SPOS #988 – Julian Treasure On Listening, Sounds And Superpowers

Six Pixels of Separation Podcast

Welcome to episode #988 of Six Pixels of Separation - The ThinkersOne Podcast.

Julian Treasure believes the world needs to learn how to listen again. You may know him from his TED Talk, How To Speak So That People Want To Listen - one of the most viewed of all time (over 65 million views). But long before going viral, Julian was helping companies and individuals rethink their relationship with sound - as founder of The Sound Agency, author of How To Be Heard and Sound Business, and now with his new book Sound Affects - How Sound Shapes Our Lives, Our Wellbeing and Our Planet. Julian’s work spans science, music, psychology, and design - from biophilic soundscapes in office buildings to sonic branding for global brands. In this conversation, he breaks down why we confuse hearing with listening, how silence is often the most powerful part of any conversation, and why we need to teach listening the same way we teach reading and writing. We also explore the risks of AI-generated music, the future of compassion in polarized discourse, and why democracy itself might hinge on our ability to listen consciously. Julian also recently launched The Listening Society (a community for anyone interested in the power listening and sound). Julian’s life is a testament to the power of sound... and why we must all become better listeners. Enjoy the conversation…

• Running time: 51:06.
• Hello from beautiful Montreal.
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• ...or on X.
• Here is my conversation with Julian Treasure.
• Sound Affects - How Sound Shapes Our Lives, Our Wellbeing and Our Planet.
• The Listening Society.
• How To Be Heard.
• Sound Business.
• Julian’s TED Talk.
• Follow Julian on X.
• Follow Julian on Instagram.
• Follow Julian on LinkedIn.

Chapters:

(00:00) - Introduction to Sound and Listening. (02:49) - The Importance of Listening in Education. (06:10) - Hearing vs. Listening: Understanding the Distinction. (09:08) - The Role of Silence in Communication. (12:11) - Cultural Influences on Listening. (15:12) - Active Listening vs. Attentive Listening. (17:56) - The Impact of Technology on Listening. (20:52) - Conscious Listening and Its Benefits. (24:47) - The State of Discourse and Listening. (30:29) - Practical Steps to Improve Listening. (34:38) - The Science of Sound and Its Impact. (39:04) - The Unifying Power of Music. (46:12) - AI and the Future of Sound. (50:14) - Starting from Where You Are.