Let's Make This More Interesting

If work takes up so much of our lives, and so much of work’s output is down to discretionary effort, how do we make work more engaging - as leaders of teams, and as workers ourselves?  Bruce Daisley has become a world expert on it. Previously the MD of YouTube in the UK, Bruce was the European Head of Twitter when he started exploring the meaning and future of work in a podcast, Eat Sleep Work Repeat. His first book, The Joy of Work, was a Sunday Times number one business bestseller and an FT Book of the Month. He is also the host of the hugely successful podcast ‘Eat Sleep Work Repeat’.  In this episode Adam and Bruce first discuss how to get rid of the things that suck the joy out of work, and then how to create a positive buzz in our engagement, as an individual and as a team.  They talk about: What the really big disruption in work has been (and it’s not wfh) The essential foundations for making any impact whatsoever on engagement in a culture The two key indicators of real engagement at work Why idle time is so important  The real enemy of productivity in an organisation The power of Positive Affect The surprising importance of laughter  And why, when so much is known about how to drive up engagement at work, so little of that knowledge makes it into the leadership meetings of big organisations.  Listen to Eat Sleep Work Repeat:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/eat-sleep-work-repeat/id1190000968Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5KUW5Lu36O4nnfIFqIIUh4Bruce's books:The Joy of Work: 30 Ways to Fix Your Work Culture and Fall in Love with Your JobFortitude: The Myth of Resilience, and the Secrets of Inner Strength__Follow Adam on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-morgan-3a473a/ Let's Make This More Interesting is a podcast from eatbigfish. Thanks to our editor Ruth, our producer Travis, and to Tiny Podcasts.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re at an inflection point in how we engage people about the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, Gail Gallie believes: we now need a completely new model – ‘The gloves are off’. Gail left a successful career in advertising and at the BBC to help set up Project Everyone with campaigner and film director Richard Curtis – their aim: to communicate the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals to everyone in the world in one week. 10 years later, she remains a relentless campaigner and innovator around communicating the SDGs, including the podcast she hosts with Loyiso Madinga, ‘An Idiot’s Guide to Saving The World’. In this week's episode, Gail and Adam discuss:How the combination of a big ambition and a fierce time constraint drove breakthrough solutions for Project EveryoneThe new context: how the whole world has changed, and we need to move on from the old model nowWhat this new model of impact campaigning should look like The role of surprise here, and how to get the most value from itWhy the creative campaigning community now has to go for brokeWhat it means to engage people in the conversation where they care when it comes to the SDGs, and in language they can relate to And, in Richard Curtis’ words ‘What is the sound of hope we can make against the noise of despair?’__Follow Adam on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-morgan-3a473a/ Let's Make This More Interesting is a podcast from eatbigfish. Thanks to our editor Ruth, our producer Travis, and to Tiny Podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nick Tran, former Global Head of Marketing at TikTok, shares insights from his dynamic career in branding and marketing. He explores how TikTok's unique platform is reshaping brand strategies and highlights the importance of aligning marketing with cultural trends. Tran discusses his innovative 'Project Cheetah,' which sped up campaign development, and emphasizes the creativity that constraints can spark. He advocates for in-house creative teams and the need for brands to embrace adaptability and risk-taking to thrive in a post-TikTok world.

For 10 years Sara Stark was part of the team helping the founders of Dishoom build their restaurant brand and business – a brand that is as rich, engaging and layered as so many other restaurants are superficial and glib.It’s a conversation about stories, and curiosity, and inventiveness, and layering, and pushing the idea. About a continual commitment to exploring and digging and experimenting and keeping things fresh. About thinking about what it means to be different, genuinely different and engaging, in a way that seems entirely unlike the rest of the business.If you are remotely interested in brand building, experience or culture the Dishoom story is an inspiration.Connect with Sara on Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-stark-creative-marketing/Explore the layers of the Dishoom story at https://www.dishoom.com/__Follow Adam on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-morgan-3a473a/ Let's Make This More Interesting is a podcast from eatbigfish. Thanks to our editor Ruth, our producer Travis, and to Tiny Podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Warren Berger began exploring how to ask better questions through a journalistic interest in innovation. He’s come to believe the importance of questions is much broader than that, and has come on to champion the development of better questioning skills in everything from education to our personal relationships.He has written widely on the topic, including ‘A More Beautiful Question: The power of inquiry to spark breakthrough ideas’.In a discussion of some of his central findings and ideas we talk about:Why the question can be more important than the answerWhat makes a question dull or interestingHow a good question shifts thingsThe power of ‘Questionstorming’How a good question ‘attracts’ answersHis three part model to asking better questionsWhy businesses should think about having Mission Questions, rather than Mission StatementsAnd the power for all of us in having three big questions that guide our lives.Find out about Warren's books on his website: https://warrenberger.com/warren-bergers-books/__Connect with Adam on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-morgan-3a473a/ Let's Make This More Interesting is a podcast from eatbigfish. Thanks to our editor Ruth, our producer Travis, and to Tiny Podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Louisa Preston and Luisa Baldini, former BBC reporters and co-founders of Composure Media, share their expertise on distilling complex stories into engaging 90-second pitches. They discuss their 'Hook, Line, and Sinker' model, emphasizing the need to lead with a compelling image and overcome the challenges posed by expertise overload. With anecdotes from their time in journalism, they explore maintaining composure under pressure and empowering women in leadership through confident communication techniques. Their insights are invaluable for anyone looking to communicate effectively.

Join Jeffre Jackson, a branding expert and co-founder of Open Intelligence Agency, and Dave Nottoli, a teaching assistant professor and co-author on interestingness, as they dissect the five key components of what makes advertising engaging. They discuss the power of incongruity in memory retention and why authenticity transcends mere buzzword status. Delve into the significance of details, discover the charm of the Cadbury’s Gorilla ad, and learn how to avoid the allure of empty spectacle in the marketing race for attention.

Faris Yakob, author of 'Paid Attention' and co-founder of Genius Steals, shares his insights on how our attention shapes our identities. He explores the quest for meaningful experiences during his nomadic life and discusses the challenges of capturing genuine attention in a saturated media landscape. Faris contrasts urban versus rural lifestyles and highlights the power of everyday moments over constant novelty. He also warns of the psychological impacts of media consumption while sharing strategies for fostering deeper connections through diverse content.

That’s enough about humour and the lighter side of interesting.  It’s time to step into the dark.    This week Adam meets researcher Mathias Clasen, co-founder of the ‘Recreational Fear Lab’ and author of Why Horror Seduces and A Very Nervous Person's Guide to Horror Movies, to talk about what he’s learned from haunted houses and horror movies, and how to find the ‘sweet spot’ of scary.  Adam and Mathias discuss:  The definition of ‘recreational fear’, and why it’s not just for horror film fans  The evidence that shows why fear is good for us. Why children need more ‘risky play’ for their development than we are giving them, and the surprising results of Mathias’ research into fear on our immune systems  The physiological and cognitive relationship between fear and enjoyment  Why we should all make friends with Mr Piggy _Read Mathias's books:Why Horror Seduces A Very Nervous Person's Guide to Horror MoviesWatch Mathias's TedX talk: Lessons from a terrified horror researcherConnect with Adam on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-morgan-3a473a/  Let's Make This More Interesting is a podcast from eatbigfish. Thanks to our editor Ruth, our producer Travis, and to Tiny Podcasts.    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week’s episode made the business case for humour - but how do we start to find our funny? This week Adam Morgan meets standup comedy writing and speaking coach Chris Head for a comedy masterclass.  Chris shares practical experience and techniques he uses when working with comedians, how he helped stand-up Stepfania Licari push her personal stories for the biggest payoff and coached Richard Lindesay to become a headliner (and TikTok star), all while punching up Adam’s jokes along the way,  They discuss: The power of comedy to help engage people with serious and challenging subjects Simple techniques to build humour and surprise into anything from a story to an internal announcement  The importance of making an immediate connection with the audience to break the tension  The craft involved to go from a joke-shaped thought into a bigger, funnier routine The power of misdirection (but not the magic kind)  _____  Contact Chris (or sign up to a course): https://www.chrishead.com/   Chris’s books: Creating Comedy Narratives for Stage and Screen  A Director's Guide to the Art of Stand-up The Complete Comedy Script Toolkit  _____  Connect with Adam on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-morgan-3a473a/  Let's Make This More Interesting is a podcast from eatbigfish. Thanks to our editor Ruth, our producer Travis, and to Tiny Podcasts.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.