What if the tension you’re trying to resolve holds the possibility of something better? Sometimes, making a wise choice starts with holding two opposing ideas at once.

In this episode of The Spacemakers, Daniel Sih and Matt Bain explore the miracle of both-and thinking: our capacity to hold conflicting ideas in tension and discover possibilities we might otherwise miss.

Drawing on Roger Martin’s idea of the “opposable mind”, they consider how this way of thinking can help us navigate the complexity of work and life. Career and wellbeing. Planning and spontaneity. Caring for ourselves and caring for others.

Through three memorable metaphors—a barbell, a metronome and a tightrope—they explore how to hold these tensions and make thoughtful adjustments as circumstances change. Living well requires movement, attention and a willingness to reconsider our choices.

They also unpack the habits that can narrow our thinking: settling for an unhelpful middle ground, digging deeper into our own perspective, or treating people who disagree with us as the enemy.

The episode closes with a practical reflection for the fortnight: when tension feels uncomfortable, which of these habits do you tend to drift towards? And what might become possible if you stayed open to another perspective?

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SPACEMAKERS WEBSITE

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This season is made possible with support from our sponsors Bulk Nutrients and Productivity Masterclass.

This podcast is recorded and produced by Wildersound and Talon Media.

Mentioned in this episode:

Spacemakers Productivity Masterclass 2027

This episode is brought to you by Productivity Masterclass — a life-changing program to help senior professionals work smarter, get organised, and take their productivity to the next level. Check out our next program at https://spacemakers.au/masterclass.

Spacemakers - Productivity Masterclass

Work or life? Keeping pace or making space?

What if choosing one is part of the problem?

Modern life feels increasingly complex. We want to build meaningful careers and care for our families. Stay relevant and protect our wellbeing. Plan for the future and respond to what needs us today.

These tensions rarely disappear. But learning to hold them differently can open up new possibilities.

Welcome to Season 5 of The Spacemakers, a pod-course exploring the power of both-and thinking.

In this opening episode, Daniel Sih and Matt Bain unpack the productivity paradox: how to keep pace with a changing world while making space for a deeply human life.

Drawing on Both-And Thinking by Wendy Smith and Marianne Lewis, they explore why work and life can feel contradictory while also depending on each other. Investing in your life gives you the energy to work well. Working effectively helps create the time and resources to care for what matters.

Daniel shares his uncertainty about running a business in an AI world. Matt reflects on the tension between his dislike of routines and his desire to make a meaningful contribution. Together, they consider what becomes possible when we resist the urge to resolve every tension by choosing a side.

Discover more:

SPACEMAKERS WEBSITE

YOUTUBE

This season is made possible with support from our sponsors Bulk Nutrients and Productivity Masterclass.

This podcast is recorded and produced by Wildersound and Talon Media.

Mentioned in this episode:

Spacemakers Productivity Masterclass 2027

This episode is brought to you by Productivity Masterclass — a life-changing program to help senior professionals work smarter, get organised, and take their productivity to the next level. Check out our next program at https://spacemakers.au/masterclass.

Modern life keeps asking us to choose: work or life, career or wellbeing, keeping pace or making space.

But what if the answer isn’t either/or, but both-and?

Season 5 of The Spacemakers explores how both-and thinking can help us navigate the tensions of an increasingly complex world.

Join Daniel Sih and Matt Bain for this practical and thought-provoking pod-course about being busy and rested, online and offline, planned and spontaneous, and caring for others and ourselves.

This short trailer offers a glimpse of what’s ahead.

You can also explore previous seasons of The Spacemakers here.

Discover more:

SPACEMAKERS WEBSITE

YOUTUBE

This season is made possible with support from our sponsors Bulk Nutrients and Productivity Masterclass.

This podcast is recorded and produced by Wildersound and Talon Media.