

The Power of Music Thinking
Christof Zürn
What can the dynamics of music teach us about navigating today’s complex world? The Power of Music Thinking podcast dives deep into this potent analogy.
Host Christof Zürn, founder of MusicThinking.com, explores how concepts like listening, tuning, rhythm, and improvisation translate into powerful tools for business, creativity, and leadership.Through engaging interviews with global thought leaders, designers, entrepreneurs, and artists, discover practical ways to improve collaboration, spark innovation, and lead teams more effectively. Learn how to listen differently, find your team’s rhythm, and embrace improvisation in the face of uncertainty. And there are special episodes around a theme or experiment.For anyone fascinated by the intersection of creativity, strategy, and human dynamics – subscribe to The Power of Music Thinking.
Host Christof Zürn, founder of MusicThinking.com, explores how concepts like listening, tuning, rhythm, and improvisation translate into powerful tools for business, creativity, and leadership.Through engaging interviews with global thought leaders, designers, entrepreneurs, and artists, discover practical ways to improve collaboration, spark innovation, and lead teams more effectively. Learn how to listen differently, find your team’s rhythm, and embrace improvisation in the face of uncertainty. And there are special episodes around a theme or experiment.For anyone fascinated by the intersection of creativity, strategy, and human dynamics – subscribe to The Power of Music Thinking.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 29, 2021 • 53min
Deep listening with Sharon Stewart
This episode is about listening - deep listening. My guest today is Sharon Stewart - creator of sound works, musician, poet, researcher, piano teacher and deep listener.
We learn about the Center for Deep Listening at Rensselaer and the retreats that were held by composer Pauline Oliveros and the many ways to listen, for example like listening in dreams, embodied listening and that deep listening is about doing, writing, practising and experiencing.
We talk about text scores, guiding principles, and using this in a non-musical context. We also chat about the listening presence of leadership and that we all might benefit when this would shift from just ‘listening to’ to ‘listening with’.
And Sharon shares with us her contribution to the ‘Listening guide for quarantine’ that was published at the beginning of the pandemic and an exercise of harmonious human interaction with sounding and listening that we also could do in a workshop situation.
Connect with Sharon:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/hopsharonstewart/
Download Homing inside out: A listening guide for home quarantine (2020 Soundtrack City, The Mystifiers, STEIM) https://soundtrackcity.net/homing-inside-out/
Upcoming Deep Listening® Retreats https://www.ministryofmaat.org/deep-listening-retreat.html
The Center for Deep Listening® at RPI https://www.deeplistening.rpi.edu/
Sonic works by Sharon Stewart https://soundcloud.com/sharonrstewart
Podcast miniseries on Deep Listening® https://studiumgenerale.artez.nl/nl/studies/all/podcast/2+deep+listening+pauline+oliveros+and+the+sonosphere/
Journal of Sonic Studies Article on Deep Listening® https://www.researchcatalogue.net/view/261881/261882
Sharon can be reached at s.stewart@artez.nl
The Power of Music Thinking is brought to you by CREATIVE COMPANION
More about The Music Thinking Framework, the Jam Cards and the blog on musicthinking.com

Jun 15, 2021 • 57min
Innovation patterns and improvisation in organisations with Wolfgang Stark
Wolfgang Stark, an expert in organizational and community psychology, discusses the intriguing link between sound, innovation, and collaboration. He illustrates how jazz improvisation can enhance organizational dynamics and transform business practices. The conversation highlights unique tools like the Reactable, which fosters co-creation among non-musicians. Stark also critiques traditional education for stifling creativity and advocates for a more adaptable approach to learning, emphasizing the importance of improvisation in uncertain times.

Jun 1, 2021 • 58min
Nifemi Aluko, Music as a Catalyst for Change
We talk with Nifemi Aluko - Founder and CEO of kpakpakpa and author of the book Press Play, Music as a catalyst for change.
Nifemi is a traveller between California and Nigeria and - as he calls - a Youtube inspired bedroom producer. We talk about his journey from a chemical engineer to an advisor for companies that want to enter the African market.
We learn about the size and the diversity of Africa, the high energy of woman entrepreneurship and the many languages, dialects, and communication between people across the continent.
And we chat about the different pace in doing business and establishing relationships, and how the technique of sampling can bring new styles of music and nurtures the ability to collaborate with people from different places.
Connect with Nifemi:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nifemi-aluko/
Website kpakpakpa:
https://kpakpakpa.com/
His book Press Play: https://www.amazon.com/Press-Play-Music-Catalyst-Change/dp/1641375531/
Soundcloud:
https://soundcloud.com/naporepublic
The Power of Music Thinking is brought to you by CREATIVE COMPANION

May 18, 2021 • 1h 3min
Steve Keller, Blend sound science with sound art to make sound decisions
Today in the programme we have Steve Keller from Oakland California and we learn more about sound art, sound science and sound business.
Steve has a great title: Audio alchemist and Sonic Strategy Director, Studio Resonate at SXM Media. We talk about audio-only and audio first strategies in what he calls ‘the platinum age of audio’, how COVID has changed our listening habits, the rise of clubhouse and how leaders can foster the ability to listen inside their companies. We have a conversation about the relationship between visual and sonic identities and what brands with a conscience can do to use sound for sustainable business in a multisensory world.
We learn about his research on sonic racism and he shares with us a little ritual that he uses before brainstorming sessions that matter.
Connect with Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevekeller1/
Sound first consultancy Studio Resonate | Pandora: https://www.sxmmedia.com/studio-resonate
Listening Builds Trust in a Time of Uncertainty https://www.adweek.com/partner-articles/listening-builds-trust-in-a-time-of-uncertainty/
Brands can tackle sonic racism: https://www.warc.com/newsandopinion/news/brands-can-tackle-sonic-racism/44246
Stand For Sonic Diversity website: https://www.standforsonicdiversity.com/
The Power of Music Thinking is brought to you by CREATIVE COMPANION

May 18, 2021 • 55min
Michael Hendrix and Panos Panay, A mindset for entrepreneurship, leadership and design
Today on the show we are in Boston and in Cyprus, we talk with Michael Hendrix, Partner and Global Design Director at IDEO and with Panos Panay, Vice President for Strategy & Innovation at Berklee College of Music. Michael and Panos talk about their experience as entrepreneurs, leaders, and executives and the interviews they did with musicians like Björk, Justin Timberlake and many others.
We speak about the creative mindset that designers and musicians share, the importance of emotional diligence and what David Bowie and Nokia have in common. We speak about what leadership can learn from music production, and that leaders in these times should rather look in the direction of a producer than a conductor. We hear that Design Thinking is less effective when used as a formula and that the musical mindset is applicable to everyone. And we talk about that the value of creative education and a musical mindset can have a great impact on business and innovation.
If this resonates with you, you should definitively check out their new book Two beats ahead.
Connect with Michael: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rmichaelhendrix/
Connect with Panos: https://www.linkedin.com/in/panospanay/
Two Beats ahead website: https://twobeatsahead.com/
IDEO: https://www.ideo.com/
Berklee College of Music: https://www.berklee.edu/
The Power of Music Thinking is brought to you by CREATIVE COMPANION

May 18, 2021 • 57min
Roy Scheerder, Blockchain Philosophy and Collaborative Transformation for Change
The Power of Music Thinking is brought to you by CREATIVE COMPANION
Today on the show we have Roy Scheerder - co-founder of the dutch cooperative Faebric. In this episode we speak about Roy’s journey from hospitality to the lean and mean asset machine of the airline business and how to start as an entrepreneur with a cooperative.
We talk about the blockchain philosophy, the concept of tokens and starting a cooperative with a joint goal and purpose.
And we learn more about collaborative transformation, how to start a strategic change project and the value that the music thinking framework has for him in client projects and how he uses the Jam Cards in workshops.
Roy is the first interviewee of the power of music thinking podcast.
Connect with Roy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/royscheerder/
More about collaborative transformation and the Faebric cooperative: https://www.faebric.com/
Download the organizational change map that Faebric is using when starting a change project: https://www.faebric.com/organizational-change-map

May 18, 2021 • 8min
Christof Zürn, Who, what and why this Podcast
In this very first episode of the brand new podcast The Power of Music Thinking, your host Christof Zürn will tell you about the background of this podcast. Who he is, why he started a podcast and what you can expect every two weeks.
Christof is a seasoned professional in accompanying individuals, teams and organisations to make the step from iteration to innovation and transformation. To find patterns and analogies between business and music is his passion and his mission is to combine these to meaningful collaboration in whatever field you are operating.
More from Music Thinking:
What is Music Thinking Presentation: https://musicthinking.com/what-is-music-thinking/
Music Thinking Jam Cards: https://musicthinking.com/jam-cards/
Music Thinking website: www.musicthinking.com

May 6, 2021 • 2min
Trailer - The Power of Music Thinking Podcast
The Power of Music Thinking with Christof Zürn takes you inside the minds of some of the world’s most exciting people AND Musicians. Professionals that in some or another way use music, musical principles, instruments and techniques to work meaningful together. Or in short, the podcast for People with a musical heart and a wicked job.


