Arts & Ideas Innovation
13 snips
Jan 9, 2026 Guest
Nick Hilton
Guest
Christina Faraday
Guest
Agnes Arnold-Forster
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Margaret Heffernan
Guest
Tim Minshall
Join a thought-provoking discussion with Tim Minshall, a renowned Professor of Innovation at Cambridge, and Margaret Heffernan, a savvy entrepreneur and author. They delve into the essence of innovation, addressing the significance of incremental change and the myths of the lone innovator. Agnes Arnold-Forster reflects on nostalgia's impact during rapid societal shifts, while Christina Faraday explores Tudor reluctance toward novelty. The group ultimately emphasizes the need for a humane perspective on innovation, pondering vital questions for the future.
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Episode notes
Reliability Matters More Than The Spark
- Tim Minshall highlights that invention is only the start; turning ideas into reliable products matters most.
- He uses the kettle bimetal switch to show billions depend on small, perfected innovations.
Nokia's Simple Appeal
- Margaret Heffernan picks the chunky Nokia as a favourite because it did one job simply and well.
- She notes modern nostalgia for devices that solved core needs quickly.
Incremental Change Is Real Innovation
- Tim Minshall argues incremental improvements are genuine innovation, not merely tweaks.
- Each generation of phones demanded creative engineering to add functions while shrinking size.
