The Innovation Show

In this thought-provoking episode, Aidan McCullen — Thinkers50 Innovation Award Winner , author of Undisruptable , and host of The Innovation Show — welcomes Samuel Arbesman , scientist, author, and polymath, for the grand finale of their trilogy. Together, they explore The Magic of Code: How Digital Language Created and Connects Our World , diving deep into how code shapes our understanding of re...

In this episode, we explore the intricate world of modern technology with Samuel Arbesman , author of Overcomplicated: Technology at the Limits of Comprehension . Why did the New York Stock Exchange shut down in 2015? What caused Toyota vehicles to accelerate without warning? Samuel reveals how technological "accretion" and interconnected systems create outcomes that even developers, engineers, an...

Facts change — and that's a good thing. In this episode, Samuel Arbesman , complexity scientist and author of The Half-Life of Facts , joins Aidan McCullen to explore how what we know — and believe to be true — constantly evolves. Together, they unpack how facts have a "half-life," why collaboration matters in a changing world, and how exponential knowledge growth reshapes science, strategy, and s...

Why couldn't Adobe—with all its resources—stop Figma? In this power-packed episode of The Innovation Show X , Aidan McCullen dives deep into disruption, transformation, and the future of work with Howard Yu ( Leap ) and Sangeet Paul Choudary ( Reshuffle , Platform Revolution ).   You'll learn why Adobe's shift to the cloud was just Act 2 , and why surviving in the new economy requires mastering Ac...

In this final part of our compelling trilogy, Manu Kapur , author of Productive Failure , returns to uncover the psychology behind effective learning. Discover why failing first can drive deeper understanding, greater retention, and lasting mastery. Hosted by Aidan McCullen , this episode explores real-world strategies rooted in research—from the Zeigarnik Effect to motivational boosts like loss a...

Simon Hill, author of Expected Value (xV) , reveals how to measure and prove the real value of innovation—avoiding theatre, zombie projects, and wasted budgets with his groundbreaking xV framework. Simon introduces his Expected Value (xV) framework , a new system that combines confidence, predicted value, time sensitivity, and strategic fit to prove innovation's worth in terms business leaders and...

In this episode, Michael Raynor — author of The Strategy Paradox and co-author with Clayton Christensen of The Innovator's Solution — joins Aidan McCullen to explore why most strategies fail and how leaders can fix them . From the RAP (Resource Allocation Process) model to the real-world case of BCE's diversification journey , Raynor unpacks how strategy is shaped by resource allocation, risk, and...

In this episode of The Innovation Show , Aidan McCullen welcomes back Manu Kapur , author of Productive Failure , to explore the science of learning through failure . We uncover the Basic Knowledge Fallacy , debate Direct Instruction vs. Discovery Learning , and introduce the Four A's of Learning (Activation, Awareness, Affect, Assembly). Manu also explains why variability, struggle, and pretestin...

What if failure wasn't the end, but the beginning of real growth? In this episode, Aidan McCullen sits down with Manu Kapur , author of Productive Failure , to explore how struggle, setbacks, and mistakes can actually unlock deep learning, creativity, and adaptability . 🔑 What You'll Learn in This Episode: Why productive failure is the secret to lifelong learning How to turn mistakes into powerfu...

What can bees teach us about leadership, teamwork, and innovation? 🐝 In this episode, Philip Atkinson — organizational coach, beekeeper, and author of Bee Wise: 12 Leadership Lessons from a Busy Beehive — shares powerful insights from the hive that apply directly to modern workplaces. We explore: Why the queen bee is not really the leader of the hive How the waggle dance is a perfect metaphor for...

What happens when startups like Figma outpace industry giants like Adobe ? In this episode of The Innovation Show , Aidan McCullen sits down with bestselling author Sangeet Paul Choudary ( Platform Revolution , Reshuffle ) to explore how AI, cloud technology, and mindset shifts are reshaping the future of work, design, and competition. Discover why incumbents often fail—not from lack of innovation...

What if everything you knew about strategy was wrong? In this profound and candid episode, legendary Harvard Business School professors Joseph Bower and Clark Gilbert dismantle the myths of top-down strategy and reveal what actually drives innovation inside organizations — resource allocation . Hosted by Aidan McCullen , this conversation connects over 50 years of organizational research with real...

We delve into Elise Loehnan's acclaimed book 'On Our Best Behaviour,' exploring the societal and cultural forces shaping women's behaviors and the concept of the 'seven deadly sins.' Elise discusses the ingrained cultural pressures that lead women to self-denial and the impact of patriarchal norms. We explore topics such as envy, pride, sloth, and the importance of embracing both masculine and fem...

Unveiling the Gut-Brain Connection: Dr. Steven Gundry on Leaky Gut, Microbiome, and Health   In today's episode, we dive deep into the fascinating world of the gut-brain connection with Dr. Steven Gundry, a prolific author and expert on the subject. Starting with a brief introduction about our sponsor, Kyndryl, we explore the historical context of medical insights from figures like Hippocrates and...

In this episode of the Innovation Show  we delve into the myths and realities of business failures with Greg Satell and Paul Nunes. Join us as we explore classic case studies of companies like Blockbuster, Kodak, and Xerox, and uncover the untold stories behind their perceived failures. We discuss the complexities of decision-making, the importance of controlling the narrative, and the crucial les...

In this episode, we conclude the comprehensive series on Gary Hamel and 'Humanocracy,' diving deep into the principles and practices that can transform entrenched bureaucracies into more dynamic and innovative organizations. Host Aidan interviews Gary Hamel to discuss the persistent issue of bureaucracy stifling economic growth and the groundbreaking transformation at Roche as a case study. The co...

In this episode of the Innovation Show, Aidan McCullen welcomes back Gary Hamel to dive deep into the updated release of his book, 'Humanocracy.' They explore the principles and practices of leading companies like Nucor and Haier that reject traditional bureaucratic models in favor of empowering every employee to be an entrepreneur. Gary Hamel shares insights into the mechanisms driving innovation...

In this episode of The Gary Hamel Series, we explore the principles laid out in 'Humanocracy,' a manifesto that argues for liberating human capabilities from the stranglehold of bureaucracy. We delve into practical strategies for creating more dynamic, innovation-driven organizations. Special guest, Gary Hamel, discusses the economic and social implications of bureaucratic systems and presents alt...

Strategic Innovation and the Joe Bower Model Extended with Robert Burgelman   In this episode, host Aidan McCullen delves into the intricacies of strategic innovation with Professor Robert Burgelman. The discussion focuses on the extension of the Joe Bower model, exploring organizational adaptation, strategic dissonance, and the strategic context process. Burgelman elucidates four types of strateg...

In this episode of The Innovation Show , host Aidan McCullen is joined by Stanford's Robert Burgelman , one of the foremost thinkers in strategy and organizational evolution. Together, they explore the idea of  strategic dissonance —when a company's day-to-day decisions conflict with its overarching strategy. Drawing from his research at Intel , Burgelman unpacks how induced and autonomous strateg...

In this episode of the 'Hours of Bower' series, sponsored by Kyndryl, we delve into Chapter 3 of 'From Resource Allocation to Strategy' with Professor Robert Burgelman.     The discussion centers around a revolutionary view of corporate strategy using Intel Corporation's transformation over several decades. Professor Burgelman reframes strategy as an emergent and evolving organizational capability...

In this episode, long time friend of the show, Clark Gilbert joins us to discuss his book 'Anomaly Seeking Research, 30 Years of Development in Resource Allocation Theory,' co-authored with Clayton Christensen and others. Gilbert elaborates on key themes from the book, including Joe Bower's groundbreaking 1970 resource allocation model, and how this framework has shaped decades of strategic manage...

Joseph L. Bower on Resource Allocation and Strategy "Where you stand depends on where you sit." In this exclusive episode of The Innovation Show, Harvard legend Joseph L. Bower shares the untold story behind his groundbreaking work on Resource Allocation to Strategy — a theory that has shaped generations of business leaders, strategists, and scholars. Bower reveals: How real strategy emerges throu...

The Power of Strategic Intent: Insights with Gary Hamel | Aidan McCullen   In this episode, Aidan McCullen and Gary Hamel dive into the key principles of strategic intent and how companies can maintain competitiveness in a rapidly evolving market. They explore concepts like building layers of advantage, searching for vulnerabilities in competitors, and the importance of continuous learning and inn...

Gary Hamel joins us to delve into part 2 of his book 'What Matters Now,' exploring the crucial role adaptability plays in the modern world. Gary discusses how rapid, multifaceted changes define our age and the stress it places on individuals and institutions. Using various industry examples, from mobile phones to airlines, he emphasizes the importance of continuous reinvention and the challenges b...