What I Wish I Knew Show (2025)

20/12/2024

AI has made huge steps across so many disciplines. It's also been the source of missteps. Columbia Business School anthropologist Robert J. Morais shares his views on AI's role in marketing, new product development, and the responsibility each of us have to learn to use it well. On the latest in our conversations about AI on What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw. Please let us know what you think.

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Bob Morais, an anthropologist and expert in human behavior, particularly in the realm of marketing. Dr. Morais had a 35+ year career in advertising and market research and is a Lecturer at Columbia Business School. Morais was a Principal/Co-owner of a market researc

16/12/2024

We’ve produced more than 40 episodes of What I Wish I Knew. Our usual podcast guests talked about journeys that they chose to embark on: starting a company, solving a problem, creating opportunities, or navigating life and career. In our current series, we’re probing into a trip that none of us opted into but we’re all aboard anyway…and that is artificial intelligence. AI influences what we see, hear, buy, and think, how we navigate the world, and how we navigate daily life.

In this introductory segment, we discuss lessons from the first episodes and shift gears into an exploration of AI and the everyday implications for all of us. This is the first in a series we hope will result in gaining a better understanding of artificial intelligence and the responsibility each of us has in building AI savvy going forward.
More episodes in the coming weeks.

What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw is available on Spotify and wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

We’ve produced more than 40 episodes of What I Wish I Knew. Our usual podcast guests talked about journeys that they chose to embark on: starting a company, solving a problem, creating opportunities, or navigating life and career. In our current series, we’re probing into a trip that none of us ...

14/05/2022

“Experience is something you don’t get until just after you needed it.” Comedian Steven Wright was correct…but it doesn’t have to be that way. Bert Thornton, former president of Waffle House talked with us about the power of mentoring to change lives and change organizations. If you’re looking for help or looking to help, this is a conversation that covers both. From the What I Wish I Knew Show with Michael Irwin and Simon Daw. Have a listen.

Is there a secret to success? Absolutely. And it’s probably not what you may think. Bert Thornton spent 40 years shaping careers (including his own) as Waffle House grew from a few restaurants in the American south to become a pillar of communities around the country. As president and chief opera

22/03/2022

"Give yourself the freedom to not be the one to solve the problem. Give yourself the opportunity of a big enough community to help you solve it." JUNO founder Josh Hotsenpiller has spent his life building community through companies, friends, and church. In this episode of What I Wish I Knew Show with Michael Irwin and Simon Daw, Josh shares the lessons learned along the way that have fueled the growth of his companies, his teams, and even his own sense of happiness.

Josh Hotsenpiller is one of those people you wish you’d known your entire life. And when you meet him, you’ll feel like you did. You see, Josh, devotes a big chunk of his time to building community and he does it with a goal to have a positive impact for all. He’s done it in as an entrepreneur...

20/10/2021

Camilla Barnard believes people should be able to feel good about loving food, not guilty. Her starting point was one of those good-for-you foods that may not taste so good: muesli. Trouble is that muesli is a commodity category dominated by big food companies, famous brands, and basic store products. Few would have the audacity to start there. She wasn’t a veteran of the food industry nor an expert in consumer marketing. And yet, her company, Rude Health, has become a familiar sight on store shelves and shopping baskets across the UK and Europe.

In this episode of the What I Wish I Knew Show with Michael Irwin and Simon Daw, Camilla talks about how not knowing can be a strength, how Instagram has changed consumer behavior, and how creativity and attitude often leads to better solutions than expertise alone.

Camilla Barnard co-founded Rude Health in London in 2005 with her husband, Nick. Rude Health is on a mission to make the healthy choice a celebration, not a sacrifice, with their range of over 75 foods and drinks and a team of 45 glass-half-fullers. As well as being a full-time mum of two, Camilla is the creative brain behind the business’s marketing and brand development and is on a mission to inspire everyone to be in rude health by joyfully challenging the assumption that health food has to be bland and boring.

Camilla Barnard believes people should be able to feel good about loving food, not guilty. Her starting point was one of those good-for-you foods that may not taste so good: muesli. Trouble is that muesli is a commodity category dominated by big food companies, famous brands, and basic store product

01/10/2021

Why do some brands rise above the fray? We talked with David Taylor, founder of The Brand Gym in London. Taylor has been named one of the world’s leading marketing thinkers by the CIM. In this episode of What I Wish I Knew with Michael Irwin and Simon Daw, Taylor covers why insurgent brands gain traction and the four classic marketing mistakes to avoid. And how he “escaped” from engineering to become a marketer.

David Taylor has been named one of the world’s 50 leading marketing thinkers by the Chartered Institute of Marketing. His specialty, however, is in real-world, applied marketing…the sort that delivers growth in revenue and in regard. And whether the brand is a product or the proverbial brand you...

14/09/2021

Jasmine Burton, MPH is an industrial designer by training and a social impact designer by choice. She’s a believer that design can help solve important societal problems…and that the next iPhone or app isn’t necessarily one of them. Instead, she’s taking on one of the biggest health problems in the world and one that, ironically, has had little innovation over the years: sanitation.

In this episode of What I Wish I Knew Show with Michael Irwin and Simon Daw, Jasmine talks about “design as functional art”, “designing for dignity”, and offers a perspective on the role that companies, institutions, and individuals should play in integrating social good into daily work.

Jasmine Burton is an industrial designer by training and a social impact designer by choice. She’s a believer that design can help solve important societal problems…and that the next iPhone or app isn’t necessarily one of them. Instead, she’s taking on one of the biggest health problems in t...

13/09/2021

The world today is deeply divided over so many things. Bridging that chasm is perhaps harder than it’s ever been and yet maybe never more important than it is right now. Dr. Gaye Theresa Johnson of UCLA shares a perspective that fear overhangs much of that discord and recognizing the source of that fear is vital to building cooperation.

On the What I Wish I Knew podcast with@Michael Irwin and Simon Daw, Dr. Johnson talks about our “capacity for compassion”and how to tap it. She shares how to approach important conversations with a “curious mindset rather than a furious one.” She talks about the “power of kindness and compassion.” And she makes the case for learning from the young in their ability to find joy in everyday life.

Dr. Johnson is an expert on race, cultural politics, and freedom struggles. She’s an in-demand speaker, award winning faculty member, and teaches one of the most popular courses at UCLA. When you listen to this episode, you’ll easily understand why.

The world today is deeply divided over politics, covid, race, culture, values, religion, and many other issues. Bridging that chasm is perhaps harder than it’s ever been and yet maybe never more important than it is right now. Dr. Gaye Theresa Johnson of UCLA believes that fear overhangs much of t...

05/08/2021

Good health has never been more important or as top of mind as it has been this past year. And many folks wish they’d taken care of their health before they lost it.

“Most people think disease is instantaneous,” said Dr. Richard Harris. However, many physical ailments can take years to develop. Lifestyle choices have a profound impact on health and quality of life. While lifespan is a common focus, Dr. Harris says that striving for health span – the duration of one’s good health – is even more important. His mission is to help people live better quality lives and to recognize how the choices they make can affect their health.

In this episode of What I Wish I Knew Show with Michael Irwin and Simon Daw, Dr. Harris talks about the primary obstacles to healthy living, how the mental side of health affects the physical, health span versus lifespan, and four simple steps each person can take to help improve their health.

Good health has never been more important or as top of mind as it has been this past year. And many folks wish they’d taken care of their health before they lost it. “Most people think disease is instantaneous,” said Dr. Richard Harris. However, many physical ailments can take years to develop...

22/07/2021

Oli Russell-Cowan was on a mission. And a honeymoon. He and his wife were roaming the Americas with a plan to surf, see the sights, and experience culture. While surfing and sightseeing were easy, they found it hard to get intel special events like the Day of the Dead in Mexico City. That sparked an idea for a blog, which became a business, and eventually a platform intended to share advice for travelers looking for action sports, music festivals, and cultural events around the world.

The company, Rad Season, was the first one-stop shop for checking out and booking all things rad. Then Covid shut down travel and cancelled 900 events on Rad Season’s global calendar. While the events were off, interest in many of the activities that Rad Season was built around hit new heights. Running an events company when there were no events was a massive challenge. And also an opportunity.

If there’s one thing we’ve learned from the guests on What I Wish I Knew Show with Michael Irwin and Simon Daw, it’s this: no matter the obstacles, these people always find a way. In this episode, Oli talks about the evolution of Rad Season: from the uncertainty of the beginning, to the acceleration with partners and events, and then shifting gears as covid came on. and are important in any business and so are the lessons that Oli shares.

Oli Russell-Cowan was on a mission. It was also his honeymoon. He and his wife were roaming around North, Central, and South America with a plan to surf, see the sights, and experience culture. While surfing and sightseeing were pretty straightforward, they found it hard to find good intel on specia

09/07/2021

Would you turn down a deal from Shark Tank? Wylie Robinson from Rumpl did. Would you make the effort to earn Certified B status for your company? He did that too. Hear more about this remarkable entrepreneur's journey...it's a story of doing well by doing right. And sometimes the best deal is to walk away from one. On the latest episode of What I Wish I Knew with Michael Irwin and Simon Daw.

What brand of blanket do you have at home? If you’re like most people, you have no idea. If you’re Wylie Robinson then you’re out to change that. Wylie is founder and CEO of Rumpl, the brand of blanket that most people will want when they see it. It all started in a blizzard. Stranded in a veh...

24/06/2021

What makes an effective leader? And why do so many fall short? Vanderbilt University’s Patrick Leddin is an expert in helping leaders and teams reach their potential.

Dr. Leddin’s expertise is both academic and practical, and forged across a range of organizations. He served as an officer in the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division and Rangers, KPMG, and partnered with his wife to start an Inc. 5000-recognized company. His latest book, The Five-Week Leadership Challenge, is a story-oriented, step by step process to become the leader all organizations need. His writing has drawn more than 100,000 followers on LinkedIn.

In this episode of What I Wish I Knew with Michael Irwin and Simon Daw, Patrick discusses rising to the challenge of leadership, the elements of an effective culture, and the vital role of humility in personal development.

What makes an effective leader? And why do so many fall short? Vanderbilt University Professor Patrick Leddin is an expert in helping leaders and teams reach their potential. Dr. Leddin’s expertise is both academic and practical, and forged across a range of organizations. He served as a U.S. Army

What I Wish I Knew Show

20/12/2024

16/12/2024

14/05/2022

22/03/2022

20/10/2021

01/10/2021

14/09/2021

13/09/2021

05/08/2021

22/07/2021

09/07/2021

24/06/2021

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