What does it take to lead people through impossible circumstances? Dr. Larry Prusak, the legendary knowledge management pioneer from Brooklyn, brings decades of wisdom about leadership, learning, and the power of story to his lunar mission. As we send this "expert's expert" to establish the moon's first knowledge center, his film choices reveal profound truths about practical wisdom in action.

Prusak's carefully curated cinema collection showcases leadership at its finest: the stirring survival epic "Shackleton," where a captain's selfless devotion saves his entire crew from Antarctic disaster; "Invictus," Nelson Mandela's masterful use of rugby to heal a divided nation; and Spielberg's "Lincoln," a portrait of epistemic humility and the art of listening to rivals. Through these films, Ed and Jessica explore how great leaders eat last, forgive first, and understand that knowledge is profoundly social.

From Brooklyn street corners where storytelling meant survival, to boardrooms at IBM and McKinsey where he revolutionized how organizations think about knowledge, Prusak demonstrates why narrative trumps PowerPoint every time. With potato knishes as his comfort food and Shakespeare's complete works as his reading companion, this is a conversation about wisdom, practical leadership, and why the best leaders are often the best storytellers.

A Note from Ed Hoffman and Jessica Fox to Introduce This Week’s Episode

In today’s episode, we’re sharing a replay of an earlier conversation with Larry Prusak — a pioneer in the field of knowledge management and a dear friend to so many in our community.

Larry’s ideas helped define how organisations understand and value knowledge — not as static information, but as lived experience, shared meaning, and collective wisdom.

Originally recorded in August 2023, a short time after this conversation, Larry sadly passed away. This episode is therefore both a revisit of his insights and a tribute to a remarkable man — someone who brought warmth, wit, and deep humanity to every conversation.

As you listen, you’ll hear Larry in his element: reflecting on the nature of knowledge, storytelling, and the ties that bind people together in their work and lives.

We hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we treasured having it.

What happens when Harvard's leading fairy tale scholar becomes the alien? Professor Maria Tatar, the renowned expert on folklore and children's literature, embarks on her lunar mission with three transformative films that explore connection, hope, and liberation. As we send this master storyteller to help establish the moon's cultural foundation, her cinematic choices reveal profound truths about finding home in strange worlds.

Tatar's selection spans from heartwarming wonder to psychological thriller: Spielberg's "E.T." - a story she deeply connects with as someone who once felt like an alien navigating kindergarten; "The Shawshank Redemption," where she finds powerful subtexts about freedom and the transcendent moment when opera briefly liberates every prisoner; and Jordan Peele's "Get Out," a brilliant reimagining of the Bluebeard fairy tale that exposes contemporary horrors while celebrating friendship's protective power.

Through intimate conversation, Ed and Jessica discover how this former immigrant child found refuge in libraries and stories, eventually revolutionizing how fairy tales are understood in academic and popular culture. From her groundbreaking work on the Brothers Grimm to her recent exploration of heroines' voices, Tatar demonstrates why stories aren't escapism - they're survival tools. With Emack & Bolio's Oreo ice cream, warm croissants, and George Eliot's "Middlemarch" as companions, she's perfectly equipped to nurture the moon's storytelling tradition.

When Doug Weir steps aboard his lunar transport, he's carrying more than just three films—he's bringing a lifetime's passion for preserving cinema's greatest treasures. As Content Remastering & Delivery Lead at the British Film Institute, Doug has spent years rescuing lost films from archive vaults and breathing new life into forgotten masterpieces, from scanning mysterious 16mm reels to discovering the only surviving print of a Billy Connolly documentary bought for £50.

His film selections reveal both professional expertise and deeply personal connections. Local Hero represents authentic Scottish storytelling that captures real people and places without romantic clichés. Stolen Kisses from Truffaut's Antoine Doinel cycle speaks to anyone who's ever felt like they're figuring out adulthood as they go along. And his ultimate choice? The 1933 King Kong—a technical marvel that literally rewrote the language of cinema and remains Doug's gateway drug to the movies.

Between stories of Richard Attenborough's VHS collection ending up in his office and the complex art of film restoration, Doug reveals why seeing Jaws on original 35mm feels completely different from watching it digitally. Armed with endless fish and chips and John Buchan's The 39 Steps, he's ready for his lunar adventure—monkey companion included.

Mission duration: 49 minutes of stella cinematic exploration.

Dr. Al Zeitoun is packed for departure, but first he's sharing the three films that shaped his 26-year journey as a global thought leader in project management and leadership development.

His surprising first choice? Tommy Boy—the Chris Farley comedy that Al sees as the ultimate masterclass in stakeholder engagement and unlikely leadership. "It's a story of an opportunistic mindset shift," he explains, finding profound lessons about resilience and team building in David Spade's mentorship of an underdog heir.

Next comes Remember the Titans, Denzel Washington's football epic that speaks to Al's passion for integration and creating success from unlikely places. Growing up in Cairo as the son of lifelong learners, Al connects deeply with stories of teams overcoming division through shared purpose and mutual respect.

His final selection, A Few Good Men, tackles the dark side of command-and-control culture. Al uses Jack Nicholson's explosive courtroom breakdown to explore why psychological safety matters more than ever in complex organisations—even when lives are on the line.

Between discussions of "getting onto the balcony rather than the dance floor" and his philosophy that "success is our worst enemy," Al reveals why curiosity and experimentation drive real leadership. Plus: his choice of lightly salted pistachios for the journey and why Pat Lencioni's team dynamics classic is his essential moon reading.

Mission duration: 45 minutes of pure leadership gold.

Nelly Wilson is ready for lunar departure, but first she's revealing the three films that shaped her journey from finance major to Google Cloud's youngest-ever Global Head of AI Services for Weather and Climate.

Her opening choice? Singing in the Rain—Gene Kelly's technicolor masterpiece that captures Hollywood's transition from silent films to talkies. "It really showcases how you're able to adapt to the change that is coming," Nelly explains, finding parallels between 1950s cinema innovation and today's AI revolution. She champions excellence over perfection, learned from watching Kelly's demanding choreography standards.

Next comes Patton, George C. Scott's powerhouse performance as the controversial WWII general. Growing up watching military films with history-loving grandparents, Nelly connects with Patton's authenticity and resilience. "Whether it's right or wrong, he really believed what he was fighting for," she notes, exploring the delicate balance between strong leadership and political awareness.

Her final selection surprises: The Hangover, the Bradley Cooper comedy about friendship through chaos. "You can't take life too seriously," Nelly laughs, appreciating how disasters become learning experiences and strengthen relationships. She quotes Steve Jobs: "You can only connect the dots looking backwards."

Between discussions of optimism, postmortems at Google, and why "success isn't always being well-liked," Nelly shows why AI's future is in thoughtful hands. Plus: endless orange gummy slices and Arthur Brooks' wisdom on career transitions.

Mission duration: 45 minutes of next-generation leadership insights.

From high school dropout to VP of Operations at MiTek, John Khoury's journey proves that authentic leadership can emerge from the most unexpected places. This self-made leader discovered his superpower isn't traditional storytelling—it's planting powerful ideas that stick, whether he's renaming a "Delivery Control Centre" to the more inspiring "Solution Hub" or assembling his "deadly viper squad" of analytics experts.

His lunar film selection reflects the emotional range he seeks as a leader: Reservoir Dogs for its raw authenticity and edge that centred him as a young adult learning to navigate the world; The Intouchables for its celebration of genuine connection across differences and the profound joy of mentoring others to fly; and Inception for Christopher Nolan's masterful exploration of how the right idea, planted at the right moment, can transform everything.

John's insights on leading at scale—from connecting with difficult clients that stumped IBM to learning that not every relationship has to work—reveal a leader who's mastered the delicate balance between authenticity and effectiveness. His vision of building a drive-in cinema on the moon, complete with lunar landers as cars, perfectly captures his ability to blend the practical with the inspirational. Armed with endless Twisties and the controversial masterpiece Shantaram, he's ready for his cosmic adventure.

Since recording this episode, John has become the Vice President of Operations at MiTek.

Dr. Madelyn Blair, resilience expert and former World Bank executive, joins Ed and Jessica for a fascinating exploration of curiosity, leadership, and finding your voice. Through her three film choices, Blair reveals the deep connections between exploration, authenticity, and human potential.

Her first selection, Temple Grandin, showcases the power of thinking differently and the crucial role of support systems in developing resilience. Blair draws parallels between Temple's unique perspective on cattle movement and her own approach to coaching - stepping back to truly see what others bring to the table.

Billy Elliot resonates with Blair's belief in challenging norms and finding authentic voice, reflecting her own journey of speaking truth to power throughout her career at the World Bank. The film's themes of mentorship and self-discovery mirror her philosophy that every person is "different, but not less."

Her final choice, My Octopus Teacher, demonstrates the transformative power of curiosity and observation. Blair connects the film's intimate relationship between human and octopus to her research findings that highly resilient people are "insatiably curious."

Accompanied by popcorn and soft-boiled eggs (a nod to her farm upbringing), plus Twyla Tharp's The Creative Habit, Blair's selections reveal a leader who sees potential where others see problems - turning "cracked eggs" into gold.

We're launching Miri Berger, the brilliant co-founder and CEO of Six Degrees, to the moon with three films that showcase her journey from hands-on creator to revolutionary tech entrepreneur.

Miri's company develops groundbreaking wearable technology that transforms any body movement into digital control, giving independence back to people who've lost fine motor skills. From her background as a master stonemason and industrial designer to leading clinical trials with the US VA, she's proven that innovation comes from understanding both materials and human needs.

Her first film choice, Bugs Bunny and Road Runner, represents the ingenuity and resilience that drives her work - she's always rooted for Wile E. Coyote's engineering prowess. The Sting reflects her appreciation for collaboration and the power of bringing together diverse talents for a common mission, much like her approach to building Six Degrees.

But it's The Princess Bride that reveals her storytelling heart. As someone who believes in the power of narrative to drive change, Miri understands that great technology needs great stories.

Armed with endless Valencia oranges from her grandmother's orchard and a massive dictionary (perfect for someone who loves working with words and hands), she's ready to contemplate new worlds.