On a red-eye flight over the Indian Ocean after a keynote in Chennai, James Taylor unpacks why our best ideas often arrive at 3am—when we’re untethered from meetings, inboxes, and notifications. He explores diffuse-mode thinking, the role of cultural cross-pollination (inspired by an NPR Tiny Desk discovery of Catriel & Paco Amoroso), and a simple, three-step creative practice to capture late-night insights: expand your playlist, protect your “off hours,” and remix on purpose. If you want more serendipitous breakthroughs and stronger creative muscles, this episode shows you how to engineer them.

• Odd hours = open circuits. When pressure drops (think 3am on a plane), the brain shifts into diffuse mode, quietly connecting books, conversations, mistakes, and music into fresh ideas.

• Great innovators are “cultural DJs.” Fluency across genres and the courage to combine them—sometimes recklessly—creates the magic.

• Ideas travel at light speed now. A sound born in Buenos Aires can influence Berlin today; a Bangalore breakthrough can shape Boston by week’s end. Use this global flow deliberately.

• Three practices that spark: 1) Expand your playlist beyond your bubble. 2) Protect off hours—don’t fill every gap with your phone. 3) Remix on purpose to surprise yourself.

• Capture first, judge later. Some pages are usable, some need to marinate, and a few make no sense—often the favorites. Keep them all.

• “Your mind becomes a DJ booth, sampling from the influences you’ve been collecting.”

• “Great innovators are cultural DJs.”

• “Don’t fill every gap with your phone. Let your mind wander.”

• “The best ideas don’t always knock on the door during office hours.”

• “Sometimes they arrive quietly… halfway between yesterday and tomorrow at 35,000 feet.”

• 00:09 — The red-eye spark: Wide awake over the Indian Ocean after a Chennai keynote; cabin quiet, notebook ready, headphones on.

• 01:xx — Tiny Desk inspiration: Discovering Catriel & Paco Amoroso; genre-blending as a creativity lesson.

• 02:xx — Ideas in motion: How cultural exchange now moves at unprecedented speed—and why that matters.

• 03:xx — Diffuse-mode thinking: Letting connections form when you stop forcing solutions.

• 04:xx — The cultural DJ: Becoming fluent in multiple creative languages and mixing them boldly.

• 05:xx — Practice #1: Expand your playlist—fill it with ideas and sounds outside your norm.

• 06:xx — Practice #2: Protect your off hours—resist the phone, preserve mental wandering.

• 07:xx — Practice #3: Remix on purpose—combine influences until you surprise yourself.

• 08:xx — Capture it all: Pages fill; some ideas are ready, others need time, a few are gloriously weird.

• 09:xx — Closing prompt: When was your last 3am idea?

If this episode sparked something, like, follow, and subscribe to the SuperCreativity Podcast—and share it with a curious friend.
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In this solo episode, James Taylor explores a timely question: when AI seems to take over creative work, is that progress or a problem? From a reflective moment on the beach at San Diego’s Hotel Del Coronado to research on “cognitive offloading,” James examines how generative AI (ChatGPT, Midjourney, DALL·E) can both supercharge and stunt our creative muscles. You’ll learn where AI outperforms humans (divergent and convergent thinking), where humans still shine (emotionally resonant storytelling), and a simple system for making AI your trampoline—not your crutch. Walk away with three practical habits—“No-AI time,” voice-and-values checks, and owning the “why”—to keep your imagination strong while you collaborate with machines.

• AI can amplify or atrophy creativity. Heavy reliance risks “creative muscle” loss via cognitive offloading; intentional use expands your range.

• Strengths split: AI often scores higher on divergent (many ideas) and convergent (selecting) thinking, while humans lead in meaning-making and emotionally rich storytelling.

• Use AI as a collaborator, not an autopilot. Treat it like a trampoline that helps you jump higher, but you still do the jumping.

• Adopt “No-AI time.” Schedule regular sessions where you sketch, write, and brainstorm without digital assistance to keep creative muscles active.

• Own the context and the ‘why.’ Let AI assist with the what and how, but humans must retain judgment, values, and meaning.

• “AI is like a trampoline. It can bounce you higher—but you still need to do the jumping.”

• “Use AI like a trampoline, not a crutch.”

• “The future belongs to those who can imagine first, and engineer later.”

• “AI can draw our monsters faster, but we shouldn’t stop imagining them ourselves.”

• 00:09 — Opening question: Is AI stealing our creativity—or refining it? Beachside reflection at Hotel Del Coronado.

• 01:xx — From curiosity to core tool: How generative AI moved into everyday creative workflows.

• 02:xx — Cognitive offloading warning: Why heavy AI use can weaken the “creative muscle.”

• 03:xx — What AI does better vs. worse: Divergent/convergent thinking vs. emotionally resonant writing.

• 04:xx — Partnering with AI: How James uses AI to prototype, research, and explore client angles—without handing over the reins.

• 05:xx — The trampoline metaphor: Collaborate with AI while preserving judgment and voice.

• 06:xx — Three practices: No-AI time, voice/values injection, and owning the “why.”

• 07:xx — Closing image: The child’s imperfect sand monster and the call to keep imagining first.

If this episode sparked ideas, please like, follow, and subscribe to the SuperCreativity Podcast—and share it with someone who geeks out about creativity and AI.
👉 Subscribe here: https://link.chtbl.com/scp

In this episode of the SuperCreativity Podcast, host James Taylor interviews Marissa Afton, co-author of More Human: How the Power of AI Can Transform the Way You Lead. Marissa is a Partner at Potential Project, where she works with companies like IBM, Eli Lilly, and Amgen to create more human-centered workplaces.

Together they explore how artificial intelligence isn’t here to replace leaders—but to amplify their humanity. Drawing from real-world examples, global executive interviews, and practical frameworks from the book, they unpack how leaders can become AI-augmented by developing awareness, wisdom, and compassion.

If you're a leader navigating the rise of AI, this episode will help you avoid dehumanizing traps and unlock a more mindful, emotionally intelligent, and ethically grounded approach to leadership.

• AI is an amplifier: It will magnify your leadership—for better or worse.

• Awareness, wisdom, and compassion are the three human capacities that will differentiate great leaders in the AI era.

• Time-freed ≠ time-used well: Leaders must reinvest AI-generated efficiency into more connection, creativity, and presence.

• Digital twins and psychometric AIs can help simulate and anticipate—but the human touch is still essential.

• Stillness enables awareness: The best leaders will use AI to create space, not just speed.

“AI gives us the time to be better leaders—but we often just fill that time with more work.” – Marissa Afton
“The leader of the future is not more digital—but more human.” – James Taylor
“Awareness happens in stillness. Creativity happens in stillness.” – Marissa Afton
“AI is an exoskeleton for the mind and heart. But we still have to drive.” – Marissa Afton
“We must ask not only what AI can do for us—but what it can do to us.” – Marissa Afton

• 00:09 – Intro to Marissa Afton and More Human

• 02:45 – How the book changed course due to generative AI

• 04:40 – What leaders misunderstand about AI’s permanence

• 06:28 – Why some leaders want AI to make decisions for them

• 07:58 – How to use time saved by AI for more human leadership

• 10:14 – Psychometrics, sales calls, and keeping the human in AI

• 12:34 – The risk of outsourcing too much to AI

• 13:31 – Avoiding AI echo chambers and reinforcing bias

• 16:10 – The “exoskeleton” model of AI + human leadership

• 19:46 – Perception, creative seeing, and blind spots

• 22:34 – AI as a reflective coach for the future version of you

• 24:15 – Contrasting reactive vs. AI-augmented leadership styles

• 27:22 – Using digital twins to improve boardroom dynamics

• 29:28 – Why companies must train the human, not just the tool

• 30:15 – The Ferrari analogy: AI without driver training

• 31:26 – Where to find out more about Marissa and Potential Project

Most leaders have mentors. But are they missing the other side of the barbell?

In this episode of the SuperCreativity Podcast, James Taylor introduces a simple but powerful concept that could transform how you approach mentorship, leadership, and innovation.

You'll discover:

• Why traditional mentorship alone isn’t enough in today’s fast-changing world

• The surprising power of reverse mentorship

• A 30-minute challenge that can shift your thinking and unlock new creative insights

Whether you're a CEO, team leader, or emerging professional, this episode will show you how to balance your barbell—and why doing so could lead to your next breakthrough.

Listen now and start rethinking how you learn, lead, and grow.

#Mentorship #ReverseMentoring #Leadership #Innovation #JamesTaylor #SuperCreativity #CreativeThinking #GrowthMindset #FutureOfWork

00:00 – Introduction: From Dubai Keynote to Mentorship Insight
01:30 – The Barbell Metaphor for Balanced Mentoring
03:00 – Traditional Mentors: Wisdom from Experience
04:25 – The Power of Reverse Mentors
06:40 – How Younger Minds Can Challenge and Inspire You
08:20 – The Reverse Mentor Challenge: Try This Today
10:15 – Final Reflection: Balancing Both Sides of the Barbell
11:30 – Call to Action: What Insight Will You Discover?

In 1986, a single technological failure at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant changed the world. Today, AI is advancing at an unprecedented pace—but could it be heading toward a catastrophic failure of its own?

In this episode, I explore:
⚠️ The real risks of AI—autonomous warfare, financial collapse, deepfake-driven misinformation
🧠 The incredible opportunities AI offers in medicine, sustainability, and creativity
✅ The critical steps we must take to prevent an AI disaster

From AI replacing millions of jobs to deepfake propaganda making truth almost impossible to verify, we are on the edge of something huge. Will AI revolutionize the world for the better, or are we sleepwalking into its Chernobyl moment?

Listen now and decide: Will AI lead us to disaster, or can we harness it for a better future?

🎧 Subscribe & Share if this episode made you think!

📌 Let’s continue the conversation: What do you think? Will AI be our greatest tool or our biggest threat?

🔗 https://www.jamestaylor.me/

#Podcast #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #AIEthics #ChernobylMoment #TechDisaster #FutureOfAI #Innovation #AIRegulation

Timestamps:

00:00 - The Chernobyl Disaster & AI’s Parallels
02:15 - How AI Is Already Transforming the World
04:40 - The Dark Side of AI: Risks We Can’t Ignore
07:20 - AI Catastrophes: Autonomous Warfare, Financial Crashes & Deepfakes
10:30 - The Ethics Problem: AI Doesn’t Ask “Should We?”
13:15 - AI’s Potential for Good: Healthcare, Sustainability & Creativity
16:40 - Preventing an AI Disaster: Transparency, Ethics & Oversight
19:55 - AI’s Future: The Biggest Question We Must Ask

Episode Description:

What makes a keynote speech truly unforgettable? Just like a hit song needs the singer, performance, and song, a hit keynote speech requires three essential elements:

1️⃣ The Voice – Your unique perspective and authenticity.
2️⃣ The Performance – How you deliver and engage your audience.
3️⃣ The Content – The message that sticks and transforms lives.

In this episode, James Taylor breaks down what makes a speech compelling, memorable, and impactful. Whether you’re a professional speaker or someone who wants to improve your communication skills, this episode will help you craft a keynote that inspires and educates.

👉 Which of these three is your biggest challenge? Drop a comment below!

🔔 Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more insights on creativity, innovation, and the business of speaking.

🎯 Key Takeaways:

✔ A great keynote speech is like a hit song—it needs voice, performance, and content.
✔ Your voice isn’t just how you sound—it’s your unique perspective that makes you stand out.
✔ Performance matters! If you have great content but poor delivery, your message won’t land.
✔ Content must be relevant, memorable, and actionable—otherwise, it’s just entertainment, not transformation.
✔ The best speeches inspire AND educate.

💬 Notable Quotes:

🎤 "If you sound like everyone else, your speech is completely forgettable."
🎤 "Great keynote speeches don’t just inspire; they transform."
🎤 "Energy, storytelling, and emotional connection are what separate good speakers from great ones."
🎤 "When you nail all three—voice, performance, and content—you don’t just give a speech, you create an experience."

📋 Show Notes:

⏱ [00:09] – What David Foster teaches us about great keynote speeches.
⏱ [01:20] – Why your voice (your unique perspective) matters.
⏱ [02:35] – The performance: How delivery affects impact.
⏱ [03:50] – Content: Why some speakers fail despite great delivery.
⏱ [05:15] – The formula for a hit keynote (and why you need all three!).
⏱ [06:30] – Key questions to ask yourself before your next speech.

📢 Call-to-Action (CTA):

💡 Which of these three elements do you struggle with the most? Let me know in the comments! 👇

📩 Want to learn how to craft a high-impact keynote speech? Subscribe to my newsletter for exclusive speaking tips!

🔔 Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more insights on creativity, innovation, and professional speaking.