Best Tim Swanson Podcasts (2025)

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David Brooks: Seeing People Deeply in a World of Shallow Interactions 56:45

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10m ago56:45

56:45

New York Times columnist and bestselling author **David Brooks** joins Srini Rao to unpack what it really means to know and see another person — and how our ability to connect deeply has deteriorated in a world dominated by distraction, paradigmatic thinking, and judgment. Drawing from his latest book *How to Know a Person*, Brooks explores emotion…

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Cigars Daily LIVE 400 (Living LARGE With Sun, Smoke, & Island Vibes) 1:33:55

13h ago1:33:55

1:33:55

It’s time to kick back, light up, and live large. In this special 400th episode of Cigars Daily LIVE, we’re bringing the island life straight to the studio with good friends, good conversation, and a tropical twist. Tonight’s show is all about the laid-back luxury that cigars naturally bring — that moment when the world slows down, the sun feels wa…

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Damon Centola: Why Change Spreads from the Edges—Not the Influencers 56:51

1d ago56:51

56:51

Damon Centola, sociologist and author of *Change: How to Make Big Things Happen*, dismantles the myth of the influencer and introduces a radically different model of how ideas and behaviors actually spread. In this thought-provoking conversation, Centola explains why change doesn’t come from social media stars with massive followings—but from dense…

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Jennifer Wallace: Raising Resilient Kids in a Culture That Says They're Never Enough 51:53

2d ago51:53

51:53

Jennifer Wallace is a journalist, researcher, and mother of three who set out to answer one of the most pressing questions in modern parenting: *Why do our kids feel like they're never enough — and what can we do about it?* Drawing on insights from her book *Never Enough* and years of reporting, Wallace explains how achievement culture, status anxi…

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Laura Huang: Creating an Edge in a World That Won’t Hand You One 1:05:42

3d ago1:05:42

1:05:42

In this powerful and perspective-shifting episode, Harvard Business School professor and author **Laura Huang** shares a deeply human and practical roadmap for transforming disadvantage into advantage. Drawing from her book *Edge*, she breaks down the four-part EDGE framework—Enrich, Delight, Guide, and Effort—showing how each of us can flip bias, …

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Emily Fletcher: The Science and Simplicity of Unlocking Human Potential Through Meditation 46:52

4d ago46:52

46:52

Emily Fletcher, founder of Ziva Meditation and a former Broadway performer, shares how her journey from the stage to spiritual leadership reshaped her understanding of success, fulfillment, and mental resilience. In this candid and practical conversation, Emily explains the science behind stress, its impact on performance, and how meditation can tr…

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Cigars Daily LIVE 399 (How Columbus Accidentally Invented The Cigar) 1:33:04

8d ago1:33:04

1:33:04

In this week’s episode of Cigars Daily LIVE, we’re rolling back the clock more than 600 years to uncover how a few curious explorers, a sacred island ritual, and one very unlucky Spaniard gave birth to the modern cigar. Join Me, Amber, Terrence, and Billy for a hilarious, history-packed, game-show-style story time that covers it all — from the Taín…

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Cigars Daily LIVE 398 (A Blend For The END! The Last Cigar In My Humidor Will Be) 1:30:34

15d ago1:30:34

1:30:34

By Tim Swanson

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Courtney Harding: Building the Future of Human Connection Through XR, Education, and Digital Agency 50:29

16d ago50:29

50:29

Courtney Harding, founder of Friends with Holograms and a leading voice in spatial computing, joins Srini to discuss the real-world applications and philosophical implications of immersive technologies like VR and AR. Drawing from her background in music journalism, activism, and public policy, she unpacks how virtual experiences are reshaping educ…

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Daniel Lieberman: Dopamine, Desire, and Why Enough is Never Enough 51:43

19d ago51:43

51:43

In this mind-expanding conversation, psychiatrist and author Daniel Lieberman unpacks the role of dopamine — the brain's molecule of motivation — and how it shapes nearly every aspect of our lives, from love and ambition to addiction and impulsive behavior. Drawing from his bestselling book *The Molecule of More*, Lieberman explains why we’re wired…

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Annie Duke: Why Knowing When to Quit Is a Superpower 1:10:48

21d ago1:10:48

1:10:48

In this powerful third appearance, bestselling author and decision strategist Annie Duke dismantles the myth that grit is always good — and makes the case for why strategic quitting is essential for success. Drawing from cognitive science, personal experience, and examples like Muhammad Ali, Dave Chappelle, and Stuart Butterfield (Slack), Duke illu…

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Cigars Daily LIVE 397 (FAIL! Tim's Worst Mistake Plus More Industry Mishaps) 1:34:21

23d ago1:34:21

1:34:21

They say that failure is part of success… if that's true, then I'm about to be the most successful person in the industry because I biffed it… BAD! During this episode, we're going to talk about exactly what I did, and exactly how bad it is. Now, I certainly don't have total command over mistakes and mishaps in the cigar industry. There have been m…

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The Science of Mastery: Anders Ericsson on Deliberate Practice 45:52

22d ago45:52

45:52

Psychologist Anders Ericsson, the originator of the concept of deliberate practice, shares the foundational principles behind how experts are made—not born. Drawing on decades of empirical research, he explains how world-class performance emerges through structured effort, targeted feedback, and the development of mental models over time.Ericsson c…

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Cigars Daily LIVE 396 (The Most Explosive Limited Edition Blends of 2025) 1:05:55

30d ago1:05:55

1:05:55

Limited edition cigars are where brands really cut loose — bold blends, wild packaging, and the kind of creativity that gets cigar lovers talking. I also COMPLAIN non-stop about them… mostly because if one really leaves an impression then it’s more than likely it’ll be tough or impossible to find again. In this episode of Cigars Daily LIVE, we’re c…

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The Operating System of Transformation: Salim Ismail on Exponential Thinking, Leadership, and Inner Engineering 57:33

29d ago57:33

57:33

In this episode, Salim Ismail — founding executive director of Singularity University and author of *Exponential Organizations* — maps out what it takes to adapt, lead, and build in a world defined by accelerating change.He unpacks the frameworks behind exponential growth, the future of learning, and the architecture of modern organizations. But th…

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Dennis Xu: Designing Tools That Think Like We Do 47:01

1M ago47:01

47:01

Dennis Xu, co-founder of Mem, unpacks the future of personal knowledge and how it’s being reshaped by networked thinking, cognitive design, and human-centered AI. Drawing on his Stanford background, founder journey, and product philosophy, Dennis challenges the folder-based paradigms of information management — replacing them with malleable, graph-…

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The Science of Focus: Gloria Mark on Attention Rhythms, Flow Myths, and Digital Control 52:12

1M ago52:12

52:12

Cognitive scientist Gloria Mark explains why modern knowledge work sabotages attention — and how to fight back. Drawing from her decades of research, she breaks down internal vs. external distraction, meta-awareness, cognitive rhythms, and the misunderstood nature of flow states. This episode delivers practical insights for reclaiming agency over y…

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Cigars Daily LIVE 395 (That's IT! We're Going SCORCHED Earth) 1:37:25

1M ago1:37:25

1:37:25

That’s it — we’re going scorched earth. In this episode of Cigars Daily LIVE, we’re diving into the latest release from Oscar Valladares: the Scorched Earth Daily Edition Maduro. If you’ve followed Oscar’s growing lineup, you already know about the Earth by Oscar and the box-pressed Flat Earth — both Corojo-wrapped fan favorites. Now the family get…

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Sonkhe Ahrens: Building a Thinking System That Generates Insight, Not Noise 46:13

1M ago46:13

46:13

Sonkhe Ahrens shares how traditional approaches to knowledge — highlighting, tagging, collecting — fail to support actual thinking. Drawing from Niklas Luhmann’s Zettelkasten method, Ahrens explains why insight isn’t something you plan for, but something you engineer into existence by connecting information deliberately over time. The conversation …

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Cigars Daily LIVE 394 (Blockbuster Blends! Cigars That Blow The Roof Off The Cigar World) 49:22

1M ago49:22

49:22

Fair warning- we only got this episode going after some insane technical issues, so if you want to hear Cigars Daily LIVE come off the rails, this is your episode. Most cigars come into the industry quietly. They get a soft, smooth, easy going launch into the industry. Others are more like the latest Avengers movie on opening day (I realize my movi…

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Cigars Daily LIVE 393 + AfterParty (HUMIDOR WARS! Battle For the Best Home For Cigars) 1:36:23

2M ago1:36:23

1:36:23

Cigars can only live in one place - a humidor. It's the one place where cigars can survive and potentially age into fine tools for celebrating life's special moments. But a good humidor isn't always easy to come by. Today the world is plagued by poorly informed information about how to create a place to accurately store cigars. And it can cause cig…

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Kevin Surace — Building Smarter, Leading Better, and Adapting to AI 1:10:56

2M ago1:10:56

1:10:56

Kevin Surace breaks down how AI is reshaping the future of work — not by eliminating jobs, but by replacing repetitive tasks and redefining what humans are actually needed for. He explains why productivity, not headcount, will determine company growth in a labor-constrained world. Drawing from decades of applied AI experience, Surace outlines the e…

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Cigars Daily LIVE 392 (Cigar Makers Need to STOP Doing This One Thing NOW) 1:39:28

2M ago1:39:28

1:39:28

Cigar Makers do some AMAZING things. Their art is one of the most logistically dense and complicated processes I’ve seen in my entire life. I admire my cigar making friends as much as I feel for the tremendous challenges they face on a daily basis. That being said, they don’t always get it right. Cigar Makers have simultaneously done some of the mo…

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Cigars Daily LIVE 391 (The WEIRD New Era Of Cigar Swag w/ The Forgekeeper Statue) 1:31:54

2M ago1:31:54

1:31:54

Cigar Swag is a longstanding tradition in the cigar industry. For a very long time, cigar makers have dedicated themselves to crafting useful cigar swag. Items that cigar lovers use everyday, that sport the branding of their favorite makers. But these days, the industry has taken a turn… but is it a turn for the better? I've learned a lot about thi…

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Cigars Daily LIVE 390 (When Pipes & Cigars Hook Up… The Great Aromatic Affair) 1:34:30

2M ago1:34:30

1:34:30

Over the last few years, cigars have been having a rather steamy love affair with pipes… well, pipe leaf to be exact. There have been more and more projects that dawn the title 'aromatic' (essentially one step shy of being pipe leaf). Some projects even use leaf that's specifically crafted for pipes inside the wrapper, binder, filler blend. The big…

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Cigars Daily LIVE 389 (Top Community Picks 2025: The Cigars YOU Can’t Stop Talking About) 1:33:59

3M ago1:33:59

1:33:59

The TOP cigars aren’t the ones that are mentioned in magazines, or Top 25 lists. They’re not the ones that reviewers go gaga over. They’re not even the ones that get all the hype online. The world’s top cigars are the ones that win hearts and palates over with exceptional experiences. And those are the cigars we are chatting about on this episode. …

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Cigars Daily LIVE 388 (Are Aged Cigars Worth The Wait?) 1:34:39

3M ago1:34:39

1:34:39

Aged cigars have a reputation for being a special and elite treat for aficionados. But are they really worth the wait? Serious collectors claim that as little as 4 months all the way up to decades long aging processes will create an extra level of smooth, refined, clean, clear flavor. But how does it really work? Is there a point where cigars can a…

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Cigars Daily LIVE 387 (Exposing the Cigar Industry with Oliva Nick) 1:31:54

3M ago1:31:54

1:31:54

The cigar industry has some secrets, and tonight we're exposing all of them! For this episode, we'll be joined by Oliva Nick, an industry insider who knows where all the skeletons are kept. Together, we'll be grilling him with questions to peel back the curtain on every little thing that's hiding. Join us as we dive into the darkest parts of the wo…

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Cigars Daily LIVE 386 (Underrated: Cigars That Deserve Way MORE Hype) 1:38:14

3M ago1:38:14

1:38:14

It's amazing. Often, the best cigars are NOT the most popular ones. The world is filled with cigars from cigar makers who really know what they're doing. But for one reason or another people never hear about their cigars. The average cigar lover ends up pursuing projects that are better marketed or already have a large following. During this episod…

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Cigars Daily LIVE 385 (How to Spot Over-Hyped Cigars IMMEDIATELY) 1:37:12

4M ago1:37:12

1:37:12

WATCH OUT! That next cigar might just be completely over-hyped! The world is filled with more new and limited edition releases than ever before. Some are bold projects it exotic leaf varietals that truly offer something different. Others are just another blend that's over-hyped and over-valued. So how do you tell the difference? These days it can b…

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Cigars Daily LIVE 384 (The NEW King of Cigars Has Arrived) 1:32:36

4M ago1:32:36

1:32:36

If a cigar is a king, we call it El Rey. And for a long time around the Cigars Daily LIVE crew, there was only one Rey… until now. Introducing the Don Pepin Garcia E.R.H — the El Rey Del Los Habanos, or King of the Habanos. This bold new My Father blend is making a serious claim. With so many modern blends using Habano wrappers, what makes this one…

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Cigars Daily LIVE 383 (The Legacy of Nick Perdomo & The Future of Cigars) 1:32:18

4M ago1:32:18

1:32:18

The world of cigars is all about legacy. Cigar making families are constantly working to fine tune their craft, and raise up new generations who can carry the flame. On this week's episode, we're joined by Nicholas Perdomo III. When it comes to Perdomo Cigars, Nicholas is THE guy for the job. After decades of his Dad building one of America's most …

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Cigars Daily LIVE 382 (The Cigar That Was NEVER Supposed To Happen) 1:33:56

4M ago1:33:56

1:33:56

Tonight’s episode of Cigars Daily LIVE is a special one—because we’re blend testing something that should’ve never happened in the first place. We’re diving into the early blending stages of a brand-new project for the Daily Edition lineup. The working title? Cock of the Walk—a cigar inspired by our very own chicken wrangling cast member – Billy. W…

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Cigars Daily LIVE 381 (Is Nicaragua Getting DETHRONED For Cigars?) 1:35:59

4M ago1:35:59

1:35:59

Nicaragua has risen to the apex of the cigar making world over the last few decades, but now that status is being called into question. Cigar makers have been drawn to Nicaragua for it's nutrient rich soil and the powerful leaf it produces. However, over the last few years, nearly every cigar making family has made bold moves to build brand new fac…

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Cigars Daily LIVE 380 (The Secret Smokes of Cigar Making Masters) 1:33:39

5M ago1:33:39

1:33:39

Ever wonder what the people who make cigars actually smoke? Tonight on Cigars Daily LIVE, we're diving into the world of farm rolled cigars—the unbanded blends rolled right on the factory floor, not for retail, not for ratings… but for the rollers themselves. These are the blends that never hit the shelves but hold a special place in the hearts of …

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Cigars Daily LIVE 379 (The Corojo Collection: Legendary Leaf, Epic Flavor) 1:34:16

5M ago1:34:16

1:34:16

In the cigar world, Corojo leaf is used by cigar makers to craft some of the most beloved blends we have today. During this episode, we’ll discuss what makes Corojo such a valuable part of the blending process for so many cigar makers. We’ll look at where the Corojo seed was born, and how it has transformed over the years of moving around Latin Ame…

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Cigars Daily LIVE 378 (How Cigars Made Us Irresistible… Just Ask Our Wives) 1:40:14

5M ago1:40:14

1:40:14

We’re living in a new era for the cigar aficionado. The cigar world used to be… well, a sausage fest. But these days, you’ll see more and more ladies in the local lounge than ever before. Today there are more ladies and couples in the world of cigars than there have ever been before. If makes my day when I see couples posting pics of their date nig…

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Listener Favorites: Paul Millerd | The Pathless vs Default Path 1:05:17

5M ago1:05:17

1:05:17

Join us for a compelling conversation with Paul Millerd, author of The Pathless Path. In this episode, Paul shares his insights on finding yourself in the wrong life and the real work of figuring out how to live. Discover his journey through experiments, travels, and lessons learned, as he pieces together a set of principles to guide him from unful…

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Cigars Daily LIVE 377 (Padron't Even Try To Argue Who Is King of Cigars) 1:37:12

5M ago1:37:12

1:37:12

Who really is the king of the cigar making world? There are lots of contenders for this title. Hell, there's even a Master Blender Hall-of-Fame. If you ask 100 aficionados who is the best of them all, you're likely to get a lot of different responses. Some will favor newer boutique brands while others will swear by time tested names. During this ep…

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Cigars Daily LIVE 376 (The ONLY Cigar With The Soul Of The Sky) 1:34:15

6M ago1:34:15

1:34:15

The art of crafting cigars is timeless and traditional. It's not often that new methods pop up… and when they do, they're frequently novelties. During my 10 years in the cigar world, I have seen A LOT of 'new' ideas. And for the most part they are just ways to try and grab attention. But true innovation only happens in cigars then cigar makers rede…

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Listener Favorites: Arianna Warsaw | Navigating The Dynamics of Identity Change 1:00:52

6M ago1:00:52

1:00:52

Join us as we sit down with music industry insider, Arianna Warsaw-Fan Rauch. Discover her unique perspective on navigating identity change and get an insider's tour of the industry. From musician life to proper clapping etiquette, Arianna shares her knowledge and experiences. Don't miss this chance to gain a deeper understanding of the classical m…

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Cigars Daily LIVE 375 (Race To Be King Of All Limited Edition Cigars) 1:39:48

6M ago1:39:48

1:39:48

In the fast evolving world of Limited Edition cigars, there's a race. It's a race to create the king of ALL LE blends on the market! Each cigar maker is hard at work to craft elite premium flavor that leaves the aficionado desperate for more. Some projects come out as one time, here today gone tomorrow, single releases. Others are made to be annual…

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Listener Favorites: Manisha Thakor | Money Zen: The Secret to Finding Your Enough 58:16

6M ago58:16

58:16

In the latest episode of The Unmistakable Creative Podcast titled 'Money Zen: The Secret to Finding Your Enough', we are joined by Manisha Thakor, a seasoned financial expert and the Founder of MoneyZen LLC. With over 25 years of experience in the financial industry, Manisha offers a fresh perspective on our relationship with money and success. Dra…

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Listener Favorites: Aaron Dignan | How to Speed up The Organizational Decision Making Process 57:11

6M ago57:11

57:11

Aaron Dignan is using software to help scale new ways of working and expedite the decision making process of organizations. Discover the possibilities for transformation in the workplace and realize how we can use software like Murmur to revolutionize our slow and outdated systems. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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Cigars Daily LIVE 374 (The Dawn Of The Age Of Smokquarius) 1:31:36

6M ago1:31:36

1:31:36

Today is truly a momentous day in the cigar world. We are just a week after the PCA trade show, where cigar makers have shown off their best and brightest new projects for 2025. I gotta tell you, there are some profoundly artistic new cigar in production right now! On this episode, we’ll discuss some of the best ones coming down the pipes to see wh…

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Cigars Daily LIVE 373 (Jeremy Siers Has Gone Full On Cigar Maker) 1:42:53

6M ago1:42:53

1:42:53

Jeremy Siers is known as a man who’s all about man things. But today, Jeremy has made his way into the ever-growing and ever-challenging world of cigar making. His new line of Hold Fast cigars continues to grow as the Hold Fast Maduro has officially reached the cigar loving wilderness. Tonight, Jeremy will join us to chat about his new projects. As…

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Listener Favorites: Drew Plotkin | How to Use Tattoos to Rewrite Your Story and Reinvent Yourself 1:00:01

6M ago1:00:01

1:00:01

Drew Plotkin, tattoo artist and filmmaker, shares his journey of self-discovery through tattoos in this episode. He recounts his adventures, from death row to Hollywood, and uses his experiences to inspire listeners with his resilience and determination to live life on his own terms. Don't miss this raw and honest account of success, failure, and f…

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Listener Favorites: Gautam Mukunda | What Presidential Elections Can Teach us About Leadership 1:06:48

6M ago1:06:48

1:06:48

In this podcast episode, we sit down with Gautam Mukunda, a Research Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School's Center for Public Leadership, to discuss what we can learn about leadership from presidential elections. Drawing on insights from his book 'Picking Presidents', which examines the qualities that make for successful leaders, Mukunda provides a…

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Listener Favorites: Jeremey Utley | How Having Lots of Ideas Leads to Creative Breakthroughs 57:10

7M ago57:10

57:10

If you want to be more innovative, you need to start by changing the way you think about creativity. Good ideas aren't the result of pure wisdom, but rather the practice of innovation. Learn how to tap into surprising and valuable ideas on demand and fill the creative pipeline with breakthrough ideas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more…

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Cigars Daily LIVE 372 (Passing The Torch: Perdomo Legacy is More Than A New Cigar Blend) 1:32:15

7M ago1:32:15

1:32:15

The world of hand-made cigars is not new. It's a 600 year old practice that is often pursued by multi-generational cigar families. In this episode, we're taking a close look at how legacy is evolving he cigar making world today. The truth is, a new generation of cigar makers is coming up, and we get to experience the craft of a whole new set of fam…