Thinking With Mitch Joel

Mitch Joel
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Six Pixels of Separation - Mitch Joel's weekly conversation with business leaders, thinkers, innovators and cultural icons. The show is about insights and provocations on brands, consumers, technology, business and how connected we've all become.

  1. A World Of Intelligent Machines With Steve Brown - TWMJ #1044

    3 hr ago

    A World Of Intelligent Machines With Steve Brown - TWMJ #1044

    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… Running time: 1:01:14. Hello from beautiful Montreal. Listen and subscribe over at Apple Podcasts. Listen and subscribe over at Spotify. Please visit and leave comments on the blog - Thinking With Mitch Joel. Feel free to connect to me directly on LinkedIn. Check out ThinkersOne. Here is my conversation with Steve Brown. The AI Ultimatum - Preparing For A World Of Intelligent Machines And Radical Transformation. Steve's Blog. Follow Steve on LinkedIn. Chapters: (00:00) - Navigating the AI Transformation. (06:06) - The Three Steps of AI Adoption. (08:47) - AI in Journalism: The Human-Machine Collaboration. (12:02) - Consumer Perception of AI-Generated Content. (18:03) - The AI Ultimatum: Embrace or Be Left Behind. (21:10) - The Role of Responsibility in AI Adoption. (24:00) - The Future of Digital Employees. (29:42) - The Future of Remote Work and AI Avatars. (30:05) - Managing Digital Employees: A New Paradigm. (32:35) - Types of AI Agents and Their Impact on Work. (34:34) - Evolving Roles: From Accountants to Financial Advisors. (37:09) - The Burnout Dilemma: Technology vs. Human Capacity. (39:11) - Involving Employees in AI Design Processes. (41:03) - Resistance to AI: Fear of Replacement and Identity. (44:42) - Leadership Perspectives on AI Integration. (46:36) - Creating Super Teams: The New Managerial Role. (48:04) - Case Study: Nvidia's AI Workforce Strategy. (50:10) - Early Successes in AI Deployment. (52:19) - Surveillance vs. Performance Measurement in AI. (56:25) - The Need for a Healthier Work Ecosystem. (58:24) - A Shift in Thinking: The Rise of OpenClaw.

    1hr 1min
  2. A Playbook For Growth With Nicolas Darveau-Garneau - TWMJ #1043

    5 Jul

    A Playbook For Growth With Nicolas Darveau-Garneau - TWMJ #1043

    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… Running time: 56:45. Hello from beautiful Montreal. Listen and subscribe over at Apple Podcasts. Listen and subscribe over at Spotify. Please visit and leave comments on the blog - Thinking With Mitch Joel. Feel free to connect to me directly on LinkedIn. Check out ThinkersOne. Here is my conversation with Nicolas Darveau-Garneau. Be A Sequoia, Not A Bonsai - The Seven Growth Secrets of the World's Most Successful Companies. Follow Nicolas on LinkedIn. Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to Nicolas Darveau-Garneau. (02:06) - The Journey of Evangelism at Google. (05:54) - Shifting Marketing KPIs for Success. (11:38) - The Role of an Evangelist in Business. (12:47) - The Rise of AI in Marketing. (18:31) - Optimizing Customer Acquisition with AI. (26:50) - Navigating the Future of AI and Employment. (30:21) - Envisioning AI-Enabled Career Paths. (32:13) - The Future of Work and Human Purpose. (34:08) - The Ethical Implications of AI in Warfare. (36:50) - Balancing Profit and Human Values in Business. (38:55) - The Optimistic View on AI Efficiency. (40:39) - The Role of AI in Mental Health Care. (42:52) - The Future of Healthcare and AI. (46:49) - Navigating the AI Landscape: Optimism vs. Skepticism. (52:19) - Preparing for an AI-Driven Future.

    57 min
  3. The Most Powerful Force In Business With Marcus Buckingham - TWMJ #1042

    28 Jun

    The Most Powerful Force In Business With Marcus Buckingham - TWMJ #1042

    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... Running time: 1:05:53. Hello from beautiful Montreal. Listen and subscribe over at Apple Podcasts. Listen and subscribe over at Spotify. Please visit and leave comments on the blog - Thinking With Mitch Joel. Feel free to connect to me directly on LinkedIn. Check out ThinkersOne. Here is my conversation with Marcus Buckingham. Design Love In - How To Unleash The Most Powerful Force In Business. First, Break All the Rules. Now, Discover Your Strengths. Go Put Your Strengths To Work. Love + Work. Marcus' other books. Follow Marcus on X. Follow Marcus on Instagram. Follow Marcus on LinkedIn. Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to Love That and Designed Love. (02:59) - The Role of Love in Work and Life. (05:51) - The Business Case for Love. (09:11) - Transactional Nature of Work. (12:09) - Experience Intelligence and Its Importance. (14:59) - Designing Experiences for Love. (17:59) - The Power of Attention in Leadership. (20:54) - The Future of Work and Love. (23:56) - Data, Belief, and the Business of Love. (31:29) - The Love Factor in Business. (34:56) - Surveillance and AI: A Double-Edged Sword. (39:00) - The Importance of Control and Harmony. (47:29) - Experience Making: A Collective Responsibility. (53:41) - The Interplay of Employee and Customer Love. (01:00:20) - AI as a Design Partner: A New Perspective.

    1hr 6min
  4. Winning With AI With Charlene Li - TWMJ #1041

    21 Jun

    Winning With AI With Charlene Li - TWMJ #1041

    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… Running time: 1:01:50. Hello from beautiful Montreal. Listen and subscribe over at Apple Podcasts. Listen and subscribe over at Spotify. Please visit and leave comments on the blog - Thinking With Mitch Joel. Feel free to connect to me directly on LinkedIn. Check out ThinkersOne. Here is my conversation with Charlene Li. Winning With AI - The 90-Day Blueprint For Success. Dr. Katia Walsh. Groundswell. Open Leadership. The Disruption Mindset. Charlene's other books. Follow Charlene on LinkedIn. Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to AI and Leadership. (03:02) - Navigating the AI Landscape. (05:57) - Understanding AI's Impact on Organizations. (09:09) - The Human Element in AI. (12:10) - Rethinking Workflows and Decision-Making. (14:45) - Strategic AI Roadmaps. (17:54) - Investment and Governance in AI. (20:52) - Creating Value with AI. (23:53) - Emergent Thinking and AI Adoption. (31:00) - The Role of Leadership in AI Implementation. (34:50) - Ownership and Accountability in AI Strategy. (39:01) - Creating Value Beyond Efficiency with AI. (45:07) - Navigating Workforce Changes and Reskilling. (48:59) - Addressing Employee Concerns About AI. (54:54) - The Case Against AI Pilots. (55:54) - The Importance of Speed in AI Adoption.

    1hr 2min
  5. AI And The Knowledge Economy With Sangeet Paul Choudary

    14 Jun

    AI And The Knowledge Economy With Sangeet Paul Choudary

    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… Running time: 1:00:47. Hello from beautiful Montreal. Listen and subscribe over at Apple Podcasts. Listen and subscribe over at Spotify. Please visit and leave comments on the blog - Thinking With Mitch Joel. Feel free to connect to me directly on LinkedIn. Check out ThinkersOne. Here is my conversation with Sangeet Paul Choudary. Reshuffle - Who Wins When AI Restacks The Knowledge Economy. Platform Thinking Labs. Platform Revolution. Follow Sangeet on X. Follow Sangeet on LinkedIn. Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to Sangeet Chaudhary and Reshuffle. (02:51) - The Impact of Technological Shifts on Value Creation. (05:51) - Understanding Architectural Constraints in Business. (09:07) - The Role of Supply Chain in Innovation. (12:10) - AI's Influence on Software and Business Models. (14:56) - Navigating Uncertainty in AI Adoption. (18:04) - The Future of Economic Power and Sovereignty. (21:00) - Cultural Shifts in Power Dynamics. (23:53) - The Mechanisms of Change in AI and Business. (26:52) - The Balance of Sovereignty and Dominance. (29:46) - The Future of Work in an AI-Driven Economy. (32:44) - The Broader Implications of AI on Society. (36:40) - Conclusion and Reflections on Reshuffle.

    59 min
  6. Developing A Vital Voice With Carmine Gallo - TWMJ #1039

    7 Jun

    Developing A Vital Voice With Carmine Gallo - TWMJ #1039

    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… Running time: 1:00:47. Hello from beautiful Montreal. Listen and subscribe over at Apple Podcasts. Listen and subscribe over at Spotify. Please visit and leave comments on the blog - Thinking With Mitch Joel. Feel free to connect to me directly on LinkedIn. Check out ThinkersOne. Here is my conversation with Carmine Gallo. Viral Voices - From TED Talks To TikTok, Persuasive Communication Skills For The Digital Age. Talk Like TED. The Storyteller's Secret. The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs. Carmine's other books. Follow Carmine on X. Follow Carmine on Instagram. Follow Carmine on LinkedIn. Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to Communication and Influence. (03:11) - The Evolution of Communication Tools. (05:56) - The Power of Storytelling. (08:48) - Understanding Audience Engagement. (11:48) - The Role of Movement in Communication. (14:59) - The Hero's Journey in Storytelling. (18:08) - The Nature vs. Nurture Debate in Communication. (21:02) - The AMP Model for Effective Communication. (24:05) - The Impact of AI on Communication. (26:58) - The Challenge of Authenticity in AI-Generated Content. (29:48) - Attention Spans and Content Consumption. (33:05) - The Future of Communication in the Age of AI.

    1hr 1min
  7. Human Agency With Marcus Fontoura - TWMJ #1038

    31 May

    Human Agency With Marcus Fontoura - TWMJ #1038

    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… Running time: 47:25. Hello from beautiful Montreal. Listen and subscribe over at Apple Podcasts. Listen and subscribe over at Spotify. Please visit and leave comments on the blog - Thinking With Mitch Joel. Feel free to connect to me directly on LinkedIn. Check out ThinkersOne. Here is my conversation with Marcus Fontoura. Human Agency In A Digital World. A Platform Mindset. Follow Marcus on LinkedIn. Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to Marcus Fontoura and His Role at Microsoft. (02:54) - Understanding the Cloud and Its Impact on Society. (06:06) - Human Agency in a Digital World. (08:57) - The Complexity of AI and Technology. (12:00) - The Role of Regulation in Technology. (15:07) - The Real-World Applications of AI. (17:59) - The Challenges of Social Media and Mental Health. (20:55) - The Need for Societal Engagement in Technology Regulation. (26:26) - The Challenge of Fake News and Agency. (27:00) - Empowering Future Generations. (31:27) - The Role of Human Agency in Technology. (34:01) - Concerns Over AI and Misinformation. (40:44) - Understanding AI Code Generation. (46:55) - The Pursuit of AGI and Its Implications. (50:08) - Technology's Role in Promoting Equality.

    47 min
  8. The Value Of Uncertainty With Simone Stolzoff - TWMJ #1037

    24 May

    The Value Of Uncertainty With Simone Stolzoff - TWMJ #1037

    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… Running time: 57:55. Hello from beautiful Montreal. Listen and subscribe over at Apple Podcasts. Listen and subscribe over at Spotify. Please visit and leave comments on the blog - Thinking With Mitch Joel. Feel free to connect to me directly on LinkedIn. Check out ThinkersOne. Here is my conversation with Simone Stolzoff. How To Not Know - The Value of Uncertainty in a World that Demands Answers. The Good Enough Job. Subscribe to Simo's newsletter. Follow Simo on Instagram. Follow Simo on LinkedIn. Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to Simone Stolzoff. (01:45) - The Intersection of Identity and Career. (03:50) - Embracing Uncertainty in Life and Work. (10:56) - Cultural Perspectives on Risk and Entrepreneurship. (15:50) - The Paradox of Comfort and Growth. (18:49) - Building Tolerance for Uncertainty. (22:33) - Macro Perspectives on Progress and Uncertainty. (27:23) - Navigating Opportunities in an Unstable Job Market. (33:07) - The Role of Geography in Relationships and Opportunities. (36:43) - Age Bias and Risk Aversion. (41:08) - Resilience in the Face of Uncertainty. (50:02) - Closing Thoughts on Rigidity and Acceptance.

    58 min
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About

Six Pixels of Separation - Mitch Joel's weekly conversation with business leaders, thinkers, innovators and cultural icons. The show is about insights and provocations on brands, consumers, technology, business and how connected we've all become.

Information

  • Creator
    Mitch Joel
  • Years Active
    2006 - 2026
  • Episodes
    364
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025
  • Show Website
    Thinking With Mitch Joel

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