CO-CURIOUS
Episodes
Deep Listening: What a Sound Engineer Knows About Silence That You Don't
28 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Peter Pearlson has spent 40 years behind mixing consoles for many of music's biggest artists. His real expertise isn't sound engineering—it's the sp...
Shayne Mann: AI in Your Head: Exponential Change, Attention, and Strategic Scars
15 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Shayne Mann (Singularity University SA) joins David to explore AI as a “third voice” in our heads: an always-on collaborator that will question, t...
Dr Rob Stegmann: Quality Assurance Is Killing Quality Education
15 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Rob Stegmann, Head of Academics at Boston City Campus, argues that compliance-led accreditation smothers real learning. We unpack South Africa’s...
Shaun Tomson: How One Dad's Heartbreak Became Hundreds of Thousands' Hope
05 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When surfing legend Shaun Tomson lost his 15-year-old son, he faced a choice: fall into the abyss of "what if" or find a way to paddle back out. Drawi...
Confusing Art with Creativity: Why Companies Kill Innovation
24 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Creativity isn't about being artistic - it's about intelligence in action. But most companies accidentally crush it through benchmarking, perfectionis...
Lance Katz: Academic Rigour Meets Financial Reality: The Three-Circle Revolution
21 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when an actuary becomes the CEO of South Africa's leading psychology college? Lance Katz discovered that the supposed tension between aca...
Dr Bill Relyea: Why We're All Wrong About Our Own Self-Awareness
01 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Industrial and organisational psychologist Dr. Bill Relyea reveals how our ego's protective mechanisms create dangerous blind spots in leadership and ...
Maude Burger-Smith: The Performance of Being "Fine"
24 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
David is joined by burnout coach Maude Burger-Smith for this raw conversation about the exhausting act of appearing okay while struggling inside, expl...
The Silicon Valley Trap: Why South African Entrepreneurs Should Stop Playing Copycat
09 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Two South African entrepreneurs reveal why copying Silicon Valley's "move fast, break things" mentality is a dangerous trap for South African startups...
Birgitte Cahill: Why Your Corporate Learning Academy Is Failing Your People
23 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Learn from a corporate capability academy expert four essential elements to transform failing corporate academies into vibrant learning ecosystems tha...
Dave Duarte: The Small World Phenomenon: Why Cultural Change Begins with Exclusivity
07 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We explore why effective culture change requires a counterintuitive approach. Discover how creating an exclusive 'small world' of change agents can tr...
Dr Sarah Babb: Why Neurodiversity is Your Organisation's Secret Weapon
30 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sarah challenges traditional views of neurodivergence, revealing how conditions like ADHD and autism offer unique strengths that organisations despera...
Cara-Jean Petersen: Revolutionising Student Funding in Post-Fees Must Fall South Africa
15 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A young leader who blends social justice advocacy with business intelligence to create sustainable education access through crowdfunding, corporate pa...
Mamodise Mailula: The Maturity Paradox: How We Learn to Divide What Children Naturally Unite
03 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From unconscious privilege to what men need to hear—a raw conversation exposing how society teaches us to unlearn our natural state of unity and wha...
Kirsty Chadwick: Breaking the Compliance Cage: Evolving Corporate Academies Beyond KPI Chasing
19 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Trapped in compliance checklists and KPI obsession? Discover the framework for transforming reluctant participants into engaged learners to remove the...
Dr James Keevy: The Tyranny of Credentials: Can Micro-Credentials Bridge Education's Inequality Gap?
11 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
David and Dr. James Keevy explore how micro-credentials could transform access to education while navigating quality assurance challenges. Learn how S...
Jon Molver: More Kids, Less Money: We are All Responsible for South Africa's Educational Future
04 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
With half a million new learners expected in South African schools and declining education budgets, the status quo is set to worsen. John Molver, foun...
Dr Morné Mostert: Artificially Intelligent, Naturally Confused
11 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"We know more about ChatGPT than our own thinking" - Morné Mostert challenges everything you thought about executive learning. From quantum curriculu...
Pierre du Plessis: The Profitable Prison of Our Flaws
03 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Award-winning strategist Pierre Du Plessis reveals the hidden advantages that keep us tethered to our flaws, and challenges conventional wisdom about ...
Wendy Viljoen: From Crisis to Catalyst: Can Teacher Cuts Drive SA's Education Revolution?
28 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Wesgro's education specialist Wendy Viljoen outlines how public-private partnerships can transform South Africa's struggling education system amid tea...
Lita Currie: From 'I Can't Draw' to Drawing for a Living: Challenging the Myth of Natural Talent
15 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Former corporate executive Lita Currie reveals how learning to embrace imperfect art transformed her career and now helps business leaders think visua...
Tracey Clark: From Animal Science to Human Psychology: How a People-Avoider Became a Leadership Coach
10 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Through a twist of fate, former people avoider Tracey Clark becomes one of South Africa's top leadership coaches, revealing how brain science and the ...
Renier Lombard: Stop 'Taking' on LinkedIn: Why Your Strategy is Killing Your Brand
08 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Digital marketing expert Renier Lombard reveals why chasing quick wins on LinkedIn fails, and how embracing imperfection and a giving mindset transfor...
Dr Carin Stoltz-Urban: How Profit and Pedagogy Don't Have to Be at Odds
17 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
InScape COO Dr. Carin Stoltz-Urban demonstrates how education and business can align through a "redemptive business model" that dedicates half of prof...
John Vlismas: Stop Keeping Score: Why Great Leaders Play a Different Game
10 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In a world obsessed with winning, this episode challenges leaders through the lens of 'Player Zero' to consider letting go of scoring to build more re...
Johan Sanei: Breaking Free from Outcome Addiction
29 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
David speaks with global futurist John Sanei about why success feels empty and what to do about it, rethinking success in an age of uncertainty, and h...
Captain Laurence B. Graham: The Paradox of Requiring Credentials to Access Leadership Education
25 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
David speaks with airline Captain Laurence Graham, who challenges traditional academic prerequisites that prevent many natural leaders from accessing ...
Mike Perk: Why Your 'Always On' Leadership is Killing Your Company's Future
20 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
David speaks with Digital Transformation expert Mike Perk about how well-intentioned leaders are unknowingly destroying their people. Visit our websit...
David Joshua: Beyond ADHD: Trading Dopamine Loops for Deep Presence
15 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
David speaks with leadership coach David Joshua about how his ADHD diagnosis led him to reject Ritalin in favour of mindful practices, and how learnin...
Jana Du Plooy: How to Halve the Cost of Quality Education
28 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
David speaks with Apex Education founder and CEO Jana Du Plooy about how care and commerce can coexist to transform lives. Visit our website Learninga...
Myles Hopkins: Agile Metamorphosis: Redefining Organisational Value Creation
06 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
David explores the critical shift from doing Agile to being Agile with Myles Hopkins, challenging organisations to embrace horizontal value creation a...
Siegie Brownlee: The 15-Minute Graduate: Is Microlearning the Key to Industry Readiness?
01 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
David speaks with Eduvos CEO Siegie Brownlee about the universal challenge faced by higher education institutions and industry, and the challenge of p...
Carrie Pratt: Unconventional Wisdom: Corporate Leaders Learning from Social Movements
19 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
David speaks with Leadership and Change consultant Carrie Pratt about how corporate leaders can learn from social movements to drive inclusivity and m...
Dean McCoubrey: Ensuring Digital Safety for Kids
18 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
David speaks with Founder of MySocialLife Dean McCoubrey about the role of parents, teachers and the village in digital education, and the importance ...
Fred Roed: Not Confusing a Strategy and Goals
13 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
David speaks with CEO of Heavy Chef Fred Roed about discerning between a strategy and goals, to avoid the 'statements of desire' trap. Visit our websi...
Colin Adam: Is Learning Still Relevant?
10 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
David speaks with CEO of Five Lens People Development Colin Adam about learning versus knowledge, and the changing nature of learning. Visit our websi...
Lynda Smith: Age Diversity and Becoming a Modern Elder
04 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
David speaks with CEO of 50Plus-Skills Lynda Smith about retaining eldership, and challenging ageism through embracing generational intelligence in or...
Prof Jonathan Jansen: Balancing Ideals and Financial Performance in Learning Organisations
03 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
David speaks with Distinguished Professor of Education Jonathan Jansen about collaboration, leadership, and resource allocation in achieving a better ...
Dr Morné Mostert: The Challenge of Aligning Behavioural and Financial Performance
26 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
David speaks with international advisor and inventor of the Mindset Index Morné Mostert about rethinking finance and value, and addressing behaviour ...
Adri Marais: The Concept of Real Education
22 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
David speaks with Christel House CEO Adri Marais about the curriculum with a capital C, the role of governance in education, and the importance of lon...
Prof Eddie Obeng: Designing Education for the Marriage, Not Just the Wedding
21 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
David speaks with Founder of Pentacle virtual business school Eddie Obeng about the challenge of satisfying multiple stakeholders in organisational le...
Prof Martin Hall: The Potential and Challenges of AI in Education
15 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
David speaks with Learning Advisory member Martin Hall about enhancing feedback and support with AI, including generative AI and the future of educati...
Dr Pepe Marais: Fear and Belief in the Imbalance of Learning and Commercial Priorities
08 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
David speaks with Chief Creative Officer of Joe Public Pepe Marais about the role of fear and belief in the imbalance of learning and commercial prior...
Louis Janse van Rensburg: The Challenge of Abundance in Education
07 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
David speaks with CEO of The Heavy Chef Foundation Louis Janse van Rensburg about the power of relationships in balancing learning excellence and fina...
Tebogo Mekgoe: Shifting the Mindset Around Education
06 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
David speaks with Orenda Strategy and Advisory CEO Tebogo Mekgoe about defining growth, and the unintended consequences of capitalism in balancing lea...
Jon Foster-Pedley: The Tension Between Education as a Public Good and a Private Good
06 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
David speaks with Henley Business School Dean Jon Foster-Pedley about the challenges of financing education, and insights on scaling and growth in edu...
Dr Rudi Kimmie: Integrating the Marketplace and Academia for Success
31 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
David speaks with Dube Tradeport Aerotropolis Director Rudi Kimmie about fostering creativity and innovation through experiential learning, and priori...
Ajay Pangarkar: Understanding ROI in Learning
16 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
David speaks with CentralKnowledge CEO Ajay Pangarkar about the importance of aligning learning and business, and overcoming apathy and disruption in ...
Willem van der Post: Exponential Leadership for Exponential Times
01 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
David speaks with CEO of xTech Capital Willem van der Post about the inconceivable nature of exponential growth, and confronting the overwhelming un-k...
Dr Mzamo Masito: Diversity Beyond Numerical Representation and Legal Obligation
01 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
David speaks with Google Chief Marketing Officer Mzamo Masito about the importance of historical and situational context in defining diversity, and ch...
Frank de Beer: Am I Curious Enough to Understand Where I Am Part of the Problem?
01 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
David speaks with Arbinger Institute Director Frank de Beer about mindset and its impact on organisations, and rebuilding morale in learning organisat...