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

How to be a better Public Speaker with Dr Lousie Mahler.  (This is a reboot of episode 71, recorded a few years back - and one of our favourites) Dr Louise is the polymath's polymath and is recognised as a Top 30 Global Guru in both Body Language and Communication. She was an Opera singer for 10 years with the Vienna State Opera.  Louise’s qualifications include B.Econ; B. Mus; Post Grad Dip Music; L.Mus.A; Master of Applied Science in Organisational Change and a Master Practitioner in Neuro-Linguistic Programming.  She has completed an award-winning PhD around the unsung wisdom of the mind-body-voice connection she named Vocal Intelligence. She is a sought-after commentator discussing leadership, body language and effective presentation on television, radio and in the media. Her recent interviews with Channel 7 where she analyses the body language of Harry and Meghan Sussex have over 2 million views. Louise's clients include Fortune 500 clients around the globe.  Louise was voted Keynotes Speaker of the Year in 2021 by the Professional Speakers Association and is the author of "Resonate: for people who need to be heard"  She is the virtuoso of the voice, the high priestess of hot air and the femme fatale of unfailing attraction.  In this episode we explore:  The importance of breathing out (not just in)  Why we all need to channel ancient Rome and have way more Grrrrrrrravitas  Why communication should not just be a linear give and receive  Why we need to stop making excuses for communication (including being left-handed)  How we need to embrace Move, Move, Move  How wit and levity are wingmen for all types of communication  Why it's important to be an active listener, not just a passive listener The importance of saying ‘yes, please!’ more often More about Louise https://louisemahler.com.au/   Say Hello www.occupationalphilosophers.com Their day jobs JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/ SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg   Take the Innovation Scorecard! https://empoweringinnovation.scoreapp.com/   Take creativity & innovation to the next level Answer 25 questions and we’ll send you a personalised report to benchmark the  level of creativity and innovation in your organisation It just takes a few minutes takes just a few minutes It’s completely free Receive customised results instantly

9/1/26 • 75:08

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

9/1/26 • 29:19

Why Movement Changes How You Think | Nuggets With Peter Lovatt The Occupational Philosophers | Episode 120 Nuggets With Dr Peter Lovatt — Dance Psychologist and the show's very first-ever guest. John and Simon launch a new segment, likely the poorly named 'Nuggets', by digging back into the archive and pulling out the three ideas (nuggets) from Peter's original episode: what movement does to thinking, why dancing first beats thinking first, and why fear of judgement quietly kills creativity and curiosity. Timestamps 00:00 — Intro to the show and the new Nuggets segment 00:01 — Meet Dr Peter Lovatt, the show's first-ever guest 00:02 — Idea 1: Movement and thinking — structured movement for convergent problems, improvised movement for divergent ones 00:03 — Idea 2: "Dance first, think later" and how movement disrupts default thinking patterns 00:05 — Idea 3: The fear of being judged, and how it shuts down dance, creativity and curiosity alike 00:07 — Thought experiment: encouraging more movement inside your organisation 00:07 — Practical experiment: designing your day for multiple moments of movement 00:08 — Wrap-up with a Nietzsche quote on movement and ideas 00:09 — Subscribe and outro Find out more  Peter Lovatt https://peterlovatt.com https://academy.doctordance.com https://peterlovatt.com/the-dance-cure https://x.com/DrPeterLovatt   The Occupational Philosophers https://www.occupationalphilosophers.com https://occupationalphilosophers.substack.com https://www.bowlandconsulting.com https://www.simonbanks.com.au   Key Ideas Convergent Problems Get Structure, Divergent Problems Get Wiggle — Lovatt's advice for revision was to match the movement to the thinking task: structured movement like running sharpens convergent, single-answer problem solving, while loose, improvised movement (his "bit of a John Travolta") loosens up divergent thinking for open-ended, creative problems. Dance First, Think Later — Lovatt's central claim reverses the usual order of operations. Moving first, before you've worked out what to think, breaks your existing thought patterns and forces the brain into new territory rather than looping the same ideas. Movement Changes Your State Immediately — Beyond the cognitive shift, moving also changes how you feel in the moment, through the endorphins it releases. The state change is instant, whether or not the movement ever tips into actual dancing. The Fear of Being Judged Is the Real Blocker — Dance gets written off early as something only children do, or something you need to be brilliant at to attempt. That same fear of judgement, not a lack of ability, is what stops most adults from dancing, singing, or making anything at all. The Fear Shows Up in the Boardroom Too — The same self-consciousness that stops someone dancing in public is what stops them asking a question in a meeting. Teams that don't challenge assumptions or chase breakthrough moments are often just as afraid of looking silly as a nervous dancer is. Standout Line "Dance first, think later. It's the natural order."

8/26/26 • 10:10

The Art of Asking Great Questions (and how not to lose it) The Occupational Philosophers | Episode 119 - Larry Robertson  Larry Robertson is an author, innovation advisor, and Inc. Magazine columnist and founder of Lighthouse Consulting, where he's spent three decades helping organisations successfully manage growth. He's a graduate of Stanford and Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management; he was named a US Fulbright Scholar in 2021, (a rare distinction for someone working outside academia). If that's not enough, he's also an Adjunct Professor!  In his work, he's watched the world drift away from real questions and toward statements dressed up as questions, which, unsurprisingly, is the subject of his fourth book, Great Question: The Art of the Ask. This episode dives into what that lack of curiosity can cost us. Importantly, the book explores what we get back when we relearn the practice of noticing, intellectual humility, and the "adjacent possible" as a way of seeing what's one step from where we already are. It also unearths the bigger question of what it means to be human.  Larry is possibly the world's nicest man, and Simon and John hope you enjoy listening to the show as much as they did recording it. There are so many gems here.  Timestamps 00:00 – What's caught your curious eye and Simon's favourite artwork story 00:08 – Larry's curious eye: yellow finches, and the joy of seeing 00:13 – Dinner party questions: The big question Larry keeps circling back to 00:20 – Larry's Venn diagram, and his to-ask list (with an assist from Mary Oliver) 00:25 – Where the new book started: the pattern across his first three books 00:29 – The 25-year observation: statements replacing real questions 00:32 – Four things a question is: an invitation, a frame, a behaviour, an identity 00:37 – Noticing versus the practiced noticer 00:40 – Stuart Kauffman and the adjacent possible 00:43 – Slow looking, the National Gallery, and Claire Bown's "The Art Engager" 00:47 – Training medical students by having them diagnose art 00:50 – Intellectual humility: the Hero's Journey, three levels, and the mantras for practicing it 00:58 – Warm data versus cold data, and reframing the data-centre problem 01:02 – Why the book matters: mattering, meaning, and being a questioning species 01:07 – Jeopardy! Possibly the world's best ever thought experiment 01:13 – Rapid fire: the manifesto addition, plus book and film recommendations 01:18 – What's next for Larry, and where to find him Live Links Larry Robertson Website: https://lrspeaks.com/ Great Question: The Art of the Ask (Amazon): https://www.amazon.com/Great-Question-Getting-More-Really/dp/0983757461 Lighthouse Consulting: https://lighthouse-consulting.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/larryrobertson3rd/ Column — Inc. Magazine: https://www.inc.com/author/larry-robertson People & Work Mentioned World Peace Game Foundation (Robin Klingler): https://worldpeacegame.org/ Stuart Kauffman, theoretical biologist and originator of "the adjacent possible": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuart_Kauffman Claire Brown — The Art Engager / Thinking Museum: https://thinkingmuseum.com/ Project Zero, Harvard Graduate School of Education: https://pz.harvard.edu/ Centre for BrainHealth, UT Dallas (art-based medical student training): https://centerforbrainhealth.org/ Temple Grandin: An Open Door (documentary): https://www.templegrandindocumentary.com/ The Occupational Philosophers Website: https://www.occupationalphilosophers.com Substack: https://occupationalphilosophers.substack.com John — Bowland Consulting: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com Simon — simonbanks.com.au: https://www.simonbanks.com.au Key Ideas The Practiced Noticer — Paying attention isn't passive. Larry draws a line between people who simply notice and "practiced noticers" who've turned observation into a discipline, and it's a skill anyone can build. The Adjacent Possible — Borrowed from theoretical biologist Stuart Kauffman, the idea that breakthrough thinking doesn't arrive fully formed. It shows up in workman's clothes, one small step past what you already know. Intellectual Humility Isn't Humility — It isn't about admitting you were wrong. It's accepting that what you know might be incomplete, and that you might have to change because of what comes back to you. Questions Are a Behaviour, Not Just a Skill — Brains are built to do their best work in uncertainty. The questioning instinct is wired in, long before we have the words to ask anything. The Slow Disappearance of the Real Question — Twenty-five years of observation led Larry to a blunt conclusion: more of what passes for questions now are just statements with a question mark at the end. Mattering Over Meaning — The point isn't landing on one big answer at fifty that carries you to ninety. It's staying in the practice of asking why you matter, again and again. Warm Data Versus Cold Data — The numbers on the spreadsheet only tell part of the story. The atmosphere in the room, the thing you sense rather than measure, is often where the real signal lives. Standout Line "What will you realise soon that you already know?" As always:  Stay curious, play more, have fun, make stuff, and as you leave the door, date life as always, stay curious, play more, have fun, make stuff, and as you leave the door, date life. 

8/17/26 • 81:42

In Episode 118,The Occupational Philosophers dive into a totally different format! Together with Natasha Redman, host of the very popular‘Casa De Cambio’ podcast, they have created their first ‘mash up’ podcast episode which invites them to be both guests and hosts to each other on one show! In this episode they explore a wide range of topics including: What’s the best Quentin Tarantino movie? What was the best career advice you’ve ever received? What have John and Simon learned about curiosity in over 100 episodes? Who are the 4 horsemen of Nirvana? Why saying ‘I don’t know’ is so powerful How to stay curious (even when under pressure) What questions should organisations be wrestling with today? How should any change initiative start? How can you implement changes when ‘all is in flux’? If you change all the planks of the ‘Ship of Theseus’, is it still the ‘Ship of Theseus’? Where do organisations struggle when it comes to change? The danger of ‘Toxic positivity’ and how to counter it Why ‘pet projects’ can derail change programmes What is the secret of the universe….sorry….scrub that, wrong podcast And as ever, enjoy the Thought Experiment …this time it’s: Who’s in the house? About Natasha Redman  Natasha Redman is an experienced change practitioner and project professional, with a proven track record in system implementations, organisational change initiatives and large-scale transformations. She has managed change initiatives at Australia’s biggest companies (including ANZ, Telstra, Australia Post, Accenture, NAB, Newcrest), holds multiple certifications and is well versed in both agile and waterfall delivery methods. Natasha’s passion for all things change led to her creating and hosting a successful podcast about change, technology, innovation and leadership.   Learn more about Natasha  https://www.linkedin.com/in/natasharedman/ https://www.casadecambio.com.au/   References https://www.thethe.com/ https://www.amazon.com/World-Needs-Your-Art-Creativity/dp/1683503732 https://conneradvisory.com/daryl-conner/ Bad Boy Bubby https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106341/   Casa De Cambio - Free webinar 9th July https://www.linkedin.com/posts/changify_agile-changemanagement-erptransformation-activity-7475121753778806785-K9ax?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAABIFFkBQKyN-YVNoL5dWZCukKlPAEKDwCI   John and Simon hope you enjoy the show as much as they enjoyed making it. It's the reason they started this show - interesting, cool and creative people who have taken the path less travelled and kicked arse!  Say Hello to the OP  www.occupationalphilosophers.com Their day jobs JOHN www.bowlandconsulting.com SIMON www.simonbanks.com.au  

7/1/26 • 90:55

The Occupational Philosophers  |  Episode 117  |  With Jasper Vallance Jasper Vallance is a social entrepreneur who left his corporate life at Google to create a life of meaning driven by his passions. As an event architect, he became the founder of Australia's largest sober dance party.  He has taken what he learned at Burning Man to rethink what corporate gatherings could actually do for people. This episode is about why many company events don't work and what intentional gathering looks like when it's done right. In this episode, they cover the collapse of Friday drinks, the WeWork meltdown (yes, that one), and why alcohol has never actually been the social lubricant we think it is. Timestamps 05:00 – Guest intro: Jasper Vallance 07:30 – Burning Seed relaunch — Cosmic Canyon 10:24 – Burning Man 101: it's 10 principles 12:19 – Dinner Party Round begins 12:41 – What's giving you joy? Who inspires you?  16:12 – Big question: can the magic of Burning Man translate to company events? 20:49 – Why Jasper is always in costume and why that matters 21:22 – The secret sauce: costumes do what alcohol does, without the damage 22:20 – Google, 2007, and what the digital age did to human connection 26:01 – How Burning Man changed his life 27:42 – How Xstatic Sunsets was born: the natural high through dance 28:22 – Walking the talk: how do you actually create belonging? 30:15 – The welcome experience: hugs, costumes, facilitators 31:42 – The corporate opportunity: what if the CEO wore a chicken outfit? 33:00 – Storytelling starts before people arrive and the art of building anticipation 35:14 – Thought Experiment: Jasper Vallance, Event Detective 51:44 – Rapid fire: one thing you couldn't live without 53:04 – Dr. Peter Lovatt: dance first, think later 56:19 – What's next: Burning Seed and Immersive8 57:42 – Where to find Jasper online 58:50 – Post-show reflections: John and Simon on the art of gathering Key Ideas Purpose before planning. Most corporate events treat purpose as an afterthought. Jasper argues it should be the first thing locked in — not as a value statement, but as a lived experience the event is designed to create. Participation over presentation. Burning Man works because everyone is in the action. The moment people become spectators, you lose them. Same applies to company offsites. Costumes do what alcohol does, without the damage. They lower inhibitions, break social hierarchies, and give people permission to play. Jasper has proven this at scale. The welcome is everything. The first point of contact sets the entire tone. Not an icebreaker on a slide. An actual human welcome that makes people feel like they belong. Passions connect people across silos. Ask everyone what they love doing outside work. Cyclists ride together. Cooks cook together. Then they come back with something real in common. Post-COVID, Friday drinks aren't coming back. Younger generations want to go home. The social fabric of the office has changed. The answer isn't to recreate the old model — it's to reimagine what connection looks like now. Standout Line "I have guys coming up at the end of the night going, 'I almost had a drink before I came in, but I'm so glad I didn't.' That is the experience I'm trying to deliver." Live Links Jasper Vallance - Personal site: https://www.jaspervallance.com  - Immersive8 (corporate events agency): https://immersive8.agency  - Xstatic Sunsets (sober dance parties): https://www.xstaticsunsets.com  People & Movements Mentioned - Peter Sharp & The Liberators: https://www.theliberators.org  - Peter Sharp (personal site): https://www.petersharp.com.au  - Dr. Peter Lovatt (dance psychologist, Episode 4/5): https://www.drpeterdance.com  Events & Festivals - Burning Man: https://burningman.org  - Burning Seed (Australian regional Burning Man event): https://www.burningseed.com  - Blazing Swan (WA regional burn): https://blazingswan.com.au  - Elsewhere (the successor to Nowhere, Spain's European burn): https://nobodies.team  - Bali Spirit Festival: https://www.balispiritfestival.com  Events Referenced - Fyre Festival — Netflix documentary: https://www.netflix.com/title/81035279  - WeWork: Or the Making and Breaking of a $47 Billion Unicorn — documentary: https://www.hulu.com/movie/wecrashed-the-rise-and-fall-of-wework-documentary  - Woodstock 99: Peace, Love, and Rage — Netflix documentary: https://www.netflix.com/title/81258733  Get in Touch: The Occupational Philosophers - Website: https://www.occupationalphilosophers.com  - Substack: https://occupationalphilosophers.substack.com - John: Bowland Consulting: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com - Simon: https://www.simonbanks.com.au   

6/26/26 • 66:30

In this episode 114, the Occupational Philosophers chat with the wonderfully curious Professor Katherine Boydell.  Katherine is an internationally recognised leader in qualitative inquiry and arts-based knowledge translation in mental health and social care with innovative approaches to create knowledge and translate empirical research using arts-based methods, including art installations.  She is the founder and head of the award-winning Arts-based Knowledge Translation Lab at Black Dog Institute and Director, Knowledge Translation, Maridulu Budyari Gumal – Sydney Partnership for Health Education Research and Enterprise.  She was appointed as a Fellow of the prestigious Australian Academy of Social Sciences in 2020. She is Vice-President of the Arts & Health Network of NSW/ACT and is Executive Editor of the Arts & Health journal and Associate Editor of Early Intervention in Psychiatry. She has been a Visiting Professor at the University of Wollongong, University of Sydney, Rotterdam Arts & Science Lab, Radboud University, and Singapore Art Museum. She has published over 300 peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters and books as well as other arts-based outputs such as research-based installations and exhibits and two PhDs.  Her recent book, Applying Body Mapping in Research: An Arts-Based Method, brings together years of practice using this powerful participatory technique across health and social care settings around the world. This is some impressive stuff!  In this episode, they explore a wide range of topics including: What sparked Katherine's passion for arts-based research The Salon des Refusés: The alternative Archibald Prize exhibition Abstract painting, layering, and what lies underneath Five grandsons and the joy of childlike curiosity What actually counts as evidence in research? How Katherine's lab uses art to create AND share knowledge ReBloom: An interactive digital installation about self-harm, hope and human connection Body mapping: tracing, filling, and telling stories through the body Taking research-based art into shopping centres and office lobbies with Dexus The Think, Feel, Do framework for measuring impact Deep looking and why we need more of it Arts on prescription and the therapeutic consequences of engaging with art Why the funding still hasn't caught up with the evidence Chapters  0:00 Opening quote: Embrace Messiness 0:26 Intro & Guest Introduction 0:44 Introducing Professor Katherine Boydell 3:03 Curious Eye: The Salon des Refusés 5:05 Dinner Party Round 13:15 Arts-Based Research: What Katherine Does 17:37 ReBloom: Arts & Self-Harm Research 29:48 Body Mapping Explained 36:59 Dexus Partnership & Public Installations 43:23 Wrap-Up & Rapid Fire Questions 48:59 Post-Show Reflections John and Simon hope you enjoy the show as much as they enjoyed making it. It's the reason they started this show - interesting, cool and creative people who have taken the path less travelled and kicked arse!  Learn more about Catherine Black Dog Institute https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/ Arts-Based Knowledge Translation Lab (overview page) https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/research/ Sydney Partnership for Health Education Research and Enterprise (SPHERE) https://www.thesphere.com.au/ Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherine-boydell-87b3867/  Arts and Health Journal: https://www.tandfonline.com/journals/rahe20 Rebloom Project https://www.uts.edu.au/news/2025/10/rebloom-how-an-art-installation-is-changing-conversations-about-self-harm Mentions Archibald Prize https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/prizes/archibald/ Salon des Refusés https://www.salonrefuses.com.au/  Art Gallery of New South Wales https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/ Daisy Fancourt The Art Cure https://www.penguin.com.au/books/art-cure-9781529935547https://www.penguin.co.uk/ World Health Organisation – What is the evidence on the role of the arts in improving health and well-being? A scoping review https://www.who.int/europe/publications/i/item/9789289054553 Arts & Health Journal https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/rahe20/current Early Intervention in Psychiatry https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/17517893 Say Hello to the OP  www.occupationalphilosophers.com Their day jobs JOHN Bowland Consulting SIMON www.simonbanks.com.au SIMON SHOWREEL 

5/28/26 • 54:18

In Episode 116,The Occupational Philosophers chat with Tim Simpson, creative director of Plunge Creations, a company probably best known for being the imaginative powerhouse in designing and making the costumes for ‘The Masked Singer UK’.    In this episode they explore a wide range of topic including: Why pencil and paper beats working on a laptop How imagination focuses on what’s important to you Where to scribble your most creative ideas…clue, it’s not the front of an envelope Whether a 10m cat is ever a good idea The creative process which brings the magic of Plunge Creations to life  How problem solving is a key skill which underpins the creative process How to tap into everyone’s bright ideas Is it ever possible to ‘price in the love’ on a creative project for a client? How might the education system better prioritise creativity? What might teams do to innovate and generate new ideas? Would the London Marathon be improved if everyone were dressed up?   And as ever, enjoy the Thought Experiment …this time it’s: Who’s that behind the mask?     About Tim Simpson As well as creating bold & crazy designs for the Masked Singer, which is one of the UK's biggest family entertainment shows and a show which has global fame, Tim and his team at Plunge also craft jaw-dropping props for cinema and TV, including for ‘The Traitors’; again another global phenomenon.   For the latest Wicked movie, they created a stunning sculpture in St Pancras International station in London, which drew you in to an adventure into the enchanting world of Wicked, bringing the Emerald City to life, with immersive details, and magical surprises - this takes your breath away when you first see it!   He is a creative all rounder, equally at home behind the computer, designing and visualising a project, or in the workshop, working alongside the team.    He is the Willy Wonka of design, creativity, magic, who lives in a world of pure imagination!     Learn more about Tim https://www.plungecreations.co.uk/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/plunge-productions/posts/?feedView=all   References David Bowie - https://lightroom.uk/ Leatherwork - https://www.wolframlohr.com/ Masked Singer UK - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Masked_Singer_(British_TV_series)_series_7 Playtime movie - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062136/ People’s Pyramid - https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/gallery/new-bricks-laid-people-build-32930136.amp   John and Simon hope you enjoy the show as much as they enjoyed making it. It's the reason they started this show - interesting, cool and creative people who have taken the path less travelled and kicked arse!  Say Hello to the OP  www.occupationalphilosophers.com Their day jobs JOHN www.bowlandconsulting.com SIMON www.simonbanks.com.au

5/18/26 • 80:51

The Occupational Philosophers chat with Kurt Sneddon, photographer, cinematographer, and actor. In this episode, they explore a wide range of topics including: Where AI can enhance the creative process The art of seeing; noticing what others might miss How the ‘buffet of inspiration’ differs between Sydney and NYC How to bring out the natural version of someone What might we do to improve the way we see and take perspectives The delightfully named ‘Humble Togs Club’...for photographers who are not dicks… Creating a safe environment that allows people, curiosity and creativity to flourish Why failure is the thing that supercharges your learning and creative output And as ever, enjoy the Thought Experiment …this time it’s: No Jerks Allowed About Kurt Sneddon... Kurt has built a thriving portrait & wedding studio in Sydney, Australia, before relocating in 2015 to pursue creative opportunities in New York City.  He photographs awesome actors, dancers, models and performers in the streets of New York City. He has a studio in East Williamsburg & SoHo in NYC - Kurt’s photography is all about creating authentic, impactful images that help performers stand out—and making sure they enjoy the process, not dread it. He pivoted into cinematography, trained at Maine Media Workshops, joined the Local 600 Camera Union, and worked in the camera crew on TV shows and films throughout NYC and upstate. More recently, he opened up a space for coaching photographers who are tired of toxic spaces and ego-driven attitudes, launching the Humble Togs Club - an online community where photographers can hang out, learn, and support each other in a safe, no-jerk zone - it's also an amazing community that celebrates progress, not perfection.   Learn more about Kurt Humble Togs  Podcast https://podcast.humbletogsclub.com/ Website https://www.humbletogsclub.com/intro Socials https://www.linkedin.com/in/bykurtsneddon/ https://bio.site/kurtsneddon https://www.kurtsneddon.com/ https://www.instagram.com/bykurtsneddon/ https://www.facebook.com/kurt.sneddon/ https://www.tiktok.com/@bykurtsneddon References https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoa_of_Attalos https://www.remussanctuary.org/interesting-goat-facts/ https://rayeofficial.com/ https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/conversations-about-foster-care/id1506508179 https://davinci.ai/ https://www.nano-banana.ai/ https://www.waterstones.com/book/a-life-in-parts/bryan-cranston/9781409156598   John and Simon hope you enjoy the show as much as they enjoyed making it. Its the reason they started this show - interesting, cool and creative people who have taken the path less travelled and kicked arse!  Say Hello to the OP  www.occupationalphilosophers.com Their day jobs JOHN www.bowlandconsulting.com SIMON www.simonbanks.com.au

4/17/26 • 64:08

In this episode 113, the Occupational Philosophers chat with the wonderfully curious David Bramwell - a writer, broadcaster, performer and professional seeker.  He’s the author of The Number 9 Bus to Utopia, a philosophical travel memoir, in which he went looking for different and potentially better ways of living. He’s presented many programmes for BBC Radio 3 and BBC Radio 4 on subjects ranging from Ivor Cutler, Ken Campbell and time travel, to the art of public speaking.  As a podcaster, he produces and presents Adventures in Nutopia and The Ways of Water,  and has co-hosted other popular podcasts including, Odditorium, Watling Street with author John Higgs, and Seeker! The Ken Campbell Podcast with Daisy Campbell. In 2020 his book The Cult of Water was published, exploring belief and rituals, and then in 2023 he self-published The Singalong-A-Wicker-Man Scrapbook. Since 2004 he has been hosting Brighton’s Catalyst Club, a monthly salon at which three guest speakers from all walks of life take to the stage to talk about their passions.  As a performer, he has toured several solo shows and performed at Soho Theatre, Somerset House, Tate St Ives, TEDx, Idler Academy, MOMA, UK festivals, and the Lowry Theatre.  And finally there's Oddfellow's Casino, an eclectic band project that blends spoken word, music and storytelling, and who are approaching their 25th anniversary this year.    In this episode they explore a wide range of topic including: How to use Brexit to dodge home DIY and tasks The Singalong-a-Wicker-Man show! Panpsychism and consciousness (Does Broccoli dream of sheep?) How do tomatoes feel about being eaten? Are tomatoes controlling us? What sparked David’s curiosity superpower? What fashion items are best for a philosophical data analyst? What lessons David learned on ‘The Number 9 Bus to Utopia’ How alternative communities show great creativity and imagination What the everyday interests of everyday people can tell us about curiosity and being human How we might engage better with people who have different views to ourselves What is the official name for a ‘Bum Reader’?   And as ever, enjoy the Thought Experiment …this time it’s: Where is this bus going?   Learn more about David https://www.drbramwell.com/   https://oddfellowscasino.bandcamp.com/ https://catalystclub.co.uk/ https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/adventures-in-nutopia/id1649333497     References Trevor Noah https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/nonprofittechies/microsoft-and-trevor-noah-a-partnership-for-asking-questions/4036636 Australian Writers Festival boycott https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgm4jkwz2z8 The Wicker Man https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wicker_Man Crows picking up cigarette butts https://stevedalepetworld.com/blog/something-to-crow-about/ Panpsychism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panpsychism Philip Goff https://philipgoffphilosophy.com/ Museum of Curiosity https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00k3wvk Spalding Gray https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spalding_Gray Rudolph Steiner https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudolf_Steiner Underground Temple https://thetemples.org/ Shark House https://museumofoxford.org/bill-heine-the-man-behind-the-headington-shark/ Findhorn https://visitfindhorn.uk/ The Min Min Light https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2020/jun/27/what-are-glowing-orbs-of-light-in-the-sky-world-over The Positive Revolution https://www.amazon.co.uk/Handbook-Positive-Revolution-Edward-Bono/dp/0670830127 La Bete https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14407336/ November https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6164502/ The Web of Meaning https://www.jeremylent.com/the-web-of-meaning.html   John and Simon hope you enjoy the show as much as they enjoyed making it. Its the reason they started this show - interesting, cool and creative people who have taken the path less travelled and kicked arse!  Say Hello to the OP  www.occupationalphilosophers.com Their day jobs JOHN Bowland Consulting SIMON www.simonbanks.com.au SIMON SHOWREEL

2/3/26 • 84:49

In Episode 112, The Occupational Philosophers chat with the artists, Catherine Borowski and Lee Baker, two exceptionally talented guests who show the true power of creative collaboration and imagination.  Together they have brought to life the SKIP Gallery; an international, collaborative, multi-disciplinary public art project dedicated to creating much-needed space, opportunities, funding and advocacy for emerging artists. The original idea was to forge opportunities for artistic interventions in unexpected places by repurposing rubbish skips.  In addition, they are also the founders of Graphic Rewilding, another large-scale public art project/s  creating vast, flower inspired, attention grabbing, positivity inducing artworks and immersive environments in often-overlooked and under-appreciated urban spaces And finally, PRODUCE UK provides a wide range of services for experiential event and placemaking clients; they have amassed an impressive portfolio of experience, working with such clients as Lumiere Light Festival, London Festival of Architecture, Cartoon Network, London Festival Week, Hem, Vanity Fair, Nike, Adidas and Discovery Channel. In this episode, they explore: Public art, everyday objects and filling a skip Bringing nature into urban landscapes How jarring your thinking can lead to greater levels of creativity Madonna’s spiritual practice as a source of success Enjoying the process of making art Why being bored could be the greatest gift to curiosity and creativity How distraction is the thief of creativity What good collaboration looks like - it’s not all smooth sailing… The beauty and psychological benefits of graphic rewilding  How communities are enhanced through public art And as ever, enjoy the Thought Experiment …this time it’s: Skip or Big Bin? Learn more about Catherine and Lee https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-borowski-7b531b8/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/lee-baker-ba2815145/ https://www.graphicrewilding.com/ https://www.produceuk.com/ https://www.instagram.com/catherine.borowski/ https://www.tiktok.com/@graphic_rewilding/video/7507316102276517142 References https://www.linkedin.com/posts/danielpink_this-one-image-can-make-you-more-creative-activity-7385767635411718144-Njqb/ https://veganfta.com/articles/2025/10/23/the-milking-herd-parades-through-london-to-protest-against-dairy/ https://www.michaeljohansson.com/ https://www.melrobbins.com/episode/episode-324/ https://www.merlinsheldrake.com/entangled-life https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/madonna-jay-shetty-podcast-spiritualism-kabbalah-b2835518.html https://hbr.org/2025/08/you-need-to-be-bored-heres-why John and Simon hope you enjoy the show as much as they enjoyed making it. Its the reason they started this show - interesting, cool and creative people who have taken the path less travelled and kicked arse!  Say Hello to the OP  www.occupationalphilosophers.com Their day jobs JOHN Bowland Consulting SIMON www.simonbanks.com.au SIMON SHOWREEL  

1/7/26 • 72:54

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 Bluey – ABC Kids The book Rest by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang World Expo Osaka 2025 Large Hadron Collider – CERN   Say Hello www.occupationalphilosophers.com Their day jobs JOHN Bowland Consulting SIMON www.simonbanks.com.au SIMON SHOWREEL  

9/26/25 • 72:16

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          

8/12/25 • 13:39

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

7/4/25 • 69:53

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 The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin English Sistine Chapel Replica Goring Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron Say Hello www.occupationalphilosophers.com Their day jobs JOHN Bowland Consulting SIMON www.simonbanks.com.au SIMON SHOWREEL  

6/9/25 • 38:34

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    

5/13/25 • 72:37

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  

4/9/25 • 32:54

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  

1/5/25 • 14:52

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

12/6/24 • 76:58

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

11/6/24 • 21:57

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

10/28/24 • 53:55

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

10/16/24 • 73:39

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 www.occupationalphilosophers.com  Substack https://occupationalphilosophers.substack.com/   Is your company innovative? Take the Scorecard for an instant report https://empoweringinnovation.scoreapp.com/  Their day jobs JOHN: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com/  SIMON: www.simonbanks.com.au  SIMON SHOWREEL: https://youtu.be/YZQdJI6qGvg   

10/1/24 • 13:36

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

9/20/24 • 35:24

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

8/22/24 • 26:05

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

8/16/24 • 79:23

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

7/29/24 • 28:59

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

7/12/24 • 88:05

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

7/3/24 • 13:25

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

6/18/24 • 76:07