Brainfluence

Have you ever caught yourself daydreaming, and then mentally scolded yourself for wasting time? Well, next time, don’t be so hard on yourself. My guest today is here to explain why wasting time isn’t such a bad thing. In fact, he says it’s necessary for creativity, self-identity, and overall health.

Alan Lightman is a physicist, novelist, and essayist with a Ph.D. in theoretical physics from Caltech. One of the first people to receive dual faculty appointments in science and in the humanities at MIT, Alan is the author of five novels, two collections of essays, a book-length narrative poem, and several books on science. His novel Einstein’s Dreams was an international bestseller and has been translated into thirty languages.

His new book new book is In Praise of Wasting Time, and he joins the show today to share the truth about the importance of downtime. Listen in to learn how to make sure you give yourself the mental breaks you need and why we should all be wasting time every day.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2L7loUA 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE225.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Just about all of us have to do presentations of some kind or another, and David Hooker is an expert on making those presentations more effective. David is the Lead Evangelist for Prezi, a cloud-based presentation software that uses motion, zoom, and spatial relationships to bring ideas to life. With more than 85 million users of their software, David and his team have built stunning visuals for scientists, entrepreneurs, and celebrities like Bono and NPR’s Guy Raz.

In this episode, David discusses how images impact communication and shares valuable insights on creating engaging presentations. Listen in to learn how even the most unskilled artist can create effective images, what it means to be visually literate, and how to improve your own visual literacy as a consumer.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2N9bBtH 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE224.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

In today’s world of ever-shrinking attention spans and the seemingly endless barrage of marketing messages out there, is it really possible for brands to stand out anymore? My guest today says yes, and he’s here to explain how to do it.

Nick Westergaard is a strategist, speaker, author, and educator who serves as the Chief Brand Strategist at Brand Driven Digital. A contributor to the Harvard Business Review and host of the popular On Brand podcast, he helps build better brands at organizations of all sizes—from small businesses and Fortune 500 companies to President Obama’s Jobs Council.

In this episode, Nick shares key insights on effective branding from his new book, Brand Now: How to Stand Out in a Crowded, Distracted World. Listen in to hear how to develop a brand personality, where there are opportunities to "flip the script" to stand out from competitors, and what it takes to create real brand impact.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2NqjlIw

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE223.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Few people have contributed more to understanding human behavior and decision-making than Dr. Antonio Damasio. A University Professor, David Dornsife Professor of Neuroscience, Psychology and Philosophy, and Director of the Brain and Creativity Institute at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, Dr. Damasio has brought groundbreaking insights to the science of emotions and consciousness through his research, theories, and books. His work has been cited over 100,000 times, and his books have been translated into dozens of languages.

In this episode, Dr. Damasio shares insights from his most recent book, The Strange Order of Things, which addresses the evolutionary development of the mind and the role of homeostasis in the generation of cultures. Listen in to learn how our minds and cultures are linked, where decision-making really happens, and the important role our emotions play in key areas of life.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2Iyiimi 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE222.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

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