248 – Tuning into New Frequencies – Hedy Lamarr
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In Episode 248 of Anecdotally Speaking, discover how unexpected talents and hidden connections can spark world-changing innovation.
Shawn shares an unexpected story set during World War II involving glamorous Hollywood actress Hedy Lamarr and avant-garde composer George Antheil. What they invented together was initially dismissed, but would go on to create Wi-Fi as we know it today.
Mark and Shawn explore how great ideas often emerge from unlikely collaborations, why it’s easy to underestimate hidden talents, and how diversity of thought can drive breakthrough innovation.
They also discuss the smart use of AI to enhance stories while ensuring the truth is maintained throughout.
This episode is a reminder that sometimes the best ideas are found when we tune into new frequencies.
For your story bank
Tags: Storytelling, Innovation, Diversity, Creativity, Technology
This story starts at 0:34
In the middle of World War II, a surprising partnership formed between glamorous Hollywood actress Hedy Lamarr and avant-garde composer George Antheil. Hedy, originally from Austria, had fled Europe just before the war. Thanks to her earlier marriage to an arms dealer, she had an unusual inside knowledge of military technology.
George, on the other hand, was known for synchronising multiple pianolas to perform complex music — a technical challenge requiring precise timing and coordination.
At a party in Los Angeles, the two got talking about the problem American forces were having with radio-controlled torpedoes being jammed by the enemy. Together, they came up with the idea of “frequency hopping” — a way to rapidly switch radio signals to avoid interference.
On 11 August 1942, they were granted a US patent for their invention. They offered it to the Navy, but it was dismissed as too complex — and perhaps because it came from such unlikely sources.
Fast forward to the Cold War era, and engineers rediscovered the idea. With the patent expired, they used the principles Hedy and George had invented to build secure, jam-resistant communications — ideas that form the backbone of today’s Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technologies.
Anecdote International is a global training and consulting company, specialising in utilising storytelling to bring humanity back to the workforce. Anecdote is now unique in having a global network of over 60 partners in 28 countries, with their learning programs translated into 11 languages, and customers who incorporate these programs into their leadership and sales enablement activities.