The Innovation Show

Latest Episodes:

The Half-Life of Facts with Samuel Arbesman: Why Knowledge Keeps Changing Oct 22, 2025

Show notes

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 society.

In this episode:

Why facts and truths decay over time
How science self-corrects — from the Brontosaurus myth to the spinach iron story
The concept of "meso-facts" — slowly changing knowledge
How exponential growth drives innovation and discovery
Why curiosity, humility, and adaptability are essential for leaders

📚 Guest: Samuel Arbesman — author of The Half-Life of Facts, Overcomplicated, and The Magic of Code.

🌐 https://arbesman.net | https://arbesman.substack.com

🎙️ Hosted by Aidan McCullen — international keynote speaker on change, transformation, and innovation, author of Undisruptable, and host of The Innovation Show.

💼 Brought to you by Kyndryl – helping leaders harness the power of technology for smarter decisions and faster innovation.

👉 https://www.kyndryl.com/ie/en/institute

📘 Connect with Aidan McCullen:

🌐 https://theinnovationshow.io

📰 Substack: https://thethursdaythought.substack.com

📕 Book: Undisruptable

🎤 Speaking: https://aidanmccullen.com

The Great Reshuffle Why Adobe Couldnt Beat Figma Howard Yu Sangeet Paul Choudary Oct 14, 2025

Show notes

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 Act 3—orchestration, data flows, and multiplayer collaboration.

💡 Topics include:

Why collaboration isn't just a feature—it's a business model
How AI is reshaping the architecture of value creation
What John Deere, Shein, and Tesla can teach legacy companies
The hidden difference between execution and orchestration
How to make your business future-ready

📚 Books discussed: Leap by Howard Yu and Reshuffle by Sangeet Paul Choudary

🔗 Follow the guests:

Howard Yu – Substack: One Inch Ahead https://howardyu.substack.com

Sangeet Paul Choudary – Substack: Platforms https://platforms.substack.com

Aidan McCullen https://thethursdaythought.substack.com

🎙 Hosted by Aidan McCullen | Sponsored by Kyndryl

#InnovationShow #AdobeVsFigma #BusinessStrategy #DigitalTransformation #FutureOfWork #AI #PlatformEconomy

The Power of Productive Failure with Manu Kapur (Part 3 Finale) Oct 08, 2025

Show notes

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 aversion, endowed progress, and goal gradients.

Whether you're an educator, leader, or lifelong learner, this episode offers tools to rethink failure as a powerful ally in personal growth and innovation.

What You'll Learn:

Why failure can enhance memory and understanding
The science of loss aversion and how to hack it for learning
Endowed progress and goal gradient theory in practice
How to spark curiosity and mastery in children and adults
Building learning resilience and overcoming imposter syndrome
A practical model for designing learning for yourself and others

Resources & Links:

🧠 Manu Kapur's Book: Productive Failure – https://amzn.to/3WzFuZD
🌐 Manu Kapur's Website: www.manukapur.com
🔗 Kyndryl Institute: www.kyndryl.com/institute
🎙️ Host: Aidan McCullen – www.TheInnovationshow.io

Timestamps (Chapters):

00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message

00:38 Welcoming the Guest: Manu Kaur

01:15 Understanding the Zeigarnik Effect

04:00 Affective Boost Levels: Loss Aversion and Endowed Progress

08:16 Goal Gradient and Personal Motivation

12:44 Growth Mindset and Effort

16:46 Children, Uncertainty, and Learning

21:51 Achievement Goals vs. Mastery Goals

26:27 Phenomenological Primitives and Learning

29:01 Understanding the Role of Context in Learning

31:49 The Power of Comparison and Contrast

34:34 Learning Through Metaphors and Case Studies

38:58 Addressing Imposter Syndrome and Embracing Challenges

41:14 Productive Failure in Learning and Growth

45:17 Designing Effective Learning Tasks

49:44 The Importance of Affective Draw in Mastery

56:13 Final Thoughts and Key Takeaways

Expected Value xV - Revolutionizing Innovation Metrics with Simon Hill Sep 30, 2025

Show notes

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 CFOs understand. From case studies to the role of AI, Simon shows how xV helps organizations escape wasted budgets, align innovation with strategy, and create lasting competitive advantage.

We discuss:

Why most companies fail at measuring innovation
The pitfalls of innovation theatre and zombie projects
How the xV formula works in real-world organizations
Kill credits, project evaluation, and stopping bad investments early
The role of AI and data science in innovation decisions
Case studies including Nvidia and the S-Curve of technology adoption

👉 Get Simon's Book: https://xvbook.com

👉 Learn more about Wazoku: https://wazoku.com

👉 About our sponsor Kyndryl: https://kyndryl.com/institute

This episode is essential listening for innovation leaders, CFOs, strategists, and business executives who want to move beyond activity metrics and finally prove the real value of innovation.

Michael Raynor on Strategy RAP Model BCE Case Study Sep 24, 2025

Show notes

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 CEO intervention. Learn how top leaders can navigate uncertainty, overcome divisional barriers, and unlock strategic synergies.

🔑 What You'll Learn in This Episode

Why strategies often fail — and the CEO's role in fixing them
How the RAP model explains real-world decision-making
Lessons from BCE's diversification journey
The tension between divisional goals and corporate strategy
Practical tools for managing risk and strategic integration

⏱️ Episode Guide 00:00 Intro & Kyndryl Overview 00:28 Historical Perspectives on Strategy 00:57 Approaches to Resource Allocation 02:36 Guest Introduction: Michael Raynor 03:13 Academic Journey & Mentors 07:35 The RAP Model Explained 11:32 Challenges in Strategic Decision Making 22:51 BCE's Diversification Story 31:46 Entering Mobile Telephony 32:28 Strategic Synergies & Capital Constraints 33:48 Independent Operations & Market Dynamics 35:19 Challenges of Strategic Integration 36:11 Retail Distribution & Evolutionary Lessons 38:36 Governance Rights & Incentive Structures 48:31 Historical Lessons & Modern Applications 58:20 Concluding Thoughts & Future Directions

🚀 Topics Covered: strategy, resource allocation, RAP model, diversification, BCE, corporate governance, disruptive innovation, CEO decision-making, real options, strategic integration.

👉 If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe, share, and explore more insights at

https://thethursdaythought.substack.com

Manu Kapur: The Science of Productive Failure & The Four A's of Learning Sep 18, 2025

Show notes

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 pretesting drive deeper learning, adaptability, and long-term success.

Whether you're an educator, business leader, coach, or lifelong learner, this conversation will transform the way you think about learning and growth.

⏱️ Episode Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction and Sponsor Message

00:33 – Welcoming the Guest: Manu Kapur

01:01 – Understanding the Basic Knowledge Fallacy

05:07 – Direct Instruction vs. Discovery Learning

08:08 – The Science Behind Productive Failure

14:01 – The Importance of Variability in Learning

21:14 – Pretesting and the Role of Struggle in Learning

26:43 – Final Thoughts and Cognitive Reflection Test

🔑 Key Takeaways:

Why the path to learning is as important as the knowledge itself
The strengths and limits of direct instruction and discovery learning
How the Four A's of Productive Failure create lasting understanding
Why variability and desirable difficulties improve adaptability
How struggle, pretesting, and impasses unlock deeper insights

📘 Resources:

📺 Watch more episodes of The Innovation Show: The Innovation Show on YouTube

🌐 Learn more about Manu Kapur: www.manukapur.com

📘 Get Manu's book Productive Failure: https://amzn.to/3KrdV1Q

Why Failure Fuels Success with Manu Kapur | The Power of Productive Failure Sep 10, 2025

Show notes

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 powerful growth mindset strategies
Why even "good lectures" don't always create deep understanding
How leaders and innovators can use failure to adapt in a changing world
The psychology of resilience, success, and transformation

Find Manu Kapur: https://www.manukapur.com

From a soccer career cut short by injury to becoming a global thought leader in education innovation, Manu shares stories and research that challenge how we think about failure. Whether you're a teacher, leader, parent, or entrepreneur, this conversation will help you embrace failure as a pathway to success.

Bee Wise 12 Leadership Lessons from a Busy Beehive with Philip Atkinson Sep 04, 2025

Show notes

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 communication
Why bees switch jobs throughout their lives and what that means for career growth
How swarms make better decisions by consensus
The importance of diversity, innovation, and collaboration in thriving organizations

📖 Learn more about Philip's work and book: beewisebook.com

🌐 Company site: hive-logic.com

📲 Socials: Facebook, Instagram & LinkedIn → @BeeWiseBook

👤 Connect with Philip on LinkedIn: PhilipAtkinsonHiveLogic

✨ All proceeds from Bee Wise support Bees for Development, a charity helping families worldwide build sustainable livelihoods through beekeeping.

Sangeet Paul Choudary - Reshuffle: Figma Adobe and Just about Everything Aug 27, 2025

Show notes

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, but from failing to unlearn old architectures. Using the case of Figma vs. Adobe, we unpack how element-based design, governance-led workflows, and AI-first thinkingare redefining industries from design to law to construction.

Key takeaways:

Why adapting mindsets matters more than adopting tools
How AI is unbundling knowledge work and rewriting career paths
The importance of governance in enterprise-wide collaboration
Why the forgetting curve is as critical as the learning curve

Perfect for innovators, leaders, and professionals navigating the knowledge economy, this episode is a roadmap for thriving in a world of structural uncertainty where AI and cloud-native startups are rewriting the rules.

00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message 00:17 The Hammer and the Nail: Misreading New Technology 00:28 Adobe vs. Figma: A Case Study in Innovation 01:03 The Importance of Mindset in Technological Shifts 01:20 Guest Introduction: Sanjeet Paul Choudary 01:49 Figma vs. Adobe: A Deep Dive 04:07 Technological Shifts and Organizational Change 05:57 The Impact of AI on Work and Careers 17:00 Governance vs. Execution in Modern Enterprises 18:22 The Future of Competition and Industry Structure 21:40 The Need for Unlearning in the Age of AI 24:34 Preparing for the Future: Skills and Careers 36:54 Conclusion and Final Thoughts 38:05 Closing Remarks and Sponsor Message

📚 Resources & Links

• Reshuffle: Who Wins When AI Reshapes the Knowledge Economy

→ https://amzn.to/3HWwj1I

• Platform Revolution

→ https://amzn.to/4mBq2aQ

• Sangeet's Substack

→ https://substack.com/@platforms/posts

• Aidan's show notes

→ https://thethursdaythought.substack.com

🎙️ Listen now to learn how to reshuffle your thinking, your organization, and your career for the AI-driven future.

Joe Bower and Clark Gilbert - From Resource Allocation To Strategy Aug 20, 2025

Show notes

What if everything you knew about strategy was wrong?

In this profound and candid episode, legendary Harvard Business School professors Joseph Bower and Clark Gilbertdismantle 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-world disruption—from Clay Christensen's disruptive innovation, to Intel's strategic shifts, to why academic institutions resist change.

🔥 You'll learn:

Why strategy emerges from internal decisions—not just executive planning
The role of middle management and customer capture in strategic failure
How organizations can manage dual transformation
The secret behind Harvard's innovation blind spots
Advice for innovators, executives, and scholars navigating complex systems

This is not your typical leadership podcast. It's a masterclass in innovation thinking, organizational change, and deep system insights — directly from the architects of the field.

00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message

00:21 Introducing the Guests: Clark Gilbert and Joe Bower

01:02 Clark Takes Over as Host

01:33 The Connection Between Resource Allocation and Strategy

05:26 Challenges in Strategy Implementation

09:03 Case Studies and Real-World Examples

11:11 Issues in Academic Research

19:48 The Harvard Business School Case

28:10 The Teradyne Case Study

32:41 Elon Musk's Unique Management Style

35:21 The Power of Structural Context in Education

37:50 The Concept of Undermining in Business