Giant Thinkers Podcast

This is episode #53. And today’s guest is the Co-founder and CEO of MVMT pronounced as ‘movement’. MVMT are a global – fashion, watches and accessory brand for millennials, that has sold over 1.5 million products. 

After almost failing out of high school and dropping out of college, our guest started this brand at age 22 while he was $20,000 in debt. Four years later, his brand has grown to more than $80 million in revenue and 4 million social followers.

Some of the topics we spoke about include:

• His first t-shirt business while still in school and his action steps getting that off the ground

So If you’re someone that’s interested in designing a product and designing a thriving business around it, then this episode is for you.

I present to you … the resourceful, determined and inspiring ... Jake Kassan!

More on Jake Kassan can be found via the links below:

Jake’s personal website

MVMT website

Linkedin profile

Jake’s Twitter: @jakekassan

Jake’s Instagram: @jakekassan

MVMT on Instagram: @MVMT

MVMT on Facebook

Subscribe to The Giant Thinkers Podcast on iTunes.

Do you think style should break the bank?

If you’re like me and said no, then you’re in for a treat. MVMT are gifting listeners an exclusive 15% off all products with free shipping! Grab one of their premium watches and accessories - at an already radically fair price, plus take another 15% off at checkout.

Skip the stress that comes with parking at the shops then dealing with retail crowds – you can and grab a watch for yourself and all your loved ones. They make the perfect gift for men and women, and start at just $95.

Visit the exclusive link here with the discount applied: https://www.mvmt.com/GiantThinkers

Welcome to episode #52! Today’s guest is the Co-founder and Creative Director of Birsel + Seck, the award-winning design and innovation studio working with clients including Herman Miller, GE, Colgate-Palmolive, IKEA and Toyota.

She’s a highly experienced and sought after New York based designer. Is the creator of Design the Life You Love, a book and coursework that teaches designers and non-designers how to create a meaningful life using her design process, Deconstruction:Reconstruction™.

Fast Company identified her as one of the world’s most creative people and is on the Thinkers50 Radar List of the 30 management thinkers most likely to shape the future of organisations.

Some of the topics we spoke about include:

• Her secret love for Karate

More on Ayse can be found via the links below:

Aysebirsel.com

Birsel + Seck website

Design The Life You Love – Book

Linkedin profile

Twitter: @AyseBirselSeck

Instagram: @designthelifeyoulove

Subscribe to The Giant Thinkers Podcast on iTunes.

Interested in becoming a developer?

All me to introduce … Treehouse! They are an online technology school, offering courses in web design and coding – from HTML, CSS, PHP to JavaScript, Python and iOS – in the space of web, mobile, and game development, taught by a team of in-house, expert teachers.

If you head to GiantThinkers.com/TreeHouse – they’re giving the Giant Thinkers community a 7-day free trial so you can try it out with no commitment.

On top of that, if you’re happy with the trial, and thereafter, continue learning on TreeHouse -- let me know and I will personally give the first 5 students a one hour Skype call coaching session, each -- for free.

So if you’d like to learn how to code, are interested in becoming a developer and are after the skills to get a job as one, pop over to GiantThinkers.com/TreeHouse

Giants, welcome to episode #51! Today’s guest is a former professional football player who suffered a career-ending injury, and is now an international lifestyle entrepreneur, New York Times bestselling author, has a consistently top 100 podcast in the world and is the founder of a multi-million dollar online media company. In this episode he shares the struggles of negativity and loneliness, and how he re-discovered his vision and identity.

• His journey from anger, resentment and loneliness to a more peaceful, liberated place


More on Lewis can be found via the links below:

lewishowes.com

Linkedin profile 

Facebook page

Twitter: @LewisHowes

Instagram: @LewisHowes

Lewis's Youtube Channel

Subscribe to The Giant Thinkers Podcast on iTunes.

Interested in becoming a developer?

All me to introduce … Treehouse! They are an online technology school, offering courses in web design and coding – from HTML, CSS, PHP to JavaScript, Python and iOS – in the space of web, mobile, and game development, taught by a team of in-house, expert teachers.

If you head to GiantThinkers.com/TreeHouse – they’re giving the Giant Thinkers community a 7-day free trial so you can try it out with no commitment.

On top of that, if you’re happy with the trial, and thereafter, continue learning on TreeHouse -- let me know and I will personally give the first 5 students a one hour Skype call coaching session, each -- for free.

So if you’d like to learn how to code, are interested in becoming a developer and are after the skills to get a job as one, pop over to GiantThinkers.com/TreeHouse

This is episode number 50! Thank you all for your support on the podcast journey so far. It has been a privilege to bring you 50 guests since starting mid-2015. In this episode we dig deep into an often overlooked topic, an area most of us take for granted, which is our eyes.

Our guest has been a top-practising optometrist for over 3 decades, and is one of Australia’s most experienced eye doctors. Currently an Adjunct Senior Lecturer at the University of New South Wales, he has also lectured internationally on advanced contact lens fitting, dry eye treatment and computer vision syndrome.

He was one of Australia's first optometrists to be qualified in Ocular Therapeutics and is currently an active member of The International Society of Contact Lens Specialists, The American Academy of Optometry and Optometry Australia to name a few. He also runs a very popular practice in Sydney’s CBD on Market Street called The Eye Practice.

Some of the topics we spoke about include:

• How to manage the increasing epidemic of dry eyes, especially with our heavy use of digital tech

If you’ve ever been interested in eye health and what to do to take care of our precious eyes, this is for you.

I present to you … the knowledgeable, easy-going and super dedicated... Dr Jim Kokkinakis!

More on Dr. Jim can be found via the links below:

Theeyepractice.com.au/Jim-Kokkinakis

Linkedin profile

Twitter.com/theeyepractice

Instagram.com/theeyepractice

The Eye Practice

Subscribe to The Giant Thinkers Podcast on iTunes.

Interested in becoming a developer?

All me to introduce … Treehouse! They are an online technology school, offering courses in web design and coding – from HTML, CSS, PHP to JavaScript, Python and iOS – in the space of web, mobile, and game development, taught by a team of in-house, expert teachers.

If you head to GiantThinkers.com/TreeHouse – they’re giving the Giant Thinkers community a 7-day free trial so you can try it out with no commitment.

On top of that, if you’re happy with the trial, and thereafter, continue learning on TreeHouse -- let me know and I will personally give the first 5 students a one hour Skype call coaching session, each -- for free.

So if you’d like to learn how to code, are interested in becoming a developer and are after the skills to get a job as one, pop over to GiantThinkers.com/TreeHouse

This is episode #49! Our guest today is a Co-Founder and Principal at Meld Studios; an Australian design firm specialising in Service Design and Interaction Design. Her foundational beginnings stems from graduating with Honors in Psychology, Masters in Social Sciences, and starting in Information Architecture. Her career has been focused on humanising products and services down to the most detailed of interactions within them. She is an incredible woman, a mentor to me and many others, and I’m excited for you all to hear this.

Some of the topics we spoke about include:

• Learning sign language from the age of 3 years old

If you’ve ever been fascinated by the collision of human behaviour and design, this episode is for you.

I present to you … the warm-hearted, generous and thoughtful ... Janna DeVylder!

More on Janna can be found via the links below:

Medium.com/@jdevylder

Meldstudios.com.au

Linkedin profile

Twitter.com/jdevylder

Instagram.com/jcybill

Subscribe to The Giant Thinkers Podcast on iTunes.

Want my audiobook for free?

It’s been one whole year since releasing my second book ‘How To Get A Mentor As A Designer’. I released it in October 2016. As a one-year anniversary gift for you all, if you haven’t purchased the book but would like to, buy the paperback or ebook version by the end of October 2017, and I will send you the audiobook for free.

Head to Gettingamentor.com, take a screen grab of your receipt, email me at [email protected] and I will respond with the audio book version for you on the house.

Welcome to episode #48! Our guest is the Chairman of Publicis Communications Australia and New Zealand, one of the largest communication agency groups in the region. He is also CEO of Publicis Worldwide Australia and NZ, with businesses specialising in advertising, digital, PR, CRM, activation, mobile, brand strategy and design. He leads over 450 people in an organisation that has over 60 major clients.

Some of the topics we spoke about include:

• How he interacts with employees to unlock the best out of them

If you’re someone that aims to move into leadership in some capacity, this is for you. I’m certain that you’ll learn a ton -- from a person of this calibre.

More on Andrew 'Billy' Baxter can be found via the links below:

Billy's website

Linkedin profile

Twitter: @AndrewBaxter3

Instagram: @AndrewBaxter3

Publicis Australia website

Subscribe to The Giant Thinkers Podcast on iTunes.

Want to see a glimpse into my USA tour?

I’ve been putting extra effort into my YouTube channel, posting vlogs of my last USA tour. They include my visit to places such as VISA, CreativeLive, AIGA, VaynerMedia and Squarespace.

Watch them on Youtube.com/RamCastillo

This is episode #47! Our guest is a specialist coach in deep listening. He's helped many individuals, to massive corporations; from Google to Microsoft to Universal.

Some of the topics we covered include:

• How to listen deeply using the 5 levels of listening

This is a must listen for anyone that wants to truly improve the way they communicate, not just professionally (with your colleagues and clients) but personally (with your family, friends and loved ones).

More on Oscar can be found via the links below:

Oscar's website

Linkedin profile

Twitter: @oscartrimboli

Instagram: @oscartrimboli

Subscribe to The Giant Thinkers Podcast on iTunes.

Want to see what it’s like when I’m on tour?

I’ve been putting extra effort into my YouTube channel, posting vlogs of my last USA tour, including my visit to places such as the AIGA headquarters, VaynerMedia and the Squarespace office. 9 episodes are up as of right now. Plenty more on the way.

Watch them on Youtube.com/RamCastillo

This is episode #46! Our guest is the Co-founder and Chief Experience Officer at Academy Xi. They teach groups and individuals in the areas of design and tech – but with a unique positioning and offering. Academy Xi specialise in teaching newly emerging disciplines such as virtual reality design, augmented reality design, service design and of course UX design as well.

Now back to our guest, he started his design career in 1998. He’s helped iconic brands, eager startups and a broad range of organisations improve their ability to create long lasting relationships with their customers, by combining his belief in human centred design, research and collaboration.

Some of the topics we spoke about include:

• The danger of assumption

More on Charbel Zeaiter can be found via the links below:

Linkedin profile

Facebook profile

Twitter: @charbelxcharbel

Instagram: @Charbelxcharbel

Velvet Onion website

Academy Xi

Need video work done? Filming, editing or both?

Checkout Grand Rapids based, Creative Agency, Carbon Stories. Friends of mine who I personally used for my video vlogs during my 2016 USA tour. They service your needs for video work and photography.

Take a look at their work or to reach out to them: CarbonStories.us

Welcome to episode #45! Our guest is a former lawyer and educator who has a PHD in Sleep Medicine from Sydney University and consults with companies and educational institutions all over the world on sleep health. She’s an internationally recognised Doctor that has been working in the world of sleep for nearly 20 years.

Some of the topics we spoke about include:

• The stages of a complete sleep cycle and how each affect our mind and bodies

More on Dr. Carmel Harrington can be found via the links below:

Dr. Carmel’s website: sleepforhealth.net.au

Dr. Carmel’s LinedIn: click here

Blog post by Dr. Carmel: Are you getting enough sleep? 

Want to improve your life through better sleep?

I want to introduce you to a company that I use and love because they've helped me improve my sleep. They're called A.H. Beard and have over 115 years’ experience in the bedding business. A.H. Beard is on a mission to improve people’s lives through better sleep.

Partnering with leading sleep experts like Dr Carmel (who is actually today's guest), A.H. Beard is the place to go when you want the answers to those niggling sleep issues!

I highly encourage you to jump onto their website AHBeard.com, sign up for their next free 6 week sleep challenge or explore their Sleep Coach section where you can find up to date articles and expert advice on everything sleep related!

Head to AHBeard.com

Welcome to episode #44! Our guest is a European-based, Australian-born artist, composer, singer and producer. She uses electronic instruments and technology to create and perform masterpieces in real time, and has performed all over the world. She recently delivered a moving TEDx talk titled ‘how to translate the feeling into sound’ and is also a freelance lecturer in Creativity at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts.

Some of the topics we spoke about include:

• The various experiences of the composer versus the listener

Rachel's Facebook: click here

Rachel's Twitter: @RachelClaudio

Rachel's Instagram: @Claudiography

TEDx Perth Talk: click here

Full version of 'The Saddest ‘Hey Ya’ You’ll Ever Hear': click here

Rachel's Soundcloud: click here

Equipboard: http://equipboard.com

Ableton Live music software: https://www.ableton.com/en/live

Are you a designer or creative struggling to navigate your way?

If you haven’t already, I invite you to sign up for the mailing list, where you get occasional emails from me on new episodes, articles and events.

But if email isn’t your thing, add me on Instagram or snapchat, my handle is @TheGiantThinker -- it’s the fastest way to reach me and see my day-to-day activities.