Mitch Joel's Blog: Six Pixels of Separation, page 18

Tom Chatfield On How Tech Has Made Us What We Are – This Week’s Six Pixels of Separation Podcast

Episode #972 of Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast is now live and ready for you to listen to:

Dr. Tom Chatfield is one of those rare thinkers who seamlessly blends philosophy, technology, and human experience, making sense of the rapidly evolving digital landscape. As an author, tech philosopher, and educator, his work – including his latest book, Wise Animals – How Technology Has Made Us What We Are – explores how humans and technology have co-evolved over thousands of years, shaping not only how we work and communicate but how we think and perceive the world. Tom is also the author of How To Think, This Is Gomorrah, Critical Thinking and many others. In this conversation, Tom challenges the conventional narrative that technology is either a savior or a threat, arguing instead that it is deeply intertwined with who we are as a species. We explore the biases embedded in our digital tools, the generational shifts in how technology is understood, and the ethical dilemmas posed by AI’s increasing influence on work, productivity, and decision-making. Tom also shared why soft skills – like empathy, collaboration, and critical thinking – are becoming more valuable than ever in an age where AI can replicate knowledge-based tasks but struggles with human connection. He reflected on the growing skepticism toward experts, the rising noise in legal and regulatory environments, and the fundamental need for doubt and self-awareness in how we design and interact with intelligent systems. Thought-provoking, insightful, and refreshingly nuanced, this conversation is for anyone who wants to engage with technology more thoughtfully, rather than passively accepting or fearing it. Enjoy the conversation…

You can grab the latest episode of Six Pixels of Separation here (or feel free to subscribe via Apple Podcast or whatever platform you may choose):  #972 – Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast.

Before you go… ThinkersOne  is a new way for organizations to buy bite-sized and personalized thought leadership video content (live and recorded) from the best Thinkers in the world. If you’re looking to add excitement and big smarts to your meetings, corporate events, company off-sites, “lunch & learns” and beyond,check it out.

SPOS #972 – Tom Chatfield On How Tech Has Made Us What We Are

Welcome to episode #972 of Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast.

Dr. Tom Chatfield is one of those rare thinkers who seamlessly blends philosophy, technology, and human experience, making sense of the rapidly evolving digital landscape. As an author, tech philosopher, and educator, his work – including his latest book, Wise Animals – How Technology Has Made Us What We Are – explores how humans and technology have co-evolved over thousands of years, shaping not only how we work and communicate but how we think and perceive the world. Tom is also the author of How To Think, This Is Gomorrah, Critical Thinking and many others. In this conversation, Tom challenges the conventional narrative that technology is either a savior or a threat, arguing instead that it is deeply intertwined with who we are as a species. We explore the biases embedded in our digital tools, the generational shifts in how technology is understood, and the ethical dilemmas posed by AI’s increasing influence on work, productivity, and decision-making. Tom also shared why soft skills – like empathy, collaboration, and critical thinking – are becoming more valuable than ever in an age where AI can replicate knowledge-based tasks but struggles with human connection. He reflected on the growing skepticism toward experts, the rising noise in legal and regulatory environments, and the fundamental need for doubt and self-awareness in how we design and interact with intelligent systems. Thought-provoking, insightful, and refreshingly nuanced, this conversation is for anyone who wants to engage with technology more thoughtfully, rather than passively accepting or fearing it. Enjoy the conversation…

Running time: 1:06:50.Hello from beautiful Montreal.Listen and subscribe over at Apple Podcasts.Listen and subscribe over at Spotify.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.Check out ThinkersOne.or you can connect on LinkedIn.…or on Twitter.Here is my conversation with Dr. Tom Chatfield.Wise Animals – How Technology Has Made Us What We Are.How To Think.This Is Gomorrah.Critical Thinking.Follow Tom on Substack.Follow Tom on X.Follow Tom on LinkedIn.This week’s music: David Usher ‘St. Lawrence River’.

Chapters:

(00:00) – Introduction to Technology Philosophy.
(02:58) – The Role of Technology in Human Experience.
(06:10) – Generational Perspectives on Technology.
(08:54) – The Impact of AI on Work and Productivity.
(11:57) – The Evolution of Human Interaction with AI.
(15:05) – The Future of Work in an AI-Driven World.
(17:48) – The Ethics of AI and Human Value.
(20:49) – Navigating the Divide in Access to Technology.
(23:49) – The Devaluation of Knowledge Work.
(30:51) – The Impact of AI on Knowledge Work.
(35:40) – The Value of Human Connection in a Tech-Driven World.
(41:45) – Rethinking Professional Education and Skills.
(48:08) – Philosophical Perspectives on AI and Technology.
(57:28) – Co-evolution with Technology and the Future of Knowledge.

Download the Podcast here: Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast – Episode #972.

Before you go… ThinkersOne  is a new way for organizations to buy bite-sized and personalized thought leadership video content (live and recorded) from the best Thinkers in the world. If you’re looking to add excitement and big smarts to your meetings, corporate events, company off-sites, “lunch & learns” and beyond, check it out.

Six Links That Make You Think #765

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 (Just Evil Enough, 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:

Take All Unreasonable Measures – Jordan Furlong – Substack. “This week, I decided to give ChatGPT‘s reasoning and research model a try. I sent it off on a task to script a narrative arc for a series of events, find data for each event’s introduction, and recommend panelists. It did very, very well. In seven minutes and twenty-nine seconds, it produced a quality of work I would have expected an experienced employee to complete in a week. Worse (for me), the topics and panelists were spot on. I knew half of them personally, and had already been thinking about it. In this post by Canadian lawyer Jordan Furlong, he urges lawyers – a class of professionals literally trained to make reasonable arguments – to start being unreasonable. Ostensibly about the impact of AI on law, it’s also about the dismantling of democracy.” (Alistair for Hugh). I Made An Evolution Simulator (With Silly Little Guys) – Icoso – YouTube . “This is some amazing education. The calibre of science explainer content is just so damned good these days, it surely outperforms what most teachers can do in class. A decade or so ago I gave a talk at Bitnorth about flipping the classroom, making the point that we should do homework at school (actually doing the work in the classroom) and listening to the teaching at home (the best science teacher is unlikely to be the one in your home town). That’s only gotten more true – and with personalized agents that can walk a student through problem solving at whatever level works, it feels increasingly wrong not to be overhauling education in its entirety. Watch this video and you’ll know more about evolutionary biology than almost anyone.” (Alistair for Mitch). The Hardest Working Font In Manhattan – Marcin Wichary – Aresluna . “I can’t remember who is the bigger font nerd, Alistair or Mitch, but this is a deep, DEEP dive into what I might call the ‘old elevator button font’, which, it turns out is everywhere in Manhattan, and probably in your city too.” (Hugh for Alistair). Men Actually Crave Romantic Relationships More Than Women Do – Clarissa Brincat – Scientific American . “I’ve been fascinated (not in a good way) with the data about the degree that boys, and young men are struggling in North America. Suicide rates 4x young women, 60% of college students are women, 10% decline in workfroce participation etc etc. Here’s another maybe counterintuitive study: men want and need romantic relationships more than women. Surprising or not? I can’t decide.” (Hugh for Mitch). Just Evil Enough – The Subversive Marketing Handbook – Alistair Croll & Emily Ross . “Earlier this week, many of Alistair’s friends and colleagues gathered at a beautiful venue in downtown Montreal (Le 9e) to celebrate the launch of his new book, Just Evil Enough – The Subversive Marketing Handbook. So, I thought I would divert from my usual sharing of a link that I know Alistair might enjoy and simply gush over how great the book is… how smart Alistair is… and, most importantly, implore you to buy this book… read this book… and do something serious with your business because of the gems and insights that Alistair and his co-author (Emily Ross) have generously offered up within the pages. It was so great to see so many people, listen to Alistair’s thoughts on the book and to cheer him on. Looking for reasons to why your marketing and growth might be stalling? This book will show you how overcome just that… it’s great read!” (Mitch for Alistair). The Secret Weapons Of Marketing Psychology – Rory Sutherland – Chris Williamson – Modern Wisdom – YouTube . “I was looking for something interesting to pair with the launch of Alistair’s wonderful new book, and when you ask the Internet Gods to deliver… the algorithm frequently does. Here is another personal brain crush I have… it’s advertising legend Rory Sutherland… whom I have featured here before… and he even blurbbed Alistair’s new book (note to self: Get Rory on Six Pixels of Separation!). Here is two hours of fresh, smart goodness around the state of business but, more importantly, a peek into how consumers think, what makes them buy and how marketers make it work in their favor…” (Mitch for Hugh).

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

Before you go… ThinkersOne  is a new way for organizations to buy bite-sized and personalized thought leadership video content (live and recorded) from the best Thinkers in the world. If you’re looking to add excitement  and big smarts to your meetings, corporate events, company off-sites, “lunch & learns” and beyond, check it out.

Grace Between Gates – Embracing Calm During Travel Chaos

A personal story of finding grace in the chaos and really feeling lucky when things go upside down.

I’ve been on my fair share of delayed/cancelled flights.
I’ve spent hours at airports all over the world, pacing from one gate to another, watching the departure board turn into a list of disappointments.

But this past week? This was something else.

Toronto Pearson was a mess.
Flights were backed up for hours because of two record-snow storms.
Many more were cancelled.
People were stranded, exhausted, frustrated.
And I was right there in the middle of it (heading from my home, in Montreal, to San Diego for MMT)… And felt a sense of peace compared to what others were going through.

From cancelled flights and delay to then learning that a Delta flight from Minneapolis had crashed upon landing.

The plane flipped upside down on the tarmac.
Fire. Smoke. Emergency crews racing to the scene.
Somehow, everyone (thankfully) survived.
And the impact on the airport was immediate.
Many runways shut down.
All planes returned to the gate and had the passengers deplaned.
All inbound flights were diverted (or cancelled).
Flights delayed even further.
Many more were cancelled.
Even leaving the airport wasn’t easy… all hotels, car rentals, taxi lines and more encountered snaking lines with hundreds of people trying to figure it all out.

You start to realize how fragile air travel is when not dealing with two massive challenges (the crash and the storm)… and then something like this happens.

A single runway closure sends ripple effects across the system.
A delay in one city means a missed connection in another.
And when the industry is already running at full capacity, there’s no room for error.

It was a perfect storm of everything that could go wrong.

But there’s much more to this story… including a 30 hour-plus no sleep personal experience that never ended in San Diego at MMT, but back home… and not everyone was so lucky or feeling so thankful.

This is what Elias Makos and I discussed on CJAD 800 AM. Listen in right here.

Mitch Joel · Grace Between Gates – Embracing Calm During Travel Chaos

Before you go… ThinkersOne is a new way for organizations to buy bite-sized and personalized thought leadership video content (live and recorded) from the best Thinkers in the world. If you’re looking to add excitement and big smarts to your meetings, corporate events, company off-sites, “lunch & learns” and beyond, check it out.

Deborah Perry Piscione On Revolutionizing The Way We Work – This Week’s Six Pixels of Separation Podcast

Episode #971 of Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast is now live and ready for you to listen to:

Deborah Perry Piscione is no stranger to transformation. As the co-founder and CEO of the Work3 Institute, a thought leader in AI and Web3, and an author, she has spent her career helping organizations navigate the future of business. In our conversation, we explore the bold premise of her latest book, Employment Is Dead – How Disruptive Technologies Are Revolutionizing The Way We Work (with co-author, Josh Drean), which challenges traditional employment models and highlights how AI, automation, and decentralized work are reshaping careers. Deborah, who previously dissected the innovation culture of Silicon Valley in her book, Secrets of Silicon Valley, explains how the workplace power dynamic is shifting, with employees demanding flexibility, purpose, and autonomy. We discuss the evolving gig economy, the rise of portfolio careers, and how younger generations are rejecting outdated corporate structures in favor of more meaningful work. She also shares her insights on the metaverse’s slow but steady evolution, the disruptive potential of cryptocurrency, and the challenges of building engagement in a workforce that increasingly prioritizes social currency over traditional career paths. With businesses on the cusp of a seismic shift, Deborah offers a compelling argument for rethinking work – not as a fixed structure, but as an adaptable, technology-driven ecosystem. If you’ve ever wondered what the future of work really looks like, this episode is one you won’t want to miss. Enjoy the conversation…

You can grab the latest episode of Six Pixels of Separation here (or feel free to subscribe via Apple Podcast or whatever platform you may choose):  #971 – Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast.

Before you go… ThinkersOne  is a new way for organizations to buy bite-sized and personalized thought leadership video content (live and recorded) from the best Thinkers in the world. If you’re looking to add excitement and big smarts to your meetings, corporate events, company off-sites, “lunch & learns” and beyond,check it out.

SPOS #971 – Deborah Perry Piscione On Revolutionizing The Way We Work

Welcome to episode #971 of Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast.

Deborah Perry Piscione is no stranger to transformation. As the co-founder and CEO of the Work3 Institute, a thought leader in AI and Web3, and an author, she has spent her career helping organizations navigate the future of business. In our conversation, we explore the bold premise of her latest book, Employment Is Dead – How Disruptive Technologies Are Revolutionizing The Way We Work (with co-author, Josh Drean), which challenges traditional employment models and highlights how AI, automation, and decentralized work are reshaping careers. Deborah, who previously dissected the innovation culture of Silicon Valley in her book, Secrets of Silicon Valley, explains how the workplace power dynamic is shifting, with employees demanding flexibility, purpose, and autonomy. We discuss the evolving gig economy, the rise of portfolio careers, and how younger generations are rejecting outdated corporate structures in favor of more meaningful work. She also shares her insights on the metaverse’s slow but steady evolution, the disruptive potential of cryptocurrency, and the challenges of building engagement in a workforce that increasingly prioritizes social currency over traditional career paths. With businesses on the cusp of a seismic shift, Deborah offers a compelling argument for rethinking work – not as a fixed structure, but as an adaptable, technology-driven ecosystem. If you’ve ever wondered what the future of work really looks like, this episode is one you won’t want to miss. Enjoy the conversation…

Running time: 1:01:24.Hello from beautiful Montreal.Listen and subscribe over at Apple Podcasts.Listen and subscribe over at Spotify.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.Check out ThinkersOne.or you can connect on LinkedIn.…or on Twitter.Here is my conversation with Deborah Perry Piscione.Employment Is Dead – How Disruptive Technologies Are Revolutionizing The Way We Work.Secrets of Silicon Valley.Work3 Institute.Josh Drean.Follow Deborah on LinkedIn.This week’s music: David Usher ‘St. Lawrence River’.

Chapters:

(00:00) – The Future of Work and Decentralized Careers.
(03:04) – Shifting Power Dynamics in the Workplace.
(05:54) – The Gig Economy: Opportunities and Challenges.
(08:56) – Generational Shifts and the Role of Technology.
(11:51) – The Impact of Automation and AI on Employment.
(14:48) – The Metaverse: Current State and Future Potential.
(32:16) – Exploring the Metaverse and Its Applications.
(33:45) – Engagement in the Workplace: A Crisis of Meaning.
(34:55) – Work-Life Fusion: Rethinking Success.
(37:41) – Navigating Career Paths and Expectations.
(40:36) – Community as Currency: Shifting Values in Work.
(43:45) – The Promise and Perils of Cryptocurrency.
(46:52) – Checks and Balances in Technology and Society.
(51:48) – The Future of Work: DAOs and Education Reform.

Download the Podcast here: Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast – Episode #971.

Before you go… ThinkersOne  is a new way for organizations to buy bite-sized and personalized thought leadership video content (live and recorded) from the best Thinkers in the world. If you’re looking to add excitement and big smarts to your meetings, corporate events, company off-sites, “lunch & learns” and beyond, check it out.

Six Links That Make You Think #764

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 (Just Evil Enough, 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:

When Do Parties Lie? Misinformation and Radical-Right Populism Across 26 Countries – Petter Tornberg & Juliana Chueri – Sage Journals. “If your first reaction to this is ‘this is biased, liberal reporting,’ you’re sorta proving the point. Researchers analyzed 32 million tweets from 8,198 elected politicians across 26 countries between 2017 and 2022. They wanted to find out how often political parties lie, and if there are any factors that strongly predict whether someone will share misinformation. Spoiler alert: Radical-right populism is the strongest predictor that someone will misinform. What I was not expecting is that ‘populism, left-wing populism, and right-wing politics are not linked to the spread of misinformation.'” (Alistair for Hugh). Heat Vision And Jack – Funkhous – YouTube . “Nobody really expects a cancelled pilot to get distribution. But when distribution is free, and that pilot stars Jack Black, Owen Wilson – and other celebs like Christine Taylor and Vincent Schiavelli; was directed by Ben Stiller; and was written by Dan Harmon (Rick and Morty) and Rob Schrab (Scud), maybe you want to see it. And when you hear that Wilson plays a motorcycle, you know you do. This is absolutely bonkers and also what the Internet is for.” (Alistair for Mitch). The ‘20-5-3’ Rule Prescribes How Much Time You Should Spend Outside – Michael Easter – Prevention . “I think this one is for Alistair, since we’ve had a few exchanges about our various efforts to disconnect. You probably don’t need to read the whole article, I’ll summarize for you: Research suggests that the following is good for you: Go outside to a park for at least 20 minutes x 3 times a week. Get some proper nature (e.g. provincial park) at least 5 hours per month. Spend at least 3 days a year (sounds waaay too low to me) completely disconnected from digital. Go: Camping, cabining, sailing, hiking etc. Basically: Stop watching TV and go outside and play!” (Hugh for Alistair).   The Joy Of Clutter – Matt Alt – Aeon . “It’s hard to keep up with which Japanese cultural wisdom we’re supposed to be embracing right now, but we (you especially!) should do it right now! There was a time when we all Marie Kondo‘d the heck out of our lives, but it turns out that Kondo doesn’t have a monopoly on what our closets should look like. If minimalism isn’t bringing you joy, try the precise art of Japanese clutter.” (Hugh for Mitch). Brandon Sanderson – Building A Fiction Empire, $40M+ Kickstarter Campaigns, And Unbreakable Habits – Tim Ferriss – YouTube . “You don’t have to like Science Fiction and Fantasy novels to really appreciate this very expansive conversation with Brandon Sanderson (potentially, the most prolific writer of our time). Tim Ferriss goes deep here (as one would hope), and to listen to Brandon talk about everything from his writing habits to his writing inspiration to his fan engagement to how he thinks about his readers and, in turn, how he operates his business is a sight to behold. Three hours long? Yes… and worth every minute of it… inspiring…” (Mitch for Alistair). Joe Rogan Isn’t A Podcast – Steve Pratt – The Creativity Business . “The semantic debate over ‘what is a book?’ or ‘what is a podcast?’ may have less to do with technical definitions and more to do with how we can tell better stories and where those stories are best distributed. Get beyond the title of this article and dig in, because it’s a great thought experiment about content, media and audience. Steve Pratt has always been a smart human that I enjoy following, and this article is a fascinating perspective on the growth of TV online and why we call those productions a podcast…” (Mitch for Hugh).

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

Before you go… ThinkersOne  is a new way for organizations to buy bite-sized and personalized thought leadership video content (live and recorded) from the best Thinkers in the world. If you’re looking to add excitement  and big smarts to your meetings, corporate events, company off-sites, “lunch & learns” and beyond, check it out.

The AI Summit – Where Tech Titans And World Leaders Play King Of The Hill

Artificial intelligence has always been a battleground.

But this week in Paris, at the AI Action Summit, the fight was not about safety or regulation – it was about money, power, and who gets to lead the future.
For years, AI summits have been dominated by existential concerns.
Will AI take our jobs?
Will it surpass human intelligence?
Will it destroy us?
This summit landed different.
Leaders weren’t here to wring their hands over what-ifs or safety concerns.
They were here to stake their claim.

The numbers are staggering.

France alone announced over $112 billion in private investment for its AI ecosystem.
The European Union is pushing for a €200 billion AI strategy.
And then there’s America, where Trump 2.0’s administration has unleashed the $500 billion Stargate fund, ensuring that the U.S. remains the dominant force in AI infrastructure.
Vice President JD Vance made it clear: The United States is not backing down.
In his speech, he railed against Europe’s AI regulations, calling them excessive and dangerous to innovation.
His message?
America will lead, and deregulation will be the fuel that drives its dominance.

But here’s where things get complicated.

The United States and Britain refused to sign a statement from the summit pledging an “open, inclusive, and ethical” approach to AI.
This wasn’t just a bureaucratic snub – it was a signal.
The focus has shifted from guardrails to growth, from concerns about AI’s dangers to the reality that whoever builds the best AI wins.
And while governments are opening the money cannon, the private sector is moving even faster.
OpenAI, backed by Microsoft, is surging ahead.
Meta is scrambling to keep up with Llama 4.
And Chinese AI companies – like DeepSeek – are proving that cutting-edge AI doesn’t have to be expensive, raising serious questions about how long America’s lead will last.
In private meetings, leaders weren’t debating ethics.
They were asking: How can we build more data centers? How do we get the best talent? How do we own the next wave of AI?

For Canada, the future looks more uncertain.

The country has long been a powerhouse for AI research – think Waterloo, think MILA, think Yoshua Bengio.
But where does that talent go?
To the U.S. or Europe.
Where do Canadian entrepreneurs build?
And who buys them out?
The answer, more often than not, is an American company.

This AI race is accelerating, and countries that aren’t sprinting are already getting left behind.

The AI Action Summit in Paris wasn’t just a conference.
It was a declaration of intent.
Governments and investors are pouring billions into AI’s future.
But as the money flows, one question lingers:
Are we creating a technology that serves humanity, or are we just fighting to see who gets to own it?

The race is on.

This is what Elias Makos and I discussed on CJAD 800 AM. Listen in right here.

Mitch Joel · The AI Summit – Where Tech Titans And World Leaders Play King Of The Hill

Before you go… ThinkersOne is a new way for organizations to buy bite-sized and personalized thought leadership video content (live and recorded) from the best Thinkers in the world. If you’re looking to add excitement and big smarts to your meetings, corporate events, company off-sites, “lunch & learns” and beyond, check it out.

Rohit Bhargava On Non-Obvious Thinking – This Week’s Six Pixels of Separation Podcast

Episode #970 of Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast is now live and ready for you to listen to:

Rohit Bhargava isn’t just a brilliant thinker, entrepreneur and bestselling author – he’s also a close friend who has been a regular guest on this podcast for over fifteen years. Every time we talk, he brings fresh, non-obvious insights that challenge how we see the world. His latest book, Non-Obvious Thinking – How To See What Others Miss, continues this tradition, offering a four-step framework to help people become more observant, uncover insights, and think in a way that stands out. In this conversation, we explore how this mindset applies not just to creativity but also to the ever-changing landscape of publishing and business books. As the founder of Idea Press, Rohit has redefined what it means to be an author, building a hybrid publishing model that gives writers more control, better royalties, and an alternative to traditional publishing. We talked about the increasing volume of business books, the challenge of maintaining quality, and how shorter, more engaging formats are shaping the future of reading. Rohit also shared his perspective on book marketing in a saturated world, the role of curation in cutting through noise, and the importance of managing attention in an age of constant distraction. Beyond publishing, we dove into the broader theme of Non-Obvious Thinking – why we need to be open-minded, embrace different perspectives, and push back against the confirmation bias that dominates so much of modern discourse. It’s always a pleasure catching up with Rohit, and this podcast is no exception. If you’re looking for smarter ways to navigate business, creativity, and the way you absorb information, this one’s for you. Enjoy the conversation…

You can grab the latest episode of Six Pixels of Separation here (or feel free to subscribe via Apple Podcast or whatever platform you may choose):  #970 – Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast.

Before you go… ThinkersOne  is a new way for organizations to buy bite-sized and personalized thought leadership video content (live and recorded) from the best Thinkers in the world. If you’re looking to add excitement and big smarts to your meetings, corporate events, company off-sites, “lunch & learns” and beyond,check it out.

SPOS #970 – Rohit Bhargava On Non-Obvious Thinking

Welcome to episode #970 of Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast.

Rohit Bhargava isn’t just a brilliant thinker, entrepreneur and bestselling author – he’s also a close friend who has been a regular guest on this podcast for over fifteen years. Every time we talk, he brings fresh, non-obvious insights that challenge how we see the world. His latest book, Non-Obvious Thinking – How To See What Others Miss, continues this tradition, offering a four-step framework to help people become more observant, uncover insights, and think in a way that stands out. In this conversation, we explore how this mindset applies not just to creativity but also to the ever-changing landscape of publishing and business books. As the founder of Idea Press, Rohit has redefined what it means to be an author, building a hybrid publishing model that gives writers more control, better royalties, and an alternative to traditional publishing. We talked about the increasing volume of business books, the challenge of maintaining quality, and how shorter, more engaging formats are shaping the future of reading. Rohit also shared his perspective on book marketing in a saturated world, the role of curation in cutting through noise, and the importance of managing attention in an age of constant distraction. Beyond publishing, we dove into the broader theme of Non-Obvious Thinking – why we need to be open-minded, embrace different perspectives, and push back against the confirmation bias that dominates so much of modern discourse. It’s always a pleasure catching up with Rohit, and this podcast is no exception. If you’re looking for smarter ways to navigate business, creativity, and the way you absorb information, this one’s for you. Enjoy the conversation…

Running time: 1:02:23.Hello from beautiful Montreal.Listen and subscribe over at Apple Podcasts.Listen and subscribe over at Spotify.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.Check out ThinkersOne.or you can connect on LinkedIn.…or on Twitter.Here is my conversation with Rohit Bhargava.Non-Obvious Thinking – How To See What Others Miss.Idea Press.Non-Obvious Thinker NewsletterNon-Obvious Guides.Follow Rohit on X.Follow Rohit on LinkedIn.This week’s music: David Usher ‘St. Lawrence River’.

Chapters:

(00:00) – The Evolution of Idea Press and Independent Publishing.
(03:03) – The Hybrid Publishing Model Explained.
(05:57) – The Changing Landscape of Business Books.
(09:02) – Quality vs. Quantity in Business Literature.
(12:02) – The Role of Authors and Writing Quality.
(15:03) – Trends in Book Formats and Reader Engagement.
(18:02) – The Audiobook Dilemma.
(20:52) – Emerging Themes in Business Literature.
(23:59) – The Future of Book Marketing and Reader Engagement.
(32:17) – Innovative Book Marketing Strategies.
(35:03) – The Art of Curation in Content Creation.
(38:56) – Non-Obvious Thinking: Becoming Your Best Self.
(45:10) – The Science of Attention and Distraction.
(49:29) – Capturing and Absorbing Information Effectively.
(51:27) – Navigating Confirmation Bias.
(54:50) – Expanding Horizons in a Divisive World.

Download the Podcast here: Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast – Episode #970.

Before you go… ThinkersOne  is a new way for organizations to buy bite-sized and personalized thought leadership video content (live and recorded) from the best Thinkers in the world. If you’re looking to add excitement and big smarts to your meetings, corporate events, company off-sites, “lunch & learns” and beyond, check it out.