SPOS #985 – Kathleen deLaski On A Future Where Degrees Won't Matter
Six Pixels of Separation Podcast
Release Date: 05/25/2025
SPOS #986 – Pico Iyer On Silence As A Technology
Six Pixels of Separation Podcast
Welcome to episode #986 of Six Pixels of Separation - The ThinkersOne Podcast. lives between worlds - geographically, culturally, and spiritually - and that makes him one of the most attuned chroniclers of what it means to be alive right now. Best known for travel writing that often transcends borders and genres (, , ), Pico is also a deeply reflective thinker about silence, stillness, and solitude. In his latest book, , he returns to a Benedictine monastery in Big Sur - a place he has visited over 100 times - to explore what it means to pause in a world that won’t stop moving. This isn’t...
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SPOS #985 – Kathleen deLaski On A Future Where Degrees Won't Matter
Six Pixels of Separation Podcast
Welcome to episode #985 of Six Pixels of Separation - The ThinkersOne Podcast. is one of the most important voices rethinking the purpose, structure, and future of higher education. As founder of the and board chair of , 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, is a provocative and optimistic look at how postsecondary education must evolve, drawing on over a decade of field...
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SPOS #984 – Steve Pratt On Podcasting And Unconventional Marketing
Six Pixels of Separation Podcast
Welcome to episode #984 of Six Pixels of Separation - The ThinkersOne Podcast. knows how to earn attention - and not in the algorithm-chasing, trend-hopping way most marketers talk about it. As the co-founder of (the first agency dedicated to branded podcasts), Steve helped pioneer a model for long-form brand storytelling that respected the audience as much as it served the client. Before podcasting was a thing brands took seriously, Steve was guiding companies like , , , , , and into a new kind of media - one built on trust, consistency, and real creative value. That experience forms the...
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SPOS #983 – Matthew Weinzierl On Space And New Economic Frontiers
Six Pixels of Separation Podcast
Welcome to episode #983 of Six Pixels of Separation - The ThinkersOne Podcast. is not just thinking about the future of the economy - he’s thinking about the economy of the final frontier. As a professor at and a Research Associate at the , Matt brings the analytical rigor of economic policy to a space sector that’s shifting from sci-fi to IPO. In our conversation, we unpack the big thesis behind his new book (co-authored with ), which reframes space as something more than spectacle or science - it’s a place where real economic value is being created right now. This isn’t about day...
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SPOS #982 – Ethan Kross On Management For Your Emotions
Six Pixels of Separation Podcast
Welcome to episode . is one of the sharpest minds on the planet when it comes to understanding how our emotions shape our thoughts, decisions, and relationships. As a professor of psychology and business at the and the author of the bestselling books and , Ethan brings together rigorous research and practical insight in ways that are deeply human and immediately useful. In our conversation, we explore what it takes to manage emotions in a world that feels like it’s dialed up to 11 - from doomscrolling and overstimulation to the growing cultural obsession with emotional transparency. Ethan...
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SPOS #981 – Donald Miller On Building A Story Brand
Six Pixels of Separation Podcast
Welcome to episode #981 of Six Pixels of Separation - The ThinkersOne Podcast. is one of the most influential voices in modern marketing - a bestselling author, business strategist, and the creative force behind (a framework that has reshaped how leaders and organizations communicate). In our conversation, Donald breaks down the timeless power of story and why clarity - not cleverness - is the most underrated competitive advantage in business today. His new book, , expands on his original seven-part storytelling framework with sharper tools and practical applications for the modern marketer....
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SPOS #980 – Tamara Myles On Making Work Actually Matter
Six Pixels of Separation Podcast
Welcome to episode #980 of Six Pixels of Separation - The ThinkersOne Podcast. is one of the world’s leading experts on meaningful work, with a career that bridges research, leadership consulting, and positive psychology. She’s the author of , a sought-after speaker and advisor to companies like and , and one of the first 600 people in the world to earn a master’s in from the . In her new book, (co-authored with ), Tamara brings both scientific rigor and real-world empathy to one of the most pressing challenges of our time: how to make work feel like it matters. In this conversation,...
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SPOS #979 – Kurt Gray On Why Harm Is The Hidden Driver Of Political Outrage
Six Pixels of Separation Podcast
Welcome to episode #979 of Six Pixels of Separation - The ThinkersOne Podcast. is a social psychologist whose work couldn’t be more relevant to our times. As a professor at , director of the and the , and the author of the new book , he’s helping reshape how we understand conflict in a divided world. In this conversation, Kurt unpacked why it’s not that we’re wired differently across political lines - it’s that we perceive harm differently. He introduces ideas like the “exhausted majority,” the dangers of elite-driven outrage, and the evolutionary roots of our hypersensitivity...
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SPOS #978 – Christopher DiCarlo On AI, Ethics, And The Hope We Get It Right
Six Pixels of Separation Podcast
Welcome to episode #978 of Six Pixels of Separation - The ThinkersOne Podcast. is a philosopher, educator, author, and ethicist whose work lives at the intersection of human values, science, and emerging technology. Over the years, Christopher has built a reputation as a Socratic nonconformist, equally at home lecturing at during his postdoctoral years as he is teaching critical thinking in correctional institutions or corporate boardrooms. He’s the author of several important books on logic and rational discourse, including and , as well as the host of the podcast, . In this...
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SPOS #977 – Dan Heath On How To Change What's Not Working
Six Pixels of Separation Podcast
Welcome to episode #977 of Six Pixels of Separation - The ThinkersOne Podcast. is a frequent and always welcome guest on this show, and with good reason - few people have done more to translate complex human behavior and organizational dynamics into smart, actionable insights. You probably know Dan as the co-author (with his brother ) of some of the most beloved and bestselling business books of the past two decades, including , , , and . His work has reshaped the way leaders think about communication, decision-making, change, and the emotional beats that define experience. With his latest...
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.
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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.