The New Workday Podcast

We're in the middle of a modern-day gold rush and nobody's talking about the real value of AI. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thenewworkday.com/subscribe

On pranks, deviance, and the disruption of brittle systems. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thenewworkday.com/subscribe

An exploration of the differences in Jobs, Careers, and Callings. Plus an announcement about my new job design programme launch. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thenewworkday.com/subscribe

There is nothing wrong with you at all; you just need to focus more on other people. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thenewworkday.com/subscribe

A true story about bribes, beliefs, and becoming self-motivated. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thenewworkday.com/subscribe

Understanding the art and science of praise-giving. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thenewworkday.com/subscribe

You can only learn new things using things you've already learned. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thenewworkday.com/subscribe

This is the third instalment of my education research where I explore the question of what homes and schools would look like if they were designed entirely around the principles of autonomy, competence and relatedness. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thenewworkday.com/subscribe

What if you let your kids choose your family holiday? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thenewworkday.com/subscribe

I sent this message to my wife as part of our exploration into how to learn—and how to help our hypothetical kids to learn too. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thenewworkday.com/subscribe

This post is about the moment I noticed the tiny nail holes left behind when my mum took down her professional certificates, and how those holes made me realise that everything I'm proud of—getting into art school, building a business, traveling the world—was only possible because of invisible support I'd never acknowledged. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thenewworkday.com/subscribe

Hey subscribers, I did my first Substack Live today and really enjoyed it. I got to say things in under an hour that would probably have taken me weeks to write.I might try to do more of them!I hope you enjoy it. It’s about whether, in the not-so-distant future, anybody will really care if writers incorporate AI into their work. It’s not a topic I’d usually choose to write about. But it was great to be invited to speak about it as it got me thinking in ways that felt fresh and unfamiliar.Speak soon—Harrison x This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thenewworkday.com/subscribe

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thenewworkday.com/subscribe

In this post, I share the results of our second thematic prompting exercise: 49-word stories about getting in trouble. Fourteen submissions (including my own) that each tackle the theme differently, all within the tight constraint of exactly 49 words. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thenewworkday.com/subscribe

Contrary to popular belief, constraints are essential for creative excellence. Through examples like Monet and Picasso, this piece reveals how deliberate limitations lead to breakthrough work. We'll explore why setting the right constraints—not just talent or imagination—might be the key to your next creative breakthrough. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thenewworkday.com/subscribe

Tackling the most perplexing question every digital nomad faces: "Where to next?" Drawing from two and a half years of location-independent living, I explore four approaches to choosing destinations—from understanding what you're running from, to embracing the freedom of not planning at all. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thenewworkday.com/subscribe

Discussing how "intuitive routes" represent forms of resistance against conventional structures and why they only emerge in retrospect through action. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thenewworkday.com/subscribe

This piece explores the moment I stopped explaining my creativity to others—and how that transformed everything. I share my journey from hiding my art during 13 years in construction to running a global coaching practice. I challenge the idea that "responsible" people avoid creative risks, revealing how following unexplainable instincts actually creates more authentic work and sustainable success than conventional paths ever could. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thenewworkday.com/subscribe

MY FRIEND JAMES has a son who was getting ready to go to college, and James was thinking about which college to send him to. One of the best colleges in the UK is Eton, which you’ve probably heard of. James couldn’t afford to send his son to Eton, but he did want to learn about their teaching philosophy, so he asked the headmaster if he could have an hour to interview him, and surprisingly, the headmaster said yes! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thenewworkday.com/subscribe

IT IS FEAR that's stopping me from becoming a better writer. Fear of saying something that will make me disliked. Fear of tackling topics that require hours of research or that expose my ignorance and general disengagement. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thenewworkday.com/subscribe

In this episode, we delve into the art of being interesting. What elevates a piece of writing from mundane to memorable? It isn’t just about strong storytelling or a distinctive style, though these elements have their merits. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thenewworkday.com/subscribe

Riding buses has never felt more metaphorical than in this contemplative exploration of the "Helsinki Bus Station Theory" and its nuanced take on creative success. It challenges the conventional wisdom of persistence, suggesting instead that true achievement comes from finding your perfect 'bus'—a path so compelling you never want to disembark. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thenewworkday.com/subscribe

Thinking for yourself in a world obsessed with conformity isn't always straightforward, as Harrison discovers on a quest to experience Banksy's Dismaland. With a website that seemed perpetually out of service and rumours of sold-out tickets, the journey to this darkly humorous critique of consumerism becomes a lesson in skepticism, endurance, and the surprising twists of artistic rebellion. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thenewworkday.com/subscribe

Cooking and writing have more in common than you might think, as Harrison discovers the art of cleanliness in both realms. Exploring the "one-use" method in the kitchen, he finds a parallel in refining the writing process. This episode serves up a recipe for keeping both your cooking space and your prose clean and efficient, proving that methodical practices can lead to creative and practical success. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thenewworkday.com/subscribe

Zebras and writers share a unique dilemma: the need to stand out, yet fit in within their communities. Harrison takes us on a safari through his writing practice, exploring the balance between uniqueness and belonging. From his selective information diet to the power of community and the art of promotion, Harrison reveals how emulating the zebra's strategy in the wild can enhance our creative endeavours. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thenewworkday.com/subscribe

Be grateful, yet beware of its creative pitfalls. In this introspective episode, our host reflects on personal anecdotes and literary wisdom to explore a paradox: while gratitude can dispel fear, it might also dampen the creative urge. Delving into feedback from parents and insights from the likes of Stephen King and Tony Robbins, this journey examines the delicate balance between gratitude and the necessary tension that fuels compelling writing. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thenewworkday.com/subscribe

Haters will hate, but sometimes a good rant can be the compass pointing to our deeper values. This episode explores the idea that venting frustrations isn't just cathartic – it's a creative catalyst. From the nuances of essay writing to the quirks of everyday life, discover how a simple complaint can evolve into profound insights and unexpected transformations. Whether it's the absurdity of modern gadgets or the nostalgia of boombox culture, this episode challenges listeners to reconsider the power of a good rant. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thenewworkday.com/subscribe

Trying to master the delicate dance between creation and analysis, this episode explores the fundamental dichotomy at the heart of creative work. Drawing on examples from Stephen King's writing approach to the design process and the OKRs framework in business, it delves into the necessity of separating the wild, unbridled act of creating from the meticulous task of analysis. It compares this balance to romantic entanglement and highlights the challenges in finding the perfect moment to transition from creator to critic, akin to managing toddlers with a new toy. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thenewworkday.com/subscribe

Writers will be captivated by this introspective journey into the heart and mind of a creative. Explore the oscillating experiences of being a writer: from the euphoric heights of artistic flow to the daunting depths of self-doubt and practicality. This episode delves into the dual identities of a writer—artist and designer—illuminating the intricate dance between self-expression and market demands, and the perpetual quest to balance personal fulfillment with audience needs. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thenewworkday.com/subscribe

In this short poem, we delve into the profound impact of a simple, yet often unspoken, admission—and explore the rare intimacy and authenticity that these three little words can bring to a relationship, breaking down barriers and fostering a deeper understanding. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thenewworkday.com/subscribe

Have you experienced the whirlwind emotions of a digital nomad? This episode takes you through the four fervent seasons of nomadic life: novelty, nirvana, niggles, and nostalgia. From the initial exhilaration of new surroundings to the eventual yearning for stability, discover how each phase shapes the unique journey of working travel. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thenewworkday.com/subscribe

Diana Nyad's extraordinary 110-mile swim from Cuba to Florida captured in 'Nyad', a Netflix biographical drama, raises profound questions about the cost of outsized ambition. This essay delves into the conflicts between personal vision and collective support, as witnessed by me during a recent writing course. Juxtaposing Nyad's relentless pursuit with my own experience, I reflect on the delicate balance between ambition and connection, questioning the price of success and its impact on relationships and self-awareness. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thenewworkday.com/subscribe

In this episode, I follow the journey of Jim, an Australian commercial artist turned creative mogul in Thailand. From crafting Buddha heads to luxurious staircases, his enterprise thrives until a puzzling challenge arises with a newly-acquired laser-cutting machine. Despite expert intervention, the solution lies closer to home, reminding us of the unexpected wisdom found in diverse experiences and the importance of local knowledge in a global world. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thenewworkday.com/subscribe

This essay delves into the surprisingly profound world of food packaging frustrations. I reflect on the daily battles with ketchup packets and screw-top lids, proposing these challenges as opportunities for self-awareness and mindfulness. I argue that these minor inconveniences invite us to appreciate complex supply chains, practice delayed gratification, and resist mindless consumerism. It’s an amusing yet insightful journey into the significance of everyday struggles and the wisdom they can impart. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thenewworkday.com/subscribe

In this essay, I reflect on a friendship lost to divergent paths. While wandering through London's Primrose Hill Park, I received a life-altering phone call from my school mate, Tom, whose newfound Christian beliefs abruptly ended our 20-year friendship. This episode delves into the complexities of change, conviction, and the bittersweet realisation that sometimes, the qualities we admire in others are what inevitably drive us apart. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thenewworkday.com/subscribe

In this thought-provoking essay, I delve into the transformative power of questions. Reflecting on personal experiences of anger and misunderstanding, I share how a simple question from a business coach unearthed deep-seated battles from my childhood. This revelation not only offered a new perspective on interpersonal dynamics but also catalysed a significant life change, transitioning from a business owner to a travelling writer. Discover how asking the right questions can steer conversations subtly, empowering others and ourselves. Learn to embrace the art of questioning – not just to philosophise but to progress and succeed. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thenewworkday.com/subscribe

Here, I delve into the increasingly prevalent phenomenon of 'sodcasting'—the act of playing music loudly on mobile phones in public spaces, examining the layers of irritation, cultural shifts, and the historical parallels that this behaviour evokes. From visceral fantasies of confronting sodcasters to poignant reflections on how private music consumption has evolved from boomboxes to the solitary bubbles of smartphones, this episode offers a "cacophony" of commentary on societal norms and the ways in which personal music choices can intrude into public consciousness. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thenewworkday.com/subscribe