Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
When we set out to create something new, we often assume it has to be wildly different from everything that came before. But George Newman’s research suggests that originality can become a trap: the more unusual an idea is, the less likely other people are to appreciate it.
This season on our podcast, Lavin Voices, we sat down with cognitive scientist George Newman, author of How Great Ideas Happen and Associate Professor of Organizational Behaviour at the University of Toronto. In this clip, he explains the “originality ostrich effect,” and why the best ideas balance novelty with something an audience already understands and wants.
George is a Lavin Exclusive Speaker whose research reframes creativity as a process of discovery. In practical, research-backed keynotes, he gives audiences a repeatable method for finding better ideas, solving harder problems, and approaching innovation with greater confidence.
Enjoyed this clip? Watch the full episode and learn more about George at the link in bio.
When we set out to create something new, we often assume it has to be wildly different from everything that came before. But George Newman’s research suggests that originality can become a trap: the more unusual an idea is, the less likely other people are to appreciate it.
This season on our podcast, Lavin Voices, we sat down with cognitive scientist George Newman, author of How Great Ideas Happen and Associate Professor of Organizational Behaviour at the University of Toronto. In this clip, he explains the “originality ostrich effect,” and why the best ideas balance novelty with something an audience already understands and wants.
George is a Lavin Exclusive Speaker whose research reframes creativity as a process of discovery. In practical, research-backed keynotes, he gives audiences a repeatable method for finding better ideas, solving harder problems, and approaching innovation with greater confidence.
Enjoyed this clip? Watch the full episode and learn more about George at the link in bio.
