In this episode I'll reflect on my experience building the podcast over the last few years and share some of the lessons I've learned about the creative process from 150 episodes. I discuss:
I hope these insights will prove useful for you. Thank you for listening to the MetaLearn Podcast!
Ben Saunders is one of the world’s leading polar explorers and an acclaimed keynote speaker. He is the 3rd person in history to ski solo to the North and South poles and holds the record for the longest ever polar journey on foot. In this episode we discuss:
Ben's experience is unique and inspirational. The amount of obstacles he had to overcome mentally and physically to do what he did is right at the limit of human potential and I hope it will inspire you to dream a little bigger and grind a little harder.
Jack Butcher is a designer, entrepreneur and the founder of Visualize Value, a content platform teaching people to communicate through design and build great online products. In this conversation we discuss
- The principles of design that separate forgettable brands from iconic ones
- How to productize your skills and standout in the new economy
- The curriculum building methods Jack has used for his successful courses
So if you want to learn more about visual communication, or separate your income from your time, this episode has you covered.
Anna Gát is the founder of the Interintellect, a global community and talent platform for public intellectuals. In this episode we discuss:
- The moments that change lives – so called 'Damascus moments' that lead to personal transformation – and whether these moments can be forced.
- What it means to be an adult in an age where there are no clear transitions set out by society anymore and how we can manage that process ourselves.
- The notion of vocation – whether we all have something we're uniquely capable of doing, the process for discovering that and the need to harmonise your dreams with your practical reality.
I'm really impressed by what Anna is doing with the Interintellect and she's definitely spent a lot of time thinking about these questions in depth, so I'm sure you'll find this discussion valuable.
Sam Sethi is an award winning radio presenter, podcaster and entrepreneur who hosts the podcast Sam Talks Technology. In this episode we discuss:
- How to apply second curve thinking in your career to stay futureproof
- The future of podcasting and how listening habits differ across the world
- The cutting edge of voice tech and what's on the way
I'm becoming increasingly curious about the future of podcasting and voice tech and Sam was the perfect person to get into the weeds with on this, as well as providing some great insights on career, the army and much more.
Erica Young an expert in the field of network science and founder of the Reliants Project, a blog and podcast that educates people about the invisible impact of networks on our lives. In this episode we discuss:
- The networking myths that hold people back from proactively building relationships
- How understanding network science can help you progress in your career
- The habits of superconnectors, including running events and making introductions
We also talk about some of the core concepts in the field of network science, what the pandemic has done to our networks and much more.
Anna Gát is the founder of the Interintellect, a global community and talent platform for public intellectuals. In this conversation we discuss:
- How to build a thriving intellectual community and the inspiration behind the Interintellect
- Why utility tyranny and over optimisation is so harmful and how to combat it
- The mindsets and processes involved in facilitating great conversations
We also talk about Anna's educational experience which included managing Hungarian rockbands, her favourite lockdown books and podcasts and much more.
Anthony Metivier is a world renowned Memory Expert, the Founder of the blog MagneticMemoryMethod.com and author of the new book The Victorious Mind.
In this episode we discuss:
- The importance of metaphors and analogies for understanding the mind
- How to master meditation and safeguard your mental wellbeing
- How to navigate the world of self-help effectively
We also speak about the cultural conversation around mental health and the nature of knowledge.
Matt Clifford is the CEO and co-founder of the world's leading talent investor, Entrepreneur First, which helps people launch a tech startup from scratch. In this episode we discuss:
- The current state of talent allocation including whether there are too many entrepreneurs
- What's causing the slowdown in innovation in the West and how to halt it
- The tough problem of organising genius and successful attempts to do it
We also talk about the role of government vs business in solving big problems and how the startup ecosystem has been affected by COVID-19.
Olly Richards is a language learning expert and entrepreneur, who speaks 8 languages and runs the hugely successful blog and podcast I Will Teach You A Language. In this episode we discuss topics on building an expert business including:
- How to brand yourself to stand out in a crowded marketplace
- How to build your audience so you can reach your first students
- How to create and launch a course to make your first money online
So if you want to start a thriving online business, build an engaged audience and launch a successful course, this episode has you covered.
Jeff Cobb is the bestselling author of the book, Leading The Learning Revolution and the founder of Tagoras, a learning consultancy. In this episode we discuss:
- The impact of COVID 19 on adult learning and higher education
- The need to address disruption and displacement in employment - The secret to running good virtual events and learning experiences
So if you want to get up to speed with the latest in online learning, this episode has you covered.
Warren Shaeffer is the CEO and Co-Founder of Knowable, an audio-first learning platform. In this episode we discuss:
- How to launch a startup including finding a co-founder and building a product
- The audio revolution and why audio first learning has so much potential
- The importance of expertise and how to select for it on the internet
So whether you’re looking to supercharge your learning or find experts you can trust, this has you covered.
Julian Treasure is sound and communication expert, acclaimed TED Speaker and the founder of The Sound Agency. In this episode we discuss:
- How a recent health scare altered Julian’s perspective on life and work
- Julian’s tips for effective public speaking, based on his five TED talks
- The future of audio and what the current revolution means for you
Julian is a true master of his craft so if you’re looking to improve as a communicator and speak so people want to listen you’ll get a lot out of this episode.
Roei Deutsch is the CEO of Jolt, a Business School for the self-made that gives you a competitive advantage from day one. In this episode we discuss:
- The learning best practices used by the military intelligence unit in the IDF
- The key insights about communication from a political campaign
- The skills knowledge workers need to thrive in the 21st century
This conversation was a packed full of useful ideas that will make you reflect on how you’re approaching your learning and what you can do better.
Dr John Collins is an innovation consultant, technologist and entrepreneur. In this episode we discuss:
- How to become a polymath and productively spread time across projects
- The future of synthetic biology and the innovations emerging from the field
- John’s approach to tapping in to creativity individually and in groups
The conversation also covers the ethics of technological progress and the problems with linear thinking and will help inspire you to reconnect with your natural curiosity.
Nelson Sivalingam is the Founder and CEO of HowNow, a learning platform that helps organisations onboard and upskill their teams in the flow of work. In this episode we discuss:
- How Nelson learned film and video production by following his curiosity
- How to learn more effectively at work and what HowNow does to facilitate this
- The skills Nelson believes people need to thrive in the 21st century
Whatever career path you’re on, this episode will give you some great insights into how you can learn more effectively on the job to improve your performance.
David Perell is a writer and educator on a mission to transform our relationship with information. In this episode we discuss:
- The future of media and David’s idea of Naked Brands
- Why identity is the key to transformative learning experiences
- Why knowledge workers should train more like athletes and how to do it
This conversation will give you a fresh perspective on learning and teach you how to leverage the power of the internet to accelerate your career.
Martin Schmalz is an Associate Professor of Finance at Oxford’s Saïd Business School. He is also the co-author of the book The Business of Big Data: How to Create Lasting Value in the Age of AI. In this episode we discuss:
- The mainstream narrative around AI and what you actually need to know
- The uniquely human skills you should be developing to thrive in a world with AI
- How the business of big data affects your privacy and what to do about it
Regardless of your understanding of AI, this episode will give you a lot to chew on and get you thinking critically about the way you learn and live with technology.
Alex Dunsdon is an Investment Partner at Saatchi Invest, Chief of Staff at e-commerce platform RedBrain and all-round curious person. In this episode, the main theme is the overlap between understanding your self and doing great work. We discuss:
- Alex’s recent career shift and the personal realisations behind it
- My experience in the last year and what I’ve learned about how I work
- The power of imagination and why ideas rule the world
This conversation will be really useful if you’re looking to make a career change but even if you’re happy with what you’re doing there’s loads of great insights that will help you do better work and question the world around you.
Eric Partaker is the Co-Founder and CEO of Mexican restaurant chain Chilango and a High Performance Coach. In this episode we discuss:
So whatever aspect of life you’re looking to improve, this episode will give you all you need and much more.