The Growth Mixtape: Chasing Curiosity and Sharing Boundless Insights from Ideas that Matter – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Today we talk to Suzanne Kearns, a pilot, professor, and visionary in the future of aviation. I must admit, this might be the hardest intro I’ve ever had to write.  My job now is to give you 2-3 reasons to keep listening.  And no matter what I do, I can’t get it down to less than 10.

Suzanne's story is incredible—she started flying at 15, soloed on her 16th birthday, and was flying helicopters before she had a driver’s license.  She shares what it’s like to be a woman in an industry where still only 5% of pilots are women.  We talk about the collective trauma that the aviation community suffered when the entire industry shut down over the pandemic.  How it sparked a global conversation around sustainability for one of the most unsustainable industries on the planet.  

Suzanne’s passion for inspiring new generations of pilots is intoxicating.  She talks about how jetpacks and electric planes are not they’re all cracked up to be, but how electric air taxis like in the Jetsons are closer than you think.

I cannot get enough of this conversation, or of Suzanne.  

Please enjoy, Suzanne Kearns.

Links and Resources

Dr. Kearns at the University of Waterloo 

LinkedIn

Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Aeronautics (WISA) 

International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)

International Air Transport Association (IATA) 

Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) 

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Every other week, join your host Bob Mathers, keynote speaker for conversations designed to push you out of your comfort zone. Each episode delivers boundless insights and ideas that matter by inspiring you to get off autopilot and keep chasing curiosity.

Today we talk to Nic Sulsky— TV personality, tech entrepreneur, and the guy on a mission to revolutionize the sport of curling.

Nic is a character.  He went from hosting a kids' TV show to conning his way onto a sports talk show, to pioneering two fantasy sports companies to his latest challenge, making curling the biggest winter sport in the world.  Now if you think that sounds a little far-fetched, I’m with you.  But when you hear Nic’s passion for the game and his plans, you start thinking he could actually pull this off.

Nic’s talks about playing for Canada’s national rugby team in the Jewish Olympics, which I didn’t know was a thing.  He talks about the pain of watching one of his companies implode in 3 weeks.  And why he launched the Grand Slam of Karaoke to showcase the amazing athletes he wants to turn into superstars

I guarantee this conversation will change how you think about curling, which to be honest is not something I’ve thought much about at all.  But more than that, it’s about what’s possible when you find the courage to take big swings on what you care about most, and giving zero fucks about what anyone says about it.

Resources and Links

Grand Slam of Curling – Learn more about the premier curling series that Nick is working to transform. 

Instagram

YouTube

Twitter / X

Grand Slam of Karaoke – The fun event featuring curlers singing live on stage.

Alt Sports Data – The company helping to build live data and odds projection feeds for curling.

PointsBet – The international sports gaming company where Nick previously worked on expanding sports betting opportunities.

Waste Management Phoenix Open – The high-energy golf tournament that inspired some of the changes Nick wants to bring to curling.

Rick Rubin on Creativity – Nick references Rick Rubin’s philosophy on following an emotional charge to chase creativity.

• Book: The Creative Act: A Way of Being

The Maccabiah Games – Also known as the “Jewish Olympics,” where Nick represented Canada in rugby.

What did you think of today's episode? We want to hear from you!

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Every other week, join your host Bob Mathers, keynote speaker for conversations designed to push you out of your comfort zone. Each episode delivers boundless insights and ideas that matter by inspiring you to get off autopilot and keep chasing curiosity.

Today I talk to Dr. Karen Wyatt, a renowned hospice doctor and author of What Really Matters: 7 Lessons for Living from the Stories of the Dying.  Now before you press skip, this is not as heavy and morbid as it sounds.  In fact, quite the opposite.  This conversation was fun, inspiring and hopeful.  

Karen shares stories of people that learned at the very end of their lives, profound lessons about what really matters in life.  They’re stories about finding our purpose, being present and the power of forgiveness.  Her patients aren’t here anymore, but we are.  Their words and these lessons are a gift.  

This conversation isn’t about how to die, it’s about how to live.

Please enjoy, Karen Wyatt.

Key Takeaways

• How Karen’s father’s suicide led her to find purpose in hospice work.
• The powerful lessons she’s learned from witnessing hundreds of patients' final moments.
• How we can live with more intention, forgive sooner, and embrace love over fear.
• When doing something like writing a book, you don’t need to know everything.  You’ll learn what you need as you go.

Resources:

• What Really Matters: 7 Lessons for Living from the Stories of the Dying by Dr. Karen Wyatt
• Dr. Wyatt’s podcast, End of Life University – Listen here
• Learn more about Dr. Karen Wyatt and her work.

Thank you for listening today. Please take a moment to rate and subscribe to our podcast. Here is how you can connect with us at the Growth Mixtape podcast.

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Every other week, join your host Bob Mathers, keynote speaker for conversations designed to push you out of your comfort zone. Each episode delivers boundless insights and ideas that matter by inspiring you to get off autopilot and keep chasing curiosity.

Today, we talk with Marc Hogan, a renowned speaker and psychologist with a pretty interesting path from selling missiles, drugs and cigarettes to stand-up comedy and coaching leaders.

LinkedIn is a funny place.  It can be noisy and isolating like all social media is, but it can also create genuine connections - and that’s how I found Marc.  There was something about what he was saying and how he was saying it that hit me right between the eyes - brutally honest, a bit out there and funny as shit.

Marc talks about getting pulled over by the cops with a truckload of missiles, and realizing maybe he needed a change.  He’s most famous for taking a $1 bet to do a standup routine at the largest comedy festival in the world - a move that led him to psychology and traveling the world speaking to Fortune 500 companies about his unique insights on leadership.

This was so much fun, and left me with a lot to think about around how I spend the remaining years of my career and how I show up with those around me.

Please enjoy, Marc Hogan.

Key takeaways:

• From Missiles to Comedy: Marc’s wild career shift from selling weapons to performing stand-up at the Edinburgh Comedy Festival shows how taking risks can lead to unexpected and rewarding paths.
• The Power of Personality: Marc dives into how understanding your personality traits can shape your success and why some of us are wired for extroversion, while others thrive in quieter roles.
• Psychology in the Workplace: Learn how your "first team" — the family you grew up with — influences your behaviour in teams at work and why it matters for leadership.
• The Myth of the Hero’s Journey: Marc challenges the idea that hard work alone is the key to success and reveals the unseen factors like personality, privilege, and timing that really shape our journeys.
• Conquering Comedy: Hear how Marc tackled the most terrifying form of public speaking—stand-up comedy—at the world’s biggest comedy festival and what it taught him about resilience.
• Why We Don’t Always Get Along: Discover how Marc applies behavioural psychology to help teams and leaders understand and bridge differences, making collaboration more effective.
• Rethinking Success Stories: Marc breaks down why the oversimplified "hero's journey" we see on social media doesn't tell the full story and how embracing nuance can lead to a more honest understanding of success.

Connect With Marc:LinkedInWebsiteLinkedInResources:Taming Tigers by Jim LawlessBooks on Hypnotism by Paul McKenna

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Every other week, join your host Bob Mathers, keynote speaker for conversations designed to push you out of your comfort zone. Each episode delivers boundless insights and ideas that matter by inspiring you to get off autopilot and keep chasing curiosity.

So this is a fun little bonus episode where my producer Amy and I chat about the podcast and explore what we’ve learned from our first 20 episodes.

This conversation turned out to be a lot more emotional than I expected.  Since getting sober a couple of years ago, I’ve felt this sense of urgency to make the most of this last season of my career.  I want to do more things that scare me, be more curious, get outside my comfort zone, see what else is possible.

And I think a lot of us feel this way.  But we get stuck - Where do I start?  What will people think? What if I suck?

But here’s the thing.  Every one of my guests has felt this way.  They’re ordinary people who have done extraordinary things.  Their stories make anything feel possible.

Now one thing I was really hoping for that hasn’t happened…I thought it would get easier.  These conversations still care the shit out of me.  But that’s ok.  If we keep expanding our comfort zone, then stepping outside it is always going to be scary.

Maybe that’s how we know it’s worth doing.

Please enjoy, Amy and Bob.Takeaways

• Best advice I ever got - “Just start.  Press record.”  Don’t worry about whether anyone will listen or what value you can provide.  Be curious.  The purpose will reveal itself.
• Chasing my curiosity and being true to myself is the only way to connect with people.  It’s also the only way to sustain my enthusiasm.  As soon as I start worrying about what others need, I’ll quit.
• It’s not my job to give the listener a lesson.  People take different things away from conversations.  So let them draw their own conclusions about what they take away and how to apply it to their lives.
• The most interesting parts of a conversation don’t reveal themselves right away.  The meaning changes depending on what’s going on in your life.
• What I didn’t expect?  How powerful these conversations have been and what they mean to me.  They’ve added so much richness to my life.  And they would never happen any other way.  What a gift.
• So what’s next?  Even harder conversations.  The more outside my comfort zone, the better.  The scarier and more awkward, the more powerful it is.

Resources Mentioned:The Creative Act by Rick RubinDopamine Nation by Anna LembkeConnect with Bob:LinkedInWebsiteConnect with Amy:WebsiteLinkedInInstagram

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Every other week, join your host Bob Mathers, keynote speaker for conversations designed to push you out of your comfort zone. Each episode delivers boundless insights and ideas that matter by inspiring you to get off autopilot and keep chasing curiosity.

Today we talk to Andrew Hunt, a history professor and best-selling author of Beatlemania in America: Fan Culture from Below.  As a lifelong music fan, I feel like I’ve been preparing for this conversation my whole life.  The truth is I’ve always been more of a Stones fan than a Beatles guy, but that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate that they changed everything.  I don’t care what kind of music you’re into, it wouldn’t exist without the Beatles.So the question is…how?How does something explode like they did?  How much of it has to do with them, and how much of it was what was happening at the time?How did these 4 ordinary guys come together to create something so much greater than anything any of them could do on their own?And maybe, most importantly, can it ever happen again?I’ve been fascinated lately about creativity - where it comes from, how to harness it, and how to use it with other people.  This conversation came to me just when I needed it most.Please enjoy, Andrew Hunt.Key Takeaways:

• We tend to put the Beatles on a pedestal, but they were just ordinary guys with extraordinary creativity.
• Creativity flourishes in collaboration.  Individually the Beatles were talented, but together they created something that was so much greater than the sum of their parts.
• The Beatles were the soundtrack to a generation’s adolescence.  Their music over the years reflected what they were going through as individuals, which perfectly mirrored what their fans were going through.  
• Can it happen again?  Creative outbursts are seen throughout history.  They’re cyclical.  It’s just a matter of time before it happens again.
• When teaching the Beatles to a new generation, you can’t just talk about it.  You need to immerse them in everything that was happening at the time.
• Modern technology has made us lazy.  There is still lots of creativity out there, but we have to work harder to find the stuff off the beaten path.

Resources:Connect with AndrewBuy the book: Beatlemania in America: Fan Culture from Below

Thank you for listening today. Please take a moment to rate and subscribe to our podcast. Here is how you can connect with us at the Growth Mixtape podcast.

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Every other week, join your host Bob Mathers, keynote speaker for conversations designed to push you out of your comfort zone. Each episode delivers boundless insights and ideas that matter by inspiring you to get off autopilot and keep chasing curiosity.

Today, we talk to Dr. Tatiana Gwon, a renowned physicist who, after 20 years, went looking for answers in the most unconventional of places: astrology.  This conversation challenged a lot of my biases and preconceptions of astrology because frankly, I’ve always thought it was gypsy crystal ball readers and Sunday morning horoscopes.  Tatiana does a great job of demystifying astrology as we dive into the fascinating intersection of science and spirituality.  We explore the concept of "effortless reality,” this state of flow where you align with the energy of the universe and manifest your desires without effort or stress.  We talk about the profound impact of daily, monthly and even 29-year cycles on our lives, and how we can use these laws of the universe to live a fuller, easier life.Please enjoy Dr. Tatiana Gwon.

Key Takeaways:

• Effortless Reality: Learn how to tap into a state of flow where things come naturally, without forcing outcomes.
• Cycles: Understand how daily, monthly, and even 29-year cycles can influence our lives and decision-making.
• Resonance and Attraction: Discover the scientific basis behind the law of attraction and how it parallels physical concepts like resonance.
• Bridging Worlds: Tatiana’s journey shows us that science and spirituality can intersect in meaningful and unexpected ways.
• Personal Experimentation: Be the scientist in your own life—test new ideas and see what works for you, even if it defies conventional wisdom.

Resources:

• Book: Astrology for the Millions by Grant Lewi – A practical guide to understanding and experimenting with astrological cycles.
• Tatiana's Website: EffortlessReality.com – Explore Tatiana’s teachings and connect with her work.

Thank you for listening today. Please take a moment to rate and subscribe to our podcast. Here is how you can connect with us at the Growth Mixtape podcast.

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Every other week, join your host Bob Mathers, keynote speaker for conversations designed to push you out of your comfort zone. Each episode delivers boundless insights and ideas that matter by inspiring you to get off autopilot and keep chasing curiosity.

Today we talk to Amy Shoenthal, a bestselling author, journalist and marketing consultant for some of the world's largest brands.  We talk about her latest book, The Setback Cycle that explores the personal setbacks of prominent leaders and gives us a 4-step process for navigating our own.Maybe you’re in between jobs or in one that’s just not awesome anymore.  Maybe you’re feeling kind of stuck.  Or maybe everything really is awesome.  And maybe you’re like me, and you’re every one of these depending on the day.  Whatever it is, Amy keeps us laughing and gives us tools we can use every day to get through whatever is holding us back.

This was so much fun.  Amy is the best.

Please enjoy Amy Shoenthal.Key Takeaways:

• The Setback Cycle: Understanding the four phases – Establish, Embrace, Explore, and Emerge – can help us navigate setbacks in real time.
• Embrace Discomfort: Acknowledging and sitting with the discomfort of a setback is crucial for growth and learning.
• Explore New Opportunities: The explore phase encourages you to try new things without the pressure to commit immediately.
• Emerge Stronger: Successfully navigating the setback cycle can lead to a clearer sense of purpose and direction.
• Toxic Positivity: Avoiding the pressure to always stay positive can prevent prolonging setbacks and allow for genuine processing of emotions.
• Daily Routines: Incorporating small daily habits, like journaling prompts, can help identify and address minor setbacks before they escalate.
• Organizational Application: The setback cycle can be applied at an organizational level to foster a culture of resilience and innovation.

Resources:Amy Shoenthal's Book: The Setback CycleThe Neuroscience of You by Chantel PrattDopamine Nation by Anna LembkeThe Social Dilemma (Netflix Series)Connect with Amy:WebsiteLinkedInInstagram

Thank you for listening today. Please take a moment to rate and subscribe to our podcast. Here is how you can connect with us at the Growth Mixtape podcast.

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Every other week, join your host Bob Mathers, keynote speaker for conversations designed to push you out of your comfort zone. Each episode delivers boundless insights and ideas that matter by inspiring you to get off autopilot and keep chasing curiosity.

Today we talk to Bob London, or as I call him, "Mr. Curious."  Bob is basically a professional listener.  He is an expert in helping people connect and understand one another, and is the mastermind behind the concept of Radically Authentic Discovery. The idea of curiosity is something I’m incredibly passionate about and is the core idea behind this podcast.  So this conversation meant a lot to me.  I talk to Bob about chasing our curiosity in both our personal and professional lives, and he shares practical tips on building richer relationships by embracing awkward silences and simply shutting the fuck up.

Connect with Bob:LinkedInWebsiteKey Takeaways:

1. Curiosity as a Superpower: Curiosity is often undervalued in business but is crucial for understanding customers and driving growth.
2. Customer Listening Tours: Conducting genuinely authentic, open-ended conversations with customers will reveal hidden insights you’ll never get from surveys or data.
3. Radically Authentic Discovery: Techniques to teach teams how to have strategic and revealing conversations with customers.
4. Bridging the Gap: Many companies claim to be customer-centric but fall short. Listening to understand is a unique skill set that companies need to invest in.
5. Challenges of Listening at Home vs. Work: Effective listening can be more challenging in personal relationships where we have history and emotions to contend with.

Resources:

• Radically Authentic Discovery Website
• Book: "You're Not Listening" by Kate Murphy
• Book: "Deep Listening" by Oscar Trimboli
• Podcast by Oscar Trimboli: Deep Listening Podcast

Thank you for listening today. Please take a moment to rate and subscribe to our podcast. Here is how you can connect with us at the Growth Mixtape podcast.

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Every other week, join your host Bob Mathers, keynote speaker for conversations designed to push you out of your comfort zone. Each episode delivers boundless insights and ideas that matter by inspiring you to get off autopilot and keep chasing curiosity.

Today, we talk to Jesse Finkelstein.  Jesse is a book publishing insider and co-founder of Page Two Books, where she works with authors to bring their big ideas to the page.Have you ever said to yourself, ‘I think I might write a book? ' I have dozens of times. And if you’re wondering, no, I still haven’t written one. So I really loved Jessie's demystification of the process for me and her advice for first-time authors.  Jessie takes us through her wild entrepreneurial journey from working at the publishing house for Harry Potter, getting let go with young kids at home, and eventually starting her own company.We talk about all the decisions that go into creating an immersive, frictionless experience for the reader and it turns out it’s a lot like designing any customer experience.  We also talk about the power of regret, harnessing creativity and how smaller publishers are giving marginalized groups a voice for the first time.Connect with Jesse:LinkedInInstagramKey Takeaways:

1. A new way to get a book published: The shift from traditional licensing to service models in publishing offers authors more creative and strategic control.
2. You don’t have to write alone: Successful publishing relies on a meeting of minds between authors and publishers.
3. The art of making a book: Great books are the result of meticulous attention to editorial, design, and production details that enhance the reader's experience.
4. Opportunities for marginalized voices: The accessibility of publishing options today provides a platform for diverse voices and marginalized communities to share their stories.
5. Surround yourself with the right people: Hiring experienced editors or book coaches can significantly impact the quality and success of a book project.
6. What’s your why?: Understanding the 'why' behind writing a book is as important as ‘what’ you write about.

Resources:

• Learn more about Page Two Books
• Book Recommendation: Write a Must-Read by AJ Harper - AJ Harper's Book

Thank you for listening today. Please take a moment to rate and subscribe to our podcast. Here is how you can connect with us at the Growth Mixtape podcast.

Connect with Bob Mathers

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Every other week, join your host Bob Mathers, keynote speaker for conversations designed to push you out of your comfort zone. Each episode delivers boundless insights and ideas that matter by inspiring you to get off autopilot and keep chasing curiosity.