The Occupational Philosophers - A not-so-serious business podcast to spark Creativity, Imagination and Curiosity
Would you like to unlock the creative, imaginative and innovative potential in your team or organisation…BUT…don’t want to listen to another serious podcast which offers 7 steps, 5 habits, 3 mantras, and a hard sell in a pear tree? Then join ‘The Occupational Philosophers’, a ‘not-so-serious’ podcast with Simon Banks (middle-aged Australian surfer man, artist and published author) and John Rice (middle-aged British man with a love of curiosity and philosophy) as they chat with a ‘clowder’ (great word!) of curious cats from the fields of Comedy, Academia, Philosophy, Neuroscience, Psychology, Design, Marketing, and Business, to explore how you, your team, and your organisation, can develop your curiosity, spark your creativity, and free your imagination, so you can grow your business and your people….sounds great huh?! But don’t just take our word for it, read what our listeners think: “Worth a listen, one of them has a strange Australian accent” “They’re not philosophers, they’re idiots” “If you like business, philosophy, humour, creativity, and imagination, then have a listen - if not, then I would leave well alone” http://www.occupationalphilosophers.com
Episodes
In Episode 118,The Occupational Philosophers dive into a totally different format! Together with Natasha Redman, host of the very popular‘Casa De Cambio’ podcast, they have created their first ‘mash up’ podcast episode which invites them to be both guests and hosts to each other on one show!
In this episode they explore a wide range of topics including:
- What’s the best...
The Occupational Philosophers | Episode 117 | With Jasper Vallance
Jasper Vallance is a social entrepreneur who left his corporate life at Google to create a life of meaning driven by his passions. As an event architect, he became the founder of Australia's largest sober dance party.
He has taken what he learned at Burning Man to rethink what corporate gatherings could actually do for people. This epis...
In this episode 114, the Occupational Philosophers chat with the wonderfully curious Professor Katherine Boydell.
Katherine is an internationally recognised leader in qualitative inquiry and arts-based knowledge translation in mental health and social care with innovative approaches to create knowledge and translate empirical research using arts-based methods, including art installations.
She is the founder and head of ...
In Episode 116,The Occupational Philosophers chat with Tim Simpson, creative director of Plunge Creations, a company probably best known for being the imaginative powerhouse in designing and making the costumes for ‘The Masked Singer UK’.
In this episode they explore a wide range of topic including:
- Why pencil and paper beats working on a laptop
- How i...
The Occupational Philosophers chat with Kurt Sneddon, photographer, cinematographer, and actor.
In this episode, they explore a wide range of topics including:
- Where AI can enhance the creative process
- The art of seeing; noticing what others might miss
- How the ‘buffet of inspiration’ differs between Sydney and NYC
- Read more
In this episode 113, the Occupational Philosophers chat with the wonderfully curious David Bramwell - a writer, broadcaster, performer and professional seeker.
He’s the author of The Number 9 Bus to Utopia, a philosophical travel memoir, in which he went looking for different and potentially better ways of living.
He’s presented many programmes for BBC Radio 3 and BBC Radio 4 on subjects ranging from Ivor Cutler, ...
In Episode 112, The Occupational Philosophers chat with the artists, Catherine Borowski and Lee Baker, two exceptionally talented guests who show the true power of creative collaboration and imagination.
Together they have brought to life the SKIP Gallery; an international, collaborative, multi-disciplinary public art project dedicated to creating much-needed space, opportunities, funding and advocacy for emerging artists. Th...
In this episode, John and Simon chat with award-winning author and science communicator Cristy Burne. With 23 books under her belt, a stint at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider, and a mis...
Have you noticed everyone on LinkedIn now turns the most mundane crap into a business lesson? Stubbed toe...that's leadership. Wrinkly socks...team dynamics. Toothbrush running flat...how do you lead a team? So Simon and John built a template. Now you can too.
In Episode 109, The Occupational Philosophers chat with Eric Weiner, an award-winning journalist, a New York Times bestselling author, and much sought-after keynote speaker on a variety of topics, including happiness, innovation strategies and the "power of place." He regularly leads writing workshops around the world.
He is a former foreign correspondent for NPR and reporter for The New York Times. He's reported from more than 30 ...
John and Simon explore the creative wisdom of music producer Rick Rubin and what it means to bring creativity into everyday work and life
What does it really mean to be creative? In this Inbetweener episode, The Occupational Philosophers explore the insights of legendary music producer Rick Rubin, whose work spans from the Beastie Boys to Adele. Drawing on his book The Creative Act: A Way of ...
In episode 107, The Occupational Philosophers chat with the highly curious Dr Jochen Schweitzer, a strategy, innovation, and entrepreneurship researcher and education leader at UTS, Director of the Executive MBA, advisor, and author.
His research, teaching and consulting focus on issues of strategy, collaboration, entrepreneurship and innovation with a special interest in design thinking, emerging technologies and open innova...
Hello and welcome back to 2025! (Noting the irony that is is now April...)
The Occupational Philosophers have returned from walking the Earth, exploring the heavens and astral travelling beyond the stratosphere - metaphorically and literally. Feeling refreshed, joyous and 1.27% more wise, they are excited for the new season of the show.
This episode combines the loves of both John and Simon: Great questions and raucous ...
Reflecting on the year of 2024 seemed like such a good idea. That's the thing right?
Launching that episode as quickly as planned didn't go as well as planned....
Drinking their own Kool-Aid and embracing serendipity, mistakes and experimentation The Occupational Philosophers still hit launch and took on the gift of a slightly delayed episode like a gift from the Norse Gods.
In this episode the deep themes o...
In episode 103, The Occupational Philosophers chat with Creative Director, Brand Strategist and Poly-Disciplinary Creative Chameleon, Rozhia Tabnak.
Her work includes interior design, art curation, film production design, and graphic work across the spectrum of media. which unite under the umbrella of spatial design. She believes that the design of a space is holistic yet interpretive and that the experience of the client is ...
In this short, sharp Inbetweener episode, The Occupational Philosophers celebrate their “One hundred and something” birthday! As well as an opportunity to blow up some balloons, eat some cake, and pat themselves on the back…they delve back into some highlights from the first 100 episodes and some sage advice from guests who have helped populate the ‘Maniguesto’ tree…
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To Simon’s delight, this week's guest is fellow Tasmanian Toby Wilkin.
For over 15 years, Toby has been a noteworthy leader in the entrepreneurial space. Born and raised in Tasmania Toby, thoroughly understands tourism and business in the state and beyond. Growing up in an entrepreneurial family in the construction, business and development industry he has shared this passion and success in his entrepreneurial adventure...
In Episode 100, The Occupational Philosophers chat with Julie Trell, whose career has been an adventurous journey spanning three decades and various corners of the world.
She started as an inner-city classroom teacher and later became a middle school technology specialist, where she embraced inner playfulness (as well as fixing - and breaking - the computers and network).
Through serendipity and curiosity, she evolved into th...
Everyone's banging on about play at work. But what about the forgotten people? The ones who haven't smiled since 1985, who stare blankly at walls, who genuinely love a spreadsheet. Where's their day?
In this Inbetweener, John and Simon make the case for a National Serious ...
How might one think like a Philosopher in the workplace?
In this short, sharp Inbetweener episode, diving into a book by a previous guest, Dr Julian Baggini’s “How to Think like a Philosopher” " the Occupational Philosophers discuss exactly that!
Julian Baggini has 12 key principles that the book is built around for a more humane, balanced, and rational approach to thinking.
These include:
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