Michael Raynor explains why most strategies fail and how CEOs can fix them, exploring the RAP model, BCE’s diversification, and lessons in strategy.
In this episode of The Innovation Show, Aidan McCullen welcomes back Manu Kapur, author of Productive Failure, to explore the science of learning through failure.
We uncover the Basic Knowledge Fallacy, debate Direct Instruction vs. Discovery Learning, and introduce the Four A’s of Learning (Activation, Awareness, Affect, Assembly). Manu also explains why variability, struggle, and pretesting drive deeper learning, adaptability, and long-term success.
Whether you’re an educator, business leader, coach, or lifelong learner, this conversation will transform the way you think about learning and growth.
⏱️ Episode Timestamps:
00:00 – Introduction and Sponsor Message
00:33 – Welcoming the Guest: Manu Kapur
01:01 – Understanding the Basic Knowledge Fallacy
05:07 – Direct Instruction vs. Discovery Learning
08:08 – The Science Behind Productive Failure
14:01 – The Importance of Variability in Learning
21:14 – Pretesting and the Role of Struggle in Learning
26:43 – Final Thoughts and Cognitive Reflection Test
🔑 Key Takeaways:
-
Why the path to learning is as important as the knowledge itself
-
The strengths and limits of direct instruction and discovery learning
-
How the Four A’s of Productive Failure create lasting understanding
-
Why variability and desirable difficulties improve adaptability
-
How struggle, pretesting, and impasses unlock deeper insights
📘 Resources:
📺 Watch more episodes of The Innovation Show: The Innovation Show on YouTube
🌐 Learn more about Manu Kapur: www.manukapur.com
📘 Get Manu’s book Productive Failure: https://amzn.to/3KrdV1Q
In this episode of The Innovation Show, Aidan McCullen welcomes back Manu Kapur, author of Productive Failure, to explore the science of learning through failure.
We uncover the Basic Knowledge Fallacy, debate Direct Instruction vs. Discovery Learning, and introduce the Four A’s of Learning (Activation, Awareness, Affect, Assembly). Manu also explains why variability, struggle, and pretesting drive deeper learning, adaptability, and long-term success.
Whether you’re an educator, business leader, coach, or lifelong learner, this conversation will transform the way you think about learning and growth.
⏱️ Episode Timestamps:
00:00 – Introduction and Sponsor Message
00:33 – Welcoming the Guest: Manu Kapur
01:01 – Understanding the Basic Knowledge Fallacy
05:07 – Direct Instruction vs. Discovery Learning
08:08 – The Science Behind Productive Failure
14:01 – The Importance of Variability in Learning
21:14 – Pretesting and the Role of Struggle in Learning
26:43 – Final Thoughts and Cognitive Reflection Test
🔑 Key Takeaways:
-
Why the path to learning is as important as the knowledge itself
-
The strengths and limits of direct instruction and discovery learning
-
How the Four A’s of Productive Failure create lasting understanding
-
Why variability and desirable difficulties improve adaptability
-
How struggle, pretesting, and impasses unlock deeper insights
📘 Resources:
📺 Watch more episodes of The Innovation Show: The Innovation Show on YouTube
🌐 Learn more about Manu Kapur: www.manukapur.com
📘 Get Manu’s book Productive Failure: https://amzn.to/3KrdV1Q
In Part 2 of my conversation with Manu Kapur, author of Productive Failure, we explore the science behind learning from failure, including the Four A’s framework, variability in learning, and why struggle fuels adaptability in today’s fast-changing world.
Manu Kapur joins The Innovation Show to discuss his book Productive Failure, showing how failure fuels deeper learning, creativity, and adaptability in education, business, and life.
In this episode of The Innovation Show, Philip Atkinson — beekeeper, organizational coach, and author of Bee Wise — shares how lessons from the hive can transform leadership, teamwork, and innovation.
Startups like Figma disrupt giants like Adobe not just through technology, but by reshaping mindsets. In this episode, bestselling author Sangeet Paul Choudary joins Aidan McCullen to explore how AI, cloud-first models, and unlearning are transforming the future of work and the knowledge economy.
Join Aidan McCullen as he welcomes Harvard professors Joe Bower and Clark Gilbert to explore how strategy truly emerges—from the ground up. Drawing from their book From Resource Allocation to Strategy, the conversation reveals how real-world decisions, not plans, shape organizational outcomes.
Why do so many women equate self-denial with being “good”? In this episode of The Innovation Show, Aidan McCullen speaks with Elise Loehnen, author of the New York Times bestseller On Our Best Behaviour. Together, they explore how cultural conditioning, the seven deadly sins, and patriarchal narratives have shaped women’s lives for centuries—and how reclaiming wholeness over “goodness” can free us all.
Join Aidan McCullen as he welcomes Dr. Steven Gundry to unpack “The Gut-Brain Paradox.” In this eye-opening episode, they explore how gut health impacts cognitive function, emotional well-being, and overall vitality. From leaky gut to microbiome intelligence, learn how optimizing your inner terrain can transform your health and performance.