The Story of Leo Chan - Belonging and Redefining Creativity
Release Date: 05/30/2025
The Double Empathy Problem | Decoding the Communication Gap
Radio Future Skills Academy
Innovation doesn't happen in a vacuum; it happens in the space between two minds. But what happens when those minds speak different neurological languages? In this episode of Brains at Work, we explore the Double Empathy Problem, a theory proposed by Damian Milton in 2012. We move away from the outdated idea that neurodivergent individuals "lack empathy" and instead look at the breakdown of reciprocal understanding. In a business context, solving this problem is the secret to unlocking true team synergy and radical innovation. Inside the Episode: A Two-Way Street: Understanding that...
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Cristina Andersson & Human Centric Tech Futures
Radio Future Skills Academy
Today, our focus is on human centric tech futures, robotics and AI. AI and Robotics is topic most of us are thinking and worried about and so it is great to have an expert like Cristina Andersson on the podcast.
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"Aren’t We All a Little Neurodivergent?" | Why the Answer is No.
Radio Future Skills Academy
In a world of shrinking attention spans and digital burnout, the phrase "everyone is a little bit neurodivergent" has become a common refrain. But is it accurate? And more importantly, is it helpful? In this episode of Brains at Work, we tackle one of the most persistent myths surrounding neurodiversity. We draw a clear, binary line between experiencing "symptoms" of a modern, fast-paced world and having a neurodivergent brain. Using a powerful metaphor, we explain why this distinction is vital for a respectful and effective workplace. Inside the Episode: The Binary Reality: Why...
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The Architecture of Learning | Personal Styles and Leadership Strategy
Radio Future Skills Academy
We are often taught what to learn, but rarely how we learn. Understanding your cognitive learning style is the ultimate career cheat code. In this episode of Brains at Work, we explore the mechanics of individual learning. We dive into why self-awareness in learning isn't just a personal growth tool, but a fundamental business asset. If you don't know how you learn, you can’t accurately define where you struggle—and that makes growth nearly impossible. Inside the Episode: Identifying Your Cognitive Signature: A deep dive into different learning modalities (visual, kinesthetic, social, or...
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The Multitasking Myth | Context Switching and Cognitive Load
Radio Future Skills Academy
We’ve been told that being able to "do it all at once" is a badge of honor. The truth? Your brain is physically incapable of it. In this episode of Brains at Work, we dismantle the urban legend of multitasking. Whether you are neurotypical or neurodivergent, the cognitive mechanics are the same: your brain cannot perform two high-level cognitive tasks simultaneously. What we call multitasking is actually Multi-threading—and it’s costing you more than you think. Inside the Episode: The Biology of Focus: Why the prefrontal cortex can only handle one complex stream of information at a...
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The Multitasking Myth | Context Switching and Cognitive Load
Radio Future Skills Academy
We’ve been told that being able to "do it all at once" is a badge of honor. The truth? Your brain is physically incapable of it. In this episode of Brains at Work, we dismantle the urban legend of multitasking. Whether you are neurotypical or neurodivergent, the cognitive mechanics are the same: your brain cannot perform two high-level cognitive tasks simultaneously. What we call multitasking is actually Multi-threading—and it’s costing you more than you think. Inside the Episode: The Biology of Focus: Why the prefrontal cortex can only handle one complex stream of information at a...
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The Disclosure | Leading Through High-Stakes Conversations
Radio Future Skills Academy
When a team member says, "I’ve just received a neurodivergent diagnosis," they aren't just sharing medical news. They are extending a hand of trust. In this episode of Brains at Work, we tackle one of the most delicate and vital moments for any modern leader: how to respond when a colleague or direct report discloses their neurodivergence. Whether you are a manager or the CEO of an entire organization, your reaction sets the tone for your company’s culture and determines the future performance of that individual. Inside the Episode: The First 60 Seconds: Why your immediate reaction...
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The Unspoken Contract | Alignment, Expectations, and Invisible Rules
Radio Future Skills Academy
When we sign a job offer, we agree to a salary and a set of tasks. But what about the "hidden" expectations we never actually discussed? In this episode of Brains at Work, we explore the concept of the Psychological Contract—the unspoken partnership between an employer and an employee. Just like in a personal relationship, discovering you aren't "on the same page" usually happens too late. For neurodivergent professionals, these invisible rules can be the difference between thriving and failing. Inside the Episode: The "Defined" vs. The "Implicit": Breaking down the gap between the formal...
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How AI is reshaping the world of consultancy
Radio Future Skills Academy
Undercurrents of Change is a podcast about the signals beneath the surface of change. In each episode, Marc Bolick and Arne van Oosterom explore the deeper shifts shaping business, leadership, and innovation, beyond the headlines and the hype. Through conversations with entrepreneurs, builders, and thinkers, we look at what people are actually experiencing as they navigate uncertainty and transformation in their work. In this first episode, we speak with Miikka Leinonen, entrepreneur, business owner, and co-author of AI Pathway. Mika works closely with leadership teams trying to turn AI...
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The Cost of Fitting In | Professionalism, Masking, and Burnout
Radio Future Skills Academy
Every professional wears a mask, but for some, the weight of that mask is unsustainable. In this episode of Brains at Work, we explore Masking—the conscious or subconscious suppression of natural responses to conform to social expectations. We start with a universal truth: in the business world, everyone masks to some degree. However, for neurodivergent individuals, this isn't just "office etiquette"—it is a constant, high-stakes performance that leads to a specific type of exhaustion. Inside the Episode: The Universal Mask: Why the modern workplace demands a "standardized" persona...
info_outlineThe Power of Human Creativity in a Time of AI
Reflections from a conversation with Leo Chan
In a rich and personal conversation on the Radio Future Skills Academy podcast, Leo Chan joined Arne van Oosterom and Morgan Duta to talk about creativity, imposter syndrome, the importance of psychological safety, and the impact of AI. What unfolded was more than a talk about innovation, it became a shared reflection on what it means to be human, and how creativity is a deeply personal, vulnerable, and social act.
Leo spoke openly about growing up feeling like he didn’t belong in the world of “real” artists, a narrative that followed him well into design school. His story of having his work literally torn up by a professor during a critique was painful to hear, but it was also the moment he decided he would never do that to anyone else. That moment shaped his mission: to create environments where people feel safe to be creative, to fail, and to try again. This, he argues, is the foundation of innovation, not perfection, but safety.
The conversation also explored how many people don’t see themselves as creative because their job or background doesn’t fit traditional definitions of creativity. Leo challenged this idea: creativity is everywhere, in parenting, in finance, in solving everyday problems. Innovation, he said, is often about associative thinking: seeing connections where others don’t. And that kind of thinking often comes from those who feel like outsiders.
AI, of course, came up. Rather than fearing it, Leo suggested we see AI as a tool, one that can support the creative process without replacing it. What AI lacks, and will always lack, is lived experience. It doesn’t feel fear, joy, heartbreak, or purpose. And it’s these human experiences that make creativity powerful and meaningful. Leo put it simply: “If the story of my professor ripping up my work was made up by AI, no one would care. What makes it matter is that it happened to me.”
At the heart of the episode is a belief that everyone has something to offer — but that this can only grow in environments where people feel seen, heard, and safe. Leo’s message is clear: innovation is not just about new ideas, it’s about creating spaces where people can be brave enough to share them.
And maybe that’s the future of work: not more technology, but more humanity.