Mike Palmer is joined on this episode of Trending in Ed by Rich Braden and Tessa Forshaw, co-authors of the new book, Innovation-ish: How Anyone Can Create Breakthrough Solutions to Real Problems in the Real World. They talk about the core concepts of their book, including the “creativity gap,” “innovation mythology,” and “cognitive caution”. We discuss how these ideas apply not only in business but also in education, and why creativity is not a magical quality but a skill that can be taught and cultivated. We also explore the role of AI in the creative process and how it can be used to augment human abilities.
Key Takeaways:
- Creativity is for everyone. The authors challenge the myth that creativity is an innate quality held only by a few “media darlings” like Steve Jobs or Elon Musk. This “creativity gap” is a result of wrong mental models that can be changed.
- Embrace ambiguity. Innovation involves a natural aversion to ambiguity, which the authors call “cognitive caution”. Acknowledging this and understanding that it is a necessary part of creating novel ideas can help us change our relationship with it.
- Focus on the individual. Braden and Forshaw’s approach to teaching creativity centers on the learner’s mind and how it works, rather than a rigid, external process. This includes using “mindsets” to intentionally change what you pay attention to, “moves” or small, actionable tasks that are less intimidating, and “metacognition” to determine what is needed.
- It’s not “innovation,” it’s “innovation-ish.” The word “innovation” can cause “hesitation” and a “physical reaction” in people. By setting the bar lower and asking people to be “a little bit innovation-ish,” the authors make the concept more approachable and less intimidating.
- AI is a tool, not a replacement for human creativity. The authors discuss a study where students who used ChatGPT in a design class produced “mid” work that lacked originality and was capped in its potential. AI can be useful for things like varying text in brainstorming, but it cannot replicate the unique connections and perspectives that make human creativity so powerful.
Don’t miss this chance to learn how to innovate from two experts in the field who love education and provide sharp takes on how this applies to the future of learning. Subscribe to Trending in Ed wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss a conversation like this one!
Timestamps:
- 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
- 01:11 Rich Braden’s Professional Journey
- 03:25 Tessa Forshaw’s Professional Journey
- 06:10 The Creativity Gap and Innovation Myths
- 10:32 Teaching Creativity and Innovation
- 17:44 Centering Student Minds in Design Education
- 18:03 Scoping and Agile Trends in Design
- 18:58 Effortful Learning and Innovation
- 19:58 Applying Design Thinking in Education
- 21:09 AI in Education and the Future of Work
- 22:09 Human Creativity vs. AI
- 25:32 Brainstorming with AI
- 28:00 Innovation-ish: Embracing Flexibility
- 33:44 Final Thoughts and Takeaways
Episode References
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Braden, R., & Forshaw, T. (2025). Innovation-ish: How Anyone can Create Breakthrough Solutions to Real Problems in the Real World. Wiley.
Palmer Media 2025-09-30 09:00:00
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