On this episode of Six Degrees of Innovation, I spoke with Sam Ross, business development manager at The Melting Pot, Scotland’s Centre for Social Innovation, about the organisation’s next chapter. Our conversation explored how The Melting Pot has expanded from a coworking space (innovative as it was 18 years ago) to a nationwide force for social impact—while staying true to its founding principles.

Dr. Michelle Ulor — DJ, researcher, and founder of Kinos Studio — shares her story of building her career based on curiosity and interests. Michelle’s journey bridges the worlds of music and psychology, academia and industry, creativity and science. Her work shows how music can do far more than entertain: it can boost wellbeing, foster connection, and spark meaningful change. And beyond the impact of the work she does, she shares insights into how to create an authentic and personal business.

When we talk about innovation, most people picture shiny new tech or disruptive startups. But innovation is just as much about people, power, and context as it is about products. Dr Tim Curtis—former academic, consultant, researcher, and one of the deepest thinkers I know—sat down to talk about how change really happens.

Our conversation explored stakeholder engagement beyond the textbook matrix, why your slick new initiative might flop if you ignore the people it affects, and how showing your rough draft could be the smartest innovation strategy you have.

Debbie Judd, the managing director of Wool on the Exe—a community fibre arts hub in Exeter—talks about how this social enterprise has come to be a lifeline for connection and a shining example of what happens when local resources, creativity, and care come together.

We spoke about Debbie’s journey of midlife reinvention, the origins of Wool on the Exe, and how knitting circles can strengthen communities, reduce isolation, and spark social change.

The startup world has long been dominated by men. In fact, 80% of founding teams are entirely male. But change is on the horizon.

Millette and Sedinam, the dynamic co-founders of The Tech Bros, are flipping the script by building a pipeline of all-female, all-technical founding teams. Their goal isn’t just to help more women launch companies, but to spark a systemic shift in the tech ecosystem.