Ever wondered why traditional education still looks largely unchanged since the industrial revolution? Chris Rawlinson, founder of 42 Courses, takes us on a fascinating journey from his days as an Ogilvy advertising executive to revolutionising online learning through behavioural science.

Rawlinson explains how applying advertising principles to education led to a breakthrough approach - creating bite-sized, engaging content with immediate feedback rather than simply digitising academic lectures. This cross-industry innovation forms the foundation of 42 Courses, which partners with thought leaders like Rory Sutherland to deliver learning experiences designed for how people actually absorb information. The discussion reveals surprising insights about educational psychology, including the counterintuitive discovery that higher-priced courses are actually valued more highly by users, creating a tension between accessibility and perceived quality.

The conversation shifts to exploring how artificial intelligence is transforming personalised learning. Rawlinson shares how 42 Courses already uses AI to tailor content to individual learners' needs and industries, while acknowledging both current limitations and extraordinary future potential. Both host and guest share optimism about technology's democratising effect, not just on education but on entrepreneurship itself, as tools for creation become increasingly accessible to everyone. They envision a world where robotics and AI will do for manufacturing what digital tools have done for software - creating near-zero cost entrepreneurship opportunities across all industries.

What skills will matter most in this rapidly evolving landscape? According to Chris, critical thinking, curiosity, and an entrepreneurial mindset will be essential as we navigate a world of increasing technological capability and complexity. For a fascinating glimpse into the future of learning and work, this episode delivers powerful insights about how education is being reimagined for the digital age.

Chris has generously agreed to give Fat Tony's listeners a discount on any of the courses offered on 42courses.com - Use the code 'fattonys' on checkout.

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What happens when a data analytics expert trades boardrooms for bedtime stories? In this captivating conversation, Megan Preston Meyer reveals her remarkable journey from corporate number-cruncher to children's book author with a fascinating twist.

For over a decade, Megan worked in analytics and supply chain management, helping companies extract value from their data. Yet beneath this corporate exterior lay a childhood dream of becoming an author. Five years ago, she took a leap of faith, stepping away from her secure career to pursue writing full-time – and hasn't looked back since.

Her unique contribution to children's literature comes in the form of books that don't shy away from complex concepts. The "Supply Jane and FIFO Adventures" introduce young readers to operations concepts through engaging stories, while her latest release, "Max Entropy and the Avalanche," tackles uncertainty and prediction limitations through two contrasting characters. As Megan explains, "I didn't set out to write a Taleb book for kids," yet she's created exactly that – a thoughtful exploration of chaos theory and model limitations accessible to young minds.

What makes her approach so refreshing is her refusal to oversimplify. "It is not my job in 24 pages to explain the entire world of supply chain," she notes. Instead, she introduces vocabulary and awareness, laying foundations children can build upon through repeated exposure. Perhaps most surprisingly, adults frequently report learning alongside their children when reading her books.

Beyond children's literature, Megan has crafted "The Corporate Elements Mysteries," cozy mysteries set in office environments that explore workplace absurdities with humour and insight. This dual approach to storytelling allows her to process and share her corporate experiences through different lenses.

Our conversation weaves through educational philosophy, the invisible infrastructure that powers our world, and the balance between planning and resilience. Megan's work represents a brilliant example of repurposing specialized knowledge for broader impact, demonstrating how professional expertise can transform into accessible stories that resonate across generations.

Discover how stories can make complex ideas digestible and why introducing children to concepts like uncertainty might be one of the most valuable gifts we can give them in an increasingly unpredictable world.

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What if the greatest threat to creative careers isn't competition but rather the rapid advancement of technology itself? In this thought-provoking conversation, wordsmith Leila Johnston pulls back the curtain on the real world of freelance writing.

Leila's journey from journalism to digital copywriting reveals the psychological challenges of freelancing – the constant pitching, the perpetual uncertainty, and the nagging feeling that AI might render an entire profession obsolete overnight. "I never feel safe professionally," she confesses, articulating a vulnerability many independent professionals will recognize but few discuss openly. Her candid insights offer valuable guidance for anyone navigating today's fractured career landscape, from building multiple income streams to securing longer contracts that provide both financial stability and the human connection of teamwork.

We also examine Leila's involvement with the Library of Mistakes, a library in Edinburgh dedicated to financial history and learning from past economic failures. Founded by Russell Napier, this institution represents a deliberate move away from the digital overwhelm toward thoughtful reflection on historical patterns. Through the library's collection of books, artifacts, and regular events featuring prominent financial thinkers, visitors gain perspective on current economic challenges by understanding their historical precedents.

Whether you're a creative professional concerned about AI's impact on your career, a freelancer seeking greater stability, or simply someone interested in how financial history shapes our present circumstances, this conversation offers both practical strategies and philosophical depth. As Leila reminds us, "People in the past were just people, which is people like we are now" – a simple but profound insight that might help us avoid repeating the mistakes of previous generations.

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