The New Abnormal

Series TwoIn this episode of #TheNewAbnormal, I interviewed Cailin O'Connor, who is an associate professor of logic and philosophy of science at the University of California. She's also the co-author of 'The Misinformation Age: How False Beliefs Spread' (published by Yale University Press.In our interview, we discuss Cailin's most recent writings on the subject of 'why we trust lies' re: the most effective misinformation starting with seeds of truth. In doing so, she explains the crucial importance of transparency and accountability, alongside her viewpoints on issues such as confirmation bias i.e. why what you believe depends on who you know; and how demonstrably false beliefs persist and spread - despite negative consequences for the people holding them. In an era where arguments rage about issues ranging from climate change (as the polar ice caps melt and forest fires burn) to the wearing of face masks (as millions have died of Covid-19), Cailin illuminates the social forces that explain the manipulation of 'false belief' and propaganda, and why we must understand both how that process works and trust the evidence, in order to fight back against misinformation. 

Series TwoIn this episode of #TheNewAbnormal, I interviewed Jack Godfrey Wood, VP Design at Native Design in San Francisco. They're an independent design company who 'drive growth by creating what people love', with a client roster including Audi, Bentley, Diageo, Google, Microsoft, Oxfam and Santander. Jack leads physical, digital, research and engineering design teams, whose work 'solves tricky problems beautifully'. In the interview, we discuss issues including a career path that lead from Central St Martins to the West Coast, how the American and European design ethos differ, and why empathy is at the heart of great design regarding lived experiences and improved futures. Jack also explains what simplicity, streamlining and reductive thinking brings to the design process, and the vital requirement of having a healthy distrust for the status quo. 

Series TwoIn this episode of #TheNewAbnormal, I interview Ben Hughes, Professor at the Beijing Institute of Technology. He's also a consultant at, and an ex-professor of, the Central Academy of Fine Arts School of Design in Beijing; and was previously a consultant at the Innovation Centre, Central St Martins + the Course Director MA Ind Design at CSM. In this episode, we discuss his fascinating experience of working in China over the last decade, and of his viewpoints on all things relating to design / creativity / education. Along the way, we cover the different approaches taken to technology, as illustrated by the 'G-Mafia vs the BAT' i.e. Google / Microsoft / Amazon / Facebook / IBM / Apple vs Baidu / Alibaba / Tencent. And of course, Ben talks about design theory, the practicalities of life under the C19 lockdown in Beijing, and of the view from China, looking back to Europe.

Series Two In this episode of #TheNewAbnormal, I interview David Shah, the renowned Publisher and Owner at View-Publications; five leading-edge magazines specialising in textiles, colours and branding strategy. He's also the Director of DRS Consulting, which specialises in the design of private label brands for menswear and womenswear, and is a consultant to numerous companies on future consumer trends. In addition, he's a Fellow at the Royal College of Art, and is a regular speechmaker and conference regulator at international design and marketing events. In this episode, we discuss his insights relating to subjects including the acceleration of trends, societal polarisation, a decline in trust, how decision making is changing in the Information Economy, the rise and rise of the oligopolies; and a greater need for generosity, collaboration and kindness. We finish by debating 'where next' for sustainability and the impact of inequality - from a gender and generational perspective. 

Series TwoThis episode of #TheNewAbnormal features Sarah Rabia, the Global Director of Cultural Strategy & Backslash Co-Founder at TBWA\Chiat\Day. Based in Los Angeles she's an award-winning Content Marketer and Cultural Insight Expert, who was previously a Strategist at BBH London and Mother London; having been the Senior Trends Analyst at The Future Laboratory and a journalist at The Face, which she joined after studying journalism at the London College of Fashion / University of the Arts London. In this podcast, she talks about how and why she co-founded Backslash re: blending cultural insights and trend data to help the agency make brands more relevant. In effect, to help them move at the speed of cultural issues. So she describes her trend research, spotting patterns and stories 'at the edge' in order to develop forecasting reports. We discuss her recent projects into issues such as work-life boundaries, the convenience economy, diversification, wealth warfare and innovation around wellbeing. Finally, and along the way, Billie Eilish gets an appropriate shout-out. 

Series TwoIn this episode of #TheNewAbnormal, I interview David Nottoli. He's an award-winning brand and communications strategist re: some of the world's top advertisers inc Hershey, Nike, Levi's, Coca Cola, Samsung, Best Buy, and Bank of America. Dave's built a track record of re-energizing big brands, helping small brands get noticed, and finding new ways into the consumers heart. Along the way, he was the Director of Brand/Comms Strategy at 22squared, Group Planning Director at CP+B, SVP Account Planning at Digitas, a Brand Strategist at the Open Intelligence Agency, and a Strategic Planner at agencies inc BBH, kirshenbaum bond + partners, Lowe, and Wieden + Kennedy. (Which makes him one of the very few to have worked for both John Hegarty and Dan Wieden). In this episode, we discuss a wide range of topics inc numerous brand issues/problems that he's encountered along the way, how he views contemporary socio/political realities impacting brands, and the type of strategic thinking that the successful businesses of tomorrow should consider... 

This isn’t actually an episode of #TheNewAbnormal at all…but as it’s my podcast series, I’m taking the outrageous liberty of linking to a separate one that features me - as opposed to my guests.Hence linking to 'The Speaker Show' which is run by the renowned global speaker-bureau, Speakers Associates. In this episode, their brilliant host Maria Franzoni interviewed me as the launch episode for the year. We discuss some of the key trends impacting culture / society / brands etc, and of how those issues connect to my books #ThePostTruthBusiness (re: authenticity / ethics) and #Influencers&Revolutionaries (re: leading-edge innovation). I also highlight the wide range of fascinating guests I’ve interviewed for ‘The New Abnormal’ podcast, where my guests and I have discussed an array of issues linked to hope, community and resilience. (The themes mentioned above are reflected in my ongoing speeches...) The promotional  intro featured here only lasts a minute, but you can listen to the full episode via this audio link: https://apple.co/3e6yI7N or, if you prefer a visual YouTube version: https://bit.ly/3FVnv5Y.So, I hope you enjoy it!

Series Two In this episode of #TheNewAbnormal, I interviewed Steve Vranakis. He's an award winning creative who worked on the launch of the iPhone, with Amazon, NASA (Space Lab), The United Nations, UNICEF and headed up the Creative Lab at Google in EMEA for nearly a decade. Appointed as the first ever Chief Creative Officer for Greece, he developed a new country narrative as a Special Advisor to the Prime Minister. Some of his past projects inc a machine learning musical instrument, an installation giving youth a voice at the UN, the launch of a physical coding platform that teaches kids to code, and bringing dinosaurs back to life in VR at the Natural History Museums in London and Berlin. In 2015 Steve went to the island of Lesvos to build a mobile information site  to help Syrian refugees fleeing civil war keep safe. (This was scaled across dozens of NGO’s going on to help thousands of refugees). His  work has been recognised by the D&AD,  Cannes Lions, ADC, One Show's, Campaign Big, Webbys, Lovies, FWA, BIMA and Clio's.  Steve's has been featured in WIRED, The NY Times, Telegraph, WSJ, Creative Review, Huffington Post, FT, Design Week, Adage and he’s written for Adweek, Marketing, Campaign and conducted interviews with the BBC, CNN, CNBC, Lürzer's Archive and Shots. While president of D&AD, he made it his mission to help young people from disadvantaged backgrounds get into the creative industries. As you can imagine, we cover a lot of ground in this interview as we discuss his extraordinary career, how he pictures the 'Agency of the Future' alongside his views on 'hope, community and resilience'… 

Series OneIn this episode of #TheNewAbnormal, I interviewed Charlie Waterhouse, Creative Director of This Ain't Rock 'n' Roll (with an ethos based on  identity + activism for culture + causes) whose clients include those such as Amnesty International, English Heritage, Médecins Sans Frontières, National Gallery, and UNICEF. He's also co-founder of the Art Group and Media & Messaging team at Extinction Rebellion ('the most successful start-up in history'), and is a Fellow of the RSA.  His day job is split between This Ain’t Rock’n’Roll (who are currently working with the Unitarians and legal activists Foxglove) and community organisation The Brixton Project. After hours he’s also a director of the Brixton Pound, and is part of the team re:  '81 Acts of Exuberant Defiance' a celebration of 1981’s Brixton Uprising. So we discuss all of the above, starting with XR's international rebellion against the criminal inaction on the climate and ecological crisis. Charlie also outlines his viewpoints on issues such as the future of cities, work he's doing with David Graeber’s widow, the modern crisis of spirituality, and how to build a utopian business model. Finally, we debate an activist manifesto based around a belief that 'when hope dies, action begins'. 

Series OneThis episode of #TheNewAbnormal features Paul Kemp-Robertson, the co-founder of Contagious Communications and co-author of 'The Contagious Commandments'. To put it mildly, he has a very deep knowledge of the global marketing communications industry. A graduate of Goldsmiths, and the ex-worldwide director of creative resources for Leo Burnett, in 2004 he then co-founded Contagious - the marketing innovations resource and creative excellence consultancy. Paul has written for numerous publications inc The Guardian and Forbes, and has appeared on CNN, ITV News and BBC Radio 4. His TED Talk has been viewed over a million times. And he is an advisor to the 'Create' charity. In this interview, we discuss his views about the power of creativity and the bias against it, brands acting as NGO's, the crucial need for an organising principle, and the 'fundamental reset' that we're all undergoing, which (in the context of our discussion) is leading to a creative explosion. Finally, Paul explains why everything leads back to Middlesbrough and a certain football club...