Barbara Groth, founder of Nomadic School of Wonder, emphasizes wonder, nature, and co-creation in designing experiences, with her school's mission of creating more wonder through play, collaboration, and tapping into sense memories and imagination to access awe, curiosity, and expanded perception; she highlights the role of culture, respecting diverse communities, building relationships through story circles, balancing emerging technologies with nature connection, and engaging in daily practices like sensory wonder walks and creative expression to stay connected to one's playful aliveness.
🔹Remember our connection to the natural world and design with all ecosystems in mind
🔹Tap into our senses memories and imagination to access a state of wonder
🔹Respect and learn from diverse cultures in the co-creation process
🔹Building relationships and fostering a sense of wonder through community story circles is a powerful way to connect with others and learn from their experiences.
🔹Emerging technologies have the potential to support creativity and imagination, but it is important to maintain a connection to nature and design for the well-being of all life.
🔹Play and creativity are essential for maintaining a sense of wonder and finding joy in everyday life.
00:00 Introduction to Barbara Groth and the Nomadic School of Wonder
06:48 Defining Wonder and Its Expansive Perception
16:39 Difference between childlike wonder and adult wonder?
24:19 Culture and wonder making
27:20 Building Relationships and Fostering Wonder
☕ Connect with Our Guest Here
Founder and Creative Director of the Nomadic School of Wonder, a traveling troupe of artists who create "adventures in awe" rooted in nature, art, community and play.I've been a creative entrepreneur for over thirty years — guiding teams through creative invention, design and production of highly participatory, immersive experiences for Walt Disney Imagineering, Google, X, Meow Wolf and others. In between crafting wonder retreats for individuals, groups and organizations, I teach The Art of Wondermaking — How to design experiences that bring people into a felt experience of awe.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbara-groth-a47291/
www.nomadicschoolofwonder.com
📚Read the research article:
Shiota, M.N. (2021). Awe, wonder, and the human mind. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1501.
Hlava, P., Elfers, J., McGregor, D.C., Arreguin, S., & Sharpe, F. (2023). From Wonder to Transformation: The Lived Experience of Profound Awe. Journal of Humanistic Psychology.
https://open.spotify.com/show/2RhE7OM74C3J8uzUBPazcw?si=3db238fb021f4172
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/magicademy/id1721440260
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Imagine leadership not as a reserved seat at the table, but as a spark that ignites the childlike wonder, a heartfelt flame to explore and transcend perception, skill, and culture. Paired with evidence-based research, MAGICademy podcast co-explores how advancements in neuroarts, learning science, and technology are converging to empower creative, adaptable, and wonder-making leaders who transcend the limitations of the past toward collective flourishing. You can check out past and future episodes here: https://www.jianiwu.com/magicademy.