The Curious Advantage Podcast

What if your brain isn’t just reacting to the world, but actually helping to create it? In this episode, Paul Ashcroft and Garrick Jones are joined by world-renowned cognitive philosopher Andy Clark to explore the fascinating ideas behind his latest book, The Experience Machine. Together, they dive into how the brain acts less like a camera and more like a prediction engine, constantly guessing what’s coming next and shaping the way we experience reality. From the link between curiosity and mistakes to the surprising ways our expectations influence pain and mental health, this is a rich conversation about perception, learning, and the stories we tell ourselves. They also look at how embracing uncertainty drives growth and innovation, and how AI, algorithms, and education are shaping the way we think. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Curious Advantage Podcast 01:55 The Journey of Andy Clark 02:21 The Brain as a Prediction Machine 06:59 Balancing Predictions and Sensory Input 11:25 Error, Curiosity, and Learning 18:26 Wired to Reduce Uncertainty 21:16 Pain, Expectation, and Mental Health 25:45 Curating Uncertainty for Better Predictions 28:34 The Role of Environment in Shaping Reality 31:07 Art, Literature, and Predictive Systems 32:49 The Impact of Algorithms on Human Experience 34:34 AI and Human Predictive Models 40:23 The Future of AI and Human Collaboration 46:20 Education and Embracing Error 49:15 Practical Applications of Predictive Processing About the Curious Advantage Podcast Series Join the authors of The Curious Advantage in an exploration of how individuals and organizations can harness the power of curiosity to drive success in our new digital reality. In each episode, they engage in enlightening conversations with world-leading experts from a diversity of disciplines to bring to life the latest understanding of curiosity in a way that’s useful to anyone looking to embark on a journey of discovery, navigate challenges, and unlock opportunities.  About The Curious Advantage Book The Curious Advantage is an exploration of the idea of Curiosity and its increasing importance for thriving in the digital age. Taking the widest possible exploration of things Curious – historical, contemporary, neuro-scientific, anthropological, behavioural, semantic and business-focused. At the heart of the book is our model of Curiosity, called ’Sailing the 7C’s of Curiosity’. This model provides individuals with a practical framework for how to be successfully Curious and use Curiosity as a power skill to unlock their own potential. To find out more visit: curiousadvantage.com [http://curiousadvantage.com] [http://curiousadvantage.com/] Get your copy of The Curious Advantage on Amazon [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Curious-Advantage-Paul-Ashcroft-ebook/dp/B08931WBT9/] The Curious Advantage Audiobook is also available on Audible [https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/The-Curious-Advantage-Audiobook/B0B916YKSY?qid=1660223133&sr=1-2&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_2&pf_rd_p=c6e316b8-14da-418d-8f91-b3cad83c5183&pf_rd_r=Q2QA788N5EEKV73BGPNG] Follow The Curious Advantage on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/65416363/admin/feed/posts/] and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/curiousadvantage/] The Curious Advantage Podcast is executive produced by Jessica Wickham and Aliki Paolinelis. Audio editing is expertly by Danny Cross. Video editing is done by Jessica Wickham.

In this episode of the Curious Advantage podcast, Simon Brown and Garrick Jones talk with Charles H. Green, a renowned expert on trust. They explore the concept of trust, its importance in personal and professional relationships, and how it can be cultivated. Charles shares insights on the trust equation, which includes credibility, reliability, intimacy, and self-orientation. The conversation also delves into the implications of trust in sales, the impact of AI on trust, and the importance of personal agency in fostering trust and connection in a rapidly changing world. They also discuss the growing presence of AI-generated scams, deep fakes, and the challenges these pose to building and maintaining trust in the digital age. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Trust and Curiosity 18:13 The Trust Equation Explained 24:30 Trust in Sales: The Meat Sandwich Model 33:40 Trust in the Age of AI 41:58 Personal Agency and Change About the Curious Advantage Podcast Series Join the authors of The Curious Advantage in an exploration of how individuals and organizations can harness the power of curiosity to drive success in our new digital reality. In each episode, they engage in enlightening conversations with world-leading experts from a diversity of disciplines to bring to life the latest understanding of curiosity in a way that’s useful to anyone looking to embark on a journey of discovery, navigate challenges, and unlock opportunities.  About The Curious Advantage Book The Curious Advantage is an exploration of the idea of Curiosity and its increasing importance for thriving in the digital age. Taking the widest possible exploration of things Curious – historical, contemporary, neuro-scientific, anthropological, behavioural, semantic and business-focused. At the heart of the book is our model of Curiosity, called ’Sailing the 7C’s of Curiosity’. This model provides individuals with a practical framework for how to be successfully Curious and use Curiosity as a power skill to unlock their own potential. To find out more visit: curiousadvantage.com [http://curiousadvantage.com] [http://curiousadvantage.com/] Get your copy of The Curious Advantage on Amazon [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Curious-Advantage-Paul-Ashcroft-ebook/dp/B08931WBT9/] The Curious Advantage Audiobook is also available on Audible [https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/The-Curious-Advantage-Audiobook/B0B916YKSY?qid=1660223133&sr=1-2&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_2&pf_rd_p=c6e316b8-14da-418d-8f91-b3cad83c5183&pf_rd_r=Q2QA788N5EEKV73BGPNG] Follow The Curious Advantage on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/65416363/admin/feed/posts/] and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/curiousadvantage/]   The Curious Advantage Podcast is executive produced by Jessica Wickham and Aliki Paolinelis. Audio editing is expertly by Danny Cross. Video editing by Jessica Wickham and John McGinty.

In this episode Simon Brown, Paul Ashcroft, and Garrick Jones are joined by futurist Bob Johansen, who brings nearly five decades of experience in forecasting what’s next. Together, they dive into the power of curiosity and "future-back" thinking in navigating today’s uncertain world. From VUCA to BANI, Bob unpacks the frameworks shaping how we understand complexity—and why generative AI is a game-changer for leadership. Discover the essential skills leaders need for the future, including augmented clarity and bioengaging, and hear how cross-generational collaboration is key to thriving in disruption. With reflections on faith, hope, and decision-making in an age of ambiguity, this conversation offers a hopeful yet grounded roadmap for staying curious in the face of the unknown. 00:00 The Journey of a Futurist 03:11 Understanding the Role of a Futurist 05:51 Engaging with Future Signals 09:00 The VUCA and BANI World 11:53 The Impact of Generative AI 15:05 Curiosity and Future Leadership 24:01 Curiosity and Future-Back Thinking 25:52 Key Skills for Future Leadership 32:10 Practical Augmentation for Leaders 36:21 Faith and Hope in a Changing World 42:01 Cross-Generational Collaboration and Neuroscience 48:05 Optimism in a Frightening Future Interested in purchasing the book? Contact bookorders@bkpub.org for exclusive group discounts and bulk order offers for The Curious Advantage listeners. About The Curious Advantage Book The Curious Advantage is an exploration of the idea of Curiosity and its increasing importance for thriving in the digital age. Taking the widest possible exploration of things Curious – historical, contemporary, neuro-scientific, anthropological, behavioural, semantic and business-focused. At the heart of the book is our model of Curiosity, called ’Sailing the 7C’s of Curiosity’. This model provides individuals with a practical framework for how to be successfully Curious and use Curiosity as a power skill to unlock their own potential. To find out more visit: curiousadvantage.com [http://curiousadvantage.com] [http://curiousadvantage.com/] Get your copy of The Curious Advantage on Amazon [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Curious-Advantage-Paul-Ashcroft-ebook/dp/B08931WBT9/] The Curious Advantage Audiobook is also available on Audible [https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/The-Curious-Advantage-Audiobook/B0B916YKSY?qid=1660223133&sr=1-2&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_2&pf_rd_p=c6e316b8-14da-418d-8f91-b3cad83c5183&pf_rd_r=Q2QA788N5EEKV73BGPNG] Follow The Curious Advantage on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/65416363/admin/feed/posts/] and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/curiousadvantage/] The Curious Advantage Podcast is executive produced by Jessica Wickham and Aliki Paolinelis. Audio editing is expertly by Danny Cross. Video editing by Jessica Wickham and John McGinty.

In this episode of The Curious Advantage podcast, Simon Brown and Garrick Jones speak with renowned author and speaker Margaret Heffernan about curiosity, leadership, and organizational culture. She shares insights from her diverse career, exploring the impact of questioning conventional wisdom, the dangers of wilful blindness, and the role of playwriting in research. Heffernan discusses how curiosity and helpfulness drive productivity and collaboration, warning against excessive competition and the ‘super chicken’ effect—where individual performance overshadows team success. She advocates for rethinking workplace culture to foster learning, connection, and innovation. About The Curious Advantage Book The Curious Advantage is an exploration of the idea of Curiosity and its increasing importance for thriving in the digital age. Taking the widest possible exploration of things Curious – historical, contemporary, neuro-scientific, anthropological, behavioural, semantic and business-focused. At the heart of the book is our model of Curiosity, called ’Sailing the 7C’s of Curiosity’. This model provides individuals with a practical framework for how to be successfully Curious and use Curiosity as a power skill to unlock their own potential. To find out more visit: curiousadvantage.com [http://curiousadvantage.com] [http://curiousadvantage.com/] Get your copy of The Curious Advantage on Amazon [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Curious-Advantage-Paul-Ashcroft-ebook/dp/B08931WBT9/] The Curious Advantage Audiobook is also available on Audible [https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/The-Curious-Advantage-Audiobook/B0B916YKSY?qid=1660223133&sr=1-2&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_2&pf_rd_p=c6e316b8-14da-418d-8f91-b3cad83c5183&pf_rd_r=Q2QA788N5EEKV73BGPNG] Follow The Curious Advantage on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/65416363/admin/feed/posts/] and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/curiousadvantage/] The Curious Advantage Podcast is executive produced by Jessica Wickham and Aliki Paolinelis. Audio editing is expertly by Danny Cross. Video editing by Jessica Wickham and John McGinty.

In this episode, Indy Johar, co-founder of Dark Matter Labs, discusses the democratization of city-making and the need to address the structural dark matter questions that impact our society. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the root causes of global challenges such as climate breakdown and biodiversity loss. Indy also explores the need for a different set of language and constructs within business to address these challenges and transform our foundational economy.  The conversation explores the need for a radical transformation in our theory of corporation and the role of leaders in shifting from command and control to learning and coaching. It discusses the challenges of the current unsustainable path and the need to change the system and the way we think. The conversation also delves into the role of technology, such as AI and generative AI, in enabling the agentification of the world and driving new ways of dealing with complexity. It emphasizes the importance of curiosity, holding uncertainty, and building economies of discovery. The conversation concludes with the need to shift the flow of capital to invest in the unknown and manage risks in order to create a more positive future. Get your copy of The Curious Advantage on Amazon [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Curious-Advantage-Paul-Ashcroft-ebook/dp/B08931WBT9/] The Curious Advantage Audiobook is also available on Audible [https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/The-Curious-Advantage-Audiobook/B0B916YKSY?qid=1660223133&sr=1-2&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_2&pf_rd_p=c6e316b8-14da-418d-8f91-b3cad83c5183&pf_rd_r=Q2QA788N5EEKV73BGPNG] Follow The Curious Advantage on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/65416363/admin/feed/posts/] and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/curiousadvantage/] The Curious Advantage Podcast is executive produced by Jessica Wickham and Aliki Paolinelis. Audio editing is expertly by Danny Cross. Video editing by Jessica Wickham and John McGinty.  #CuriosityInAction #SustainableFuture #TransformingEconomy #CityMaking #DarkMatterQuestions #ClimateAction #BiodiversityCrisis #LeadershipEvolution #AIForGood #GenerativeAI #FutureOfWork #SystemsThinking #InnovativeLeadership #EconomiesOfDiscovery #InvestInTheFuture #Curiosity #CuriousAdvantage #Sustainability #AI #Leadership #Management