Six Pixels of Separation Podcast

Julian Treasure, a renowned author and founder of The Sound Agency, emphasizes the crucial difference between hearing and listening. He argues for reviving listening as a vital skill, alongside discussing the adverse effects of noise and modern distractions on our well-being. The conversation dives into the implications of AI in music, the risks of technology isolating us from natural sounds, and the rising importance of conscious listening to foster understanding in polarized times. His initiative, The Listening Society, aims to cultivate this essential skill in communities.

Cindy Anderson, Global Lead for Engagement & Eminence at IBM’s Institute for Business Value, dives into thought leadership dynamics and its ROI. She reveals insights from over 4,000 executives on what drives engagement. The discussion tackles the effects of AI on content quality and the challenge of audience fatigue. Cindy emphasizes the necessity of credible insights and effective presentation methods while differentiating influencers from genuine thought leaders. Essential listening for anyone involved in creating impactful content!

Pico Iyer, a renowned travel writer and author of 'Aflame - Learning from Silence', shares his unique insights on silence and mindfulness. He dives into the impact of solitude found in monastic life and how it offers clarity amidst chaos. The conversation explores the paradox of creativity fostered by constraints and the beauty in moments of loss. Iyer emphasizes the urgency of being present in a distraction-laden world and meditates on how silence can lead to a deeper understanding of self and society.

Welcome to episode #985 of Six Pixels of Separation - The ThinkersOne Podcast. Kathleen deLaski is one of the most important voices rethinking the purpose, structure, and future of higher education. As founder of the Education Design Lab and board chair of Credential Engine, she’s spent the last decade helping over 1,200 colleges, organizations, and regional economies reimagine learning pathways for next-generation students - particularly the new majority learners often left behind by traditional institutions. Her new book, Who Needs College Anymore? is a provocative and optimistic look at how postsecondary education must evolve, drawing on over a decade of field research, human-centered design, and more than 150 interviews with educators, employers, learners, and policymakers. In this conversation, we unpack the diploma divide, the rising cost of education, the friction between what college teaches and what employers expect, and how AI is rewriting the script for entry-level jobs and professional training. Kathleen - whose career spans time as a journalist at ABC News, a Pentagon spokesperson, working at AOL in the early days of the Internet, and a philanthropic force behind education reform - brings not just perspective but practical ideas on how colleges, businesses, and society must adapt. This one challenges what we think college is for, and what meaningful learning might look like in a skills-based future. Enjoy the conversation… Running time: 51:11. Hello from beautiful Montreal. Listen and subscribe over at Apple Podcasts. Listen and subscribe over at Spotify. Please visit and leave comments on the blog - Six Pixels of Separation. Feel free to connect to me directly on Facebook here: Mitch Joel on Facebook. Check out ThinkersOne. or you can connect on LinkedIn. ...or on X. Here is my conversation with Kathleen deLaski. Who Needs College Anymore?. Education Design Lab. Follow Kathleen on LinkedIn. Chapters: (00:00) - The Rise of Human-Centered Design in Education. (02:45) - Challenges in Higher Education and the Need for Innovation. (06:00) - Cultural Shifts and the Value of College. (08:53) - The Diploma Divide and Its Societal Implications. (11:54) - Affordability and Access to Education. (14:47) - The Disconnect Between Degrees and Job Market. (18:06) - The Importance of Experience Over Degrees. (21:13) - Networking and Its Role in Career Success. (29:38) - The Impact of AI on Job Markets. (32:36) - The Future of Entry-Level Jobs. (36:05) - Reevaluating Professional Education. (41:35) - The Value of Trades in Modern Society. (43:06) - Digital Learning and Its Challenges. (47:17) - Generational Perspectives on Work Ethic.

Steve Pratt, co-founder of Pacific Content and author of 'Earn It', dives deep into the art of meaningful marketing and storytelling. He discusses how many marketers get lost in short-term tactics and why brands must embrace bravery and authenticity. With insights on the content saturation challenge, he emphasizes producing quality over quantity. Pratt also explores how brands can position themselves as media powerhouses and warns against the lure of algorithm-driven strategies, highlighting the irreplaceable role of human creativity.

Matthew Weinzierl, a Harvard Business School professor and research associate, explores the economic dynamics of the space industry. He discusses his new book, which argues that space is emerging as a significant economic frontier. Topics include the competition fueled by SpaceX, the outdated frameworks of international space law, and the role of economists in shaping the future of space activities. Weinzierl also examines the balance between centralized control and decentralized innovation, as well as the societal benefits tied to space exploration amidst earthly challenges.

Ethan Kross, a psychology professor at the University of Michigan and author of 'Chatter' and 'Shift,' shares his insights on mastering emotions in today's chaotic world. He discusses the importance of a flexible emotional toolkit tailored to individuals. Kross highlights how negativity in media affects our emotional health and advocates for strategic news consumption. He explores the role of AI in mental wellness while emphasizing that human connections remain crucial. Ultimately, he shows how even negative emotions can fuel creativity and success.

Join Donald Miller, bestselling author and the mastermind behind StoryBrand, as he uncovers the art of storytelling in business. He emphasizes that clarity trumps cleverness in effective communication and offers insights on navigating brand messaging to build loyalty. Miller also discusses how AI is reshaping marketing while advocating for the irreplaceable value of human creativity. Plus, he shares personal anecdotes about passion and curiosity that fuel his writing and the creative process behind his latest book!

Tamara Myles, an expert in meaningful work and positive psychology, dives deep into how to make work truly matter. She reveals findings from her groundbreaking study on how leaders can foster meaning in the workplace through community, contribution, and challenge. Discussing the impacts of the pandemic, she addresses rising employee apathy and the challenges of remote work. Tamara also emphasizes the need for supportive environments that can reignite passion and connection while navigating the complexities of merit and diversity in today's organizations.

Welcome to episode #979 of Six Pixels of Separation - The ThinkersOne Podcast. Dr. Kurt Gray is a social psychologist whose work couldn’t be more relevant to our times. As a professor at UNC Chapel Hill, director of the Deepest Beliefs Lab and the Center for the Science of Moral Understanding, and the author of the new book Outraged - Why We Fight About Morality and Politics and How to Find Common Ground, he’s helping reshape how we understand conflict in a divided world. In this conversation, Kurt unpacked why it’s not that we’re wired differently across political lines - it’s that we perceive harm differently. He introduces ideas like the “exhausted majority,” the dangers of elite-driven outrage, and the evolutionary roots of our hypersensitivity to perceived threats. We also explore the surprising role of personal narratives in reducing division, the generational shift in how people approach morality, and how resilience - not avoidance - is what we really need when engaging across differences. His work dismantles the myth that we’re hopelessly divided and instead offers a path forward - one grounded in empathy, humility, and the science of human connection. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the volume of moral outrage around you, this episode just might restore a little hope. Enjoy the conversation... Running time: 55:13. Hello from beautiful Montreal. Listen and subscribe over at Apple Podcasts. Listen and subscribe over at Spotify. Please visit and leave comments on the blog - Six Pixels of Separation. Feel free to connect to me directly on Facebook here: Mitch Joel on Facebook. Check out ThinkersOne. or you can connect on LinkedIn. ...or on X. Here is my conversation with Dr. Kurt Gray. Outraged - Why We Fight About Morality and Politics and How to Find Common Ground. Deepest Beliefs Lab. Center for the Science of Moral Understanding. UNC Chapel Hill Follow Kurt on X. Follow Kurt on LinkedIn. Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to Outrage and Its Relevance. (03:07) - Understanding Political Outrage and Connection. (05:55) - The Role of Elites in Political Discourse. (09:14) - The Exhausted Majority and Misconceptions. (12:05) - Moral Perception and Human Nature. (15:04) - The Evolution of Morality and Fear. (18:08) - Tribalism and Moral Progress. (21:01) - The Impact of Words and Microaggressions. (24:03) - Generational Perspectives on Discourse. (28:18) - Understanding Generational Perspectives on Misinformation. (30:02) - The Challenge of Political Centrism. (31:58) - Navigating Independent Ideologies. (33:53) - The Impact of Technological Change on Society. (35:40) - The Role of Personal Stories in Bridging Divides. (39:34) - The Power of Personal Experiences in Conversations. (42:19) - The Competing Narratives of Victimhood. (46:51) - Moral Ambiguity in Victimhood and Survival. (49:18) - The Momentum of Change and Hope. (55:27) - Building Resilience in Difficult Conversations.