Would you like to unlock the creative, imaginative and innovative potential in your team or organisation…BUT…don’t want to listen to another serious podcast which offers 7 steps, 5 habits, 3 mantras, and a hard sell in a pear tree? Then join ‘The Occupational Philosophers’, a ‘not-so-serious’ podcast with Simon Banks (middle-aged Australian surfer man, artist and published author) and John Rice (middle-aged British man with a love of curiosity and philosophy) as they chat with a ‘clowder’ (great word!) of curious cats from the fields of Comedy, Academia, Philosophy, Neuroscience, Psychology, Design, Marketing, and Business, to explore how you, your team, and your organisation, can develop your curiosity, spark your creativity, and free your imagination, so you can grow your business and your people….sounds great huh?! But don’t just take our word for it, read what our listeners think: “Worth a listen, one of them has a strange Australian accent” “They’re not philosophers, they’re idiots” “If you like business, philosophy, humour, creativity, and imagination, then have a listen - if not, then I would leave well alone” http://www.occupationalphilosophers.com
Episodes
Thursday Aug 05, 2021
Thursday Aug 05, 2021
In episode 6, The Occupational Philosophers get really curious about questions (and questions are what this show is all about). Questions come in all shapes and sizes and John and Simon have a good look at them all.
Importantly, they explore how great questions can have a positive impact on both the world of work AND living a most inspiring life.
Amongst other things, The Occupational Philosophers leave no stone unturned as they traverse the world of curiosity and questions and discover:
- Curiosity did not kill the cat, it made it super cat (who would have thought?)
- How great questions can do the heavy lifting when solving problems
- Why Albert Einstein may not be the right person in the Presidents crisis room
- The importance of changing the constructions and the scope of your questions
- How big questions can change your life
Along the way, they also conduct some thought experiments including:
- Imagine Aliens arrive and they..........What would you do?
- John dives deep into Simons mind, personality and values as he takes him through a relational psychology experience called "walking in the woods"
As ever, The Occupational Philosophers give you some key tips to fulfill your potential to be the curious, creative, and imaginative star that you are, or would like to be - at work, at home or in the bath.
Links
- Silos art project https://www.theguardian.com/culture/gallery/2021/jul/20/australias-silo-murals-make-a-road-trip-an-art-odyssey-in-pictures
- Jeff Bezos rocket - https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/jul/20/jeff-bezos-rocket-design-an-inquiry
- Walking in the woods - https://iheartintelligence.com/
- Herding wild cats https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_MaJDK3VNE
Thursday Jul 22, 2021
Thursday Jul 22, 2021
In Episode 5, The Occupational Philosophers chat with glorious, amazingly talented, and hilarious performer Tamara Campbell.
Tamara has literally performed all over the world: 23 countries in 6 different languages for over a million people in her 18-year career. Tamara believes that "laughter should be a force for good. Bringing humans together to share and connect, breaking down the barriers and masks that inhibit our progress as a race. I also believe that it is fundamental that we have a bloody good time together as often as possible."
In this episode we explore:
- What it means to be human
- How vulnerability comes before trust rather than the other way around (leaders, take note!)
- Why it's important to look “something awesome about you” in other people
- The different alter egos we all have and how to ensure the right one turns up
- Where creativity comes from - and it takes a lot of practice
- Breaking out of comfort zones and how to make people feel amazing
- How the human race is evolving to have herd immunity against arseholes
- Lessons learned from performing all over the world and training at the world-renowned Dell'Arte School of Physical Theatre
As with all episodes, we have some great thought experiments as we explore Famous Love Parents and have some great listener questions.
Tamara is an absolute star and there is so much joy and wisdom in this episode. Enjoy!
Links
Laughterhouse Entertainment https://www.laughterhouseentertainment.com/
Brag sheet (places Tamara has performed) https://www.laughterhouseentertainment.com/about/places-performed/
Tamara Campbell https://www.tamaracampbell.com.au/
Kikki Bittovabitsch https://www.facebook.com/KikiBittovabitsch/
Dell'Arte School of Physical Performance https://dellarte.com/
MONA Gallery https://mona.net.au/
Thursday Jul 08, 2021
Thursday Jul 08, 2021
In episode four, The Occupational Philosophers explore a history of chin strokers (AKA Philosophers) throughout time from Socrates through to Voltaire, and even the more modern Seth Godin.
Importantly, as a not-so-serious business podcast, they dive into what we can learn from this ancient and more recent wisdom to enable us to thrive in our more modern times.
The Occupational Philosophers explore:
- The importance of always asking great questions (unless you're a certain philosopher who didn't know when to stop!)
- How positive micro habits can drive big change in our lives
- The rise of the 'miserabilists' (and wasn't that a fun time??)
- Why we should stay curious and be open changing paths as new information comes our way
- The importance of having a go at life and ripping the s#*t out of it
- How leaders can embrace some philosophy to positively change the culture in their organisation
- All the great chin stroker aphorisms and quotes that still hold true today including, "Curiosity is the lust of the mind" (A favourite Occupational Philosophers quote)
As with all episodes, they conduct some thought experiments covering:
- Which philosopher would do you take to Ibiza?
- Do I really have nothing to lose but my socks?
As always, there are some great lessons that you can apply to the world of work and leading a more curious, interesting and creative life.
Wednesday Jun 23, 2021
Wednesday Jun 23, 2021
In their first guest episode, The Occupational Philosophers talk with Dr. Peter Lovatt, a Dance Psychologist, multi TED speaker and best selling author, who through his work on the psychology of movement and dance, is more widely known as 'Dr. Dance'!
Listen in as Peter shares:
- 3 top tips for everyday living from his new book 'The Dance Cure'
- How teams and organisations can use movement to fuel innovation & creativity
- How individuals can 'move to improve'!
They also explore:
- Why dance and movement is fundamentally about communication
- What type of movement is best to help your children revise for their exams!
- What stops us dancing (apart from when we're drunk at wedding...)?
- How school shaped Peter's life and success....it's quite a journey
- Whether movement is a "gateway drug" to dancing.......
And as ever, the Occupational Philosophers will also engage in some (not so serious) 'Thought Experiments' which delve into topics such as "Did someone really say that?" and "What dance should I do if I get mugged?".
Finally, as discussed in the show, please check out:
Dr.Peter Lovatt - https://www.peterlovatt.com
TEDx Observer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihCh5wzNjYY
Derek Sivers: Leadership Lessons from the Dancing Guy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fW8amMCVAJQ
Tame your Ogre Guide - https://www.occupationalphilosophers.com
Friday Jun 04, 2021
Friday Jun 04, 2021
In their inaugural episode, The Occupational Philosophers dive into:
- The no.1 thing that kills your creative potential, whether that's at work, at home, or in the bath
- Some tactics on how to deal with it
- Some key ways to have a little less of this creativity killer at work that doesn't make you look like a free loving, sandal-wearing hipster that says stuff like, "Let's get in the flow brothers and sisters, don't hold back, release your inner animal and lets' freestyle"
They also explore:
- The importance of a philosopher's mindset
- Being OK with dangerous ideas
- Spending time out of our comfort zones and....
- Ping pong balls on crack
- The importance of always asking questions
- Dealing with negative self-talk
- Some simple ways to bring more curiosity and into your workplace (and your life)
They will also introduce you to thought experiments (as done by Philosophers throughout the ages) as they explore 'Would you rather...?' and 'True or not'
Most importantly, there is plenty of inspiration to ensure you become the creative beast you were designed to be.
As discussed in the show, check out Ken Robinson's Ted Talk - Do schools kill creativity?
Tuesday May 11, 2021
Tuesday May 11, 2021
Would you like to fulfill your potential to be the curious, creative, and imaginative star that you are, or would like to be? You already know in your bones that you are a creative beast, but maybe you just don't quite know how to unleash it – perhaps it’s an ignored talent in writing, leading innovation at work, or simply underwater basket weaving.
Every fortnight, John, a mild-mannered, middle-aged British man with a love of curiosity and philosophy, and a slightly louder, middle-aged Australian surfer man, artist, and published author on creativity chat with guests drawn from many walks of life who have woven creativity, curiosity and play into their everyday lives - and thrived in the process.
So, if you would like to listen to a “not so serious business podcast” and would like some thoughts, tools, and tips on staying curious, creative, and asking those really great questions (and leading a most interesting life in the process) then this is the podcast you have been waiting for all your life. Well, maybe not all your life, but for a while…