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The Half Has Not Been Told: Work, Pop Culture & Stuff That Matters
For anyone looking for just a little less AI, and a focus on what makes us human.
The Half Has Not Been Told, is a podcast about the human side of work and life. The stuff that matters but doesn’t make it onto LinkedIn.
I'll share honest and free flowing conversations about everything from technology to parenting to navigating career and other things that matter to us. Told from the perspective of someone who beleives humanity is worth fighting for.
Hosted by Kenny Temowo — musician, writer, ex-Netflix, dad of three, and VP at an AI infrastructure company. Joined regularly by co-hosts, including his children, as well as Maktuno Suit — psychotherapist, consultant, and entrepreneur.
Expect honesty. Expect laughter. Maybe some tears. But hopefully you’ll leave a little different from how you came in.
Formerly Inside the Art of Making.
Topics include: leadership, creativity, corporate life, vulnerability, fatherhood, marriage, relationships, faith, some AI, technology, music, culture, meaning, purpose, personal growth, honest conversations, all from the perspective of what it means to be human.
The Half Has Not Been Told: Work, Pop Culture & Stuff That Matters
Performance & Human Flourishing (Or the Episode Mak and I disagreed a lot!)
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
In this episode, Kenny and Mak explore what really drives people to do their best work, and how that connects to happiness, purpose, and how we show up for others. They talk about the difference between being ambitious, being disciplined, and simply being someone who takes responsibility — at work, at home, and in everyday life.
- Why taking responsibility matters in small everyday moments as much as in leadership
- The difference between drive, ambition, and conscientiousness
- How culture shapes the way people think about performance and success
- Why strong teams need different kinds of people, not just one type of high performer
- The tension between always pushing for more and being content with where you are
- How purpose, autonomy, and intrinsic motivation shape both performance and satisfaction
- What parents can focus on when raising children in a world that rewards achievement
- Why intentionality, presence, and balance matter for a meaningful life
Timestamps:
00:00 - Welcome and episode overview
02:40 - Personal reflections on responsibility and leadership
07:09 - The drive for excellence: Margins of performance
13:16 - Talent in organizations: From high performers to team roles
17:02 - Cultural influences on ambition and drive
21:29 - Team dynamics: Leadership, Jordan, and Belbin’s roles
26:12 - National cultures and global ambition
30:49 - Raising children with purpose and contentment
34:40 - The role of expression, mastery, and wellbeing
44:31 - Responsibility, intentionality, and presence in life
50:49 - Contentment versus continuous bar raising
55:43 - The balance between growth and being present
61:22 - Final reflections: Purpose-driven living and humility
Final thoughts:
This conversation underscores that high performance isn't solely about relentless pursuit of more but also about cultivating awareness, purpose, and contentment in the present. Whether you're building a team or raising children, intentionality and balance remain key to human flourishing.
