Thinking With Mitch Joel

Mitch Joel

Six Pixels of Separation - Mitch Joel's weekly conversation with business leaders, thinkers, innovators and cultural icons. The show is about insights and provocations on brands, consumers, technology, business and how connected we've all become.

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#1051
Today · 57 min
Data Inspired With Sebastian Wernicke - TWMJ #1051
Welcome to episode #1051 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). Dr. Sebastian Wernicke has built his career at the intersection of data science, artificial intelligence, economics, and decision-making. He leads the Data Science and AI team at Oxera, one of Europe's leading economics consultancies, and has become widely recognized for his ability to make complex ideas about data both accessible and deeply human. Many people first encountered Sebastian through his memorable TED Talk, which cleverly used data to satirize TED Talks themselves, but his work has always been driven by a much bigger question: how can organizations use data to challenge assumptions instead of reinforcing them? His new book, Data Inspired - Building An Organizational Culture Of Inquiry For Lasting Transformation, argues that businesses have become too focused on being "data-driven" and not focused enough on becoming "data-inspired." In this episode, Sebastian explains why more data doesn't automatically lead to better decisions, why confirmation bias often causes us to use data to strengthen existing beliefs, and why the greatest value of data lies not in optimization but in transformation. We also discuss the promises and disappointments of big data, the rise of generative AI, synthetic data, AI agents, and why the hardest challenge facing organizations isn't technological... it's cultural. Along the way, Sebastian makes a compelling case that leadership is ultimately about designing environments where people are encouraged to ask better questions, embrace uncertainty, and use evidence to change their minds rather than defend them. It is a thoughtful conversation about data, intelligence, curiosity, and why the organizations that thrive in the AI era will be the ones that build cultures of inquiry instead of cultures of certainty. Enjoy the conversation... Running time: 57:16. Hello from beautiful Montreal. Listen and subscribe over at Apple Podcasts. Listen and subscribe over at Spotify. Please visit and leave comments on the blog - Thinking With Mitch Joel. Feel free to connect to me directly on LinkedIn. Check out ThinkersOne. Here is my conversation with Dr. Sebastian Wernicke. Data Inspired - Building An Organizational Culture Of Inquiry For Lasting Transformation. Sebastian's viral TED Talk. Oxera. Follow Sebastian on LinkedIn. Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to Sebastian Wernicke and Data Inspired. (02:52) - The Meta Nature of TED Talks and Storytelling. (06:12) - Confirmation Bias and Data Interpretation. (09:03) - The Limits of Data-Driven Decision Making. (12:10) - The Concept of Data Inspired. (14:58) - The Role of AI in Data Utilization. (18:07) - The Promise and Pitfalls of Big Data. (21:12) - Cultural Elements in Data Transformation. (24:02) - Trust in AI and Machine Learning. (26:52) - Human Nature and the Quest for Perfection. (29:30) - The Balance of Autonomy and Control in AI. (30:30) - The Rise of Synthetic Data. (32:00) - Skepticism Towards Synthetic Data. (34:54) - Exploring Personas and Assumptions. (37:40) - The Role of Data in Decision Making. (39:27) - The Complexity of Uncertainty in Business. (41:52) - Rethinking Intelligence and Creativity. (46:54) - Building Beautiful Questions with Data. (51:30) - Navigating the Data Dilemma. (54:46) - Cultural Attitudes Towards Privacy and Surveillance.
#1050
August 23 · 59 min
Navigating Future Shock With Fredric Marshall - TWMJ #1050
Welcome to episode #1050 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). Fredric Marshall has spent decades helping people navigate change. An entrepreneur, investor in AI startups, CEO of Quantum Learning, and advisor on leadership and transformation, he has watched multiple waves of technological disruption unfold from the inside. His latest book, Thrive - The Antidote to Future Shock, revisits Alvin Toffler's famous concept of "future shock" and argues that today's anxiety isn't a personal failing... it's the predictable result of living through an era where change, information, and technological progress are arriving faster than most people can absorb. In this episode, Fred explores why the conversation about AI has become so emotionally charged, why younger generations feel a profound sense of uncertainty about their future, and why the real challenge isn't learning new tools... it's learning to direct our attention with intention. He explains why thriving requires more than technical skills, discussing the importance of agency, relationships, health, systems, and managing the growing tension between our digital and physical lives. The conversation also examines evidence-based optimism, the cultural backlash against AI, leadership in an era of disruption, and whether the pursuit of endless growth has reached its limits. Fred makes the case that while artificial intelligence will radically reshape work, the future belongs to people who can simplify complexity, think clearly, and consciously choose where to invest their attention. It's a thoughtful discussion about resilience, technology, and building a life that doesn't just survive change... but flourishes because of it. Enjoy the conversation... Running time: 59:29. Hello from beautiful Montreal. Listen and subscribe over at Apple Podcasts. Listen and subscribe over at Spotify. Please visit and leave comments on the blog - Thinking With Mitch Joel. Feel free to connect to me directly on LinkedIn. Check out ThinkersOne. Here is my conversation with Fredric Marshall. Thrive - The Antidote to Future Shock. Quantum Learnin. Follow Fred on Instagram. Follow Fred on LinkedIn. Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to Future Shock. (05:57) - The Impact of Technology on Work and Life. (08:48) - The Concept of Thriving vs. Surviving. (12:04) - The Role of AI and Economic Disruption. (15:14) - Navigating the Digital Layer and Social Media. (18:09) - The Future of Work and Community. (20:56) - Addressing Youth Concerns and Uncertainty. (24:03) - The Balance of Digital and Analog Life. (26:51) - The Quest for Enough in a Technological World. (29:52) - The Madness of Constant Growth. (30:41) - Evidence-Based Optimism and Humanity's Response. (31:34) - Historical Progress and Modern Stressors. (33:10) - Dialing in Life: Eight Key Areas for Thriving. (36:09) - Understanding Agency in a Complex World. (39:51) - The Role of Environment in Personal Growth. (40:48) - Leadership in a Changing Landscape. (43:22) - Future Readiness and Cultural Shifts. (46:52) - Youth Perspectives on Agency and Change. (50:42) - Balancing Humanity and Efficiency in the Future. (57:41) - The Importance of Attention and Time Management.
#1049
August 16 · 1 hr 7 min
AI Mindsets With Farid Mheir - TWMJ #1049
Welcome to episode #1049 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). Farid Mheir has spent four decades at the intersection of engineering, business strategy, and digital transformation. Trained as a microelectronics engineer, he helped pioneer online grocery commerce with IGA in the mid-1990s before building e-commerce platforms for major retailers across North America and Europe. Today, through his advisory firm, and as a faculty member at the McGill Executive Institute, Farid advises executives on AI strategy and organizational transformation. His new book, AI Mindsets - A Guide to Succeed in an AI-Driven World, distills decades of experience into thirty-one practical mindsets designed to help leaders move beyond AI hype and build organizations prepared for an era of intelligence abundance. In this episode, Farid explains why AI represents a shift as significant as the arrival of the internet, arguing that while the web democratized access to information, AI is making intelligence itself widely accessible. We explore what remains uniquely human in a world of increasingly capable machines, why wisdom, judgment, and experience become more valuable as intelligence becomes abundant, and how organizations must undergo a cultural, not just technological, transformation to realize AI's potential. Farid also discusses prompt engineering, answer engineering, AI agents, software development, and why the greatest opportunity lies not in replacing people but in moving them upstream toward more creative and strategic work. Throughout the conversation, he makes the case that success in the AI era will depend less on mastering new tools than on adopting new ways of thinking about work, leadership, and the future itself. Enjoy the conversation... Running time: 1:07:20. Hello from beautiful Montreal. Listen and subscribe over at Apple Podcasts. Listen and subscribe over at Spotify. Please visit and leave comments on the blog - Thinking With Mitch Joel. Feel free to connect to me directly on LinkedIn. Check out ThinkersOne. Here is my conversation with Farid Mheir. FMCS.Digital. AI Mindsets - A Guide to Succeed in an AI-Driven World. Follow Farid on X. Follow Farid on LinkedIn. Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to AI Mindset and Intelligence. (03:05) - The Evolution of Knowledge and Intelligence. (05:57) - AI as a Human-like Tool. (09:04) - The Scarcity of Wisdom in an AI World. (11:54) - The Future of Work and Job Titles. (15:01) - Prompt Engineering vs. Answer Engineering. (17:59) - The Role of Experience in AI Utilization. (20:57) - The Generational Shift in AI Interaction. (24:10) - The Importance of Critical Thinking in AI Usage. (37:20) - The Cultural Shift in AI Utilization. (40:45) - Human Connection in a Tech-Driven World. (46:28) - The Evolution of AI and Organizational Mindset. (55:40) - The Future of Work: AI's Role in Knowledge Industries. (01:01:10) - The Transformation of Software Development with AI.
#1048
August 9 · 57 min
Purpose And Strengthfinding With Tom Rath - TWMJ #1048
Welcome to episode #1048 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). Tom Rath is one of the most influential voices in the fields of leadership, strengths, wellbeing, and human performance. A researcher and the #1 New York Times bestselling author of books including How Full Is Your Bucket?, StrengthsFinder 2.0, Eat Move Sleep, and so many more, Tom's work has shaped how millions of people think about work, health, and personal development. His latest book, What's the Point? - Turning Purpose Into Your Daily Superpower, challenges one of today's most common assumptions: that purpose is something we discover once in a lifetime. Instead, Tom argues that purpose is built through everyday actions and by focusing less on ourselves and more on how we contribute to others. In this episode, he explains why the future of work demands a fundamentally different mindset as AI reshapes traditional jobs and organizations. We explore why responding to tasks is becoming less valuable than creating new ideas, why careers will likely become more entrepreneurial and project-based, and why younger generations are right to expect more meaningful work. Tom also discusses the changing relationship between employees and employers, the limits of personal branding and self-awareness, and why looking outward toward customers, colleagues, and communities ultimately creates more fulfillment than endless introspection. Throughout the conversation, he makes the case that the greatest opportunity in the age of AI is not simply becoming more productive... it's becoming more human by asking one deceptively simple question before every meeting, every project, and every day: What's the point? Enjoy the conversation... Running time: 57:18. Hello from beautiful Montreal. Listen and subscribe over at Apple Podcasts. Listen and subscribe over at Spotify. Please visit and leave comments on the blog - Thinking With Mitch Joel. Feel free to connect to me directly on LinkedIn. Check out ThinkersOne. Here is my conversation with Simon Rogers. What We Ask Google - A Surprisingly Hopeful History Of Humankind. The Data Journalism Podcast. Datablog. Google Trends. Follow Simon on X. Follow Simon on Bluesky. Follow Simon on LinkedIn. Chapters: 00:00 The Evolution of Purpose in Work 02:54 Navigating the Changing Landscape of Thought Leadership 06:00 Reevaluating Work Relationships Post-Pandemic 08:59 The Quest for Meaning in Modern Jobs 11:59 Rethinking Career Paths and Opportunities 15:00 The Impact of AI on Work and Purpose 18:00 Redefining Purpose in Everyday Interactions 21:04 The Balance Between Personal Branding and Purpose 23:58 The Future of Work and Employee Wellbeing 30:36 The Changing Office Landscape 34:18 Exposure to Diverse Careers 36:12 The Importance of Broadening Horizons 37:32 Service and Community Engagement 38:55 The Shift in Job Perception 40:25 Rethinking Work and Experience 42:47 The Rise of Entrepreneurship 45:08 Creating Value Beyond Traditional Employment 49:30 Purpose in Organizations 52:12 Looking Outward for Well-Being 54:12 Advancements in Health and Well-Being
#1047
August 2 · 53 min
Life Lessons From Google Search With Simon Rogers - TWMJ #1047
Welcome to episode #1047 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). Simon Rogers has spent his career turning data into stories that help us better understand the world... and ourselves. A former news editor at The Guardian, where he founded and edited its influential Datablog, Simon is now the Data Editor at Google, working with Google Trends, one of the largest publicly accessible datasets of human curiosity and behaviour ever created. He is also the co-host of The Data Journalism Podcast and a longtime advocate for open data, visualization and making complex information meaningful. His new book, What We Ask Google - A Surprisingly Hopeful History Of Humankind, explores what billions of searches reveal about our private fears, shared vulnerabilities, cultural obsessions and desire to help one another. In this episode, Simon discusses why search offers a uniquely intimate portrait of humanity... not the carefully curated version we present on social media, but the questions we ask when we genuinely need answers. He explains how searches surrounding grief, friendship, parenting, health and crisis reveal that people are often far less alone than they feel, and perhaps more compassionate than our public discourse suggests. We also explore Google Trends as a cultural and predictive signal, the communities formed through shared curiosity, and why being surrounded by data does not necessarily make us more insightful. Simon reflects on how AI is changing the language and complexity of our searches without fundamentally changing what humans want to know. What emerges is a fascinating portrait of search as a collective stream of consciousness... chaotic, vulnerable, curious and surprisingly hopeful. Enjoy the conversation... Running time: 53:45. Hello from beautiful Montreal. Listen and subscribe over at Apple Podcasts. Listen and subscribe over at Spotify. Please visit and leave comments on the blog - Thinking With Mitch Joel. Feel free to connect to me directly on LinkedIn. Check out ThinkersOne. Here is my conversation with Simon Rogers. What We Ask Google - A Surprisingly Hopeful History Of Humankind. The Data Journalism Podcast. Datablog. Google Trends. Follow Simon on X. Follow Simon on Bluesky. Follow Simon on LinkedIn. Chapters: (00:00) - The Role of a Data Editor. (02:47) - Exploring Optimism Through Data. (05:57) - Understanding Human Connection Through Search. (09:05) - Cultural Reflections in Search Trends. (11:59) - The Intimacy of Search Queries. (15:08) - The Power of Data Visualization. (17:57) - Shifts in Search Behavior During Covid. (21:05) - The Complexity of Community and Connection. (23:57) - Echo Chambers and Misinformation. (27:06) - Predictive Power of Search Data. (28:19) - AI's Impact on Search Behavior. (33:28) - Understanding AI Integration in Search. (36:12) - Data Richness vs. Insightfulness. (39:01) - The Art of Data Storytelling. (41:25) - Search Behavior and Societal Reflections. (44:16) - Loneliness and Connection in Search Data. (45:39) - The Future of AI and Search Engines.
#1046
July 26 · 51 min
Productivity Breakthroughs With Liane Davey - TWMJ #1046
Welcome to episode #1046 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). Dr. Liane Davey has spent her career helping leaders and teams perform at their best. As an organizational psychologist, bestselling author, trusted advisor to companies around the world and dear friend, she has long explored what separates high-performing teams from those that quietly struggle beneath the surface. Her latest book, Thoughtload - Manage The Madness And Free Your Team To Do Great Work, introduces a deceptively simple but powerful idea: the biggest challenge facing today's organizations isn't workload... it's thoughtload. While most leaders focus on reducing tasks and increasing productivity, Liane argues that the real drain on performance comes from the invisible cognitive, emotional, and energetic burden people carry every day. In this conversation, we explore why organizations have become obsessed with measuring outputs instead of outcomes, how constant urgency creates the illusion of productivity while undermining effectiveness, and why many of today's workplace frustrations... from endless meetings to return-to-office debates to AI-generated "work slop"... are symptoms of a much deeper problem. We also discuss what thoughtful leadership looks like in an era of intelligent machines, why collaboration breaks down when people are cognitively overloaded, and how AI might eventually become a tool for reducing thoughtload rather than amplifying it. More than a conversation about burnout or workplace wellness, this is a discussion about attention, focus, judgment, and what it will take to build organizations where people can once again do their very best work. Liane is also the author of You First and The Good Fight and have been a guest of this show countless times. Enjoy the conversation... Running time: 51:58. Hello from beautiful Montreal. Listen and subscribe over at Apple Podcasts. Listen and subscribe over at Spotify. Please visit and leave comments on the blog - Thinking With Mitch Joel. Feel free to connect to me directly on LinkedIn. Check out ThinkersOne. Here is my conversation with Dr. Liane Davey. Thoughtload - Manage The Madness And Free Your Team To Do Great Work. The Good Fight. You First. Follow Liane on LinkedIn. Follow Liane on Instagram. Chapters: (00:00) - Understanding Thoughtload. (02:46) - The Productivity Trap. (05:56) - Measuring Outputs vs. Outcomes. (09:00) - The Role of Management in Work Value. (12:02) - Identifying Worthwhile Work. (15:00) - Managing Thought Load Effectively. (17:50) - The Impact of Office Environment on Thoughtload. (21:09) - Navigating the Return to Office. (24:11) - The Future of Work and Thoughtload. (27:10) - Navigating Work Culture and Diversity. (27:57) - Attention Span and Modern Content Consumption. (30:08) - The Illusion of Speed in Work. (32:13) - Thoughtload and Workplace Dynamics. (35:12) - The Impact of AI on Work and Thoughtload. (38:58) - Prioritization in the Age of AI. (43:05) - Collaboration Challenges and Thoughtload. (45:59) - AI as a Tool for Managing Thoughtload. (48:00) - The Cost of Being You and Personal Reflection.
#1045
July 19 · 1 hr
Prosperity And Economic Growth With Chris Bradley - TWMJ #1045
Welcome to episode #1045 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). Chris Bradley has spent more than twenty-five years helping organizations navigate strategy, growth, and long-term transformation as a Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company. He also serves as a Director of the McKinsey Global Institute, the firm's independent research arm, where he explores some of the biggest economic, technological, and societal questions shaping our future. His latest book, A Century of Plenty - A Story of Progress for Generations to Come, challenges one of today's most pervasive narratives: that humanity's best days are behind us. Drawing on years of research, Chris argues that another century of extraordinary progress is not only possible, but achievable... if we choose growth, innovation, and optimism over scarcity and zero-sum thinking. In this conversation, we explore why economic growth remains one of the greatest drivers of prosperity, health, culture, and opportunity, and why so many people nevertheless feel increasingly pessimistic about the future. Chris explains the historical forces that created unprecedented advances over the past century, examines the demographic, energy, and productivity challenges that lie ahead, and shares why he believes AI could become one of the most important catalysts for renewed growth rather than a force to fear. It is a conversation that pushes back against today's prevailing pessimism while offering a thoughtful, data-driven case that progress remains humanity's greatest competitive advantage. Enjoy the conversation... Running time: 1:00:36. Hello from beautiful Montreal. Listen and subscribe over at Apple Podcasts. Listen and subscribe over at Spotify. Please visit and leave comments on the blog - Thinking With Mitch Joel. Feel free to connect to me directly on LinkedIn. Check out ThinkersOne. Here is my conversation with Chris Bradley. A Century of Plenty - A Story of Progress for Generations to Come. McKinsey & Company. McKinsey Global Institute. Follow Chris on LinkedIn. Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to Chris Bradley and His Work. (02:59) - The Evolution of Guitar and Modern Musicians. (05:56) - A Century of Plenty: Economic Growth and Its Impact. (12:03) - Reflections on Progress and Generational Optimism. (17:54) - The Dichotomy of Growth: Opportunities vs. Challenges. (23:47) - Imagining a Prosperous Future for All. (30:47) - The Dangers of Zero-Sum Thinking. (36:02) - The Need for Innovation and Productivity. (44:24) - AI: A Double-Edged Sword. (55:21) - Transforming Workplaces with AI.
#1044
July 12 · 1 hr 1 min
A World Of Intelligent Machines With Steve Brown - TWMJ #1044
Welcome to episode #1044 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). Steve Brown has spent more than twenty-five years helping organizations prepare for the future of technology. A former Senior Director and in-house futurist at Google DeepMind during the launch of AlphaFold, former Chief Evangelist and Futurist at Intel, entrepreneur and advisor, Steve has worked with global brands including Nike, JPMorgan Chase, Samsung, Disney and more to navigate digital transformation and the rapidly evolving AI landscape. His latest book, The AI Ultimatum - Preparing For A World Of Intelligent Machines And Radical Transformation, argues that AI is not another technology deployment but a fundamental organizational transformation that will reshape business over the next decade. In this episode, Steve explains why simply licensing AI tools is only the beginning, outlining the three stages organizations must navigate as they evolve toward becoming truly AI-first. We discuss the growing role of AI agents and digital employees, why leaders must rethink workflows instead of simply automating existing processes, and how organizations can prepare employees for a future where humans and intelligent machines work side by side. Steve also explores the importance of data strategy, change management, and responsible AI governance, while tackling difficult questions about surveillance, workforce anxiety, human creativity, and whether AI represents another technology cycle or something fundamentally different. Throughout the conversation, he makes the case that the real challenge is not adopting AI for efficiency alone, but reimagining how organizations create value in a world where intelligence itself has become programmable. Enjoy the conversation… Running time: 1:01:14. Hello from beautiful Montreal. Listen and subscribe over at Apple Podcasts. Listen and subscribe over at Spotify. Please visit and leave comments on the blog - Thinking With Mitch Joel. Feel free to connect to me directly on LinkedIn. Check out ThinkersOne. Here is my conversation with Steve Brown. The AI Ultimatum - Preparing For A World Of Intelligent Machines And Radical Transformation. Steve's Blog. Follow Steve on LinkedIn. Chapters: (00:00) - Navigating the AI Transformation. (06:06) - The Three Steps of AI Adoption. (08:47) - AI in Journalism: The Human-Machine Collaboration. (12:02) - Consumer Perception of AI-Generated Content. (18:03) - The AI Ultimatum: Embrace or Be Left Behind. (21:10) - The Role of Responsibility in AI Adoption. (24:00) - The Future of Digital Employees. (29:42) - The Future of Remote Work and AI Avatars. (30:05) - Managing Digital Employees: A New Paradigm. (32:35) - Types of AI Agents and Their Impact on Work. (34:34) - Evolving Roles: From Accountants to Financial Advisors. (37:09) - The Burnout Dilemma: Technology vs. Human Capacity. (39:11) - Involving Employees in AI Design Processes. (41:03) - Resistance to AI: Fear of Replacement and Identity. (44:42) - Leadership Perspectives on AI Integration. (46:36) - Creating Super Teams: The New Managerial Role. (48:04) - Case Study: Nvidia's AI Workforce Strategy. (50:10) - Early Successes in AI Deployment. (52:19) - Surveillance vs. Performance Measurement in AI. (56:25) - The Need for a Healthier Work Ecosystem. (58:24) - A Shift in Thinking: The Rise of OpenClaw.
#1043
July 5 · 56 min
A Playbook For Growth With Nicolas Darveau-Garneau - TWMJ #1043
Welcome to episode #1043 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). Nicolas Darveau-Garneau has spent his career helping organizations understand where technology creates lasting competitive advantage. A serial entrepreneur, former General Manager of Google in Canada, and then off to the Valley (where he still resides) as Google's former Chief Evangelist, Nicolas has advised more than a thousand executives on digital transformation, AI, marketing, and growth strategy. His latest book, Be A Sequoia, Not A Bonsai - The Seven Growth Secrets of the World's Most Successful Companies, challenges one of business's most common assumptions: that efficiency is the ultimate measure of success. Instead, Nicolas argues that the companies built to last optimize for profitable growth, customer lifetime value, experimentation, and long-term resilience rather than short-term metrics like customer acquisition cost or return on ad spend. In this conversation, Nicolas (an old friend) explores why AI is forcing leaders to rethink not only their technology investments but the very way they measure success. He explains why human change management remains the biggest obstacle to AI adoption, how organizations can redesign incentives to encourage innovation, and why every company should be preparing employees for AI-enabled careers rather than AI replacement. The conversation also examines the future of work, the democratization of expertise across industries like healthcare and law, and the responsibility leaders have to balance profitability with human flourishing. Throughout, Nicolas makes a compelling case that the organizations best positioned for the AI era won't necessarily be the most efficient… they'll be the ones most willing to rethink how value is created in the first place. Enjoy the conversation… Running time: 56:45. Hello from beautiful Montreal. Listen and subscribe over at Apple Podcasts. Listen and subscribe over at Spotify. Please visit and leave comments on the blog - Thinking With Mitch Joel. Feel free to connect to me directly on LinkedIn. Check out ThinkersOne. Here is my conversation with Nicolas Darveau-Garneau. Be A Sequoia, Not A Bonsai - The Seven Growth Secrets of the World's Most Successful Companies. Follow Nicolas on LinkedIn. Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to Nicolas Darveau-Garneau. (02:06) - The Journey of Evangelism at Google. (05:54) - Shifting Marketing KPIs for Success. (11:38) - The Role of an Evangelist in Business. (12:47) - The Rise of AI in Marketing. (18:31) - Optimizing Customer Acquisition with AI. (26:50) - Navigating the Future of AI and Employment. (30:21) - Envisioning AI-Enabled Career Paths. (32:13) - The Future of Work and Human Purpose. (34:08) - The Ethical Implications of AI in Warfare. (36:50) - Balancing Profit and Human Values in Business. (38:55) - The Optimistic View on AI Efficiency. (40:39) - The Role of AI in Mental Health Care. (42:52) - The Future of Healthcare and AI. (46:49) - Navigating the AI Landscape: Optimism vs. Skepticism. (52:19) - Preparing for an AI-Driven Future.
#1042
June 28 · 1 hr 5 min
The Most Powerful Force In Business With Marcus Buckingham - TWMJ #1042
Welcome to episode #1042 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). Marcus Buckingham has spent more than three decades changing how organizations think about people, performance, and leadership. As one of the pioneers of the strengths movement, his research has influenced millions of managers around the world and helped reshape the way companies approach employee engagement and organizational culture. After beginning his career as a researcher at Gallup, Marcus became one of the driving forces behind some of the most influential ideas in modern management. His books include First, Break All the Rules, Now, Discover Your Strengths, Go Put Your Strengths To Work, Love + Work and countless others. He has built a reputation as one of the world's foremost thinkers on human performance. His latest book, Design Love In - How To Unleash The Most Powerful Force In Business, takes that work in a surprising direction. Marcus argues that love isn't simply a personal emotion or an abstract ideal… it's the single most powerful driver of productive human behavior. In this conversation, Marcus explains why so many organizations have become increasingly transactional, why experience design has become one of the defining leadership skills of the AI era, and why he believes "experience intelligence" may soon become as important as financial or operational intelligence. It's a conversation about leadership, organizational design, technology, and perhaps most surprisingly… why one of the least discussed words in business may become one of its greatest competitive advantages. Enjoy the conversation... Running time: 1:05:53. Hello from beautiful Montreal. Listen and subscribe over at Apple Podcasts. Listen and subscribe over at Spotify. Please visit and leave comments on the blog - Thinking With Mitch Joel. Feel free to connect to me directly on LinkedIn. Check out ThinkersOne. Here is my conversation with Marcus Buckingham. Design Love In - How To Unleash The Most Powerful Force In Business. First, Break All the Rules. Now, Discover Your Strengths. Go Put Your Strengths To Work. Love + Work. Marcus' other books. Follow Marcus on X. Follow Marcus on Instagram. Follow Marcus on LinkedIn. Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to Love That and Designed Love. (02:59) - The Role of Love in Work and Life. (05:51) - The Business Case for Love. (09:11) - Transactional Nature of Work. (12:09) - Experience Intelligence and Its Importance. (14:59) - Designing Experiences for Love. (17:59) - The Power of Attention in Leadership. (20:54) - The Future of Work and Love. (23:56) - Data, Belief, and the Business of Love. (31:29) - The Love Factor in Business. (34:56) - Surveillance and AI: A Double-Edged Sword. (39:00) - The Importance of Control and Harmony. (47:29) - Experience Making: A Collective Responsibility. (53:41) - The Interplay of Employee and Customer Love. (01:00:20) - AI as a Design Partner: A New Perspective.
#1041
June 21 · 1 hr 1 min
Winning With AI With Charlene Li - TWMJ #1041
Welcome to episode #1041 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). At a time when every leadership team is being told that artificial intelligence will change everything, Charlene Li has spent her career helping organizations separate signal from noise. A New York Times bestselling author and trusted advisor to CEOs and boards, Charlene first became widely known for helping leaders understand transformative shifts through books like Groundswell, Open Leadership and The Disruption Mindset. Her latest book, Winning With AI - The 90-Day Blueprint For Success, co-authored with Dr. Katia Walsh, tackles one of the most pressing questions facing business leaders today: not what AI is, but what to do about it. Drawing on research, executive interviews and practical experience, Charlene argues that organizations do not need an AI strategy… they need to rethink how AI serves their existing business strategy. In our conversation, she explores why most organizations are still struggling to move beyond experimentation, why leadership and transformation matter more than technology selection, and why the greatest opportunity may not be efficiency at all, but creating more human-centered organizations. Along the way, Charlene challenges conventional thinking about AI pilots, workforce transformation, organizational design and the future role of leadership in an era where intelligence itself is becoming abundant. Enjoy the conversation… Running time: 1:01:50. Hello from beautiful Montreal. Listen and subscribe over at Apple Podcasts. Listen and subscribe over at Spotify. Please visit and leave comments on the blog - Thinking With Mitch Joel. Feel free to connect to me directly on LinkedIn. Check out ThinkersOne. Here is my conversation with Charlene Li. Winning With AI - The 90-Day Blueprint For Success. Dr. Katia Walsh. Groundswell. Open Leadership. The Disruption Mindset. Charlene's other books. Follow Charlene on LinkedIn. Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to AI and Leadership. (03:02) - Navigating the AI Landscape. (05:57) - Understanding AI's Impact on Organizations. (09:09) - The Human Element in AI. (12:10) - Rethinking Workflows and Decision-Making. (14:45) - Strategic AI Roadmaps. (17:54) - Investment and Governance in AI. (20:52) - Creating Value with AI. (23:53) - Emergent Thinking and AI Adoption. (31:00) - The Role of Leadership in AI Implementation. (34:50) - Ownership and Accountability in AI Strategy. (39:01) - Creating Value Beyond Efficiency with AI. (45:07) - Navigating Workforce Changes and Reskilling. (48:59) - Addressing Employee Concerns About AI. (54:54) - The Case Against AI Pilots. (55:54) - The Importance of Speed in AI Adoption.
#1040
June 14 · 58 min
AI And The Knowledge Economy With Sangeet Paul Choudary
Welcome to episode #1040 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). Long before artificial intelligence became the dominant business conversation, Sangeet Paul Choudary was helping leaders understand another profound shift in economic power: the rise of platforms. As the co-author of Platform Revolution, founder of Platform Thinking Labs, advisor to global corporations and governments, and a respected thinkers on digital business models, Sangeet has spent years studying how technology changes the sources of competitive advantage and reshapes entire industries. His latest book, Reshuffle - Who Wins When AI Restacks The Knowledge Economy, extends that work into the age of artificial intelligence, exploring what happens when the expertise, judgment and know-how that once lived inside individuals and organizations increasingly migrates into software systems. In this conversation, Sangeet explains why AI represents far more than a productivity upgrade. He argues that every major technological shift changes what is scarce, and when scarcity changes, value moves with it. Drawing on examples ranging from Kodak and Netflix to cloud computing, software platforms and global supply chains, he explores why some organizations adapt while others become trapped by the assumptions that made them successful in the first place. The discussion also examines the changing nature of economic power, the growing importance of digital sovereignty, the future of knowledge work, and the risks of assuming that today's business models will survive tomorrow's technological realities. Throughout the conversation, Sangeet offers a framework for understanding not just what AI can do, but how leaders can rethink their organizations, industries and careers when the foundations of value creation are being rewritten in real time. Enjoy the conversation… Running time: 1:00:47. Hello from beautiful Montreal. Listen and subscribe over at Apple Podcasts. Listen and subscribe over at Spotify. Please visit and leave comments on the blog - Thinking With Mitch Joel. Feel free to connect to me directly on LinkedIn. Check out ThinkersOne. Here is my conversation with Sangeet Paul Choudary. Reshuffle - Who Wins When AI Restacks The Knowledge Economy. Platform Thinking Labs. Platform Revolution. Follow Sangeet on X. Follow Sangeet on LinkedIn. Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to Sangeet Chaudhary and Reshuffle. (02:51) - The Impact of Technological Shifts on Value Creation. (05:51) - Understanding Architectural Constraints in Business. (09:07) - The Role of Supply Chain in Innovation. (12:10) - AI's Influence on Software and Business Models. (14:56) - Navigating Uncertainty in AI Adoption. (18:04) - The Future of Economic Power and Sovereignty. (21:00) - Cultural Shifts in Power Dynamics. (23:53) - The Mechanisms of Change in AI and Business. (26:52) - The Balance of Sovereignty and Dominance. (29:46) - The Future of Work in an AI-Driven Economy. (32:44) - The Broader Implications of AI on Society. (36:40) - Conclusion and Reflections on Reshuffle.
#1039
June 7 · 1 hr
Developing A Vital Voice With Carmine Gallo - TWMJ #1039
Welcome to episode #1039 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). I believe that communication has always been one of the most valuable skills in business. But in an era of AI-generated content, algorithmic feeds, podcasts, newsletters, keynote stages, short-form video and endless digital noise, it may be becoming even more important. Few people have spent more time studying what makes ideas resonate than Carmine Gallo. A communication coach, author, and instructor in executive education at Harvard, Carmine is best known for bestselling books including Talk Like TED, The Storyteller's Secret, The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs and many more. His latest project, Viral Voices - From TED Talks To TikTok, Persuasive Communication Skills For The Digital Age, is an audio-original experience that explores what great communicators can teach us about influence, storytelling, and audience engagement in a rapidly changing media landscape. In this conversation, Carmine argues that while the tools of communication have evolved dramatically, the human brain has not. Drawing on research from neuroscience, psychology, evolutionary biology, and his conversations with communicators ranging from business leaders to digital creators, he explains why storytelling remains one of humanity's most powerful technologies. The discussion explores why movement captures attention, why narrative structures continue to dominate modern platforms, and why great communicators are made through deliberate practice rather than born with natural talent. Carmine also shares his AMP framework for communication improvement: Ability, Message, and Practice. Along the way, the conversation examines the opportunities and challenges created by AI, including the growing tension between polished machine-generated content and authentic human expression. At a moment when everyone has access to powerful communication tools, Carmine makes a compelling case that imagination, personal experience, and genuine human insight are becoming the ultimate differentiators. Enjoy the conversation… Running time: 1:00:47. Hello from beautiful Montreal. Listen and subscribe over at Apple Podcasts. Listen and subscribe over at Spotify. Please visit and leave comments on the blog - Thinking With Mitch Joel. Feel free to connect to me directly on LinkedIn. Check out ThinkersOne. Here is my conversation with Carmine Gallo. Viral Voices - From TED Talks To TikTok, Persuasive Communication Skills For The Digital Age. Talk Like TED. The Storyteller's Secret. The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs. Carmine's other books. Follow Carmine on X. Follow Carmine on Instagram. Follow Carmine on LinkedIn. Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to Communication and Influence. (03:11) - The Evolution of Communication Tools. (05:56) - The Power of Storytelling. (08:48) - Understanding Audience Engagement. (11:48) - The Role of Movement in Communication. (14:59) - The Hero's Journey in Storytelling. (18:08) - The Nature vs. Nurture Debate in Communication. (21:02) - The AMP Model for Effective Communication. (24:05) - The Impact of AI on Communication. (26:58) - The Challenge of Authenticity in AI-Generated Content. (29:48) - Attention Spans and Content Consumption. (33:05) - The Future of Communication in the Age of AI.
#1038
May 31 · 47 min
Human Agency With Marcus Fontoura - TWMJ #1038
Welcome to episode #1038 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). At a time when technology feels simultaneously more powerful and more opaque than ever, Marcus Fontoura is making a case for something many people feel they've lost: agency. A Technical Fellow and Corporate Vice President at Microsoft, Marcus has spent decades helping build the infrastructure that powers the modern internet, including leadership roles at Microsoft Azure, Google and IBM. His new book, Human Agency In A Digital World, is both a guide to understanding the technologies shaping our lives and a reminder that we are not merely passengers along for the ride. Drawing on his experience building cloud computing platforms and large-scale digital systems, Marcus demystifies everything from search engines and social media to artificial intelligence and cloud infrastructure, arguing that technological literacy should be as fundamental as understanding economics or government. In this episode, Marcus explores the growing gap between the people building technology and the people living with its consequences. He discusses social media's impact on mental health, misinformation, polarization, AI's role as a prediction engine rather than an autonomous intelligence, and the importance of regulation in areas where technological progress has outpaced public understanding. At the same time, Marcus offers a deeply optimistic vision of the future. He believes that access to information, computing power and AI tools can empower a new generation of scientists, entrepreneurs and problem-solvers to tackle challenges ranging from healthcare and education to climate change and scientific discovery. Rather than viewing technology as something happening to us, Marcus argues that understanding how these systems work is the first step toward shaping how they evolve. What emerges is a thoughtful conversation about curiosity, responsibility, innovation and the enduring role of human judgment in an increasingly digital world. Enjoy the conversation… Running time: 47:25. Hello from beautiful Montreal. Listen and subscribe over at Apple Podcasts. Listen and subscribe over at Spotify. Please visit and leave comments on the blog - Thinking With Mitch Joel. Feel free to connect to me directly on LinkedIn. Check out ThinkersOne. Here is my conversation with Marcus Fontoura. Human Agency In A Digital World. A Platform Mindset. Follow Marcus on LinkedIn. Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to Marcus Fontoura and His Role at Microsoft. (02:54) - Understanding the Cloud and Its Impact on Society. (06:06) - Human Agency in a Digital World. (08:57) - The Complexity of AI and Technology. (12:00) - The Role of Regulation in Technology. (15:07) - The Real-World Applications of AI. (17:59) - The Challenges of Social Media and Mental Health. (20:55) - The Need for Societal Engagement in Technology Regulation. (26:26) - The Challenge of Fake News and Agency. (27:00) - Empowering Future Generations. (31:27) - The Role of Human Agency in Technology. (34:01) - Concerns Over AI and Misinformation. (40:44) - Understanding AI Code Generation. (46:55) - The Pursuit of AGI and Its Implications. (50:08) - Technology's Role in Promoting Equality.
#1032
May 24 · 57 min
The Value Of Uncertainty With Simone Stolzoff - TWMJ #1037
Welcome to episode #1037 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). At a moment when certainty has become both a cultural obsession and a commercial product, Simone Stolzoff is asking a far more uncomfortable question: what if the real skill is learning how to live without it? A journalist whose work has appeared in publications like The Atlantic and author of the bestselling book The Good Enough Job, Simo has built his work around examining the hidden psychological contracts shaping modern life… especially our increasingly tangled relationship with work, ambition and identity. His new book, How to Not Know - The Value of Uncertainty in a World that Demands Answers, pushes that exploration even further, arguing that many of the anxieties defining modern life stem not from uncertainty itself… but from our declining ability to tolerate it. In this conversation, Simo explores why uncertainty has become so psychologically destabilizing in an era where information is infinite, prediction is constant and every question seems one search query away from an answer. He discusses the paradox of modern life: despite unprecedented prosperity, connectivity and opportunity, people feel increasingly fragile, overwhelmed and fearful of ambiguity. Simo explains how uncertainty once served an important evolutionary purpose, but has become maladaptive in a culture obsessed with optimization, certainty and control. The conversation moves through entrepreneurship, identity, politics, AI, climate anxiety, relationships and creativity… all connected by the tension between our desire for certainty and the reality that much of life remains fundamentally unknowable. Simo argues that uncertainty is not a flaw in the system… it is the birthplace of possibility, growth and reinvention. Along the way, we discuss Brian Eno, venture capital, the psychology of risk, the danger of false certainty in modern discourse, and why action itself is often the antidote to anxiety. What emerges is not a conversation about having the answers… but about developing the resilience, humility and imagination to move forward without them. Enjoy the conversation… Running time: 57:55. Hello from beautiful Montreal. Listen and subscribe over at Apple Podcasts. Listen and subscribe over at Spotify. Please visit and leave comments on the blog - Thinking With Mitch Joel. Feel free to connect to me directly on LinkedIn. Check out ThinkersOne. Here is my conversation with Simone Stolzoff. How To Not Know - The Value of Uncertainty in a World that Demands Answers. The Good Enough Job. Subscribe to Simo's newsletter. Follow Simo on Instagram. Follow Simo on LinkedIn. Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to Simone Stolzoff. (01:45) - The Intersection of Identity and Career. (03:50) - Embracing Uncertainty in Life and Work. (10:56) - Cultural Perspectives on Risk and Entrepreneurship. (15:50) - The Paradox of Comfort and Growth. (18:49) - Building Tolerance for Uncertainty. (22:33) - Macro Perspectives on Progress and Uncertainty. (27:23) - Navigating Opportunities in an Unstable Job Market. (33:07) - The Role of Geography in Relationships and Opportunities. (36:43) - Age Bias and Risk Aversion. (41:08) - Resilience in the Face of Uncertainty. (50:02) - Closing Thoughts on Rigidity and Acceptance.
#1036
May 17 · 1 hr
Unlocking The Best In People With Ashley Herd - TWMJ #1036
Welcome to episode #1036 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). Ashley Herd did not set out to become a management expert. Trained as an employment lawyer and later serving in senior HR and leadership roles supporting organizations including McKinsey & Company, Ashley built her career at the intersection of people, performance and workplace culture. What began as practical leadership advice shared through short-form social media videos evolved into a massive online following, with hundreds of thousands of managers turning to her for direct, actionable guidance on how to lead teams without burning people out. Her new book, The Manager Method - A Practical Framework to Lead, Support, and Get Results, distills that experience into a deceptively simple framework built around Pause, Consider, Act… a reminder that leadership is not about reacting faster, but thinking more clearly. In this conversation, Ashley explores why so many organizations continue promoting high performers into management roles without preparing them to lead people, why workplace culture is often shaped more by individual managers than company values, and how the modern workplace has been reshaped by the pandemic, generational shifts and AI. Ashley argues that the biggest failures in leadership are rarely strategic… they are relational. Silence, unclear expectations, lack of feedback and the inability to coach people effectively create cascading organizational problems. At the same time, she remains optimistic that AI can become a meaningful thought partner for managers… not replacing judgment, empathy or coaching, but helping leaders pause long enough to think better about how they communicate and support others. Grounded in practical experience rather than abstract theory, Ashley's work is ultimately about helping managers become more human… and helping organizations remember that people are not line items on a spreadsheet. Enjoy the conversation… Running time: 1:00:07. Hello from beautiful Montreal. Listen and subscribe over at Apple Podcasts. Listen and subscribe over at Spotify. Please visit and leave comments on the blog - Thinking With Mitch Joel. Feel free to connect to me directly on LinkedIn. Check out ThinkersOne. Here is my conversation with Ashley Herd. The Manager Method - A Practical Framework to Lead, Support, and Get Results. Follow Ashley on Instagram. Follow Ashley on YouTube. Follow Ashley on LinkedIn. Follow Ashley on TikTok. Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to Ashley Herd and The Manager Method. (02:57) - The Power of Social Media in Leadership Development. (05:50) - The Journey from Law to Leadership. (09:05) - Understanding Management Challenges and the Peter Principle. (12:08) - The Role of Empathy in Management. (15:09) - Navigating the New World of Management Post-Pandemic. (17:54) - The Importance of Clear Expectations in Leadership. (21:02) - The Impact of Generational Differences on Management. (23:51) - The Role of AI in Modern Management. (27:04) - Coaching vs. Managing: The New Paradigm. (30:12) - Creating a Culture of Feedback and Recognition. (32:54) - The Importance of Pausing and Reflecting in Leadership. (36:02) - Final Thoughts and Resources for Managers.
#1035
May 10 · 1 hr
Modern Marketing With MichaelAaron Flicker - TWMJ #1035
Welcome to episode #1035 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). At a time when marketers have more data, more technology and more precision than ever before… consumer trust, attention and loyalty somehow feel more fragile than ever. Few people are exploring that paradox more deeply than MichaelAaron Flicker. An entrepreneur who started his company at just fourteen years old, Michael has spent years studying the intersection of marketing, behavioral science and human decision-making (he runs an agency, vventure capital firm and leads several other businesses). His book, Hacking The Human Mind - The Behavioral Science Secrets Behind 17 Of The World's Best Brands (along with co-author Richard Shotton), examines how brands shape perception, influence behavior and build emotional resonance… often in ways consumers barely recognize. In this conversation, Michael and I explore the growing divide inside modern marketing itself… between performance-driven optimization and the enduring power of emotional storytelling. We unpack how AI, algorithms and recommendation systems are quietly reshaping consumer agency, why the illusion of choice may be more powerful than choice itself, and how platforms increasingly mediate not just what we buy… but how we think. Michael (who also has a great podcast, The Consumer Behavior Lab) argues that while technology has evolved dramatically, human behavior has not. Scarcity, status, social proof, storytelling and emotional connection still shape our decisions… even when we believe we're acting rationally. We also discuss the dangerous temptation for marketers to chase short-term metrics while neglecting the deeper work of building lasting brand value, trust and cultural meaning. Along the way, we get into Amazon's invisible persuasion architecture, why many direct-to-consumer brands plateau, the ethical tension between persuasion and manipulation, and how AI may transform marketing from an art form into an escalating behavioral arms race. What emerges is a fascinating conversation about power, psychology and the increasingly intimate systems shaping modern commerce… and whether brands still truly understand the humans they're trying to reach. Enjoy the conversation… Running time: 1:00:58. Hello from beautiful Montreal. Listen and subscribe over at Apple Podcasts. Listen and subscribe over at Spotify. Please visit and leave comments on the blog - Thinking With Mitch Joel. Feel free to connect to me directly on LinkedIn. Check out ThinkersOne. Here is my conversation with MichaelAaron Flicker. Hacking The Human Mind - The Behavioral Science Secrets Behind 17 Of The World's Best Brands. The Consumer Behavior Lab. Richard Shotton. Xenopsi. Follow MichaelAaron on LinkedIn. Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to Marketing and Behavioral Science. (03:03) - The Paradox of Modern Marketing. (06:02) - The Role of AI in Consumer Decision Making. (09:00) - The Illusion of Choice in E-commerce. (12:05) - The Evolution of Marketing Metrics. (15:07) - The Changing Landscape of Brand Power. (18:12) - Understanding Human Behavior in Marketing. (20:59) - The Symbiotic Relationship Between Brands and Platforms. (24:02) - The Impact of Globalization on Consumer Choices. (33:28) - Brand Value and Consumer Loyalty. (38:16) - The Importance of Services in Marketing. (41:39) - Case Studies and Anomalies in Brand Success. (50:24) - The Role of AI in Marketing and Persuasion. (57:51) - The Shift to the Intimacy Economy.
#1034
May 3 · 1 hr 4 min
The Business Of Culture And Art With Douglas Woodham - TWMJ #1034
Welcome to episode #1034 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). At a time when the lines between culture, commerce and identity feel increasingly blurred, few people understand how value is actually constructed… and reconstructed… better than Douglas Woodham. A former President of the Americas at Christie's and a longtime advisor through his firm Art Fiduciary Advisors, Doug brings a rare dual lens to the conversation… equal parts economist and art obsessive. With a PhD in economics and decades spent inside the machinery of the global art market, he has seen firsthand how artists move from obscurity to icon status… and how markets, narratives and power structures shape that journey . His latest book, Jean-Michel Basquiat - The Making of an Icon, goes far beyond biography to examine how one artist's legacy was not just created… but carefully engineered. In this conversation, Doug explores the intersection of art and economics, unpacking how scarcity, status and human behavior drive the desire to collect… and why ownership has become increasingly performative in a social media age. He challenges the romantic notion that value is purely about the work itself, pointing instead to branding, cultural timing and strategic stewardship… particularly in Basquiat's posthumous rise. We also dig into the broader shifts reshaping the art world… from the declining cultural centrality of fine art to the rise of alternative collectibles, the failure of NFTs to gain traction in traditional markets, and the fragile economics behind fractional ownership models. What emerges is a sharper understanding that art is not just about beauty or expression… it is about markets, narratives and belief systems that determine what is worth owning… and why. Enjoy the conversation… Running time: 1:04:35. Hello from beautiful Montreal. Listen and subscribe over at Apple Podcasts. Listen and subscribe over at Spotify. Please visit and leave comments on the blog - Thinking With Mitch Joel. Feel free to connect to me directly on LinkedIn. Check out ThinkersOne. Here is my conversation with Douglas Woodham. Jean-Michel Basquiat - The Making of an Icon. Art Fiduciary Advisors. Art Collecting Today. Follow Doug on Instagram. Follow Doug on LinkedIn. Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to Doug Woodham and His Expertise. (02:42) - The Life and Legacy of Jean-Michel Basquiat. (04:48) - Connecting Art and Economics. (08:45) - Human Behavior and the Desire for Collectibles. (12:10) - The Shift in Art Collecting Trends. (15:42) - NFTs and Their Impact on the Art Market. (20:29) - Artist Compensation and Ownership Rights. (24:28) - Cultural Relevance of Fine Art Today. (27:58) - The Psychology of Collecting and Scarcity. (32:37) - The Business of Scarcity in Consumer Brands. (35:15) - The Importance of Secondary Markets in Collectibles. (40:10) - The Evolution of Basquiat's Brand Posthumously. (54:51) - The Intersection of Art and Commercialization. (59:53) - Fractional Ownership in Art Investments.
#1033
April 26 · 1 hr 4 min
Revolutionizing Humanity And Tech With Pablos Holman - TWMJ #1033
Welcome to episode #1033 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). We spent the last twenty-five years calling software "technology," which was convenient, profitable and just a little bit delusional. Apps got smarter. Feeds got stickier. Ads got creepier. Dashboards got dashboards. Meanwhile, the real world kept asking harder questions. How do we produce enough clean energy for eight billion people? How do we build things again? How do we manufacture without waste? How do we use AI for science, not just better chatbots and faster slop? Pablos Holman has spent his career living inside those questions. He is a hacker, inventor, venture capitalist, and founder of Deep Future, an invention capital firm backing the mad scientists, rogue engineers and maverick entrepreneurs trying to build technologies that actually matter. His career has touched everything from cryptocurrency in the 1990s and AI for financial markets to the early days of Blue Origin and the launch of Intellectual Ventures Lab, where the work included mosquito-killing lasers, malaria-diagnosing microscopes, vaccine coolers, advanced antennas and nuclear reactors powered by waste. His book, Deep Future - Creating Technology That Matters, argues that the next wave of innovation will not come from making software marginally more addictive. It will come from solving the physical, messy, expensive, essential problems that humanity depends on: energy, water, food, waste, construction, manufacturing, medicine and infrastructure. In this conversation, Pablos makes the case for optimism with teeth. Not optimism as a mood. Optimism as a discipline. A willingness to stare at massive problems without flinching… and then go build something. We talk about why software can't save the world by itself, why energy may be the root problem behind almost everything, why AI's most meaningful work may happen in science, and why the future belongs to people willing to work on problems big enough to scare everyone else. Enjoy the conversation… Running time: 1:04:47. Hello from beautiful Montreal. Listen and subscribe over at Apple Podcasts. Listen and subscribe over at Spotify. Please visit and leave comments on the blog - Thinking With Mitch Joel. Feel free to connect to me directly on LinkedIn. Check out ThinkersOne. Here is my conversation with Pablos Holman. Deep Future - Creating Technology That Matters. Check out Pablos on the Tim Ferriss Podcast: One of The Scariest Hackers I've Ever Met — Pablos Holman. Follow Pablos on LinkedIn. Follow Pablos on X. Follow Pablos on Instagram. Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to Deep Future and Venture Capital. (02:47) - The Shift from Software to Deep Tech. (06:08) - Revolutionizing Manufacturing with Robotics. (08:49) - The Environmental Impact of Energy Production. (12:13) - Innovative Solutions for Energy Challenges. (15:08) - The Role of AI in Scientific Advancements. (17:53) - Cultural Shifts in Manufacturing and Education. (20:55) - The Future of Energy and Nuclear Solutions. (23:56) - The Importance of Long-Term Thinking. (26:45) - Connecting Work to Meaning and Purpose. (30:13) - The Role of Corporations in Infrastructure Investment. (33:03) - The Future of Jobs in an Automated World. (36:13) - AI's Role in Solving Global Problems. (39:01) - The Need for Optimism in Technology. (41:59) - Final Thoughts and the Future of Humanity.
#1030
April 19 · 1 hr 2 min
Unlocking Creativity And Productivity With Natalie Nixon - TWMJ #1032
Welcome to episode #1032 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). At a time when productivity is still measured in speed, output and constant motion, few voices are pushing for a more human… and ultimately more effective… way of working than Natalie Nixon. A creativity strategist, keynote speaker and founder of Figure 8 Thinking, Natalie has built her career helping leaders unlock the business value of imagination… not as a soft skill, but as a strategic capability. Her work sits at the intersection of design thinking, anthropology and business innovation, and her previous book, The Creativity Leap, positioned curiosity, empathy and intuition as essential leadership muscles. In her latest work, Move. Think. Rest. - Redefining Productivity & Our Relationship With Time, Natalie challenges the deeply embedded belief that more effort equals better results… arguing instead that we're not in a tech revolution, but a human one. She introduces the MTR framework (movement, thought and rest) as a way to rebalance how we work and live, emphasizing that creativity doesn't happen despite pauses… it depends on them. In this conversation, Natalie explores how burnout and busyness have become normalized, why organizations must move beyond outdated productivity metrics, and how leaders can cultivate environments where creativity and trust can thrive. She makes a compelling case that AI, while powerful, is not the story… it's the backdrop. The real opportunity lies in how humans choose to engage with it… whether we double down on efficiency or expand into imagination, play and connection. From rethinking workplace culture to redefining growth as a non-linear, deeply human process, this conversation is a call to redesign not just how we work… but why we work at all. Enjoy the conversation… Running time: 1:02:21. Hello from beautiful Montreal. Listen and subscribe over at Apple Podcasts. Listen and subscribe over at Spotify. Please visit and leave comments on the blog - Thinking With Mitch Joel. Feel free to connect to me directly on LinkedIn. Check out ThinkersOne. Here is my conversation with Natalie Nixon. Move. Think. Rest. - Redefining Productivity & Our Relationship With Time. The Creativity Leap. Figure 8 Thinking. Sign up for Natalie's newsletter. Follow Natalie on Instagram. Follow Natalie on LinkedIn. Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to Creativity and Productivity. (04:01) - The Crisis of Creativity and Busyness. (08:06) - Redefining Creativity in Various Professions. (11:57) - The Role of AI in Creativity. (15:52) - Human Connection in the Age of Technology. (19:51) - The Infinite Nature of Creativity. (24:14) - The Importance of Play in Work Culture. (32:35) - Cultivation 2.0: Rethinking Productivity. (34:01) - Proofs of Concept: Companies Leading the Way. (39:03) - Culture and Productivity: An Inextricable Link. (40:51) - Redesigning Work: The Need for Systemic Change. (45:51) - Navigating Liminal Spaces: Embracing Uncertainty. (50:47) - The Human Revolution: Beyond Technology. (56:07) - Rest as a Productivity Tool: A Paradigm Shift.

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