The Curious Advantage Podcast

In this powerful episode of The Curious Advantage Podcast, Simon Brown and Garrick Jones speak with award-winning educator, author and entrepreneur Brandon Fleming about his extraordinary journey from joining a gang at 12 and selling drugs at 14 to becoming one of the youngest debate coaches recruited by Harvard University.
Brandon shares how a single teacher challenged everything he had been told about himself, recognised his hidden gifts and transformed the direction of his life. Determined to pay that opportunity forward, he created an educational pathway for young people from underserved communities in Atlanta, helping his students become seven-time consecutive champions at the Harvard Debate Council Summer Workshops.
That mission now continues through The Veritas School, where Brandon is reimagining education around connection, belonging, critical thinking and the belief that every young person has potential when given the right environment. He explains why students are often not disinterested but disengaged—and why it is the responsibility of teachers and leaders to create the conditions in which people can thrive.
The conversation explores the powerful relationship between curiosity and exposure, why talent is so often overlooked or mislabelled, and what it takes to turn potential into performance. Brandon also shares why great leaders should never “blame the seed,” how educators can make learning feel personal, and why young people must develop logic and independent thinking before relying on AI.
This is an inspiring conversation about education, leadership, curiosity, human potential and our collective responsibility to use our gifts to improve the lives of others.
Find out more about Brandon's work:
https://bpfleming.com/
The Veritas School
Miseducation: A memoir
LinkedIn 
The Curious Advantage explores curiosity and its growing importance in the digital age. From history, neuroscience, and anthropology to business and culture, it takes the widest possible view of curiosity. At its heart is the ‘Sailing the 7C’s of Curiosity’ model, a practical framework to help individuals harness curiosity as a power skill for growth and transformation.
The Curious Advantage Podcast is executive produced by Jessica Wickham and Aliki Paolinelis. Audio editing by Danny Cross and video editing by Jessica Wickham.

Most leaders focus on what they say. Dr. Laura Sicola argues that how you say it matters just as much.
In this episode of The Curious Advantage Podcast, executive communication coach, cognitive linguist and author Dr. Laura Sicola explores the concept of the "leadership voice"—the combination of your literal voice and your unique perspective. Together, they shape how your message lands, how others perceive you, and ultimately, how much influence you have.
Laura shares practical insights from her work with leaders at organisations including Amazon, Intel and the US Department of Commerce, revealing how communication can be adapted without sacrificing authenticity.
In this conversation, we explore:
• The difference between influence, persuasion, manipulation and performance
• Why authenticity isn't the same as staying in your comfort zone
• How the "prismatic voice" helps leaders adapt to different audiences and situations
• The role of curiosity, empathy and emotional intelligence in effective communication
• Why video feedback can uncover communication blind spots and accelerate growth
• How leaders can communicate with clarity and confidence in an increasingly complex world
Laura's LinkedIn
Laura Sicolas website
Speaking to Influence website
Free Tool: The Leadership Communication Blind Spot Checklist here
Speaking to Influence: Mastering your Leadership Voice on Amazon
The Curious Advantage explores curiosity and its growing importance in the digital age. From history, neuroscience, and anthropology to business and culture, it takes the widest possible view of curiosity. At its heart is the ‘Sailing the 7C’s of Curiosity’ model, a practical framework to help individuals harness curiosity as a power skill for growth and transformation.
The Curious Advantage Podcast is executive produced by Jessica Wickham and Aliki Paolinelis. Audio editing by Danny Cross and video editing by Jessica Wickham.

In this milestone 100th episode of The Curious Advantage Podcast, Paul Ashcroft, Simon Brown and Garrick Jones reflect on six years of conversations exploring curiosity, leadership, learning, AI and the future of work.
What began during lockdown has grown into a global platform for ideas spanning neuroscience, psychology, education, business transformation, technology and the arts. In this special episode, the team looks back at the guests, themes and moments that shaped the first 100 episodes and explores why curiosity has moved from being an advantage to becoming an imperative.
They discuss standout conversations with guests including Amy Edmondson, Alexia Cambon and Giles Yeo, while also introducing the thinking behind their upcoming book, The Curious Imperative.
You’ll hear reflections on how curiosity helps us navigate AI, disruption, uncertainty and change and why asking better questions may be one of the most important human skills for the future.
Resources 
The Curious Advantage Website
Learn more about The Curious Imperative
Buy The Curious Advantage
The Curious Advantage explores curiosity and its growing importance in the digital age. From history, neuroscience, and anthropology to business and culture, it takes the widest possible view of curiosity. At its heart is the ‘Sailing the 7C’s of Curiosity’ model, a practical framework to help individuals harness curiosity as a power skill for growth and transformation.
The Curious Advantage Podcast is executive produced by Jessica Wickham and Aliki Paolinelis. Audio editing by Danny Cross and video editing by Jessica Wickham.

Professor Robert “Bob” Kegan (Harvard Graduate School of Education) joins The Curious Advantage Podcast to explore curiosity, adult development, and why meaningful change is often so difficult.
Bob explains curiosity as a “delight in the knowing gap” and shares how adults grow through different stages of psychological development, from the socialised mind to self-authorship and the self-transforming mind. He also introduces the idea of “immunity to change,” revealing how hidden assumptions and internal defences can prevent us from making the changes we genuinely want to make.
The episode also looks at AI, digital transformation, leadership, feedback, and how curiosity can help us test our assumptions, build self-authorship, and adapt in a rapidly changing world.
Resources mentioned:

Immunity to Change by Robert Kegan and Lisa Lahey

In Over Our Heads by Robert Kegan

The Curious Advantage by Paul Ashcroft, Simon Brown & Garrick Jones

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Bob and Curiosity and Adult Development
01:30 Defining Curiosity as Delight in the Knowing Gap
04:50 Curiosity and Psychological Growth
08:19 Learning vs. Development: Transcending Frames
12:28 Stories of Development: The Olympic Skater and Lincoln
17:21 Stages of Adult Development: Socialized to Self-Transforming
22:13 The Small Percentage Achieving Self-Transforming Mind
39:02 Immunity to Change: Why Change is Difficult
56:22 AI and Development: Opportunities and Challenges
01:10:00 The Power of Inner Inquiry and Self-Understanding
01:14:48 Conclusion and Key Takeaways
The Curious Advantage explores curiosity and its growing importance in the digital age. From history, neuroscience, and anthropology to business and culture, it takes the widest possible view of curiosity. At its heart is the ‘Sailing the 7C’s of Curiosity’ model, a practical framework to help individuals harness curiosity as a power skill for growth and transformation.
The Curious Advantage Podcast is executive produced by Jessica Wickham and Aliki Paolinelis. Audio editing by Danny Cross and video editing by Jessica Wickham.

Vas Narasimhan, the Novartis CEO and Steven Baert, Novartis’ Ex-Chief People and Organization Officer join the authors of The Curious Advantage Simon Brown, Paul Ashcroft and Garrick Jones, to discuss the importance of Curiosity in Business. They talk about how Novartis has worked to ‘unleash the power of their people’ and change the culture driven by an ‘Inspired’, ‘Curious’ and ‘Unbossed’ people strategy. Why is curiosity becoming more important in the digital age? Why is it important to have curious leaders? What does it mean to have a curious mind and how can curiosity impact individuals and organisations? Subscribe to this exclusive podcast today to listen to this fascinating conversation.