S5 Ep5 Dr. Angus Fletcher and the Extraordinary World
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Jun 2, 2025
Dr. Angus Fletcher discusses the power of 'productive discomfort' in driving personal and professional growth. He introduces 'story thinking,' highlighting how narratives help us process experiences and emotions. The conversation critiques conventional education for failing to build emotional resilience and urges leaders to embrace diverse perspectives. Humor and serious insights intertwine as they tackle challenges faced in dynamic environments, from the perils of Antarctic science to the strength found in meekness, illustrating how storytelling enhances understanding and resilience.
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insights INSIGHT
Oral vs Written Stories
Oral stories engage community through dynamic, mutual exchange.
Written words become fixed, losing flexibility and immediate relevance.
insights INSIGHT
Manuals Don't Capture Tacit Knowledge
Manuals often fail because writers' tacit knowledge doesn't transfer to text.
Manuals also lag behind real-time dynamic situations they describe.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Leopard Seal Warning at Antarctica
Buck warned Antarctic scientists about leopard seal attacks with detailed advice.
Explaining fear and responses reduced incidents significantly.
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The Iliad is an epic poem attributed to Homer, set during the Trojan War. It begins in the ninth year of the war, where a quarrel between King Agamemnon and the warrior Achilles sets off a chain of events. The poem explores themes of heroism, honor, and fate as it describes the battles and interactions between Greek warriors like Achilles, Diomedes, and Odysseus, and Trojan warriors like Hector and Paris. The story is interspersed with divine interventions from Greek gods and goddesses, influencing the outcome of the war. The poem culminates with Achilles' reconciliation with Agamemnon and his subsequent rage against the Trojans, leading to the death of Hector and the eventual funeral rites for Patroclus and Hector[1][3][5].
Primal leadership
Realizing the Power of Emotional Intelligence
Daniel Goleman
Annie McKee
This book discusses the importance of emotional intelligence (EI) in leadership, outlining four core elements: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management. The authors introduce six different leadership styles—Visionary, Coaching, Affiliative, Democratic, Pacesetting, and Commanding—and emphasize the need for leaders to resonate positively with their followers. The book provides practical advice and real-life examples on how to develop EI and become a more effective leader, highlighting the critical role of emotional management in leadership success.
In this episode of The Teamcast, Dr. Angus Fletcher joins Preston Cline to discuss the crucial role of "productive discomfort" and honesty in personal and professional growth. They explore how embracing emotional challenges, rather than shielding individuals from them, is vital for true learning and resilience.
Angus describes his concept of "story thinking," emphasizing the brain's natural inclination to process experiences through narrative and emotion. The conversation touches on the shortcomings of modern education in fostering emotional robustness and concludes with practical advice for leaders on cultivating independent thinking by recognizing and congratulating actions that differ from their own.
Dr. Angus Fletcher is a professor and practitioner of Story Science at Project Narrative at The Ohio State University. He holds degrees in neuroscience and literature. His research, which employs a mix of laboratory experiments, literary history, and rhetorical theory, explores how literature, art, and stories can cultivate emotional resilience, creativity, and common sense. He is the author of Wonderworks (2021), Storythinking (2023), and Primal Intelligence (2025), among other books. His work explores why children are more creative than computer AI and aims to understand how narrative can be leveraged to enhance innovation, resilience, and joy. His academic publications can be found in journals like Narrative, Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, and Harvard Business Review.
Check out Angus's work here: https://www.angusfletcher.co/
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