In this episode of the SuperCreativity Podcast, James Taylor speaks with Anne-Laure Le Cunff — neuroscientist, entrepreneur, founder of Ness Labs, and author of Tiny Experiments: How to Live Freely in a Goal-Obsessed World.

Anne-Laure shares her personal journey from Google’s hustle culture to a health crisis that sparked a radical rethinking of success. Instead of chasing fixed goals and rigid outcomes, she advocates for a mindset of tiny experiments—low-risk, curiosity-driven trials that build resilience, creativity, and self-knowledge.

We explore her insights on neuroscience, neurodiversity, and how curiosity paired with ambition leads to growth. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, leader, or recovering goal-setter, this conversation will help you embrace uncertainty, cultivate creativity, and design a life built on exploration rather than obsession.

• Goals can trap us — shifting to tiny experiments fosters learning, joy, and freedom.

• Curiosity + ambition = experimental mindset — a healthier alternative to perfectionism or cynicism.

• Neurodiversity as strength — ADHD and nonlinear thinking can be powerful in the right environments.

• Failure ≠ failure — experiments reframe outcomes as data and opportunities to learn.

• Practical tools — “Plus, Minus, Next” weekly review and stop-doing lists can spark creativity and focus.

“Success is not reaching a goal. Success is learning something new.” – Anne-Laure Le Cunff

“A tiny experiment has no fixed outcome. Your only goal is to show up and explore.” – Anne-Laure Le Cunff

“Curiosity without ambition is escapism. Ambition without curiosity is perfectionism. An experimental mindset is both.” – Anne-Laure Le Cunff

“We don’t need to fix brains. We need to design environments that fit different brains.” – Anne-Laure Le Cunff

• 00:00 – Introduction to Anne-Laure Le Cunff and Tiny Experiments

• 01:18 – A health crisis at Google that changed everything

• 04:08 – Hustle culture, identity, and immigrant family expectations

• 05:57 – Leaving Google and family reactions

• 07:34 – Startup life: why uncertainty felt scarier than overwork

• 09:27 – When startup failure became freedom

• 10:50 – Returning to study neuroscience out of curiosity

• 12:40 – Curiosity, ADHD, and neurodiversity as superpowers

• 14:57 – The first “tiny experiment” and the generation effect

• 17:42 – Recall, connections, and building a personal knowledge network

• 21:27 – Systems vs. goals and how tiny experiments bridge the gap

• 26:09 – Redefining success: not binary, but data and learning

• 28:53 – OKRs, KPIs, and where experiments fit in business

• 30:53 – Non-attachment, curiosity, and Buddhist parallels

• 31:57 – Curiosity + ambition: the experimental mindset matrix

• 35:32 – The dangers of “one true purpose”

• 39:54 – How to start your first tiny experiment today

• 40:47 – The “Plus, Minus, Next” weekly review ritual

• 42:03 – Recommended book: How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan

• 43:21 – Where to find Anne-Laure’s work and newsletter

• Book: Tiny Experiments (Penguin)

• Website & Newsletter: Ness Labs

• Recommended Read: How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan

In this episode of the SuperCreativity Podcast, James Taylor speaks with Dr. Leidy Klotz, engineer, designer, behavioral scientist, and author of Subtract: The Untapped Science of Less. Klotz reveals why our brains are biased toward adding complexity—and why the smartest solution is often to remove, reduce, or simplify.

From Lego bridges and Jenga-inspired problem solving to organizational strategy and sustainability, Klotz shows how subtraction can fuel innovation, improve decision-making, and create more meaningful lives. Learn why leaders struggle to showcase competence by doing less, how subtraction improves team morale, and why sustainability, education, and design sectors are embracing the power of removal.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by too many meetings, endless features, or bloated systems, this conversation will inspire you to see less as progress, not sacrifice.

• Our brains default to adding, not subtracting — but subtractive thinking can create elegant and effective solutions.

• Visible subtraction matters — leaders must model it for teams to feel empowered to simplify.

• Sustainability thrives on subtraction — less packaging, less waste, less complexity equals more progress.

• Subtraction boosts morale — removing tasks or meetings frees up mental energy and creativity.

• Simple rituals help — swap to-do lists for stop-doing lists, or remove one recurring meeting to reclaim focus.

• 00:00 – Introduction to Dr. Leidy Klotz and Subtract

• 01:49 – Why addition isn’t always the answer

• 04:08 – The Lego bridge story: A child’s insight into subtraction

• 07:00 – Why subtraction feels harder than addition

• 09:54 – The visibility problem: How leaders can model subtraction

• 13:39 – Subtraction in leadership: examples from Steve Jobs and Capital One

• 16:14 – Maya Lin’s Vietnam Veterans Memorial as a powerful subtractive design

• 19:56 – Marie Kondo, “omit needless words,” and joyful subtractions

• 21:47 – Innovation vs. exnovation: why patents rarely focus on subtraction

• 23:30 – Sustainability as subtraction: packaging, waste, and planetary limits

• 26:30 – Rituals: stop-doing lists, subtractive AI prompts, and meeting-free time

• 28:15 – How subtraction improves morale and team performance

• 31:59 – From marginal gains to subtractive culture in organizations

• 34:20 – Airlines, hotels, and small subtractions that save costs and resources

• 36:22 – Quotes, notebooks, and tools for creativity

• 38:22 – Book recommendations: Soccer in Sun and Shadow & The Extended Mind

• 39:45 – Where to learn more about Leidy Klotz and his upcoming work

• Book: Subtract: The Untapped Science of Less

• Website: Leidy Klotz

• Recommended Reads:

  • Soccer in Sun and Shadow by Eduardo Galeano

  • The Extended Mind by Annie Murphy Paul