The More the Brainier

Christine Renaud, CEO @ Braindate

The More The Brainier is collaborative problem-solving in action: real stories, shared wisdom and experience – a candid, brave space where creative minds tackle their pressing questions together. Think of it as a supercharged braindate, where each bite-sized episode spotlights one guest's burning question and the beautiful solutions that emerge when brilliant people think together. Feeling stuck on a challenge? Sometimes all it takes is a fresh perspective (or three) to illuminate the path forward. ✨ We'd love to hear from you! Send us your guest suggestions or comments to TMTB@braindate.com

  1. 3D AGO

    How can we keep a pulse on the shifting rules of society while also maintaining a direct line to our intuition?

    🎙️You need to follow the regulations but they’re not necessarily “just” and they’re moving. How do you work towards equity in ALL senses of the word? What can help you navigate these waters? What if we saw capital as a potential healing agent for our society? These a just a few of Noel Pacarro Brown's thoughts that come up in this episode. Author and Thought Leader in Sustainable Finance, Noel guides families to make investments and lasting legacies with their wealth. When you deal with hundreds of thousands of dollars and you care about harmony and equality, how do you ensure you are adhering to the rules of the trade and those of shared humanity? Noel knows intuition can guide us to achieve greater harmony in her line of work, but how?  Noel calls on: 🔹Marni Heinz, Go-To-Market Expert at Datadog and Leadership Coach, 🔹Lesly Simmons, Owner and President, Mobius Toys, Former Head of Community Innovation at Amazon, and Christine Renaud, TMTB host and CEO of Braindate, to address her burning question: How can we keep a pulse on the shifting rules of society while also maintaining a direct line to our intuition? Subscribe to find inspiration, algorithm-free perspectives and good conversation at The More the Brainier. To contribute to the discussion, join us on Braindate’s LinkedIn post about this episode of our show or send us an email at TMTB@braindate.com This episode of The More the Brainier was produced by Christine Renaud and Jane Gibb. Editing and sound engineering by Jenya Sverlov and Chris Leon. #businesscoaching #sustainablefinance #peercoaching  #intuitiveinvesting #healingcapital

    36 min
  2. JUN 17

    How do we break down the barriers to collaboration when we gather?

    🎙️How do we change the status quo? Conventions tend to be, well, conventional. Mingling people in rooms for a few days has been the default for a long time: the challenge is getting the delegates on board to try something new.  Mara Sandoval designs the gatherings for high-level decision makers. For her, experience design plays a key role in generating outcomes when people gather and it needs to be centre stage in the planning process rather than an afterthought. She calls on 🔹Alex McLean, CEO & Co-Founder, Alveole and 🔹Cindy Gallop, Founder & CEO, MakeLoveNotPorn to join her exploration of the burning question: How do we break down the barriers to collaboration when we gather? Covered in this episodeBeing a great guestAnthropology and graphic design in content and space Design as a theory of changeBringing collaborative design to boardroomsThe need for a common languageWhy are we gathering?The pivotal role of human interactionAn easy way to encourage collaboration typical conferences = boringBruce Mau incomplete manifesto for changeTypical conferencesPower of intention as participantThe people you need in the room Host: Christine Renaud, Braindate Subscribe to find inspiration, algorithm-free perspectives and good conversation at The More the Brainier. To contribute to the discussion, join us on Braindate’s LinkedIn post about this episode of our show or send us an email at TMTB@braindate.com This episode of The More the Brainier was produced by Christine Renaud and Jane Gibb. Editing and sound engineering by Jenya Sverlov and Chris Leon.

    31 min
  3. JUN 10

    How do I find investors/donors who 'get it' for MakeLoveNotPorn?

    🎙️How do you find the people you need when you don’t know where to look? Cindy Gallop's mission is to help end rape culture globally through education and awareness. Cindy has solid experience getting her message across and getting things done: after identifying a lack and a need in the market back in 2012, Cindy created the online platform, MakeLoveNotPorn, a subscription service aimed at providing an alternative to porn. Cindy seeks investors for MakeLoveNotPorn, she knows the money is out there but the typical investor route is not open to her. She explains the situation to: 🔹 Mara Sandoval, Head of Event Design and Interaction, World Economic Forum; and 🔹 Alex McLean, CEO & Co-Founder, Alveole  Together, they address her burning question: How do I find investors/donors who 'get it' for MakeLoveNotPorn? Covered in this episodeEarly experiences of earning and saving moneyOrigins of MakeLoveNotPornCindy's Burning Question: How to find investors? Barriers and solutions to business growth in sex tech Host: Christine Renaud, Braindate Subscribe to find inspiration, algorithm-free perspectives and good conversation at The More the Brainier. To contribute to the discussion, join us on Braindate’s LinkedIn post about this episode of our show or send us an email at TMTB@braindate.com This episode of The More the Brainier was produced by Christine Renaud and Jane Gibb. Editing and sound engineering by Jenya Sverlov and Chris Leon.

    36 min
  4. JUN 3

    How do I make people care about nature being an integral part of the city?

    🎙️ How can nature and humans thrive in cities together? Alex McLean, started beekeeping at 15 and it’s taken him around the world and into business as Co-Founder and CEO at Alveole, a turnkey urban beekeeping company. Alex negotiates partnerships with commercial real estate across North America and Europe; one of his main challenges is translating the need for nature alongside us in cities for the people who have the power to improve the urban environment for all city dwellers. In this tenth episode of The More the Brainier, Alex receives advice from:  🔹 Cindy Gallop, Founder & CEO, MakeLoveNotPorn; and 🔹 Mara Sandoval, Head of Event Design and Interaction, World Economic Forum Together, they address his burning question: How do I make people care about nature being an integral part of the city?  Covered in this episodeAlveole and its missionUrban beekeeping 101How do we get people to care about nature in cities?Moments of aweWhat do bees represent?The transformation of SingaporeNature as privilegeNormalising nature Outreach to childrenEdible citiesThe link between nature, health and wellbeingStorytelling as a tool to bring nature to children The power of gardeningPotential for radical improvement with urban planningBottom-up change limitationsWhen top down models for change are necessaryHow can everybody benefit? Today’s guests: Alex McLean, (Main guest); Cindy Gallop; Mara Sandoval Host: Christine Renaud, Braindate Subscribe to find inspiration, algorithm-free perspectives and good conversation at The More the Brainier. To contribute to the discussion, join us on Braindate’s LinkedIn post about this episode of our show or send us an email at TMTB@braindate.com This episode of The More the Brainier was produced by Christine Renaud and Jane Gibb. Editing and sound engineering by Jenya Sverlov and Chris Leon.

    32 min
  5. MAY 20

    How can I switch from citizen-spectator to active participation in an increasingly turbulent world?

    How can we have a tangible impact on the world? How does change begin? In his role as Creative Director of Cities at Moment Factory and also through events he has organised within his community, Fady Atallah works by creating experiences but he's still frustrated that he can't feel a tangible impact. He feels we can do more. Fady enlists the help of:  🔹 Jennie Glazer, CEO at Coqual, The Centre for Talent Innovation; and 🔹 Paul Propster, Chief Story Architect, NASA/JPL StoryLab (Retired) in this ninth episode of The More the Brainier. Together, they tackle his burning question: How can I switch from citizen-spectator to active participation in an increasingly turbulent world? In this discussion we cover politics, cities, climate, culture: what becomes apparent is that people don’t need more inspiration. They need a place to start. Design is often for attention but not necessarily for agency. What if intentional design created moments and experiences that made people feel like they have a role to play? Covered in this episodeOvations: standing or sitting?Moment Factory Citizen spectator –  experience as a citizenInertia at different levels: federal: infrastructure: municipal and arts/cultural The potential for change in public urban spaceWhat to change and how, micro to macro Thinkers: Henry Jenkins: civic engagement: building a story to include the collective; Marshall Ganz: story of me, story of us, story of now; Amy Edmunsdon: psychological safety: creating safe spacesHow do we design for trust and not compliance?Do we need a civic overhaul or more to create moments that remind people that they belong?Plan the expeditionThe need for new language: flip the perspective to create traction, motivationWhat's your prototype?Writing a document of referenceDesigning for agency, with conviction. Today’s guests: Fady Atallah (Main guest); Paul Propster; Jennie Glazer Host: Christine Renaud, Braindate Subscribe to find inspiration, algorithm-free perspectives and good conversation at The More the Brainier. To contribute to the discussion, join us on Braindate’s LinkedIn post about this episode of our show or send us an email at TMTB@braindate.com This episode of The More the Brainier was produced by Christine Renaud and Jane Gibb. Editing and sound engineering by Jenya Sverlov and Chris Leon.

    36 min
  6. MAY 13

    What are the big questions I should be asking as a leader to shape a better future?

    🎙️If you had 100 plus global multinational Fortune 500 member companies working arm in arm with you, to what would you draw to their attention? Our second guest in this series: Jennie Glazer, works with C-suite leaders whose businesses have an impact on the lives of thousands in her role as CEO at Coqual, the Centre for Talent Innovation. She sees her privileged position as an opportunity to ask questions that count. She calls on:  🔹 Fady Atallah, Creative Director of Cities at Moment Factory; and 🔹 Paul Propster, Chief Story Architect, NASA/JPL StoryLab (Retired) to explore the kinds of questions she could be asking in this eighth episode of The More the Brainier. Covered in this episodeThe power of gathering: live performancesCoqual: enabling people to fully contribute at workCreating space for innovationBurning question: what are the questions we should be asking as leaders?Digging down to the real questionsWading through uncertaintyShort-termism - no termismWhat can growth look like?Hitting the mute buttonWhat are the mechanisms for changeThe what is, the what if and the what could beDouble bottom line: doing good and making moneyLearning form organisations and "the smaller guys" Today’s guests: Jennie Glazer (Main guest); Fady Atallah; Paul Propster Host: Christine Renaud, Braindate Referenced: Cosm (02:11) Pussy Riot, Riot Days (03:58) EPIC PLayer's Spring Awakening (8:53) LaGuardia High School: Considering Matthew Shepard, The Opera (Clip)(9:44) Hal Gregerson Questions are the Answer (27:33) Subscribe to find inspiration, algorithm-free perspectives and good conversation at The More the Brainier. To contribute to the discussion, join us on Braindate’s LinkedIn post about this episode of our show or send us an email at TMTB@braindate.com This episode of The More the Brainier was produced by Christine Renaud and Jane Gibb. Editing and sound engineering by Jenya Sverlov and Chris Leon.

    35 min
  7. MAY 6

    How do I launch more meaning in a new career in middlescence?

    Do you want to be part of someone else's mission—or is it time to launch your own? What’s the mission only you can launch? Our first guest in this new series: Paul Propster recently retired from his position of strategist at NASA and having worked for many years for someone else’s purpose and mission, now seeks a purpose and mission that resonates more closely with his own values.  Paul examines the options before him in this seventh episode of The More the Brainier, he is joined by:  🔹 Jennie Glazer, CEO at Coqual, Centre for Talent Innovation 🔹 Fady Atallah, Creative Director of Cities at Moment Factory Covered in this episodeChildhood stories that have impacted our adult livesWhat makes a good story?The power of shared storiesThe burning question: How do I launch a new career with more meaning in middlescence?Purpose after prestigePrototyping vs job seekingWhat's needed when one mission ends—but you're ready to invent your ownThe people we work withTaking timeUncomfortable travelMiddlescence and mile-stonesCommunities Today’s guests: Paul Propster (Main guest); Jennie Glazer; Fady Atallah Host: Christine Renaud, Braindate Referenced: Orbiting the Giant Hairball (11:35) Subscribe to find inspiration, algorithm-free perspectives and good conversation at The More the Brainier. To contribute to the discussion, join us on Braindate’s LinkedIn post about this episode of our show or send us an email at TMTB@braindate.com This episode of The More the Brainier was produced by Christine Renaud and Jane Gibb. Editing and sound engineering by Jenya Sverlov and Chris Leon.

    36 min
  8. APR 22

    How do we reclaim the centre-ground and create more peaceful co-existence?

    Polarisation, extreme views, lack of curiosity and unwillingness to listen: How do we bring people closer to the middle-ground? How do we maintain and nourish a vision of the future that doesn't just include the idea of peace but a future in which peace is an attainable outcome? In our sixth episode of The More the Brainier, Co-Founder of The Knowledge Society, Navid Nathoo, Head of Impact at TED, Logan McClure Davda and host, Christine Renaud tackle Ella Robertson McKay’s burning question as Managing Director at One Young World: How do we reclaim the centre-ground and create more peaceful co-existence?  Covered in this episode Favourite reads Origins and inspiration for One Young World and its work in action todayHow do we reclaim the centre-ground and create more peaceful co-existence?What can we do to promote dialogue?OYW’s current work in peacekeeping and bridge-buildingDecline in curiosity and willingness to listen to divergent perspectivesHolding spaceLeveraging Braindate and TED to facilitate, educate and build empathyLeaders as role modelsCultural competencyDevelopment of skills Referenced in conversation: Books: James, Orbital, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, A Covenant of Water  (01:44) Recognition (referenced by Ella at 06:40) Human Libraries (18:36) – This marks the end of the second series for April! We’ll be back on May 6th with more burning questions on finding one’s purpose in middlescence, the questions we ask ourselves as leaders and moving from passive bystander to active participant.  Thank you for listening to The More the Brainier, if you liked the show, please share with someone whom you think you would also enjoy the discussion, or let us know and we’ll contact them 🙂 We’d love to hear from you! Drop us a line at TMTB@braindate.com This episode of The More the Brainier was produced by Christine Renaud and Jane Gibb. Editing and sound engineering by Jenya Sverlov. Braindate

    31 min

About

The More The Brainier is collaborative problem-solving in action: real stories, shared wisdom and experience – a candid, brave space where creative minds tackle their pressing questions together. Think of it as a supercharged braindate, where each bite-sized episode spotlights one guest's burning question and the beautiful solutions that emerge when brilliant people think together. Feeling stuck on a challenge? Sometimes all it takes is a fresh perspective (or three) to illuminate the path forward. ✨ We'd love to hear from you! Send us your guest suggestions or comments to TMTB@braindate.com