The New Abnormal

Series Two In this episode of #TheNewAbnormal podcast, I interview the dynamic Lucy von Sturmer,  founder of thought leadership agency The Humblebrag and Co-Initiator of global network Creatives for Climate. The Humblebrag works with some of Europe’s best agencies, brands, artists and sustainable fashion initiatives to use the power of ideas, opinions and creativity to challenge the status quo and create impact. (Lucy's mission is to support leaders to take a stand on social, cultural and environmental issues and through her work, to help companies and brands build their reputation). Creatives for Climate is a global network and grassroots initiative to coordinate a collective response from the creative industries to mobilise action on the climate emergency. Lucy cut her communications-teeth in the world of journalism, television and PR, before working for NGOs, which was followed by a move to advertising, before she founded the Humblebrag. She's also built a reputation as a public speaker and has been featured in titles inc The Huffington Post, AdWeek, The Drum, Sustainable Brands and Mumbrella. In this episode, we discuss all of the above, including her specific viewpoints on brand activism, disruption, regenerative solutions, intersectionality and social inclusion; along with her take on 'hope community and resilience'...

Series ThreeIn this episode of #TheNewAbnormal, I interview the cultural strategist Amy Daroukakis, who "inspires teams, keep brands culturally relevant and re-imagines products, communication and design".  She's worked across a wide range of sectors, including Retail (Target), Luxury (LVMH), Social (Facebook), Automotive (Hertz), Insurtech (Coya), FMCG (Danone), Hospitality (Park Hyatt), Tourism (NYC GO), Food and Beverage (AB InBev), Entertainment (HBO), Electronics (Bang & Olufsen), and Financial (Amex). We discuss how she started by studying cultural anthropology c/o 'Semester at Sea' (visiting 10 countries in 100 days). She's now  travelled to over sixty countries, lived in six and worked across six continents inc North America, the EMEA and APAC. Amy explains her approach to 'travelling differently' while on research projects, why signals are more important than pathways, her viewpoints on 'where next'', building an innovative culture, and why getting out of your own filter-bubble is so important. 

Series ThreeThis episode of 'The New Abnormal' podcast features Art Kleiner, a renowned expert on management thinking, thought leadership, organisational learning and scenario planning. In his new book 'The AI Dilemma: 7 Principles for Responsible Technology' he illuminates a belief that AI holds incredible promise to improve virtually every aspect of our lives, but we can't ignore its risks, mishaps and misuses. The book therefore offers seven principles for ensuring that machine learning supports human flourishing. An editorial consultant for influential thought leaders, he's also former editor-in-chief of the award-winning management magazine Strategy+Business (published by PwC), editorial director of the Fifth Discipline Fieldbook series, co-innovator of "learning histories" (MIT) co-author of 'The Wise Advocate' and author of 'The Age of Heretics' and 'Who Really Matters'.  I really enjoyed listening to his inspiring and insightful viewpoints, and hope you will too!

Series Two In this episode of #TheNewAbnormal, I interviewed Dermot McPartland, Creative Director of Nederlander Studios NYC. He instigates cultural interventions for brands; doing things rather than making things, an assembler, a curator and an event organiser. A resolutely proud member of the London Irish diaspora, his background spans twenty years in publishing, advertising, activism, publicity and the arts. Obsessed with ideas and culture (wide & deep) he possesses an uncanny ability to see creative and strategic opportunities for brands within culture. His work output is idiosyncratic, diverse and multidisciplinary - including experience design, activation, content, social, ads, PR and experiential. Dermot has strong international links into the worlds’ of contemporary art, fashion, cinema, music and literature, and has nurtured close links into the nascent start-up creative businesses in the world of communications and entertainment. In this episode, we discuss his views on a wide variety of topics, ranging from the current 'state of the nation' in adland, to the impact of C19 on culture, leading-edge creativity, localism and folk art, the search for optimism, citizen brands, and more. Oh, and we also disagree on the works of Julien Temple. Dermot finishes the podcast with a quote from Seamus Heaney. #Naturally

Series ThreeThis episode of #TheNewAbnormal podcast features Luca Morena, Co-Founder, Chairman & CEO at Nextatlas.They're a leader in the global market of digitally empowered marketing intelligence and trend anticipation services, who use unique AI focused early adopter detection to reveal evolving consumer behaviour and provide confident trend prediction for what you can’t see on the horizon, helping clients easily visualize emerging trends.With a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Bologna, Luca's also been a Postdoc at the Laboratory of Ontology at the University of Turin. His main research interests are now in the philosophy of technology, algorithmic culture, and AI. He explains how and why Nextatlas have long been at the forefront of the trend forecasting industry’s evolution as pioneers in AI-powered solutions, but also outlines their launch of 'Generate' the world’s first generative trend forecasting and consumer insights service, which is powered by large language models and the Nextatlas engine.I really enjoyed listening to Luca's points of view as he outlined the dynamic activity undertaken by Nextatlas, trailblazers in the use of AI for predictive trend detection and monitoring, based on a commitment to bringing a scientific approach to a traditionally opinion-led industry. So, I hope you enjoy the podcast!

Series ThreeThis episode of 'The New Abnormal' features Nick Shackleton-Jones, HR Director / Learning at Deloitte UK. He's also the author of 'How People Learn' and has a revolutionary perspective on...how we learn. Nick began professional life as a psychology lecturer (having studied psychology and philosophy at university) and has since worked for major consultancies and corporates in roles encompassing learning strategy, culture, leadership, innovation, technology & multimedia. Responsible for coining the ‘courses to resources’ shift, the affective context model of learning, and introducing the 5Di approach to user-centred learning design, he's the winner of several awards for people development strategy, innovation, and learning content; and is well-known in the 'learning industry' for his ground-breaking work and thinking. In our interview, we discuss his viewpoints across a range of issues including how the brain works in the context of memory (inc System 1 & 2 thinking), learning and individuality, the significance of play, storytelling and catastrophe, behavioural change, why 'Thinking is Feeling', how to reimagine your world, and the intentional design of experiences and resources that promote learning aka 'Learning Design'. 

Series TwoIn this episode of #TheNewAbnormal, I interviewed Tamira Snell, Senior Advisor at the renowned Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies.  CIFS equip and inspire individuals and organisations, decision-makers and the public, to act on the future, today. She's an expert advisor who guides organisations in exploratory insight and innovation processes.With a background in cultural sociology, her field of passion is people – to understand emerging needs, the drivers and barriers behind why and how we live and think, behave and consume the way we do, and to investigate the behavioural patterns and cultural consequences of broader societal currents. As a result, Tamira helps bridge the gap between the present and the future in order to define new opportunity spaces for innovation.In our interview, we discuss her viewpoints around issues inc Design Thinking, Scenario Planning, Health Futures, mega-trends related to Individualism, Immaterialism, Transformation, the No-touch Economy, and Polarisation.Tamira also outlined her preparations to circumnavigate the world in her catamaran, the account of which you can follow on social media. It’s a deeply inspiring story, with some amazing photos!

Series TwoThis episode of 'The New Abnormal' features Livia Fioretti, Head of Insights Academy at TrendWatching. She's ex-head of their amazing Global Insights Network, made up of 900+ professionals and trend enthusiasts across 80+ countries, that helps clients understand what's happening across regions as well as different cultures. Livia's responsible for leading a global team and the conceptualization and delivery of TrendWatching’s insights to clients across a range of industries.  In addition, as their LATAM Lead Trend Analyst, she's also responsible for the company’s Latin American content, helping clients around the globe understand different perspectives re: the particularities of that incredible region. In this episode, we therefore discuss her background and the realities of Livia's day-today role at TrendWatching; along with covering a number of key social / cultural / business megatrends, and a really exciting multi-country / LATAM report that's about to be published. Finally, we also discuss a fascinating Cultural Anthropology course that she attended at Goldsmiths re: 'Culture, Society and the Making of Humanity'.  So...enjoy!

Series TwoIn this episode of 'The New Abnormal' I interview Andrew Copson, Chief Executive of Humanists UK, the national charity working towards a tolerant world where rational thinking and kindness prevail. He's also President of Humanists International, the global umbrella organisation for humanist and other non-religious organisations, building the international humanist network and representing humanism at the UN and other international institutions. Andrew has represented the humanist movement extensively on television including the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and Sky, as well as on programmes such a s Newsnight and The Daily Politics. He's also appeared on BBC radio programmes such as the Today programme, The World at One, The Last Word, and Beyond Belief. In this episode, Andrew defines and explains humanism re: issues such as the need to test beliefs / reason, evidence & scientific method / fulfillment, growth & creativity / the search for truth / ethics / justice & fairness / building a better world. I found it deeply interesting to hear his viewpoints, and hope you do too.

Series ThreeThis episode of #TheNewAbnormal podcast features the renowned design anthropologist and psychologist  Anna Kirah. She's an expert in pioneering qualitative research methods used to gather deep insights to understand people's motivations and expectations as well as their articulated and unarticulated needs, and to link this understanding to the design of services, products and organisational change. Anna's experience in Boeing and Microsoft has given her global recognition for her work related to people-centred innovation, service design & design thinking, co-creation & interdisciplinary collaboration;  as well as how to lead an organisation in a turbulent age. She’s writing a book about design anthropology 'Working on the Edge' (in collaboration with other anthropologists) and is also writing one 'on leadership in an age of change' called Do You Care? So, we discuss all the above - and more - in an episode that I hope you'll find deeply interesting.