Mitch Joel's Blog: Six Pixels of Separation, page 26

SPOS #954 – Dax Dasilva On Business, Balance And The Big Picture

Welcome to episode #954 of Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast.

Here it is: Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast – Episode #954.

I’ve know Dax Dasilva for close to twenty years. Dax is the creative force behind Lightspeed Commerce, a company he founded in 2005 that has grown into a leading unified POS and payments platform for ambitious entrepreneurs worldwide. Lightspeed powers some of the world’s best businesses across over 100 countries, helping them accelerate growth, enhance customer experiences, and become go-to destinations in their markets. With a team of over 3,000 employees, Lightspeed has made significant strides under Dax’s leadership, including going public on both the Toronto Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange. After serving as Executive Chair of Lightspeed’s board for two years, Dax returned as CEO in February 2024, bringing with him a renewed vision for the company’s future. During our conversation, Dax delves into the evolving landscape of retail and hospitality, emphasizing how these industries are increasingly focusing on providing experiential elements that cater to people’s desire for unique experiences and social interaction. He believes that while technology plays a crucial role in modern commerce, the human touch remains indispensable. Beyond his entrepreneurial pursuits, Dax is deeply passionate about environmental conservation. He founded the Age of Union project, an initiative aimed at reconnecting people with nature and spirituality. Through this project, Dax has traveled to various parts of the world, immersing himself in different cultures and gaining a deeper understanding of social and environmental issues. He reflects on the challenges of balancing technological advancement and consumerism with sustainability and emphasizes the importance of supporting local, community-driven businesses. Our conversation also explores the current polarization in society and the impact of social media on politics. Dax expresses concern over the divisive nature of online platforms and the need for more balanced, nuanced conversations. Dax highlights the often-overlooked value of the “middle journey” in business – the day-to-day efforts and experiences that constitute the core of what companies do. He believes that true fulfillment comes from engaging in this journey rather than just focusing on the end goals. Throughout our conversation, Dax emerges as a leader who is not only focused on driving business success but also deeply committed to environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and fostering meaningful human connections. His insights offer a thoughtful perspective on how businesses can navigate the complexities of today’s world while remaining grounded in values that promote sustainability and community. Enjoy the conversation…

Running time: 54:38.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.Check out ThinkersOne.or you can connect on LinkedIn.…or on Twitter.Here is my conversation with Dax Dasilva.Lightspeed Commerce.Age of Union.Follow Dax on Instagram.Follow Dax on LinkedIn.This week’s music: David Usher ‘St. Lawrence River’.

Chapters:

(00:00) – Introduction and Background.(03:45) – The Future of Retail and Hospitality.(05:40) – The Importance of In-Person Interactions in the Workplace.(11:12) – Reconnecting with Nature and Spirituality.(16:31) – Balancing Technology and Consumerism with Sustainability.(26:40) – The Challenges of Polarization in Society.(30:32) – The Impact of Social Media on Politics.(37:31) – The Role of AI in Business.(43:36) – The Potential Societal Impact of AI.(51:07) – The Value of the Middle Journey in Business.(54:53) – Traveling and Immersion in Local Context.

Download the Podcast here: Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast – Episode #954.

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 #747

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: 

A Narrow Path – Andrea Miotti, Tolga Bilge, Dave Kasten and James Newport. “There’s a lot of debate about whether AI will save us or ruin society. Even if you don’t think about technology in a benevolent-God-versus-Terminator way, there are still upsides (accelerating innovation, creating an abundant society by solving problems in healthcare, energy, and more) and downsides (widespread economic upheaval, concentration of wealth, loss of human dignity, apathy when machines can outperform us on all tasks). But specific plans for how to walk the tightrope between these extremes are rare. So, I was heartened by this paper from a number of very thoughtful people, which lays out a more prescriptive series of steps to navigate the coming decades. Of course, according to the next link below this week, whether we’ll follow it is another question entirely.” (Alistair for Hugh). The Surgery That Proved There Is No Free Will – Joe Scott – YouTube . “Feel like the world is going a bit mad and we can’t get out of our own way? That if everyone could just stop reacting to things, and instead try to understand others, and the fact that we’re living on a big, spinning rock with finite resources, it might get a bit better? I love Joe Scott, and this video walks the line between science and philosophy. If nothing else, this video helped me to have more patience with the nonsense around us.” (Alistair for Mitch). The Coming Second Copernican Revolution – Adam Frank – Noema . “Don’t think we’re there yet, but fascinating overview of where astrobiology (study conditions for life in the cosmos) might lead us.” (Hugh for Alistair).  Bookselling Out – Dan Sinykin – The Baffler . “S.W. Welch, the storied used bookstore in my neighborhood closed recently, replaced by a fancy glasses shop (about ten doors away from another fancy glasses shop). It’s a hard market, but what should a bookstore be these days?” (Hugh for Mitch). We’re Entering Uncharted Territory For Math – Matteo Wong – The Atlantic . “recently, somebody proposed that our education and teaching of math changed dramatically when the calculator became pervasive. They said this in relation to, perhaps, how we might have to think about artificial intelligence and education. And how AI will change our understanding of knowledge, language, and reasoning. I don’t think it is an equal analogy. I don’t think we have a true understanding of what a potential super-intelligence might do to our own perspectives on the capacity of the brain, how we learn, how we reason and how we push ideas forward. My fear, which I have written about before, is that we will be faced with the stark reality of how simple our brains actually are. I could be wrong. Now, as artificial intelligence products improve, we are hearing marketing that includes the words ‘reasoning models’. What might that mean for science, math, biology… And more?” (Mitch for Alistair). The Elite College Students Who Can’t Read Books – Rose Horowitch – The Atlantic . “Whenever I see headlines like this or read articles like this, I am always compelled to take a beat… Hold my thinking… And ask myself, ‘Am I The Olds?’ I’m not sure where this falls, but nothing has helped me professionally (or personally) more than reading books. In some ways, I see it as a secret weapon. I half-joke at that, because of how accessible the media format is to anyone. When was the last time you walked into a library? You can get as many books as you want for free. Still… I am not surprised by the fact that it is, in fact, a superpower because it’s not something that most people do. I won’t lie, I can struggle through texts like the next person, but just knowing that I am reading books and thinking in that format more than most people is important to me. It’s not about some kind of superiority complex, but just this weird productivity component of my life that I think too many people dismiss. Then, I read this article. Now what? We have young people entering into advanced and secondary education facilities that could care less about books. What do we do about that? Are we OK with that?” (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.

Breaking Up Big Tech – Google’s Antitrust Battle And The Future of Innovation

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is inching closer to one of the most significant legal challenges in Big Tech history:

The potential breakup of Google.

After a federal judge ruled in August that the search giant had monopolized the online search market, the DOJ began considering “behavioral and structural remedies” to curtail its dominance.
This could mean splitting up Google’s core businesses, echoing the seismic antitrust case against Microsoft in 1998.

But is this the right move?

At nearly 90% of all search queries passing through its platform, Google’s dominance is undeniable.
Exclusive agreements, like those with Apple, have allowed the company to keep competitors at bay while maintaining their self-established ad pricing.
The DOJ’s case, mirroring Microsoft’s historic battle, focuses on this monopoly and its effects on competition.

But it begs the question:

Is Google being punished for simply being better at what it does?
The DOJ is looking at two major avenues: behavioral restrictions (limiting default agreements and preinstallations) and structural remedies (divestitures of products like Chrome, Android, or Play Store).
The concern is that Google’s tight integration of services gives it an unfair advantage over competitors and potential newcomers.

But what do consumers think?

These remedies could break the user experience that consumers have come to expect.
By untangling these connections, the DOJ could create fragmentation that reduces efficiency and convenience for users.
And… maybe even stranger… might create a bunch of monopolies across multiple tools and technologies.

It’s not just search under scrutiny… it’s AI too.

Google’s heavy investment in AI could further entrench its dominance.
With tools like Gemini and AI-driven enhancements in Google Search, the company is well-positioned and leveraged to lead in the next wave of AI-powered technologies.
The DOJ fears that Google’s current market position will allow it to monopolize AI, preventing competition in an emerging industry.

Dismantling Google is a bold move, but it’s also a gamble.

The complexity of Google’s ecosystem means this is no simple breakup.
The immediate fallout could lead to chaos in the advertising and AI sectors.
For those in favor of fair competition, this might be the shake-up Big Tech needs to open the playing field.

How this unfolds will undoubtedly set the tone for future regulatory battles and the evolution of innovation as we know it.

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

Mitch Joel · Breaking Up Big Tech – Google’s Antitrust Battle And The Future of Innovation

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.

Erin Clark On Activating The Soul, Heart, And Mind Of Leadership

Episode #953 of Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast is now live and ready for you to listen to:

Erin Clark is a managing director with Deloitte Consulting’s Human Capital practice, where she specializes in helping clients improve performance, drive change, and create sustainable advantages through people. With a deep commitment to unlocking human potential within organizations, Erin has dedicated her career to transforming workplaces into environments where individuals and teams can thrive. In her new book, Leading Through – Activating The Soul, Heart, And Mind Of Leadership (co-authored with her father, former Harvard Business School dean Kim Clark, and her brother Jonathan Clark), Erin explores the dynamic shift needed in leadership for today’s rapidly changing world. The book delves into the struggle between traditional leadership paradigms – rooted in control, hierarchy, and bureaucracy – and a new model that emphasizes empowerment, trust, and collaboration. During our conversation, Erin discusses how the pandemic and technological advancements like generative AI have accelerated the need for this leadership transformation. She emphasizes that while we’re living in a digital, transparent, and complex era, many organizations are still clinging to outdated methods that stifle innovation and suppress human potential. Erin introduces the concept of “leading through,” which focuses on activating the soul, heart, and mind of leadership to create a culture where people are motivated to solve tough problems and make meaningful contributions. We explore the importance of leaders embracing a more human-centric approach, one that not only cares for people but also consciously seeks to do good and make things better. Erin highlights that leadership is both deeply personal and systemic – it requires individual growth as well as organizational support to foster an environment where employees can excel. She also touches on the challenges of short-termism and the pressure to meet market expectations, which often hinder long-term development and human sustainability. Erin’s insights shed light on the necessity of preserving humanity in the face of rapid technological change. She advocates for leveraging technology as a tool for value creation while ensuring that it doesn’t overshadow the human element that is crucial for innovation and organizational success. 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):  #953 – 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. Check out Stephen on ThinkersOne and book him for your next meeting.

SPOS #953 – Erin Clark On Activating The Soul, Heart, And Mind Of Leadership

Welcome to episode #953 of Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast.

Here it is: Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast – Episode #953.

Erin Clark is a managing director with Deloitte Consulting’s Human Capital practice, where she specializes in helping clients improve performance, drive change, and create sustainable advantages through people. With a deep commitment to unlocking human potential within organizations, Erin has dedicated her career to transforming workplaces into environments where individuals and teams can thrive. In her new book, Leading Through – Activating The Soul, Heart, And Mind Of Leadership (co-authored with her father, former Harvard Business School dean Kim Clark, and her brother Jonathan Clark), Erin explores the dynamic shift needed in leadership for today’s rapidly changing world. The book delves into the struggle between traditional leadership paradigms – rooted in control, hierarchy, and bureaucracy – and a new model that emphasizes empowerment, trust, and collaboration. During our conversation, Erin discusses how the pandemic and technological advancements like generative AI have accelerated the need for this leadership transformation. She emphasizes that while we’re living in a digital, transparent, and complex era, many organizations are still clinging to outdated methods that stifle innovation and suppress human potential. Erin introduces the concept of “leading through,” which focuses on activating the soul, heart, and mind of leadership to create a culture where people are motivated to solve tough problems and make meaningful contributions. We explore the importance of leaders embracing a more human-centric approach, one that not only cares for people but also consciously seeks to do good and make things better. Erin highlights that leadership is both deeply personal and systemic – it requires individual growth as well as organizational support to foster an environment where employees can excel. She also touches on the challenges of short-termism and the pressure to meet market expectations, which often hinder long-term development and human sustainability. Erin’s insights shed light on the necessity of preserving humanity in the face of rapid technological change. She advocates for leveraging technology as a tool for value creation while ensuring that it doesn’t overshadow the human element that is crucial for innovation and organizational success. Enjoy the conversation…

Running time: 57:08.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.Check out ThinkersOne.or you can connect on LinkedIn.…or on Twitter.Here is my conversation with Erin Clark.Leading Through – Activating The Soul, Heart, And Mind Of Leadership.The Leading Through Institute.Deloitte Consulting’s Human Capital practice.Follow Erin on LinkedIn.This week’s music: David Usher ‘St. Lawrence River’.

Chapters:

(00:00) – Collaborating with Family: Writing a Book on Leadership.(03:06) – Challenges and Potential in Leadership.(12:03) – The Impact of the Pandemic on Work.(18:26) – The Role of Leadership in Supporting Human Potential.(22:05) – Systemic Factors that Hinder or Enable Human Potential.(26:11) – Work as a Means vs Work as Community and Fulfillment.(29:42) – The Mass Revolt Against Traditional Management Approaches.(33:09) – Shifting from Coercive Control to Leading Through.(36:36) – Balancing Freedom of Action and Agency.(39:06) – The Challenges of Personalized Management.(47:36) – Creating Value through Leading Through.(53:47) – Preserving Humanity in the Face of Technological Advancements.

Download the Podcast here: Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast – Episode #953.

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 #746

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: 

AI Safety Research Landscape – Future Of Life. “Love me a navigable mindmap. Finding it hard to keep track of the names and projects out there? Here’s a handy navigable map. From Vingean Reflection to Episodic Contexts, there’s a lot to dive into. Not the best way to explore data, but fun to play with if you care about the jargon of AI safety.” (Alistair for Hugh). Patent Troll Sable Pays Up, Dedicates All Its Patents To The Public! – Emily Terrell and Patrick Nemeroff – Cloudflare . “There’s a great episode of Silicon Valley (S4E7) where a patent troll targets Pied Piper. The CEO refuses to settle, and tries to rally his competitors in solidarity to stand up to the bully, who has no intention of producing any product, and just makes money from threatening to sue. In the show, the competitors settle, leaving Pied Piper holding the bag. In the real world? Not so much. Cloudflare not only fought a patent troll, it launched a bounty paying people to find prior art that would invalidate the troll’s entire portfolio. Damn.” (Alistair for Mitch). George Grant And Conservative Social Democracy – George Dunn – Compact . “We are witnessing, it seems, the unravelling of social liberalism, a philosophy and politics I ascribe to, which balances individual freedom and the state’s role in ensuring justice and equality. It’s unraveling as much from pressures on the Right (expected), and the Left (unexpected?). The nature of radicalism on either side of the political spectrum is that it wants radical change; the nature of (true) conservatism is caution about undoing institutions too quickly (conservatism = conserve). So it is funny – after spending my life as something of a radical – I am feeling the current moment like something of a conservative. I don’t believe our institutions are rotten, and I mostly don’t believe in tearing them down. I’m not sure how much I agree with George Grant, but this concept of ‘conservative social democracy’ is compelling – at least as a term or concept – pointing in a direction that is (perhaps) how I am feeling about the world right now.” (Hugh for Alistair). American’s Aren’t As Divided And Polarized As They Think? – Mary Meehan – Forbes . “To my point above, we’ve all been hoodwinked by political rabble rousers on both sides of the increasingly divided political landscape, and the media and social media machines that benefit from us all hating each other. We hold profoundly mistaken ideas about what the ‘opposition’ actually believes. And, it turns out, we share much more in the way of fundamental beliefs. There is hope, somewhere, though how we undo our inability to talk to each other, I just don’t know.” (Hugh for Mitch).   Unplugging Is Not The Solution You Want – Matt Klein – Zine . “Has anything ‘really’ changed online? This is a fascinating thought piece about the present (and past) of content, distribution models, consumers and our behavior. So, if the result of this media stress is simply to delete apps, not feed the trolls, ignore the feed, leave the algorithm… where does this leave us… is this even possible? Do we resist the speed and power of the current? Perhaps the prescription is not to resist… but to accept it… to know what it is, but let the water take you where it wants to go – while consciously understanding the situation you’re in. But leaving… ignoring… fighting it? That’s a fantasy, not a solution. We’re in a tech-driven world so let’s build personal strategies to manage the constant flow of information. It’s not about shutting down… it’s about wising up. Just like you wouldn’t stop driving because there are traffic jams or too many accidents, you don’t throw out your phone because it overwhelms you. You learn how to navigate the digital landscape better. And this is a good place to start thinking about that.” (Mitch for Alistair).  Why Teenagers Are Deliberately Seeking Brain Rot On Tiktok – Emilie Owens – Psyche . “How do our kids handle of this ’this’. And by ’this’ I mean technology, screens, apps, games, content, feeds, algorithms and more. This one device is a myriad of ’things’ from pings and distractions to bullying and porn to their social connections and their homework. It’s… ‘everything’ is one always-on place that begs for attention and feeds on it as well. The concept of brain rot is one to make the eyes of ’The Olds’ roll (more on that here: From Brain Rot To Podcast Marathons), but maybe there’s something deeper going (that all parents and teachers need to pay attention to). What we see as mindless, often silly, content teens encounter on the socials, might actually be a sophisticated coping mechanism for teenagers navigating the overwhelming complexities of their digital lives. The article suggests that rather than attempting to police their online behavior, adults could benefit from understanding and learning from the way teenagers engage with digital media to manage stress and anxieties.” (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.

Tesla’s Robotaxi And Google’s NotebookLM – The Future Of Tech Is Intimate And Personal

It’s official: We are living in the future.

Tesla is set to drop its long-anticipated autonomous robotaxi at the We, Robot event, while Google quietly unveiled what may be the most groundbreaking tech since ChatGPT – NotebookLM.
These two announcements, though seemingly unrelated, point to a shared reality: AI and robotics are about to take center stage in our daily lives and it’s getting very personal.

Tesla’s robotaxi could be the pivot that propels the company back into the fast lane of AI and robotics dominance.

Elon Musk‘s grand vision of a self-driving fleet, where Tesla owners can rent out their vehicles via the Tesla Network, seems more feasible now than ever – though we’ve heard this story before.
There’s more pressure than ever, with competition from Waymo and Cruise.
And this isn’t just about the robotaxi – there’s speculation that we might also see updates on Tesla’s humanoid robot, Optimus.
The event’s venue tonight – Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank – adds a layer of intrigue.
Butterfly doors and lidar systems aside, this could change how we think about transportation and personal robotics.

Can Tesla make the leap from cool demo to mass adoption?

The stakes are high, and with faltering EV sales, Musk needs this reveal to stick.

On a different front, Google’s NotebookLM might not have butterfly doors, but its impact could be just as transformative.

Imagine an AI that takes the overwhelming ocean of data – videos, research papers, web pages, PDFs (and more) – and spits out a customized, smart-sounding podcast just for you.
This is the magic of unlocked information.
Yes, we’re drowning in data, but NotebookLM gives us the lifeboat.
It’s a tool that doesn’t just summarize a report – it makes complex subjects, like scientific research, feel as accessible as a casual conversation.

The best way to think about it?

It’s like being able to talk to your documents, have a conversation and get the content to explain itself to you.
What’s exciting here isn’t just the content generation… it’s what this tool represents.
Google is pushing the boundaries of how AI can personalize the information we receive, taking it beyond static webpages or generic YouTube tutorials.
It’s not far-fetched to imagine a near future where this tech offers you personalized, on-demand video content that adapts to your preferences.

The Common Thread: Personalized and intimate AI-powered futures.

Both Tesla and Google are showing us different sides of the same coin.
The future they’re both pointing to?

One where AI doesn’t just serve us but interacts with us, molding itself around our needs in ways that are as practical as they are innovative…. and personal/unique to us.

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

Mitch Joel · Tesla’s Robotaxi And Google’s NotebookLM – The Future Of Tech iIs Intimate And Personal

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.

Alan Robert From Life Of Agony On This Month’s Groove – The No Treble Podcast

“Wait… did I miss something? Why is there an article about a bass podcast on Six Pixels of Separation?”

Here’s why:
In the late nineties my first job was as a music journalist (actually, my first interview was with Tommy Lee from Motley Crue right before the band released Dr. Feelgood).
I spent many years interviewing musicians and artists for local weekly alternative newspapers, national and international magazines (and even published three music magazines – before we had the Internet).
I also studied and played the electric bass (in high school and post-secondary) and always felt like bass players never really had a chance to tell their stories.
So, about ten years ago, Seth Godin introduced me to Corey Brown (founder of No Treble – one of the world’s biggest bass platforms – and he also worked on Squidoo with Seth).
From there, Corey and I decided to try this monthly podcast where I would interview bass players and talk about their music, art, creativity and more.
I’m hopeful that these conversations will inspire your work, creativity and innovation as much as they do for me…

Brian Wright (author of The Bastard Instrument) 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 #118 – Alan Robert.

Groove – Episode #118: Alan Robert by No Treble

Alan Robert has spent over three decades as the bassist and primary songwriter for the iconic hard rock band Life of Agony, but his creativity stretches far beyond music. Known for their powerful sound and emotional depth, Life of Agony’s debut album, River Runs Red, earned a place in Rolling Stone’s list of “One of the Greatest Metal Albums of All Time” (and I still consider it one of the best debuts). The band, which recently released the single ‘Crow‘, a tribute to The Crow’s Brandon Lee, continues to evolve and push the boundaries of rock music. In this conversation, Alan shares some fascinating stories from his life, both on stage and off. As the band navigated the highs and lows of touring the world and building a dedicated fanbase, Alan developed a deep passion for the bass. His playing, influenced by bands like Metallica and Pink Floyd, has always been about more than just technique. Alan describes his approach to bass as serving the song, making sure it resonates emotionally with the listener. Reflecting on the early days of Life of Agony, Alan talked about the excitement – and challenges – of being a young band on the road. The rough living conditions, the thrill of performing live, and the bond shared among bandmates all contributed to their unique chemistry. This chemistry helped the band create music that continues to connect deeply with fans, even decades later. River Runs Red remains a fan favorite, and the band’s 2019 release, The Sound of Scars (their sixth release!), received critical praise, reminding everyone that Life of Agony still has plenty to say. But Alan’s creativity doesn’t stop with music. Outside of the band, he’s built a thriving career as a comic book artist and writer (and the man behind the Bettlejuice and Universal Monsters coloring books!). Alan’s work in comics has gained widespread acclaim. He reflected on the challenges of breaking into the comics industry as a musician, but his love for horror – fueled by classic films and a passion for storytelling – drove him to push forward. Balancing both careers hasn’t been easy, but Alan seems to thrive in that juggling act. He credits his ability to switch between music and art with keeping him creatively energized. He also hinted at some exciting new projects in the works, including potential adaptations of his comics into films and television shows. For fans of both Life of Agony and Alan’s comic book work, it’s clear that his drive to create is unstoppable. Whether on stage or at the drawing board, Alan Robert continues to inspire with his relentless passion for both music and art. Enjoy this inspiring 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 #118 – Alan Robert.

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). 

Karthik Ramanna On Outrage And Our Polarized World – This Week’s Six Pixels of Separation Podcast

Episode #952 of Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast is now live and ready for you to listen to:

We are beyond polarized. Karthik Ramanna has spent his career helping leaders make sense of a world that’s constantly changing. As a Professor of Business & Public Policy at Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government, Karthik’s work explores the difficult intersections of business, politics, and society. With a keen eye on trust-building, corporate responsibility, and the complex dynamics between organizations and their stakeholders, Ramanna has earned a reputation as one of today’s foremost thinkers on leadership in challenging times. In his latest book, The Age Of Outrage – How To Lead In A Polarized World, Karthik delves into a growing issue that leaders everywhere are facing: navigating outrage. And it’s not just the occasional outburst we’re talking about. As companies like Disney, United, and Meta have learned, outrage has become an ever-present force — fueled by societal anxieties and a growing expectation for companies to act as agents of social change. Karthik’s take is that outrage – whether justified or not – has shifted from being an occasional PR crisis to a core leadership challenge. Leaders are now expected to handle these emotional, high-stakes situations with the same rigor as strategic planning or financial management. And if you’re a leader in today’s world, you’ve likely felt the pressure. Drawing on years of experience and case studies ranging from the Vatican to Nestlé, Ramanna doesn’t offer quick fixes or hollow calls for “staying neutral.” Instead, The Age of Outrage offers a practical, mission-driven framework for leaders to cool tensions, engage meaningfully with stakeholders, and make decisions that are both effective and consistent with their organization’s core values. If you’re wondering how to navigate an increasingly polarized landscape, Karthik’s book offers more than just insight — it’s a guide for how to emerge stronger from the very challenges that threaten to tear organizations apart. 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):  #952 – 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. Check out Stephen on ThinkersOne and book him for your next meeting.

SPOS #952 – Karthik Ramanna On Outrage And Our Polarized World

Welcome to episode #952 of Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast.

Here it is: Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast – Episode #952.

We are beyond polarized. Karthik Ramanna has spent his career helping leaders make sense of a world that’s constantly changing. As a Professor of Business & Public Policy at Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government, Karthik’s work explores the difficult intersections of business, politics, and society. With a keen eye on trust-building, corporate responsibility, and the complex dynamics between organizations and their stakeholders, Ramanna has earned a reputation as one of today’s foremost thinkers on leadership in challenging times. In his latest book, The Age Of Outrage – How To Lead In A Polarized World, Karthik delves into a growing issue that leaders everywhere are facing: navigating outrage. And it’s not just the occasional outburst we’re talking about. As companies like Disney, United, and Meta have learned, outrage has become an ever-present force — fueled by societal anxieties and a growing expectation for companies to act as agents of social change. Karthik’s take is that outrage – whether justified or not – has shifted from being an occasional PR crisis to a core leadership challenge. Leaders are now expected to handle these emotional, high-stakes situations with the same rigor as strategic planning or financial management. And if you’re a leader in today’s world, you’ve likely felt the pressure. Drawing on years of experience and case studies ranging from the Vatican to Nestlé, Ramanna doesn’t offer quick fixes or hollow calls for “staying neutral.” Instead, The Age of Outrage offers a practical, mission-driven framework for leaders to cool tensions, engage meaningfully with stakeholders, and make decisions that are both effective and consistent with their organization’s core values. If you’re wondering how to navigate an increasingly polarized landscape, Karthik’s book offers more than just insight — it’s a guide for how to emerge stronger from the very challenges that threaten to tear organizations apart. Enjoy the conversation…

Running time: 58:12.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.Check out ThinkersOne.or you can connect on LinkedIn.…or on Twitter.Here is my conversation with Karthik Ramanna.The Age Of Outrage – How To Lead In A Polarized World.Blavatnik School of Government.Follow Karthik on LinkedIn.Follow Karthik on Instagram.Follow Karthik on YouTube.This week’s music: David Usher ‘St. Lawrence River’.

Chapters:

(00:00) – Introduction and Background.(04:11) – Challenges for Corporations.(14:08) – The Importance of Humility and Perspective.(27:30) – Navigating the Changing Dynamics of Work and Business.(29:52) – The Diversification of Society and the Binary View of Oppressor and Oppressed.(34:39) – Getting the Rules of the Game Right for Capitalism.(36:46) – The Role of Culture in Managing Outrage.(53:02) – The Challenges and Opportunities of AI.

Download the Podcast here: Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast – Episode #952.

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.