The Power of Curiosity and Continuous Learning

In our fast-paced world, staying curious and committed to learning is more important than ever. If you are not moving forward, you are actually moving backwards!

Curiosity fuels our desire to explore, innovate, and grow. It pushes us to ask questions, seek new perspectives, and embrace the unknown. By continuously reading new books and listening to insightful podcasts, we can keep our minds sharp and stay ahead of the curve.

I try to do that even though I don’t recommend filling every available second with new inputs as e.g. walking and just letting the mind go where it wants is very important, and often also leads to quite interesting ideas and thoughts.

Here are a few of the podcasts that I enjoy and books I have recently enjoyed.

Podcast Recommendations

1. Mind Your F**king Business: Where curiosity meets expertise. Hosted by a great man that I am happy to know personally, Dominic Monkhouse , this podcast immerses you in the minds of those who dare to disrupt and innovate. Dominic's insatiable appetite for knowledge and disdain for mediocrity makes this a haven for like-minded individuals seeking to escape the mundane. Lots of really knowledgeable guest and then he always makes them bring recommendations for books as well. Listen here
2. The Climate Question: Hosted by the BBC, this podcast answers your questions about reversing climate change, eating avocados, electric vehicles, and more. The expert panel dives into intriguing questions, making complex topics accessible and engaging. It is less of a direct business podcast, but a good place to learn more and understand the ongoing climate change. Listen here
3. The Prof G Pod: Bestselling author, professor, and entrepreneur Scott Galloway combines business insight and analysis with provocative life and career advice. Each week, Scott breaks down capital markets, answers questions, and interviews blue-flame thinkers. I like that it gives input from a lot of the frontline on AI, tech and business as well as providing easy to understand answers to the questions. Listen here
4. The Infinite Monkey Cage: This is the odd one out so to speak, but it can be great for insightful entertainment – this is science meets stand up😊 Brian Cox and Robin Ince host this witty, irreverent look at the world through scientists' eyes. It's a brilliant blend of science and humor that makes complex ideas accessible and entertaining. Listen here
5. Green Business With Impact: I have to mention my own podcast as well 😊, where I explore sustainable business practices and innovations making a positive impact on the environment. With highly knowledgeable and experienced guest we unpack the intersection between business and sustainability. Listen here

Book Recommendations

There are so many good books, but it is easy to drown in titles. So rather than giving you 50 great titles I like, I will just give you 5 that I have read or re-read in the six month or so.

1. Net Positive by Paul Polman and Andrew Winston. An insightful read on how businesses can prosper by giving more than they take.
2. Not the End of the World by Hannah Ritchie. A thought-provoking exploration of global challenges and solutions. This is perfect if you feel that everything seems a bit doomed and hopeless as she shows through data that in most of the areas we struggle with, things are moving in the right direction. We are not where we want to be, but often we have proven to be able to solve the problems we have made for ourselves.
3. Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman. A deep dive into the two systems that drive the way we think and make decisions. A classic but really good book about us humans that can strengthen a lot of change management processes, if taken to heart.
4. Foolproof hiring by Brad Smart. Getting the right team is essential for any company. This is a great book about hiring that provides a really tangible approach and guide that you can utilize for your next hiring process.
5. Making Sustainability Profitable by Jasper Steinhausen. A leader's guide to growing a thriving business that makes the world a better place. Can’t recommend five books without mentioning my own as this is a DIY guide to deal with the most common misconceptions about sustainability in business that I have meet of the last 15 years. Readers often tell me it is so straightforward and easy to digest and use.

Call to Action

What are your favorite podcasts and books? Share your recommendations and let's keep the conversation going about the power of curiosity and continuous learning!