The Curious Advantage Podcast

In this episode, Simon Brown and Garrick Jones speak with leadership expert Shawn Vanderhoven about how curiosity and the power of pausing can transform leadership, decision-making, and team performance.Drawing on insights from his book Pause: How to Lead Brilliant Work in a Busy World, Shawn shares practical strategies for building an intelligence culture, asking better questions, and helping teams think more effectively in fast-paced organizations.Show LinksShawn's LinkedInWiseman GroupPause: How to Lead Brilliant Work in a Busy World available on AmazonThe Curious Advantage explores curiosity and its growing importance in the digital age. From history, neuroscience, and anthropology to business and culture, it takes the widest possible view of curiosity. At its heart is the ‘Sailing the 7C’s of Curiosity’ model, a practical framework to help individuals harness curiosity as a power skill for growth and transformation.The Curious Advantage is available on Amazon and Audiobook Follow us on LinkedIn and InstagramDiscover more about The Curious Advantage hereThe Curious Advantage Podcast is executive produced by Jessica Wickham and Aliki Paolinelis. Audio editing by Danny Cross and video editing by Jessica Wickham. 

In this episode of The Curious Advantage, former Navy SEAL officer and human performance expert Rich Diviney joins Simon Brown and Garrick Jones to explore what truly drives leadership, performance under pressure, and the neuroscience behind stress and fear. Drawing on two decades in the SEAL Teams, Rich breaks down why attributes and not skills determine success in high-pressure, high-uncertainty environments.Rich explains how elite performers build situational awareness, adaptability, and neural agility, and why concepts like dynamic subordination are essential for modern leadership. He dives into the neuroscience of stress management, the role of curiosity in high-stakes decision-making, and how understanding duration, pathway, and outcome can help the brain stay calm under uncertainty.Whether you’re leading teams, navigating complexity or curious about the psychology behind human performance, this conversation offers powerful insights into attributes, curiosity, and the mindsets required to thrive in chaotic environments.Show Links: Attributes WebsiteAttributes HubRich Diviney LinkedInThe Attributes: 25 Hidden Drivers of Optimal Performance book is available on AmazonThe Curious Advantage explores curiosity and its growing importance in the digital age. From history, neuroscience, and anthropology to business and culture, it takes the widest possible view of curiosity. At its heart is the ‘Sailing the 7C’s of Curiosity’ model, a practical framework to help individuals harness curiosity as a power skill for growth and transformation.The Curious Advantage is available on Amazon and Audiobook Follow us on LinkedIn and InstagramDiscover more about The Curious Advantage hereThe Curious Advantage Podcast is executive produced by Jessica Wickham and Aliki Paolinelis. Audio editing by Danny Cross and video editing by Jessica Wickham. 

Salvatore Manzi, a communication and leadership coach who helps data-driven leaders turn expertise into influence. He explains the You-Then-Me Principle: start by acknowledging others to build collaboration. He shows why empathy is a leadership advantage and outlines practicing acknowledgments, avoiding ‘but’, and using curiosity to create presence and tailor messages for high-stakes moments.

Art Kleiner, writer and strategist on organizational learning and responsible technology, offers a compact guide to building humane AI. He discusses tensions between rapid innovation and accountability. Short, clear takes cover bias, misinformation and explainability. He highlights why empathy, forgiveness and human judgment must shape governance as AI embeds into everyday work.

Alexia Cambon, Senior Director of Research at Microsoft who leads work and AI productivity research, discusses how AI is reshaping work. She outlines Frontier Firms, Intelligence on Tap, and the rise of agent bosses. Short scenes explore hybrid human-agent teams, new organization models, and how people manage many AI agents. Practical steps for building agent-savvy organizations are highlighted.

FBF -- Flashback FridayIn this episode, global HR and HR technology analyst Josh Bersin, Founder & CEO of The Josh Bersin Company, joins the authors of The Curious Advantage — Paul Ashcroft, Simon Brown and Garrick Jones — to explore curiosity in the flow of work.They discuss the role of curiosity in learning and people development, how curiosity supports adaptability in a digital-first world, and why curious leaders are critical during periods of disruption.This episode was originally published on 5th May 2020. Want to go deeper?Get your copy on AmazonThe Curious Advantage Audiobook is also available on audible#FlashbackFriday #CuriousAdvantage #CuriosityAtWork #Learning #7Cs

FBF — Flashback FridayIn this episode, Amy Edmondson, Novartis Professor at Harvard Business School, explores curiosity, leadership, and psychological safety in the digital age.Drawing on The Right Kind of Wrong (named the Financial Times’ #1 Business Book), she shares practical insights on productive failure, learning, and building high-performing teams.This episode was originally published January 2024.Want to go deeper?Discover Amy Edmondson’s work in Right Kind of Wrong or  3 book collection of the Right Kind of Wrong, Leader as Healer & Staring Down the WolfFollow Amy Edmondson on LinkedIn hereGet your copy of The Curious Advantage on AmazonThe Curious Advantage Audiobook is also available on AudibleFollow The Curious Advantage on LinkedIn and Instagram

In this episode of the Curious Advantage podcast, hosts Simon Brown and Garrick Jones talk with Christian Kressman, an actor, systemic coach, and PhD holder in creativity. The conversation explores how curiosity fuels creativity and problem-solving, the importance of asking the right questions, and the role of diversity in fostering innovative solutions. Christian shares his personal journey, including a life-changing misdiagnosis that led him to embrace creativity in overcoming challenges. The discussion also touches on the impact of AI on learning and the importance of immersive environments in education. Christian LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/christiankressmann/ Christian Website https://christian-kressmann.de/podcast About The Curious Advantage The Curious Advantage is available on Amazon and Audible. Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram, and discover more at curiousadvantage.com. The Curious Advantage explores curiosity and its growing importance in the digital age. From history, neuroscience, and anthropology to business and culture, it takes the widest possible view of curiosity. At its heart is the ‘Sailing the 7C’s of Curiosity’ model, a practical framework to help individuals harness curiosity as a power skill for growth and transformation. The Curious Advantage Podcast is executive produced by Jessica Wickham and Aliki Paolinelis. Audio editing by Danny Cross | Video editing by Jessica Wickham. 

In this episode of The Curious Advantage Podcast, Simon Brown and Paul Ashcroft speak with Radhika Dutt, author of Radical Product Thinking, about how traditional goals can limit curiosity and drive organisations into the performance trap. Radhika introduces OHLs — Objectives, Hypotheses, and Learnings — a practical alternative that fuels creativity, psychological safety, and better problem-solving. Through real-world examples, she shows how curiosity can transform teams, leadership, and product thinking.Find out more:Radhika Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/radhika-dutt/ Radical Product: https://www.radicalproduct.com/ Radical Product Thinking: The New Mindset for Innovating Smarter on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Radical-Product-Thinking-Mindset-Innovating/dp/1523093315About The Curious AdvantageThe Curious Advantage is available on Amazon and Audible.Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram, and discover more at curiousadvantage.com.The Curious Advantage explores curiosity and its growing importance in the digital age. From history, neuroscience, and anthropology to business and culture, it takes the widest possible view of curiosity. At its heart is the ‘Sailing the 7C’s of Curiosity’ model, a practical framework to help individuals harness curiosity as a power skill for growth and transformation.The Curious Advantage Podcast is executive produced by Jessica Wickham and Aliki Paolinelis. Audio editing by Danny Cross | Video editing by Jessica Wickham. 

In this episode of The Curious Advantage podcast, hosts Garrick Jones and Simon Brown sit down with Jonathan Besser, co-author of 50 Ideas That Changed the World of Work, to explore how curiosity, leadership, and emotional intelligence shape the future of learning and innovation.From classic frameworks like SWOT and the Eisenhower Matrix to the impact of Black Swans and White Rhinos, the conversation examines how leaders can navigate uncertainty with a growth mindset and foster psychological safetywhere creativity, feedback, and experimentation thrive.Jonathan shares insights on overcoming imposter syndrome, using feedback for growth, and creating emotionally intelligent workplaces that inspire trust and collaboration. Discover how curiosity fuels adaptability in a post-COVID world and why questioning assumptions remains essential for effective leadership and continuous learning.Find out more:Jonathan LinkedInIntrepid Leadership50 Ideas That Changed the World of WorkAbout The Curious AdvantageThe Curious Advantage is available on Amazon and Audible.Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram, and discover more at curiousadvantage.com.The Curious Advantage explores curiosity and its growing importance in the digital age. From history, neuroscience, and anthropology to business and culture, it takes the widest possible view of curiosity. At its heart is the ‘Sailing the 7C’s of Curiosity’ model, a practical framework to help individuals harness curiosity as a power skill for growth and transformation.The Curious Advantage Podcast is executive produced by Jessica Wickham and Aliki Paolinelis. Audio editing by Danny Cross | Video editing by Jessica Wickham.