Super8: Eight intriguing articles from April.

No matter where you are in the world, it’s safe to say April has been a busy month! So, before we get started, let’s take a collective breath in, maybe with a cup of your favourite brew or after-work drink in hand, as we settle into an array of articles, podcasts, books, and videos that have piqued our interest.

Much like our ever-changing seasons, this eclectic mix of inspiration will have you waiting in anticipation for what’s up next on our Super8 list.

Curated by Sarah El-Atm, get ready to explore artificial intelligence and art, sad songs and their hidden powers, Arab constitutionalism, and what happens when our minds wander.

Now, let out that breath (queue the exhale) and take a sip of your preferred beverage. This is Super8 in April.

1. Dall.E 2 can create art from a text description.

• Read the full article here.
• Written by: OpenAi.
• Contributed by: Sebastian Griffiths.

Oh yes, you read that headline correctly. OpenAI has released Dall.E 2 – a new and improved version of Dall.E 1 and according to this research paper, it’s also the preferred version for caption matching photorealism.

Have an explore on the OpenAI page to see how Dall.E 2 works. You can compare text descriptions and artworks to see how it pulls together images.

2. Email client market share.

• Read the full article here.
• Written by: Kimberly Huang.
• Contributed by: Timocles Copland.

We often share all sorts of tech and industry updates among team members at August. This update on email client market share is a useful reminder of just how dominant certain platforms are in the market – and that the battle for increased market share is ever-present.

Que the suspense… search giant Google is a little behind in the times.

But who could be the front-runner? Keep reading Kimberly Huang’s article to find out.

3. What happens when our minds wander.

• Listen to the podcast here.
• Hosted by: Sana Qadar.
• Contributed by: Kurt Smith.

If you’ve never listened to the ABC show, All In The Mind, we recommend adding it to your listening list.

It’s a wonderful, exploratory program that will give you something to consider, ponder…maybe even wander. And this episode is no exception.

The weird thing is, not only do we generate simulations based on our memories of past experience, when our mind wanders, we also learn from scenarios that have never even happened.

You’ll learn about accidental discoveries, whether our minds and bodies are apart from each other during the day (say what?!), and why letting your mind wander can be so good for you.

4. Arab constitutionalism: an interview with Zaid Al Ali.

• Listen to the interview here. 
• Hosted by: Adrienne Stone.
• Contributed by: Elliott Grigg.

Not everyone will find a podcast about constitutional law scintillating listening, but if you’re in the mood to learn something new, to learn something you may not know about constitutional law, and maybe to even let your mind wander, then tune into this episode hosted by Adrienne Stone.

Zaid Al Ali, Senior Programme Manager for International IDEA speaks with Adrienne about his book, ‘Arab Constitutionalism: The Coming Revolution’.

This was a great conversation to learn about Zaid’s background, the idea of constitutional revolution, and some of the challenges facing the Arab region.

5. Unconditional parenting.

• Listen to the audiobook here.
• Narrated by: Alfie Kohn.
• Contributed by: Isabel Silvis.

Technically it’s not an article, but we do love a good book—even better when it comes in an audio format.

Purposefully included, this audiobook version of Alfie Kohn’s Unconditional Parenting may challenge your current thinking on parenthood, whilst offering a different perspective and insight you maybe hadn’t considered before.

Narrated by the author, we recommend giving this a listen while on a long walk – let your mind wander, ponder, and question.

6. Epictetus and approaching life with laughter.

• Listen to the podcast here.
• Hosted by: Ryan Holiday.
• Contributed by: Daniel Banik.

Ryan Holiday is one of the best-known modern-day stoics. His books contain myriad teachings of stoic philosophy from the greats such as Marcus Aurelius, Socrates, Plato, and many more.

His podcast series, The Daily Stoic, offers bite-size episodes on stoicism as well as longer interviews with guests who apply stoic philosophy in their daily lives.

This episode is a fantastic conversation between Ryan and his guest, Scott Thompson, and explores Scott’s fascinating background and the striking similarities between tragedy and triumph.

7. The hidden power of sad songs.

• Listen to the TED talk here. 
• Hosted by: Susan Cain.
• Contributed by: Tim Hobday.

Admittedly, this TED talk presented by Susan Cain is from 2019 however, its subject matter is just as relevant now as it was a few years ago. Not only due to recent global events, but also because the topic gives you a taste of some of the content of Susan’s new book, Bittersweet, published just this month.

You may be familiar with Susan’s work from her previous book, Quiet, and the research she has published about the power of introverts.

This TED talk shines a light on why some of us find certain types of music uplifting even though it might sound considerably sad and how we can use this insight to better understand our friends, family, and ultimately ourselves.

8. Tech talent tectonics.

• Read the full article here.
• Written by: Sven Blumberg.
• Contributed by: Rachel Antoniadou.

You’ve seen all the headlines, read the articles, heard the news reports and might even be experiencing the challenges of hiring right at this moment.

We feel for you. The talent market is playing a different kind of game post-COVID.

Here, Sven Blumberg from McKinsey and his associates provide a refreshing and helpful perspective on what you can do as an employer in thinking about your talent strategy. Plus, everyone loves a listicle, right?