Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Thinking With Mitch Joel
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How Change Really Works With Julia Dhar - TWMJ #1057 | 11 Oct 2026 | 00:58:21 | |
Welcome to episode #1057 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). Julia Dhar is a leading voice in behavioral science and organizational transformation, and the founder of the Behavioral Science Lab at Boston Consulting Group. A three-time World Schools Debating Champion and TED speaker known for her work on productive disagreement, Julia has spent much of her career exploring a deceptively simple question: Why do organizations invest so much time, money, and human potential in change... only to fail so often? In her new book, How Change Really Works - Seven Science-Based Principles for Transforming Your Organization, co-authored with Kristy R. Ellmer and Philip Jameson, she challenges the conventional wisdom that people are naturally resistant to change. Instead, she argues that leaders routinely misunderstand the psychology of transformation, confuse agreement with alignment, and underestimate the importance of giving people genuine agency. In this conversation, Julia and I explore why so many organizational transformations fail, what the current rush toward AI reveals about the disconnect between leadership and employees, and why simply announcing a new strategy doesn't mean anyone will embrace it. We unpack her research on "change distance," the gap between executive enthusiasm and employee expectations, and examine why optimism, clear expectations, and agency are essential to making change stick. We also discuss the power of storytelling in transformation, why leaders must choose between narratives of threat, fitness, and destiny, and how even successful change initiatives can quietly unravel when the initial excitement gives way to boredom. Throughout our conversation, we wrestle with the difference between involving people and actually empowering them, the danger of AI creating more homogeneous thinking, and why building collective confidence may matter more than another ambitious strategic plan. At the heart of Julia's work is a powerful idea: people don't necessarily resist change... they resist change that doesn't make sense to them, doesn't account for their reality, or leaves them feeling that their actions don't matter. Enjoy the conversation...
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| The Human Side Of Business With Mike Michalowicz - TWMJ #1056 | 04 Oct 2026 | 00:58:50 | |
Welcome to episode #1056 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). Mike Michalowicz has spent much of his career trying to solve a problem he describes simply: eradicating entrepreneurial poverty. As the bestselling author of Profit First and numerous other books on entrepreneurship and business, Mike has built a body of work around challenging conventional wisdom and finding practical systems that work with human behavior rather than against it. He's also an old friend, which means our conversations have a tendency to wander into some unexpected places... and this one certainly does. His latest book, The Money Habit - The Worry-Free Way To Financial Independence, takes the thinking behind Profit First into personal finance, arguing that financial independence isn't about forcing ourselves into budgets, sacrifice, and behaviors we'll eventually abandon... it's about designing a system around the habits we already have. But our conversation ranges well beyond money. We explore what AI could mean for entrepreneurs and small businesses, whether automation will actually give us more free time or simply create more opportunities to work, and why contemplation may become increasingly valuable in a world determined to eliminate every idle moment. We wrestle with whether everyone actually wants "meaningful" or creative work, why AI may be exposing the limitations of many jobs rather than simply replacing them, and what happens when everyone uses the same technology to pursue the same so-called best practices. From there, we get into something Mike and I both spend a lot of time thinking about... books, ideas, creativity, and why certain things break through while others don't. Success isn't always a meritocracy. Great work isn't necessarily what becomes popular. And efficiency isn't necessarily the same thing as progress. Perhaps the opportunity with AI isn't to automate our humanity away, but to use these new tools the way Picasso used the camera... allowing technology to disrupt the old craft while opening entirely new forms of human expression. Enjoy the conversation...
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| Axios And The Art Of Simplification With Roy Schwartz - TWMJ #1055 | 27 Sep 2026 | 00:53:42 | |
Welcome to episode #1055 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). Roy Schwartz is the co-founder of Axios and CEO of Axios HQ, where he has helped redefine how organizations communicate in an age of information overload. Before launching Axios alongside Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen, Roy helped build Politico into one of the most influential political news organizations in the world. Today, Axios reaches millions of readers through its distinctive Smart Brevity format, while Axios HQ helps some of the world's largest organizations communicate more clearly and effectively. In his new book, Simplify - Do 50% More With 50% Less, Roy argues that our biggest challenge isn't a lack of productivity... it's toxic complexity. As AI accelerates the pace of work, organizations and individuals alike risk drowning in meetings, emails, processes, and information unless they deliberately simplify how they operate. In this conversation, Roy explains why concise communication has become a competitive advantage, how Smart Brevity evolved from a newsroom philosophy into a business operating system, and why audience-first thinking is more important than ever. We also explore the future of journalism in an AI-driven world, the economics of modern media, how AI can strengthen editorial judgment without replacing it, why trust has become the most valuable asset any news organization can possess, and what leaders can do to reduce "work slop" before AI creates even more of it. Throughout the conversation, Roy makes the case that simplification isn't about saying less... it's about making what matters impossible to miss. Enjoy the conversation...
Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction and Roy's background. | |||
| Creating The Apple Store And Reinventing Retail With Ron Johnson - TWMJ #1054 | 20 Sep 2026 | 00:54:51 | |
Welcome to episode #1054 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). Ron Johnson is one of the most influential retail innovators of the modern era. Best known for creating the Apple Store(alongside Steve Jobs), he helped redefine what a physical store could be, transforming retail from a place that simply sold products into a destination centered on service, learning, and human connection. Before Apple, Ron helped reshape Target's merchandising strategy through groundbreaking designer collaborations, and later served as CEO of JCPenneyduring one of the industry's most ambitious retail transformations (and it did not go well). In his new book, Shop Different - How Retail Revealed Apple's Genius, Ron offers an insider's account of working alongside Steve Jobs to build one of the world's most successful retail organizations, while reflecting candidly on both the triumphs and the setbacks that shaped his career. In this episode, Ron shares the thinking behind the Apple Store, the creation of the Genius Bar, why physical retail remains more relevant than ever, and what today's retailers continue to misunderstand about customer experience. We discuss the lessons from JCPenney, the dangers of dynamic pricing, why great retail is built on trust rather than transactions, and how successful brands create places where customers want to belong instead of simply places to buy. We also explore the future of AI in retail, experiential shopping, direct-to-consumer brands, and why technology should remove friction behind the scenes while making human interactions even more meaningful. Throughout the conversation, Ron returns to a simple but powerful idea: the best retailers don't win by selling more... they win by serving people better. Enjoy the conversation...
Chapters: (00:00) - The Journey of Ron Johnson: From Apple to JCPenney. | |||
| Great Companies With Eric Ries - TWMJ #1053 | 13 Sep 2026 | 00:53:31 | |
Welcome to episode #1053 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). Eric Ries is one of the most influential entrepreneurs and management thinkers of the past two decades. Best known as the creator of the Lean Startup movement, his ideas fundamentally changed how founders, innovators, and established organizations build products, test ideas, and bring innovation to market. His work has shaped startups, Fortune 500 companies, governments, and nonprofits around the world, earning him recognition as one of the defining voices on modern entrepreneurship. In his latest book, Incorruptible - Why Good Companies Go Bad... And How Great Companies Stay Great, Eric turns his attention to a much deeper question: why do organizations that begin with strong values and bold missions so often lose their way? Drawing on years of advising founders and studying corporate history, he argues that corruption is rarely about bad people... it's about systems, incentives, governance, and what he calls "financial gravity," the invisible forces that slowly pull organizations away from the very principles that made them successful in the first place. In this conversation, Eric explores why mission-driven companies outperform over the long term, how corporate governance can preserve or destroy an organization's purpose, and why stewardship may be one of business's most undervalued leadership traits. We also discuss the unintended consequences of shareholder primacy, what today's AI revolution can learn from previous waves of technological disruption, and why the future belongs to organizations that are intentionally designed to remain true to their values even as they scale. It's a thoughtful conversation about leadership, innovation, governance, and what it really takes to build companies that endure. Enjoy the conversation...
Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to Eric Ries and His New Book. | |||
| The Power Of Brands With Lifang He - TWMJ #1052 | 06 Sep 2026 | 00:48:25 | |
Welcome to episode #1052 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). Lifang He has spent more than two decades helping some of the world's most influential technology companies build products that people don't just use... they love. A global brand strategist and product marketing leader, she has led branding, go-to-market, and growth initiatives for companies including Apple, Amazon, and Ring. During her time at Apple's longtime creative agency, TBWA\Media Arts Lab, she helped shape global iPhone launches, giving her a front-row seat to one of the most successful product introductions in history. Her new book, Brand Power Built In - How Tech Products Really Win Hearts and Minds, argues that too many companies still treat branding as something that happens after a product is built, when the real opportunity is embedding brand thinking into product design from the very beginning. In this episode, Lifang explains why the strongest technology companies don't separate product from brand, but instead view every customer interaction as an opportunity to build trust, differentiation, and emotional connection. We discuss category creation, product education, customer adoption, and why successful innovations require both functional excellence and a compelling human story. The conversation also explores the leadership challenges of maintaining a clear product vision, why companies often lose sight of their original "why" through endless trade-offs, and how AI is creating an entirely new generation of products whose ultimate competitive advantage may not be technology alone... but the brands behind them. Lifang makes the case that in an increasingly AI-driven world where products rapidly converge, brand will become one of the few sustainable sources of differentiation. Enjoy the conversation...
Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to Lifang He and Her Background. | |||
| Data Inspired With Sebastian Wernicke - TWMJ #1051 | 30 Aug 2026 | 00:57:17 | |
Welcome to episode #1051 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). Dr. Sebastian Wernicke has built his career at the intersection of data science, artificial intelligence, economics, and decision-making. He leads the Data Science and AI team at Oxera, one of Europe's leading economics consultancies, and has become widely recognized for his ability to make complex ideas about data both accessible and deeply human. Many people first encountered Sebastian through his memorable TED Talk, which cleverly used data to satirize TED Talks themselves, but his work has always been driven by a much bigger question: how can organizations use data to challenge assumptions instead of reinforcing them? His new book, Data Inspired - Building An Organizational Culture Of Inquiry For Lasting Transformation, argues that businesses have become too focused on being "data-driven" and not focused enough on becoming "data-inspired." In this episode, Sebastian explains why more data doesn't automatically lead to better decisions, why confirmation bias often causes us to use data to strengthen existing beliefs, and why the greatest value of data lies not in optimization but in transformation. We also discuss the promises and disappointments of big data, the rise of generative AI, synthetic data, AI agents, and why the hardest challenge facing organizations isn't technological... it's cultural. Along the way, Sebastian makes a compelling case that leadership is ultimately about designing environments where people are encouraged to ask better questions, embrace uncertainty, and use evidence to change their minds rather than defend them. It is a thoughtful conversation about data, intelligence, curiosity, and why the organizations that thrive in the AI era will be the ones that build cultures of inquiry instead of cultures of certainty. Enjoy the conversation...
Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to Sebastian Wernicke and Data Inspired. | |||
| Navigating Future Shock With Fredric Marshall - TWMJ #1050 | 23 Aug 2026 | 00:59:29 | |
Welcome to episode #1050 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). Fredric Marshall has spent decades helping people navigate change. An entrepreneur, investor in AI startups, CEO of Quantum Learning, and advisor on leadership and transformation, he has watched multiple waves of technological disruption unfold from the inside. His latest book, Thrive - The Antidote to Future Shock, revisits Alvin Toffler's famous concept of "future shock" and argues that today's anxiety isn't a personal failing... it's the predictable result of living through an era where change, information, and technological progress are arriving faster than most people can absorb. In this episode, Fred explores why the conversation about AI has become so emotionally charged, why younger generations feel a profound sense of uncertainty about their future, and why the real challenge isn't learning new tools... it's learning to direct our attention with intention. He explains why thriving requires more than technical skills, discussing the importance of agency, relationships, health, systems, and managing the growing tension between our digital and physical lives. The conversation also examines evidence-based optimism, the cultural backlash against AI, leadership in an era of disruption, and whether the pursuit of endless growth has reached its limits. Fred makes the case that while artificial intelligence will radically reshape work, the future belongs to people who can simplify complexity, think clearly, and consciously choose where to invest their attention. It's a thoughtful discussion about resilience, technology, and building a life that doesn't just survive change... but flourishes because of it. Enjoy the conversation...
Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to Future Shock. | |||
| AI Mindsets With Farid Mheir - TWMJ #1049 | 16 Aug 2026 | 01:07:21 | |
Welcome to episode #1049 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). Farid Mheir has spent four decades at the intersection of engineering, business strategy, and digital transformation. Trained as a microelectronics engineer, he helped pioneer online grocery commerce with IGA in the mid-1990s before building e-commerce platforms for major retailers across North America and Europe. Today, through his advisory firm, and as a faculty member at the McGill Executive Institute, Farid advises executives on AI strategy and organizational transformation. His new book, AI Mindsets - A Guide to Succeed in an AI-Driven World, distills decades of experience into thirty-one practical mindsets designed to help leaders move beyond AI hype and build organizations prepared for an era of intelligence abundance. In this episode, Farid explains why AI represents a shift as significant as the arrival of the internet, arguing that while the web democratized access to information, AI is making intelligence itself widely accessible. We explore what remains uniquely human in a world of increasingly capable machines, why wisdom, judgment, and experience become more valuable as intelligence becomes abundant, and how organizations must undergo a cultural, not just technological, transformation to realize AI's potential. Farid also discusses prompt engineering, answer engineering, AI agents, software development, and why the greatest opportunity lies not in replacing people but in moving them upstream toward more creative and strategic work. Throughout the conversation, he makes the case that success in the AI era will depend less on mastering new tools than on adopting new ways of thinking about work, leadership, and the future itself. Enjoy the conversation...
Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to AI Mindset and Intelligence. | |||
| Purpose And Strengthfinding With Tom Rath - TWMJ #1048 | 09 Aug 2026 | 00:57:18 | |
Welcome to episode #1048 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). Tom Rath is one of the most influential voices in the fields of leadership, strengths, wellbeing, and human performance. A researcher and the #1 New York Times bestselling author of books including How Full Is Your Bucket?, StrengthsFinder 2.0, Eat Move Sleep, and so many more, Tom's work has shaped how millions of people think about work, health, and personal development. His latest book, What's the Point? - Turning Purpose Into Your Daily Superpower, challenges one of today's most common assumptions: that purpose is something we discover once in a lifetime. Instead, Tom argues that purpose is built through everyday actions and by focusing less on ourselves and more on how we contribute to others. In this episode, he explains why the future of work demands a fundamentally different mindset as AI reshapes traditional jobs and organizations. We explore why responding to tasks is becoming less valuable than creating new ideas, why careers will likely become more entrepreneurial and project-based, and why younger generations are right to expect more meaningful work. Tom also discusses the changing relationship between employees and employers, the limits of personal branding and self-awareness, and why looking outward toward customers, colleagues, and communities ultimately creates more fulfillment than endless introspection. Throughout the conversation, he makes the case that the greatest opportunity in the age of AI is not simply becoming more productive... it's becoming more human by asking one deceptively simple question before every meeting, every project, and every day: What's the point? Enjoy the conversation...
Chapters: 00:00 The Evolution of Purpose in Work | |||
| Life Lessons From Google Search With Simon Rogers - TWMJ #1047 | 02 Aug 2026 | 00:53:46 | |
Welcome to episode #1047 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). Simon Rogers has spent his career turning data into stories that help us better understand the world... and ourselves. A former news editor at The Guardian, where he founded and edited its influential Datablog, Simon is now the Data Editor at Google, working with Google Trends, one of the largest publicly accessible datasets of human curiosity and behaviour ever created. He is also the co-host of The Data Journalism Podcast and a longtime advocate for open data, visualization and making complex information meaningful. His new book, What We Ask Google - A Surprisingly Hopeful History Of Humankind, explores what billions of searches reveal about our private fears, shared vulnerabilities, cultural obsessions and desire to help one another. In this episode, Simon discusses why search offers a uniquely intimate portrait of humanity... not the carefully curated version we present on social media, but the questions we ask when we genuinely need answers. He explains how searches surrounding grief, friendship, parenting, health and crisis reveal that people are often far less alone than they feel, and perhaps more compassionate than our public discourse suggests. We also explore Google Trends as a cultural and predictive signal, the communities formed through shared curiosity, and why being surrounded by data does not necessarily make us more insightful. Simon reflects on how AI is changing the language and complexity of our searches without fundamentally changing what humans want to know. What emerges is a fascinating portrait of search as a collective stream of consciousness... chaotic, vulnerable, curious and surprisingly hopeful. Enjoy the conversation...
Chapters: (00:00) - The Role of a Data Editor. | |||
| Productivity Breakthroughs With Liane Davey - TWMJ #1046 | 26 Jul 2026 | 00:51:59 | |
Welcome to episode #1046 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). Dr. Liane Davey has spent her career helping leaders and teams perform at their best. As an organizational psychologist, bestselling author, trusted advisor to companies around the world and dear friend, she has long explored what separates high-performing teams from those that quietly struggle beneath the surface. Her latest book, Thoughtload - Manage The Madness And Free Your Team To Do Great Work, introduces a deceptively simple but powerful idea: the biggest challenge facing today's organizations isn't workload... it's thoughtload. While most leaders focus on reducing tasks and increasing productivity, Liane argues that the real drain on performance comes from the invisible cognitive, emotional, and energetic burden people carry every day. In this conversation, we explore why organizations have become obsessed with measuring outputs instead of outcomes, how constant urgency creates the illusion of productivity while undermining effectiveness, and why many of today's workplace frustrations... from endless meetings to return-to-office debates to AI-generated "work slop"... are symptoms of a much deeper problem. We also discuss what thoughtful leadership looks like in an era of intelligent machines, why collaboration breaks down when people are cognitively overloaded, and how AI might eventually become a tool for reducing thoughtload rather than amplifying it. More than a conversation about burnout or workplace wellness, this is a discussion about attention, focus, judgment, and what it will take to build organizations where people can once again do their very best work. Liane is also the author of You First and The Good Fight and have been a guest of this show countless times. Enjoy the conversation...
Chapters: (00:00) - Understanding Thoughtload. | |||
| Prosperity And Economic Growth With Chris Bradley - TWMJ #1045 | 19 Jul 2026 | 01:00:37 | |
Welcome to episode #1045 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). Chris Bradley has spent more than twenty-five years helping organizations navigate strategy, growth, and long-term transformation as a Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company. He also serves as a Director of the McKinsey Global Institute, the firm's independent research arm, where he explores some of the biggest economic, technological, and societal questions shaping our future. His latest book, A Century of Plenty - A Story of Progress for Generations to Come, challenges one of today's most pervasive narratives: that humanity's best days are behind us. Drawing on years of research, Chris argues that another century of extraordinary progress is not only possible, but achievable... if we choose growth, innovation, and optimism over scarcity and zero-sum thinking. In this conversation, we explore why economic growth remains one of the greatest drivers of prosperity, health, culture, and opportunity, and why so many people nevertheless feel increasingly pessimistic about the future. Chris explains the historical forces that created unprecedented advances over the past century, examines the demographic, energy, and productivity challenges that lie ahead, and shares why he believes AI could become one of the most important catalysts for renewed growth rather than a force to fear. It is a conversation that pushes back against today's prevailing pessimism while offering a thoughtful, data-driven case that progress remains humanity's greatest competitive advantage. Enjoy the conversation...
Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to Chris Bradley and His Work. | |||
| A World Of Intelligent Machines With Steve Brown - TWMJ #1044 | 12 Jul 2026 | 01:01:14 | |
Welcome to episode #1044 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). Steve Brown has spent more than twenty-five years helping organizations prepare for the future of technology. A former Senior Director and in-house futurist at Google DeepMind during the launch of AlphaFold, former Chief Evangelist and Futurist at Intel, entrepreneur and advisor, Steve has worked with global brands including Nike, JPMorgan Chase, Samsung, Disney and more to navigate digital transformation and the rapidly evolving AI landscape. His latest book, The AI Ultimatum - Preparing For A World Of Intelligent Machines And Radical Transformation, argues that AI is not another technology deployment but a fundamental organizational transformation that will reshape business over the next decade. In this episode, Steve explains why simply licensing AI tools is only the beginning, outlining the three stages organizations must navigate as they evolve toward becoming truly AI-first. We discuss the growing role of AI agents and digital employees, why leaders must rethink workflows instead of simply automating existing processes, and how organizations can prepare employees for a future where humans and intelligent machines work side by side. Steve also explores the importance of data strategy, change management, and responsible AI governance, while tackling difficult questions about surveillance, workforce anxiety, human creativity, and whether AI represents another technology cycle or something fundamentally different. Throughout the conversation, he makes the case that the real challenge is not adopting AI for efficiency alone, but reimagining how organizations create value in a world where intelligence itself has become programmable. Enjoy the conversation…
Chapters: (00:00) - Navigating the AI Transformation. | |||
| A Playbook For Growth With Nicolas Darveau-Garneau - TWMJ #1043 | 05 Jul 2026 | 00:56:46 | |
Welcome to episode #1043 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). Nicolas Darveau-Garneau has spent his career helping organizations understand where technology creates lasting competitive advantage. A serial entrepreneur, former General Manager of Google in Canada, and then off to the Valley (where he still resides) as Google's former Chief Evangelist, Nicolas has advised more than a thousand executives on digital transformation, AI, marketing, and growth strategy. His latest book, Be A Sequoia, Not A Bonsai - The Seven Growth Secrets of the World's Most Successful Companies, challenges one of business's most common assumptions: that efficiency is the ultimate measure of success. Instead, Nicolas argues that the companies built to last optimize for profitable growth, customer lifetime value, experimentation, and long-term resilience rather than short-term metrics like customer acquisition cost or return on ad spend. In this conversation, Nicolas (an old friend) explores why AI is forcing leaders to rethink not only their technology investments but the very way they measure success. He explains why human change management remains the biggest obstacle to AI adoption, how organizations can redesign incentives to encourage innovation, and why every company should be preparing employees for AI-enabled careers rather than AI replacement. The conversation also examines the future of work, the democratization of expertise across industries like healthcare and law, and the responsibility leaders have to balance profitability with human flourishing. Throughout, Nicolas makes a compelling case that the organizations best positioned for the AI era won't necessarily be the most efficient… they'll be the ones most willing to rethink how value is created in the first place. Enjoy the conversation…
Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to Nicolas Darveau-Garneau. | |||
| The Most Powerful Force In Business With Marcus Buckingham - TWMJ #1042 | 28 Jun 2026 | 01:05:53 | |
Welcome to episode #1042 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). Marcus Buckingham has spent more than three decades changing how organizations think about people, performance, and leadership. As one of the pioneers of the strengths movement, his research has influenced millions of managers around the world and helped reshape the way companies approach employee engagement and organizational culture. After beginning his career as a researcher at Gallup, Marcus became one of the driving forces behind some of the most influential ideas in modern management. His books include First, Break All the Rules, Now, Discover Your Strengths, Go Put Your Strengths To Work, Love + Work and countless others. He has built a reputation as one of the world's foremost thinkers on human performance. His latest book, Design Love In - How To Unleash The Most Powerful Force In Business, takes that work in a surprising direction. Marcus argues that love isn't simply a personal emotion or an abstract ideal… it's the single most powerful driver of productive human behavior. In this conversation, Marcus explains why so many organizations have become increasingly transactional, why experience design has become one of the defining leadership skills of the AI era, and why he believes "experience intelligence" may soon become as important as financial or operational intelligence. It's a conversation about leadership, organizational design, technology, and perhaps most surprisingly… why one of the least discussed words in business may become one of its greatest competitive advantages. Enjoy the conversation...
Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to Love That and Designed Love. | |||
| Winning With AI With Charlene Li - TWMJ #1041 | 21 Jun 2026 | 01:01:50 | |
Welcome to episode #1041 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). At a time when every leadership team is being told that artificial intelligence will change everything, Charlene Li has spent her career helping organizations separate signal from noise. A New York Times bestselling author and trusted advisor to CEOs and boards, Charlene first became widely known for helping leaders understand transformative shifts through books like Groundswell, Open Leadership and The Disruption Mindset. Her latest book, Winning With AI - The 90-Day Blueprint For Success, co-authored with Dr. Katia Walsh, tackles one of the most pressing questions facing business leaders today: not what AI is, but what to do about it. Drawing on research, executive interviews and practical experience, Charlene argues that organizations do not need an AI strategy… they need to rethink how AI serves their existing business strategy. In our conversation, she explores why most organizations are still struggling to move beyond experimentation, why leadership and transformation matter more than technology selection, and why the greatest opportunity may not be efficiency at all, but creating more human-centered organizations. Along the way, Charlene challenges conventional thinking about AI pilots, workforce transformation, organizational design and the future role of leadership in an era where intelligence itself is becoming abundant. Enjoy the conversation…
Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to AI and Leadership. | |||
| AI And The Knowledge Economy With Sangeet Paul Choudary | 14 Jun 2026 | 00:58:33 | |
Welcome to episode #1040 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). Long before artificial intelligence became the dominant business conversation, Sangeet Paul Choudary was helping leaders understand another profound shift in economic power: the rise of platforms. As the co-author of Platform Revolution, founder of Platform Thinking Labs, advisor to global corporations and governments, and a respected thinkers on digital business models, Sangeet has spent years studying how technology changes the sources of competitive advantage and reshapes entire industries. His latest book, Reshuffle - Who Wins When AI Restacks The Knowledge Economy, extends that work into the age of artificial intelligence, exploring what happens when the expertise, judgment and know-how that once lived inside individuals and organizations increasingly migrates into software systems. In this conversation, Sangeet explains why AI represents far more than a productivity upgrade. He argues that every major technological shift changes what is scarce, and when scarcity changes, value moves with it. Drawing on examples ranging from Kodak and Netflix to cloud computing, software platforms and global supply chains, he explores why some organizations adapt while others become trapped by the assumptions that made them successful in the first place. The discussion also examines the changing nature of economic power, the growing importance of digital sovereignty, the future of knowledge work, and the risks of assuming that today's business models will survive tomorrow's technological realities. Throughout the conversation, Sangeet offers a framework for understanding not just what AI can do, but how leaders can rethink their organizations, industries and careers when the foundations of value creation are being rewritten in real time. Enjoy the conversation…
Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to Sangeet Chaudhary and Reshuffle. | |||
| Developing A Vital Voice With Carmine Gallo - TWMJ #1039 | 07 Jun 2026 | 01:00:47 | |
Welcome to episode #1039 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). I believe that communication has always been one of the most valuable skills in business. But in an era of AI-generated content, algorithmic feeds, podcasts, newsletters, keynote stages, short-form video and endless digital noise, it may be becoming even more important. Few people have spent more time studying what makes ideas resonate than Carmine Gallo. A communication coach, author, and instructor in executive education at Harvard, Carmine is best known for bestselling books including Talk Like TED, The Storyteller's Secret, The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs and many more. His latest project, Viral Voices - From TED Talks To TikTok, Persuasive Communication Skills For The Digital Age, is an audio-original experience that explores what great communicators can teach us about influence, storytelling, and audience engagement in a rapidly changing media landscape. In this conversation, Carmine argues that while the tools of communication have evolved dramatically, the human brain has not. Drawing on research from neuroscience, psychology, evolutionary biology, and his conversations with communicators ranging from business leaders to digital creators, he explains why storytelling remains one of humanity's most powerful technologies. The discussion explores why movement captures attention, why narrative structures continue to dominate modern platforms, and why great communicators are made through deliberate practice rather than born with natural talent. Carmine also shares his AMP framework for communication improvement: Ability, Message, and Practice. Along the way, the conversation examines the opportunities and challenges created by AI, including the growing tension between polished machine-generated content and authentic human expression. At a moment when everyone has access to powerful communication tools, Carmine makes a compelling case that imagination, personal experience, and genuine human insight are becoming the ultimate differentiators. Enjoy the conversation…
Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to Communication and Influence. | |||
| Human Agency With Marcus Fontoura - TWMJ #1038 | 31 May 2026 | 00:47:25 | |
Welcome to episode #1038 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). At a time when technology feels simultaneously more powerful and more opaque than ever, Marcus Fontoura is making a case for something many people feel they've lost: agency. A Technical Fellow and Corporate Vice President at Microsoft, Marcus has spent decades helping build the infrastructure that powers the modern internet, including leadership roles at Microsoft Azure, Google and IBM. His new book, Human Agency In A Digital World, is both a guide to understanding the technologies shaping our lives and a reminder that we are not merely passengers along for the ride. Drawing on his experience building cloud computing platforms and large-scale digital systems, Marcus demystifies everything from search engines and social media to artificial intelligence and cloud infrastructure, arguing that technological literacy should be as fundamental as understanding economics or government. In this episode, Marcus explores the growing gap between the people building technology and the people living with its consequences. He discusses social media's impact on mental health, misinformation, polarization, AI's role as a prediction engine rather than an autonomous intelligence, and the importance of regulation in areas where technological progress has outpaced public understanding. At the same time, Marcus offers a deeply optimistic vision of the future. He believes that access to information, computing power and AI tools can empower a new generation of scientists, entrepreneurs and problem-solvers to tackle challenges ranging from healthcare and education to climate change and scientific discovery. Rather than viewing technology as something happening to us, Marcus argues that understanding how these systems work is the first step toward shaping how they evolve. What emerges is a thoughtful conversation about curiosity, responsibility, innovation and the enduring role of human judgment in an increasingly digital world. Enjoy the conversation…
Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to Marcus Fontoura and His Role at Microsoft. | |||
| The Value Of Uncertainty With Simone Stolzoff - TWMJ #1037 | 24 May 2026 | 00:57:56 | |
Welcome to episode #1037 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). At a moment when certainty has become both a cultural obsession and a commercial product, Simone Stolzoff is asking a far more uncomfortable question: what if the real skill is learning how to live without it? A journalist whose work has appeared in publications like The Atlantic and author of the bestselling book The Good Enough Job, Simo has built his work around examining the hidden psychological contracts shaping modern life… especially our increasingly tangled relationship with work, ambition and identity. His new book, How to Not Know - The Value of Uncertainty in a World that Demands Answers, pushes that exploration even further, arguing that many of the anxieties defining modern life stem not from uncertainty itself… but from our declining ability to tolerate it. In this conversation, Simo explores why uncertainty has become so psychologically destabilizing in an era where information is infinite, prediction is constant and every question seems one search query away from an answer. He discusses the paradox of modern life: despite unprecedented prosperity, connectivity and opportunity, people feel increasingly fragile, overwhelmed and fearful of ambiguity. Simo explains how uncertainty once served an important evolutionary purpose, but has become maladaptive in a culture obsessed with optimization, certainty and control. The conversation moves through entrepreneurship, identity, politics, AI, climate anxiety, relationships and creativity… all connected by the tension between our desire for certainty and the reality that much of life remains fundamentally unknowable. Simo argues that uncertainty is not a flaw in the system… it is the birthplace of possibility, growth and reinvention. Along the way, we discuss Brian Eno, venture capital, the psychology of risk, the danger of false certainty in modern discourse, and why action itself is often the antidote to anxiety. What emerges is not a conversation about having the answers… but about developing the resilience, humility and imagination to move forward without them. Enjoy the conversation…
Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to Simone Stolzoff. | |||
| Unlocking The Best In People With Ashley Herd - TWMJ #1036 | 17 May 2026 | 01:00:07 | |
Welcome to episode #1036 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). Ashley Herd did not set out to become a management expert. Trained as an employment lawyer and later serving in senior HR and leadership roles supporting organizations including McKinsey & Company, Ashley built her career at the intersection of people, performance and workplace culture. What began as practical leadership advice shared through short-form social media videos evolved into a massive online following, with hundreds of thousands of managers turning to her for direct, actionable guidance on how to lead teams without burning people out. Her new book, The Manager Method - A Practical Framework to Lead, Support, and Get Results, distills that experience into a deceptively simple framework built around Pause, Consider, Act… a reminder that leadership is not about reacting faster, but thinking more clearly. In this conversation, Ashley explores why so many organizations continue promoting high performers into management roles without preparing them to lead people, why workplace culture is often shaped more by individual managers than company values, and how the modern workplace has been reshaped by the pandemic, generational shifts and AI. Ashley argues that the biggest failures in leadership are rarely strategic… they are relational. Silence, unclear expectations, lack of feedback and the inability to coach people effectively create cascading organizational problems. At the same time, she remains optimistic that AI can become a meaningful thought partner for managers… not replacing judgment, empathy or coaching, but helping leaders pause long enough to think better about how they communicate and support others. Grounded in practical experience rather than abstract theory, Ashley's work is ultimately about helping managers become more human… and helping organizations remember that people are not line items on a spreadsheet. Enjoy the conversation…
Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to Ashley Herd and The Manager Method. | |||
| Modern Marketing With MichaelAaron Flicker - TWMJ #1035 | 10 May 2026 | 01:00:59 | |
Welcome to episode #1035 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). At a time when marketers have more data, more technology and more precision than ever before… consumer trust, attention and loyalty somehow feel more fragile than ever. Few people are exploring that paradox more deeply than MichaelAaron Flicker. An entrepreneur who started his company at just fourteen years old, Michael has spent years studying the intersection of marketing, behavioral science and human decision-making (he runs an agency, vventure capital firm and leads several other businesses). His book, Hacking The Human Mind - The Behavioral Science Secrets Behind 17 Of The World's Best Brands (along with co-author Richard Shotton), examines how brands shape perception, influence behavior and build emotional resonance… often in ways consumers barely recognize. In this conversation, Michael and I explore the growing divide inside modern marketing itself… between performance-driven optimization and the enduring power of emotional storytelling. We unpack how AI, algorithms and recommendation systems are quietly reshaping consumer agency, why the illusion of choice may be more powerful than choice itself, and how platforms increasingly mediate not just what we buy… but how we think. Michael (who also has a great podcast, The Consumer Behavior Lab) argues that while technology has evolved dramatically, human behavior has not. Scarcity, status, social proof, storytelling and emotional connection still shape our decisions… even when we believe we're acting rationally. We also discuss the dangerous temptation for marketers to chase short-term metrics while neglecting the deeper work of building lasting brand value, trust and cultural meaning. Along the way, we get into Amazon's invisible persuasion architecture, why many direct-to-consumer brands plateau, the ethical tension between persuasion and manipulation, and how AI may transform marketing from an art form into an escalating behavioral arms race. What emerges is a fascinating conversation about power, psychology and the increasingly intimate systems shaping modern commerce… and whether brands still truly understand the humans they're trying to reach. Enjoy the conversation…
Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to Marketing and Behavioral Science. | |||
| The Business Of Culture And Art With Douglas Woodham - TWMJ #1034 | 03 May 2026 | 01:04:35 | |
Welcome to episode #1034 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). At a time when the lines between culture, commerce and identity feel increasingly blurred, few people understand how value is actually constructed… and reconstructed… better than Douglas Woodham. A former President of the Americas at Christie's and a longtime advisor through his firm Art Fiduciary Advisors, Doug brings a rare dual lens to the conversation… equal parts economist and art obsessive. With a PhD in economics and decades spent inside the machinery of the global art market, he has seen firsthand how artists move from obscurity to icon status… and how markets, narratives and power structures shape that journey . His latest book, Jean-Michel Basquiat - The Making of an Icon, goes far beyond biography to examine how one artist's legacy was not just created… but carefully engineered. In this conversation, Doug explores the intersection of art and economics, unpacking how scarcity, status and human behavior drive the desire to collect… and why ownership has become increasingly performative in a social media age. He challenges the romantic notion that value is purely about the work itself, pointing instead to branding, cultural timing and strategic stewardship… particularly in Basquiat's posthumous rise. We also dig into the broader shifts reshaping the art world… from the declining cultural centrality of fine art to the rise of alternative collectibles, the failure of NFTs to gain traction in traditional markets, and the fragile economics behind fractional ownership models. What emerges is a sharper understanding that art is not just about beauty or expression… it is about markets, narratives and belief systems that determine what is worth owning… and why. Enjoy the conversation…
Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to Doug Woodham and His Expertise. | |||
| Revolutionizing Humanity And Tech With Pablos Holman - TWMJ #1033 | 26 Apr 2026 | 01:04:48 | |
Welcome to episode #1033 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). We spent the last twenty-five years calling software "technology," which was convenient, profitable and just a little bit delusional. Apps got smarter. Feeds got stickier. Ads got creepier. Dashboards got dashboards. Meanwhile, the real world kept asking harder questions. How do we produce enough clean energy for eight billion people? How do we build things again? How do we manufacture without waste? How do we use AI for science, not just better chatbots and faster slop? Pablos Holman has spent his career living inside those questions. He is a hacker, inventor, venture capitalist, and founder of Deep Future, an invention capital firm backing the mad scientists, rogue engineers and maverick entrepreneurs trying to build technologies that actually matter. His career has touched everything from cryptocurrency in the 1990s and AI for financial markets to the early days of Blue Origin and the launch of Intellectual Ventures Lab, where the work included mosquito-killing lasers, malaria-diagnosing microscopes, vaccine coolers, advanced antennas and nuclear reactors powered by waste. His book, Deep Future - Creating Technology That Matters, argues that the next wave of innovation will not come from making software marginally more addictive. It will come from solving the physical, messy, expensive, essential problems that humanity depends on: energy, water, food, waste, construction, manufacturing, medicine and infrastructure. In this conversation, Pablos makes the case for optimism with teeth. Not optimism as a mood. Optimism as a discipline. A willingness to stare at massive problems without flinching… and then go build something. We talk about why software can't save the world by itself, why energy may be the root problem behind almost everything, why AI's most meaningful work may happen in science, and why the future belongs to people willing to work on problems big enough to scare everyone else. Enjoy the conversation…
Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to Deep Future and Venture Capital. | |||
| Unlocking Creativity And Productivity With Natalie Nixon - TWMJ #1032 | 19 Apr 2026 | 01:02:21 | |
Welcome to episode #1032 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). At a time when productivity is still measured in speed, output and constant motion, few voices are pushing for a more human… and ultimately more effective… way of working than Natalie Nixon. A creativity strategist, keynote speaker and founder of Figure 8 Thinking, Natalie has built her career helping leaders unlock the business value of imagination… not as a soft skill, but as a strategic capability. Her work sits at the intersection of design thinking, anthropology and business innovation, and her previous book, The Creativity Leap, positioned curiosity, empathy and intuition as essential leadership muscles. In her latest work, Move. Think. Rest. - Redefining Productivity & Our Relationship With Time, Natalie challenges the deeply embedded belief that more effort equals better results… arguing instead that we're not in a tech revolution, but a human one. She introduces the MTR framework (movement, thought and rest) as a way to rebalance how we work and live, emphasizing that creativity doesn't happen despite pauses… it depends on them. In this conversation, Natalie explores how burnout and busyness have become normalized, why organizations must move beyond outdated productivity metrics, and how leaders can cultivate environments where creativity and trust can thrive. She makes a compelling case that AI, while powerful, is not the story… it's the backdrop. The real opportunity lies in how humans choose to engage with it… whether we double down on efficiency or expand into imagination, play and connection. From rethinking workplace culture to redefining growth as a non-linear, deeply human process, this conversation is a call to redesign not just how we work… but why we work at all. Enjoy the conversation…
Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to Creativity and Productivity. | |||
| New Business Transformations With Joseph Pine - TWMJ #1031 | 12 Apr 2026 | 00:58:44 | |
Welcome to episode #1031 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). At a time when businesses are still trying to wrap their heads around "customer experience," few thinkers have shaped that conversation… and pushed it forward… as much as B. Joseph Pine II. As cofounder of Strategic Horizons, Joe has spent decades helping organizations understand how economic value evolves… from commodities to goods, to services, to experiences… and now, to something far more ambitious. Best known for The Experience Economy: Work Is Theatre And Every Business A Stage, Joe didn't just introduce a concept… he gave leaders a new language to describe how businesses compete for time, attention and meaning. In this conversation, Joe extends that thinking through his latest work, The Transformation Economy: Guiding Customers To Achieve Their Aspirations, where the goal is no longer just to stage memorable moments… but to help customers become something more. He argues that the highest form of economic value isn't what a company delivers… but what a customer becomes as a result. That shift reframes everything: experiences are no longer the end game… they are the raw material for change. Drawing on decades of research and real-world examples, Joe makes the case that businesses must move beyond efficiency and even beyond engagement… toward fostering human flourishing across dimensions like health, wealth, wisdom and purpose. It's a bold elevation of the role of business… one that demands a long-term mindset, ethical use of data, and a deeper understanding of individual customers as people, not segments. And while technologies like AI can accelerate customization and coaching, Joe is clear that tools alone won't get us there… mindset will. In a world obsessed with speed, optimization and short-term gains, this conversation is a powerful reminder that the real opportunity lies in helping people grow… not just transact. Enjoy the conversation…
Chapters: (00:00) - The Experience Economy: A Game Changer. | |||
| Thinking At The Edge Of What's Possible With Avinash Kaushik - TWMJ #1030 | 05 Apr 2026 | 01:16:14 | |
Welcome to episode #1030 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). At a time when marketing (and AI) feels both hyper-measurable and strangely uncertain, few voices bring as much clarity… and lived perspective… as Avinash Kaushik. A longtime friend (and he's also available for your next meeting at ThinkersOne) of the show and one of the most influential thinkers in marketing and technology, Avinash first rose to prominence as the analytics evangelist at Google, where he helped bring web analytics into the mainstream and reshape how businesses think about measurement and decision-making. He is also the bestselling author of Web Analytics 2.0 and Web Analytics: An Hour A Day— thinking that has become foundational texts for marketers navigating data-driven environments. Today, he serves as Chief Strategy Officer at Human Made Machine and as a strategic advisor at Tapestry, working across brands like Coach and Kate Spade to drive transformation at scale. Beyond his corporate roles, Avinash continues to publish his widely read newsletter, The Marketing Analytics Intersect, where he explores the evolving intersection of data, technology, and business strategy while donating all proceeds to charity. In our conversation, Avinash unpacks how the industry over-indexed on performance metrics at the expense of brand, and why that imbalance is now being corrected… not by marketers, but by AI. He argues that while AI will automate much of what we once considered core marketing work, it simultaneously elevates the importance of judgment, creativity, and asking better questions. Drawing from real-world examples, Avinash makes a compelling case that the future belongs to those who don't just adopt AI tools, but rethink their role entirely. The opportunity isn't to do the same work faster… it's to redefine what work is worth doing in the first place. And while the hype cycle around AI is loud, Avinash offers a more grounded perspective: imperfect systems, messy organizations and human dynamics will always shape outcomes. The real risk isn't that AI replaces us… it's that we fail to evolve alongside it. Enjoy the conversation…
Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to Avinash and His Journey. | |||
| Navigating The Near Future With David Armano - TWMJ #1029 | 29 Mar 2026 | 01:00:57 | |
Welcome to episode #1029 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). These days, technology feels both familiar… and completely unrecognizable. Few voices bring the kind of clarity and grounded perspective that David Armano does. A longtime digital strategist, advisor, self-proclaimed futurist and friend, David has spent decades at the front lines of transformation… helping organizations navigate everything from the rise of social media to the mobile-first revolution, and now the seismic shift of artificial intelligence. In his current role at Launch by NTT Data, he works directly with enterprises trying to make sense of AI not as a tool, but as a system-wide change that touches people, process and culture. Alongside this, his widely read Substack, David by Design has become a space where he explores what he calls "intelligent experiences, "and the broader societal implications of living in a world shaped by AI. In this conversation, David frames AI as both a continuation of past technological waves and something entirely new, with a cognitive reach that extends far beyond previous disruptions. He reflects on how organizations are grappling with adoption - often caught between experimentation and transformation - while individuals face a more personal tension: the realization that the very tools augmenting their work may also replace it. At the same time, David pushes beyond the typical optimism-versus-doom narrative, offering a more nuanced lens rooted in what he calls "adapting intelligently"… a form of realism that acknowledges both the extraordinary upside and the very real societal risks. From the emergence of an "intelligence wealth gap" to the psychological impact of algorithmic systems, we explore how AI may amplify both opportunity and inequality… rewarding those who learn to direct it while leaving others increasingly dependent on it. Grounded in both professional experience and personal reflection, this is a conversation about change at every level… not just technological, but human.  Enjoy the conversation…
Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to David Armano. | |||
| Belief, Potential And Breakthroughs With Nir Eyal - TWMJ #1028 | 22 Mar 2026 | 00:54:19 | |
Welcome to episode #1028 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). In a world increasingly defined by information overload and ideological certainty, the ability to change one's mind may be the most undervalued skill of all… and few thinkers have explored that terrain as deeply as my friend, Nir Eyal. A bestselling author, behavioral design expert and former Stanford lecturer, Nir has built a career examining how habits are formed, how attention is controlled and how human behavior can be shaped both externally and from within. His previous works, Hooked - How To Build Habit-Forming Products and Indistractable - How To Control Your Attention And Choose Your Life, established him as a leading voice on the psychology of technology and focus. In his latest book, Beyond Belief - Change Your Mind, Change Your Life, Nir shifts inward, exploring the often invisible force that determines whether knowledge translates into action: belief itself. Drawing on behavioral science, psychology and lived experience, he introduces what he calls the "motivation triangle" - behavior, benefit and belief - and argues that without belief, even the best strategies and intentions collapse. At the core of his work is a provocative idea: beliefs are not truths… they are tools (flexible, revisable constructs that shape what we see, feel and do). He explores how limiting beliefs persist even when we know better, why we often fail to act on advice we actively seek, and how techniques like "turnarounds" can help reframe our assumptions to unlock agency and change. At the same time, Nir wrestles with the broader implications of belief in a polarized, AI-driven world… where narratives are reinforced, critical thinking is uneven, and certainty is often mistaken for truth. Grounded in both rigorous research and personal reflection, his work reframes belief not as something to defend, but as something to consciously design and refine. Nir is also available to join your meetings or gatherings on ThinkersOne. I have had him on the show countless times and he is always inspiring and insightful. Enjoy the conversation…
Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to Nir Eyal and His Journey. | |||
| The Science Of Storytelling With Will Storr - TWMJ #1027 | 15 Mar 2026 | 00:54:58 | |
Welcome to episode #1027 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). Will Storr is an award-winning author, journalist and storytelling researcher whose work explores one of the most powerful forces shaping human behavior… the stories we tell ourselves about the world. Over the course of a career that blends psychology, neuroscience, investigative journalism and narrative craft, Will has become one of the most compelling voices examining how stories shape identity, belief and culture. His bestselling books include The Science of Storytelling, Selfie: How We Became So Self-Obsessed And What It's Doing To Us, and The Status Game, each offering a deeper look at the hidden forces driving human motivation and social behavior. In his latest book, A Story Is A Deal - How To Use The Science Of Story To Motivate And Persuade, Will explores how storytelling operates as a powerful psychological transaction… a kind of deal between storyteller and audience that shapes what we believe, who we trust and how we act. Drawing on research from neuroscience and psychology alongside examples that range from ancient rituals to modern brand campaigns, Will shows how narratives influence everything from the leaders we follow to the products we buy. In this conversation, Will explores why people so often believe stories before they believe facts, how identity and status shape the narratives we embrace, and why character-driven storytelling remains the most powerful way to influence human behavior. At the same time, he wrestles with the darker side of narrative… the way stories can fuel misinformation, reinforce tribal identities and manipulate audiences when used without care. As artificial intelligence begins to play a role in creating and distributing stories, the conversation also turns to questions of authenticity, creativity and the future of narrative itself. I'm a huge fan of Will's work and it was truly a honor to host him. Enjoy the conversation…
Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to Storytelling and Its Significance. | |||
| Getting Your Strategy Right With Kevin Ertell | 08 Mar 2026 | 00:58:44 | |
Welcome to episode #1026 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). At a time when strategy has become a kind of corporate theater… carefully crafted presentations, ambitious roadmaps and bold declarations that rarely survive first contact with reality… Kevin Ertell has spent a career focused on the harder question: why execution so often fails. Kevin is the Founder and CEO of Mistere Advisory and a veteran operator whose three decades of experience include leading large-scale retail and e-commerce operations at global brands like Nike, Sur La Table, Borders, and Tower Records. Over the years he has developed a reputation as a straight-talking advisor who helps leaders turn complexity into clarity and ambition into measurable results. His work spans industries including technology, healthcare, retail, consumer goods and manufacturing, where he focuses on helping organizations align teams, simplify priorities and build the operating rhythms required to deliver on their plans. In his new book, The Strategy Trap - Why Companies Fail at Execution and How to Get It Right, Kevin draws on decades of frontline experience to tackle a frustrating reality of modern business: most strategies don't fail on paper… they fail in the real world. Through practical frameworks like his Six Cs of Execution (Co-creation, Clarity, Capacity, Communication, Coordination and Coaching) he argues that strategy and execution must begin in the same room, with teams co-creating the plan and committing to disciplined follow-through. Kevin explores how incentives shape behavior, why organizations must slow down to create clarity before accelerating, and how leadership cultures built around coaching and collaboration can unlock real momentum. Grounded in operational experience rather than theory, his work reframes strategy not as a planning exercise but as a team sport that requires alignment, accountability and relentless focus on execution. Enjoy the conversation…
Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to Kevin Ertell and his Expertise. | |||
| What Is Happening With AI With Ann Handley - TWMJ #1025 | 01 Mar 2026 | 00:56:05 | |
Welcome to episode #1025 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). At a moment when panic travels faster than proof, few marketers are as clear-eyed… and as human… as Ann Handley. A pioneering digital marketing strategist (MarketingProfs), bestselling author (Everybody Writes and Content Rules), longtime champion of writing that actually means something and dear friend (also, if you're not susbscribed to her newsletter, Total Annarchy, you really should be), Ann has built a career reminding businesses that the point of content isn't velocity… it's connection. In her recent essay, Something Messy Is Happening: On AI, Panic, and Asking Better Questions, she pushes back against the apocalyptic certainty surrounding AI job displacement and challenges the framing that faster always wins. Responding to venture capitalist Matt Shumer's argument, Something Big Is Happening, that AI will eliminate half of white-collar work within a few years, Ann dissects the seductive panic embedded in exponential curves and racing metaphors, arguing that technological capability does not equal economic inevitability. She reminds us that adoption is human-shaped, that judgment compounds when speed becomes cheap, and that friction is often where thinking actually happens. Rather than choosing between "adapt or die," Ann advocates for a steadier path: use the tools, reject the hysteria, protect the work that builds trust, expertise and meaning over time. Grounded in curiosity rather than fear, her perspective reframes the moment not as a race to outrun machines but as an invitation to ask better questions about what we're building… and why. Enjoy the conversation…
Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction and Context of AI's Viral Impact. | |||
| Making The Internet Suck Less With Cory Doctorow - TWMJ #1024 | 22 Feb 2026 | 01:00:44 | |
Welcome to episode #1024 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). At a time when the digital infrastructure that underpins modern life feels increasingly hostile, few voices have been as prescient... or as relentless... as Cory Doctorow. A science fiction novelist, journalist and technology activist, Cory serves as Special Advisor to the Electronic Frontier Foundation and has long stood at the intersection of storytelling, policy and power. Over the course of a prolific career (one that includes bestselling fiction, influential tech policy books like Chokepoint Capitalism and The Internet Con, and his widely read Pluralistic blog) Cory has chronicled how digital markets consolidate, calcify and ultimately betray their users. His latest nonfiction work, Enshittification - Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse And What To Do About It, gives a name to the slow degradation of online platforms: the predictable cycle in which services begin by delighting users, then exploit them, then squeeze the businesses that depend on them, until only monopoly power remains. Cory situates this decline not as technological inevitability but as the result of specific policy choices that empowered monopolies and weakened enforcement. At the same time, Cory challenges the fatalism that often surrounds technological decline. Anti-circumvention laws, regulatory capture and collective action problems may constrain consumers, but they are not immovable forces. Cultural norms can shift. Policy can be rewritten. Markets can be redesigned. Grounded in economic literacy and moral urgency, Cory's work calls for ethical leadership, regulatory courage and a reclamation of agency in the systems that shape our digital lives. Enjoy the conversation…
Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to Cory Doctorow. | |||
| Distrust, Polarization And Hypocrisy With Michael Hallsworth - TWMJ #1023 | 15 Feb 2026 | 00:55:05 | |
Welcome to episode #1023 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). In an era where outrage travels faster than reflection, few accusations carry as much moral force as the charge of hypocrisy… and yet few concepts are as misunderstood. Michael Hallsworth is Chief Behavioral Scientist at the Behavioral Insights Team and a leading voice in behavioral economics, with academic appointments at the University of Pennsylvania and a career devoted to understanding how real people actually think and act in complex systems. His research spans public policy, organizational behavior and social judgment, examining how incentives, norms, and cognitive biases shape everything from government programs to corporate decision-making. In his new book, The Hypocrisy Trap - How Changing What We Criticize Can Improve Our Lives, Michael challenges the conventional belief that hypocrisy is simply a moral failing to be stamped out. Instead, he reframes it as a process… an inconsistency we dislike because we believe someone is gaining an unjust benefit… and argues that relentless accusations can backfire, breeding cynicism, polarization, and institutional decay. Drawing on evolutionary psychology, behavioral science, and contemporary case studies, he distinguishes between common standards hypocrisy and the more corrosive double standards that undermine fairness itself. He explores how social media amplifies moralistic aggression, how public signaling can both distort and reshape behavior, and why tolerating certain forms of inconsistency may be necessary for leadership and democratic compromise. Rather than excusing deception, Michael calls for sharper discernment: identifying which inconsistencies cause real harm and which reflect the unavoidable trade-offs of human life. Grounded in rigorous scholarship yet strikingly practical, his work urges greater self-reflection, empathy and intellectual humility in a culture quick to condemn. Enjoy the conversation…
Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to Hypocrisy. | |||
| Real Transformations With Phil Gilbert - TWMJ #1022 | 08 Feb 2026 | 01:02:50 | |
Welcome to episode #1022 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). At a moment when organizational change is too often treated as a mandate rather than an experience people choose to embrace, Phil Gilbert has spent his career proving that transformation only sticks when it earns genuine buy-in. Phil is a design executive, transformation leader and former General Manager of Design at IBM, where he architected one of the largest cultural and operational shifts in corporate history, helping nearly 400,000 employees across 180 countries become more entrepreneurial, agile and customer-centered. Trained as both a designer and systems thinker, Phil brought design thinking out of studios and into the core of enterprise decision-making, reshaping how teams collaborated, how products were built, and how leaders understood their customers. His work at IBM addressed hard truths, including the company's struggles with usability and missed opportunities in the early cloud era, by treating change itself as a product worthy of rigor, investment, and care. That experience became the foundation for his book Irresistible Change - A Blueprint For Earning Buy-In And Breakout Success, which blends narrative and field guide to show how large organizations can scale transformation by focusing on people, practices, and environments rather than slogans or top-down directives. Phil's approach reframes culture as an outcome, not an initiative, arguing that lasting change emerges when employees see themselves in the future being designed. Beyond IBM, his work as an executive coach and advisor continues to focus on how leaders navigate complexity, align teams, and thoughtfully integrate technologies like AI into human systems without eroding trust or creativity. Grounded in real-world execution rather than theory, Phil's perspective challenges organizations to stop forcing change and start making it irresistible. Enjoy the conversation…
Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to Phil Gilbert and His Journey. | |||
| Navigating Strategy In The Age Of AI With Roger Martin - TWMJ #1021 | 01 Feb 2026 | 00:58:40 | |
Welcome to episode #1021 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). At a time when strategy is often confused with forecasting and certainty is mistaken for rigor, the work of Roger Martininsists on a more demanding discipline: making clear, integrated choices under uncertainty. Named the world's #1 management thinker by Thinkers50 in 2017, Roger is a writer, strategy advisor, and the former Dean at the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, where he served for fifteen years and reshaped how management education engages with real-world complexity. Over decades, he has advised CEOs at companies including Procter & Gamble, Lego, Ford, American Express, Verizon, and Steelcase, helping leaders move beyond abstract ambition toward actionable, coherent strategies. His thinking has long been a personal touchstone for navigating difficult, high-stakes business problems, and he remains my go-to guide when confronting complexity that resists easy answers… a familiarity reinforced by his return here after previous appearances. Before academia, he spent thirteen years at Monitor, serving as co-head of the firm and grounding his thinking in the realities of corporate decision-making. His newly updated book, Playing To Win, Expanded With Bonus HBR Articles - How Strategy Really Works co-authored with A.G. Lafley, remains one of the most influential strategy texts of the modern era, distilling strategy into a set of five integrated choices about where to play and how to win, supported by capabilities and systems that reinforce those decisions. Across thirteen books and more than thirty Harvard Business Review articles, Roger has explored integrative thinking, democratic capitalism, governance and the design of business itself, consistently challenging leaders to resist false tradeoffs and simplistic answers. His work confronts contemporary issues head-on: the misuse of AI as an answer machine rather than a thinking partner, the hollowing out of education into ideological extremes, the erosion of institutional trust and the persistent illusion that the future must resemble the past. Through it all, his argument is steady and clear: strategy fundamentals endure, and superior managerial effectiveness begins with disciplined thinking, principled choice, and the courage to commit. If you're not following his free Substack, you reall should. It's always an honor to spend tie with Roger. Enjoy the conversation…
Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to Roger Martin. | |||
| Boundless Creativity And Design Mastery With David "Shingy" Shing - TWMJ #1020 | 25 Jan 2026 | 01:02:32 | |
Welcome to episode #1020 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). At a time when technology listens more closely than people realize and advertising feels less predictive than presumptive, understanding how culture, data and human behavior collide has become essential. David "Shingy" Shing has spent his career at that intersection, shaping how global brands think about creativity, relevance and the emotional consequences of digital systems. Know as the Digital Prophet at AOL (and then Verizon) and a very influential voice in modern branding and innovation, Shingy has advised companies, leaders and creatives on how emerging technologies reshape not just markets, but meaning itself. His work has consistently challenged organizations to move beyond optimization toward empathy, imagination and cultural intelligence. He argues that the most important signals in a data-saturated world are often the quietest ones. That perspective now finds a more personal, reflective outlet in his Substack, Shingy, a newsletter focused on branding, culture, AI and the human side of technology. He explores how conversational data, algorithmic inference and attention-driven business models are altering the relationship between consumers and the systems designed to serve them. Shingy examines why ads increasingly feel intrusive rather than helpful, how conversations themselves have become raw material for targeting and why consumer fatigue is less about frequency than about lost agency. Shingy's work surfaces a growing tension between personalization and privacy, usefulness and surveillance, convenience and control. He argues that as machines become better listeners, brands must become better stewards of restraint, intent and respect... or risk eroding the very relationships they're trying to monetize. Grounded in curiosity and creative provocation, his thinking offers a necessary counterweight to an industry too often obsessed with what can be done instead of what should be done. Enjoy the conversation…
Chapters: (00:00) - The Evolution of Digital and Consumer Behavior. | |||
| Leadership Unblocked With Muriel Wilkins - TWMJ #1019 | 18 Jan 2026 | 00:52:33 | |
Welcome to episode #1019 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). At a time when leadership is being tested less by strategy and more by inner capacity, clarity of judgment and emotional steadiness, the work of Muriel Wilkins stands out for its insistence that progress begins from the inside out. Muriel is an executive coach, CEO of Paravis Partners, and a trusted advisor to senior leaders navigating complexity at the highest levels of organizations, drawing on more than two decades of experience working with C-suite executives and high-potential leaders. A Harvard Business School graduate with a background in consulting and corporate leadership, she brings uncommon credibility to the often-abstract world of coaching, pairing business fluency with deep insight into human behavior, adult development and decision-making under pressure. Her book, Leadership Unblocked - Break Through The Beliefs That Limit Your Potential, distills years of coaching practice into a clear-eyed examination of the unconscious beliefs that quietly constrain leaders, revealing how assumptions about control, certainty, identity and responsibility shape (and often limit) how leaders respond to challenge. Rather than offering tactical fixes or performative confidence, Muriel's work focuses on expanding a leader's capacity to hold complexity, see multiple options and respond with intention rather than reflex. She explores how leaders mature over time, why success can actually stall growth, and how unexamined beliefs turn everyday pressure into unnecessary suffering. Her perspective reframes leadership development as adult development, emphasizing that the ability to lead others sustainably depends on a leader's willingness to do their own internal work. In an era defined by uncertainty, generational shifts and accelerating technology, Muriel's thinking argues for a quieter but more demanding form of leadership... one rooted in self-awareness, discernment and the courage to question one's own mental models before attempting to change anyone else's. Enjoy the conversation…
Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to Executive Coaching.
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| More Humane Work With Joe O'Connor - TWMJ #1018 | 11 Jan 2026 | 00:55:56 | |
Welcome to episode #1018 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). At a moment when burnout is normalized and productivity is still measured by hours rather than impact, the five-day workweek is starting to look less like a foundation of modern life and more like an outdated design choice. Joe O'Connoris the CEO of Work Time Revolution and one of the world's leading architects of the four-day workweek, having designed and led large-scale pilots across multiple countries, industries and organizational types. His work sits at the intersection of labor economics, organizational culture and performance design, helping companies rethink how work actually gets done in a knowledge-based, AI-accelerated economy. Joe has advised governments, nonprofits and private-sector leaders on how to redesign work in ways that improve employee well-being while maintaining (or increasing) organizational performance, challenging deeply held assumptions about time, output and commitment. His new book, Do More In Four - Why It's Time For A Shorter Workweek (with co-author Jared Lindzon), brings together research, real-world case studies and global experimentation to argue that the five-day workweek is neither inevitable nor optimal. Joe shows how reducing work time can sharpen focus, improve equity and force organizations to confront outdated productivity metrics built for an industrial era. He also examines how AI is accelerating the need for new work models, exposing the inefficiencies of activity-based measurement and pushing leaders to define productivity in terms of outcomes, not presence. Grounded in data yet pragmatic about cultural resistance, Joe's perspective positions the four-day workweek not as an employee concession, but as a competitive advantage for organizations willing to rethink the rules of work before the market forces them to. Enjoy the conversation…
Chapters: (00:00) - The Evolution of the Work Week. | |||
| Why We're All Digitally Exhausted With Paul Leonardi - TWMJ #1017 | 04 Jan 2026 | 01:02:57 | |
Welcome to episode #1017 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). At a time when technology promises limitless capability yet leaves so many people mentally depleted, the question is no longer whether digital tools are powerful, but whether we know how to live with them. Paul Leonardi is a leading expert on digital transformation, the future of work, and organizational networks, with more than two decades of research and advisory work focused on how technology reshapes collaboration, innovation, and human behavior. A professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he holds the Duca Family Endowed Chair and chairs the Department of Technology Management, Paul has advised Fortune 500 companies, startups, and nonprofits on navigating the people side of technological change. His work has shaped global conversations, translating rigorous research into practical frameworks leaders can actually use. His latest book, Digital Exhaustion - Simple Rules For Reclaiming Your Life, confronts a growing paradox of modern work and life: technologies that make everything possible are also wearing us down. Drawing on years of research and real-world observation, Paul explains why digital exhaustion isn't simply about screen time, but about constant task switching, inference-making in data-saturated environments, and the emotional toll of being perpetually reachable. He examines how capitalist incentives and addictive design amplify fatigue, why generational differences don't offer immunity, and how the collapse of clear boundaries between work, home, and identity has created a new baseline of psychological strain. Rather than advocating withdrawal or digital detoxes, Paul offers a more realistic path rooted in intentionality, clearer norms, and conscious choices about which tools deserve our attention. His work reframes exhaustion not as personal failure, but as a systemic condition that can be managed through better design, better habits, and a more humane relationship with technology. Enjoy the conversation…
Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to Digital Exhaustion. | |||
| AI And The Future Of Marketing With Mark Schaefer - TWMJ #1016 | 28 Dec 2025 | 01:06:08 | |
Welcome to episode #1016 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). At a moment when artificial intelligence is reshaping not just how markets operate but how people think, feel, decide and connect, understanding the human consequences of that shift has become essential. Mark Schaefer is a keynote speaker, educator, strategist, and a voice in modern marketing, with more than three decades of experience spanning global sales, public relations and brand strategy. He is a faculty member at Rutgers University. Mark's latest book, How AI Changes Your Customers - The Marketing Guide To Humanity's Next Chapter, extends his body of work by examining how AI is quietly rewiring consumer psychology, trust, agency, empathy, and belonging (be sure to check out his other books). Rather than focusing on algorithms or tools, Mark explores how customers are becoming more machine-assisted, less patient, more dependent on automation, and increasingly hungry for meaning and connection in a world optimized for efficiency. He argues that curiosity, art, and human connection are strategic advantages rather than soft ideals. Grounded in research, lived experience, and cultural observation, his work challenges marketers and leaders to rethink relevance, rethink loyalty, and rethink what it means to serve customers whose decisions are increasingly shaped by machines. At its core, Mark's perspective reframes AI not as a threat to humanity, but as a force that exposes what only humans can still do well…if they choose to lean into it. Enjoy the conversation…
Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to Mark Schaefer and AI's Impact. | |||
| Navigate Hidden Markets With Judd Kessler - TWMJ #1015 | 21 Dec 2025 | 00:57:59 | |
Welcome to episode #1015 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). At a moment when scarcity shapes everything from opportunity to attention, understanding who gets what (and why) has become one of the most consequential questions in modern life. Judd Kessler is the inaugural Howard Marks Endowed Professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, an award-winning economist, and one of the leading thinkers in market design, public policy and behavioral economics. His research examines how rules, incentives, and institutional structures shape outcomes in environments where price alone cannot (or should not) decide allocation, from organ donation systems to education, labor markets, and beyond. Recognized early for his impact, Judd was named one of Forbes' "30 Under 30" in Law and Policy for his work on organ allocation and received the Vernon L. Smith Ascending Scholar Prize in 2021. His first (and new) book, Lucky by Design - The Hidden Economics You Need to Get More of What You Want, distills years of research into how "hidden markets" - those governed by rules rather than prices - quietly determine access to jobs, schools, tickets, healthcare, and even relationships. Judd explores the mechanics of scarcity, the strategic role of lotteries, waiting lists, and signaling, and how individuals unknowingly participate in market design every day. He also examines how AI is beginning to reshape allocation systems, why visible markets increasingly contain hidden layers, and how better design can improve both efficiency and equity. Grounded in rigorous scholarship yet deeply practical, Judd's work reframes luck not as randomness, but as something shaped by systems we can understand and sometimes redesign. Enjoy the conversation…
Chapters: (00:00) - Navigating Economic Sentiments. | |||
| Creators And Entrepreneurs With Joe Pulizzi - TWMJ #1014 | 14 Dec 2025 | 00:59:52 | |
Welcome to episode #1014 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). At a moment when careers feel increasingly precarious and algorithms quietly dictate how value is created and captured, it's worth learning from someone who has spent more than two decades helping creators and entrepreneurs reclaim ownership of their work and their futures. Joe Pulizzi is the founder of multiple influential startups, including Content Marketing Institute, The Tilt, the Content Entrepreneur Expo and is widely recognized as the person who first coined the term "content marketing" in 2001, long before it became an industry unto itself. A bestselling author of seven books, including Epic Content Marketing and Content Inc., Joe has helped shape how organizations and individuals think about audience building, trust, and long-term value creation, earning the Content Council's Lifetime Achievement Award for his impact on the field. After successfully exiting Content Marketing Institute in 2016, he expanded his creative range by writing the award-winning mystery novel The Will To Die, while continuing to host two long-running podcasts, including This Old Marketing, the longest-running marketing news podcast in the world. His latest book, Burn The Playbook: How Creators And Entrepreneurs Escape The 9–5 And Build Businesses That Last, serves as the catalyst for this conversation and reflects a deeply personal mission inspired by his children: to help people stop renting their futures and start building assets they truly own. In the discussion, Joe explores the evolution of content and audience strategy, the underestimated power of repetition in building trust, the growing importance of individual creators over faceless brands, and why human connection matters more than ever in this AI-accelerated world. He also addresses the role of paid promotion, the practical integration of AI into creative work, and why serving a clearly defined audience remains the most durable path to meaning, freedom, and sustainable wealth. Enjoy the conversation…
Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to Joe Pulizzi's Mission. | |||
| Emotionally Intelligent Teams With Vanessa Urch Druskat - TWMJ #1013 | 07 Dec 2025 | 00:55:07 | |
Welcome to episode #1013 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). At a time when organizations are wrestling with fractured cultures, hybrid work, and teams struggling to stay connected, it helps to learn from someone who has spent three decades proving that collaboration is not a personality trait but a designed environment, which is why this episode turns to the work of Vanessa Druskat, an award-winning researcher, educator at the University of New Hampshire, and one of the world's leading experts on team emotional intelligence. Vanessa has devoted her career to understanding how teams actually function in the real world, conducting years of field research inside global companies, university systems, and high-pressure environments to uncover the norms, habits, and emotional cues that separate high-performing groups from those that merely coexist. She is a pioneer of the Team Emotional Intelligence (Team EI) model, a framework now used by leaders around the world to build team cultures rooted in shared understanding, psychological safety, and constructive emotional expression. Her latest book, The Emotionally Intelligent Team - Building Collaborative Groups That Outperform The Rest, anchors this conversation and brings together decades of research showing that great teams are not the inevitable result of great individuals but the product of intentional cultures that enable people to listen, challenge, support, and adapt together. In our discussion, Vanessa explores the evolution of emotional intelligence in the workplace, the persistent resistance to emotional concepts in both academia and business, and the growing gap between individual achievement systems and the collective realities of modern work. She explains why leaders must think more like coaches, why norms matter more than personalities, how remote work demands more deliberate emotional connection, and why teams must continually review and recalibrate their dynamics to sustain high performance. Drawing on insights from social neuroscience, organizational psychology, and global fieldwork, she shows how belonging, shared understanding, and a sense of influence are not "soft skills" but hard prerequisites for collaboration in an increasingly polarized and distracted world. Enjoy the conversation…
Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to Emotional Intelligence in Teams. | |||
| Facing Fear And Finding Purpose With Ranjay Gulati - TWMJ #1012 | 30 Nov 2025 | 00:51:51 | |
Welcome to episode #1012 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). Amid a moment when uncertainty defines every industry and leaders everywhere are confronting fear disguised as strategy, it is worth turning to someone who has spent his career decoding how individuals and organizations find the courage to act, which is why this week's guest, Ranjay Gulati, offers such rare authority. Ranjay is the Paul R. Lawrence MBA Class of 1942 Professor at Harvard Business School, a globally recognized organizational sociologist, bestselling author, and one of the world's most cited scholars on leadership, strategy, and culture. His research has shaped how companies think about growth, resilience, and high-performance environments, and his teaching in Harvard's executive and senior-leader programs has influenced thousands of CEOs navigating transformation and complexity. Before this latest work, he authored landmark books such as Deep Purpose and built a career studying how organizations thrive in adversity, drawing on field research with global enterprises, fast-growth ventures, and leaders operating in the highest-stakes environments. His new book, How To Be Bold - The Surprising Science Of Everyday Courage, anchors this conversation and reflects more than a decade of inquiry into how courage operates - not as myth or personality, but as a learnable, repeatable set of cognitive, emotional, and social processes. In our conversation, Ranjay explains the psychology of fear, the organizational traps created by success, the cultural shifts redefining leadership post-Covid, and why courageous action depends on purpose, identity, and the right forms of support. He illustrates these ideas through stories ranging from nuclear-plant operators to turnaround CEOs to everyday workplace dilemmas, showing how boldness emerges in moments both dramatic and ordinary. With his blend of academic rigor, global fieldwork, and practical insight from advising major companies, Ranjay reveals courage as a continuum that shapes teams, leaders, and cultures, and reminds us that most regret comes not from what we do, but what we avoid. Enjoy the conversation…
Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to Ranjay Gulati and His Work.
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| Why Great Teams Beat Star Talent With Jon Levy - TWMJ #1011 | 23 Nov 2025 | 00:55:35 | |
Welcome to episode #1011 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). We tend to romanticize leadership as an act of personal brilliance, but the deeper story is often about the people who understand what truly moves human beings toward one another. Jon Levy has built a career around that question. A renowned human behavioral scientist, consultant and creator of the long-running Influencers Dinner - a global, invitation-only experiment where guests cook together anonymously to dissolve status cues and foster authentic connection - Jon has spent over fifteen years studying why people bond, collaborate and trust. His work has brought Olympians, Nobel laureates, astronauts, CEOs, creators, and even political leaders into the same kitchen, all guided by his curiosity about what helps human beings unlock their best collective instincts. Jon is also the author of The 2 AM Principle and You're Invited, books that explore adventure, belonging, and the science of human connection. His newest book, Team Intelligence - How Brilliant Leaders Unlock Collective Genius, extends this exploration into the workplace, challenging long-held assumptions about leadership, performance, and why great teams succeed. In this conversation, Jon talks through the surprising behaviors that shape genuine relationships, the role anonymity plays in reducing status pressure, the misconceptions organizations hold about star performers, the importance of emotional intelligence, and why bonus structures often undermine collaboration. He touches on the future of hybrid work, the psychology of status, the gap between individual excellence and team effectiveness, and the small but essential habits that allow groups to think more clearly and solve problems more intelligently. Above all, the discussion offers a window into the mind of someone who has spent his career studying how people come together, and how leaders can create the conditions for teams to do their best thinking. Enjoy the conversation…
Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to John Levy and His Unique Dinners. | |||
| Why Authenticity Is Overrated With Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic - TWMJ #1010 | 16 Nov 2025 | 01:06:25 | |
Welcome to episode #1010 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). What if the search for our "true selves" has been leading us away from who we actually need to become? That's the tension at the heart of Dr. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic's work, a globally respected authority on people analytics, talent, leadership, and the Human–AI interface whose career spans ManpowerGroup, Deeper Signals, Meta Profiling, Columbia University, UCL, and decades of research that have shaped how organizations understand human behavior. His latest book, Don't Be Yourself: Why Authenticity Is Overrated (And What To Do Instead), challenges one of the most cherished modern beliefs - that success comes from projecting our raw, unfiltered selves - and instead argues that adaptability, reputational awareness, and a more evidence-based approach to identity lead to better outcomes for individuals, teams, and societies. He is also the author of Why Do So Many Incompetent Men Become Leaders?, I, Human, The Talent Delusion, and many others. In this conversation, we unpack how hyper-normalized ideas take root, why celebrity culture distorts our sense of what authenticity looks like, and how social media has gamified identity into a curated performance that misleads both the performer and the audience. He explains why leaders must balance sincerity with impression management, how hybrid work and return-to-office debates reveal deeper anxieties about trust and presence, and why intellectual curiosity may be the antidote to polarization in an era where algorithms reward tribalism. The discussion also explores the limits of self-perception, the psychology of reputation, the dangers of treating outliers as role models, and the pivotal role AI may play in counteracting human bias. Ultimately, Tomas argues that authenticity without responsibility collapses into narcissism, and that a more thoughtful, flexible, and socially attuned version of ourselves is not only possible, but necessary. Enjoy the conversation…
Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic.
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| Beyond Flying Cars And Futurist Myths With Nick Foster - TWMJ #1009 | 09 Nov 2025 | 01:01:27 | |
Welcome to episode #1009 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). The future isn't something to predict... it's something to practice. Few people embody that idea more completely than Nick Foster, a designer, futurist and author whose work has quietly influenced some of the most innovative companies on the planet - from Sony, Nokia, and Dyson to Google X, where he served as head of design. In his new book, Could Should Might Don't - How We Think About The Future, Nick challenges the way we imagine what comes next. Rather than offering forecasts, he explores four mindsets - could, should, might, and don't - that shape how individuals and organizations approach uncertainty. In this conversation, Nick reflects on his evolution from industrial design to futures thinking, examining how curiosity fuels creativity, why nostalgia shapes our forward gaze and how responsibility must now sit at the core of every design decision. He questions the seductive influence of science fiction on our collective imagination and unpacks the cultural anxieties that accompany rapid technological change. What emerges is not a roadmap to the future but a framework for thinking. One grounded in humility, storytelling and the courage to sit with what we don't yet know. For Nick, futures design is not about prediction... it's about perspective. Enjoy the conversation…
Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to Futures Design. | |||
| Radical Humanness In The Age of AI With Henrik Werdelin - TWMJ #1008 | 02 Nov 2025 | 01:02:18 | |
Welcome to episode #1008 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). What if artificial intelligence didn't just build faster startups... but redefined what it means to be an entrepreneur? Henrik Werdelin has been exploring that question for years. As the co-founder of Bark (the company behind BarkBox and the new Bark Air) and Prehype (the startup studio that helped launch ventures like AndCo, Ro, and ManagedByQ), Henrik (who also has a great podcast called, Beyond The Prompt) has spent his career creating businesses that live at the intersection of creativity, community and technology. Now, with his new book Me, My Customer And AI, he's rethinking entrepreneurship for a world where anyone can start a business, but few will build one that truly matters. In this conversation, we explore how AI is changing human behavior, the paradox of accessibility and saturation, and why "interestingness" may be the new metric of success. Henrik explains why the future of entrepreneurship isn't about scale, it's about intimacy, authenticity and knowing your customer better than anyone else. We also discuss his latest venture, Audos, a platform designed to help aspiring entrepreneurs build companies using AI agents, and how this movement could usher in a new "neighborhood economy" where small, deeply connected businesses thrive. From reflections on the early internet to insights about the next wave of AI-driven startups, Henrik's ideas are both practical and profoundly human, reminding us that even in an algorithmic age, it's our relationships, our curiosity and our resilience that will define what's next. Enjoy the conversation...
Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to Entrepreneurship and AI. | |||