The Occupational Philosophers - A not-so-serious business podcast to spark Creativity, Imagination and Curiosity

Updated: 12 Aug 2025 • 109 episodes
simonxe4.podbean.com

Would you like to unlock the creative, imaginative and innovative potential in your team or organisation…BUT…don’t want to listen to another serious podcast which offers 7 steps, 5 habits, 3 mantras, and a hard sell in a pear tree? Then join ‘The Occupational Philosophers’, a ‘not-so-serious’ podcast with Simon Banks (middle-aged Australian surfer man, artist and published author) and John Rice (middle-aged British man with a love of curiosity and philosophy) as they chat with a ‘clowder’ (great word!) of curious cats from the fields of Comedy, Academia, Philosophy, Neuroscience, Psychology, Design, Marketing, and Business, to explore how you, your team, and your organisation, can develop your curiosity, spark your creativity, and free your imagination, so you can grow your business and your people….sounds great huh?! But don’t just take our word for it, read what our listeners think: “Worth a listen, one of them has a strange Australian accent” “They’re not philosophers, they’re idiots” “If you like business, philosophy, humour, creativity, and imagination, then have a listen - if not, then I would leave well alone” http://www.occupationalphilosophers.com

Show episodes

Ep. 110:  Have you noticed how almost anything can now be turned into a LinkedIn Business lesson?  The Occupational Philosophers sure have and decided to explore this phenomenon, and in the process created a template for anyone to do this (and turn your own mundane life experiences into LinkedIn GOLD)  The template is

13 min
00:00
13:39
No file found

In Episode 109,The Occupational Philosophers chat with Eric Weiner, an award-winning journalist, a New York Times bestselling author, and much sought-after keynote speaker on a variety of topics, including happiness, innovation strategies and the "power of place." He regularly leads writing workshops around the world.

69 min
00:00
01:09:53
No file found

Ep.108 Rick Rubin and the Creative Act John and Simon explore the creative wisdom of music producer Rick Rubin and what it means to bring creativity into everyday work and life What does it really mean to be creative? In this Inbetweener episode, The Occupational Philosophers explore the insights of legendary music pro

38 min
00:00
38:34
No file found

In episode 107, The Occupational Philosophers chat with the highly curious Dr Jochen Schweitzer, a strategy, innovation, and entrepreneurship researcher and education leader at UTS, Director of the Executive MBA, advisor, and author.  His research, teaching and consulting focus on issues of strategy, collaboration, ent

72 min
00:00
01:12:37
No file found

Hello and welcome back to 2025! (Noting the irony that is is now April...)  The Occupational Philosophers have returned from walking the Earth, exploring the heavens and astral travelling beyond the stratosphere - metaphorically and literally. Feeling refreshed, joyous and 1.27% more wise, they are excited for the new

32 min
00:00
32:54
No file found

Reflecting on the year of 2024 seemed like such a good idea. That's the thing right?  Launching that episode as quickly as planned didn't go as well as planned....   Drinking their own Kool-Aid and embracing serendipity, mistakes and experimentation The Occupational Philosophers still hit launch and took on the gift of

14 min
00:00
14:52
No file found

Show participants