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Pico Iyer On The Search For Paradise, Solitude And Society – This Week’s Six Pixels of Separation Podcast

Episode #890 of Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast is now live and ready for you to listen to

I often think of Pico Iyer. It could be while I travel… it could be while we were in Covid lockdown. His words truly resonate with me on a very deep level. Pico is an acclaimed wordsmith who began his journey in Oxford, England. With the King’s Scholarship at Eton and a Demyship at Magdalen College, Oxford in his kitty, Pico’s academic prowess earned him a Congratulatory Double First and the highest accolades in English Literature. In 1980, he joined the teaching fraternity at Harvard, earning a second Master’s degree and an honorary doctorate in Humane Letters. Since 1982, Pico has delved into full-time writing, weaving tales on diverse subjects from the Dalai Lama (a personal friend of his) to Islamic mysticism, and from the Cuban Revolution to globalism. His body of work encompasses over 15 books, including enduring bestsellers such as, Video Night in Kathmandu, The Lady and the Monk, and The Art of Stillness. These literary gems have been translated into over 20 languages, amplifying his voice across the globe. Besides his own titles, Pico has penned introductions for over 70 other books, composed a screenplay for Miramax, and written a libretto. Complementing his book writing, Pico has contributed upwards of 100 articles annually to international publications such as Time, The New York Times, and the Financial Times. His knack for insightful storytelling has led him to the TED stage (which is where we first met and connected), where his four talks have garnered more than 10 million views. Pico’s life beautifully balances between solitude and society. Since 1992, he has divided his time between a Benedictine hermitage in Big Sur, California, a sanctuary that nurtures his craft, and suburban Japan, where he engages with the rhythm of daily life. His journey underscores the harmonious fusion of stillness and movement, solitude and engagement – a fitting testimony to the art he so eloquently writes about. His latest book, The Half Known Life – In Search Of Paradise, is one that I read with stillness and slowness… like a fine wine. Paradise is many things to many people, and this book is an incredible journey to uncover it. Enjoy the conversation…

You can grab the latest episode of Six Pixels of Separation here (or feel free to subscribe via Apple Podcast or whatever platform you may choose): #890 of Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast.

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Mitch Joel

Mitch Joel lives at the intersection of technology, business transformation and consumer culture. He is the Executive Director of Next Era Institute, a strategic intelligence platform helping leaders understand the forces reshaping business, technology, culture and society. The Institute identifies which shifts matter, explores their wider significance and translates them into strategic direction and momentum. Mitch is also a globally recognized keynote speaker. He has delivered thousands of presentations across both B2B and B2C industries to organizations including Google, Walmart, LEGO, Shopify, Microsoft, Procter & Gamble and Unilever. Strategy Magazine has called him “one of North America’s leading visionaries.” Mitch built his career by working directly inside the waves of change that reshaped modern business. He founded and built a digital marketing agency that worked with some of the world’s largest brands and was later acquired by WPP, where he served as President of a firm operating in 25 countries with almost 3,000 employees. Mitch is the bestselling author of Six Pixels of Separation and CTRL ALT Delete, and the host of Thinking With Mitch Joel, one of the longest-running business podcasts in the world. His writing and commentary appear in outlets including Harvard Business Review, Fast Company and Inc. Magazine. He is a member of Dr. Marshall Goldsmith’s 100 Coaches and was named to the Thinkers50 Radar. Mitch also hosts Groove – The No Treble Podcast, documenting the oral history of electric bass players. Mitch is also Co-Founder of ThinkersOne, a platform that enables companies to bring personalized thought leadership from world-class experts into meetings, events and off-sites in focused 15-minute bursts.