DangerMouth: The Innovation Station

Its over 50 years since Robert Pirsig's book, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (ZAM) was published.  ZAM is the story of Robert Pirsig's struggle with various paradoxes, a story with no tidy endings. In this era of omni-crisis the questions raised are more relevant than ever and hold clues for the innovator who wants to integrate Mythos and Logos and strive for Quality.  This episode also...

In their forthcoming book "1%ers" Shana and Darrell argue that we humans need to restore the balance between science and the humanities to thrive in the age of AI. Step one in this process is to shake off the over reliance left brain reductionist thinking. This new mindset requires overcoming ingrained habits. This episode is a discussion about how to change your mind.   https://www.youtube.com/wa...

This episode was triggered by the inciteful review/final chapter of the book Champion Thinking by Simon Mundie which appeared in the April Issue of the Systematic Innovation Ezine (issue 277). The theme of the book is that "success" in life, sport and innovation is held back by a series of common illusions/beliefs that need to be discarded.   The Ezine is available here: https://si-shop.org.uk/fre...

In this episode the team welcome special guest Andy Brunskill, who shares his insights of how Green World Innovation techniques can be effective in the Red World of continuous improvement. Find out more about Andy here: https://sapartners.com/team/bio-andy-brunskill/

Every minute organisations across the globe are becoming more tightly coupled. This exponentially increases the number of variables that might impact your plans, complexity balloons. instability in major nodes and the disruption of AI are tipping the world system into a chaotic state. Old heuristics that worked in high complexity contexts aren't suited to a chaotic environment. Leaders all over th...

In this episode we welcome special guest Hilarie Owen author of the Book "In Search of Leaders", published 25 years ago and still so startlingly relevant, that Darrell featured it as Book of the Month in his March E-Zine . There is a great deal of wisdom in this episode for those not addicted to the allure of simple answers to complex issues.

In 2020 by  Gary Hamel and  Michele Zanini published the book Humanocracy. Mike and Darrell discuss whether this is an important tool in the increasingly difficult task of aligning people engaged in a common endeavour. 

In this episode Darrell, Shana and Mikey relate their experiences of being educated and consider ways in which the goals of the education system could be better aligned with ever changing requirements of todays society.

Misalignment between silos in an organisation is very common, very costly and a major reason why bold initiatives fail.  In this episode Darrell, Shana and Mikey attempt to align themselves as they investigate whether the Theory of System Completeness will help them out.

A quote attributed to Mahatma Gandhi sums up the long road to Indian Independence in one sentence "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win". If in order to win/innovate you have to endure years of being ostracised, mocked and attacked, its going to be a very tough time. In this episode the transatlantic trio examine the role of suffering in the innovation p...

Agatha Christie is quoted as saying: "I don't think necessity is the mother of invention. Invention, in my opinion, arises directly from idleness, possibly also from laziness — to save oneself trouble." In this episode Darrel, Mikey and Shana,  chew over laziness in the context of innovation.

Jon Gower sometime author, presenter, raconteur, nature lover, journalist, historian, academic and professional Welshman joins us on this episode. Jons special talent is that he has never let his passions and curiosity be ring fenced and has the courage to follow paths that others would forsake. The Turning Tide: A Biography of the Irish Sea I Know an Island - RM Lockley Lundy, Fastnet, Irish Sea:...

Harbinger of revolution or overblown hype AI, is casting a shadow of doubt over all projected futures and that's only the headliner. In this episode we discuss how to be swept along by the Coming Wave rather than obliterated by it. Its a time for bold moves, rejecting the allure of the safe and sensible and having the wisdom to take what today seems the crazy option, one that only makes sense with...

In this episode Darrell and Mikey are joined by Dr Avi and his AI Clone MobiAvi. Up for discussion are the loneliness of the long distance CEO, where best to leverage you efforts if you want to make the world a better place and the fascination experiences of a trailblazing experiment in sharing a digital version of yourself with the world. https://www.dravileadership.com/

This episode uses the physical and psychological challenges of solo long distance coastal adventuring as a framing device for examining innovation basics.  Darrell steers, Shana sets the climate and as usual Mikey desperately treads water.    https://www.mikeyhere.com/p/3-capital-kayak.html

Dangermouth strays into the danger zone and attempts to find a fresh take on deliberating the desireable outcome for the 2024 election. Darrell joins Shana on location in the USA for this episode. References The Third Way Podcast: Audrey Tand and Digital Citizen Assemblies A time of revolution Book: The Great Upheaval: America and the Birth of the Modern World, 1788–1800 Podcast: Yuval Levin on Bu...

The rediscovery and painstaking restoration of Aristotle's Poetics revealed a lost method of literary theory, seeing literature as a progression of innovations. Wordmaster John Reel joins Darrell and Mikey to examine the "and" and "but" of the creative process. Wonderworks: Literary invention and the science of stories My Half Orange: A Story of Love and Language in Seville        

Instinct is potentially a highly powerful creative tool, one that is largely shunned in western society as it is hard to define, tricky to measure and like AI no one really knows what is going on inside the box. Shana, Darrell and Mikey try to pin down the jello. Darrell thinks he has the answer, Mikey knows he has and Shana provides a grounding dose of reality.   Links Instinct EZine The Master a...

Comedy is innovation in real time. Professor of Comedy Emma Holmes and Drama Queen Christine van Asselt give Darrell and Mikey lessons in laughter. It's a funny business!   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hflp9tE0Iww https://www.linkedin.com/company/eeh-productions/about/    

In this episode Darrell and Mikey are joined by special guest Steve Barbone, Professor of Philosophy at San Diego State University. Together we wrestle to get the right mix between romantic and classical, art and science, sense and nonsense as we tweak the carburettor of philosophy. Pure Quality. I wonder whether Robert Pirsig would have approved?

Paul Baxter approaches the world from his own unique perspective and has the showman's aptitude for storytelling. His homespun philosophy has produced startling innovations and enabled him to live life on his own terms. Mikey and Darrell relish the chance to converse with someone who Darrell refers to as a force of nature.   ASK the BAXTER: How To Think Clearly and Answer Big Questions https://www...

In 1997 the book ‘The Fourth Turning’ laid out a controversial theory that history is driven by a four phase generational cycle. This compelling theory has influenced a wide range of people from Al Gore to Steve Bannon. In this episode, our guest Janne Miettine, puts forward a strong case that cyclical hormone levels drive societal behaviour and are the mechanism behind the phase changes. Janne ha...

Darrell and Mikey welcome John Gallacher, Director of Dementias Platform UK (DPUK), for a deeply satisfying conversation.   John is driving a global movement to bring economies of scale to the acquisition and storage of quality data, and its distribution and use for public benefit.   John embodies the foundational principles of a horizontal thinker; big picture long term thinking, spanning silos,...

In a spookily prescient example, London Underground and a nesting plover conspire to derail this episode, but the show does go on.   Darrell and an epically deranged Mikey are joined by Shana and Olly the Jolly to discuss how an understanding of complexity should alter the way you behave.   I think we have unfinished business!   Special thanks to Paul Wilkinson for knocking this verbal spaghetti i...

Many people are so busy chasing their tails they can't see the way off the hamster wheel. That's where Electra comes in. Coming from the world of corporate law, where cross fertilization of ideas illuminates the way forward, Electra has the smarts and the people skills to make change happen. In this episode Electra shares her stories and Darrell finds many parallel with his heroes journey.