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The Sonophilian

The Sonophilian

By Sonophilia Foundation

Conversations on creativity, leadership, arts, sciences and technology.
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"Let’s be less figure-driven and more playful in work spaces." - Birgit Gebhardt

The SonophilianMar 11, 2024

00:00
20:29
"Let’s be less figure-driven and more playful in work spaces." - Birgit Gebhardt

"Let’s be less figure-driven and more playful in work spaces." - Birgit Gebhardt

Birgit Gebhardt, an independent trend researcher for whom the future of work is paramount, questions what makes us human. Is it our emotions, our communication skills, or perhaps the ways we learn, grow, and explore in our work and personal spaces? Is it a mixture of all these factors combined?

Mar 11, 202420:29
"Incubation is key to insight problem solving" - Amory Danek

"Incubation is key to insight problem solving" - Amory Danek

Creativity and insight are tightly bound in nature. They go hand in hand. The research into insight problem solving is an ongoing endeavor, one which inherently requires innovative methods and a constant vigilance to our senses. Dr. Amory Danek, a cognitive psychologist and researcher at Heidelberg University, is this year’s recipient of the Sonophilia Foundation Research Stipend for her exceptional contributions to the field of insight problem solving.

Dec 20, 202326:08
"Insight and Creativity" - Maxi Becker

"Insight and Creativity" - Maxi Becker

We often consider a Eureka moment to be the peak of solving any given problem, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. This a-ha experience is only the consequence for a complex concept known as insight. Maxi Becker, a post-doctoral researcher at the Humboldt University of Berlin and an honored recipient of the Sonophilia Foundation Research stipend, is particularly adept at breaking insight down so that this multifaceted phenomenon can be more readily understood.

Mar 06, 202318:07
"Our greatest strength lies in our diversity." - Angus Cameron

"Our greatest strength lies in our diversity." - Angus Cameron

With 30 years of experience as a stereographer, a VFX and VR supervisor for such clients as Warner Brothers, Disney, Pixar, and Paramount, Angus has in the past worked on Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, No Time to Die, King Kong and Gravity. It was through this work that a more holistic approach to his creative projects took root. His career in the film industry was a stepping stone that helped pave the way for ootiboo.

Dec 19, 202215:16
"Life is a game of balance." - Nadja Dinzl

"Life is a game of balance." - Nadja Dinzl

Yoga is about channeling our energy and manifesting our personal experience of creativity. For Nadja Dinzl, life is a game of balance. Being a yoga instructor and an HR lawyer at the University of Vienna, she knows a thing or two about what it takes to offset seemingly polar aspects of her existence, both in a physical and a spiritual sense. In her search for something to quiet her mind in a very fast-paced and oftentimes tumultuous era, Nadja discovered a branch of yoga that changed everything for her.

Sep 27, 202220:15
"Creativity comes from a desire to solve a problem." - Bruce Bateman

"Creativity comes from a desire to solve a problem." - Bruce Bateman

Having tried and failed several times in his endeavors, Bruce’s success story is multifaceted, and his work is tridimensional. First, he actively mentors approximately 15 startups from around the world in various topics and fields, such as machine learning, VR treadmills, location-based services for warehousing, medical devices, and medical learning. This component stemmed from his own experience being mentored as a young man; he now wants to help others in the same way.


Bruce is particularly passionate about the mission and structure of the Sonophilia Foundation. From being introduced to many kinds of people with vastly different perspectives to being able to engage in discussions about issues and ideas, Bruce loves listening to other people express themselves. Although he admits he has no particular knowledge about the arts, he finds special value in collaborating with artists and musicians to help spark innovative thinking. Essentially, it’s the family feel that he finds so refreshing. “My area is in where technology can assist, how technology can provide you with better learning and better understanding, how, for example, Roman Lipski (Sonophilian), uses technology that takes his art and makes it into different kinds of art and then gives the artist inspiration… Whenever I'm hanging around the Sonophilians, I get this family feeling that everybody just wants to chit chat… That's why I'm excited to be part of it."

Aug 16, 202229:34
"Sex ecology can help save the world" - Jasmin Hagendorfer

"Sex ecology can help save the world" - Jasmin Hagendorfer

Breaking taboos and lifting the veil of ignorance will be the shining light in a world fighting to remain in darkness. The scope and popularity of the porn industry are rarely discussed openly, although porn is enjoyed by a vast majority. As the co-founder and creative director of the Porn Film Festival in Vienna, as well as the creative director at the Transition International Queer & Minorities Film Festival, Jasmin Hagendorfer has approached this sometimes awkward and uncomfortable topic with confidence and spunk.

May 03, 202229:09
Our capacity for creativity and generativity is our birthright. - Eve Konstantine

Our capacity for creativity and generativity is our birthright. - Eve Konstantine

The Universe is constantly sending out signals for creativity and inviting us to choose an organic, sometimes winding, path in life. Having immersed herself in the study of evolutionary patterns for decades, Eve Konstantine has led what she calls “the life of a seeker”. Questions about who we are as a species, what our purpose is here on this planet, and where we’re going have been at the epicenter of her career.

Mar 16, 202221:31
"The brain is wired to adapt, survive, and evolve in complex environments" - Yoed Kenett

"The brain is wired to adapt, survive, and evolve in complex environments" - Yoed Kenett

For Yoed Kenett, a professor of cognitive neuroscience based at the Technion Israel Institute of Technology, asking questions is what makes the world go round. He explores associate thought knowledge and how creativity works in the brain. In a nutshell, he believes that what matters is the questions themselves rather than the answers.

Feb 17, 202221:47
"For companies, innovation lies at the intersection of Culture, Creativity and Wellbeing". - Theodore Edmonds

"For companies, innovation lies at the intersection of Culture, Creativity and Wellbeing". - Theodore Edmonds

Creativity, to Theo, is a leadership model. In the contexts of novelty and value creation, he believes creativity emerges from both divergent and convergent thinking processes. In essence, he reflects on what creativity itself predicts, rather than the other way around. This impression ties back into his commitment to the emerging role of the artist in the world, as a creativity-based leader in fields both within and outside of the arts.

Dec 28, 202128:21
“To survive we need food, sex, and creativity - and you need the last one to get either of the first two, so we know which is most important!” - Ralph Talmont

“To survive we need food, sex, and creativity - and you need the last one to get either of the first two, so we know which is most important!” - Ralph Talmont

“To survive we need food, sex, and creativity - and you need the last one to get either of the first two, so we know which is most important!” 

To foster creativity, we need to promote a culture of play beyond childhood, beyond a place of leisure. In our society this is undoubtedly a tricky proposition, but one that Ralph Talmont believes is essential for innovation and problem-solving on a global level.

Oct 04, 202124:29
"Improvisation is creativity at its peak" - Hannah Merseal

"Improvisation is creativity at its peak" - Hannah Merseal

Meet the first-ever recipient of the Sonophilia Foundation Summer Scholarship for Outstanding Young Scientists in Creativity Research Hannah Merseal. Improvisation, particularly in musical composition, is the heart and soul of her research focus. 

As a neuroscience and creativity scholar at Roger Beaty's Cognitive Neuroscience of Creativity Lab at Penn State University, Hannah studies the cognitive mechanisms and neuroimaging methods of music production and cognition. Having recently concluded the second year of her PhD program at Penn State and with a BA in music and psychology from Wheaton College, she explores how improvising jazz musicians can integrate complex cognitive processes, like memory retrieval, motor planning, idea evaluation, and coordination with other players on the stage during a performance. 

“Improvisation is creativity at its peak. I think what sets this apart from other domains of creativity research is that this is all happening in real-time. In areas like writing or the visual arts, a person can go back and edit their ideas, but in improvisation, the audience is right there. There's no time to change your mind because the processes of idea generation and evaluation are happening simultaneously.”

Jun 11, 202115:13
Creativity is a dynamic state that can be leveraged" - Adam Green

Creativity is a dynamic state that can be leveraged" - Adam Green

Listen to Prof. Adam Green, the president of the Society for Neuroscience of Creativity, as he talks about the new methods and developments in neuroimaging technologies as well as in neuroscience that might be of help to more people to reach new heights in their creative abilities and to unleash their creative potential.

May 26, 202120:47
"Creativity is a mindset." - Andreas Spechtler

"Creativity is a mindset." - Andreas Spechtler

Learning is a lifelong process. This mantra encapsulates the essence of what makes or breaks a young business. After all, arrogance begets ignorance. The founder and CEO of Silicon Castles, Andreas Spechtler is a Sonophilian by heart and an advisor for startups by nature.

Feb 23, 202125:02
"We're tracking the brain activity & communication between brain regions when people are thinking creatively." - Roger Beaty

"We're tracking the brain activity & communication between brain regions when people are thinking creatively." - Roger Beaty

Where do creative ideas come from? How does the brain piece together information in new ways to solve problems? What brain regions and networks are involved in our ability to come up with new ideas?

In the Sonophilia Foundation’s goal to answer such perplexing questions and make the study of creativity a tangible science, our partnership with Penn State University introduced us to a valuable addition to the Sonophilian family. Roger Beaty is an assistant professor of psychology at Penn State and the principal director of the Cognitive Neuroscience of Creativity Lab.

Feb 04, 202118:50
"Real solutions can only be found with creative minds" - Stefan Beckers

"Real solutions can only be found with creative minds" - Stefan Beckers

Sometimes, it’s the opportunities that jump out at us unexpectedly that tend to have the most impact on our lifelong paths. Stefan Beckers, the chief program engineer at Ford Motor Company, is a strong advocate for bringing more creative and critical thinking into all realms of life.

Jan 11, 202120:29
"There is no end to what human creativity can accomplish" - Walter Werzowa

"There is no end to what human creativity can accomplish" - Walter Werzowa

“Music and creativity – especially music – is just the language which allows us to express things in a logic way, in an immediate way,” Walter told Sonophilia. “We don't find the words for it. I'd rather express myself with sound and music than with words. I think creativity is a need. We need to express ourselves. And we’ve always had that need.” 

Nov 04, 202021:24
"It doesn't cost anything to explore your creativity." - Billy Andrews aka The Dark Tenor

"It doesn't cost anything to explore your creativity." - Billy Andrews aka The Dark Tenor

Billy Andrews is the Sonophilia Pioneer! He is a Gold-status singer who has held hits in Germany's Top 10 Charts and sold over 200,000 albums. As one of the most innovative musicians of his generation Billy Andrews creatively connects the worlds of artificial intelligence and 3D printing, classical and rock music. 

Oct 09, 202027:30
We're not just talking about Mozart here. - Franziska Wizany

We're not just talking about Mozart here. - Franziska Wizany

Culture is to knowledge as creativity is to joy. There is a human side to every creative endeavor. The trick is to locate it, to make creativity indispensable to our very being. Franziska Wizany, the cultural advisor at Saxon Mozart Society, formerly the Mozarteum Foundation in Salzburg – the birthplace of Mozart – doesn't take for granted what it takes to bring forth the man behind the music. And we're not just talking about Mozart here.

Sep 24, 202021:33
"We need to redefine what it means to be an artist". - Roman Lipski

"We need to redefine what it means to be an artist". - Roman Lipski

Man and machine. Artist and computer. Analog and digital. Where is the point of intersection between these elements and how do they coalesce? Polish-born and Berlin-based painter Roman Lipski has made it his life’s work to redefine what it means to be an artist.

Sep 10, 202018:48
"Critique is the backbone of creative ideas" - Karen Kusch

"Critique is the backbone of creative ideas" - Karen Kusch

A sense of togetherness in a virtual world. During the global lockdown that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic, messages of unity, compassion, understanding, and trust were widespread and continue to be so, even as many institutions and events reopen. Whether in education, in banking, in healthcare, in business, the concept of remote work slammed into our lives with a sledgehammer-like force, knocking us into a very alien reality. Karen Kusch, a partner at Kusch Consulting, has 20 years of corporate experience in the field of future work and global collaboration, so for her, this scenario hits very close to home.

Jul 28, 202022:09
"AI is a wonderful tool for human creativity". - Trent McConaghy

"AI is a wonderful tool for human creativity". - Trent McConaghy

As the conversations surrounding AI evolve and move past the all-encompassing, purely fear-inducing images of the Terminator, Trent predicts that AI will undoubtedly replace many blue-collar jobs, white-collar jobs, and many professions in between. Trent McConaghy wholly believes, however, that we must separate the idea of our work from the more pressing issue of leading a meaningful life.

Jun 19, 202019:07
"Creativity is the big sister of diversity." - Anastassia Lauterbach

"Creativity is the big sister of diversity." - Anastassia Lauterbach

“I am not a huge believer in this slogan that robots will take our jobs… Automation is a tool to bring efficiency and make certain processes better. If a process is great and you automate the process, then you might come to the next level of greatness. Of course, you will not save businesses just with automation; you might improve or reduce certain tasks, augment them… Start with the business question: what do we want to change? What do you want to use?” - Anastassia Lauterbach

May 15, 202023:29
"Humanity has worked best when it worked as a team." - Holger Seier

"Humanity has worked best when it worked as a team." - Holger Seier

“There are three main essential insights I've gained. First, development is closely linked to the ability to shape things yourself. Let people do instead of limiting their creativity by setting strict limits. Second, good cooperation is important. Until now, humanity has worked best when it worked as a team. Third, respect individual needs and personal goals, particularly because in large companies like ours, more and more attention is paid to diverse teams. That's why it's all the more important to consider the wishes and goals of each individual in order to achieve the greatest possible success.” - Holger Seier

Apr 28, 202012:09
"It’s important to step back and look at the bigger picture" - Stephan Schneider

"It’s important to step back and look at the bigger picture" - Stephan Schneider

“Creativity, especially in my work, is really about connecting the dots to see the bigger picture. Sometimes it's important to step just one step back and see what is happening, how things are happening, why they're happening, and how they can be addressed. Creativity is really using all your senses and knowledge together with your experience and experience from others, from other disciplines and with diverse backgrounds. It’s essential to have an open, broad mind and see the different dependencies. But also to execute – to pick up the ideas and bring them into something

Apr 14, 202016:14
"Believe in the vision and the opportunity to have an impact on the world." - Jeff Burton

"Believe in the vision and the opportunity to have an impact on the world." - Jeff Burton

"Creative leadership is a force that must come into play in order to overcome unexpected obstacles. Success comes from having a constant creative drive. Turning the creativity of the world, which everybody has some inside them, is the most valuable asset when it comes to making an impact… I think that’s probably the most important feature of being successful in life, because you have to keep an open mind and take into account all sorts of components and aspects of living and thinking and coming up with new ideas all the time. That's what I found in Sonophilia. It's agroup of people that are just outstanding.” - Jeff Burton

Mar 30, 202014:53
"It's about the love with which you give anything of value away" - Jan-Peter Doomernik

"It's about the love with which you give anything of value away" - Jan-Peter Doomernik

"Creativity comes from listening. It's not about wanting to own the value, but it is the love with which you give anything of value away", says the Sonophilian Jan-Peter Doomernik, who is building resilient and future-oriented infrastructures at the Enexis Netbeheer, one of the Netherlands’ most critical providers.

Mar 19, 202021:24
“I'm starting to believe, it's possible to measure creativity and critical thinking." - Andy Zmolek

“I'm starting to believe, it's possible to measure creativity and critical thinking." - Andy Zmolek

“Creativity is the energy you put into leaving the legible world that you're in, and exploring the less legible, uncharted, poorly explored realm that likely contain the framing, the solution you need to make progress and go forward. The combination of creativity and critical thinking, when applied to any problem stage, will allow you to determine where to explore, how to explore it, and how to move forward in a way that progresses and aligns the journey of those that want to do so.” - Andy Zmolek

Mar 02, 202024:15
"Being multidisciplinary is the greatest way to harness creativity" - Christopher Keller

"Being multidisciplinary is the greatest way to harness creativity" - Christopher Keller

“I've always gone into a job, thinking: what positive impact am I having? I think, especially in these days…having really high quality journalism gives people a sense of perspective on the world that is based on facts. Truth is so important and so meaningful, and that's a huge passion point for me.” - Christopher Keller

Feb 17, 202015:41
"We must dare to make ourselves vulnerable" - Friederike Riemer

"We must dare to make ourselves vulnerable" - Friederike Riemer

“It's about being there as a human,” she says, “having a holistic approach, not only thinking about a great project which can make a lot of revenue or… business success, but it's a way to really elevate people's purpose, people’s wishes, people's dreams and meet people who are on the same level with you. You directly connect and click and start working in that moment. Collaboration or futuristic thinking for me starts at this very human place… Sonophilia was where it all started.”

Jan 16, 202012:15
"Classical is the New Avant-Garde" - Falk Kastell

"Classical is the New Avant-Garde" - Falk Kastell

Now is our chance to embrace the future by understanding the past. Falk Kastell, a multi-disciplinary artist whose works excel on each level of his artistic activity and transcend time, is the Sonophilia Artist Fellow 2020.

Jan 10, 202014:55
“Leadership is always an ego thing for me" - Holger Volland

“Leadership is always an ego thing for me" - Holger Volland

The new episode of The Sonophilian features Holger Volland, the Vice President of the Frankfurt Book Fair and the founder of the Arts+, the digital content platform within the Book Fair. He is a passionate Sonophilian and claims that: "Creativity takes many years, if not an entire lifetime, to nurture." 

Holger believes in using our creative nerves as an instrument to solve the problems of the world, to think up new and better ways of doing things. Creativity is a skill inherent in everyone—it takes only a willingness, a space and sufficient time in one’s life. 

Absolutely agreed Holger!

Dec 13, 201920:10
"Thinking beyond the Now" - Meg Charles-Horn

"Thinking beyond the Now" - Meg Charles-Horn

Chances are, you’ve heard the phrase ‘think outside the box,’ but have you ever stopped to consider where that box came from, what’s in it, and who put it there in the first place? CEO and founder of FRAME Advisory and Sonophilian, Meg Charles-Horn, has made it her life’s work to help clients and new businesses break out of their boxes and limitations, which came about either by accident or design. 

The concept of breaking out of boxes is about being seen, having an identity without being constricted by a single way of doing things or a single way of thinking. In essence, this is precisely what attracted Meg to Sonophilia. In a business and entrepreneurial context, Meg explained it’s “about identifying and seeing the authentic and going from there.”

Nov 13, 201916:48
"Time is our only limited resource" - Chris Boos

"Time is our only limited resource" - Chris Boos

For CEO and founder of the leading artificial intelligence company Arago Hans-Christian Boos is a Sonophilian. To him, time is everything. Time is the quintessential factor that we all must thrive on to achieve success. He is a man on a mission, a mission to bring AI to the forefront of creativity and innovative thinking.

In this episode he is talking to the Sonophilia's editor in chief Maryam Ghaddar on AI, leadership, creativity and his involvement with the Sonophilia Network.

Oct 25, 201908:47