What does it mean to be human in an age of AI, algorithms, and endless optimization?

In this conversation, Dara Simkin—Australia's leading voice on play at work and founder of Culture Hero—shares insights from her upcoming book "Full Stack Human: The Mindset Upgrade You Need to Stay Human in a World Ruled by Technology" (co-authored with data scientist and futurist Tane Hunter).

In this episode, we explore:
✨ Why productivity hacks and wellness apps only treat symptoms, not root causes
🧠 The "backend programming" of our brains—cognitive biases, evolutionary hangovers, and our addiction to achievement
🎮 The five-layer stack: serious play, strategic hope, intelligent optimism, radical curiosity, and embodied adaptability
💭 A fresh take on mental health that prioritizes community over isolation
How play is actually training for adaptability and the unexpected
🌍 How to curate your "information diet" to escape doom-scrolling and find stories of progress
🎨 Why analogue, handmade, human experiences will become priceless as technology advances
🔄 The power of living life with friends, not just debriefing about it

About Dara: Dara Simkin is the founder of Culture Hero, a consultancy driving cultural change and experience design. She has worked with organisations worldwide and came to Australia after winning a video competition to travel Tasmania in a campervan for six weeks... never left!

Order the book: "Full Stack Human: The Mindset Upgrade: You Need to Stay Human in a World Ruled by Technology" (releases February 2025) https://www.culturehero.co/full-stack-human-book

Connect with Dara:
Website: culturehero.co
LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/dara-simkin-culture-hero

Discover how to develop a deeper, more grounded sense of presence that helps you lead, perform, and navigate change with calm clarity.

In this conversation, professional drummer and leadership coach Mark Poiesz shares insights from performing for millions and coaching leaders at Google, Warner Bros, and beyond.

You’ll learn:
- How to build genuine presence (stage, leadership and otherwise) that connects and inspires.
- The power of deep listening, to others, to energy, and to yourself.
- How cultivating an “I AM” sense of self creates resilience in uncertainty.
- A simple cue to help you cultivate presence in the moment, and navigate uncertainty, change, and conflict with grace.

Enjoy!

You can find Mark at:
Website: https://www.markpoiesz.com/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/markpoiesz_
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/markpoiesz
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-poiesz/

If you’ve been feeling powerless or thrown off course by constant change, this is for you. This video explores how to find a stable sense of power that no one can take away, no matter what’s happening around you.

You’ll learn how to shift from chasing control to building lasting inner strength, and why true power starts within.

Guided Visualisation: https://youtu.be/v6gSh5cGCms