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  • #79 Imagining the Future - Where Sci-Fi Meets Curiosity with Ari Popper (Founder & CEO, SciFutures)

    #79 Imagining the Future - Where Sci-Fi Meets Curiosity with Ari Popper (Founder & CEO, SciFutures)
    2025/06/11
    In this episode of The Curious Advantage podcast, Simon Brown and Paul Ashcroft speak with Ari Popper, Founder & CEO of SciFutures, to explore the intersection of science fiction, innovation, and leadership.

    Ari shares his journey from experiencing a midlife crisis to founding SciFutures, where he helps organizations envision and prepare for the future through storytelling and strategic foresight. The conversation delves into the role of narrative in shaping our understanding of emerging technologies, the evolving nature of leadership in an AI-driven world, and the importance of curiosity, adaptability, and ethical awareness.

    Together, they explore how science fiction can serve as a powerful tool for sparking innovation, cultivating future-ready mindsets, and navigating the challenges of rapid technological advancement.

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction to SciFutures and Ari Popper's Journey
    03:10 Understanding the Future: Methodologies and Insights
    06:01 The Role of Storytelling in Shaping Futures
    08:57 Predicting the Future: Successes and Misses
    11:57 Emerging Technologies and Their Impacts
    15:10 Preparing for the Future: Education and Leadership
    17:58 Human Skills in an AI-Driven World
    20:59 The Future of Leadership and Organizational Change
    26:42 The Art of Time Travel on a Budget
    28:04 Mindsets for Future Thinking
    29:50 Distilling Challenges in Innovation
    30:58 Minding the Gap in Leadership
    32:59 Curiosity and Information Synthesis
    38:06 Optimism in the Age of AI
    40:58 Exploring Emerging Technologies
    45:06 The Skill of Future Thinking

    About the Curious Advantage Podcast Series
    Join the authors of The Curious Advantage in an exploration of how individuals and organizations can harness the power of curiosity to drive success in our new digital reality. In each episode, they engage in enlightening conversations with world-leading experts from a diversity of disciplines to bring to life the latest understanding of curiosity in a way that’s useful to anyone looking to embark on a journey of discovery, navigate challenges, and unlock opportunities.

    About The Curious Advantage Book
    The Curious Advantage is an exploration of the idea of Curiosity and its increasing importance for thriving in the digital age. Taking the widest possible exploration of things Curious – historical, contemporary, neuro-scientific, anthropological, behavioural, semantic and business-focused. At the heart of the book is our model of Curiosity, called ’Sailing the 7C’s of Curiosity’. This model provides individuals with a practical framework for how to be successfully Curious and use Curiosity as a power skill to unlock their own potential. To find out more visit: curiousadvantage.com

    Get your copy of The Curious Advantage on Amazon
    The Curious Advantage Audiobook is also available on Audible
    Follow The Curious Advantage on LinkedIn and Instagram

    The Curious Advantage Podcast is executive produced by Jessica Wickham, Pasha Adam and Aliki Paolinelis. Audio editing is expertly by Danny Cross. Video editing is done by Jessica Wickham & Helena Gonzalez.
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    41 分
  • #78 Curious About How Workshops Can Boost Team Culture with Alison Coward (Founder, Bracket)

    #78 Curious About How Workshops Can Boost Team Culture with Alison Coward (Founder, Bracket)
    2025/05/28
    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 culture. Alison also outlines the five pillars of high-performing teams: alignment, cohesion, communication, design, and change, and highlights the need for organizations to create environments that support these elements.

    00:00 Introduction to Workshop Culture
    03:03 The Journey to Facilitation
    06:01 Defining Workshop Culture
    08:52 Practical Steps for Effective Collaboration
    11:51 Leading Through Uncertainty
    15:05 The Role of Online vs In-Person Workshops
    17:56 Five Pillars of High Performing Teams
    23:59 Curiosity in Team Dynamics
    26:47 Balancing Creativity and Productivity
    30:07 Leveraging AI in Workshop Culture
    33:57 Final Thoughts and Key Takeaways

    Bracket : www.bracketcreative.co.uk
    Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/alisoncoward
    Workshop Culture: A Guide to Building Teams That Thrive (book):www.bracketcreative.co.uk/workshopculture (visit: https://practicalinspiration.com/book/workshop-culture (UK) or https://indiepubs.com/products/workshop-culture-1/ (US) and use code WRKCULT30 for a 30% discount)

    About the Curious Advantage Podcast Series
    Join the authors of The Curious Advantage in an exploration of how individuals and organizations can harness the power of curiosity to drive success in our new digital reality. In each episode, they engage in enlightening conversations with world-leading experts from a diversity of disciplines to bring to life the latest understanding of curiosity in a way that’s useful to anyone looking to embark on a journey of discovery, navigate challenges, and unlock opportunities.

    About The Curious Advantage Book
    The Curious Advantage is an exploration of the idea of Curiosity and its increasing importance for thriving in the digital age. Taking the widest possible exploration of things Curious – historical, contemporary, neuro-scientific, anthropological, behavioural, semantic and business-focused. At the heart of the book is our model of Curiosity, called ’Sailing the 7C’s of Curiosity’. This model provides individuals with a practical framework for how to be successfully Curious and use Curiosity as a power skill to unlock their own potential. To find out more visit: curiousadvantage.com

    Get your copy of The Curious Advantage on Amazon
    The Curious Advantage Audiobook is also available on Audible
    Follow The Curious Advantage on LinkedIn and Instagram

    The Curious Advantage Podcast is executive produced by Jessica Wickham, Pasha Adam and Aliki Paolinelis. Audio editing is expertly by Danny Cross. Video editing is done by Jessica Wickham & Helena Gonzalez.
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    36 分
  • #77 The Experience Machine - Is Reality All in Your Head? with Andy Clark (Cognitive Philosopher)

    #77 The Experience Machine - Is Reality All in Your Head? with Andy Clark (Cognitive Philosopher)
    2025/04/30
    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 mistakes to the surprising ways our expectations influence pain and mental health, this is a rich conversation about perception, learning, and the stories we tell ourselves.

    They also look at how embracing uncertainty drives growth and innovation, and how AI, algorithms, and education are shaping the way we think.

    Chapters
    00:00 Introduction to the Curious Advantage Podcast
    01:55 The Journey of Andy Clark
    02:21 The Brain as a Prediction Machine
    06:59 Balancing Predictions and Sensory Input
    11:25 Error, Curiosity, and Learning
    18:26 Wired to Reduce Uncertainty
    21:16 Pain, Expectation, and Mental Health
    25:45 Curating Uncertainty for Better Predictions
    28:34 The Role of Environment in Shaping Reality
    31:07 Art, Literature, and Predictive Systems
    32:49 The Impact of Algorithms on Human Experience
    34:34 AI and Human Predictive Models
    40:23 The Future of AI and Human Collaboration
    46:20 Education and Embracing Error
    49:15 Practical Applications of Predictive Processing
    About the Curious Advantage Podcast Series
    Join the authors of The Curious Advantage in an exploration of how individuals and organizations can harness the power of curiosity to drive success in our new digital reality. In each episode, they engage in enlightening conversations with world-leading experts from a diversity of disciplines to bring to life the latest understanding of curiosity in a way that’s useful to anyone looking to embark on a journey of discovery, navigate challenges, and unlock opportunities.

    About The Curious Advantage Book
    The Curious Advantage is an exploration of the idea of Curiosity and its increasing importance for thriving in the digital age. Taking the widest possible exploration of things Curious – historical, contemporary, neuro-scientific, anthropological, behavioural, semantic and business-focused. At the heart of the book is our model of Curiosity, called ’Sailing the 7C’s of Curiosity’. This model provides individuals with a practical framework for how to be successfully Curious and use Curiosity as a power skill to unlock their own potential. To find out more visit: curiousadvantage.com

    Get your copy of The Curious Advantage on Amazon
    The Curious Advantage Audiobook is also available on Audible
    Follow The Curious Advantage on LinkedIn and Instagram
    The Curious Advantage Podcast is executive produced by Jessica Wickham and Aliki Paolinelis. Audio editing is expertly by Danny Cross. Video editing is done by Jessica Wickham.
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    47 分
  • #76 Navigating Trust in the Age of AI with Charles H. Green (Founder, Trusted Advisor Associates)

    #76 Navigating Trust in the Age of AI with Charles H. Green (Founder, Trusted Advisor Associates)
    2025/04/15
    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 personal agency in fostering trust and connection in a rapidly changing world. They also discuss the growing presence of AI-generated scams, deep fakes, and the challenges these pose to building and maintaining trust in the digital age.

    Chapters
    00:00 Introduction to Trust and Curiosity
    18:13 The Trust Equation Explained
    24:30 Trust in Sales: The Meat Sandwich Model
    33:40 Trust in the Age of AI
    41:58 Personal Agency and Change
    About the Curious Advantage Podcast Series
    Join the authors of The Curious Advantage in an exploration of how individuals and organizations can harness the power of curiosity to drive success in our new digital reality. In each episode, they engage in enlightening conversations with world-leading experts from a diversity of disciplines to bring to life the latest understanding of curiosity in a way that’s useful to anyone looking to embark on a journey of discovery, navigate challenges, and unlock opportunities.

    About The Curious Advantage Book
    The Curious Advantage is an exploration of the idea of Curiosity and its increasing importance for thriving in the digital age. Taking the widest possible exploration of things Curious – historical, contemporary, neuro-scientific, anthropological, behavioural, semantic and business-focused. At the heart of the book is our model of Curiosity, called ’Sailing the 7C’s of Curiosity’. This model provides individuals with a practical framework for how to be successfully Curious and use Curiosity as a power skill to unlock their own potential. To find out more visit: curiousadvantage.com

    Get your copy of The Curious Advantage on Amazon
    The Curious Advantage Audiobook is also available on Audible
    Follow     The Curious Advantage on LinkedIn and Instagram

    The Curious Advantage Podcast is executive produced by Jessica Wickham and Aliki Paolinelis. Audio editing is expertly by Danny Cross. Video editing by Jessica Wickham and John McGinty.
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    35 分
  • #75 Curious about Futurism with Bob Johansen

    #75 Curious about Futurism with Bob Johansen
    2025/04/03
    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 augmented clarity and bioengaging, and hear how cross-generational collaboration is key to thriving in disruption. With reflections on faith, hope, and decision-making in an age of ambiguity, this conversation offers a hopeful yet grounded roadmap for staying curious in the face of the unknown.

    00:00 The Journey of a Futurist
    03:11 Understanding the Role of a Futurist
    05:51 Engaging with Future Signals
    09:00 The VUCA and BANI World
    11:53 The Impact of Generative AI
    15:05 Curiosity and Future Leadership
    24:01 Curiosity and Future-Back Thinking
    25:52 Key Skills for Future Leadership
    32:10 Practical Augmentation for Leaders
    36:21 Faith and Hope in a Changing World
    42:01 Cross-Generational Collaboration and Neuroscience
    48:05 Optimism in a Frightening Future

    Interested in purchasing the book? Contact bookorders@bkpub.org for exclusive group discounts and bulk order offers for The Curious Advantage listeners.

    About The Curious Advantage Book
    The Curious Advantage is an exploration of the idea of Curiosity and its increasing importance for thriving in the digital age. Taking the widest possible exploration of things Curious – historical, contemporary, neuro-scientific, anthropological, behavioural, semantic and business-focused. At the heart of the book is our model of Curiosity, called ’Sailing the 7C’s of Curiosity’. This model provides individuals with a practical framework for how to be successfully Curious and use Curiosity as a power skill to unlock their own potential. To find out more visit: curiousadvantage.com

    Get your copy of The Curious Advantage on Amazon
    The Curious Advantage Audiobook is also available on Audible
    Follow     The Curious Advantage on LinkedIn and Instagram

    The Curious Advantage Podcast is executive produced by Jessica Wickham and Aliki Paolinelis. Audio editing is expertly by Danny Cross. Video editing by Jessica Wickham and John McGinty.
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    43 分
  • S7 Ep1: #74 Wilful Blindness, "The Naked Truth" and Super Chickens with Margaret Heffernan

    S7 Ep1: #74 Wilful Blindness, "The Naked Truth" and Super Chickens with Margaret Heffernan
    2025/03/24
    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 and the ‘super chicken’ effect—where individual performance overshadows team success. She advocates for rethinking workplace culture to foster learning, connection, and innovation.
    About The Curious Advantage Book
    The Curious Advantage is an exploration of the idea of Curiosity and its increasing importance for thriving in the digital age. Taking the widest possible exploration of things Curious – historical, contemporary, neuro-scientific, anthropological, behavioural, semantic and business-focused. At the heart of the book is our model of Curiosity, called ’Sailing the 7C’s of Curiosity’. This model provides individuals with a practical framework for how to be successfully Curious and use Curiosity as a power skill to unlock their own potential. To find out more visit: curiousadvantage.com

    Get your copy of The Curious Advantage on Amazon
    The Curious Advantage Audiobook is also available on Audible
    Follow     The Curious Advantage on LinkedIn and Instagram
    The Curious Advantage Podcast is executive produced by Jessica Wickham and Aliki Paolinelis. Audio editing is expertly by Danny Cross. Video editing by Jessica Wickham and John McGinty.
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    48 分
  • S6 Ep10: #73 Shifting the Planet - Pragmatic Tools for Planetary Transformation with Indy Johar (Co-founder, Dark Matter Labs)

    S6 Ep10: #73 Shifting the Planet - Pragmatic Tools for Planetary Transformation with Indy Johar (Co-founder, Dark Matter Labs)
    2024/11/13
    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 explores the need for a radical transformation in our theory of corporation and the role of leaders in shifting from command and control to learning and coaching. It discusses the challenges of the current unsustainable path and the need to change the system and the way we think. The conversation also delves into the role of technology, such as AI and generative AI, in enabling the agentification of the world and driving new ways of dealing with complexity. It emphasizes the importance of curiosity, holding uncertainty, and building economies of discovery. The conversation concludes with the need to shift the flow of capital to invest in the unknown and manage risks in order to create a more positive future.

    Get your copy of The Curious Advantage on Amazon
    The Curious Advantage Audiobook is also available on Audible
    Follow     The Curious Advantage on LinkedIn and Instagram
    The Curious Advantage Podcast is executive produced by Jessica Wickham and Aliki Paolinelis. Audio editing is expertly by Danny Cross. Video editing by Jessica Wickham and John McGinty.
    #CuriosityInAction #SustainableFuture #TransformingEconomy #CityMaking #DarkMatterQuestions #ClimateAction #BiodiversityCrisis #LeadershipEvolution #AIForGood #GenerativeAI #FutureOfWork #SystemsThinking #InnovativeLeadership #EconomiesOfDiscovery #InvestInTheFuture #Curiosity #CuriousAdvantage #Sustainability #AI #Leadership #Management
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    48 分
  • S6 Ep9: #72 Problem Solving, Enormous Data Sets & AI with Alexia Cambon (Senior Director of Research, Microsoft)

    S6 Ep9: #72 Problem Solving, Enormous Data Sets & AI with Alexia Cambon (Senior Director of Research, Microsoft)
    2024/10/30
    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 implications of AI on decision-making and cognitive skills. Alexia emphasizes the need for organizations to embrace AI as a new dimension of intelligence while ensuring that essential human skills are preserved. In this conversation, the speakers explore the multifaceted impact of AI on critical thinking, education, and workplace dynamics.
    We discuss the potential biases inherent in AI models, the transformative role of AI in providing a safe learning environment for students, and the emergence of power users who leverage AI for enhanced productivity. The discussion also delves into the importance of curiosity and persistence in effectively utilizing AI, the evolving nature of work as AI becomes a team member, and the implications for human relationships in an increasingly AI-driven world.

    About the Curious Advantage Podcast Series
    Join the authors of The Curious Advantage in an exploration of how individuals and organizations can harness the power of curiosity to drive success in our new digital reality. In each episode, they engage in enlightening conversations with world-leading experts from a diversity of disciplines to bring to life the latest understanding of curiosity in a way that’s useful to anyone looking to embark on a journey of discovery, navigate challenges, and unlock opportunities.

    About The Curious Advantage Book
    The Curious Advantage is an exploration of the idea of Curiosity and its increasing importance for thriving in the digital age. Taking the widest possible exploration of things Curious – historical, contemporary, neuro-scientific, anthropological, behavioural, semantic and business-focused. At the heart of the book is our model of Curiosity, called ’Sailing the 7C’s of Curiosity’. This model provides individuals with a practical framework for how to be successfully Curious and use Curiosity as a power skill to unlock their own potential. To find out more visit: curiousadvantage.com

    Get your copy of The Curious Advantage on Amazon
    The Curious Advantage Audiobook is also available on Audible
    Follow     The Curious Advantage on LinkedIn and Instagram
    The Curious Advantage Podcast is executive produced by Jessica Wickham and Aliki Paolinelis. Audio editing is expertly by Danny Cross. Video editing by Jessica Wickham and John McGinty.
    #AIinWorkplace #WorkTrendsIndex #AIandProductivity #ArtificialIntelligence #FutureOfWork #AIEducation #DataDrivenDecisions #AIandCuriosity #HumanMachineCollaboration #AIBias #CuriousAdvantage #CriticalThinking #PowerOfAI #WorkplaceInnovation #AILeadership #CognitiveSkills
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    44 分