this time they have:

Listener questions (including the worry of Bladderwort)

Learn more about Jez

Flip the Switch

https://www.jezrose.co.uk/shop/books

References

Dream Coaches

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/nov/22/dream-coach-benedict-cumberbatch-jane-campion-unconscious-on-screen-the-power-of-the-dog

The Choice

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Choice-Edith-Eger/dp/184604510X

Man’s Search for Meaning

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mans-Search-Meaning-classic-Holocaust/dp/1844132390

Ep. 26 - Inbetweeners: Rap music epiphany....are we ignoring things that are ripe for DisRupTioN?

Mon, 21 Mar 2022 06:00:27 +1000

In Episode 26 - an Inbetweeners episode - The Occupational Philosophers explore Simon's epiphany whilst watching MTV out of the corner of his eye at the gym and ask, "Are we disrupting enough?"

What are the areas in our lives - work or otherwise - that absolutely ripe for disruption? Or, in another way; what needs a really good dose of creativity, freshness or some new ideas?

Have things been the same for 25 years just because they have always been done that way? Is it time for a little disRupTioN?

Inbetweener episodes are short, sharp episodes with just one idea to kick off the week with a little more creativity, curiosity and imagination.

As always, if you enjoy the show, tell your besties and leave a 5* rating!

https://yo utu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg

Oh! and check out Simon's new showreel (He needs a few extra Youtube hits) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZQdJI6qGvg&t=1s

Ep.25 - Socrates, Plato and Aristotle walk into a bar....

Mon, 14 Mar 2022 15:59:27 +1000

In Episode 25, The Occupational Philosophers dive into the world of Philosophy as they learn more about some of their favourite chin strokes and importantly, what we can apply in life and business right now (yes, that's correct - right now!)

In this episode, they explore:

How asking questions like Socrates can help teams define success
Why humility is the essential wingman of curiosity
What can Plato’s allegory of the cave tell us about reality
Why philosophy begins with wonder
How Aristotle can help you build your team’s creative muscle
Why running a dating agency for chickens is not a viable business

As always, there is an original thought experiment and this time they ask:

Would you rather?

The Occupational Philosophers hope you enjoy the show.

Simon's new showreel (MUST SEE VIEWING!!)

References

www. occupationalphilosophers.com

https://www.channel4.com/programmes/lego-masters-australia

https://nga.gov.au/exhibitions/jeffrey-smart/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socrates#Trial_of_Socrates

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plato#The_Cave

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristotle#Influence

Jeffrey Smart show

https://nga.gov.au/exhibitions/jeffrey-smart/

Ep.24 - Inbetweeners: How often do we date life?

Mon, 07 Mar 2022 05:52:50 +1000

In episode 24, The Occupational Philosophers explore the question, "How often do we date life?"

Life throws us up many opportunities but how often do we take them, embrace them and date life?

Do we date life often enough?

Inbetweeners episodes are a short, sharp blast of 10 minutes to kick start your week with a sweet boost of creativity, curiosity and imagination (and some other things thrown in as well)

Here's to dating life this week.....

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeparsons/

Ep.23 - How do you create conditions for innovation, with Moonshot Podcaster, Mike Parsons.

Mon, 28 Feb 2022 06:52:05 +1000

In Episode 23, The Occupational Philosophers chat with Mike Parsons - This guy is one curious cat. He’s left a footprint across the globe with multiple careers in music, advertising, design, technology and innovation.

Since quitting university after seven weeks, Mike has gone on to achieve remarkable feats. He launched Australia's first internet radio station, lived and worked in Europe and USA, claimed a Guinness Book of Record and sold his Silicon Valley Startup.

Mike is currently the Chief Executive Officer at Qualitance. Together with over 200 staff, he helps clients build future growth products - from banks in Europe to Ford Motors in Australia and Anastasia Beverly Hills in the USA.

During his time in advertising, Mike won many global awards - DA&D Pencils, Cannes Lion's, Effie's – even a TED award.

His talks span innovation, marketing and embracing change in the business world. He's passionate about understanding how to unlock the value in Design Thinking, Lean Startup, Rapid Prototyping, and Agile Development in a world defined by technology and data. He's appeared on CNN and the FT.

Mike's Moonshots Podcast has over 50,000 monthly listeners (that's a lot of fans) and goes behind the scenes of the world's greatest superstars, thinkers and entrepreneurs to discover the secrets to their success.

In this episode, they explore:

What 3 things unite some of the most creative, innovative and entrepreneurial minds of our time
Why mindset and working ‘on yourself’ is crucial to success in any endeavour
How visual storytelling and rapid prototyping helps people get on the same wavelength at speed
How to introduce structured learning into your teams and organisation
The conditions you need to cultivate creativity and innovation
What are the Moonshot questions which create a 10x transformation?

As always, there is an original thought experiment and this time they ask Mike:

Moonshot or Moonshit?

There is so much goodness in this episode and we hope you enjoy the chat with Mike as much as we did.

Learn more about Mike

https://mikeparsons.net/

https://www.moonshots.io/

https://qualitance.com/

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ailsa_Craig

https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/all-about-the-moon

Ep.22 - Inbetweeners: Activities to drive creativity and imagination in your team

Mon, 21 Feb 2022 05:31:00 +1000

In this Inbetweeners episode, The Occupational Philosophers build on the idea of a curiosity advent calendar - for teams.

Imagine.....every team meeting, reaching into the curiosity box (interesting already isn't it?) and pulling out a short activity to drive creativity, curiosity and imagination in that meeting or in the week ahead?

Or in a more businessey way - "driving an innovative force of agile and entrepreneurial dynamism across the different learning modalities and networks of the brain to master workplace performance."

Mmmm, that could be interesting.......

How about:

Inventing a team holiday?
Watch a 15 min Ted Talk and share what you liked?
Have your own "What's caught your eye?" this week?
Share a travel story. What insight from your travel time could be useful at work now?

Small, tiny shifts in thinking can bring about BIG changes - and the odd smile as well.

Watch this space for when we release the full curiosity advent calendar (for any month of the year)

We hope you enjoy the show.

Ep. 21 - Salvador Dali, Andy Warhol and Picasso walk into a bar

Mon, 14 Feb 2022 06:56:48 +1000

In Episode 21, The Occupational Philosophers re-dive into the business, life, and leadership lessons we can learn from three very well-known artists - Salvador Dali, Andy Warhol, and Picasso.

Along the way they explore:

How innovation happens when we join the dots and make connections from wildly different things
How we need to be open to change and constant reinvention
The importance of not overthinking, just get started and the thinking will come
Why we need to be open to all types of thinking styles
How curiosity and asking why can change the way you see the world and the life you live. If you're curious, we can see unseen opportunities
How great things can happen at the intersection of art and science (or any intersection of different fields)
Why you should never hide your light under a bucket and also be careful with cutlery experiments in bed
How the setting of a joyous intent can set your day up for a little magic

As with all episodes, The Occupational Philosophers conduct a thought experiment called "Things artists do"

As always, there are some great lessons and ways to bring more imagination, creativity, and curiosity into your workplace and how to live a most interesting life in the process.

They hope you enjoy the show.

Links

National Gallery of Victoria displays 3D-printed artificial reefs, showcasing fusion of art and science https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-01-03/artificial-reefs-showcased-national-gallery-of-victoria/100736484

Ep. 20 - Inbetweeners: Questions to drive creativity and curiosity in your team

Mon, 07 Feb 2022 06:35:53 +1000

In episode 20, The Occupational Philosophers build on the idea of a curiosity advent calendar - for teams. For all of us, it's easy for things to become a little 'vanilla/boring/same-same. As we know, a great question can do the heavy lifting and can power creativity.

Imagine, sitting down each day and asking one of these questions each day?

If we hosted a forum on why our products and services suck, what would be the main points?
Steve Jobs comes back from the dead - what would you showcase as your greatest innovation?
What’s the most outlandish idea that could bring the biggest change to this team?
If our team is currently playing a safe game of vanilla lawn bowls, what would a game of no holds barred ice hockey look like - possibly naked?
Who moved my cheese? And my crackers? And other condiments?

Truthfully, question five had good intentions but there's some debate as to where it ended up.

We hope you enjoy the episode, and, as always:

Stay curious
Make stuff
Have fun
Play more

https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellechiel/

Ep.19 - Guest episode with life changing entrepreneur Danielle Chiel; Founder of KOCO (Knit One, Change One)

Mon, 31 Jan 2022 07:18:43 +1000

In Episode 19, The Occupational Philosophers chat with the Amazing Entrepreneur Danielle Chiel.

Danielle's story is a great yarn (pun intended). Danielle Chiel is an Australian entrepreneur who founded KOCO (Knit One Change One). She has a Ph.D. in Musicology, sits at the intersection of fashion, entrepreneurialism, creativity, and joy, and making a more beautiful, creative, and happy world and real difference in literally thousands of women's lives.

Danielle, through KOCO, is seeking to change lives one hand-knitted garment at a time.

She currently employs 200 Indian ladies from various villages in India, to hand-knit garments for her; but her dream is to expand the business and employ 10,000 women. KOCO hand-knits garments for global fashion brands – they produce fashions and homewares that customers love, by working with women in the rural villages in the south of Tamil Nadu. At the same time as giving these ladies employment, KOCO provides them with an education and all the training they need, in order to become world-class hand knitters.

"What I admire about the art of knitting are the same qualities that I admire in music: endless creative possibilities made possible by skilled and passionate hands and a perfect score, or pattern".

Connecting fashion brands, customers, and artisans through the art and science of handknitting, along with being one of the most amazing curious problem solvers we have ever had on the show, this is a chat you won’t want to miss!

Links

https://koco.global/

https://theartisannation.com/

https://www.smh.com.au/business/workplace/headline-20160409-go2k7y.html

Ep.18 - Inbetweeners: January Advent Calendar of Curious Surprises (Inbetweeners = 10 min episode)

Mon, 17 Jan 2022 06:09:44 +1000

Despite speaking regularly, The Occupational Philosophers realised that they missed each other greatly in 2021. As such, they have decided to catch up more regularly - which brings us to this episode.

Whilst all of the above is true, The Occupational Philosophers have decided they need to drink their own Kool-Aid and explore what's possible with micro experiments, trying new things, understanding how things work and embracing a curious, imaginative and creative mindset each and every day.

In this 15-minute inbetweener episode, they explore:

The impact of a curious and creative exercise every day
Why small steps can help to make a big impact (and most likely essential to achieving big goals)
How creating nudges and visual cues can get you closer to being a creative cat
Why John's January advent calendar is a very successful experiment
Why Simon is no closer to being on a Beer Commercial

Watch our for a short, sharp inbetweener episode every second Monday (yes, that's right, that makes The Occupational Philosophers now a weekly show)

https://www.linkedin.com/in/neilmullarkey

Ep.16 - What improv skills can teach us about communication in organisations, with guest, Neil Mullarkey (and did we mention Austin Powers star?)

Fri, 14 Jan 2022 07:28:26 +1000

In Episode 16, The Occupational Philosophers chat with the very talented and very funny, Neil Mullarkey. Neil co-founded the world-famous improvisation group The Comedy Store Players in the UK with Mike Myers, later appearing with him in the fabulous Austin Powers movies. He has appeared on TV over many years, including Have I Got News For You, Whose Line Is It Anyway, Saturday Live and QI. He has also won awards for his alter ego - L. Vaughan Spencer, (L-Vo for short), A Life Coach, Self-Help Guru and Gangsta Motivator.

Neil has become highly accomplished in the field of management training, running many workshops and hosting conferences for a wealth of private and public organisations where he uses the techniques of theatre improvisation to inspire business people to embrace their creativity and enhance their communication skills.

In this episode, they explore:

How Improv comedy can teach us how to work more effectively in teams and organisations
Why listening is the critical skill we all need to master
Why constraints and restrictions can liberate our creativity
What leaders need to do to provide the extraordinary leadership required in today’s VUCA world
Who in your business needs to take responsibility for ensuring meetings have impact
And what to do when faced with an electric drill and a wombat

As always, there are some great thought experiments such as:

What’s in the box?
Listeners Dilemmas

Links

Learn more about Neil:

http://neilmullarkey.com/

http://www.improvyourbiz.com/

http://succeeedy.com/

https://neilmullarkey.com/sevensteps

References

http://www.provocativetherapy.com/

https://almosthappy.com/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Rogers

https://www.seenandheard.org/

https://gestaltcentre.org.uk/what-is-gestalt/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georg_Wilhelm_Friedrich_Hegel

https://chimpmanagement.com/

https://hbr.org/2015/02/how-to-revive-a-tired-network

https://www.leadershipcentre.org.uk/artofchangemaking/theory/complexity/

https://comedystoreplayers.com/

Ep.17 - How to achieve your New Year’s Goals (or not)....pitfalls, feeling uninspired and great habits

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 15:42:29 +1000

In possibly their loosest episode ever (and the bar is pretty low.....), The Occupational Philosophers met up in the time vortex that is the week between Christmas and New Year's Eve where time stands still and people eat leftovers and drink wine from 9 am and feel no guilt whatsoever.

As such, they found themselves wading into unusual territory - setting and achieving new year's goals and some of the common (from experience) pitfalls along the way.

In this time vortex, The Occupational Philosophers explore:

Why a January advent calendar may be good for your curiosity
Why habits, not resolutions will help you achieve your goals
How a goal helps you embrace serendipity
Why joyous and passionate goals may be the answer to getting your resolutions
Why you should never say “Cheshire Cat” too quickly after 2 glasses of sherry with a mince pie in your mouth
Why the word "fervently" should be part of your goal making vernacular, especially for Organisations
(And slightly more woo-woo than usual)....How the universe will send you good things - if you're not constantly grumpy and in the shits

As per usual, there are thought experiments and for this episode, it's "Filthy Habit or Monk's Habit"?

If you have gotten this far....we can't wait to bring you some more great shows this year that will help you to be the creative, imaginative, and curious cat you were designed to be in 2022 (and apologies in advance for this episode!)

Links

Camel Botox https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-12-09/camel-beauty-pageant-disqualified-over-botox-injections/100685840

Celebrity Apprentice Australia https://9now.nine.com.au/celebrity-apprentice-australia

Derek Sivers https://sive.rs/goals

Ep.15 - Imagination (sounds delicious) - Why it‘s so important AND why you‘re an imaginative superstar

Thu, 09 Dec 2021 05:38:57 +1000

In episode 15, The Occupational Philosophers explore imagination - what it is, why it's so important and why we have oodles of it, ready and waiting for us to use.

So what is it?

“Imagination is not only the uniquely human capacity to envision that which is not, and, therefore, the foundation of all invention and innovation. In its arguably most transformative and revelatory capacity, it is the power that enables us to empathize with humans whose experiences we have never shared.” J.K. Rowling

In this episode, they explore:

What it is (see above)
The different types of imagination (it's everywhere!)
Why it is absolutely essential - in life, in teams, for leaders and organisations
How to create environments at work that allow people to imagine
The importance of synchronous and asynchronous work
How innovation = imagination + action
Where imagination sits with its best friends of curiosity and creativity
How to spark your imagination and become unblocked (mentally)
Why imagination is an essential work and life skill

And, importantly.....Why an imaginative life is SO MUCH FUN

As always there are some great thought experiments including "Imagination Badger"

Here's to a world filled with imagination.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanya-chua-2a29877/

Ep.14: The mindset and habits to fuel your own curiosity and creativity, with guest,Tanya Chua.

Thu, 25 Nov 2021 07:34:42 +1000

In Episode 14, The Occupational Philosophers chat with Tanya Chua, a creative and design powerhouse. She is on a mission to bring more creativity into both education and the greater world. Tanya sits at the intersection of art and design, advertising, visual storytelling, and inspiration. She has been headhunted more times than Mad Men's Don Draper and in a former role, travelled to 35 countries to oversee on-ground PR and be the point of contact for the world-famous DJs that headlined the platform, including Paul Oakenfold, Tiesto, and Pete Tong!

In this episode, they explore:

The mindset and habits you can adopt to help fuel your own curiosity and creativity
Why employees having a ‘side hustle’ can be great for your organisation
How creativity can be a force for good and help solve BIG world problems
The benefits of visual learning and visual literacy to help foster greater critical thinking
Why the greatest risk for organisations and leaders is in not being creative

As always, there are some great thought experiments such as:

Bond Villan Lair or University Island?
Dessert Island Discs

Links

Tanya Chua@Linkedin

Learn more about Tanya’s work at:

https://eyeyah.com

https://theunusualnetwork.com/

https://podcast.theunusualnetwork.com/

GIF Festival Singapore

https://www.todayonline.com/entertainment/first-gif-festival-singapore-take-place-october

Visual Literacy with Brian Kennedy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E91fk6D0nwM

The Night Tiger

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Night-Tiger-Yangsze-Choo/dp/1250175453

Creating Innovators

https://www.tonywagner.com/creating-innovators/

Ep.13 - Finding your FLOW.......what it is and how to get some

Thu, 11 Nov 2021 06:30:00 +1000

In episode 13, The Occupational Philosophers explore the concept of FLOW......

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi was the Godfather of Flow State (and just recently passed away in Oct 2020)

Csikszentmihalyi started his initial observations and studies on artists. He noted that the act of creating seemed at times more important than the finished work itself and he was fascinated by what he called the “flow” state, in which the person is completely immersed in an activity with intense focus and creative engagement. He set his life’s work to scientifically identify the different elements involved in achieving such a state.

He introduced flow theory in the 1970s and designed 9 key steps to achieve a state of flow and the theory of flow has continued to grow and expand on hos great work.

In this episode they explore:

What flow is
Why flow matters
How to be in the flow (or a more modern-day version of in the groove)
How to create the conditions where an intersection of challenge and activity will enable flow to thrive
The importance of setting goals to achieve flow
Why happiness can come from unusual places
How leaders in organisations can create an environment of flow
The importance of letting go of ego in finding flow
Key steps for teams to find their flow

Enjoy the show!

Links

Candi Stanton https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2021/oct/07/candi-staton-i-was-in-a-few-relationships-where-id-think-should-i-kill-them

Candi Stanton "Open my eyes" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stUHKSEB-qE

9 steps to create flow https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/what_mel_brooks_can_teach_us_about_group_flow

Team Flow https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/what_mel_brooks_can_teach_us_about_group_flow

https://www.stevenkotler.com/rabbit-hole/frequently-asked-questions-on-flow

TED TALK: https://www.ted.com/talks/mihaly_csikszentmihalyi_flow_the_secret_to_happiness?language=en

Ep. 12: Accidental Mashups, mess ups and moments of genius!

Thu, 28 Oct 2021 06:30:00 +1000

In episode 12, The Occupational Philosophers dive into the world of Accidental Mashups, Insatiable Curiosity and how they drive Innovation.

Why an insatiable curiosity is at the heart of entrepreneurialism (and it's how they see opportunities that other people miss)
How being open to surprises, coincidences and mistakes we can deliver some fantastic insights that can drive innovation
Why innovation is never linear (as much as we would like it to be!)
The importance of asking curious questions and how two key questions kicked off two of the worlds most innovative companies
How some of our most famous inventions are the result of accidents and unexpected mashups
Why the most exciting phrase in science is "Mmmmm, that's funny"
How unexpected incidences can bring around amazing insights - if you are open to them
Why you should always take the laundry out ahead of answering the telephone
Maybe it's time to rethink the ven diagram

They also explore such job interview questions such as:

Why are manholes round?
Are you a hunter or gatherer?
What type of tree are you?

As always there are some great thought experiments including:

Word mashups
A deep dive into the psychology of choices (and what it says about your life)

Come visit at www.occupationalphilosophers.com

Ep.11: What helps teams build trust and how to lead in tough times, with guest, Dr Brock Bastian.

Thu, 14 Oct 2021 06:24:36 +1000

In Episode 11, 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 since then has published more than 100 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters.

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/

https://www.adamgrant.net/book/think-again

Ep.10: Self belief, creativity, being human, reimagining, laughter (and interpretive dance)

Thu, 30 Sep 2021 06:30:00 +1000

In episode 10, The Occupational Philosophers celebrate hitting their 10th anniversary episode (who said you shouldn't celebrate the small stuff) and they dive back into the big ideas, themes and curious moments from their guests so far.

On the way they explore:

Why being human is anything but perfect (and that's OK)
How creativity and laughter drives connection and those lovely human moments that make life special
Why we all need to make a mark
That everything in life doesn't need to be outcome-based
Why we shouldn't be shy about the 'V' word
How we should all see the AWESOME in other people
Why our ability to reimagine is at the heart of an interesting life
How self-belief and creativity can change the world
Why a curious mind and a good question can completely change the world we see

They also introduce a new app that can help us all make the most out of life and as always, there are some great thought experiments including a corporate 'would you rather?'

As always, stay curious, make stuff and play more.

https://www.eleanortweddell.com

Ep. 9: How to reimagine yourself through curiosity and reflection, with guest, Eleanor Tweddell.

Thu, 16 Sep 2021 06:30:00 +1000

In Episode 9, The Occupational Philosophers chat with Eleanor Tweddle - a podcaster, an entrepreneur, and author, with a best-selling book, Why losing your job could be the best thing that ever happened to you! (and she is also an amazing coach, consultant, and very funny)

After 23 years of corporate life, working for brands such as Costa Coffee, RAC, Virgin Atlantic, and Vodafone, Eleanor found herself redundant and so began a journey of self-discovery - getting really curious and asking herself questions about who she was and how she wanted to be, reimagining a new way of working and living, and connecting with lots of people - and now Eleanor helps other people thrive in the face of redundancy with her own business ‘Another Door’.

Eleanor has been featured in The Guardian, The Financial Times, Glamour, and Grazia.

In this episode, they explore:

Why staying curious about yourself and what’s possible is key to reimagining your world
The better question to ask yourself when deciding a way forward
What individuals, teams, and organisations can learn about providing space for reflection
Why you should think about what you want to be, rather than what you want to do

They also discover:

How Lego provides the perfect analogy for life
Why you should just stop giving a shit
And why you should never look a penguin in the eye, unless you have a plan

As always, there are some great thought experiments such as:

Twoddle or Tweddell? Is this saying real or utter hogwash?
Guess the ‘RE' song and artist

Links

https://www.anotherdoor.co.uk

https://www.anotherdoor.co.uk/read-the-book

The Wombles https://www.womblesofficial.com/meet-us

Ep.8: So Michaelangelo, Leonardo & Freida Kahlo walk into a bar...

Thu, 02 Sep 2021 07:07:10 +1000

In Episode 8, The Occupational Philosophers dive into the business, life, and leadership lessons we can learn from three very well-known artists.

Starting at the rebirth of humanism, creativity, and curiosity, and a general 'coming out of the dark' (also known as the Renaissance), they take us through the minds of two of the Renaissances shining lights, Michaelangelo and Leonardo Da Vinci.

Keeping a very non-linear history line, they then scoot forward 400 years and spend some time getting to know the amazing Frieda Kahlo better

Along the way they explore:

The importance of embracing your uniqueness and not hiding away what makes you different (as that's where your talents lie)
Why we should all be lifelong learners and remembering that not everything is taught in school
How innovation happens when we join the dots and make connections from wildly different things
Why it's important to record your ideas and putting them into the world and not just let them idly float by
How curiosity and asking why can change the way you see the world and the life you live
Why all leaders need to allow the unique Leonardos' in their teams to shine and thrive

As with all episodes, The Occupational Philosophers discuss what Mona Lisa might have been thinking and conduct some great thought experiments. Are you ready for "Art or Shart?"

As always, there are some great lessons and ways to bring more imagination, creativity, and curiosity into your workplace and how to live a most interesting life in the process.

They hope you enjoy the show.