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James Suzman On A Brief History Of Why We Work – This Week’s Six Pixels of Separation Podcast

Episode #769 of Six Pixels of Separation is now live and ready for you to listen to.

These past few years have seen many fascinating books in the non-fiction and business book genre. Look no further than the archive of podcasts and conversations that have taken place right here. With that, James Suzman‘s latest book, Work – A Deep History, from the Stone Age to the Age of Robots, seems to be the one that has me most excited (and the one I tend to recommend when asked). What Yuval Noah Harari did to explain humanity with Sapiens, James has done the same with work. It’s a book that still rolls around in my mind like a marble (and it will keep you thinking too). James is an anthropologist who first wrote the book, Affluence Without Abundance – The disappearing world of the Bushmen in 2017. James was the first social anthropologist to work in Namibia’s eastern Omaheke among “Southern Ju/’hoansi”, where he exposed the brutal marginalisation of San people who had lost their lands to white cattle ranchers and pastoralist Herero people. James has worked tirelessly to help the communities in Namibia. In 2007, Suzman joined De Beers, where, as global head of public affairs, he developed the company’s award-winning sustainability functions. In 2013 Suzman and Wikipedia‘s Jimmy Wales teamed up with Lily Cole to launch Impossible.com at the Cambridge Union. As we all ponder the future of work, let’s dig deep into how we work and why we work. Enjoy the conversation…

You can grab the latest episode of Six Pixels of Separation here (or feel free to subscribe via iTunes): Six Pixels of Separation #769.

Before you go… if you enjoyed this, please subscribe (all new content arrives in your inbox). It’s easy, it’s free and it’s right here.

SPOS #769 – James Suzman On A Brief History Of Why We Work

Welcome to episode #769 of Six Pixels of Separation.

Here it is: Six Pixels of Separation – Episode #769 – Host: Mitch Joel. These past few years have seen many fascinating books in the non-fiction and business book genre. Look no further than the archive of podcasts and conversations that have taken place right here. With that, James Suzman‘s latest book, Work – A Deep History, from the Stone Age to the Age of Robots, seems to be the one that has me most excited (and the one I tend to recommend when asked). What Yuval Noah Harari did to explain humanity with Sapiens, James has done the same with work. It’s a book that still rolls around in my mind like a marble (and it will keep you thinking too). James is an anthropologist who first wrote the book, Affluence Without Abundance – The disappearing world of the Bushmen in 2017. James was the first social anthropologist to work in Namibia’s eastern Omaheke among “Southern Ju/’hoansi”, where he exposed the brutal marginalisation of San people who had lost their lands to white cattle ranchers and pastoralist Herero people. James has worked tirelessly to help the communities in Namibia. In 2007, Suzman joined De Beers, where, as global head of public affairs, he developed the company’s award-winning sustainability functions. In 2013 Suzman and Wikipedia‘s Jimmy Wales teamed up with Lily Cole to launch Impossible.com at the Cambridge Union. As we all ponder the future of work, let’s dig deep into how we work and why we work. Enjoy the conversation…

Running time: 1:00:08.Hello from beautiful Montreal.Subscribe over at Apple Podcasts.Please visit and leave comments on the blog – Six Pixels of Separation.Feel free to connect to me directly on Facebook here: Mitch Joel on Facebook.or you can connect on LinkedIn.…or on Twitter.Here is my conversation with James Suzman.Work – A Deep History, from the Stone Age to the Age of Robots.Affluence Without Abundance – The disappearing world of the Bushmen.Follow James on Facebook.Follow James on Twitter.This week’s music: David Usher ‘St. Lawrence River’.

Download the Podcast here: Six Pixels of Separation – Episode #769 – Host: Mitch Joel.

Before you go… if you enjoyed this, please subscribe (all new content arrives in your inbox). It’s easy, it’s free and it’s right here.

Six Links Worthy of Your Attention #562

Is there one link, story, picture or thought that you saw online this week that you think somebody you know must see?

My friends: Alistair Croll (Solve for Interesting, Tilt the Windmill, Interesting Bits, HBS, chair of Strata, Startupfest, FWD50, and Scaletechconf; author of Lean Analytics and some other books), Hugh McGuire (Rebus Foundation, PressBooks, LibriVox) and I decided that every week the three of us are going to share one link for one another (for a total of six links) that each individual feels the other person “must see.”

Check out these six links that we’re recommending to one another: 

David Cross – Why America Sucks at Everything – The Gravel Institute – YouTube. “This might not seem like a friendly link, and we might lose readers. But I’m sharing it anyway, in the hopes that people who like our links are curious enough to spend fifteen minutes watching something they might not agree with, but may learn from. There’s a rising tide trying to combat the flood of misinformation, run by The Gravel Institute and others. This short video, narrated by comedian David Cross, is a damning state of the nation that compares the US to other countries along a number of indicators—from taxation, to public health, to education. It’s surprising, and it begs the question: How do progressives get their message in front of a country so polarized that it discounts anything that doesn’t confirm their beliefs?” (Alistair for Hugh). America Isn’t The Greatest Country In The World – The Newsroom – Aaron Sorkin . “Long before Cross, Aaron Sorkin wrote The Newsroom. Just as The West Wing showed us how our better selves might wield the power of the presidency, so this showed how news might best cover modern events. The show’s protagonist, Will McAvoy (played by Jeff Daniels) had given up his idealism for a comfortable job as a national anchor. In the first episode, he finally loses it on stage (you can watch the video). Much of the season is about the consequences of questioning American exceptionalism in a public forum. In a GQ interview, Sorkin picked apart this incendiary speech.” (Alistair for Mitch). Stunning New Image Of Black Hole Reveals Surrounding Magnetic Fields – NPR . “The universe is infinitely strange and delightful, and one of the keys to understanding both the huge (solar scale) and the tiny (quantum level) is the black hole, that strangest of entities where gravity is so strong that particles and light can’t escape and time gets bent. This is a scientist-generated image, with polarized light used to represent the magnetic fields surrounding the lack hole. ‘Bright jets of energy and matter emerge from M87’s core and extend at least 5,000 light-years from its center, according to EHT. Most of the matter lying close to the black hole’s edge falls in, but some of the surrounding particles manage to escape and get blasted far into space in the form of jets, a process that has long intrigued researchers.’ That’s a lot to wrap our brains around.” (Hugh for Alistair).    Quarantine Chat . “Artist Danielle Baskin does projects that remind me of the early, idealistic days of Web 2.0. With fellow-artist Max Hawkins, she’s created Quarantine Chat, an app that lets you ‘simulate the magic of having a surprise conversation with someone—something that is becoming increasingly rare during the times of a viral epidemic.'” (Hugh for Mitch). Dark patterns, the tricks websites use to make you say yes, explained – Vox . “Words matter. Words can be used to manipulate. This is nothing new, and maybe calling this a ‘dark pattern’ is just a new phrase to describe persuasion? Still, marketers are smart. Great copy is smarter. And, by ’smarter,’ I really mean that it’s getting easier and easier to fool everybody all of the time. Don’t believe me? Take a read…” (Mitch for Alistair). Self-compassion is not self-indulgence: here’s how to try it – Psyche . “Not every hobby has to be a side hustle. Not every hobby has to lead to some kind of new skill learned to share on social media. It can be selfish. Imagine, in this day and age welcoming the idea of being selfish or doing something simply because it is very self-indulgent… but it’s not. It’s all about self-compassion. I mess this up and mix this up too often. This article is beautiful and an important reminder… for me, for you… for everyone. When I write, I’m all too often thinking about my audience. Maybe some of my words should just be for me… because it sparks joy… real joy.” (Mitch for Hugh).

Feel free to share these links and add your picks on Twitter, Facebook, in the comments below or wherever you play.

Are you interested in what’s next? How to decode the future? I publish between 2-3 times per week and then the Six Pixels of Separation Podcast comes out every Sunday. Feel free to subscribe (and tell your friends ;): 

George Porter Jr. On This Month’s Groove – The No Treble Podcast

George Porter Jr. is this month’s conversation on Groove – The No Treble Podcast.

You can listen the new episode right here: Groove – The No Treble Podcast – Episode #76 – George Porter Jr.

Who is George Porter Jr. ?

George Porter Jr. is the legendary bassist (and singer) of the famed band, The Meters. This band, along with Art Neville, was formed in the mid 1960s, and truly pushed forward the genre of funk. While the band disbanded in the late seventies (but reformed in 1989), George Porter Jr. pushed on with his own group, Runnin’ Pardners, The Trio, New Orleans Social Club, and many more. Along with that, he has performed and recorded with such an incredible array of artists from Paul McCartney, Robbie Robertson, Robert Palmer to Patti Labelle, David Byrne, Earl King, Tori Amos and beyond. As if this were not enough, in 2018, Porter sat in with Dead & Company and continues to push the limits with his latest album, Crying For Hope. You name it, Porter can crush it as he mixes rock, funk, R&B and more to become one of the industry’s most elite bass players. There’s nothing stopping George Porter Jr. Just take a listen to his new album, and enjoy the conversation….

What is Groove – The No Treble Podcast?

This is an ambitious effort. This will be a fascinating conversation. Our goal at Groove is to build the largest oral history of bass players. Why Groove? Most of the content about the bass revolves around gear, playing techniques, and more technical chatter. For us, bassists are creative artists with stories to tell. They are a force to be reckon with. These are the stories and conversation that we will capture. To create this oral history of why these artists chose the bass, what their creative lives are like, and where inspiration can be found.

Listen in:  Groove – The No Treble Podcast – Episode #76 – George Porter Jr.

Are you interested in what’s next? How to decode the future? I publish between 2-3 times per week and then the Six Pixels of Separation Podcast comes out every Sunday. Feel free to subscribe (and tell your friends ;). 

Bestselling Books By Algorithms – Tech Tuesday In Two Minutes

What kind of books do you like? What if an algorithm knows better than you do?

This Wall Street Journal article captured my attention: Goodnight Ninja? Knuffle Blobfish? Children’s Books Get the Algorithm Treatment.
In short: there is a digital reading platform for kids called Epic (not the founders of Fortnite) that is now using its own data to create and publish books.
Want to write a kids book about book about crocodiles or bugs?
Go with bugs (that’s what more kids prefer).

How do you feel about kids readings habits, searches, and time spent on books being used to create bestsellers?

Some parents might not like this kind of tracking.
Some parents might love this kind of tracking (or: Whatever it takes to get the kids reading some more).

Kick this stone just a bit further down the road…

Will machine learning and artificial intelligence be able to take this data and – without the need of an author – be able to write the actual books as well?
From the article:

“A chaotic time-traveling owl named Hoot is at the center of the new children’s book, Time Buddies, which is now breaking records on the online reading platform Epic. The digital comic book passed one million reads in its first five days last week. Epic predicted as much. It engineered the book to become a hit with kids ages 6 to 10 by basing its new owl heroine partly on children’s preferences and reading habits on the site. When a kid’s sticky fingers search for something to read, Epic captures that activity and feeds the information into its book recommendation engine—a tool that also informs the creation of new titles in-house.”

Wasn’t Amazon doing something similar?

I do remember Amazon offering famed authors advances and publishing deals, because they had the data to support and out-bid traditional book publishers.
I do remember there being buzz that the same Amazon publishing division also knew which kind of books, titles, topics, and storylines most attracted readers as well.

This changes the book publishing business, doesn’t it?

This is what Heather Backman and I discussed this morning over on Jack 103 FM for a couple of minutes.

What is Tech Tuesday?

If you ever find yourself wondering… What, exactly, is the point of TikTok? How can I make myself look better on a Zoom? Reddit? What’s that about? How do I help my kids be safer online? Who’s the latest creator and streamer that I should be checking out?

You are not alone.

Every Tuesday – for just a few minutes – I join Heather Backman (my old buddy from her days on CHOM FM) on the air at Jack 103 (Rogers Sports & Media) to give a quick blast about the current state of technology, media and Internet culture. We’re calling the segment Tech Tuesday (and we do it in just a few minutes).

Mitch Joel · Tech Tuesday – Jack 104 FM – Bestselling Books By Algorithms – March 30th, 2021

Subscribe to get it free in your inbox right here.

Once the segment goes live on Jack 103, I will post it here for you to listen in, learn, share and engage….

80% Of Workers Don’t Want To Go Back To The Office And More On CHOM 97.7 FM

Every Monday morning at 7:10 am, I am on air at CHOM 97.7 FM radio out of Montreal (home base). It’s not a long segment – about 10 minutes every week – to decode the future. We discuss everything that is happening in the world of technology, digital media and culture. The good folks at CHOM 97.7 FM are posting these segments weekly on i Heart Radio, if you’re interested in hearing more about what’s happening in the transformation of our digital world. I’m really excited about these weekly hits, because this is the radio station that I grew up listening to, and it really is a fun treat to be invited to the Mornings Rock with Terry DiMonte morning show. The segment is called, CTRL ALT Delete with Mitch Joel.

This week we discussed:

As the vaccines and therapeutics roll out, we’re seeing some fascinating (and maybe scary) statistics come to bear. This might not shock you, but parents with kids at home are more likely to want to return to office life, according to a study by Harvard Business School. But, in the same study: Over 80% of workers don’t want to go back to the office full time. One in three felt that their overall performance and quality of work was better than the year prior. What do I see? A massive chasm between entrepreneurs, executives and management in relation to how the employees feel. This will cause a lot of friction and changes for work spaces.Further to our desire to not return to the office like we did before the pandemic, The Guardian reported that call center staff (and maybe other businesses with remote workers) will begin to be monitored via webcam for home-working “infractions.” How would you feel about management watching you? Montrealer, William Shatner, turned 90 this past week (Happy Birthday to Captain Kirk!). Speaking of Star Trek, a company called StoryFile, will use AI (and hours of interview footage with Shatner) so that future generations can have a “conversation” with him. Moist frontman, David Usher, has an even more advanced company called, Remagine AI, that’s doing some incredible programming as well (full disclosure: I am advisor to David’s company). Once this technology gets democratized, imagine being able to have a chat with a parent long after they’re gone.App of the Week: Jazz Keys – Write whatever you like and then listen to your typing/writing converted into a jazz tune.

You can also listen in via I Heart Radio. 

Mitch Joel · CTRL ALT Delete – CHOM 97.7 FM – March 29th, 2021

Before you go… if you enjoyed this, please subscribe (all new content arrives in your inbox). It’s easy, it’s free and it’s right here.

Victoria Labalme On Risking Forward – This Week’s Six Pixels of Separation Podcast

Episode #768 of Six Pixels of Separation is now live and ready for you to listen to.

My friend and fellow speaker, Victoria Labalme, is a performing artist, performance coach, documentarian (her film, Muppet Guys Talking, is amazing), and author. She’s performed for over two decades in film, TV, Broadway and comedy clubs. From there, she realized that helping people awaken their hidden genius and perform at their highest levels was her jam. Melding her skills gathered from the stage and comedy, she’s help many distinguish their brand and find competitive advantage by blending art and business. She is in the Speaker Hall of Fame, creator of the Rock The Room program, and most recently published a small (but powerful) book titled, Risk Forward – Embrace The Unknown And Unlock Your Hidden Genius. In short, if you’re not one of the few people in life who know exactly what they want to achieve, then this book is for you. Enjoy the conversation…

You can grab the latest episode of Six Pixels of Separation here (or feel free to subscribe via iTunes): Six Pixels of Separation #768.

Before you go… if you enjoyed this, please subscribe (all new content arrives in your inbox). It’s easy, it’s free and it’s right here.

SPOS #768 – Victoria Labalme On Risking Forward

Welcome to episode #768 of Six Pixels of Separation.

Here it is: Six Pixels of Separation – Episode #768 – Host: Mitch Joel. My friend and fellow speaker, Victoria Labalme, is a performing artist, performance coach, documentarian (her film, Muppet Guys Talking, is amazing), and author. She’s performed for over two decades in film, TV, Broadway and comedy clubs. From there, she realized that helping people awaken their hidden genius and perform at their highest levels was her jam. Melding her skills gathered from the stage and comedy, she’s help many distinguish their brand and find competitive advantage by blending art and business. She is in the Speaker Hall of Fame, creator of the Rock The Room program, and most recently published a small (but powerful) book titled, Risk Forward – Embrace The Unknown And Unlock Your Hidden Genius. In short, if you’re not one of the few people in life who know exactly what they want to achieve, then this book is for you. Enjoy the conversation…

Running time: 50:46.Hello from beautiful Montreal.Subscribe over at Apple Podcasts.Please visit and leave comments on the blog – Six Pixels of Separation.Feel free to connect to me directly on Facebook here: Mitch Joel on Facebook.or you can connect on LinkedIn.…or on Twitter.Here is my conversation with Victoria Labalme.Risk Forward – Embrace The Unknown And Unlock Your Hidden Genius.Rock The Room.Muppet Guys Talking.Check out Victoria’s Blog.Follow Victoria on LinkedIn.Follow Victoria on Instagram.Follow Victoria on Twitter.This week’s music: David Usher ‘St. Lawrence River’.

Download the Podcast here: Six Pixels of Separation – Episode #768 – Host: Mitch Joel.

Before you go… if you enjoyed this, please subscribe (all new content arrives in your inbox). It’s easy, it’s free and it’s right here.

Six Links Worthy of Your Attention #561

Is there one link, story, picture or thought that you saw online this week that you think somebody you know must see?

My friends: Alistair Croll (Solve for Interesting, Tilt the Windmill, Interesting Bits, HBS, chair of Strata, Startupfest, FWD50, and Scaletechconf; author of Lean Analytics and some other books), Hugh McGuire (Rebus Foundation, PressBooks, LibriVox) and I decided that every week the three of us are going to share one link for one another (for a total of six links) that each individual feels the other person “must see.”

Check out these six links that we’re recommending to one another: 

The Great Dead End – Quentin Hardy – Long Now Foundation – YouTube. “Quentin Hardy is a career journalist who now works with Google on their cloud computing content. He’s also part of the Long Now Foundation, a group that tries to consider world events on a broader timeframe. Here’s a talk he gave on the history of Sienna, Italy, and what it can tell us about the downstream cultural impact of plagues and pandemics.” (Alistair for Hugh).
Music, Makers & Machines – A brief history of electronic music – Google Arts & Culture . “An incredible multimedia site on the history and tech behind electronic music. I lost hours on it, and you should too (even though you prefer analog strings to digital ones!).” (Alistair for Mitch). How to Dislodge a 200,000-Ton Ship From a Canal Wall – Bloomberg . “Somehow a giant ship getting stuck in the Suez Canal (which is the maritime route that connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian and Pacific Oceans) seems appropriate for our times. Here’s how they might get it out.” (Hugh for Alistair). The Strange Reason You’ll Always Weigh Less in Canada Than Anywhere Else – Conde Nast Traveler . “Whenever I return to Canada from abroad, I always feel my step gets a little bit lighter, heavy bags not so heavy, gravity just seems a little less grave. Here’s why.” (Hugh for Alistair). ‘I stubbornly didn’t die’: Canadian tech investor John Ruffolo’s recovery from near-fatal accident – BNN Bloomberg . “I’ve had the pleasure of knowing venture capitalist (and proud Canadian), John Ruffolo, for many years (we met through a mutual friend, attended events together, and both sit on the advisory board for Canada’s Top 40 Under 40). The news of his bike accident shook many in the community to our core. A cycling accident that nearly killed him, and has left him paralyzed from the waist down. This is his story along with an incredible interview. John was always someone to respect and admire. His persistence, resilience and drive is palpable. While his journey and recovery continues, he is an inspiration. We’re lucky to have him in our world.” (Mitch for Alistair).  Daniel Kahneman Doesn’t Trust Your Intuition – Taken For Granted Podcast . “During one of my morning walks through the summit woods, I listened to this lovely conversation between host, Adam Grant, and Nobel Prize winner, Daniel Kahneman… and what a treat it was. A real moment of brilliance, insight, and true debate about our decisions and how we think. I didn’t want the walk to end. It’s about how our biases can cloud our thinking, and where trust and intuition come into play. Trust me, you (and everyone that you know) should take a listen to this…” (Mitch for Hugh). 

Feel free to share these links and add your picks on Twitter, Facebook, in the comments below or wherever you play.

Are you interested in what’s next? How to decode the future? I publish between 2-3 times per week and then the Six Pixels of Separation Podcast comes out every Sunday. Feel free to subscribe (and tell your friends ;): 

Facebook Inside Your Brain – Tech Tuesday In Two Minutes

How do you feel about Facebook knowing what’s going on inside your brain?

In the news this week: Facebook is working on wristbands that let you control a computer with your mind.
Step aside, Star Trek… we’re almost ready for life to become more science than science fiction.
Facebook’s Reality Labs, which has been studying the world of augmented reality and virtual reality, can grab your brain’s signals and use them to control computers.

WUT?

This is the deal: These wristbands use sensors to grab your electrical motor nerve signals and turn them into digital commands.
So long mouse… clicking… swiping… and, well… all that jazz.
Facebook says it’s not reading your mind.
This technology doesn’t know what you’re thinking, but it knows what you’re trying to get your hands to do.

Would you let Facebook inside your brain?

This is what Heather Backman and I discussed this morning over on Jack 103 FM for a couple of minutes.

What is Tech Tuesday?

If you ever find yourself wondering… What, exactly, is the point of TikTok? How can I make myself look better on a Zoom? Reddit? What’s that about? How do I help my kids be safer online? Who’s the latest creator and streamer that I should be checking out?

You are not alone.

Every Tuesday – for just a few minutes – I join Heather Backman (my old buddy from her days on CHOM FM) on the air at Jack 103 (Rogers Sports & Media) to give a quick blast about the current state of technology, media and Internet culture. We’re calling the segment Tech Tuesday (and we do it in just a few minutes).

Mitch Joel · Tech Tuesday – Jack 103 FM – Facebook Inside Your Brain – March 23rd, 2021

Subscribe to get it free in your inbox right here.

Once the segment goes live on Jack 103, I will post it here for you to listen in, learn, share and engage….