Best Octopus Organization™ Podcasts (2025)

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Steve Denning | The Octopus Organization™ with Jonathan Brill 12:15

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7d ago12:15

12:15

Business futurist and AI keynote speaker Jonathan brill speaks with Steve Denning, a renowned management innovator, author, and former World Bank executive. Denning shares his journey from being a lawyer to a transformative leader at the World Bank, emphasizing the power of storytelling in driving organizational change. He discusses the challenges …

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What can starlings teach us about business strategy? 13:38

4h ago13:38

13:38

Welcome to the Arkaro Insights podcast. This episode is based on original content developed by Arkaro. At Arkaro, we're committed to innovation in everything we do—including how we share our insights. We've utilised advanced AI technology to transform our written expertise into this conversational format, making our content more accessible and conv…

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New genome of ancient human; 95% of us have a dormant virus that causes disease; Formula E cars faster than F1; Bill Bryson joins the pod! 45:02

5d ago45:02

45:02

Episode 332 For only the second time, the genome of an ancient Denisovan has been sequenced - thanks to the discovery of a 200,000-year-old tooth found in a Siberian cave. This ancient member of the human family has long been a mystery, so this genome is being described as a bombshell moment, revealing an early stage of Denisovan history. We explor…

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Why the claims about Hitler’s genome are misleading 29:00

5d ago29:00

29:00

Episode 331 This week sees the broadcast on Channel 4 in the UK of a documentary called Hitler’s DNA: Blueprint of a dictator. Geneticists have managed to find a DNA sample from Adolf Hitler and have sequenced it and verified it, and now we have his genome. The big question is what does this really tell us – what can we tell from someone’s genome? …

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Why AI Implementations Fail – and How PEOPLE Can Fix It | Barry Eustance & Mark Blackwell 40:17

5h ago40:17

40:17

Most AI projects don’t stumble on models or math—they stumble on people. We unpack the research behind those eye‑watering failure rates and show how human needs predict whether AI turns into momentum or frustration. With Mark Blackwell of Arkaro back on the mic, we trace the biggest missteps to six essentials from Hilary Scarlett’s SPACES model: se…

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COP30: The world's climate future hinges on this meeting 31:30

11d ago31:30

31:30

Episode 330 COP30 is nearly upon us - and this climate conference may be the most crucial so far. In a year where we’ve seen the first major global tipping point reached, destructive wildfires raging in Los Angeles and much more, joint action has never been more urgent. But as hope starts to wane and climate goals continue to be missed, many are qu…

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The collapse of America’s health data system; How sleep affects your focus; Life on Mars in liquid veins? 23:51

18d ago23:51

23:51

Episode 329 America’s health data system is in crisis. The US government has been bleeding public health experts – many of whom run crucial public health surveys and databases which help identify, monitor and respond to health threats across the country. From drug use to food security and birth data, discover the 5 surveys most critically hit by th…

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Why Traditional Management Fails & How Adaptive Organisations Succeed with Erica Engelen 45:05

6d ago45:05

45:05

Volatility is rising, complexity is everywhere, and the old playbook of adding people, tools, and process is slowing teams down. We sit down with Erica Engelen to unpack what an adaptive organisation really looks like and how leaders can move from control to flow without losing quality or momentum. The beehive is our metaphor: self-managing, high t…

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Rita McGrath | The Octopus Organization™ with Jonathan Brill 34:20

17d ago34:20

34:20

Business futurist and AI keynote speaker Jonathan Brill speaks with Rita McGrath, a globally recognized expert on innovation and growth strategies, about the importance of continuous transformation in organizations, discussing how businesses can adapt to change, learn from failures, and innovate effectively. They delve into the importance of defini…

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The Neuroscience of Collaboration: Understanding the SPACES Model with Hilary Scarlett 35:57

17d ago35:57

35:57

Your brain wants to help you collaborate, but its first job is survival—which means threat detection often wins over clear thinking. We dig into how to design teams and projects that quiet the alarm bells and unlock focus, trust, and creativity, using practical neuroscience you can apply today. With Hilary Scarlett, author of Neuroscience for Organ…

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How mRNA vaccines teach your body to kill cancer; Grim state of climate action; Why birds sing the dawn chorus 29:20

26d ago29:20

29:20

Episode 328 Not only has the mRNA covid vaccine saved 14 million lives, it may also help our bodies fight off cancer. A study of cancer patients undergoing immunotherapy treatment showed those who received an mRNA vaccine lived nearly twice as long - and this effect was discovered by accident. In a trial of cancer vaccines, Elias Sayour’s team at t…

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Neuroscience of reality; Quest for dark matter; Folklore of geoscience (New Scientist Live Special) 28:29

30d ago28:29

28:29

Episode 327 A special episode recorded on October 18 at New Scientist Live in London, featuring experts in geoscience, dark matter and neuroscience. Anjana Khatwa is an Earth scientist and TV presenter. In her new book, The Whispers of Rock, she brings together Western scientific knowledge about the evolution of our Earth and indigenous knowledge a…

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First climate tipping point triggered; Man controls another person's body by brain implant; health worries over sumo wrestlers 34:00

1M ago34:00

34:00

Episode 326 The world’s first major climate tipping point has been triggered. The decimation of warm water coral populations caused by rising temperatures is now irreversible - passing the point of no return. The global consequences of widescale coral dieback could be catastrophic, so experts are sounding the alarm. But is anyone listening? A man w…

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Stefaan Verhulst, PhD, co-founder and chief research and development officer at the GovLab at New York University 27:04

1M ago27:04

27:04

In this episode of “What If? So What?” Jim Hertzfeld sits down with Stefaan Verhulst, Chief Research and Development Officer at The GovLab, to explore why it’s time for organizations to stop treating data as a private asset and start treating it as infrastructure for innovation. Stefaan believes that the future of digital transformation depends on …

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AI & the Octopus Organization with Stephen Wunker 31:39

1M ago31:39

31:39

What if the smartest way to lead through AI isn’t more tech, but a new anatomy for your organisation? We bring on innovation strategist and author Stephen Wunker to unpack a vivid blueprint inspired by an unlikely teacher: the octopus. Instead of sprinkling “AI fairy dust” on old processes, we dig into how distributed intelligence, clear guardrails…

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Jonathan Brill, Futurist and Best-Selling Author on AI, Rogue Waves, and the Octopus Organization 33:21

26d ago33:21

33:21

this episode of “What If? So What?”, host Jim Hertzfeld sits down with futurist and best-selling author Jonathan Brill to explore how organizations can prepare for disruption and thrive in an AI-driven future. Brill is author of “Rogue Waves: Future-Proof Your Business to Survive and Profit From Radical Change” and “AI and the Octopus Organization:…

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Space 2075: How Humanity Will Live, Work and Make Drugs off-planet | Live Recording at the Royal Society 53:35

1M ago53:35

53:35

A special episode all about the future of space exploration, recorded in front of a live audience at the Royal Society in London. Earlier this year, the Royal Society published ‘The Space: 2075 report’, which recognises the huge changes we’re seeing in space exploration, and urges for action to be taken to make sure the next 50 years of activity in…

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Beyond Sales Intelligence: How Win-Loss Analysis Drives Cross-Functional Excellence (AI voices Arkaro content) 21:13

1M ago21:13

21:13

Welcome to the Arkaro Insights podcast. This episode is based on original content developed by Arkaro. At Arkaro, we're committed to innovation in everything we do—including how we share our insights. We've utilised advanced AI technology to transform our written expertise into this conversational format, making our content more accessible and conv…

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How Jane Goodall changed the world; How the universe ends; How “selfish sperm” affect male fertility 43:27

1M ago43:27

43:27

Episode 324 The legendary primatologist Jane Goodall died last week aged 91, leaving behind a remarkable legacy. Her work studying tool use in chimpanzees completely reshaped the way we view animal intelligence. Fiercely protective of the natural world, she was also responsible for a huge amount of advocacy during her life. Primatologist Alejandra …

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Innovation Insights: How Jobs to Be Done Transforms Product Development with Scott Burleson 44:18

1M ago44:18

44:18

Your customers aren’t loyal to you; they’re loyal to the outcome after hiring your product. That single shift powers this deep dive with Scott Burleson, veteran product leader, author of The Jobs to Be Done Pyramid, and former John Deere innovator who helped turn a “don’t add anything” brief into a premium launch that outsold the economy model. We …

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Emergency in Antarctica; How movement changes the brain; Why women live longer than men 30:56

2M ago30:56

30:56

Episode 323 Temperatures in Antarctica have soared by over 35°C. Scientists are concerned about how quickly things are changing on the continent as these warmer temperatures impact the polar vortex. Coupled with record lows in sea ice cover over the last decade, this could be a sign that Antarctic weather patterns have shifted permanently. What’s d…

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Wally Burchfield, Automotive Industry Expert on AI and Consumer Data 27:07

1M ago27:07

27:07

In this episode of “What If? So What?”, host Jim Hertzfeld sits down with Wally Burchfield, a seasoned automotive executive with more than five decades of experience with General Motors, Nissan, and beyond. Wally shares hard-earned insights on how data, trust, and customer experience have reshaped the automotive industry, and what other sectors can…

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When Plans and Goals Aren’t Enough: The Strategy Implementation Crisis (AI voices Arkaro content) 38:16

2M ago38:16

38:16

Welcome to the Arkaro Insights podcast. This episode is based on original content developed by Arkaro. At Arkaro, we're committed to innovation in everything we do—including how we share our insights. We've utilised advanced AI technology to transform our written expertise into this conversational format, making our content more accessible and conv…

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Skull rewrites story of human evolution; Autism and Tylenol; discovery of wind coming from black hole 33:57

2M ago33:57

33:57

Episode 322 An ancient skull discovered in China may have just rewritten the story of human evolution. It’s widely accepted that the common ancestor of Homo sapiens, Denisovans and Neanderthals came out of Africa. But this skull upends that assumption - potentially showing human evolution began in Asia. Discover how a new reconstruction of the Yunx…

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Psychological Safety: The Key to Transformation 14:11

2M ago14:11

14:11

In this conversation, business futurist and AI keynote speaker Jonathan Brill speaks with Amy Edmondson, Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management at Harvard Business School, about the critical role of psychological safety in organizational transformation. They explore how organizations can adapt to change, the importance of curiosity and inq…

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Governance: The Critical Link Between Innovation and Commercial Success (AI voices Arkaro content) 27:01

2M ago27:01

27:01

Welcome to the Arkaro Insights podcast. This episode is based on original content developed by Arkaro. At Arkaro, we're committed to innovation in everything we do—including how we share our insights. We've utilised advanced AI technology to transform our written expertise into this conversational format, making our content more accessible and conv…

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The evolutionary price we pay for longer lives; the asteroid coming VERY close to Earth; how dinosaurs shaped the ecosystem 32:59

2M ago32:59

32:59

Episode 321 Humans live a lot longer than other primates - and much of that is down to our immune system. But there’s a price we pay for the capacity to fight off infections: inflammation. Chronic inflammation is to blame for a range of health issues, especially those related to older age. And now research has revealed exactly why inflammation is g…

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AI & Strategy: Why implementation remains human (AI voices Arkaro content) 15:48

2M ago15:48

15:48

Welcome to the Arkaro Insights podcast. This episode is based on original content developed by Arkaro. At Arkaro, we're committed to innovation in everything we do—including how we share our insights. We've utilised advanced AI technology to transform our written expertise into this conversational format, making our content more accessible and conv…

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Why we can't announce life on Mars (yet); The Romans' impact on the British economy; Link between exercise and your microbiome 29:59

2M ago29:59

29:59

Episode 320 Was Mars once home to alien life? The evidence is stronger than ever, since NASA’s discovery of rocks marked by patterns similar to those made by microbes on Earth. Found in an area now named Bright Angel, these rocks give us a tantalising insight into Mars’ ancient past - but just how definitive is this finding? It’s long been thought …

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From Technical Expert to Effective Leader: Navigating the Transition with Garrett Forsythe 29:56

2M ago29:56

29:56

Emotional intelligence emerges as the critical foundation for effective leadership in this candid conversation with executive coach Garrett Forsythe. Drawing from decades of corporate experience, Garrett articulates why technically brilliant professionals often struggle when transitioning to leadership roles - they've been rewarded for knowing answ…

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First complete map of brain activity; Queen ant lays eggs of another species; The perils of scrolling while on the toilet 31:10

2M ago31:10

31:10

Episode 319 Scientists have created the first complete activity map of a mouse’s brain. Combining brain images from multiple mice, researchers recorded more than 650,000 neurons while these mice manipulated little Lego steering wheels in a driving game. This complex behaviour has allowed scientists to examine the interplay between various parts of …

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Beyond the Tyranny of the Mid-Case: Rethinking How We Design Strategy with Pete Compo 33:01

2M ago33:01

33:01

What happens when we fundamentally misunderstand one of strategy's most powerful tools? In this thought-provoking conversation with returning guest Pete Compo, we tackle the frequently misunderstood concept of scenarios and their crucial role in strategic thinking. When uncertainty looms large, many organizations default to familiar approaches—crea…

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The Hidden Truths Behind B2B Product Launch Failures (AI voices Arkaro content) 52:12

3M ago52:12

52:12

Welcome to the Arkaro Insights podcast. This episode is based on original content developed by Arkaro. At Arkaro, we're committed to innovation in everything we do—including how we share our insights. We've utilised advanced AI technology to transform our written expertise into this conversational format, making our content more accessible and conv…

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Scientists discovered a 100,000-year-old organism; Breakthrough brain implant uses AI to treat pain; How climate change leads to revolutions 25:50

3M ago25:50

25:50

Episode 318 An ancient organism has been discovered that has been alive for at least 100,000 years. Found in the Siberian permafrost, this lifeform doesn’t appear to have just remained dormant - but instead has actually been growing extremely slowly. Our understanding of life is already quite fuzzy, and this finding adds to the idea that life itsel…

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From Parachutes to Profits with Adrian Stratta 31:24

3M ago31:24

31:24

What if your business could adapt and thrive in chaos the way military units do? In this fascinating conversation, Adrian Stratta bridges two worlds that rarely intersect meaningfully - military operations and corporate leadership. As a retired officer from the British Parachute Regiment with 20 years of subsequent business transformation experienc…

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Could we end winter illness?; Cold fusion’s comeback; The delicious microbiome of chocolate 20:41

3M ago20:41

20:41

Episode 317 Winter bugs are notoriously hard to vaccinate against. But as cold, flu and covid season is about to descend on us once more, one group researchers are working on an entirely new solution to the misery. A team out of Columbia University has been testing an mRNA-based treatment that could prime our immune systems to fight against any kin…

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What flying a plane taught me about leading people with Barry Eustance 36:28

3M ago36:28

36:28

What if the skills needed to navigate a commercial aircraft through crisis could transform how we lead organizations? Barry Eustance's remarkable journey from cockpit to corporate leadership reveals powerful parallels between aviation safety and organizational excellence. Barry's fascination with flying began at age five when a captain invited him …

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Susan Etlinger, AI Analyst and Industry Watcher on Building Trust in AI 24:53

3M ago24:53

24:53

In this episode of “What If? So What?”, host Jim Hertzfeld talks with AI analyst and industry watcher Susan Etlinger about the true disruptive power of AI in today's rapidly evolving digital landscape. Susan, whose journey into technology began in the humanities, explains why adopting an AI-first mindset isn't simply about automation–it involves cr…

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From Prototype to Production: When scale-up impacts product launch success (AI voices Arkaro content) 16:36

3M ago16:36

16:36

Welcome to the Arkaro Insights podcast. This episode is based on original content developed by Arkaro. At Arkaro, we're committed to innovation in everything we do—including how we share our insights. We've utilised advanced AI technology to transform our written expertise into this conversational format, making our content more accessible and conv…

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Climate special: How to fix the climate crisis with Tim Lenton and Kate Marvel 44:25

3M ago44:25

44:25

Episode 316 “All of the other planets out there are just complete garbage. The Earth is the only good place.” – Kate Marvel The climate crisis can leave many of us feeling hopeless and overwhelmed. But, as climate scientists Kate Marvel and Tim Lenton say, there are many reasons to be optimistic.Both have new books out that hope to reframe the way …

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The Prototyping Trap: How Testing Failures Destroy Product Launches (AI voices Arkaro content) 15:58

3M ago15:58

15:58

Welcome to the Arkaro Insights podcast. This episode is based on original content developed by Arkaro. At Arkaro, we're committed to innovation in everything we do—including how we share our insights. We've utilised advanced AI technology to transform our written expertise into this conversational format, making our content more accessible and conv…

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80 years since Hiroshima: Forgotten victims of the atomic bomb 34:06

4M ago34:06

34:06

Episode 315 It’s been 80 years since the first and only use of nuclear weapons in war - events that altered the course of history. The consequences of the widespread destruction, deaths and nuclear fallout are still being dealt with today. On 6th August 1945, a bomb was dropped on Hiroshima in Japan, and three days later Nagasaki was also bombed. T…

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The Power of Needs-Based Customer Segmentation in B2B (AI voices Arkaro content) 20:22

4M ago20:22

20:22

Welcome to the Arkaro Insights podcast. This episode is based on original content developed by Arkaro. At Arkaro, we're committed to innovation in everything we do—including how we share our insights. We've utilised advanced AI technology to transform our written expertise into this conversational format, making our content more accessible and conv…

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Ozempic and Wegovy slow down biological ageing; creation of synthetic bacterium; geology of the Russian earthquake 28:24

4M ago28:24

28:24

Episode 314 Weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy have been shown to slow down - or even reverse - the ageing process. In a trial of 84 people taking semaglutide, their biological age dropped by 3.1 years on average, with some organs becoming almost 5 years younger. Based on this new research, this finding could make these some of the most impactful…

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10 Signs You Need to Adapt to VUCA: Is Your Organisation Ready for Today’s Reality? (AI voices Arkaro content) 7:26

4M ago7:26

7:26

Welcome to the Arkaro Insights podcast. This episode is based on original content developed by Arkaro. At Arkaro, we're committed to innovation in everything we do—including how we share our insights. We've utilised advanced AI technology to transform our written expertise into this conversational format, making our content more accessible and conv…

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AI wins first gold at maths Olympic games; How mitochondria are linked to sleep; Famous psychology trick works on octopuses too 28:48

4M ago28:48

28:48

Episode 313 AI has won gold at the world’s hardest maths event. For the first time, AI programs that use entirely natural language like ChatGPT, have used general reasoning to solve incredibly difficult tests at the International Maths Olympiad in Australia. Humans are still in the lead…for now. But could this be a big leap forward in the quest for…

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AI and the Future of Consulting - Embedding Strategy in Organisations (Just Great People podcast) 30:52

4M ago30:52

30:52

What if the greatest threat to AI-powered strategy isn’t technological limitation, but human implementation failure? Following the publication of our article “AI, Strategy Implementation, and Human Collaboration”, I had the opportunity to explore these themes in depth with Barry Eustance on the Just Great People podcast. The conversation revealed f…

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Business Model Barriers: When Good Products Can't Reach Customers (AI voices Arkaro content) 18:51

4M ago18:51

18:51

Welcome to the Arkaro Insights podcast. This episode is based on original content developed by Arkaro. At Arkaro, we're committed to innovation in everything we do—including how we share our insights. We've utilised advanced AI technology to transform our written expertise into this conversational format, making our content more accessible and conv…

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Scientists test engineered microbes to fight disease; Has 1.5 degrees failed?; New theory why we’ve not found aliens 30:23

4M ago30:23

30:23

Episode 312 People have been given genetically engineered microbes to prevent a common health condition - and it worked. The gut microbiome is now known to be associated with many health conditions - and in this case, the team managed to treat 9 people who get recurring kidney stones. With the gut’s links to mental health, cancer and more, could en…

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Strategy First: The Critical Missing Element in Failed Product Launches (AI voices Arkaro content) 18:53

4M ago18:53

18:53

Welcome to the Arkaro Insights podcast. This episode is based on original content developed by Arkaro. At Arkaro, we're committed to innovation in everything we do—including how we share our insights. We've utilised advanced AI technology to transform our written expertise into this conversational format, making our content more accessible and conv…