Sketchplanations - The Podcast

We spoke with mechanical wristwatch designer Gordon Fraser, of Marloe Watch Company, to hear his perspective on the pros and cons of product design when you set out to be different.It's not always a given that your customers want dramatically different and perhaps there are times when you should swim against the current and others when you should let yourself go with the flow.The real skill comes from experience, to know which mode to activate when.Gordon also speaks about the need to be allowed to dream as an antidote to creative blockages.Could this mindset help with any endeavours, be they creative or otherwise, in your world?Additionally, we reference:Jono's Prints & Performances sketch.Approach Buffet from both Sides sketchThe British Museum Clock GalleryPlease consider giving us a review or subscribing to our podcast on your podcast player. It really helps.Please also consider ordering a copy of Jono's Sketchplanations book: Big Ideas, Little Pictures. Out now!We'd love to hear your stories of creative mindsets and how you've overcome any barriers.Ping us an email to: hello@sketchplanations.comAll Music on this podcast series is provided by Franc Cinelli. Find many more tracks at franccinelli.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Music.It can be a very personal thing. It can be most powerful when shared.It's on the radio, in our headphones on the commute, at the gym, on TV ads, in our favourite movies... what would the world be without it?And what would the world be without the people who create it?This episode, we interrogate singer, songwriter, producer, and friend of the show Franc Cinelli to find out how he goes about creating new music.Where does it come from?What are his processes?And how does creating music relate to other areas of creativity in our lives?if you're a regular listener you may or may not be aware that it's Franc's music we use on the podcast.Most notably:Driver - as our intro music.The Impossible Breaks Free - as our transition into the episode's sketch-specific discussionJulius Play His Winning Ace - (my favourite) at the end of the Listener Comments that round off each episode.Find his music here on Apple or SpotifyHere's some good stuff to check out that we reference in the podcast:Short Film: From Somewhere - Franc talks about his music makingAxis of Awesome - songs that use the same 4 chordsSteal Like An Artist - Book by Austin Kleon : 10 things nobody told you about being creativeAnd what would an episode of this podcast be without referring to another of Jono's sketches: 3,500 lifetime readsAs always, we'd love to know your thoughts about our discussion and you can email us here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We think beaches are great!What about you?In this episode:We discuss how beaches are prime spots for enjoyment for all ages and at any time of year.We talk about how they can be places for excitement and adrenaline; places to encourage creativity; places for quiet contemplation; and places that bring perspective to life.Tommy goads Jono into a debate about what's better: Mountains or Beaches.We share our best beach-find storiesand as ever, we bring in a few of Jono's other related sketches:+ Sea Jellies and Sea Stars+ Types of surf breaks (waves)+ The Anatomy of a wave+ The Strand LineAnd here's the photo of "the bomb" found on the beach up near Middlesbrough.We'd love to hear from you about your best finds or your most memorable moments at the beach.Email us: hello@sketchplanations.comAll music on this podcast series provided by the very talented Franc Cinelli. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we ask ourselves if we've reached our professional peaks and if we now fall foul to the Peter Principle, having tipped into our levels of incompetency.Amongst many other clever things, Jono applies the principle to Football Management.Tommy gives his insight to how relevant it is managing at the very top of a business.And I tell how my capacity to teach stuff is severely limited by exactly the kind of incompetence the Peter Principle is based on.Where do you feel you or maybe more interestingly, where do those around you sit within the Peter Principle?Here are some useful links if you want to find out more about some of the bits we discussed:The Peter Principle was first proposed by Canadian educator, Laurence J. Peter . In one of his books, he also said that "noblest of all dogs is the hot dog; it feeds the hand that bites it."Creator of The Paula Principle is Tom SchullerThe Dilbert PrincipleThe Generalised Peter Principle sketch#1 Rule of Indoor GamesThe BBC Peter Principle sitcom with Jim Broadbent on YouTubePlease consider giving us a review or subscribing to our podcast on your podcast player. It really helps.Please also consider putting in a pre-order for Jono's Sketchplanations book: Big Ideas, Little Pictures. Out very soon.We'd love to hear your stories of any experience with The Peter Principle.Ping us an email to: hello@sketchplanations.comAll Music on this podcast series is provided by Franc Cinelli. Find many more tracks at franccinelli.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So much we didn't know about the wonderful world of plants.In this compilation, double-header episode discussing some of Jono's sketches that cover fascinating elements of botany, we are joined by 2-time gold medal winner at the world famous Chelsea Flower Show, author of 6 best-selling books, and ambassador for Kew Gardens; celebrated botanist, James Wong.Rather than edit out a tonne of insightful, educational discussion points from James, we decided to publish this episode in two parts. This is Part 2.The sketches we discussed are:Heat IslandsThe Browse LineThe Hungry GapPhoenix TreesNurse LogsHow to make your own Fresh AirThis last sketch was based on a TED talk by Kamal Meattle - and it's an interesting listen to hear how James dissects the theory behind it.It was also a delight to discover that all 4 of us attended the University of Bath at the same time.Please consider giving us a review or subscribing to our podcast on your podcast player. It really helps.Please also consider putting in a pre-order for Jono's Sketchplanations book: Big Ideas, Little Pictures. Out very soon now.Have a story or a thought about botany and your experiences with plants?Ping us an email to: hello@sketchplanations.comAll Music on this podcast series is provided by Franc Cinelli. Find many more tracks at franccinelli.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So much we didn't know about the wonderful world of plants.In this compilation, double-header episode discussing some of Jono's sketches that cover fascinating elements of botany, we are joined by 2-time gold medal winner at the world famous Chelsea Flower Show, author of 6 best-selling books, and ambassador for Kew Gardens; celebrated botanist, James Wong.Rather than edit out a tonne of insightful, educational discussion points from James, we decided to publish this episode in two parts. This is Part 1.The sketches we discussed are:Heat IslandsThe Browse LineThe Hungry GapPhoenix TreesNurse LogsHow to make your own Fresh AirThis last sketch was based on a TED talk by Kamal Meattle - and it's an interesting listen to hear how James dissects the theory behind it.It was also a delight to discover that all 4 of us attended the University of Bath at the same time.Please consider giving us a review or subscribing to our podcast on your podcast player. It really helps.Please also consider putting in a pre-order for Jono's Sketchplanations book: Big Ideas, Little Pictures. Out very soon now.Have a story or a thought about botany and your experiences with plants?Ping us an email to: hello@sketchplanations.comAll Music on this podcast series is provided by Franc Cinelli. Find many more tracks at franccinelli.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The three of us are tired of being misunderstood when we've used the words "biweekly", "bimonthly" and "biannually".It's just no fun.And so we're starting the campaign to ditch biweekly and use fortnightly instead. See sketch here.Try it out. You won't regret it.Our discussion turns to the general ambiguity of language and how in many senses it's quite a good thing.It allows for creative writing, comedy and ease of communication.Lots of bits to link to this week from this week's episode - enjoy:Ian Hollingshead book - Imagine my surprise... William Empson's book - The 7 types of AmbiguityTED talk by Lera Boroditsky & here's her Instagram account too.Sketch on the Oxford commaSketch on Context is KingSketch on CapitonymsSketch on homonyms, homographs, homophones, heteronymsPlease consider giving us a review or subscribing to our podcast on your podcast player. It really helps.Please also consider putting in a pre-order for Jono's Sketchplanations book: Big Ideas, Little Pictures. Out very soon now.We'd love to hear your stories of any confusion with the words biweekly, bimonthly or biannually.Ping us an email to: hello@sketchplanations.comAll Music on this podcast series is provided by Franc Cinelli. Find many more tracks at franccinelli.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Exploring the deceptive nature of averages in statistics, the podcast delves into how averages can hide crucial data details. It also discusses examples of sneaky averages in reviews, the impact of outliers, and the challenges of making significant claims. Additionally, it explores group dynamics, leadership styles, and strategies to prevent groupthink in meetings.

It can be uncomfortable to express opinions different from those of a group. Perhaps you remember that feeling when a teacher asked a question in class and if everyone raised their hand to one answer it wasn't always easy to be the only hand up for a different one.That's Groupthink!Do you remember the story of 12 Angry Men? How it took the resilience of one jury member to arrive at a correct verdict of not guilty.That's Groupthink.Thankfully, Jono suggests various ways to help avoid falling into the Groupthink mentality. See the sketch online for more details.The sketchplanation itself is set in a professional environment - where I'm sure many people have experienced it.Let us know.email hello@sketchplanations.comOther sketches referenced include:Bandwagon EffectBystander EffectFirehouse EffectAbilene ParadoxWe also reference the concept of psychological safety - a very apt phrase in this context coined by American author and Professor of Leadership at Harvard Business School, Amy EdmondsonAll Music on this podcast series is provided by Franc Cinelli. Find many more tracks at franccinelli.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ah, that satisfying, superior, at once gleeful and slightly sinful feeling when the aggressive driver that overtook you gets their comeuppance and is flashed by a speed camera. Or when you find yourself laughing when a loved one falls over. #EpicFail comes to mind. This human experience can also be described as Schadenfreude, a nifty German word made up of schaden for damage, harm or hurt and freude for joy. Taking pleasure in others’ misfortunes.And so begins a litany of examples amongst the three of us of times we've felt schadenfreude. We learn that there are different types (summarised as 'good' and 'bad'), that some of us experience it more than others, and that there could be learnings in it for all of us to help consider our relationship with those around us. You can find the headline sketch here.We regularly reference the writing of cultural historian, Tiffany Watt Smith and her book on the topic. Let us know your stories where you've experienced schadenfreude. We'll try not to laugh. email us: hello@sketchplanations.comalternatively, you can find all three of us on Social Media here too: Jono Hey, Tom Pellereau, Rob Bell.Find many more sketches at Sketchplanations.comAll Music on this podcast series is provided by Franc Cinelli. Find many more tracks at franccinelli.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.