In this episode of the Curious Advantage podcast, Alison Coward discusses the concept of workshop culture and its significance in fostering collaboration and creativity within teams. She shares her journey from the creative industries to becoming a facilitator and author, emphasizing the importance of intentional collaboration and the role of curiosity in team dynamics. The conversation explores practical steps for improving meetings, leading through uncertainty, and the impact of AI on workshop...
May 28, 2025•36 min
What if your brain isn’t just reacting to the world, but actually helping to create it? In this episode, Paul Ashcroft and Garrick Jones are joined by world-renowned cognitive philosopher Andy Clark to explore the fascinating ideas behind his latest book, The Experience Machine . Together, they dive into how the brain acts less like a camera and more like a prediction engine, constantly guessing what’s coming next and shaping the way we experience reality. From the link between curiosity and mis...
Apr 30, 2025•47 min
In this episode of the Curious Advantage podcast, Simon Brown and Garrick Jones talk with Charles H. Green, a renowned expert on trust. They explore the concept of trust, its importance in personal and professional relationships, and how it can be cultivated. Charles shares insights on the trust equation, which includes credibility, reliability, intimacy, and self-orientation. The conversation also delves into the implications of trust in sales, the impact of AI on trust, and the importance of p...
Apr 15, 2025•35 min
In this episode Simon Brown, Paul Ashcroft, and Garrick Jones are joined by futurist Bob Johansen, who brings nearly five decades of experience in forecasting what’s next. Together, they dive into the power of curiosity and "future-back" thinking in navigating today’s uncertain world. From VUCA to BANI, Bob unpacks the frameworks shaping how we understand complexity—and why generative AI is a game-changer for leadership. Discover the essential skills leaders need for the future, including augmen...
Apr 03, 2025•43 min
In this episode of The Curious Advantage podcast, Simon Brown and Garrick Jones speak with renowned author and speaker Margaret Heffernan about curiosity, leadership, and organizational culture. She shares insights from her diverse career, exploring the impact of questioning conventional wisdom, the dangers of wilful blindness , and the role of playwriting in research. Heffernan discusses how curiosity and helpfulness drive productivity and collaboration, warning against excessive competition an...
Mar 24, 2025•48 min
In this episode, Indy Johar, co-founder of Dark Matter Labs, discusses the democratization of city-making and the need to address the structural dark matter questions that impact our society. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the root causes of global challenges such as climate breakdown and biodiversity loss. Indy also explores the need for a different set of language and constructs within business to address these challenges and transform our foundational economy. The conversation ...
Nov 13, 2024•48 min•Season 6Ep. 10
In this episode Paul Ashcroft, Simon Brown and Garrick Jones speak with Alexia Cambon, Senior Director of Research at Microsoft, to explore the evolving landscape of work influenced by AI. Alexia shares her journey from law to corporate research, highlighting her pivotal role in the Work Trends Index and the insights gained about AI's integration into the workplace. The conversation delves into the adoption of AI tools, the gap between employee enthusiasm and leadership hesitance, and the implic...
Oct 30, 2024•44 min•Season 6Ep. 9
Join Simon Brown and Garrick Jones for a one-hour deep dive in our new format episode titled “Curious About... The Future of Work and Environments” with architects and design innovators Key Portilla-Kawamura and Ali Ganjavian of Studio Banana Design. In this episode, they explore the impact of physical spaces on collaboration, community building, and serendipity. Discover the importance of intentional design, the role of play in fostering creativity, and how to reimagine office environments for ...
Oct 16, 2024•55 min•Season 6Ep. 8
In this episode, we dive deep into the role of curiosity in driving organizational change and innovation with Chris Smart, Chief Learning Officer at MetLife. Chris shares his career journey and how curiosity has shaped his leadership and decision-making. He discusses how MetLife fosters a culture of curiosity through initiatives like the experimentation fund, campaigns, and hackathons, all designed to encourage innovation and employee empowerment. As Chris reflects on the challenges of the pande...
Oct 02, 2024•39 min•Season 6Ep. 7
In this episode, Garrick Jones sits down with Sir Michael Craig-Martin , a monumental figure in contemporary British art, whose career spans over six decades. From his iconic transformations of everyday objects to his pioneering role as an educator, Craig-Martin shares fascinating insights into his creative journey and artistic philosophy. Explore his upcoming major retrospective at the Royal Academy of Arts, opening in September 2024, which will feature over 120 works spanning his entire career...
Sep 16, 2024•33 min•Season 6Ep. 6
In this episode of The Curious Advantage Podcast , we speak with Dr. Diane Hamilton, Founder and CEO of Tonerra, and author of the new book Curiosity Unleashed: Achieving Business Excellence by Challenging the Status Quo . Dr. Hamilton shares her insights on how curiosity has shaped her journey and why it's a crucial driver for business success. Discover the strategies used by companies like Google and Disney to foster a culture of curiosity, the financial benefits of embracing curiosity, and th...
Sep 04, 2024•46 min•Season 6Ep. 5
WARNING: STRONG LANGUAGE AND ADULT THEMES . In this episode, Garrick sits down with John Harris Dunning, the brilliant mind behind graphic novels like "Salem Brownstone," "Tumult," and the newly released "Summer Shadows" from Dark Horse Comics. John shares his journey from aspiring writer to acclaimed graphic novelist, offering a glimpse into the creative process that brought his vivid stories to life. We delve into the world of graphic novels, discussing their rising popularity and what sets th...
Jul 31, 2024•38 min•Season 6Ep. 4
Join us as we explore the art of questioning with Warren Berger, a questionologist, author, and speaker. Warren shares his career journey and insights from his twelve books, including "A More Beautiful Question." He discusses how to foster a culture of enquiry within organizations, the five enemies of effective questioning, and how to overcome them. Discover the importance of nurturing a questioning mindset from childhood and the power of "mission questions" over traditional mission statements. ...
Jul 17, 2024•41 min•Season 6Ep. 3
Unlock the secrets of improvisation and transform your communication, creativity, and confidence! Join us as we chat with Lisa Rowland and Dan Milton-Klein, two improv experts from Stanford University. Lisa shares her journey from scripted theater to global improv performer and workshop designer. Dan reveals insights from over 20 years of teaching improv at Stanford and working with top global clients. Discover the history and evolution of improv, practical tips to enhance your communication ski...
Jul 03, 2024•48 min•Season 6Ep. 2
Join us for an inspiring conversation with David Carney, a business transformation leader with over 30 years of experience advising Fortune 500 executives. David shares his journey, including the challenges of being part of the LGBTQIA+ community in the US Navy when it was illegal to be openly gay. Discover how curiosity has driven his success and fueled diversity and inclusion within large organizations. In this episode, David reveals how curiosity fosters innovation and inclusivity, sharing pe...
Jun 21, 2024•44 min•Ep. 1
Join hosts Paul Ashcroft, Simon Brown, and Garrick Jones as they dive into the world of artificial intelligence with Jaeden Schafer, the visionary behind the top AI podcasts, "AI Chat," "AI Applied," and "AI Hustle," collectively boasting over 2 million annual listens. In this episode, discover the origins of Jaeden's passion for AI and the journey that led him to become a trailblazer in the field. Gain exclusive insights into the inner workings of his acclaimed podcasts and explore Jaeden's uni...
May 01, 2024•48 min•Season 5Ep. 12
In this insightful podcast episode, we're joined by Abhijit Bhaduri, a seasoned talent management advisor and former General Manager Global L&D manager for Microsoft. With a remarkable career trajectory marked by accolades such as being named the No. 1 HR Influencer by the Society for Human Resource Management and authoring bestselling books like "Career 3.0: Six Skills You Must Have to Succeed," Abhijit shares invaluable insights into navigating the evolving landscape of work. From debunkin...
Mar 27, 2024•48 min•Season 5Ep. 11
In this podcast episode, Paul Ashcroft, Simon Brown and Garrick Jones speak to Lisa Danels, author of "The Human Edge Advantage" and Executive Director of Human Edge in an insightful episode where we explore leadership mastery. Lisa discusses integrating head, heart, and gut in leadership, emphasizing curiosity, self-awareness, and personal power. Discover key ways to navigating burnout, cultivating personal power, and co-creating possibilities. Uncover wisdom from Robert Keegan's stages of adul...
Feb 21, 2024•44 min•Season 5Ep. 10
In this podcast episode, we delve into the captivating world of Noga Arikha, a philosopher, historian of ideas, and science humanist. She takes us on a journey from her childhood in Paris to her experiences working with neuropsychiatric patients and her current endeavor—writing a biography of anthropologist Franz Boas for the Yale University Press, set to be released in 2025. Arikha holds the position of Visiting Fellow at the European University Institute in Florence, is an Associate Fellow of ...
Feb 07, 2024•46 min•Season 5Ep. 9
In this podcast episode, Amy Edmondson, the top-ranked Thinkers50 management thinker and Novartis Professor at Harvard Business School, takes us on a journey through the dynamic intersection of curiosity, leadership and the digital era. Renowned for her seven books and over 60 scholarly papers, Edmondson discusses the crucial link between curiosity and psychological safety in the workplace. She shares practical tips for leaders to foster positive failure, drawing on insights from her latest accl...
Jan 24, 2024•43 min•Season 5Ep. 8
Join the hosts of The Curious Advantage as they dive into the world of innovation and growth with the incredible Rita McGrath . Rita, a seasoned author, speaker, and Professor at Columbia Business School, shares her journey from CEO to academia, unveiling insights from her latest book, Seeing Around Corners . In this episode, Rita unpacks the concept of inflection points, discussing the eight practices crucial for navigating blind spots. She emphasizes the importance of early warning systems in ...
Dec 13, 2023•41 min•Season 5Ep. 7
Some of us maybe living in a version of the future now. Doug Belshaw and Laura Hilliger from “We are Open”, a cooperative structure that supports multi-dimensional non-corporate organisations, know what it takes to make a very different way of working work. We caught up with them to explore there ways of doing things, it spans the globe and is based on models that are fast becoming popular. We are curious about the future and different ways of organising and so we talk about Open Badges, beyond ...
Nov 22, 2023•56 min•Season 5Ep. 6
In this episode, Garrick Jones dives into the world of innovation with Hersh Haladker , founder of InstillMotion, a company that helps businesses achieve Exprovement, the convergence of ideas solving unique business challenges. Hersh, co-author of Exprovement: Unleashing Innovation Across Industries shares insights into his innovation journey, discussing his early interest and the nuanced relationship between innovation and incrementalism. Our discussion centres on the three key topics from Hers...
Nov 08, 2023•27 min•Season 5Ep. 5
In this engaging podcast episode, Paul Ashcroft , Simon Brown and Garrick Jones are joined by Lauren Waldman , the founder and learning specialist behind Learning Pirate. With an educational background spanning prestigious institutions like Harvard, Duke, and John Hopkins University, Lauren launched Learning Pirate in 2017. Her mission is to empower individuals to harness their full cognitive potential, thereby enhancing the quality of their lives through scientifically optimized learning strate...
Oct 25, 2023•44 min•Season 5Ep. 4
In this episode, we delve into the world of education and innovation with our special guest, Sal Khan , the visionary founder, and CEO of Khan Academy. Sal's mission is to provide a free, world-class education to learners of all ages and backgrounds, and his pioneering approach to education has earned him acclaim as a trailblazer in the ed-tech industry alongside his early adoption of Generative AI technologies. We uncover the intriguing narrative behind Khanmigo's inception and the driving insp...
Oct 11, 2023•50 min•Season 5Ep. 3
In this captivating podcast episode, we delve into the remarkable journey of Darren Shand , the driving force behind the legendary All-Blacks Rugby team since 2004. Darren's tenure has been marked by historic achievements, including Rugby World Cup victories, undefeated seasons, Tri Nations, and Rugby Championships wins, three Grand Slams, and the coveted title of World Rugby Team of the Year. The All-Blacks even clinched the prestigious Laureus Award for World Sports Team of the Year. During ou...
Sep 28, 2023•47 min•Season 5Ep. 2
José Manuel Barroso's path from academia to politics is a journey fuelled by curiosity and lifelong learning. Starting as a law professor in Portugal, he rose to become the Prime Minister of Portugal in 2002 and later served as the President of the European Commission from 2004 to 2014, steering through critical events like the Lisbon Treaty, the 2008 financial crisis, and the European Sovereign Debt Crisis. Discover how José's upbringing influenced his curiosity and love for learning, and how t...
Sep 14, 2023•48 min•Season 5Ep. 1
Calum Chase, best-selling author, and AI expert and adviser, specializing in the future of AI and its impacts on our societies and economies, has an insightful conversation with Paul Ashcroft and Garrick Jones about the benefits and challenges of AI. He talks about the future impacts of Artificial Intelligence and how it will affect the future of work, health, and economic sectors. How can curiosity navigate AI's evolving implications? How does curiosity drive AI innovation and progress? What ar...
Aug 29, 2023•52 min•Season 4Ep. 11
Richard Parker, previous CEO of the British Bobsleigh & Skeleton Association and current CEO of Leading Line Consultancy and Partner within EY Lane4 joins Paul Ashcroft and Garrick Jones in a thought-provoking discussion on how resilience, not being afraid to fail and curiosity has driven him to move through a career starting as a teacher, professional athlete and CEO to a big 4 partner. How do you build your confidence to follow different career paths? What do you think is stopping people f...
Aug 14, 2023•48 min•Season 4Ep. 10
Tim Munden , award-winning Former Chief Learning Officer of Unilever and Founder and Director of Kairon joins Paul Ashcroft, Simon Brown, Garrick Jones in a thought-provoking discussion on igniting and discovering purpose, ensuring wellbeing for individuals and leaders, and focusing on the approach of upskilling employees to shift behaviours. How is purpose connected to curiosity and how does managing the wellbeing of leaders create organizations fit for the future? Why should organisations aspi...
Jul 20, 2023•54 min•Season 4Ep. 9
