SPOS #985 – Kathleen deLaski On A Future Where Degrees Won't Matter
Release Date: 05/25/2025
SPOS #1000 – Patrick Tanguay On Paths To Better Thinking
Thinking With Mitch Joel
Welcome to episode #1000 of Six Pixels of Separation - The ThinkersOne Podcast. is a self-described generalist, synthesist and curator whose lifelong curiosity and love of reading have led him across multiple careers, and now shape one of the most thoughtful newsletters in the futures-thinking space. As the creator of , a weekly “futures thinking observatory” (and one of my most favorite reads), Patrick spotlights signals of change across technology, society, and culture. He helps readers trace emergent paths instead of prescribing them. Alongside his writing, he designed and launched...
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SPOS #999 – Noah Giansiracusa On The Algorithms That Run Your Life
Thinking With Mitch Joel
Welcome to episode #999 of Six Pixels of Separation - The ThinkersOne Podcast. is an associate professor of mathematics at and a visiting scholar at who has built a reputation for translating the hidden power of algorithms into plain language that empowers individuals. With a PhD in algebraic geometry from Brown, he’s always bringing a mathematician’s eye to the cultural and social impact of technology. His earlier book, , was praised by Nobel Prize–winning economist as “the best guide to the strategies and stakes of this battle for the future.” In his latest book, , Noah shows...
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SPOS #998 – Annie Wilson On The Growth Dilemma
Thinking With Mitch Joel
Welcome to episode #998 of Six Pixels of Separation - The ThinkersOne Podcast. is a marketing professor at the and co-author, with , of . Her work examines the deep interplay between consumer behavior, culture and brand identity, helping leaders understand why growth often creates as many risks as it does opportunities. In The Growth Dilemma, Annie unpacks how efforts to reach new customer segments can clash with the values of loyal buyers, sometimes threatening the very meaning of a brand. Drawing from real-world examples (from ’s software missteps to ’s unintended association with...
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SPOS #997 – Adam Brotman On Being AI First
Thinking With Mitch Joel
Welcome to episode #997 of Six Pixels of Separation - The ThinkersOne Podcast. What happens when nearly everything a marketer or strategist does today becomes instant, automatic… and nearly free? That’s the premise of , the new book from (my guest this week) and his co-author , which confronts the existential shift that AI is bringing to brand strategy, customer experience and creative work. Adam, the former Chief Digital Officer at and co-founder of the strategic consultancy , brings firsthand experience building digital platforms that changed how global businesses operate. In this...
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SPOS #996 – Christie Smith On Distributed Teams, Generative AI And Global Shifts
Thinking With Mitch Joel
Welcome to episode #996 of Six Pixels of Separation - The ThinkersOne Podcast. is a former senior executive at , and with over three decades of leadership experience across industries including life sciences, consumer goods and finance. She holds a doctorate in Social Work and Organizational Psychology and now leads , a leadership advisory firm focused on redefining the future of work. In her new book, (along with her co-author ), Christie outlines a bold new framework for leaders navigating a post-pandemic, AI-driven, decentralized world. This episode explores the urgent need for...
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SPOS #995 – Nelson Repenning On Delivering Real Results At Work
Thinking With Mitch Joel
Welcome to episode #995 of Six Pixels of Separation - The ThinkersOne Podcast. has built his career at and by asking a simple but haunting question: why do so many smart, capable organizations fail to get the right work done? In his new book, , Nelson (along with his co-author, ) introduces dynamic work design: a practical framework that helps leaders move beyond broken systems and toward better execution. In this conversation, we explore the five principles behind this approach: solving the right problem, structuring for discovery, connecting the human chain, regulating for flow and...
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SPOS #994 – Vicki Tan On Life's Big And Little Decisions
Thinking With Mitch Joel
Welcome to episode #994 of Six Pixels of Separation - The ThinkersOne Podcast. has designed experiences for some of the most influential companies in the world (, , , , ) and her work has always focused on helping people make better choices in complex environments. Her new book, , continues that mission in a radically creative form. This isn’t your typical self-help guide. It’s an interactive journey through the beautiful mess of human decision-making, shaped by the science of cognitive bias, the power of storytelling and the playfulness of visual design. Vicki explores how our mental...
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SPOS #993 – Angela Chee On The Power Of Only
Thinking With Mitch Joel
Welcome to episode #993 of Six Pixels of Separation - The ThinkersOne Podcast. is a keynote speaker, media and communication coach, and author of , a book that challenges us to rethink the spaces we occupy and the voices we often silence… especially our own. In this conversation, Angela explores what it means to truly “own your voice” in an era defined by visibility and vulnerability, noise and nuance. Angela speaks candidly about how being the “only” in the room (whether because of race, gender, background, or perspective) is not a disadvantage but a profound source of power and...
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SPOS #992 – Dave Whorton On Building Companies That Last
Thinking With Mitch Joel
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SPOS #991 – Bob Goodson On The "Like" Button (And How It Changed The World)
Thinking With Mitch Joel
Welcome to episode #991 of Six Pixels of Separation - The ThinkersOne Podcast. is President and Founder of , an AI-driven company whose models are used by a third of the Fortune 50. Before launching Quid, he was the first employee at , where he witnessed (and helped shape) the birth of the like button. Bob’s academic roots in language theory () and his deep curiosity about patterns of innovation led him to co-author , an illuminating book about how a simple social media feature rewired global communication and commerce. In this episode, we dig into the origin story of the like button and...
info_outlineWelcome to episode #985 of Six Pixels of Separation - The ThinkersOne Podcast.
Kathleen deLaski is one of the most important voices rethinking the purpose, structure, and future of higher education. As founder of the Education Design Lab and board chair of Credential Engine, she’s spent the last decade helping over 1,200 colleges, organizations, and regional economies reimagine learning pathways for next-generation students - particularly the new majority learners often left behind by traditional institutions. Her new book, Who Needs College Anymore? is a provocative and optimistic look at how postsecondary education must evolve, drawing on over a decade of field research, human-centered design, and more than 150 interviews with educators, employers, learners, and policymakers. In this conversation, we unpack the diploma divide, the rising cost of education, the friction between what college teaches and what employers expect, and how AI is rewriting the script for entry-level jobs and professional training. Kathleen - whose career spans time as a journalist at ABC News, a Pentagon spokesperson, working at AOL in the early days of the Internet, and a philanthropic force behind education reform - brings not just perspective but practical ideas on how colleges, businesses, and society must adapt. This one challenges what we think college is for, and what meaningful learning might look like in a skills-based future. Enjoy the conversation…
- Running time: 51:11.
- Hello from beautiful Montreal.
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- Here is my conversation with Kathleen deLaski.
- Who Needs College Anymore?.
- Education Design Lab.
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Chapters:
(00:00) - The Rise of Human-Centered Design in Education.
(02:45) - Challenges in Higher Education and the Need for Innovation.
(06:00) - Cultural Shifts and the Value of College.
(08:53) - The Diploma Divide and Its Societal Implications.
(11:54) - Affordability and Access to Education.
(14:47) - The Disconnect Between Degrees and Job Market.
(18:06) - The Importance of Experience Over Degrees.
(21:13) - Networking and Its Role in Career Success.
(29:38) - The Impact of AI on Job Markets.
(32:36) - The Future of Entry-Level Jobs.
(36:05) - Reevaluating Professional Education.
(41:35) - The Value of Trades in Modern Society.
(43:06) - Digital Learning and Its Challenges.
(47:17) - Generational Perspectives on Work Ethic.