In this week’s Thought Sparks Podcast episode, Rita McGrath, a Columbia University Business School Professor, C-Suite strategist, business founder and best-selling author, speaks with Frank Rose, a senior fellow at the Columbia University School of the Arts, and author of “The Sea We Swim In”. Their conversation revolves around narrative thinking and the importance of storytelling in our lives: from iconic brands to political parties to blockbuster movies.
00:00 Meet Frank Rose: Columbia's Digital Storytelling Pioneer & Author of "The Art of Immersion"
1:00 The Hidden Evolution: How Tech Breakthroughs "Burble Along" for Decades Before We Notice
2:12 James Cameron's Avatar Secret: The "Fractal Experience" That Changed Everything
3:40 Nine Inch Nails Meets Alternate Reality: How Trent Reznor Revolutionized Storytelling
7:07 The Great Flip: When Information Became Abundant and Attention Became Scarce
8:30 The $70 Trillion Secret: Why Most Corporate Assets Are Invisible to Accountants
9:33 Psychology's Biggest Mistake: How Scientists Dismissed Stories for Decades (Until Now)
12:10 Why Facts Don't Change Minds: The Emotional Truth About Persuasion
14:36 The Democratic Party's Fatal Flaw: "Who Are You Going to Believe? Us or Your Lying Pocketbook?"
17:19 The Storytelling Trinity: Author, Audience, and Journey (Most People Forget #2)
18:24 Beyond Setting: How "World Building" Creates Universes People Want to Join
21:34 The John Deere Phenomenon: When Brand Loyalty Reaches Casket-Level Devotion
22: 28 Country Music Meets Corporate Strategy: Rita's "John Deere Green" Moment
23:43 The Digital Dozen Revolution: 10 Years of Spotting Storytelling Breakthroughs Without Categories
27:22 Eno: The Film That's Never the Same Twice (Generative Cinema Without AI)
28:40 When Robots Meet Reality: Cat Royale, Fortune-Telling AIs, and Fuel-Sharing Machines
34:38 The Mailchimp Genius: How "Did You Mean Male Chimp?" Became a Marketing Masterclass
37:03 Martha Diamond: The Painter's Painter Who Was Decades Ahead of Her Time
41:21 Van Gogh's Real Hero: How Theo's Widow Made Vincent Famous (Frank's Mission for Martha)
44:27 The Scarcity Revolution: Why Human Connection Now Beats Virtual Reality
45:49 The Elevator Mirror Hack: The Brilliant Problem-Solving Solution That Cost Almost Nothing
51:15 Tesla's Story Crisis: How Elon "Lost the Plot" of Saving the Planet
53:25 The Platform Revolution: Why Owning Your Story Beats Paying for Ads Forever
55:51 The Programmatic Advertising Curse: Suitcase Stalkers and Google's Multiple Personality Disorder
Thought Sparks are the brainchild of Rita McGrath. They are insightful actions, strategic ideas, actionable suggestions and innovative approaches that help organizations and leaders master the future with less fear and more confidence. New episodes of the Thought Sparks Podcast are released every other Tuesday at 11am Eastern.
Want to learn more about Rita’s ideas and hear more of her conversations with business leaders and innovators?
Listen to more Thought Sparks Podcast episodes on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Watch Thought Sparks episodes on YouTubeFollow Rita on LinkedIn, Instagram, X and Blue Sky.
Connect with Rita on TikTokSign up for her Thought Sparks Newsletter on Substack.
Learn more about Rita, her books and ideas at RitaMcGrath.com
Thought Sparks 
