Episodes

  • SWEETSPOT SAFARI # 22 :: ignornace and knowledge w/Rob Bell

    SWEETSPOT SAFARI # 22 :: ignornace and knowledge w/Rob Bell
    Dec 2 2024
    After a short break Sweetspot Safari returns with guest explorer Rob Bell. Rob is a talented broadcaster, podcaster and engineer and we explore a broad range of topics centering on the theme of ignorance vs knowledge. We talk about how the internet might be emphasising superficial knowledge at the expense of deeper understanding, the difference between general and specialist knowledge, the wisdom beneath the concept of beginner's mind, the fascinating Dunning-Kruger effect and much more. As usual the theme of critical thinking weaves through this conversation and we finish up by pondering whether more knowledge equates to more happiness.
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    50 mins
  • SWEETSPOT SAFARI # 21 /|\ youth and elders w/Mark Straw

    SWEETSPOT SAFARI # 21 /|\ youth and elders w/Mark Straw
    Sep 2 2024
    During this episode we chat with Mark Straw, the founder of Community Praxis. Their mission is to support third sector organisations and communities in the development of a critical lens and participatory approaches to building cohesive and connected spaces. We have a wide ranging discussion around the need for intergenerational collaboration. Topics we touch on include accelerating change, unhelpful stereotypes, rites of passage, role models, wisdom and how the pandemic response negatively impacted young and old. Our culture and societies depends on the transmission of knowledge between these groups so how do we pivot away from increasingly destructive conflict and towards productive collaboration?
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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • SWEESTPOT SAFARI #20 /|\ employee and employer w/Glenn Martin

    SWEESTPOT SAFARI #20 /|\ employee and employer w/Glenn Martin
    Aug 5 2024
    In this session we have Glenn Martin, founder and CEO of "Never mind the Job Spec" , walking us through the complexities and attributes of the job acquisition process, and the power of "Human Centred Hiring" . We explore the balance and power dynamic between employer and candidate and the differences between employer brand and talent brand. The market is shifting rapidly, not just driven by technology but values. We look for sweetspots, but clearly employers have to understand that they have to be realistic about the influence they have in the job market. Candidates have more levers to pull with access to company information and the perceived values / company branding in the marketplace. The employer can control their employer brand, but not the talent brand. Parity is more evident, companies who are not open and recognise their own gaps, or they will suffer indirectly in the acquisition process. For job seekers there may be a fear of dehumanisation within the process, but the technology adoption is not advance as we may think. Glenn poses the question, whether companies really understand hybrid working and how employees are treated? There will be a new social contract in place, which will not go backwards.
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    52 mins
  • SWEETSPOT SAFARI #19 /|\ mind and matter w/Stephanie Laing

    SWEETSPOT SAFARI #19 /|\ mind and matter w/Stephanie Laing
    Jul 1 2024
    This week we explore the topic of Mind and Matter from a philosophical perspective with Steph Laing ; Comedian, Charity Trustee, Community Worker and TED-X Speaker. No stone is left unturned, and we look at the topic with a scientific lens as well as a conscious embodied perspective. Is there a difference, or do they overlap ? Steph uses her work and life experiences to elucidate the options, and shares her own thoughts about the power of both intention and attention working in harmony. The former potentially relating to the mind, and the latter being related to matter. A simple arm movement being a prime example. This podcast should get people making their own connections and hopefully identifying their own intersections.
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    52 mins
  • SWEETSPOT SAFARI #18 /|\ numbers and nonsense w/Luke Morris

    SWEETSPOT SAFARI #18 /|\ numbers and nonsense w/Luke Morris
    Jun 3 2024
    In this episode our guest explorer is Luke Morris who is a Corporate Finance Partner at an accounting firm. Luke explains that he has always been interested in numbers and data from the days of being a child, then on to being a physics graduate. We explore where it makes sense to use numbers, where it doesn't and the misinterpretation of data in both life and business. He guides us through rational approaches vs the irrational approaches to data, and when he faces making judgements with complex systems he always goes back to the top of the pyramid with first principles, and starts with hard irrefutable facts, like cash flow in a financial statement. We explored several trade-offs and tensions on our hunt for sweet spots including information vs relevance, historical data vs predictive data, system 1 vs system 2 processing, insight vs deception and AI pattern recognition vs human judgement.
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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • SWEETSPOT SAFARI #17 /|\ safety and risk w/Mel Luck

    SWEETSPOT SAFARI #17 /|\ safety and risk w/Mel Luck
    May 6 2024
    In this Safari, we welcome Mel Luck, ex, pilot, aviation manager, all things aviation and speed lover, turned resilience coach. Mel guides us through the attributes of safety and risk from all perspectives, such as physical, process, transactional and emotional by providing expert insights and challenging the way we look at risk . There is clearly a trade-off between the two, but is there also a trade-off between what we need individually and what we need collectively ? Are we becoming risk averse and is too much "safety" a bad thing ? Where is the tipping point ? Who are the arbiters and who should be the arbiters ? Is the overarching determinant "Intention" A very rich conversation which will enlighten those who have yet to think more widely and deeply about the topic.
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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • SWEETSPOT SAFARI #16 /|\ fixing and prevention w/Dr Jon Tuppen

    SWEETSPOT SAFARI #16 /|\ fixing and prevention w/Dr Jon Tuppen
    Apr 1 2024
    In this podcast we explore the concept of either fixing or curing and prevention in the context of health service provision with Dr John Tuppen retired General Practitioner. John was an eminent GP with years of practising experience, allowing him to see the evolution of the UK Health Service. John takes a philosophical position and looks at the future options for the services, given the stresses and strains on the system, given factors such as shortage of resourcing, population growth, increased life expectancy, obesity and nutrition challenges. John takes a non-political holistic view demonstrating the need for a radical shift in thinking to meet the changing needs, requiring top minds and objective thinking and data from all sides of the spectrum proposing a significant change in the model that has a chance of sustainability. John's point is that the data from independent reports show that we need to act now in order to stem the tide, such that our health is not as catastrophic as the potential problems of climate change and economic collapse. Any solution will require levels of political and economic collaboration, not seen before. This is an entertaining and thought provoking discussion, which is why it is one of our longest to date.
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    1 hr and 14 mins
  • SWEETSPOT SAFARI #15 /|\ david and goliath w/Paul Hugill MBE

    SWEETSPOT SAFARI #15 /|\ david and goliath w/Paul Hugill MBE
    Mar 4 2024
    In this SweetSpot session we discuss the concepts and attributes of being either a "David" or a "Goliath" with Social Entrepreneur ; Paul Hugill MBE. Paul shares his personal experiences, funny stories and reflections on how he was able to have impact in helping others with certain challenges and his local community in Louth with critical food banks and developing others through employment and experiential learning. He looks at everything from both a David and Goliath perspective, demonstrating it is not one or the other, but what is pertinent to the time and the relevant context. There are many parallels from the biblical story to the modern day and we are reminded on a different day, that Goliath may have won ! There is a clear sweet spot between the tow approaches and we conclude by ruminating on whether these days, David and Goliath would have sat down and had a beer together!
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    58 mins