The Impossible Network

I’m going to start these reflections with serendipity.It’s the underlying theme of this series, a word that’s often used but as a concept somewhat misunderstood.  Let’s start with its origins. The origins of words always make for fascinating reading. But ‘serendipity’ has a particularly interesting origin story. The word ‘serendipity’ was invented on 28 January 1754 in a letter from Horace Walpole to another Horace—Mann.When Walpole (son of Britain’s first de facto Prime Minister, Robert Walpole) wrote down the word ‘serendipity’ for the first time, he was giving the English language one of its most adored, but bewildering words. Walpole was a prolific creator, or populariser, of new words. The Oxford English Dictionary credits him with introducing over 200 words into the English language, among them malaria, nuance, somber, and souvenir.But Walpole is most recognized neologism was ‘serendipity’, often cited as meaning the ‘faculty of making happy and unexpected discoveries by accident’. The word ‘serendipity’ is derived from Serendip, the old name for Sri Lanka, but the etymology of Walpole’s creation of serendipity stems from a specific work of literature, a Persian fairy tale called “The Three Princes of Serendip”: as princes traveled, they were always making discoveries, by accidents and sagacity, of things which they were not in quest off. In fact, it’s one of the earliest detective stories in existence: the story of how three princes track down a missing camel through ‘luck and good fortune’. However, the princes actually utilize curiosity or forensic deduction – on a Sherlockian level. And it’s that curiosity and deduction that, ironically, gets them into trouble. As the story goes - they were traveling through the desert, when they met a merchant whose camel had gone missing.They helped the merchant by tracking the animal’s progress through the land. However the descriptions and deductions they make about the lost animal were in such striking detail that the merchant suspected them of having stolen it and had the stand trial before the king, Bahram Gur, where the merchant publicly accuses the princes of theft, and the king sentences them to death – unless they can produce the camel and return it to its owner.Among the princes' deductions that set off the suspicion was that they correctly managed to identify that it was lame in one leg, blind in one eye, and had a missing tooth. They deduced these distinguishing features from the patches of grass on which the camel had grazed, and the imprints it had left in the ground. What happens to the princes in the end? Good fortune intervened and their lives are spared, when a traveler shows up and announces that he has seen a camel wandering in the desert – the merchant’s missing camel. The merchant gets his camel back, and the king issues a reprieve to the princes –and even appoints them his special advisers, in recognition of their talents.In conclusion, their lives are spared, by what Walpole coined as serendipity, and they even owed their subsequent advisory careers to the King as a serendipitous occurrence in itself.So why do we ask all our guests about serendipity?One we are interested in their interpretation of it and examples thereofTo explore whether its more than happy accidents and that serendipity can be engineered.  What impact does upbringing have on a guest’s willingness to embrace risk, welcome ambiguity, confront fear, and to take the road less traveled? Where did their curiosity come from, was it innate or nurtured or both? How has that curiosity fueled their life journey? And how do they continue to feed it?As the three princes tale demonstrates there is always something unexpected, at the core of serendipity, an unanticipated occurrence, a moment or an encounter that, that planning can not predict, that results in a positive outcome. This is contrary to our natural ... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to The Impossible Network.This is just a short episode to say we reached our 30th episode last week and with that event, we ended Season One of The Impossible Network. Over the next 5 weeks until the next season starts we will be posting our reflections, questions, and perspectives on some of the big themes from season one: The impact of parental support The damage of abuseThe character to survive it We’ll talk more about the power of curiosity Creating environments where creativity can flourishWe’ll explore resilience, grit, and determinationRisk-taking, fear, and failure Mental wellnessWhy we think serendipity can be engineeredThe principles that connected our guests And of course, we’ll reflect on what we consider possible. If you’re new to the show and haven’t listened to some of our early episodes I’d encourage you to listen to Tyrique Glasgow, Michael Ventura, and Merritt Moore as starters.  We have some captivating guests coming in series two including visionary impresario behind Studio 54 Carmen D’Alessio and renowned New York Gallerist Jose Freire, and many more. Reflections start next week.As ever, stay curious, be creative and be open to serendipity.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest OverviewOne of the most influential voices in design, led the re-design of over 200 global brands, is Co-founder of the Masters in Branding program at New York’s School of Visual Arts and creator, author of six books, and host of one of the most popular and longest running podcasts, Design Matters, is this week’s guest Debbie Millman. As a guest on countless podcasts, we avoid going over much of what you may have already heard in other interviews. Instead, we delve into who Debbie is. I hope you enjoy this emotive exploration into the life design of Debbie Millman. What We DiscussHer upbringing in New YorkThe emotional impact and stigma of her parent's divorce aged eight The impact of the abuse she experienced from her stepfatherA drawing she created as a child that became a visual representation her future lifeWhy Manhattan became what she called her ‘non-negotiable’ The impact and experience of 9/11 Her life-long struggle with a lack of self-beliefResilience, hope, and shameThe validation she received from teachers for her The empowering effect from one professor's encouragement Her creativity as a childThe liberating experience of being single in 2017 The serendipity and positive impact of a character destroying post on the Speak Up blogHow she guides and advises her studentsDebbie’s innate curiosityHow she interviews for attitudeThe transformative impact of coming out in her 50’s Her perspective on courageWe discuss Debbie’s periods of depression and despair We cover her principles Her views on failure The hard choices she has madeHer answer to our impossible questionWho we interview nextOn Social Twitter FacebookInstagram LinkedinLinks In The Show Debbie Millman Milton Glaser School of Visual Arts One of Us movie SUNY AlbanyProfessor Helen Regueiro Elam Speak Up Blog Hacking the American Mind Robert LustigAIGA Print MagazineSteven Heller Masters In Branding Program Sterling Brands David Lee Roth Joyful Heart Foundation Fabrice GrindaHedonic TreadmillRoxanne Gay Hunger Book  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

 Guest Overview Born in Iran, raised in Germany, a social anthropologist, an executive coach, organizational trainer and international speaker, founder of contemplative science focused Neural Beings, and long term resident of New York is this week’s guest, Anahita Moghaddam. In this episode, Anahita tells the story of her troubled, anger-fueled and rebellious early years, the impact of her parents and upbringing and her struggles with sexual identity, purpose, and life direction. Anahita discusses the role and transformative power of dance in her growth and how a trip to India transformed her life and set her on her Buddhist Spiritual path.   She explains how a serendipitous flight cancellation resulted in coming face to face with the Dalai Lama on the re-booked flight. We also discuss the happy accidents and chance encounters, that have defined her spiritual path in New York  Anahita explains how her rigorous and experiential contemplative science methodology blends Eastern practices and wisdom, with the western fields of psychology, philosophy, neuroscience, and biology.  We discuss the damaging fragmentation of technology on our attention, on self and our communities and the practices we can all adopt to lead more balanced positive lives.   She shares her perspective on the power of femininity in society and culture and ideas on new forms of education.  I hope you’re inspired by this episode of powerful insights into the human experience, and her commitment to self-inquiry with Anahita Moghaddam.   What We Discuss  Being born in Iran and experiencing the traumas of the Iran-Iraq war Moving to London to study Marketing Immersing herself in the gay club scene to dance and feel safeHer drug abuse, inner dialogue, partying and hitting rock bottomThe bubble that was her school life, her self-harm, and her alienation The duality of growing up in Germany and spending vacation time in Iran The ambiguity of her upbringing The wake-up call of her father dyingThe end of her spiral of destruction Her spiritual awakening from a 3-month immersive retreat in IndiaLeaving behind suffering, alienation, and abuseReturning to London to complete her Masters in SocioAnthropology How consulting and interviewing third-world leaders opened her mind to her coaching abilities Her burning desire to move to New YorkThe serendipitous impact of having $10,000 deposited in her bank account.The openness and potential of NYC Her search for purpose Migrating from Project Management to CoachingHer journaling and documentation of her inner life Knocking on Patti Smith's front door and what happened next Studying at Contemplative Science at Nalanda Institute Explaining Contemplative ScienceWhy she considers curiosity and kindness so powerfulThe role of loveHow she considers and views the mind vs the brain How actions impact on world view and life How the Dalai Lama became her teacherHer perspective on social media and technology and the fragmentation of attentionThe role and power of mindfulness to regulate social media Negativity bias Power of a gratitude practice Her view on the imperative to increase the number of women in power New innovations in education Identifying and challenging self-limiting beliefsNeural Beings impact over the next 10 yearsWhen she realized purpose was her pathHer quick-fire question answers  Social Links Linkedin Instagram  Links In The ShowNeuralBeingsIran Iraq War Lenny KayePatti Smith Nalanda InstituteMind and Life InstituteRumiDr. Robert Lustig Hacking the American MindIain McGilchristSee learning curriculumMandelaSolve For Happy Roger Waters The Tide is Turning Above Us Only SkyChef’s Table ... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A change maker inside NBC, the instigator of Hulu, a driver of innovation and the first female vice chair of GE, best selling author of Imagine It Forward, is this week’s guest, Beth Comstock.In this expansive episode, we discuss the impact of her upbringing on her propensity to embrace ambiguity, be a accelerate digital transformation inside traditional organizational structures and inspire teams through her curiosity and imaginative mindset.   With candor and thoughtful introspection Beth discusses the challenge of being introverted and overcoming her innate shyness as she grew her reputation and stature as a provocateur of innovative action taking and bold decision making inside traditional business structures.I hope you enjoy this episode of curiosity, creativity and courage with industrial change-maker Beth Comstock. What we discuss The push and pull of influence of her father and motherHow she combines core characteristics of both parents Her introversion and its impact on energyThe difference from shyness How her curiosity fueled herHow her parents nurtured her innate curiosityThe role of play in her upbringing and driving her imaginationShe explains how her competitive nature was apparent from an early ageDocumenting her ambition aged fifteen years oldThe desire to build a career in journalism The resilience of early rejection The struggle with her lack of confidence versus her persistence and stubbornnessDiane Sawyer impact Where serendipity impacted her lifeWitnessing fear inside GE of early to mid career managersPassion for creative courageRecognition that her difference was her strength  Her concerns over how we are preparing our children for the futureThe issues with the curriculum and lack of creative problem solvingJob crafting Field Trips Her NBC experiences The Five Elements of the BookSelf Permission DiscoveryAgitated Inquiry Power of Storycraft Creating a new Operating System Her advice - get used to living in the in between‘Figure it out’ classesHow she views curiosityBeth’s ‘Just Start’ MantraWhat advice Beth would give under 30 Beth Her “Gap’ Year and writing her bookWe discuss emergence in our ambiguous worldFollowing Gut vs Data Social Links Facebook Instagram Linkedin Twitter Links In the ShowDiane Sawyer Three Mile Island 21 Rules for the 21st Century Brooklyn Maker Space Sixth SigmaEcoimaginationOODA LoopImagine it Forward HuluNBC Universal Michael VenturaSubRosa The Looming Tower Sam Harris Podcast What Jihadists Really Want Walter O’Brien on Tim Ferris Show BibblioTwila Sharp The Creative Habit  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Born from Scottish and Irish parents, serendipity opened the door into a career in sports publishing and broadcasting until his desire for social justice led him to Common Goal; the social impact movement in global football. Welcome, this week’s guest Ben W.S. Miller. In this episode, we explore the role of Ben’s upbringing in driving down his early career path in publishing and sport. Traversing fifty countries across South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa, Ben recounts his experiences of witnessing the power of football to pause a civil war and bring communities together. Ben describes how this opened his eyes to the latent power of football and consider how it could be harnessed in a strategic and systematic manner to improve lives. Ben describes the mission, vision, and purpose of Common Goal and the challenges they now face as they try to inject social impact into the heart of this multi-billion dollar sport.I hope you’re inspired by the passion, purpose and social impact vision of Ben Miller.What we discuss:The impact of his upbringing His early freedom to explore and play The development of his identityHis early desire to seek out a career where truth was central The impact of Brave New World How serendipity led him from teaching English in Venezuela to his first job in publishingHis transition into a career in sport via a move to Hong Kong in the early ’90s Moving back to London to work for Football Mundial and IMG His George Weah experience Realizing the power of football to bring communities togetherHis views on players forming Foundations Experiences with UEFA and FIFA Experience of attending the 2014 World Cup as part of a FIFA delegation. How Common Goal emerged The challenges he’s faced in building the Common Goal movement His vision for the next ten yearsHow curiosity served him His vision for educationAnd all our quick-fire questions.Links to Social LinkedInTwitter Links in showBrave New World Aldous Huxley Ben De PearHarper CollinsIMG George WeahCommon Goal Jurgen GriesbeckStreet Football World FIFA Juan MataMegan RapinoeAlex MorganBook - Stephen King On WritingStef Curry Eric Cantona Erin McLeod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest OverviewUK Journalist, bestselling author, social media content creator for Comic Relief and Sports Relief, and recent founder of social impact film company, Really Good Films is this week’s guest, Mark Woods The youngest in a family of seven siblings, Mark recounts the impact of his family upbringing and early home life on his attitude to life and risk talking as well as the seminal impact his English teacher had on this life direction.Mark discuss his life transition from University into a career in journalism, and PR during the early days of digital, before serendipity opened a new creative path into the heart of Richard Curtis’s Comic Relief organization.We discuss Mark’s Comic Relief and Sport Relief experiences, his work with the SDG’s, his views on the current state of journalism, news and technology and his optimism for the future of society.Mark also explains his motivation and method for writing his books on pregnancy for men.I hope you enjoy this entertaining episode of education and impact with Mark Woods. What we discuss:His upbringing as the youngest in a family of seven The impact of serendipityHow he became involved in Comic ReliefWhy he wrote his first book Pregnancy for MenHow Planet Parent came aboutHis podcast on ParentingThe beginnings of Sport ReliefRichard CurtisForming Really Good Films on PurposeProject EveryoneWhy passion is the foundation of career longevityThe evolution of news and journalismFuture of philanthropy and CSRHis views of creativity and curiosityMark’s imperative for educationHis Impossible adviceAnd all our quick-fire questions Links to SocialLinkedInTwitter Really Good FilmsLinks in showComic Relief Sports ReliefRichard CurtisProject EveryonePregnancy for MenMels Cafe in Earlsfield LondonPlanet ParentSteven Pinker  SDG’s Todd Jacobson NBAElegance of Eloquence BookSapiens  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest overviewShe graduated from St Martin’s in London, spent five years developing her unique freestyle artistic expression in Tokyo, before moving to New York to further her ambitious and expansive artistic exploration of identity and the self, welcome this weeks’ guest live visual artist Shantell MartinIn this episode we discuss the impact of her upbringing in a racially fueled district of London, how her self-belief, unique perspective, unerring curiosity and persistence propelled along an ever evolving, non-conformist artistic career path.We discuss the impact of serendipity and how her characteristic live and spontaneous black-and-white compositions form the basis of an exploration into identity and the self based on two philosophical questions of “Who are you? Are you you?”With clarity and candor Shantell talks about her curiosity fuels her and provides insight into her creative process and some of her many collaborations including Kendrick Lamar and The New York City Ballet.I hope you enjoy this freestyle episode of truth-telling and truth-seeking with Shantell Martin.What we discussAn upbringing in a mixed-race householdThe influence of cartoons on her artistic ambitionShantell's dual love of running and artThe barriers and hurdles she facedOvercoming social norms to carve her own pathHer passion and desireConfronting her art teacher's doubtPower of head to hand in art and writingThe first experience of live art in JapanHow she guides her studentsThe importance of asking the questions Who Are You?Drawing on everythingHer curiosityEnvironmental impact on her workSocial justice and compassionHer Impossible advice Connecting on SocialShantell Martin TwitterInstagramYouTube FacebookTumblrLinks In The ShowSir Ken Robinson TED Talk St Martin's Art SchoolSilent Giants podcast Jiro Dreams of SushiNew York City Ballet Kendrick Lamar One Red Paperclip   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A former BBC International Correspondent and Anchor, reporting from over 60 countries and hostile environments on some of the most significant stories of recent times, honored in the Asian Woman of Achievement Awards, Chief of Communications for the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates and most recently founder of Content company Miran Media, is this week’s guest Navdip Dhariwal.In this extended episode we cover the challenges of growing up in an Indian immigrate family in racially charged 70’s London, how she confronted racial and gender bias to build a stellar career in journalism and broadcasting in the conventional white male middle class culture of the BBC.We discuss Navdip's perspective on the state and evolution of the BBC, today’s changing media environment and the privilege of being a journalistHer perspective on risk, fear and her commitment to journalism, using data to deliver authentic storytellingShe also explains her embrace of kismet over serendipity, predetermination and the importance of carving your own pathFinally we discuss her views of the challenges India faces in the coming years and her hope for humanity.I hope you enjoy this convention challenging truth seeking episode with Navdip Dhariwal  What we discussGrowing up as an Indian Immigrant in 1970/80’s LondonThe racist pressures she facedBreaking through cultural, gender racial barriers to build a career at the BBCThe global media revolutionHow the BBC missed itHer journey of achievementHow it’s affected herHer reasons for creating Miran MediaHer perspective on serendipity and kismetThe power of curiosityThe future challenges for IndiaHer Impossible adviceSocial Media Miran Media Instagram FacebookVimeo YouTubeLinks in the Show Don McCullin Scroobius PipBBC Book she wants us to share In Extremis Marie Colvin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest OverviewA conviction in the power of sport to engage, impact and inspire communities, a relentless curiosity to explore new ways to apply innovative thinking to build educational outreach for one of the world's largest football clubs and brands, is this week’s guest, Head of Education & Innovation at Chelsea Foundation, Matt Mead.Growing up in the South of England, Matt’s upbringing prepared him and guided him into a life where coaching, education, technology and innovation collide. In the first 25 minutes we explore Matt’s upbringing and story before joining Chelsea.From 25 min onward we dive deep into his journey in education and innovation at Brighton and Chelsea; how Matt has used the Chelsea brand, the appeal of football to create educational outreach and innovative STEM programs in community programs.We also explore Matt’s positive impact beyond the UK, with US partnerships and his vision for the future of education.I hope you enjoy this authentic, honest, inspiring exploration of education and innovation with Matt Mead.What we discuss:The impact of a parental split on his early lifeThe development of his emotional intelligenceThe bedrock of sport during his upbringingHis route through educationHis decision to pursue a career in sports education His early love of coachingThe serendipitous experience that led him to a Montessori school in Florida aged 19His experience of camp AmericaThe impact of football clubs to communities across the UK vs the USHis early experiences with Brighton and then Chelsea FoundationThe importance of inclusion participation, inclusivity and giving back.Stem as an area of focus for his outreachGiving BackAll our quick fire questions!Links to SocialLinkedInEmailLinks in showBrighton and Hove Albion Chelsea FC Chelsea Foundation Digital Blue The Premier League Foundation Premier League Primary Stars Edge of the Box Club FC Harlem STEM Renaldo Lawrence Preacher Eric Thomas Kelvin BeachumMatt’s recommended book Getting Things Done by David Allan Phil Nutley Kicking and screening Scottish Football Club Montrose Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.