Mitch Joel's Blog: Six Pixels of Separation, page 32

SPOS #939 – Renée Warren On Building Authority And Content Creation

Welcome to episode #939 of Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast.

Here it is: Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast – Episode #939. Renée Warren is an award-winning entrepreneur, inspirational speaker, author, and founder of We Wild Women, which helps entrepreneurs get the media coverage of their dreams. She’s also the host of the celebrated podcast, Into The Wild, a show that features curated interviews with women entrepreneurs designed to inspire and give actionable advice to women launching or growing their dream business. In 2012, Renée founded her content marketing and PR agency, taking it from the ground up to a 7-figure, globally-recognized company with clients from South Africa to San Diego. Today, she is sought after for her ability to create world-class PR strategies, marketing operations systems, content strategies, and classy media training. She is the co-author of Get Covered! – How To Craft, Pitch And Tell Your Startup’s Story To Get More Customers, and is always challenging conventional ways to garner media and customer attention. When she’s not crafting the ultimate PR pitch or podcasting, Renée spends time with her family, working out, enjoying really great business books, or refining her drumming skills. In our conversation, Renée dives into the challenges and opportunities for women in entrepreneurship, the evolving landscape of public relations, and the impact of AI on the industry. She emphasizes the need for more women in positions of power and highlights the importance of leveraging AI tools to streamline PR efforts. Renée discusses the changing dynamics of content creation and the potential implications of AI on various industries. We explore the importance of building authority and rising above the noise in today’s crowded digital landscape by being unique and controversial while providing value and staying true to one’s values. Renée and I touch on the impact of cancel culture and the need to navigate the fine line between expressing opinions and avoiding potential backlash. We also discuss the role of social media platforms like TikTok, LinkedIn, and Instagram in building authority and reaching target audiences. Renée emphasizes the power of personal branding and the shift towards individuals rather than organizations as trusted sources of information and influence. Whether you’re a startup looking to stand out or an entrepreneur aiming to build your brand, Renee offers essential strategies to attract media attention and grow your customer base. Enjoy the conversation…

Running time: 1:05:48.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 Renée Warren.We Wild Women.Renee’s podcast: Into The Wild.Get Covered! – How To Craft, Pitch And Tell Your Startup’s Story To Get More Customers.Follow Renee on Instagram.Follow Renee on X.Follow Renee on LinkedIn.This week’s music: David Usher ‘St. Lawrence River’.

Takeaways

More women need to be in positions of power to drive gender equality and change in various industries.AI tools can be leveraged to streamline PR efforts and improve efficiency in pitching and content creation.Content creation has become more accessible and affordable, but it is important to have a solid understanding of business fundamentals to succeed as an entrepreneur.The impact of AI extends beyond text and includes images, audio, and video, enabling more efficient and creative content production.The future implications of AI and automation raise concerns about job displacement and the need for new types of work and skills.Building authority in today’s noisy digital landscape requires being unique and controversial, while also providing value and staying true to one’s values.Navigating the fine line between expressing opinions and avoiding potential backlash is crucial in the era of cancel culture.Different social media platforms serve different purposes, and content should be tailored to each platform’s audience and purpose.Personal branding is becoming increasingly important, with individuals often being more trusted and influential than organizations.The power of personal connection and authenticity cannot be underestimated in building authority and establishing trust with audiences.

Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction and Background06:16 – The Role of AI in PR and Content Creation10:21 – The State of Public Relations and the Impact of AI25:34 – Building an Integrated Marketing Strategy32:24 – Building Authority in a Noisy Digital Landscape36:51 – Navigating the Fine Line: Controversy vs. Backlash50:04 – Tailoring Content for Different Social Media Platforms57:54 – The Rise of Personal Branding

Download the Podcast here: Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast – Episode #939.

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 #732

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: 

Deja Vu (But Worse) – Biden Versus Trump Featuring “Weird Al” Yankovic – Schmyoho – YouTube. “Schmoyoho (the Songify channel from The Gregory Brothers) was the only thing that could soothe my rage at watching the US presidential debate. It feels like we’re in a cosmic version of The Emperor’s New Clothes, where nobody will say the quiet part out loud. The book I’m currently reading, The Unaccountability Machine, talks about how the modern world is made up of systems, companies, and governments that operate according to policies and standardization – in the name of scale and predictability, but at the expense of accountability. If you’re angry right now, it may be because we built a self-steering ship and everyone’s forgotten how to grab the helm and steer it away from some pretty big icebergs. But until then, there’s Juice Burger.” (Alistair for Hugh). Andre 3000 Is At Peace (For Now) – The Bitter Southerner . “On June 30th, Mitch and I went to Place Des Arts, and sat in the Salle Wilfred Pelletier theater as part of the Montreal International Jazz Festival. Arguably the best soundstage in the city. We were there to see what the venerated André 3000, of Outkast fame, has been up to since the release of his last album two decades ago. The result was… well… it was an experience? A cacophony of talented musicians spent two hours working really hard not to find a song. Were we being trolled? André’s mid-concert spoken word piece, delivered in earnest, suggested that we were. After two minutes of unintelligible gibberish, he confessed that ‘I made all that up, but you were listening so seriously.’ The $115 t-shirts felt like another troll. But there was no doubt they were chasing something, and most of the audience – including the friends who invited us – delivered thunderous applause. The following morning, one of them sent me this, for context. ‘I’m not sad I went; it was one hell of a sensory onslaught.’ I had no expectations, and was not disappointed. Mitch, I suspect, had a different take.” (Alistair for Mitch). Nukes, Nubs And Coners: The Unique Social Hierarchy Aboard A Nuclear Submarine – The Warzone . “A friend of mine was in the US military as a nuclear submarine officer. He doesn’t bring it up, but is happy to answer questions, and his answers always amaze me. Imagine being underwater for weeks on end in a 500-foot long, 42-foot wide tube, that happens to be powered by a nuclear power plant, and containing twenty nuclear missiles, with one hundred other people.” (Hugh for Alistair). Wikipedia Will Survive A.I. – Slate . “My go to for quick information used to be Wikipedia, and I contribute both a few dollars every year to their fundraising, and clean up the odd article. But for the past six months or so, I use Perplexity AI (ai chatbot that cites sources) to answer my questions. What happens to Wikipedia if only the machines are reading it? Maybe everything will be OK?” (Hugh for Mitch).   Joe Rogan Experience #2171 – Eric Weinstein & Terrence Howard – YouTube . “Whooo boy… this is a brain melter. I’m here for it. All four hours of it. Yes… four hours. Sidebar: if you would have told me ten years ago that some of the biggest podcasts in the world would have episodes that were four hours long… well… I would have thought that you did not understand the media landscape. So, yes… this one is over four hours. Now, Terence Howard (yes, the actor known for his work on Empire, Hustle & Flow, Dead Presidents, Mr. Holland’s Opus and so many more) has some thoughts on mathematics, science, gravity, geometry and more… which has culminated in several patents related to his own ‘language of logic’ which ‘proves’ the statement that 1 x 1 = 2. Like I said… brain melter. In this episode, one of my favorite big brains, Eric Weinstein, is brought in to help either validate or dismiss Terence’s thinking and… yeah… I don’t think I understood 99% of this conversation, but it is both entertaining and interesting… just watching Weinstein try to unpack and explain all of this is worth the price of admission…” (Mitch for Alistair). Are We Headed For AI Utopia Or Disaster? – Nick Bostrom And Chris Williamson – YouTube . “I’m a big fan of philosopher Nick Bostrom. If you haven’t read his latest book, Deep Utopia – Life And Meaning In A Solved World, it’s deep (and worth it). In this episode of Chris Williamson’s podcast, they discuss and debate artificial intelligence and the possibility that this utopia we have been looking to create (where humans and machines thrive together) might be derailed… or, at least, quite different than what we had planned for. So, what is a ‘perfectly solved world’? What does the future of humanity look like? Will this be a utopia or an outright catastrophe? What will ‘meaning’ look like if the goal-posts have been moved? And, so much more. Bring your notebook, lube up your brain… this one might boil your noodle…” (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.

Michael Devin 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…

Michael Devin 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 #115 – Michael Devin.

Groove – Episode Episode #115: Michael Devin by No Treble

Who is Michael Devin?

Michael Devin, an accomplished bassist from Boston and may be most well-known for his impressive decade-long stint with classic hard rock legends, Whitesnake. His journey in music, however, extends far beyond his tenure with the iconic band. Currently, Michael is making waves with The Dead Daisies, showcasing his talent on their latest album, Light ‘Em Up. Michael’s love affair with the bass began at a young age, sparked by listening to records and being mesmerized by the groove and depth the bass brought to music. Influenced by classic rock bands like Led Zeppelin and The Who, as well as Motown’s soulful rhythms, he was drawn to the instrument’s ability to create tension and add layers to songs. His admiration for bass legends like John Paul Jones, Geezer Butler, and Steve Harris further fueled his passion, inspiring him to push the boundaries of the instrument. In this conversation, Michael reflects on his journey as a bass player, sharing stories from his early days in Boston to his rise in the music industry. He discussed his initial foray into the world of audio engineering, which began with an internship at the renowned Cherokee Recording Studios in Los Angeles. This experience laid the foundation for his transition from behind the mixing board to the stage, as he found his true calling as a bass player. Michael’s career took off as he joined various bands and projects, including Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Lynch Mob, and The Guess Who. Each of these experiences contributed to his growth as a musician. Now with The Dead Daisies, Michael continues to explore new musical landscapes with a classic twist. Michael speaks passionately about the role of bass players in a band, highlighting how they provide the foundation and support that allows other instruments to shine. His approach to bass is not just about technical proficiency but also about serving the music and creating an emotional connection with the audience. Now out on tour with The Dead Daisies, Michael’s love for playing live music and connecting with fans remains undiminished. Michael has a great story. 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 #115 – Michael Devin.

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). 

Meme Machine – The Viral War For The White House

Politics is nothing but a meme.

Winning a presidential debate is one thing, but coming out victorious in the meme wars is something else.
When it comes to US politics, both Joe Biden and Donald Trump understand how important it is to go viral.
Both candidates delivered perfect meme soundbites.
From alleycat to golf capabilities to functional communication skills.
Let’s think about this – are these memes influencing how people see these candidates more than the debates (or the substance of their work)?

Memes are the new battleground in politics.

They can make or break a candidate by amplifying their best moments or turning their gaffes into viral sensations.
During the debate, Biden’s “shaky start” and his comment about Trump being an “alleycat” became instant meme gold.
People on social media were quick to comment on Biden’s apparent frailty, with jokes about needing energy drinks or performance-enhancing drugs.

But what’s the real impact here?

Social media is where many people, especially younger voters, get their news… comment on the news… maybe even create some news of their own.
The memification of politics means that a single moment can define a candidate’s public image.
Remember Howard Dean’s infamous scream or Jeb Bush’s awkward plea for a clap?
These moments, captured and shared endlessly, shaped public perception.
Now, with platforms like TikTok and Instagram (think reels, shorts, etc.), these instances spread even faster and farther.
And, they get mashed up, deep-faked and abused in ways we have never seen.

So, how should political campaigns navigate this memefield?

Both Biden and Trump’s campaigns actively create and share memes to shape public narratives… it’s not just the audience having a toss at the candidates.
Here’s the bigger question: Are memes reducing serious political discourse to soundbites and jokes?
While they engage voters and make politics more accessible, they also trivialize the real issues.
The focus shifts from policies and debate to who can say the thing that will then create the most shareable content.

What’s the solution?

Political campaigns need to strike a balance in a highly unbalanced world.
The rise of memes in politics reflects broader societal trends in digital communication (and what, exactly, we define as “news”).
As we move forward, it’s crucial to understand this dynamic and use it (or follow them) wisely.
Memes are here to stay, so their influence on political narratives will only grow (think about how you hear about what happened… and how you share it – both online and in your day-to-day interactions).
Sure… it’s a barrel of monkeys with massive belly-laughs when the meme lands, but we’re also talking about our leadership and path forward in complex and scary times.

I’m no longer sure how we can find the balance that might make it as effective as it is in creating damage.

This is what David Heurtel and I discussed on CJAD 800 AM. Listen in right here.

Mitch Joel · Meme Machine – The Viral War For The White House

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.

Johann Hari On The Promises And Perils Of Weight-Loss Drugs – This Week’s Six Pixels of Separation Podcast

Episode #938 of Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast is now live and ready for you to listen to

He’s back! Johann Hari, the bestselling author and celebrated journalist, is known for diving deep into the human condition, from addiction to depression to our scattered attention. His books, translated into 40 languages, have earned praise from the likes of Oprah, Elton John, and Noam Chomsky. Now, Johann is back with his latest book, Magic Pill – The Extraordinary Benefits And Disturbing Risks Of The New Weight-Loss Drugs, and it’s sparking conversations everywhere. In our lively chat, Johann opens up about his latest journey, one that began with him injecting himself with Ozempic, a new weight-loss drug. Imagine losing up to a quarter of your body weight in just six months. Sounds like magic, right? But Johann wasn’t entirely convinced. He dove into this world with a mix of hope and skepticism, exploring whether these drugs are a miraculous solution or just another illusion. Johann breaks down the good, the bad, and the ugly of these new drugs. On the plus side, they offer significant health benefits for those struggling with severe obesity, potentially reducing risks of diabetes, cancer, and early death. But, and it’s a big but, they come with their own set of risks and side effects. Johann didn’t just stop at the surface – he traveled from Iceland to Minneapolis to Tokyo, talking to top experts and uncovering twelve major potential risks that come with these seemingly wonder drugs. Our discussion also takes a broader look at the roots of the obesity crisis. Johann points out how our shift from whole foods to processed junk has played a huge role. He explains why diets often fail in the long run — our bodies are biologically programmed to resist weight loss. So, while these drugs might help, they’re not a silver bullet. Johann also emphasizes the need to tackle the social causes of obesity. It’s not just about popping a pill. We need to rethink our relationship with food and our bodies. We talk about the evolutionary reasons why our bodies hoard fat, the food industry’s role in pushing sugar-laden products, and the emotional aspects of eating. Magic Pill isn’t just another book on weight loss – it’s a thought-provoking exploration of our modern health dilemmas. Johann’s blend of personal experience, thorough research, and engaging storytelling makes this book a must-read. Whether you’re curious about the science behind these new drugs or their cultural impact, Johann provides a comprehensive guide to understanding this health revolution. With that he also the author of sone of my favorite books: Stolen Focus – Why You Can’t Pay Attention – And How To Think Deeply Again, Lost Connections, and Chasing The Scream. 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):  #938 of 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 #938 – Johann Hari On The Promises And Perils Of Weight-Loss Drugs

Welcome to episode #938 of Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast.

Here it is: Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast – Episode #938. He’s back! Johann Hari, the bestselling author and celebrated journalist, is known for diving deep into the human condition, from addiction to depression to our scattered attention. His books, translated into 40 languages, have earned praise from the likes of Oprah, Elton John, and Noam Chomsky. Now, Johann is back with his latest book, Magic Pill – The Extraordinary Benefits And Disturbing Risks Of The New Weight-Loss Drugs, and it’s sparking conversations everywhere. In our lively chat, Johann opens up about his latest journey, one that began with him injecting himself with Ozempic, a new weight-loss drug. Imagine losing up to a quarter of your body weight in just six months. Sounds like magic, right? But Johann wasn’t entirely convinced. He dove into this world with a mix of hope and skepticism, exploring whether these drugs are a miraculous solution or just another illusion. Johann breaks down the good, the bad, and the ugly of these new drugs. On the plus side, they offer significant health benefits for those struggling with severe obesity, potentially reducing risks of diabetes, cancer, and early death. But, and it’s a big but, they come with their own set of risks and side effects. Johann didn’t just stop at the surface – he traveled from Iceland to Minneapolis to Tokyo, talking to top experts and uncovering twelve major potential risks that come with these seemingly wonder drugs. Our discussion also takes a broader look at the roots of the obesity crisis. Johann points out how our shift from whole foods to processed junk has played a huge role. He explains why diets often fail in the long run — our bodies are biologically programmed to resist weight loss. So, while these drugs might help, they’re not a silver bullet. Johann also emphasizes the need to tackle the social causes of obesity. It’s not just about popping a pill. We need to rethink our relationship with food and our bodies. We talk about the evolutionary reasons why our bodies hoard fat, the food industry’s role in pushing sugar-laden products, and the emotional aspects of eating. Magic Pill isn’t just another book on weight loss – it’s a thought-provoking exploration of our modern health dilemmas. Johann’s blend of personal experience, thorough research, and engaging storytelling makes this book a must-read. Whether you’re curious about the science behind these new drugs or their cultural impact, Johann provides a comprehensive guide to understanding this health revolution. With that he also the author of sone of my favorite books: Stolen Focus – Why You Can’t Pay Attention – And How To Think Deeply Again, Lost Connections, and Chasing The Scream. Enjoy the conversation…

Running time: 1:08:04.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 Johann Hari.Magic Pill – The Extraordinary Benefits And Disturbing Risks Of The New Weight-Loss Drugs.Stolen Focus – Why You Can’t Pay Attention – And How To Think Deeply Again.Lost Connections.Chasing The Scream.Follow Johann on X.Follow Johann on Instagram.This week’s music: David Usher ‘St. Lawrence River’.

Takeaways

Weight loss drugs can offer significant benefits in terms of health outcomes, particularly for those who are severely obese.The rise of obesity is linked to the shift from whole foods to processed and ultra-processed foods.Diets often fail in the long term due to biological changes that make it harder to maintain weight loss.While weight loss drugs can be a solution, addressing the social causes of obesity is crucial for long-term change.There is a need for regulation and careful consideration of the risks and benefits of weight loss drugs.Human beings evolved in an environment where famine was a frequent threat, so our bodies are programmed to store fat. This makes it difficult to reverse obesity.The food industry and our craving for sugar contribute to the obesity crisis. Cultural and societal changes, such as promoting healthy eating habits and providing nutritious food in schools, are crucial in addressing the obesity crisis.

Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction and Background02:24 – The Mystery of Weight Loss Drugs06:06 – The Benefits and Risks of Weight Loss Drugs10:54 – The Mechanism of Weight Loss Drugs29:11 – Balancing Social Causes and Personal Health35:20 – The Challenges of Long-Term Weight Loss38:38 – The Evolutionary Reasons Behind Obesity41:45 – The Impact of the Food Industry and Sugar Cravings45:29 – The Challenges of Reversing Obesity52:53 – The Potential Risks and Benefits of Weight Loss Drugs01:01:49 – The Importance of Cultural and Societal Changes in Addressing Obesity

Download the Podcast here: Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast – Episode #938.

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 #731

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: 

Writing-First Companies Are Superior (Here’s why) – Brie Wolfson – How I Write Podcast – YouTube. “This was an amazing conversation with someone who’s not only an author, but a true lover of books. Some real value and lines I haven’t heard before, and a fascinating look at why people make physical artifacts. Stripe Press has been raising the bar for non-fiction (albeit with a healthy amount of support from the Collisons) and it shows.” (Alistair for Hugh). Uneasy On The Ear: An Interview With Lola De La Mata – The Quietus . “I can’t imagine what life would be like with tinnitus. A constant noise that wakes you up – distortion, interruption, confusion. But artists are gonna art, and Lola De La Mata turned the things she heard into sounds for others. Since you know plenty of musicians, and I’m sure many struggle with hearing, I thought this might, ahem, strike a chord.” (Alistair for Mitch). How The Philosopher Charles Taylor Would Heal The Ills Of Modernity – The New Yorker . “However you slice it, it seems like the liberal democratic project is under siege, both from the right and the left. The energy for both political movements comes from the same general place – whatever system we have built, each says in different ways, is failing us. The proscriptions for fixing the system looks very different, but it’s clear that the wealthy centre isn’t holding. Charles Taylor, famed philosopher, has just published a tome at age 93, arguing that liberalism’s fault is that we’ve removed all sense of wonder from the public sphere, resulting in an overwhelming sense of disenchantment. For Taylor the answer is poetry and a connection beyond argument. I bought his new book as a summer reading project.” (Hugh for Alistair). A Close Reading Of The Best Opening Paragraph Of All Time – Literary Hub . “Something lovely about exploring exactly what is great about good writing.” (Hugh for Mitch). What Is Intelligent Life? – Aeon . “I am going to try (for the first time) to write out why I am most scared of artificial intelligence’s potential near-future. I believe that it (might) be smarter than humans… or be able to do things that our brains simply cannot do. Why does this scare me? Because it (might) force us to acknowledge that our definition of ‘intelligence’ is wrong… or (maybe) our actual intelligence isn’t all that intelligent at all. We have been, simply, humoring ourselves. Like when someone broke the four minute mile, suddenly many people could do it. But before that? Blocked. That was (what we thought) the limit. What if we’re not intelligent? Or… what if how we think has actually been holding us back from who we could become as a species? This article went in a completely different direction, but aligned with why I’m grappling with AI. If we can’t even see how other species solve problems… what does that say about something that may be superior to our own intellect?” (Mitch for Alistair).  Watch A Japanese Artisan Hand-Craft A Cello In 6 Months – Open Culture . “I have spent countless hours watching videos and documentaries like this over the years. I don’t many people who know what it actually takes to make something these days. It’s hard to imagine any product that can’t be pumped out of a factory somewhere across the world in a few minutes that can be purchased for a few bucks. We live in a world of excess and all of that excess is (fairly) cheap and commoditized. But that isn’t the full reality. There are people – true artists – who toil in the design, quality, details and production of many commonly seen things. Take this cello and the art of bringing it to life…” (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.

From Feeds To Freed – A Bold Perspective For Kid-Safe Social Media

No more algorithm and no more data hoovering for kids.

New York’s Governor Kathy Hochul recently signed two bills aimed at protecting children from the potential harms of social media.
The Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act and the New York Child Data Protection Act are designed to restrict how social media companies interact with and collect data from users under the age of 18.
These laws require social media companies to prevent algorithmically driven feeds from reaching minors and prohibit the collection, sharing, or selling of personal data from children without parental consent.

But let’s take a moment to think about this – will these laws truly make a difference and how will the platforms adapt to meet these laws?

The bigger question:
Who is really responsible for protecting our kids online?
Is it the social media giants who need to change their ways, or should parents step up their game?
While Governor Hochul believes these laws will create a safer digital environment and give parents more peace of mind, even if it all works out perfectly, enforcing these regulations could be a significant challenge.
Tech companies will need to develop robust age verification and parental consent mechanisms (let alone change what young people see in their environments)… in a world where so many parents already fib about their kids’ ages (creating accounts for them as 18 year olds) so they don’t have to monitor and engage (because… you know.. is this really. big deal?… yes… it is).

It’s really on us, the parents of these kids.

This isn’t just a New York issue.
Other states like California are also taking steps to regulate social media use among minors, with initiatives such as banning notifications during school hours and limiting phone use in schools (they’re doing this in certain parts of Canada and Europe too).

Are these measures enough to combat the mental health issues linked to social media?

Last week, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy called for warning labels on social media platforms, likening them to cigarettes and alcohol in terms of their potential harm.

So, what’s the real solution here?

Should we rely on legislation to protect our kids, or is it time for a cultural shift in how we approach social media use at home?
Parents play a crucial role in this – if we set better examples and establish stricter boundaries, could we reduce the reliance on heavy-handed regulation?
Social media isn’t inherently evil, but its unchecked use can have dire consequences, especially for young minds (see Jonthan Haidt’s latest book, The Anxious Generation).

Here’s my two cents:

We need a unified effort from both lawmakers and families to address this issue effectively… but we need this groundswell to come from the parents.
As we move forward, the focus should be on creating a digital culture that prioritizes mental health and responsible use.
The benefits of technology in this digital age cannot be muted.
The skills and knowledge of these tools and platforms will be critical for this next generation, but things have gone unchecked for too long.

Parents of the world… unite!

This is what David Heurtel and I discussed on CJAD 800 AM. Listen in right here.

Mitch Joel · From Feeds to Freed – A Bold Perspective For Kid-Safe Social Media

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.

Scott Walker With Deep Insights From A Real-Life Hostage Negotiator – This Week’s Six Pixels of Separation Podcast

Episode #937 of Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast is now live and ready for you to listen to

Life is a negotiation… and every one of us should be thinking about how we can get better at it. Scott Walker is a Sunday Times bestselling author and a keynote speaker on negotiation, communications, leadership and resilience. Scott is one of the world’s most experienced kidnap-for-ransom negotiators, offering discreet advice to top corporate, political, and NGO leaders to manage and recover from all sorts of real-life threats. With over three hundred cases resolved worldwide, he now helps clients develop resilient and agile leadership skills to navigate uncertainty and conflict, while consistently delivering top performance. He also trains leaders and teams to master communication, influence, and conflict resolution.In our conversation, Scott dives into negotiation strategies and techniques, pulling from his new book, Order Out Of Chaos – Win Every Negotiation, Thrive In Adversity, And Become A World-Class Communicator. He emphasizes that negotiation is everywhere in life and underscores the critical role of trust, especially in hostage situations. Scott breaks down the challenges of dealing with irrational actors, the importance of saving face in negotiations, and why maintaining long-term relationships matters. We also touch on managing stress and anxiety, emotional self-regulation, and understanding one’s own emotions before entering a negotiation. Scott shares stories from his hostage negotiation days, highlighting empathy, trust-building, and assertiveness. We also explore the complexities of kidnapping negotiations and the unique challenges of cyber extortion. His book, Order Out Of Chaos isn’t just about high-stakes negotiations – it’s a guide to becoming a top-notch communicator. Scott’s book, built on years of experience and research, offers simple, proven strategies to handle high-pressure moments, practice proactive listening, develop emotional intelligence, and manage conflict. Whether you’re negotiating a deal at work or navigating everyday situations (like with your kids!), the techniques in this book will help you communicate effectively and get the results you want. 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):  #937 of 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 #937 – Scott Walker With Deep Insights From A Real-Life Hostage Negotiator

Welcome to episode #937 of Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast.

Here it is: Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast – Episode #937. Life is a negotiation… and every one of us should be thinking about how we can get better at it. Scott Walker is a Sunday Times bestselling author and a keynote speaker on negotiation, communications, leadership and resilience. Scott is one of the world’s most experienced kidnap-for-ransom negotiators, offering discreet advice to top corporate, political, and NGO leaders to manage and recover from all sorts of real-life threats. With over three hundred cases resolved worldwide, he now helps clients develop resilient and agile leadership skills to navigate uncertainty and conflict, while consistently delivering top performance. He also trains leaders and teams to master communication, influence, and conflict resolution.In our conversation, Scott dives into negotiation strategies and techniques, pulling from his new book, Order Out Of Chaos – Win Every Negotiation, Thrive In Adversity, And Become A World-Class Communicator. He emphasizes that negotiation is everywhere in life and underscores the critical role of trust, especially in hostage situations. Scott breaks down the challenges of dealing with irrational actors, the importance of saving face in negotiations, and why maintaining long-term relationships matters. We also touch on managing stress and anxiety, emotional self-regulation, and understanding one’s own emotions before entering a negotiation. Scott shares stories from his hostage negotiation days, highlighting empathy, trust-building, and assertiveness. We also explore the complexities of kidnapping negotiations and the unique challenges of cyber extortion. His book, Order Out Of Chaos isn’t just about high-stakes negotiations – it’s a guide to becoming a top-notch communicator. Scott’s book, built on years of experience and research, offers simple, proven strategies to handle high-pressure moments, practice proactive listening, develop emotional intelligence, and manage conflict. Whether you’re negotiating a deal at work or navigating everyday situations (like with your kids!), the techniques in this book will help you communicate effectively and get the results you want. Enjoy the conversation…

Running time: 1:08:246.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 Scott Walker.Order Out Of Chaos – Win Every Negotiation, Thrive In Adversity, And Become A World-Class Communicator.Follow Scott on LinkedIn.Follow Scott on X.This week’s music: David Usher ‘St. Lawrence River’.

Takeaways

Negotiation is a part of everyday life, and it is important to recognize and improve our negotiation skills.Trust is crucial in hostage negotiations, and third-party intermediaries can play a significant role in building trust.Saving face and maintaining pride are important considerations in negotiations, as they can impact the outcome and long-term relationships.Time can be a powerful negotiation strategy, allowing for emotional regulation and the exploration of options.Managing stress and anxiety is essential in negotiations, as they can impact decision-making and outcomes.Emotional self-regulation is crucial in negotiation, and understanding one’s own emotions before entering a negotiation is essential.Building trust and empathy are key elements in successful negotiations, whether in hostage situations or business deals.Kidnapping negotiations involve balancing empathy and assertiveness, managing expectations, and developing a battle rhythm.The cyber extortion industry presents unique challenges, and companies must weigh the risks and benefits of negotiation.Difficult situations can be opportunities for personal growth and resilience, and reframing the meaning of challenges can lead to a more fulfilling life.

Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction and Background00:30 – Negotiation in Everyday Life03:08 – Trust in Hostage Negotiations05:17 – Negotiating with Irrational Actors08:06 – Saving Face and Maintaining Pride09:28 – Negotiating in Geopolitical Conflicts11:33 – Time as a Negotiation Strategy12:49 – Expanding the Pie: Win-Win Negotiations16:25 – Addressing Concerns and Criticisms20:51 – Short-Termism vs. Long-Term Success26:14 – Negotiating with Nefarious Intentions31:08 – Simplifying Negotiations32:03 – Managing Stress and Anxiety in Negotiations32:07 – Emotional Self-Regulation in Negotiation36:15 – The Importance of Negotiating with Yourself37:02 – Lessons from the First Professional Negotiation44:04 – The Complexity of Kidnapping Negotiations49:25 – The Business of Kidnapping for Ransom53:07 – The Aftermath of Hostage Situations55:46 – The Unique Challenges of Cyber Extortion01:02:14 – Finding Resilience and Meaning in Difficult Situations

Download the Podcast here: Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast – Episode #937.

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.