Bored with dragons, the wizard Argomandanies turns his arcane attention to the fantastic fauna of the natural world. Welcome to Animalia Stupendium, a chronicle of Earth’s amazing biodiversity with all the enthusiasm of a fantasy monster book. In this episode, the wizard will discuss the Portuguese Man o’ War!

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In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Joe chats with physicist Suzie Sheehy, author of "The Matter of Everything: How Curiosity, Physics, and Improbable Experiments Changed the World." (originally published 08/08/2023)

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In this classic episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe return to the world of Russian cinema and also to… Middle Earth? Yes, let’s bask in the glory of “Khraniteli” AKA “The Keepers” AKA that 1991 Leningrad Television adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Fellowship of the Ring.” (originally published 8/13/2021)

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In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert chats with Michael Denis Higgins, Professor Emeritus of Earth Science at the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi and author of the new book “The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: Science, Engineering and Technology.” What was the Colossus of Rhodes, why did it impress the ancient Hellenistic world and how might we recreate it in the modern world? (Originally published 07/27/2023)

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In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss Ridley Scott’s dark fairy tale “Legend,” starring Tom Cruise, Mia Sara and Tim Curry.

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Once more, it's time for a dose of Stuff to Blow Your Mind and Weirdhouse Cinema listener mail...

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In a rapidly evolving AI landscape, open-source models can further accelerate the pace of progress and help expand access to all. In this episode of Smart Talks with IBM, Malcolm Gladwell sits down with Mo Duffy, Software Engineering Manager at Red Hat. 

They discuss InstructLab and the benefits of open-source technology, such as flexible deployment and the ability to enhance transparency, as well as the power of partnerships and collaboration. Mo explains how a community-based approach is essential for developing genuinely open-source AI. 

This is a paid advertisement from IBM. The conversations on this podcast don't necessarily represent IBM's positions, strategies or opinions. 

Visit us at ibm.com/smarttalks

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In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe explore the mysteries and marvels of oar-powered galleys and warships in the ancient Mediterranean world. How many oars did they depend on? How many rowers and how many levels of rowers? And what are we to make of Ptolemy IV Philopator’s 40-oar Tessarakonteres? Find out… 

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What happens when a solar conjunction allows all ant species to unite against their enemies? Find out as Rob and Joe discuss the delightfully weird 1974 film “Phase IV.” (originally published 01/28/2022) 

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The interaction between oil and water has fascinated us since ancient times, and it has factored into practices as diverse as divination rituals and attempts to calm turbulent waters at sea with storm oil. In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe explore the effect of oil on troubled waters. (Originally published 08/03/2023, Part 2 of 2)

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Phil and Crystal start the podcast by catching up after being away for a few weeks. They acknowledge going through some recent challenges and changes in life, both personally and in the world more broadly.

The conversation covers staying positive and resilient even when things get difficult. Phil and Crys emphasize the importance of finding purpose, taking time for self-reflection, learning new skills, and adapting to change.

They discuss how rapid change can happen, using the example of horses being replaced by cars within 20 years. New technologies inevitably bring change, whether you like it or not. But change can ultimately be for the better.

Phil and Crys share thoughts on AI and its potential impacts. While some view AI skeptically, they believe it will mostly create new opportunities. Big corporations are investing in AI research and tools. As individuals, we may benefit from free AI resources incorporated into programs by companies like Google and Microsoft.

Shifting topics, Phil and Crys touch on the role of money and corporate power structures. They joke about enjoying "government rants" but not wanting to affect money flows. Crys notes how figures like Elon Musk pretend to be anti-AI for government approval.

The conversation covers loopholes used by corporations and wealthy figures like Trump. Even when people seem negatively affected, they find legal workarounds. Phil and Crys express a mix of frustration and grudging respect for how far loopholes can be pushed.

Crys discusses her own career path, going into higher education with the goal of helping people. She ended up getting counseling and divinity degrees. Her journey shows how we may start out uncertain of our exact direction. What matters is following our interests and passions.

Phil and Crys emphasize focusing energy wisely. It's easy to overthink things or waste energy on frustration. We need to decide where to direct energy for maximum personal and social benefit. This requires self-awareness and intentionality.

They touch on societal expectations and fantasies. People can drain energy while being unaware due to self-absorption. Toxic relationships or family patterns can be accepted out of habit. But we need to reflect carefully on what no longer serves us.

Overall, Phil and Crys encourage listeners to stay aware, keep growing, focus on purpose and positive impact, and remain resilient through life's ups and downs. With intentionality, we can navigate challenges and changes. The podcast covers many themes relevant to maintaining a positive mindset and being true to oneself.

Guest - Paul Michelman - Editor in Chief, MIT Sloan Management Review

This week on the podcast Paul Michelman - Editor in Chief, MIT Sloan Management Review joins us for a great discussion that covers a number of topics, including the impact of technology on business and vice versa, and why the middle may not be the best place to be.

Paul is the former Editor in Chief of Safari Books Online, he has worked with strategy+business, the Harvard Business Review, and other prestigious organizations.  Paul was also the original executive producer and host of HBR Ideacast, launched in 2006.

Questions addressed

• What do you think about the future of podcasting?
• How is technology influencing business, how is business influencing technology?
• How do you stay ahead of the technology changes, while keeping the business going?
• Who is doing this well?
• What can we do at an Individual Contributor level to impact organizational success?
• Can you apply math to the risk of change?
• What is real & what is BS when it comes to Artifical Intelligence (AI)?
• Should we focus now on specialization or should we diversify?

Key Takeaways

• Audio/Podcasting
  • Quality will continue to improve, content will continue to improve.  
  • The popularity of audio will continue to grow - it is the most flexible of media - you can take it with you wherever you go.
  • The rise of audio as an interface - central way that we interact with devices - continues to occur.
• Technology
  • For most of the digital age - technology has been a support platform/tool.
  • Tech has moved from a supporting tool to being central to the way organizations compete.
  • From HR to anywhere in the supply chain, to Sales, you cannot name a group that is not being influenced or impacted by technology.
  • Technology as a Skill: Senior leaders need to understand how the technology impacts the business.
• Change & The Impact of Technology on the Speed of Change
  • Change is going to happen, and it is going to happen more frequently.
  • There is a level of acceptance - change is here to stay.
  • Things you may have revisited annually, you now have to revisit quarterly.
  • The higher level the risk, the harder the change may be, including the ability to test.  It is really hard to generalize.
  • Pierre Nanterme - CEO, Accenture
    • You need to have a confidence that you are heading in the right direction.
    • Keep tacking.
    • Accept that you will not have all of the information.
• Companies that Will Handle these Changes Well
  • Digitally native organizations (Amazon, Google, Apple) - they are inventing as they go.
  • Organizations that are modest - those that do not fall in love with their own successes
  • “Information has been democratized” - as an example, Zappos have given their people the latitude to make decisions that directly impact the business.
  • It is not just enabling the workforce, it also means you have a workforce that wants to embrace this enablement.
• Artifical Intelligence / AI as a disruptor
  • Maybe the question about AI starts first with algorithms.  
  • The estimations of AIs impact are not overstated.
  • We may be overestimating the impact in the short term, but underestimated in the long term.
  • There is a healthy shift in discussions, the perspective is shifting to the belief that AI is going to enable us to do better things - not replace us.
• The Middle
  • Don’t Get Caught in the Middle - Organizations continue to get flatter.  
  • Executives in the middle of organizations are increasingly threatened.
  • Employees ability to make decisions continues to improve.The intermediary role continues to be reduced. There are not many matchmakers anymore.
  • The business intermediary is being replaced by technology.
• What to do about it.
  • Develop your skills in tandem, don’t lose sight of your personal ability to create value.
  • It will help you manage your career within and outside of an organization.
  • Don’t be just a left brain person, don’t be just a right brain person - keep developing your skills.

Show Links

• MIT Sloan Management Review
• Paul's LinkedIn
• Paul's Twitter
• Articles Mentioned
  • Don't Get Caught in the Middle - Paul Michelman
  • Managing the Bots that are Managing the Business - Tim O’Reilly

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Catalyst Sale

In every business, in every opportunity, there is someone who can help you navigate the internal challenges and close the deal.  There is a Catalyst.  We integrate process (Catalyst Sale Process), technology and people, with the purpose of accelerating revenue. Our thoughtful approach minimizes false starts that are common in emerging markets and high-growth environments. We continue to evolve our practice based on customer needs and emerging technology. We care about a thinking process that enables results versus a process that tells people what to do.  

Sales is a Thinking Process.

Russia's not-a-Terminator project.  3D printing from moon dust. We're NOT on track to stop global climate change.

AI is all around us. It may not always be obvious, but this powerhouse technology is part of daily life and is becoming increasingly human-focussed. Tune in as Chris, Francesca and Mahnoor discuss our interactions with AI as customers and consumers – from chatbots to voice recognition – and the importance of inclusive and responsible tools that can positively impact society.

Welcome back to the Boardroom Hustle podcast for Season 2. Boardroom Hustle is the only podcast dedicated to serving all types of board directors at every stage of their journey, all around the world. Whether you’re aspiring to one day join a board, or you’ve just started your board journey, or you can confidently claim that you’re an effective and innovative future director, this show is for you.

Season 1 was centred around inspiring leaders and we spoke about their passions and their work inside and outside the boardroom. Season 2 is purely focus on the future.

There is plenty of hype around governance in the future. Change is coming, both technological and societal, and directors need to always be looking ahead to what will shift the status quo. It’s all about constantly upskilling to better serve your organisation and its stakeholders. We’ll be looking specifically at how these changes will impact directors inside the boardroom and what it means for their abilities and responsibilities.

Today’s episode is an introduction to Season 2 where we begin our discussions around what the future might look like. If there are topics that you’re particularly interested in or any new buzzwords floating around, we’d love to hear from you so that we can talk about these ideas on the show. Email Paul at psmith@futuredirectors.com or Anna at anna.byrne@neuropowergroup.com.