Cool Collaborations

Here we are at the last podcast of season 2, episode #41. I finish up this season with a conversation that is really a continuation of the last episode where we talked about collaboration in the world of creating art. I am privileged to speak with Graeme Priddle and Carlie Starr on the gathering of kiwi and international artists at CollaboratioNZ in northern New Zealand. We explore what Collaboration New Zealand is all about, some of what Carlie and Graeme see as special about the gathering, and some insights into the creativity that comes in this unique collaborative setting. Please enjoy our conversation. Some links to some of the things we discuss during this episode: Graeme PriddleCarlie StarrCollaborationNZEmma Lake CollaborationBook: The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia CameronBook: A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill BrysonBook: Silent Sprint by Rachel CarsonYour host for the Cool Collaborations podcast is Scott Millar. Scott is the principle of Collaboration Dynamics, where he often works as a "peacemaker" by gathering people with different experiences and values and helping them navigate beyond their differences to tackle complex problems together. 

My guest today is Neville Parker, a sculptor from New Zealand and a keen supporter of a gathering of artists called CollaborationNZ. Today we talk about how he came into a collaborative mindset through CollaborationNZ, how art galleries work, and how Neville used a collaborative business model for his galleries. Some links to some of the things we discuss during this episode: Neville ParkerCollaborationNZThe Artwonk PodcastBook: Sarum: The Novel of England by Edward RutherfordYour host for the Cool Collaborations podcast is Scott Millar. Scott is the principle of Collaboration Dynamics, where he often works as a "peacemaker" by gathering people with different experiences and values and helping them navigate beyond their differences to tackle complex problems together. 

It’s my privilege to speak with Sharon Fraser and Jennifer Chaplin, two of the three founding directors of an Australian consultancy called Clarion Call. Sharon brings her experience in the health system together and Jennifer brings experience from the service system. Both Jennifer and Sharon have a huge depth of experience and skill for creating spaces where community voices can be heard, and systems level change can occur. In our conversation, today we touch a little on what Sharon and Jennifer do, some of the key collaboration ingredients and examples, and then we spend some time unpacking the idea of collaborative governance. Please enjoy our conversation.Some links to some of the things we discuss during this episode: Sharon FraserJennifer ChaplynClarion CallBook: Rethinking the Fifth Discipline: Learning Within the Unknowable by Robert Louis FloodBook: Collaborating with the Enemy: How to Work with People You Don't Agree with or Like or Trust by Adam KahaneYour host for the Cool Collaborations podcast is Scott Millar. Scott is the principle of Collaboration Dynamics, where he often works as a "peacemaker" by gathering people with different experiences and values and helping them navigate beyond their differences to tackle complex problems together. 

I happened across Tai Lake and the Hawaii Artists Collaboration by accident, and I am so grateful that I did. In this episode, Tai shares his perspectives on the creative power of collaboration and the ability to bring together masters of the craft to grow their skills and their vocabulary. I found his enthusiasm for collaboration more than a little infectious, and I am grateful that we were able to connect.Our conversation makes me think about the kind of people we bring into collaborative work and the level of maturity or mastery in an area of expertise that they represent. Tai talks about leaving your ego out and coming together to raise the state of the craft overall. I’m sure you will enjoy this conversation with a master furniture builder on the Hawaii Artists Collaboration. Some links to some of the things we discuss during this episode: Tai Lake WoodworkingHawaii Artists CollaborationDanish architectEero Saarinen:"Always design a thing by considering it in its next larger context - a chair in a room, a room in a house, a house in an environment, an environment in a city plan" - Eero Saarinen.Emma Lake CollaborationCollaborationNZJake James - BlacksmithHenry Pomfret – There was no specific link for Henry, but I did find this link to a blacksmithing demonstration at the International Blacksmithing event in 2016.Lisa Geertsen - Blacksmith Your host for the Cool Collaborations podcast is Scott Millar. Scott is the principle of Collaboration Dynamics, where he often works as a "peacemaker" by gathering people with different experiences and values and helping them navigate beyond their differences to tackle complex problems together. 

I am speaking today with Thea Snow, Director with the Centre for Public Impact for Australia and New Zealand. Thea’s worked previously as a lawyer, a civil servant, and as part of the Nesta Innovation Foundation in the United Kingdom. In our conversation today, we talk about reimagining government and the role of collaboration in that reimagining, about storytelling, sense-making, and imagining, and about complexity in systems change. I’m sure you’ll enjoy our conversation. Some links to some of the things we discuss during this episode: Thea SnowNesta – The Innovation FoundationCentre for Public ImpactBook: Thinking in Systems, A Primer by Donella H. MeadowsWebinar: Reimagining Government 2022: An ANZOG and Centre for Public Impact SeriesAustralia and New Zealand School of GovernmentAustralian Centre for Social InnovationCassie RobinsonGeoff MulganOctavia E. ButlerOtto ScharmerHand Up Malee - Collective Impact InitiativeMichael Quinn Patton on Utilization-Focused EvaluationBlog: The (il)logic of legibility - why governments should stop simplifying complex systems by Thea SnowBook: Seeing Like a State: How Certain Schemes to Improve the Human Condition Have Failed by James C. ScottFunding Program: Stronger Places, Stronger PeopleCertainty Artifacts blog by Thea SnowBook: Radical Help by Hilary CottamYour host for the Cool Collaborations podcast is Scott Millar. Scott is the principle of Collaboration Dynamics, where he often works as a "peacemaker" by gathering people with different experiences and values and helping them navigate beyond their differences to tackle complex problems together. 

This is a solo episode. Just me answering a few questions I’ve received from listeners. I have a chance to share some of my thinking around collaboration, my background, and some of the overlap between good collaboration and good leadership. Please enjoy. Some links to some of the resources I mention during this episode: Scott MillarBook: Beyond Reason: Using Emotions as You Negotiate by Roger Fisher and Dan Shapiro Book: Principles: Life and Work by Ray DalioBook: Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It by Chris Voss and Tahl RazYour host for the Cool Collaborations podcast is Scott Millar. Scott is the principle of Collaboration Dynamics, where he often works as a "peacemaker" by gathering people with different experiences and values and helping them navigate beyond their differences to tackle complex problems together. 

For this episode, I am speaking with Pradeep U.N., who is the Senior Director at Microsoft for Inclusive Innovation and Solutions. Pradeep is also the founder of Truths and Insights, which is a platform to enable good conversations, share our truths, and inform decisions. Our conversation today is focused on Truths and Insights, where there is so much rich ground to explore. We talk about biases, inclusion, storytelling and so much more. I’m sure you’ll enjoy our conversation. Some links to some of the things we discuss during this episode: Pradeep U.N.Book: The Adventures of Asterix written by René Goscinny and illustrated by Albert UderzoYour host for the Cool Collaborations podcast is Scott Millar. Scott is the principle of Collaboration Dynamics, where he often works as a "peacemaker" by gathering people with different experiences and values and helping them navigate beyond their differences to tackle complex problems together. 

The conversation today is with Oliver Brandes on collaboration and modern water management. Oliver is an economist and lawyer by training and what he would call a trans-disciplinarian by design. He serves as Co-Director of the POLIS Project on Ecological Governance, based at the University of Victoria’s Centre for Global Studies (CFGS), where he leads the award-winning POLIS Water Sustainability Project. He focuses on water sustainability, sound resource management, public policy development, and ecologically based legal and institutional reform.In our conversation, we talk about the role of collaboration in managing water, concepts of collaborative consent, and the importance of good leadership. Please enjoy our conversation.Some links to some of the things we discuss during this episode: Oliver BrandesPolis Project on Ecological Governance, University of VictoriaCowichan Watershed BoardNicola Watershed Pilot Memorandum of UnderstandingBook: Denying the Source: The Crisis of First Nations Water Rights by Merrell-Ann S. PhareBook: Water: The Fate of Our Most Precious Resource by Marq de VilliersYour host for the Cool Collaborations podcast is Scott Millar. Scott is the principle of Collaboration Dynamics, where he often works as a "peacemaker" by gathering people with different experiences and values and helping them navigate beyond their differences to tackle complex problems together. 

In this repost of a season 1 episode, I’m joined by Kerry Graham, one of the co-founders of Collaboration for Impact which is an Australian organization working to support systems-level change on important issues like youth incarceration, social issues, health, and more. This is incredibly interesting work, because it's dealing with issues that are often created by the system itself – about making change that is bigger than any one organization or group. Kerry and her co-founder Liz Skelton have just passed the reins for Collaboration for Impact to Anna Powell, and I wanted to reflect on Kerry's insights and experiences. I think you’ll enjoy this look at collaboration from a system perspective and hearing some of the stories of this type of collaboration. Some links to some of the things we discuss during this episode: Kerry GrahamCollaboration for ImpactPlatform CBook: Humankind – A Hopeful History by Rutger BregmanYour host for the Cool Collaborations podcast is Scott Millar. Scott is the principle of Collaboration Dynamics, where he often works as a "peacemaker" by gathering people with different experiences and values and helping them navigate beyond their differences to tackle complex problems together. 

Time for a fantastic conversation with Peter Fisk on how collaboration plays an important role in the success of business. Peter Fisk is a global thought leader, award-winning author and expert advisor, on the future of business, on leadership and strategy, as well as innovation and marketing. He leads GeniusWorks, a strategic innovation accelerator based in London. He is a professor of leadership, strategy and innovation at IE Business School in Madrid. Peter is a Global Director of Thinkers50 and founder of the European Business Forum. Peter’s written 8 books in 35 languages, his latest being Business Decoded: Have the Courage to Create a Better Future. In our conversation, we talk about the strategies used by successful modern business and how collaboration is such a critical approach to unlocking success. Please enjoy our conversation.Some links to some of the things we discuss during this episode: Peter FiskFree Download: First chapter of Business Recoded Book: Business Recoded: Have the Courage to Create a Better Future for Yourself and Your BusinessBook: No Rules Rules: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention by Reed Hastings and Erin MeyerGary HamelAdidas Book: Humanocracy: Creating Organizations as Amazing as the People Inside Them by Gary Hamel and Michele ZaniniBook: Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman Your host for the Cool Collaborations podcast is Scott Millar. Scott is the principle of Collaboration Dynamics, where he often works as a "peacemaker" by gathering people with different experiences and values and helping them navigate beyond their differences to tackle complex problems together. 

I’ve always had an interest in design and design thinking, although I’ve never pursued that interest in much depth. Cameron Norman, my guest on this episode of the Cool Collaborations podcast, is a professional designer, psychologist, evaluator, and educator with a great interest in the science and practice of innovation. He runs a consultancy called Censemaking and he is an adjunct professor in the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto.In our conversation, we talk about what Cameron’s calls Design for Humans and how the concepts and approaches of design and of collaboration are closely linked. Please enjoy our conversation.Some links to some of the things we discuss during this episode: Cameron NormanCense Seth GodinIntersectionalityBook: Organisational Aesthetics: Developing beautiful organisations by Steven de Groot Pareto PrincipleBook: World Enough & Time: On Creativity and Slowing Down by Christian McEwenYour host for the Cool Collaborations podcast is Scott Millar. Scott is the principle of Collaboration Dynamics, where he often works as a "peacemaker" by gathering people with different experiences and values and helping them navigate beyond their differences to tackle complex problems together. 

Time to have some fun. Michael Kerr is my guest for a great conversation on the connections between humor in the workplace and collaboration. Michael is a researcher, writer, and Canadian Hall of Fame Speaker on inspiring workplace cultures and businesses that leverage their humor resources to drive outrageous results. His ideas on building better workplace cultures have been featured in hundreds of publications worldwide, his Inspiring Workplaces blog is internationally recognized and he’s authored 8 books, including, “The Jerk-Free Workplace,” “The Humor Advantage,” and “Hire, Inspire, and Fuel Their Fire.”In our conversation, we connect the ideas of humor, culture, and the ability to collaborate as well as shed some light on the many benefits to incorporating humor into our workplaces and our collaborative endeavors. Please enjoy our conversation.Some links to some of the things we discuss during this episode: Michael Kerr and Humor at WorkZappos – Core ValuesBook: A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership by James ComeyBook: The Checklist Manifesto by Atul GawandeBook: The Humor Advantage by Michael KerrBook: You Can’t Be Serious: Putting Humor to Work by Michael KerrBook: Why is Everyone Smiling? By Paul SpiegelmanYour host for the Cool Collaborations podcast is Scott Millar. Scott is the principle of Collaboration Dynamics, where he often works as a "peacemaker" by gathering people with different experiences and values and helping them navigate beyond their differences to tackle complex problems together. 

Episode #29 is a repost of one of the fantastic conversations from the first season on the Cool Collaborations podcast. For this episode, I tried something a little different. I was joined by both Anthony Boxshall and Max Hardy, from Australia, for a dive into Authentic Co-design. We explore the stories of Authentic Co-design came from and some of the different angles on how, when, and why you would use a co-design process. In our conversation, Max brings the engagement expertise while Anth brings the leadership, scientist, and government expertise. They are quite the team and I very much enjoyed having this conversation with them.   Some links to some of the things we discuss during this episode: Max Hardy at Max Hardy ConsultingAnthony Boxshall at Science Into Action Authentic Co-designBook: New Power: How Power Works in our Hyperconnected World, and How to Make it Work for You by Jeremy Heimans and Henry Timms Book: Collaboration Design: A Step-by-Step Guide to Successful Collaboration by Mark ElliottBook: Sapiens – A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari  Your host for the Cool Collaborations podcast is Scott Millar. Scott is the principle of Collaboration Dynamics, where he often works as a "peacemaker" by gathering people with different experiences and values and helping them navigate beyond their differences to tackle complex problems together. 

Alex Ryan is my guest for episode #28. Alex helps governments and corporate partners innovate at MaRS Discovery District, in Toronto, Ontario with work in electricity, smart cities, community health. And what really attracted my attention, was Alex’s thinking in systemic design, complex thinking and innovation. While that’s pretty impressive, he’s also written on smart cities, data governance, policy innovation and social innovation and been published in the World Economic Forum, Fast Company, Axios, Stanford Social Innovation Review, and Complexity.We discuss the connections between collaboration and innovation, some of their common ingredients, and the importance of location on innovation. Enjoy our conversation.  Some links to some of the things we discuss during this episode: Alex Ryan MaRS Discovery DistrictPlace Matters – at MaRS Discovery DistrictMission from MaRS – Climate Impact ChallengeThe CRANE Tool – assess the emissions reduction potential of climate technologiesMcConnell FoundationABSI Connect - Alberta Social Innovation ConnectPolarization to Progress: Lessons from the City of Edmonton's social innovation experiment, RECOVERWhen Individuals are More Innovative Than TeamsTen Types of Innovation - The Discipline of Building BreakthroughsBook: Educating the Reflective Practitioner: Toward a New Design for Teaching and Learning in the Professions by Donald A. SchonBook: Growing Wings on the Way by Rosalind ArmsonYour host for the Cool Collaborations podcast is Scott Millar. Scott is the principle of Collaboration Dynamics, where he often works as a "peacemaker" by gathering people with different experiences and values and helping them navigate beyond their differences to tackle complex problems together. 

It’s #27 and I’m joined by two guests for this episode. Jen Beardsley is the Prize Competitions Program Administrator for the United States Bureau of Reclamation and Taylor Gilliland is the Senior Advisor for Innovation Programs at the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering. For this episode we are again talking about crowdsourcing, but this time from the perspective of two people who routinely use crowdsourcing methods to solve problems inside their own agencies. We talk about how crowdsourcing and open innovation methods have been used to advance the work in invasive species, protective masks, and pipeline leaks, before exploring how agencies could consider these types of approaches in their own work.Please enjoy my conversation with Jen and Taylor. Some links to some of the things we discuss during this episode: Bureau of ReclamationPrize Competitions, Research and Development Office, Bureau of ReclamationC. Taylor GillilandNational Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB)National Institutes of HealthCheck out U.S. Government Crowdsource challenges at Challenge.govBook: Where do Where Good Ideas Come From: The Natural History of Innovation by Steven JohnsonYour host for the Cool Collaborations podcast is Scott Millar. Scott is the principle of Collaboration Dynamics, where he often works as a "peacemaker" by gathering people with different experiences and values and helping them navigate beyond their differences to tackle complex problems together. 

For episode #26, I have the distinct pleasure of a conversation with Adam Kahane about his most recent book Facilitating Breakthrough: How to Remove Obstacles, Bridge Differences, and Move Forward Together. We discuss what Adam calls transformative facilitation and how its set of ‘shifts’ fit within collaboration.  Adam has published several books describing his thinking, approaches, and experiences from collaborating on significant issues all over the world. He is the Director of REOS Partners which is an “international social enterprise that helps people move forward together on their most important and intractable issues”.Enjoy my conversation with Adam. Some links to some of the things we discuss during this episode: Adam KahaneReos PartnersBook: Facilitating Breakthrough: How to Remove Obstacles, Bridge Differences, and Move Forward TogetherOther Books by Adam Kahane: Collaborating with the Enemy Transformative Scenario Planning: Working Together to Change the FuturePower and Love: A Theory and Practice of Social ChangeSolving Tough Problems Adam Kahane and the others at Reos Partners do some interesting and amazing work. Check out their website for more information. Your host for the Cool Collaborations podcast is Scott Millar. Scott is the principle of Collaboration Dynamics, where he often works as a "peacemaker" by gathering people with different experiences and values and helping them navigate beyond their differences to tackle complex problems together. 

Andrew Mangan joins me for episode #25 of the podcast. At the time we recorded the episode, Andrew was the Executive Director of the United States Business Council for Sustainable Development. Andy has recently stepped out of the Executive Director position and continues to serve on the Board for the US BCSD. Andrew Mangan founded the council in 1992 and developed it into a globally recognized leader in sustainable development solutions, collaboration, and innovation. In our conversation, we talk about how businesses that might normally never work together have found ways to collaborate to reduce waste and cost and improve their sustainability, the role of experimentation in sustainability, and how the growing drive for sustainable practices needs more collaboration. Some links to some of the things we discuss during this episode: Andrew ManganUnited States Business Council for Sustainable Development (US BCSD)Gulf Coast Carbon CollaborativeGreat Lakes Carbon CollaborativeHeliogen is a renewable energy technology company unlocking the power of sunlight to replace fossil fuels.ArcelorMittal is a steel manufacturer.Book: Treasure of the Sierra Madre by B. TravernCheck out more on the United Stated Business Council on Sustainable Development to see what kinds of collaborative work is happening in sustainable business and development. Your host for the Cool Collaborations podcast is Scott Millar. Scott is the principle of Collaboration Dynamics, where he often works as a "peacemaker" by gathering people with different experiences and values and helping them navigate beyond their differences to tackle complex problems together. 

For episode #24, my guest is Kim Hyshka, the Principal of Dialogue Partners and a civic and public engagement expert based in Sherwood Park, Alberta. Kim is all about building capacity in people and communities so they can have meaningful dialogue and be able to work better together. It’s always a lot of fun to talk to Kim, because she carries such positive energy in the conversation. Today we talk about creating opportunities to bring people together, the quality of our conversations, failing and being vulnerable, and having good virtual conversations. Here’s some links to more information on some of the things we discuss during this episode: Kim HyshkaDialogue PartnersBook: Crucial Conversations Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, Al Switzler, and Stephen R. Covey (Foreword)Book: Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In by Roger Fisher, William Ury, and Bruce Patton.As you can hear in this conversation, Kim believes that ‘life moves in the direction of the conversation we’re having’ and she has embodied that sentiment as she helps people and organizations have better and more productive conversations.  You can get in touch with Kim through Dialogue Partners.Your host for the Cool Collaborations podcast is Scott Millar. Scott is the principle of Collaboration Dynamics, where he often works as a "peacemaker" by gathering people with different experiences and values and helping them navigate beyond their differences to tackle complex problems together. 

Welcome to episode #23 of the Cool Collaborations podcast. My guest today is Paul Thagard, PhD, a is a philosopher, cognitive scientist, and author. He is a Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at the University of Waterloo and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. He has been awarded the Molson Prize (2007) and a Killam Prize (2013) by the Canada Council for the Arts.Our conversation covers a lot of ground as we explore collaboration in the world of people, animals, and artificial intelligence, in line with the work in Paul’s new book Bots and Beasts: What Makes Machines, Animals, and People Smart? We speak about recursive thinking, empathy, complex problem solving, and creativity in the three worlds of bots, beasts, and humans. Here’s a few links to Paul Thagard’s latest book and some of the other things we discuss during the episode: Paul Thagard, PhDBots and Beasts: What Makes Machines, Animals, and People Smart?Richard Nisbett, Theodore M. Newcomb Distinguished University Professor, College of Literature, Science and the Arts, University of MichiganKeith Holyoak, Distinguished Professor, Stanford UniversityOcean’s ElevenLitt, Abninder & Eliasmith, Chris & Kroon, Frederick & Weinstein, Steven & Thagard, Paul. (2006). Is the brain a quantum computer?. Cognitive science. 30. 593-603. 10.1207/s15516709cog0000_59.Distributed Artificial Intelligence or Multiagent systemsDeep Mind by GoogleIBM WatsonAlphaGo – DeepMind playing the game Go.The concept of EmergencePaul Thagard’s new book Bots and Beasts: What Makes Machines, Animals, and People Smart? It comes out on October 19, 2021.  And, be sure to subscribe to the Cool Collaborations podcast with your podcast provider and share it with a friend you think would enjoy listening. Your host for the Cool Collaborations podcast is Scott Millar. Scott is the principle of Collaboration Dynamics, where he often works as a "peacemaker" by gathering people with different experiences and values and helping them navigate beyond their differences to tackle complex problems together. 

Here's the second part of my conversation with Ryon Stewart and Christine Jenkins from NASA’s Center of Excellence for Collaborative Innovation. As Challenge Coordinators at NASA, Ryon and Christine  bring crowdsourcing methods and expertise so that it can be a source of solutions for  problems facing NASA and agencies across the United States. In the conclusion of our conversation, Ryon and Christine talk about the problems that can be crowdsourced, how good ideas are recognized, and more. To find out more about the Center of Excellence and crowdsourcing projects at NASA, here’s a few links you might find interesting. Center of Excellence for Collaborative Innovation NASA Tournament LabRyon Stewart, Open Innovation DevelopmentChristine Ragno Jenkins, Business & Technical IntegrationBe part of future NASA Challenges by subscribing to the NASA Crowdsourcing ListservChallenge.gov Be sure to subscribe to the Cool Collaborations podcast with your podcast provider and share it with a friend you think would enjoy listening. Your host for the Cool Collaborations podcast is Scott Millar. Scott is the principle of Collaboration Dynamics, where he often works as a "peacemaker" by gathering people with different experiences and values and helping them navigate beyond their differences to tackle complex problems together.