In this episode of Building Thinkers, I sit down with Tom Goulooze to discuss the power of intentional experience design and how it’s reshaping the way we approach meaningful moments at work and beyond.

Tom shares his unique journey from agile coaching to creating his freelance business,Tomfoolery, where he specializes in crafting transformative experiences for teams and organizations. We dive into the need to rethink traditional team-building practices and corporate rituals, and how focusing on human connection can lead to real, lasting change.

Tom challenges the conventional approach to solving problems by encouraging us to look at the root causes rather than relying on quick fixes.

We also explore how "broken soundtracks" and limiting beliefs can hold back innovation, and how shifting mindsets can unlock new potential. This episode is all about reimagining how we create impact in the workplace, whether it’s through a meeting, a team-building event, or even a company ritual.

If you're someone looking to innovate and challenge the status quo in experience design, this conversation will inspire you to rethink how you connect with others and create authentic, impactful moments. Tune in for fresh ideas and practical advice on designing experiences that prioritize people and purpose over outdated methods.

Key Takeaways:

The importance of focusing on feelings before diving into experience design.

Rethinking how traditional team-building activities could be reshaped for deeper connection and purpose.

Recognizing how limiting beliefs might be impacting your team’s growth.

Learn how shifting mindsets could open new doors for team collaboration and innovation.

Small, thoughtful changes could have a big impact, without resorting to one-size-fits-all solutions.

Resources Mentioned:

The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker

The Power of Moments by Dan & Chip Heath

The Book of Symbols by Ami Ronnberg

Connect with Tom:

Website: tomfoolery.co

https://www.kaospilot.dk/product/experience-design-offline-training/

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomgoulooze/

More About Building Thinkers:

I'm your host, Tracy Clark, and this is where potential becomes reality through deliberate curiosity, reflection, practice, and play. The Building Thinkers podcast is based on the realization that there's exponential potential in the things we build.

And so, in my little corner of the internet and podcasting land, I want to take my 12 favorite problems, these are my constant curiosities, and I want to go deeper. I want to build thinkers. This is a community of multi-potentialites who may be disoriented by all the possibilities of success we envision but haven't yet achieved.

If any of that sounds like you, come listen in. Welcome to the Building Thinkers podcast.

In this episode of Building Thinkers, I sit down with Adis Sophie to talk about how to bring more flow and creativity into our work. After spending years in the corporate world, Adis now leads How to Design Your Life workshops in Amsterdam, helping people create more meaningful careers and lives.

We dive into what it means to find work that truly energizes you, the role of intuition in making career decisions, and how to break free from limiting beliefs that no longer serve us. Adis shares insights on personal growth, the power of connection, and how small, intentional shifts can create big changes over time.

We also explore how joy and creativity impact the workplace and why acceptance and small steps are key to lasting transformation. Plus, Adis shares some of her favorite books and podcasts for anyone looking to deepen their own journey of self-discovery and career fulfillment.

Key Takeaways:

Finding alignment in your career is essential for personal fulfillment.

Deconstructing beliefs can help you identify what truly serves your growth.

Small, intentional steps lead to powerful personal transformation.

The journey of self-discovery and growth is ongoing and unique to each person.

Joy and creativity can completely shift how we experience work and life.

Resources Mentioned:

Books:

Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett & Dave Evans https://amzn.to/4hFtQoz

The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg https://amzn.to/42AHFjW

The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin https://amzn.to/3PUyjYW

Podcasts:

Pause (French podcast) with Alexandre Mars https://open.spotify.com/show/05r8AC9YA77tH68JSoUHIc?si=86d11c0cf0ee4de9

Curiosity Chronicles with Sahil Bloom https://open.spotify.com/show/4VS1y9v0uwWoxZ8BzugigN?si=9446ec2251e3446e

Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett https://open.spotify.com/show/7iQXmUT7XGuZSzAMjoNWlX?si=5821c50f31dd402d

Connect with Adis Sophie:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adissophie/

Website: https://designingyourlife.nl/

More About Building Thinkers:

I'm your host, Tracy Clark, and this is where potential becomes reality through deliberate curiosity, reflection, practice, and play. The Building Thinkers podcast is based on the realization that there's exponential potential in the things we build.

And so, in my little corner of the internet and podcasting land, I want to take my 12 favorite problems, these are my constant curiosities, and I want to go deeper. I want to build thinkers. This is a community of multi-potentialites who may be disoriented by all the possibilities of success we envision but haven't yet achieved.

If any of that sounds like you, come listen in. Welcome to the Building Thinkers podcast.

As we kick off the start of the new year, I'm reflecting on the season of amazing guests and their insights. I dive into the topic of clarity and share how it can be a game-changer for decision-making, goal-setting, and overall life satisfaction. I talk about how gaining clarity can help build momentum, and also how slowing down to focus on what truly matters is just as important.

I walk you through my 2025 Goal Guide, which includes vision planning and strategic reflection activities designed to help you use discernment, self-awareness, and purposeful living to achieve your goals. Whether you're setting personal or professional goals, this episode gives you practical tools to gain clarity and make more intentional decisions.

Key Takeaways:

• 
  

  The importance of pausing and reflecting at year's end to gain clarity on personal and professional goals

• 
  

  How clarity provides direction and acts as a filter for decision-making, especially crucial for multi-potentialites who see endless possibilities

• 
  

  Practical tools for achieving clarity, such as vision boarding and goal-setting exercises

  
  

• Resources Mentioned:

  
  

  2025 Goal Guide - https://courses.buildingthinkers.com/goalguide

  
  

  Books:

  
  

  Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman: https://amzn.to/4akxgL0

  Good to Great by Jim Collins: https://amzn.to/40zNv3E

  
  

  Connect with Me:

  
  

  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracyannclark08/

  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingthinkers/

  
  

  More About Building Thinkers:

  
  

  I'm your host, Tracy Clark, and this is where potential becomes reality through deliberate curiosity, reflection, practice, and play. The Building Thinkers podcast is based on the realization that there's exponential potential in the things we build.

  
  

  And so, in my little corner of the internet and podcasting land, I want to take my 12 favorite problems, these are my constant curiosities, and I want to go deeper. I want to build thinkers. This is a community of multi-potentialites who may be disoriented by all the possibilities of success we envision but haven't yet achieved.

  
  

  If any of that sounds like you, come listen in. Welcome to the Building Thinkers podcast.

I’m joined by Katie Conley, a luxury travel advisor and hospitality professional. We dive into one of my favorite problems: “How might we activate human potential through travel?”

Katie shares her fascinating journey as a travel advisor and the importance of crafting personalized, immersive travel experiences. We explore how travel impacts human experiences, the challenges of information overload, and the positive effects travel has on neuroplasticity and mental health. We emphasize the significance of being open to new experiences and how transformative travel can enhance creativity and personal growth.

In our conversation, Katie and I also discuss the value of intentional travel planning, the joy of sharing trips with loved ones, and the importance of understanding the purpose behind each journey. We also highlight how travel can deepen connections, boost cultural awareness, and lead to a more enriching, fulfilling life.

Key Takeaways:

• Travel can activate human potential in many ways.

  
  

• Openness to new experiences fosters personal growth.

  
  

• Travel can improve neuroplasticity and cognitive function.

  
  

• Travel doesn't have to be expensive to be meaningful.

  
  

• Transformative travel experiences can happen at any age.

  
  

• Openness to experiences fosters intellectual curiosity and independence.

  
  

• Experiencing new cultures broadens perspectives and enriches lives.

  
  

• Resources Mentioned:

  
  

  Books:

  
  

  Setting the Table by Danny Meyer: https://amzn.to/41la3Ge

  
  

  Travel TV Shows:

  
  

  Somebody Feed Phil: https://www.netflix.com/ae-en/title/80146601

  Anthony Bourdain: https://www.amazon.com/Anthony-Bourdain-No-Reservations-Season/dp/B09229BZ67

  Searching for Italy with Stanley Tucci: https://edition.cnn.com/shows/stanley-tucci-searching-for-italy

  
  

  Connect with Katie:

  
  

  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katieconley623/

  Website: https://culturedconcierge.travel/

  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/culturedconcierge

  Email: k.conley@dreamvacations.com

  
  

  More About Building Thinkers:

  
  

  I'm your host, Tracy Clark, and this is where potential becomes reality through deliberate curiosity, reflection, practice, and play. The Building Thinkers podcast is based on the realization that there's exponential potential in the things we build.

  
  

  And so, in my little corner of the internet and podcasting land, I want to take my 12 favorite problems, these are my constant curiosities, and I want to go deeper. I want to build thinkers. This is a community of multi-potentialites who may be disoriented by all the possibilities of success we envision but haven't yet achieved.

  
  

  If any of that sounds like you, come listen in. Welcome to the Building Thinkers podcast.

In this episode of the Building Thinkers podcast, Tracy interviews Dr. Gina Sipley to discuss one of her twelve favorite problems: "How might we create space for mindset shifts in learning experiences?" Dr. Sipley is a community college professor and first-generation college graduate who fosters inclusive spaces where individuals from diverse backgrounds can explore how their relationship with both online and offline texts shapes their identities.

They delve into the concept of lurking in online spaces, examining its impact on learning and participation, and exploring strategies for fostering meaningful engagement in digital environments. The conversation highlights the importance of understanding lurking as a common practice, the benefits and harms associated with it, and strategies for curating diverse perspectives on social media. The conversation also touches on the role of perfectionism in online participation and the need for protective curation.

The episode emphasizes the significance of mindful social media engagement and the value of diverse voices in broadening our worldview.

Key Takeaways:

• Lurking has become the dominant way we interact online

• Curating diverse perspectives on social media is crucial

• Protective curation helps individuals navigate online spaces

• Engagement with social media should be mindful and intentional

  
  

Gina’s Recommendations:

Book Recommendations:

https://amzn.to/48uTXva

Algorithms of Oppression: How Search Engines Reinforce Bias by Safiya Umoja Noble https://amzn.to/48uy7Ie

Country of the Blind: A Memoir At The End of Sight by Andrew Leland

https://amzn.to/3YLj3Tb

Trolling Ourselves to Death: Democracy in the Age of Social Media by Jason Hannan

https://amzn.to/40uCl0G

Podcast Recommendations:

You’re Wrong About https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/youre-wrong-about/id1380008439

The Measure of Everyday Life https://measureradio.net/

Transforming Society https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/transforming-society-podcast/

Connect with Gina:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gsipley/

You can subscribe to my newsletter, Words. by hitting the subscribe link on https://www.ginasipley.com/

I am a great resource for lurking and social media strategy, all things community college and the K-16 pipeline. I particularly love supporting first generation college students.

I am interested in problem solving at scale and I welcome speaking and consulting opportunities.

I would love to connect with other folks who bridge scholarly and creative pursuits for social good.