Good Conversation with Phill Nosworthy

008: Dr. Angus Hervey on why boredom and friction matter and the art of managing complexity

Most leaders treat friction and complexity like problems to be solved - things to smooth over and power through.   Here's the thing about complexity - it doesn't behave like a problem you can conquer. It behaves like a Hydra. Strike one head, two grow back. Brute force only multiplies the difficulty.   Dr. Angus Hervey says, "Leadership is about leaning into the friction. Friction can create resistance, but friction can also generate energy."  This Good Conversation unpacks the art of managing complexity – and why the gravest risk leaders face isn't complexity itself, but the isolation that makes complexity corrosive. We explore boredom as a creative catalyst, the case for evidence-based optimism, and what it looks like, practically, to build the circle of friends and partners that combats isolation and turns friction from resistance into something generative.  Dr. Angus Hervey is a three-time TED speaker and one of the world’s leading voices on human progress. Angus is the founder of Fix The News, an independent media company that shares data-driven stories of positive change across health, education, human rights, clean energy, science, and conservation. He holds a PhD in Government and a Masters in International Political Economy from the London School of Economics.  ---  About Good Conversation:  Good Conversation is a podcast where Phill Nosworthy sits down with some of the world’s most influential leaders - for the kind of off-limits, insider discussions rarely heard beyond the room. Each episode explores the art of leadership at the intersection of high performance and humanity.  ---  About Phill Nosworthy:  Phill Nosworthy is regarded as one of the most trusted voices in executive development today. He is a mentor and educator to influential leaders around the world and the Founder and Managing Director of Nosworthy Group, a leadership consultancy that counts Microsoft, Boston Consulting Group X, Australian Grand Prix Corporation, Xbox and Universal Music as partners.   ---  Follow Good Conversation:   https://⁠www.instagram.com/goodconversation.podcast ⁠  https://⁠www.youtube.com/@GoodConversation-Podcast⁠   https://⁠www.tiktok.com/@goodconversationpodcast⁠  https://⁠www.phillnosworthy.com/good-conversation-podcast⁠  ---  Get in touch with Phill at:  https://⁠www.instagram.com/phillnosworthy⁠  https://⁠www.phillnosworthy.com⁠  https://⁠www.linkedin.com/in/phillnosworthy⁠  ---  Sign up to Phill’s newsletter:   ⁠https://tinyurl.com/PN-newsletter⁠   ---  Explore Nosworthy Group: ⁠ https://www.nosworthygroup.com

007: Travis Auld on F1’s breakthrough moments, growing with fans, and personal leadership

Travis Auld is the CEO of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, overseeing iconic and high-octane events like the F1 Australian Grand Prix and MotoGP - and turning them into unforgettable experiences.   In this Good Conversation, we go deeper into the realities of leading in elite sport, from separating noise from insight, to navigating public expectation, to rebuilding identity after major career transitions, and how Travis keeps perspective through it all.  Travis is a seasoned executive with almost 30 years in Australian sports: he was the COO of Essendon Football Club, the inaugural CEO of the Gold Coast Suns, and the CFO and GM of Broadcasting and Clubs at the AFL.  ---  About Good Conversation:  Good Conversation is a podcast where Phill Nosworthy sits down with some of the world’s most influential leaders - for the kind of off-limits, insider discussions rarely heard beyond the room. Each episode explores the art of leadership at the intersection of high performance and humanity.  ---  About Phill Nosworthy:  Phill Nosworthy is regarded as one of the most trusted voices in executive development today. He is a mentor and educator to influential leaders around the world and the Founder and Managing Director of Nosworthy Group, a leadership consultancy that counts Microsoft, Boston Consulting Group X, Australian Grand Prix Corporation, Xbox and Universal Music as partners.   ---  Follow Good Conversation:   https://⁠www.instagram.com/goodconversation.podcast [https://⁠www.instagram.com/goodconversation.podcast] ⁠  https://⁠www.youtube.com/@GoodConversation-Podcast⁠ [https://⁠www.youtube.com/@GoodConversation-Podcast⁠ ] https://⁠www.tiktok.com/@goodconversationpodcast⁠ [https://⁠www.tiktok.com/@goodconversationpodcast⁠]  https://⁠www.phillnosworthy.com/good-conversation-podcast⁠ [https://⁠www.phillnosworthy.com/good-conversation-podcast⁠]  ---  Get in touch with Phill at:  https://⁠www.instagram.com/phillnosworthy⁠ [https://⁠www.instagram.com/phillnosworthy⁠]  https://⁠www.phillnosworthy.com [https://⁠www.phillnosworthy.com]⁠  https://⁠www.linkedin.com/in/phillnosworthy [https://⁠www.linkedin.com/in/phillnosworthy]⁠  ---  Sign up to Phill’s newsletter:   ⁠https://tinyurl.com/PN-newsletter [⁠https://tinyurl.com/PN-newsletter]⁠   ---  Explore Nosworthy Group: ⁠ https://www.nosworthygroup.com [https://www.nosworthygroup.com]

006: Laura Huang on intuitive decision-making and why it matters now more than ever

Laura Huang is a best-selling author, Distinguished Professor, and Associate Dean at Northeastern University. Laura is also one of Poets & Quants’ 40 Best Business School Professors Under 40, a Thinkers50 Radar honoree, and a former professor at The Wharton School and Harvard Business School.   In this Good Conversation, we explore the difference between intuition and gut feel, what it takes to make effective intuitive decisions, and when we can rely on them.  ---  About Good Conversation:  Good Conversation is a podcast where Phill Nosworthy sits down with some of the world’s most influential leaders - for the kind of off-limits, insider discussions rarely heard beyond the room. Each episode explores the art of leadership at the intersection of high performance and humanity.  ---  About Phill Nosworthy:  Phill Nosworthy is regarded as one of the most trusted voices in executive development today. He is a mentor and educator to influential leaders around the world and the Founder and Managing Director of Nosworthy Group, a leadership consultancy that counts Microsoft, Boston Consulting Group X, Australian Grand Prix Corporation, Xbox and Universal Music as partners.   ---  Follow Good Conversation:   https://⁠www.instagram.com/goodconversation.podcast  [https://⁠www.instagram.com/goodconversation.podcast ]⁠  https://⁠www.youtube.com/@GoodConversation-Podcast⁠ [https://⁠www.youtube.com/@GoodConversation-Podcast⁠]   https://⁠www.tiktok.com/@goodconversationpodcast⁠ [https://⁠www.tiktok.com/@goodconversationpodcast⁠]  https://⁠www.phillnosworthy.com/good-conversation-podcast [https://⁠www.phillnosworthy.com/good-conversation-podcast]⁠  ---  Get in touch with Phill at:  https://⁠www.instagram.com/phillnosworthy [https://⁠www.instagram.com/phillnosworthy]⁠  https://⁠www.phillnosworthy.com⁠ [https://⁠www.phillnosworthy.com⁠]  https://⁠www.linkedin.com/in/phillnosworthy⁠ [https://⁠www.linkedin.com/in/phillnosworthy⁠]  ---  Sign up to Phill’s newsletter:   ⁠https://tinyurl.com/PN-newsletter⁠ [⁠https://tinyurl.com/PN-newsletter⁠]   ---  Explore Nosworthy Group: ⁠   https://www.nosworthygroup.com [https://www.nosworthygroup.com]

005: Ronald Akili, Indonesia's creative pioneer, on building with heart, legacy and purpose

Ronald Akili - named one of TIME’s Climate Leaders of 2025 and the first-ever Icon Award recipient at the Travel + Leisure Asia Pacific Awards - leads Desa Potato Head Bali, celebrated among The World’s 50 Best Hotels.   This Good Conversation dives into bold entrepreneurial vision, his philosophy of “Good Times Do Good,” why business is always personal, and how family, culture, craft, and pivotal personal transformations have shaped his approach to life and leadership.  ---  About Good Conversation:  Good Conversation is a podcast where Phill Nosworthy sits down with some of the world’s most influential leaders - for the kind of off-limits, insider discussions rarely heard beyond the room. Each episode explores the art of leadership at the intersection of high performance and humanity.  ---  About Phill Nosworthy:  Phill Nosworthy is regarded as one of the most trusted voices in executive development today. He is a mentor and educator to influential leaders around the world and the Founder and Managing Director of Nosworthy Group, a leadership consultancy that counts Microsoft, Boston Consulting Group X, Australian Grand Prix Corporation, Xbox and Universal Music as partners.   ---  Follow Good Conversation:   https://⁠www.instagram.com/goodconversation.podcast [https://⁠www.instagram.com/goodconversation.podcast] ⁠  https://⁠www.youtube.com/@GoodConversation-Podcast⁠ [https://⁠www.youtube.com/@GoodConversation-Podcast⁠]   https://⁠www.tiktok.com/@goodconversationpodcast⁠ [https://⁠www.tiktok.com/@goodconversationpodcast⁠]  https://⁠www.phillnosworthy.com/good-conversation-podcast⁠ [https://⁠www.phillnosworthy.com/good-conversation-podcast⁠]  ---  Get in touch with Phill at:  https://⁠www.instagram.com/phillnosworthy⁠ [https://⁠www.instagram.com/phillnosworthy⁠]  https://⁠www.phillnosworthy.com⁠ [https://⁠www.phillnosworthy.com⁠]  https://⁠www.linkedin.com/in/phillnosworthy⁠ [https://⁠www.linkedin.com/in/phillnosworthy⁠]  ---  Sign up to Phill’s newsletter:   ⁠https://tinyurl.com/PN-newsletter⁠ [⁠https://tinyurl.com/PN-newsletter⁠]   ---  Explore Nosworthy Group: ⁠ https://www.nosworthygroup.com [https://www.nosworthygroup.com]

Sneak peek: episodes 005-008 of season 1

Entrepreneurial vision. Growing a legacy and fandom. Why intuition matters more than ever. Why friction and boredom are generative. The importance of culture. The importance of tradition. Leading under public scrutiny. And much more.    Our (iconic, and inspiring) guests are:  * Ronald Akili, CEO of Potato Head Bali, the beach club that became a hotel that became a legend. Now one of the world’s #50BestHotels [https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/50besthotels/].  * Travis Auld, CEO of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation * Professor Laura Huang, author and faculty member at Harvard Business School, Wharton School, and Northeastern University. * Dr. Angus Hervey, economist, journalist and TED icon. The response to the first four episodes has been beyond what we could have hoped for. The comments, the messages, the conversations they have sparked have been just brilliant. We read all of it, and are grateful for everyone joining on this leadership journey.  ---  About Good Conversation:  Good Conversation is a podcast where Phill Nosworthy sits down with some of the world’s most influential leaders - for the kind of off-limits, insider discussions rarely heard beyond the room. Each episode explores the art of leadership at the intersection of high performance and humanity.  ---  About Phill Nosworthy:  Phill Nosworthy is regarded as one of the most trusted voices in executive development today. He is a mentor and educator to influential leaders around the world and the Founder and Managing Director of Nosworthy Group, a leadership consultancy that counts Microsoft, Boston Consulting Group X, Australian Grand Prix Corporation, Xbox and Universal Music as partners.   ---  Follow Good Conversation:   https://⁠www.instagram.com/goodconversation.podcast  [https://⁠www.instagram.com/goodconversation.podcast ]⁠  https://⁠www.youtube.com/@GoodConversation-Podcast [https://⁠www.youtube.com/@GoodConversation-Podcast]⁠   https://⁠www.tiktok.com/@goodconversationpodcast [https://⁠www.tiktok.com/@goodconversationpodcast]⁠  https://⁠www.phillnosworthy.com/good-conversation-podcast⁠  [https://⁠www.phillnosworthy.com/good-conversation-podcast⁠ ] ---  Get in touch with Phill at:  https://⁠www.instagram.com/phillnosworthy⁠ [https://⁠www.instagram.com/phillnosworthy⁠]  https://⁠www.phillnosworthy.com⁠ [https://⁠www.phillnosworthy.com⁠]  https://⁠www.linkedin.com/in/phillnosworthy⁠ [https://⁠www.linkedin.com/in/phillnosworthy⁠]  ---  Sign up to Phill’s newsletter:   ⁠https://tinyurl.com/PN-newsletter⁠   [⁠https://tinyurl.com/PN-newsletter⁠  ] ---  Explore Nosworthy Group: ⁠ https://www.nosworthygroup.com  [https://www.nosworthygroup.com ]