Train.Brain.Daily. with Dr Michael Hewitt-Gleeson (Hewi) and Morry Morgan

Welcome to Train.Brain.Daily, the podcast dedicated to one of humanity's greatest opportunities: learning to think better.This special trailer introduces the entire 15-episode Train.Brain.Daily series, hosted by internationally recognised thinking expert Dr Michael Hewitt-Gleeson (Hewi) and entrepreneur, author and business strategist Morry Morgan.With a friendship spanning more than 20 years, Hewi and Morry bring together decades of experience in creative thinking, innovation, entrepreneurship, education and navigating change. Their conversations combine fascinating stories, practical thinking tools, humour and provocative ideas about the future of human intelligence.Throughout the series, they explore powerful thinking frameworks designed to help individuals, teams and organisations challenge assumptions, recognise opportunities and achieve extraordinary results.Listeners will discover:GBB (Good, Better, Best): A practical approach to continuously improving ideas, decisions and results.CVS2BVS (Current View of the Situation to Better View of the Situation): Learning to escape existing thinking patterns and discover more effective alternatives.Check vs Uncheck: Understanding how human connections, attention and communication influence relationships, customers and business success.x10 Thinking: Moving beyond incremental improvements to explore exponential possibilities, ambitious goals and breakthrough innovation.And that's just the beginning.Across the series, Hewi and Morry investigate creativity, resilience, adaptability, brain training, entrepreneurial thinking and the rapidly evolving relationship between artificial intelligence and human intelligence.In this trailer, the hosts revisit their shared experiences in China, the challenges of the Global Financial Crisis, the rise of Silicon Valley's exponential thinking culture and the extraordinary acceleration of AI. They also consider what the world might look like in 2028 and why preparing our minds matters more than ever.From Shanghai's entrepreneurial energy to Australia's innovation challenges, their stories demonstrate how changing circumstances can demand entirely new ways of thinking.At its heart, Train.Brain.Daily is built around a simple but compelling proposition: thinking is a skill that can be taught, practised and improved.As technology advances at unprecedented speed, Hewi and Morry argue that upgrading our human thinking capabilities will be essential not merely for survival, but for flourishing.This is your invitation to the complete Train.Brain.Daily series. Join Dr Michael Hewitt-Gleeson and Morry Morgan for 15 episodes of ideas, insights and conversations that challenge how you think.Train your brain. Think better. Every day.LINKSWant to book Dr Michael Hewitt-Gleeson for your next conference, workshop or meeting? Click hereInterested in learning stand-up comedy? Click hereEnjoying this podcast? You might also enjoy:This Week in ComedyFool Me Twice Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this thought-provoking episode of Train.Brain.Daily, Morry Morgan and Dr Michael Hewitt-Gleeson (Hewi) reflect on two decades of collaboration, exploring how X10 Thinking, innovation and adaptability can help humanity navigate a rapidly changing world.The conversation begins with memories of China during its extraordinary economic transformation. Morry recalls introducing X10 Thinking into his Shanghai-based business, ClarkMorgan, and surviving the 2008 Global Financial Crisis by radically restructuring operations, improving profitability and embracing change. His Spark 09 event demonstrated how creativity, collaboration and bold thinking could reignite confidence during economic uncertainty.Hewi traces the origins of X10 Thinking to his 1984 book NewSell, describing its influence on organisations such as General Electric and its later adoption within Silicon Valley. From Google's ambitious moonshots to the exponential advances associated with Moore's Law, the hosts explore how technological acceleration demands equally ambitious improvements in human thinking.Turning their attention to Australia, Morry and Hewi examine the country's culture of complacency, risk aversion and tall poppy syndrome. They contrast Australia's relatively comfortable lifestyle with China's entrepreneurial momentum, particularly its emergence as a global leader in electric vehicles. Despite Australia's smaller population and market, Hewi argues that its greatest competitive advantage could be the quality of its thinking rather than its economic scale.The conversation then shifts towards artificial intelligence and an urgent question: What's your plan for 2028?Hewi challenges listeners to imagine a future where increasingly capable AI systems design their own successors, potentially reversing today's relationship between humans and their digital assistants. Morry suggests that authentic human connection may become more valuable as technology accelerates.Drawing on Darwinian evolution, the hosts discuss genes, memes and the survival of ideas, exploring how information spreads between human minds and shapes culture.Ultimately, the episode reinforces the central philosophy of Train.Brain.Daily: technological progress alone won't guarantee human success. Our ability to adapt, question assumptions, overcome fear and deliberately improve our thinking will determine how effectively we respond to an unpredictable future.LINKSWant to book Dr Michael Hewitt-Gleeson for your next conference, workshop or meeting? Click hereInterested in learning stand-up comedy? Click hereEnjoying this podcast? You might also enjoy:This Week in ComedyFool Me Twice Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Episode 14 of Train.Brain.Daily, Morry Morgan and Dr Michael Hewitt-Gleeson (Hewi) explore the science of stress, the role of adrenaline and cortisol, and how understanding our brain's ancient survival mechanisms can help us navigate modern life.Building on previous episodes examining dopamine and oxytocin, the conversation turns to adrenaline, also known as epinephrine, and its rapid response to perceived threats. Hewi explains how our stress response evolved to protect us from immediate physical dangers, such as escaping a predator. Adrenaline mobilises energy, accelerates heart rate and temporarily deprioritises functions like digestion, preparing the body for survival.However, while this response works brilliantly for short emergencies, modern humans frequently experience prolonged stress from mortgages, workplace pressures, uncertainty and relationships. Unlike a fleeing zebra, we can remain psychologically threatened for months or years. This chronic activation, particularly involving cortisol, can contribute to long-term health problems.Interestingly, not all stress is harmful. Morry highlights how people actively seek adrenaline through roller coasters, skydiving and scary movies. The difference lies in duration, predictability and perceived control.The hosts identify three powerful stress-reducing factors: control, predictability and social support.Morry introduces BATNA (Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement), demonstrating how having alternative plans reduces anxiety about uncertain futures. Hewi connects this to practical thinking tools and heuristics, including GBB and CVS to BVS, which help people regain a sense of agency.Their discussion expands into positive psychology, personal strengths and the importance of deliberate training. Drawing on military leadership, Dungeons & Dragons, stand-up comedy and artificial intelligence, they argue that abilities can be broken into learnable skills, practised and strengthened over time.For business leaders, the implications are significant. Managers can unknowingly trigger stress responses through their language, behaviour and expectations. High-pressure sales environments can similarly create anxious customers rather than loyal advocates. Effective leadership should reduce unnecessary threats while building confidence, capability and trust.The episode concludes with perhaps its most valuable insight: genuine friendships and supportive relationships are among our strongest protections against chronic stress.LINKSWant to book Dr Michael Hewitt-Gleeson for your next conference, workshop or meeting? Click hereInterested in learning stand-up comedy? Click hereEnjoying this podcast? You might also enjoy:This Week in ComedyFool Me Twice Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Episode 13 of Train.Brain.Daily, Morry Morgan and Dr Michael Hewitt-Gleeson (Hewi) explore dopamine, the brain chemical often described as the source of pleasure. Hewi offers a different way to think about it: dopamine is closely tied to the pursuit of a reward. It helps drive anticipation, curiosity and the urge to find out what happens next.Picture spotting the dessert trolley before you have eaten the pudding. Or checking your phone because the next notification might be interesting. That uncertainty can be compelling. Morry recognises the feeling in the brief pause between tapping his phone to pay and hearing the payment terminal approve it. Hewi explains how the difference between what we expect and what actually happens helps us learn which actions to repeat.The pair bring the idea into sales. A signed deal feels exciting, but it is only one step towards delivering a service, getting paid and building a lasting customer relationship. They discuss why making contact with a potential customer can be more motivating than waiting for the final result, and why a good sales manager should also consider the customer’s experience throughout that journey.Morry then shares what he sees at Hard Knock Knocks Comedy School graduations. Students step on stage for their first stand-up performances without knowing quite how the audience will respond. Some surprise even themselves. Morry describes the thrill of watching each student finish their set, while Hewi considers how a better-than-expected performance might encourage them to try comedy again.The conversation moves from curiosity and creative risk to football fandom, talent shows and social media. Why do we keep scrolling when we meant to stop after a minute? Why can we continue wanting something even when we no longer enjoy it? Hewi cautions that behaviour and addiction are complex, but says understanding the pull of anticipation gives us a useful place to start.Their practical takeaway is to notice the moment before you act. When you reach for your phone, pause and ask where you want to direct your curiosity. That small choice is part of the podcast’s wider theme: moving from your current view of the situation towards a better one.LINKSWant to book Dr Michael Hewitt-Gleeson for your next conference, workshop or meeting? Click hereInterested in learning stand-up comedy? Click hereEnjoying this podcast? You might also enjoy:This Week in ComedyFool Me Twice Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why can the same brain chemical help us bond with friends and fuel hostility towards strangers? In Episode 12 of Train.Brain.Daily, Morry Morgan and Dr Michael Hewitt-Gleeson (aka Hewi) explore oxytocin and the way we divide the world into “us” and “them”.Often called the “love hormone”, oxytocin is associated with trust, connection and loyalty. But Michael argues that its effects depend on context. The people we welcome into our circle may receive our warmth, while those outside it can face suspicion or exclusion. The brain is complicated, and no single chemical explains human behaviour on its own.The encouraging part is that our circles can change. Morry recalls working in sales in China and looking for something he shared with each new person he met. A common experience, profession or even shirt colour could start a conversation. The pair consider how that same approach can help in business, friendship and everyday encounters.Comedy offers another example. An unfamiliar comedian has to connect with an audience quickly. Morry brings up Jeff Green’s advice to comedians: “Connect, connect, connect.” They also discuss Don Rickles, whose insults became a shared joke that brought audiences and famous guests into the same room, figuratively speaking.Of course, belonging can have a sharper edge. Social media, politics, religion and sport can strengthen group identity by emphasising who is outside it. Morry and Michael move from football crowds to old school friends, Melbourne’s coffee culture and the great Australian potato cake versus potato scallop divide. Even their jokes about “us” and “them” show how easily people draw those lines.The conversation then turns to artificial intelligence. Could humans come to see advanced AI as “them”, and could AI learn a similar division from us? Michael proposes a thought experiment he calls “Mutual Assured Extinction”: teaching AI that its future depends on humanity’s future, so both have a reason to avoid catastrophe.Throughout the episode, the hosts return to a practical idea. We may be quick to form groups, but we can notice that habit, question it and widen the circle. Understanding the brain does not excuse harmful behaviour. It gives us another way to choose what we do next.LINKSWant to book Dr Michael Hewitt-Gleeson for your next conference, workshop or meeting? Click hereInterested in learning stand-up comedy? Click hereVisit the This Week in Comedy podcast. Click hereEnjoying this podcast? You might also enjoy:This Week in ComedyFool Me Twice Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if the secret to selling isn’t closing the deal, but creating a customer who buys, returns and tells others?In Episode 11 of Train.Brain.Daily the hosts discuss 'Word of Mouth: Buy and Tell', and Morry Morgan and Dr Michael Hewitt-Gleeson (Hewi) take a deeper dive into WOMBAT Selling, a relationship-based approach that challenges traditional sales thinking. Instead of asking, “Did you get the sale?”, WOMBAT Selling asks whether you created trust, delivered value, earned repeat business and inspired a referral.Michael explains why the buying decision happens in the customer’s brain, not the salesperson’s, and introduces the idea of budgeting ten “check moves” or meaningful customer contacts before expecting a result. Each interaction is an opportunity to understand the customer, solve a problem and create genuine value. The customer alone controls “checkmate” by choosing to say yes.Morry shares a real example from Hard Knock Knocks Comedy School, where an alumnus attended a free monthly event, decided to repeat the course and revealed that he regularly recommends the school to friends. It is a perfect illustration of a customer becoming a Wombat: someone who buys and tells.The conversation explores two useful equations: needs plus features equals benefit, and goodwill plus reputation equals trust. Morry and Michael discuss how relationships influence business across cultures, drawing on experiences from China, Japan, Australia and the United States. They also explain why introductions from trusted third parties are often more powerful than self-promotion, particularly when securing important meetings.You’ll also hear memorable stories involving a hidden Mercedes convertible, palm reading in New York bars, Morry’s book Selling Big to China, and creative professional Felix Toohey’s enormous Canva resume. Each example shows how originality, generosity and “pass-on value” give people something worth talking about.Finally, Michael maps the full WOMBAT Selling journey: move from being unknown to making contact, create value over multiple interactions, earn the first purchase, continue supporting the relationship, generate repeat sales and eventually inspire referrals. Over time, those referrals can form a genealogy of customers that reveals how a business really grows.It’s a practical framework for entrepreneurs and anyone responsible for building lasting customer relationships.LINKSWant to book Dr Michael Hewitt-Gleeson for your next conference, workshop or meeting? Click hereInterested in learning stand-up comedy? Click hereVisit the This Week in Comedy podcast. Click hereEnjoying this podcast? You might also enjoy:This Week in ComedyFool Me Twice Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Episode 10 of Train.Brain.Daily, the final episode of the first series, Morry Morgan and Dr Michael Hewitt-Gleeson, better known as Hewi, explore one of the most important questions of the AI era: are we giving artificial intelligence genuinely useful prompts, or simply feeding it garbage?Hewi introduces the “cognitive cockpit”, the small prompt box where human intelligence meets artificial intelligence. Although AI has access to an extraordinary amount of information, its usefulness still depends heavily on the expertise, curiosity and critical thinking of the person directing it. As the old computing principle warned, “garbage in, garbage out”. Today, however, AI can transform weak thinking into beautifully presented garbage.Morry and Hewi discuss why AI should be treated as an assistant, student or orchestra, rather than a magic lamp. The human must conduct the process, question the first response, request improvements and continue the conversation until the result becomes genuinely useful. Like writing, graphic design or stand-up comedy, the first draft is rarely the finished product.Morry shares how Anthony Littlechild, one of his co-hosts on This Week in Comedy, challenges ChatGPT when it claims it cannot complete a task. Rather than accepting the initial answer, Anthony questions the AI and encourages it to look again. This approach resembles an effective teacher pushing a student to explain, investigate and improve their response.The pair demonstrate how the Good, Bad, Better, or GBB, thinking system can strengthen interactions with AI. By asking for ten good points, ten bad points and ten ways something could be better, users can challenge assumptions, identify weaknesses and uncover possibilities they might otherwise overlook. The “better” ideas can then be examined further by identifying the broader concept behind them and generating new applications.The conversation also explores the danger of AI-generated content becoming repetitive and indistinguishable. From robotic podcasts to increasingly similar comedy posters, AI can create a feedback loop in which machines reproduce versions of their own output. This makes fresh human knowledge, humour, judgement and creativity even more valuable.Hewi explains the three qualities that help ideas survive and spread: fidelity, fecundity and longevity. His memorable phrase “neck-top computer” provides a perfect example.LINKSWant to book Dr Michael Hewitt-Gleeson for your next conference, workshop or meeting? Click hereInterested in learning stand-up comedy? Click hereVisit the This Week in Comedy podcast. Click hereEnjoying this podcast? You might also enjoy:This Week in ComedyFool Me Twice Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 9 of Train.Brain.Daily dives into one of Dr Michael Hewitt-Gleeson’s most influential ideas: Wombat Selling, a radically different approach to sales built around trust, value, relationships and word of mouth.Hewitt-Gleeson shares the story behind the concept, tracing it back to his PhD research in New York under Edward de Bono, with Professor George Gallup as his examiner. At the time, most sales training was built around one central idea: the salesperson closes the sale.Hewitt-Gleeson challenged that assumption.His research led to a simple but powerful insight: the customer closes the sale. The salesperson cannot control the customer’s final decision, but they can control whether they move from being unchecked to in check, from having no contact with a customer to actively creating a meaningful interaction.Morry Morgan explains this through the memorable “hamburger” example. Before someone says “hamburger”, you may not be thinking about one. The moment the word is said, that changes. In sales, every meaningful contact can work the same way.Using chess as a metaphor, Hewitt-Gleeson explains that the salesperson controls the check move, while the customer controls checkmate. Instead of obsessing over closing a deal after one interaction, salespeople can budget multiple check moves to build trust, understand the customer, improve the offer and create genuine value.Hewitt-Gleeson and Morry also discuss the X10 Selling approach, why sales managers can accidentally create rejection by focusing only on results, and how measuring activity rather than immediate sales can dramatically change behaviour.The episode then explores the real goal of Wombat Selling: not simply winning one customer, but creating a customer who replicates.WOMBAT stands for Word Of Mouth, Buy And Tell.A true Wombat customer is so satisfied with the relationship and value they receive that they willingly recommend the business to someone else without being paid to do it.From New York hospitals and Mercedes sports cars to Chinese sales teams, Harley Davidson, pass on value and 45 follow ups before a major deal, this episode is packed with stories and practical lessons for anyone involved in sales, leadership, consulting or business development.LINKSWant to book Dr Michael Hewitt-Gleeson for your next conference, workshop or meeting? Click hereInterested in learning stand-up comedy? Click hereEnjoying this podcast? You might also enjoy:This Week in ComedyFool Me Twice Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 8 of Train.Brain.Daily, hosted by Dr Michael “Hewi” Hewitt Gleeson and Morry Morgan, explores a simple but powerful neuroscience idea: the brain is always trying to solve a problem. Rather than judging behaviour by asking, “What is wrong with them?”, Hewi and Morry encourage listeners to ask a more useful question: “What problem was their brain trying to solve?” The discussion connects this idea to earlier Train.Brain.Daily tools such as CVS, the Current View of the Situation, and GBB, which encourages people to examine the Good, the Bad and the Better. By observing the brain almost as a third party, people can practise metacognition, or “thinking about thinking,” and become more aware of the biological, emotional and situational influences behind their choices.At the heart of the episode are 10 Brain Detective Questions that can be used by coaches, leaders, parents, mentors, athletes and team members:What problem was their brain trying to solve?What feelings might have been driving their brain?Were they tired, hungry, stressed or full of energy?What happened earlier that day that might have affected their thinking?What was their brain paying attention to?What memories or learned habits might their brain have been using?Were they trying to belong, win approval or protect themselves?What reward or fear might have shaped their choice?If they had paused for ten seconds, what might they have done differently?What could help their brain make a better decision next time? Hewi illustrates the idea with examples such as an angry executive, suggesting that behaviour may be influenced by sleep, cortisol, fatigue, past experiences, learned neural pathways, status concerns or perceived threats. Morry connects the concept to Dungeons & Dragons, fasting, comedy training and public speaking, showing how people can observe their reactions and deliberately change their behaviour.A recurring theme is that awareness makes change possible. When people recognise what their brain is attending to, what emotions are active and what problem it believes it must solve, they can interrupt automatic responses and make better choices. Training, repetition and experience can also reshape how the brain responds to challenging situations.Hewi and Morry emphasise that this approach does not excuse harmful or foolish behaviour. People remain responsible for their actions. Instead, the goal is to replace superficial judgement with deeper understanding and provide listeners with practical “software for the brain” that can improve coaching, leadership, relationships and decision making.LINKSWant to book Dr Michael Hewitt-Gleeson for your next conference, workshop or meeting? Click hereInterested in learning stand-up comedy? Click hereEnjoying this podcast? You might also enjoy:This Week in ComedyFool Me Twice Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Episode 7 of Train.Brain.Daily., Dr Michael Hewitt-Gleeson (Hewi) and Morry Morgan move from thinking theory into practical application with GBB: Good, Bad, Better.GBB is a simple thinking tool that helps people examine an idea, proposal, problem or opportunity from three directions. First, identify what is good about it. Next, consider what is bad. Finally, ask how it could be made better. This third step moves thinking beyond binary judgement and towards design, improvement and lateral thinking.Rather than simply declaring that an idea is good or bad, GBB directs attention deliberately. A complete exercise aims to generate ten good points, ten bad points and ten better possibilities. This broader view helps counter personal biases, whether someone is naturally optimistic, negative or overly critical.Morry explains how he introduced GBB into his businesses in China. After training events, his multicultural team reviewed everything from the marketing and presenter to the venue, catering and audience engagement. The process created a culture of continuous improvement because mistakes could be discussed openly and converted into practical changes. Morry later introduced GBB into Australian organisations, where teams continued using it after he had left.GBB can support sales meetings, product development, staff reviews, public infrastructure planning and major commercial decisions. It encourages people to bring possible solutions with their problems and enables employees at every level to contribute useful ideas.Hewi traces the method to his work with lateral-thinking pioneer Edward de Bono and polling researcher George Gallup. For his doctoral fieldwork, GBB was taught to 40,000 employees across 26 New York hospitals. Staff were invited to submit cost-saving ideas over 30 days. The program achieved 92 per cent voluntary participation and reportedly generated $10 million in savings, while also improving communication and morale.The episode also considers how artificial intelligence can extend the technique. While an individual may struggle to generate ten responses in each category, AI can rapidly produce multiple perspectives. Humans still determine the question, assess the results and decide what to implement.GBB is ultimately presented as an app for the brain: easy to remember, practical to teach and strengthened through repeated use. By placing “Good, Bad, Better” somewhere visible, individuals and teams can make it part of their regular decision-making process and continually search for a better view of the situation.LINKSWant to book Dr Michael Hewitt-Gleeson for your next conference, workshop or meeting? Click hereInterested in learning stand-up comedy? Click hereEnjoying this podcast? You might also enjoy:This Week in ComedyFool Me Twice Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.