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

In Episode 116,The Occupational Philosophers chat with Tim Simpson, creative director of Plunge Creations, a company probably best known for being the imaginative powerhouse in designing and making the costumes for ‘The Masked Singer UK’. 

In this episode they explore a wide range of topic including:

And as ever, enjoy the Thought Experiment …this time it’s:

About Tim Simpson

As well as creating bold & crazy designs for the Masked Singer, which is one of the UK's biggest family entertainment shows and a show which has global fame, Tim and his team at Plunge also craft jaw-dropping props for cinema and TV, including for ‘The Traitors’; again another global phenomenon.

For the latest Wicked movie, they created a stunning sculpture in St Pancras International station in London, which drew you in to an adventure into the enchanting world of Wicked, bringing the Emerald City to life, with immersive details, and magical surprises - this takes your breath away when you first see it!

He is a creative all rounder, equally at home behind the computer, designing and visualising a project, or in the workshop, working alongside the team. 

He is the Willy Wonka of design, creativity, magic, who lives in a world of pure imagination!

Learn more about Tim

References

John and Simon hope you enjoy the show as much as they enjoyed making it. It's the reason they started this show - interesting, cool and creative people who have taken the path less travelled and kicked arse! 

Say Hello to the OP 

www.occupationalphilosophers.com

Their day jobs

JOHN www.bowlandconsulting.com

The Occupational Philosophers chat with Kurt Sneddon, photographer, cinematographer, and actor.

In this episode, they explore a wide range of topics including:

And as ever, enjoy the Thought Experiment …this time it’s:

About Kurt Sneddon...

Kurt has built a thriving portrait & wedding studio in Sydney, Australia, before relocating in 2015 to pursue creative opportunities in New York City. 

He photographs awesome actors, dancers, models and performers in the streets of New York City. He has a studio in East Williamsburg & SoHo in NYC - Kurt’s photography is all about creating authentic, impactful images that help performers stand out—and making sure they enjoy the process, not dread it.

He pivoted into cinematography, trained at Maine Media Workshops, joined the Local 600 Camera Union, and worked in the camera crew on TV shows and films throughout NYC and upstate.

More recently, he opened up a space for coaching photographers who are tired of toxic spaces and ego-driven attitudes, launching the Humble Togs Club - an online community where photographers can hang out, learn, and support each other in a safe, no-jerk zone - it's also an amazing community that celebrates progress, not perfection.

Learn more about Kurt

Humble Togs 

Socials

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoa_of_Attalos

https://www.remussanctuary.org/interesting-goat-facts/

https://rayeofficial.com/

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/conversations-about-foster-care/id1506508179

https://davinci.ai/

https://www.nano-banana.ai/

https://www.waterstones.com/book/a-life-in-parts/bryan-cranston/9781409156598

John and Simon hope you enjoy the show as much as they enjoyed making it. Its the reason they started this show - interesting, cool and creative people who have taken the path less travelled and kicked arse! 

Say Hello to the OP 

www.occupationalphilosophers.com

Their day jobs

JOHN www.bowlandconsulting.com

In this episode 113, the Occupational Philosophers chat with the wonderfully curious Professor Katherine Boydell. 

Katherine is an internationally recognised leader in qualitative inquiry and arts-based knowledge translation in mental health and social care with innovative approaches to create knowledge and translate empirical research using arts-based methods, including art installations. 

She is the founder and head of the award-winning Arts-based Knowledge Translation Lab at Black Dog Institute and Director, Knowledge Translation, Maridulu Budyari Gumal – Sydney Partnership for Health Education Research and Enterprise. 

She was appointed as a Fellow of the prestigious Australian Academy of Social Sciences in 2020.

She is Vice-President of the Arts & Health Network of NSW/ACT and is Executive Editor of the Arts & Health journal and Associate Editor of Early Intervention in Psychiatry.

She has been a Visiting Professor at the University of Wollongong, University of Sydney, Rotterdam Arts & Science Lab, Radboud University, and Singapore Art Museum.

She has published over 300 peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters and books as well as other arts-based outputs such as research-based installations and exhibits and two PhDs. 

Her recent book, Applying Body Mapping in Research: An Arts-Based Method, brings together years of practice using this powerful participatory technique across health and social care settings around the world.

This is some impressive stuff! 

In this episode, they explore a wide range of topics including:

Chapters 

John and Simon hope you enjoy the show as much as they enjoyed making it. It's the reason they started this show - interesting, cool and creative people who have taken the path less travelled and kicked arse! 

Learn more about Catherine

Mentions

Say Hello to the OP 

www.occupationalphilosophers.com

Their day jobs

In this episode 113, the Occupational Philosophers chat with the wonderfully curious David Bramwell - a writer, broadcaster, performer and professional seeker. 

He’s the author of The Number 9 Bus to Utopia, a philosophical travel memoir, in which he went looking for different and potentially better ways of living.

He’s presented many programmes for BBC Radio 3 and BBC Radio 4 on subjects ranging from Ivor Cutler, Ken Campbell and time travel, to the art of public speaking. 

As a podcaster, he produces and presents Adventures in Nutopia and The Ways of Water,  and has co-hosted other popular podcasts including, Odditorium, Watling Street with author John Higgs, and Seeker! The Ken Campbell Podcast with Daisy Campbell.

In 2020 his book The Cult of Water was published, exploring belief and rituals, and then in 2023 he self-published The Singalong-A-Wicker-Man Scrapbook.

Since 2004 he has been hosting Brighton’s Catalyst Club, a monthly salon at which three guest speakers from all walks of life take to the stage to talk about their passions. 

As a performer, he has toured several solo shows and performed at Soho Theatre, Somerset House, Tate St Ives, TEDx, Idler Academy, MOMA, UK festivals, and the Lowry Theatre. 

And finally there's Oddfellow's Casino, an eclectic band project that blends spoken word, music and storytelling, and who are approaching their 25th anniversary this year. 

In this episode they explore a wide range of topic including:

And as ever, enjoy the Thought Experiment …this time it’s:

Learn more about David

https://www.drbramwell.com/

https://oddfellowscasino.bandcamp.com/

https://catalystclub.co.uk/

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/adventures-in-nutopia/id1649333497

References

Trevor Noah

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/nonprofittechies/microsoft-and-trevor-noah-a-partnership-for-asking-questions/4036636

Australian Writers Festival boycott

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgm4jkwz2z8

The Wicker Man

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wicker_Man

Crows picking up cigarette butts

https://stevedalepetworld.com/blog/something-to-crow-about/

Panpsychism

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panpsychism

Philip Goff

https://philipgoffphilosophy.com/

Museum of Curiosity

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00k3wvk

Spalding Gray

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spalding_Gray

Rudolph Steiner

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudolf_Steiner

Underground Temple

https://thetemples.org/

Shark House

https://museumofoxford.org/bill-heine-the-man-behind-the-headington-shark/

Findhorn

https://visitfindhorn.uk/

The Min Min Light

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2020/jun/27/what-are-glowing-orbs-of-light-in-the-sky-world-over

The Positive Revolution

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Handbook-Positive-Revolution-Edward-Bono/dp/0670830127

La Bete

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14407336/

November

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6164502/

The Web of Meaning

https://www.jeremylent.com/the-web-of-meaning.html

John and Simon hope you enjoy the show as much as they enjoyed making it. Its the reason they started this show - interesting, cool and creative people who have taken the path less travelled and kicked arse! 

Say Hello to the OP 

www.occupationalphilosophers.com

Their day jobs

JOHN Bowland Consulting

In Episode 112, The Occupational Philosophers chat with the artists, Catherine Borowski and Lee Baker, two exceptionally talented guests who show the true power of creative collaboration and imagination. 

Together they have brought to life the SKIP Gallery; an international, collaborative, multi-disciplinary public art project dedicated to creating much-needed space, opportunities, funding and advocacy for emerging artists. The original idea was to forge opportunities for artistic interventions in unexpected places by repurposing rubbish skips. 

In addition, they are also the founders of Graphic Rewilding, another large-scale public art project/s  creating vast, flower inspired, attention grabbing, positivity inducing artworks and immersive environments in often-overlooked and under-appreciated urban spaces

And finally, PRODUCE UK provides a wide range of services for experiential event and placemaking clients; they have amassed an impressive portfolio of experience, working with such clients as Lumiere Light Festival, London Festival of Architecture, Cartoon Network, London Festival Week, Hem, Vanity Fair, Nike, Adidas and Discovery Channel.

In this episode, they explore:

And as ever, enjoy the Thought Experiment …this time it’s:

Learn more about Catherine and Lee

References

John and Simon hope you enjoy the show as much as they enjoyed making it. Its the reason they started this show - interesting, cool and creative people who have taken the path less travelled and kicked arse! 

Say Hello to the OP 

www.occupationalphilosophers.com

Their day jobs

JOHN Bowland Consulting

In this episode, they chat about

Why fun and play are the gateway drugs to creativity and curiosity

The role of adults in showing kids that growing up can be joyful

How to find creativity in the corners and gaps of your day

Why perfection is the enemy of progress (especially when dancing)

How to reframe drudgery by reconnecting with your higher purpose

Giving yourself permission to try, fail, and keep going

The Large Padron Collider, Bonbon Collider and other very real science experiments

Why Cristy recommends you don’t visit crustybum.com

Along the way, they cover Bluey, book week, Barack Obama’s suits, marshmallow metaphors, AI bosses, and the very underrated joy of sitting in dirt.

About Cristy Burne

Cristy is a science writer, presenter, former patent translator and a STEM ambassador who has worked with astronauts, Nobel Prize winners and yes, a surprising number of chefs. She’s passionate about science communication, joy, adventure, and bringing stories to life. Her work includes everything from graphic novels to science thrillers, and she recently launched a creative stage show with Trudy Boatwright for World Expo in Japan.

Find Cristy Burne at

Mentions and references

Bluey – ABC Kids

The book Rest by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang

World Expo Osaka 2025

Large Hadron Collider – CERN

Say Hello

www.occupationalphilosophers.com

Their day jobs

JOHN Bowland Consulting

Have you noticed everyone on LinkedIn now turns the most mundane crap into a business lesson? Stubbed toe...that's leadership. Wrinkly socks...team dynamics. Toothbrush running flat...how do you lead a team?            So Simon and John built a template. Now you can too.

The formula is this simple:

That's it. That's the whole LinkedIn thought leadership industry. Once you see it, you can't unsee it.

In this episode, they test the template on:

LinkedIn already gave the world the humble brag. The life lessons are next-level LinkedIn. 

Warning: strong irony, sharp humour, and a deep affection for the absurdity of business content. If you've ever posted "what my morning coffee taught me about strategy," this one's for you. And about you.

One of John and Simon's favourite no-guest episodes. Send it to the worst LinkedIn poster you know.

As always, stay curious, make stuff, have fun, play more, and date life.

Say Hello

www.occupationalphilosophers.com

https://occupationalphilosophers.substack.com/ 

Their day jobs (get in touch!) 

JOHN Bowland Consulting

In Episode 109, The Occupational Philosophers chat with Eric Weiner, an award-winning journalist, a New York Times bestselling author, and much sought-after keynote speaker on a variety of topics, including happiness, innovation strategies and the "power of place." He regularly leads writing workshops around the world.

He is a former foreign correspondent for NPR and reporter for The New York Times. He's reported from more than 30 nations, from Iraq to Indonesia, covering some of the major international events of recent times. He is the recipient of several journalism awards, including the Angel Award for coverage of Islamic affairs in Asia.

His work has appeared in The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Atlantic, National Geographic, AFAR, among other publications.

And his books include The Geography of Bliss, The Geography of Genius, Man Seeks God and The Socrates Express. His latest book, Ben & Me, has recently been published this year.

In this episode, they explore:

And as ever, enjoy the Thought Experiment …this time it’s:

Learn more about Eric

http://www.ericweinerbooks.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-weiner-17aa8639/

References

https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibition/michelangelo-leonardo-raphael

https://www.independentthinking.co.uk/speakers/ian-gilbert/

https://europa.nasa.gov/mission/about/

https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/133768-one-s-destination-is-never-a-place-but-a-new-way

https://www.carryology.com/

https://freedom.to/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomodoro_Technique

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yi-Fu_Tuan

https://www.celticglory.com/thin-place

John and Simon explore the creative wisdom of music producer Rick Rubin and what it means to bring creativity into everyday work and life

In this episode, Simon and John chat about

Along the way, they cover Sistine Chapel replicas, rugby league fandom, urban sketching, and how sensitivity and curiosity are deeply linked.

Links and references

Say Hello

www.occupationalphilosophers.com

Their day jobs

JOHN Bowland Consulting

In episode 107, The Occupational Philosophers chat with the highly curious Dr Jochen Schweitzer, a strategy, innovation, and entrepreneurship researcher and education leader at UTS, Director of the Executive MBA, advisor, and author. 

His research, teaching and consulting focus on issues of strategy, collaboration, entrepreneurship and innovation with a special interest in design thinking, emerging technologies and open innovation. 

Jochen was a visiting Scholar at Stanford University and Hasso Plattner Institute (HPI) School of Design Thinking at Potsdam University. Before joining the UTS Business School, he taught at the UTS schools of Design and Architecture and Macquarie University. Jochen is a passionate educator who has taught at universities in the UK, Japan, China, the US, Germany, the Netherlands and New Zealand and won numerous awards, too many to mention. 

He was a principal at PricewaterhouseCoopers, a production engineer at Volkswagen and a program manager at the Goethe Institute. Jochen is also the founder of U.lab, an interdisciplinary think tank and platform for innovation projects.

Apart from his academic pursuits, Jochen is an active member of the entrepreneurship community and has mentored and advised numerous startups. 

Interesting titles from co-authored papers 

So a very interesting guest!! 

In this episode, the Occupational Philosophers explore:

As always, there is a thought experiment to stretch the mind. In this episode, it's Ferret or Fantasy? The start-up world animal kingdom.

There are also some listener questions, which are always a treat. 

The Occupational Philosophers hope you enjoy listening to the show as much as they did making it. 

Jochen Links

Say Hello

www.occupationalphilosophers.com

Their day jobs: