In this episode of the Curious Advantage podcast, Alison Coward discusses the concept of workshop culture and its significance in fostering collaboration and creativity within teams. She shares her journey from the creative industries to becoming a facilitator and author, emphasizing the importance of intentional collaboration and the role of curiosity in team dynamics. The conversation explores practical steps for improving meetings, leading through uncertainty, and the impact of AI on workshop culture. Alison also outlines the five pillars of high-performing teams: alignment, cohesion, communication, design, and change, and highlights the need for organizations to create environments that support these elements.

00:00 Introduction to Workshop Culture

03:03 The Journey to Facilitation

06:01 Defining Workshop Culture

08:52 Practical Steps for Effective Collaboration

11:51   Leading Through Uncertainty

15:05 The Role of Online vs In-Person Workshops

17:56 Five Pillars of High Performing Teams

23:59 Curiosity in Team Dynamics

26:47 Balancing Creativity and Productivity

30:07 Leveraging AI in Workshop Culture

33:57 Final Thoughts and Key Takeaways

Bracket : www.bracketcreative.co.uk

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/alisoncoward

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

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

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

Get your copy of The Curious Advantage on Amazon

The Curious Advantage Audiobook is also available on Audible

Follow The Curious Advantage on LinkedIn and Instagram

The Curious Advantage Podcast is executive produced by Jessica Wickham, Pasha Adam and Aliki Paolinelis. Audio editing is expertly by Danny Cross. Video editing is done by Jessica Wickham & Helena Gonzalez. 

In this episode, Paul Ashcroft and Garrick Jones are joined by world-renowned cognitive philosopher Andy Clark to explore the fascinating ideas behind his latest book, The Experience Machine.

Together, they dive into how the brain acts less like a camera and more like a prediction engine, constantly guessing what’s coming next and shaping the way we experience reality. From the link between curiosity and mistakes to the surprising ways our expectations influence pain and mental health, this is a rich conversation about perception, learning, and the stories we tell ourselves.

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

00:00 Introduction to the Curious Advantage Podcast

01:55 The Journey of Andy Clark

02:21 The Brain as a Prediction Machine

06:59 Balancing Predictions and Sensory Input

11:25 Error, Curiosity, and Learning

18:26 Wired to Reduce Uncertainty

21:16 Pain, Expectation, and Mental Health

25:45 Curating Uncertainty for Better Predictions

28:34 The Role of Environment in Shaping Reality

31:07 Art, Literature, and Predictive Systems

32:49 The Impact of Algorithms on Human Experience

34:34 AI and Human Predictive Models

40:23 The Future of AI and Human Collaboration

46:20 Education and Embracing Error

49:15 Practical Applications of Predictive Processing

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

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

Get your copy of The Curious Advantage on Amazon

The Curious Advantage Audiobook is also available on Audible

Follow The Curious Advantage on LinkedIn and Instagram

The Curious Advantage Podcast is executive produced by Jessica Wickham and Aliki Paolinelis. Audio editing is expertly by Danny Cross. Video editing is done by Jessica Wickham. 

In this episode of the Curious Advantage podcast, Simon Brown and Garrick Jones talk with Charles H. Green, a renowned expert on trust. They explore the concept of trust, its importance in personal and professional relationships, and how it can be cultivated.

Charles shares insights on the trust equation, which includes credibility, reliability, intimacy, and self-orientation. The conversation also delves into the implications of trust in sales, the impact of AI on trust, and the importance of personal agency in fostering trust and connection in a rapidly changing world. They also discuss the growing presence of AI-generated scams, deep fakes, and the challenges these pose to building and maintaining trust in the digital age.

00:00 Introduction to Trust and Curiosity

18:13 The Trust Equation Explained

24:30 Trust in Sales: The Meat Sandwich Model

33:40 Trust in the Age of AI

41:58 Personal Agency and Change

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

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

Follow The Curious Advantage on LinkedIn and Instagram

The Curious Advantage Podcast is executive produced by Jessica Wickham and Aliki Paolinelis. Audio editing is expertly by Danny Cross. Video editing by Jessica Wickham and John McGinty. 

In this episode Simon Brown, Paul Ashcroft, and Garrick Jones are joined by futurist Bob Johansen, who brings nearly five decades of experience in forecasting what’s next. Together, they dive into the power of curiosity and "future-back" thinking in navigating today’s uncertain world. From VUCA to BANI, Bob unpacks the frameworks shaping how we understand complexity—and why generative AI is a game-changer for leadership.

Discover the essential skills leaders need for the future, including augmented clarity and bioengaging, and hear how cross-generational collaboration is key to thriving in disruption. With reflections on faith, hope, and decision-making in an age of ambiguity, this conversation offers a hopeful yet grounded roadmap for staying curious in the face of the unknown.

00:00 The Journey of a Futurist

03:11 Understanding the Role of a Futurist

05:51 Engaging with Future Signals

09:00 The VUCA and BANI World

11:53 The Impact of Generative AI

15:05 Curiosity and Future Leadership

24:01 Curiosity and Future-Back Thinking

25:52 Key Skills for Future Leadership

32:10 Practical Augmentation for Leaders

36:21 Faith and Hope in a Changing World

42:01 Cross-Generational Collaboration and Neuroscience

48:05 Optimism in a Frightening Future

Interested in purchasing the book? Contact [email protected] for exclusive group discounts and bulk order offers for The Curious Advantage listeners.

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

Follow The Curious Advantage on LinkedIn and Instagram

The Curious Advantage Podcast is executive produced by Jessica Wickham and Aliki Paolinelis. Audio editing is expertly by Danny Cross. Video editing by Jessica Wickham and John McGinty. 

In this episode of The Curious Advantage podcast, Simon Brown and Garrick Jones speak with renowned author and speaker Margaret Heffernan about curiosity, leadership, and organizational culture. She shares insights from her diverse career, exploring the impact of questioning conventional wisdom, the dangers of wilful blindness, and the role of playwriting in research.

Heffernan discusses how curiosity and helpfulness drive productivity and collaboration, warning against excessive competition and the ‘super chicken’ effect—where individual performance overshadows team success. She advocates for rethinking workplace culture to foster learning, connection, and innovation.

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

Follow The Curious Advantage on LinkedIn and Instagram

The Curious Advantage Podcast is executive produced by Jessica Wickham and Aliki Paolinelis. Audio editing is expertly by Danny Cross. Video editing by Jessica Wickham and John McGinty. 

In this episode of the Curious Advantage podcast, Simon Brown and Garrick Jones engage with Margaret Heffernan, a renowned author and speaker, to explore the themes of curiosity, leadership, and organizational culture. Heffernan shares her diverse career journey and emphasizes the importance of questioning conventional wisdom in fostering innovation and collaboration within organizations.

The conversation delves into the concept of willful blindness, the intersection of playwriting and research, and the challenges leaders face in navigating accountability and certainty. Heffernan advocates for creating environments that promote curiosity and productivity, highlighting the need for organizations to rethink their approaches to work and collaboration. In this engaging conversation, Margaret Heffernan discusses the importance of curiosity and helpfulness in the workplace, emphasizing how these traits can enhance productivity and collaboration. She shares insights from her experiences in various organizations, highlighting the detrimental effects of excessive competition and the benefits of fostering a culture of learning and connection.

The discussion also touches on the concept of 'super chickens' and how a focus on individual performance can undermine overall team success. Heffernan advocates for creating environments that encourage curiosity and collaboration, ultimately leading to more innovative and productive organizations.

Margaret Heffernan website: https://www.mheffernan.com/#modal-close 

The Curious Advantage Podcast series, hosted by the authors of The Curious Advantagebook – Paul Ashcroft (co-founder & partner, Ludic Group), Simon Brown (Global Learning & Development Leader, Partner, EY), and Garrick Jones (co-founder & partner, Ludic Group) – explores how curiosity is a driving force for success in both individual lives and organizations, particularly in our evolving digital landscape. This podcast distills insights from neuroscience, anthropology, history, art and behaviorism to make the concept of curiosity accessible and applicable to everyone.

Follow The Curious Advantage on LinkedIn and Instagram

The Curious Advantage Podcast is executive produced by Jessica Wickham and Aliki Paolinelis. Audio editing is expertly by Danny Cross. Video editing by Jessica Wickham. 

In this episode, Indy Johar, co-founder of Dark Matter Labs, discusses the democratization of city-making and the need to address the structural dark matter questions that impact our society. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the root causes of global challenges such as climate breakdown and biodiversity loss. Indy also explores the need for a different set of language and constructs within business to address these challenges and transform our foundational economy. 

The conversation explores the need for a radical transformation in our theory of corporation and the role of leaders in shifting from command and control to learning and coaching. It discusses the challenges of the current unsustainable path and the need to change the system and the way we think. The conversation also delves into the role of technology, such as AI and generative AI, in enabling the agentification of the world and driving new ways of dealing with complexity. It emphasizes the importance of curiosity, holding uncertainty, and building economies of discovery. The conversation concludes with the need to shift the flow of capital to invest in the unknown and manage risks in order to create a more positive future.

Follow The Curious Advantage on LinkedIn and Instagram

The Curious Advantage Podcast is executive produced by Jessica Wickham and Aliki Paolinelis. Audio editing is expertly by Danny Cross. Video editing by Jessica Wickham and John McGinty. 

#CuriosityInAction #SustainableFuture #TransformingEconomy #CityMaking #DarkMatterQuestions #ClimateAction #BiodiversityCrisis #LeadershipEvolution #AIForGood #GenerativeAI #FutureOfWork #SystemsThinking #InnovativeLeadership #EconomiesOfDiscovery #InvestInTheFuture #Curiosity #CuriousAdvantage #Sustainability #AI #Leadership #Management 

In this episode Paul Ashcroft, Simon Brown and Garrick Jones speak with Alexia Cambon, Senior Director of Research at Microsoft, to explore the evolving landscape of work influenced by AI. 

Alexia shares her journey from law to corporate research, highlighting her pivotal role in the Work Trends Index and the insights gained about AI's integration into the workplace. The conversation delves into the adoption of AI tools, the gap between employee enthusiasm and leadership hesitance, and the implications of AI on decision-making and cognitive skills. Alexia emphasizes the need for organizations to embrace AI as a new dimension of intelligence while ensuring that essential human skills are preserved. In this conversation, the speakers explore the multifaceted impact of AI on critical thinking, education, and workplace dynamics. 

We discuss the potential biases inherent in AI models, the transformative role of AI in providing a safe learning environment for students, and the emergence of power users who leverage AI for enhanced productivity. The discussion also delves into the importance of curiosity and persistence in effectively utilizing AI, the evolving nature of work as AI becomes a team member, and the implications for human relationships in an increasingly AI-driven world.

 

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

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

Follow The Curious Advantage on LinkedIn and Instagram

The Curious Advantage Podcast is executive produced by Jessica Wickham and Aliki Paolinelis. Audio editing is expertly by Danny Cross. Video editing by Jessica Wickham and John McGinty. 

#AIinWorkplace #WorkTrendsIndex #AIandProductivity #ArtificialIntelligence #FutureOfWork #AIEducation #DataDrivenDecisions #AIandCuriosity #HumanMachineCollaboration #AIBias #CuriousAdvantage #CriticalThinking #PowerOfAI #WorkplaceInnovation #AILeadership #CognitiveSkills 

Join Simon Brown and Garrick Jones for a one-hour deep dive in our new format episode titled “Curious About... The Future of Work and Environments” with architects and design innovators Key Portilla-Kawamura and Ali Ganjavian of Studio Banana Design.

In this episode, they explore the impact of physical spaces on collaboration, community building, and serendipity. Discover the importance of intentional design, the role of play in fostering creativity, and how to reimagine office environments for diverse purposes.

Key and Ali discuss hybrid spaces that integrate learning, idea exchange, and recharging, while emphasizing rituals that shape behavior and create a sense of belonging. Tune in to learn how leaders can listen to their teams and implement meaningful changes to enhance the work environment!

Website: https://studiobanana.com

LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/company/studio-banana

The Curious Advantage Podcast series, hosted by the authors of The Curious Advantage book – Paul Ashcroft (co-founder & partner, Ludic Group), Simon Brown (Global Learning & Development Leader, Partner, EY), and Garrick Jones (co-founder & partner, Ludic Group) – explores how curiosity is a driving force for success in both individual lives and organizations, particularly in our evolving digital landscape. This podcast distills insights from neuroscience, anthropology, history, art and behaviorism to make the concept of curiosity accessible and applicable to everyone.

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

Follow The Curious Advantage on LinkedIn and Instagram

The Curious Advantage Podcast is executive produced by Jessica Wickham and Aliki Paolinelis. Audio editing is expertly by Danny Cross. Video editing by Jessica Wickham. 

#CuriousAdvantage #CuriousAdvantagePodcast #CuriosityPodcast #7CsofCuriosity #DigitalSuccess #NeuroscienceInsights #BusinessCuriosity #PodcastSeries #Audiobook #Amazon #DigitalAge #Sailingthe7Cs #7CsofCuriosity #PowerSkill #CuriosityModel #Curisosity #ThriveDigitally #PodcastInsights #AuthorPodcast #LeadershipCuriosity #DigitalLandscape #CuriosityBook #LinkedInPodcast #FutureOfWork #Environments #Architecture #Design #Collaboration #CommunityBuilding #Serendipity #Intentionality #Play #Creativity #Innovation #OfficeSpace #Workspaces #IntentionalDesign #CoCreation #HybridSpaces #Rituals #BehaviorChange

In this episode, we dive deep into the role of curiosity in driving organizational change and innovation with Chris Smart, Chief Learning Officer at MetLife. Chris shares his career journey and how curiosity has shaped his leadership and decision-making. He discusses how MetLife fosters a culture of curiosity through initiatives like the experimentation fund, campaigns, and hackathons, all designed to encourage innovation and employee empowerment.

As Chris reflects on the challenges of the pandemic, he highlights how the organization pivoted to virtual learning while still valuing the power of face-to-face interactions. He also explores the operational side of curiosity—turning ideas into practical actions that support a learning organization.

In this engaging conversation, Chris touches on the role of AI in the future of learning and development, emphasizing the challenges and opportunities it presents. Additionally, he shares his personal curiosities, including his interest in the history of New York’s High Line and his vision for the evolving role of L&D in the future. Whether you're passionate about leadership, innovation, or learning, this episode reveals the powerful impact of curiosity on personal and organizational growth.

The Curious Advantage Podcast series, hosted by the authors of The Curious Advantage book – Paul Ashcroft (co-founder & partner, Ludic Group), Simon Brown (Global Learning & Development Leader, Partner, EY), and Garrick Jones (co-founder & partner, Ludic Group) – explores how curiosity is a driving force for success in both individual lives and organizations, particularly in our evolving digital landscape. This podcast distills insights from neuroscience, anthropology, history, art and behaviorism to make the concept of curiosity accessible and applicable to everyone.

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

Follow The Curious Advantage on LinkedIn and Instagram

The Curious Advantage Podcast is executive produced by Jessica Wickham and Aliki Paolinelis. Audio editing is expertly by Danny Cross. Video editing by Jessica Wickham. 

#CuriousAdvantage #CuriousAdvantagePodcast #CuriosityPodcast #7CsofCuriosity #DigitalSuccess #NeuroscienceInsights #BusinessCuriosity #PodcastSeries #Audiobook #Amazon #DigitalAge #Sailingthe7Cs #7CsofCuriosity #PowerSkill #CuriosityModel #Curisosity #ThriveDigitally #PodcastInsights #AuthorPodcast #LeadershipCuriosity #DigitalLandscape #CuriosityBook #LinkedInPodcast #Learning

#OrganizationalChange #Innovation #Empowerment #Leadership #Experimentation #Hackathons #VirtualLearning #FaceToFaceInteractions

#TalentMarketplace #ExperientialLearning #Curiosity #Change #Purpose #Vision #AI #LearningAndDevelopment #HighLine