FUTUREPROOF.: Recent Episodes

Jeremy Goldman

Welcome to FUTUREPROOF. We're the podcast that delves into the future. From Augmented Reality to Artificial Intelligence to Smart Cities to Internet of Things to Virtual Reality, we speak with some of the sharpest minds to better help you understand what the next few years may look like.Brought to you by author Jeremy Goldman (Going Social, Getting to Like).For booking inquiries: vie@futureproofshow.com

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For years, leadership was about managing change.

Today, it feels more like surviving it.

AI is reshaping industries. Geopolitical tensions are redrawing supply chains. Climate events are disrupting operations. Employees expect something fundamentally different from work than they did just a few years ago.

The challenge isn't one disruption.

It's all of them at once.

In this episode of FUTUREPROOF., Jeremy Goldman sits down with Caroline Stokes—leadership strategist, Thinkers50 Radar honoree, and author of AfterShock to 2030: A CEO's Guide to Reinvention in the Age of AI, Climate, and Societal Collapse—to explore why the old leadership playbook may no longer be enough.

Caroline argues that we're entering an "AfterShock" era, where AI is only one piece of a much larger collision of technological, economic, environmental, and societal forces. The leaders who succeed won't simply adopt new technology faster—they'll develop entirely new ways of thinking, adapting, and leading.

Together, they discuss:

Why AI isn't the whole story—and why leaders need a wider lens.
The rise of adaptive intelligence as a leadership advantage.
Why emotional intelligence becomes more—not less—important in an AI-driven world.
How organizations can build cultures that thrive amid uncertainty instead of resisting it.

Because the future won't be shaped by leaders who cling to yesterday's playbook; it will belong to those willing to write a new one.

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We're living through one of the fastest periods of workplace transformation in modern history. AI is reshaping jobs, layoffs have become a recurring reality, and many professionals are quietly asking themselves a question they never expected to ask:

Can I keep working like this?

In this episode of FUTUREPROOF., Jeremy Goldman sits down with DJ DiDonna, senior lecturer at Harvard Business School and author of BIG TIME OFF, to explore why stepping away from work may become one of the most important career strategies of the AI era.

Drawing on years of research and hundreds of conversations with professionals who have taken extended breaks, DJ argues that sabbaticals aren't simply about recovering from burnout—they're about creating the space to rethink your work, your priorities, and your future before someone else makes that decision for you.

Together, they discuss:

How AI and rapid technological change are making career reinvention a continuous process.
Why layoffs and unexpected career interruptions can become opportunities for reflection instead of just setbacks.
The surprising competitive advantage that comes from intentionally creating time to think.
How organizations can build cultures that prioritize long-term resilience instead of perpetual exhaustion.

This isn't just a conversation about taking time off. It's about whether we've built a definition of career success that's no longer fit for the future—and what it might look like to replace it with something more sustainable.

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For years, the AI industry has operated under a simple assumption: talent is global.

That assumption is beginning to break.

As governments increasingly view advanced AI as a matter of national security—not just commercial competition—companies are finding themselves caught between innovation, geopolitics, immigration policy, and global talent markets.

In this episode of FUTUREPROOF., Jeremy sits down with David Krueger, AI researcher and professor, to explore one of the biggest shifts happening beneath the surface of the AI boom.

Together they discuss:

Why AI is becoming a geopolitical asset rather than simply another technology.
The implications of limiting access to frontier AI research.
Whether restricting international talent ultimately strengthens—or weakens—the United States.
How companies should think about trust, security, and collaboration.
The unintended consequences of an increasingly fragmented AI ecosystem.
Whether we're entering a technological Cold War—and what that means for everyone else.

This conversation goes well beyond one company's policies. It's about who gets to build the future, who gets left behind, and how national security is reshaping one of the fastest-moving industries in history.

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We're living through the fastest technological acceleration in human history.

Every week brings a new AI model, a new productivity tool, and a new prediction that everything is about to change forever.

And yet somehow, most people feel less focused, less certain, and more overwhelmed than ever.

In this episode of FUTUREPROOF., I sit down with Fredric Marshall, author of THRIVE: The Antidote to Future Shock, to explore a possibility we don't talk about enough:

What if the biggest risk of AI isn't that it replaces humans?

What if it's that it exhausts them?

Fred has spent decades helping organizations like Apple, Pfizer, and Genentech navigate periods of intense change. His argument is that most organizations aren't suffering from a technology problem. They're suffering from an attention problem.

We're surrounded by tools designed to save time, yet nobody seems to have any.

We have more information than ever, yet many leaders feel less certain.

And we keep calling it a productivity problem when it may actually be a human capacity problem.

We discuss:

Why "future shock" may be the defining leadership challenge of the AI era
How AI can reduce friction—or quietly create more of it
Why burnout is often a systems problem disguised as a personal one
The hidden cost of constant context switching
Why clarity may become more valuable than speed
How leaders can separate signal from noise
What it actually means to thrive during exponential change

Because if every problem gets solved with another app, another dashboard, or another AI assistant...

At some point, someone has to manage all those solutions.

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Every company today says it’s data-driven.

Billions are spent on analytics. AI pilots are everywhere. Dashboards glow with real-time metrics.

And yet, only a small fraction of organizations actually transform.

In this episode of FUTUREPROOF., I sit down with Sebastian Wernicke — author of DATA INSPIRED: Building an Organizational Culture of Inquiry for Lasting Transformation—to unpack why.

Sebastian argues that the problem isn’t a lack of data. It’s a lack of inquiry.

Most companies use data to optimize what already exists. Few use it to question assumptions, rethink business models, or challenge leadership narratives. That’s the difference between being data-driven and being data-inspired.

We explore:

Why data doesn’t “speak for itself”
How organizations become excellent at staying the same
The dangers of data-resistant minds
Why psychological safety is foundational for real AI success
What “radical data integrity” actually requires
And how to navigate AI’s “jagged frontier,” where human judgment still matters

This isn’t a conversation about tools; it’s about whether your culture is equipped to learn — especially when the evidence is uncomfortable.

Because AI won’t transform your company. It will amplify whatever culture you already have.

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We talk a lot about AI reshaping the future.

We talk less about who gets to participate in it.

In this episode of FUTUREPROOF., I sit down with Corbb O’Connor, who leads accessibility advocacy at Level Access. Corbb is blind. He’s spent years consulting enterprise teams — from financial institutions to global brands — helping them design digital experiences that are actually usable by people with disabilities.

This isn’t a compliance conversation.

It’s a systems conversation.

As AI systems increasingly generate interfaces, content, decisions, and workflows at scale, accessibility can no longer be an afterthought. If accessibility isn’t embedded upstream — in product design, in data pipelines, in AI outputs — exclusion compounds just as quickly as innovation.

Corbb argues that inclusion is not a moral add-on. It’s infrastructure. It’s economics. It’s risk management. And increasingly, it’s competitive advantage.

We explore:

Why accessibility should be treated like cybersecurity — a non-negotiable requirement, not a retroactive fix
The difference between “AI for accessibility” and “accessible AI”
Why automated scanning tools can’t replace human testing
How poor product design quietly excludes users without teams even realizing it
Why psychological safety and culture matter just as much as tooling
And whether AI will widen or narrow accessibility gaps over the next five years

If digital products define access to banking, healthcare, employment, and civic life, then accessibility isn’t a feature.

It’s participation.

And as AI becomes core infrastructure, the question becomes sharper:

Are we scaling inclusion — or scaling exclusion?

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We talk constantly about the future of work — AI agents, automation, leaner teams, productivity gains.

But what if the real drag on performance isn’t technology — it’s coordination?

Unproductive and unnecessary meetings cost companies up to $1.4 trillion every year. Seventy-one percent of senior leaders say meetings are inefficient. The average knowledge worker now spends around 11 hours a week in meetings. And nearly half admit to faking excuses to avoid them.

This isn’t a scheduling issue.

It’s a systems issue.

Dr. Rebecca Hinds — founder of the Work Innovation Lab at Asana, the Work AI Institute at Glean, and author of YOUR BEST MEETING EVER: 7 Principles for Designing Meetings That Get Things Done — argues that meetings are organizational “junk drawers.” Instead of asking whether a meeting is necessary, companies simply default to adding another recurring invite.

Her solution is radical in its simplicity: treat meetings like products.

Define the user. Clarify the outcome. Design the experience. Measure performance. Iterate.

In this episode, we zoom out beyond tactics and ask deeper questions:

Why are humans so inefficient at coordinating with one another?
What do broken meetings reveal about incentives, trust, and accountability?
Does AI meaningfully solve meeting dysfunction — or simply automate it?
And in a world pushing toward automation, what is the human role in collaboration?

If coordination is broken, no productivity tool can save us.

And if meetings are the canary in the coal mine, we should probably pay attention.

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We live in a moment where disagreement feels dangerous.

Politics is polarized. Social media amplifies outrage. Inside companies, dissent is often muted — not because people agree, but because they assume speaking up will damage relationships or reputations.

But what if most of that fear is wrong?

Julia Minson, decision scientist at Harvard Kennedy School, studies the psychology of disagreement. Her research on “conversational receptiveness” reveals something counterintuitive: people systematically overestimate how much disagreement will harm a relationship and underestimate how much thoughtful dissent earns respect.

That miscalculation has consequences.

When leaders avoid disagreement, bad ideas survive. When teams confuse persuasion with understanding, trust erodes. When we treat conflict as a character flaw rather than a cognitive process, we weaken our institutions.

In this episode, we explore why humans are wired to assume they’re objectively right, how subtle language shifts can dramatically increase receptiveness, and why polarization may be less about ideology and more about judgment errors.

And in an era where AI systems increasingly summarize, mediate, and even “assist” in conflict, what happens if our tools inherit our biases? And if healthy disagreement is essential to good decision-making, how do we preserve it inside organizations that prize alignment over friction?

This isn’t a conversation about compromise.

It’s about whether we still know how to disagree in ways that make us smarter.

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Everyone says they’re “AI-first.”

Very few organizations are AI-ready.

In this episode of FUTUREPROOF., we sit down with Ben Tasker, who is leading one of the largest workforce-scale AI education efforts in the public utility sector — upskilling 36,000 employees while advising global organizations on certification and governance.

Ben calls this moment the “AI Between Times.” The tools are evolving rapidly, but the AI-driven economy they promise hasn’t fully stabilized. That gap creates risk — and opportunity.

We unpack what actually breaks when companies try to move beyond pilot projects:

Why buying AI tools is easy — and building internal capability isn’t
The tension between augmentation and displacement
What the 70/30 rule means in cost-constrained environments
Why governance must precede implementation
And how AI fluency is quietly becoming a new form of institutional power

Ben argues that AI strategy lives or dies at the human level. Not because technology isn’t powerful, but because incentives, culture, and leadership determine whether that power compounds or fractures an organization.

This conversation isn’t about hype cycles.

It’s about whether institutions can transform fast enough — without breaking trust in the process.

Because the future of work won’t be defined by who bought the best tools.

It will be defined by who prepared their people.

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In this episode of FUTUREPROOF., we sit down with Kevin Ashton—the technologist who coined the term Internet of Things and helped usher in the smartphone era—to talk about something even more foundational than AI.

Stories.

In his new book, The Story of Stories, Kevin traces a million-year arc—from the first fires where early humans gathered, to the invention of writing and printing, to electricity, electronics, and the smartphone. His thesis is provocative: language did not create stories. Stories created language.

Every major storytelling revolution has followed a simple pattern: it increases the number of people who can tell stories—and the number of people who can hear them.

For the first time in history, anyone can tell stories to everyone.

But there’s a catch.

While AI cannot understand meaning, algorithms now determine which stories we see, amplifying bias, shaping belief, and influencing behavior at scale. The power of storytelling has never been more democratized—or more intermediated.

We explore:

Why storytelling is innate, not cultural
The eight great revolutions of human communication
Why machines can generate content but not meaning
The risks of algorithmic amplification
The role of critical thinking in a post-scarcity information world
Whether the next storytelling revolution is technological—or cognitive

This conversation isn’t about nostalgia.
It’s about understanding the oldest human technology in a moment when the newest one is accelerating everything.

If we think in stories—and we always will—the question becomes:
Who shapes the stories that shape us?

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Healthcare is colliding with technology faster than most people realize.

In this episode of FUTUREPROOF., I sit down with analyst Rajiv Leventhal, who covers the intersection of healthcare, pharma, and tech, to unpack three forces reshaping the system at once: AI, GLP-1 weight loss drugs, and the mental health impact of digital life.

We start with AI as a health tool. Nearly a quarter of ChatGPT’s global weekly users now use it for health-related prompts. That’s not a niche behavior. It’s a mainstream one. The question isn’t whether people will turn to AI for medical guidance. They already are.

The real tension is trust and liability. General-purpose AI tools aren’t bound by HIPAA in the same way healthcare providers are. Yet they’re increasingly acting as digital concierges — answering late-night pediatric questions, explaining lab results, and helping people prepare for appointments in a system where access is strained.

And that system is strained. Even in major cities, patients can wait months — sometimes a year — to see specialists. When access gaps widen, alternative tools step in. AI isn’t replacing doctors. It’s filling holes.

We then turn to GLP-1 drugs and the weight-loss explosion. What began as diabetes treatment became a cultural and commercial wave driven by social media, FDA approvals, and aggressive advertising. But beneath the surface is a regulatory gray market of compounded versions, patent battles, and telehealth platforms monetizing demand.

Finally, we tackle social media’s impact on mental health. The evidence linking heavy use — especially among teens — to anxiety and depression is growing, even if causation remains complex. Is this a regulation problem? A parental problem? A public health issue? Or another example of technology moving faster than governance?

This episode isn’t about hype.

It’s about what happens when broken systems create openings — and tech companies move into the space.

Because when trust erodes and access declines, people don’t wait.

They improvise.

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For years, organizations have poured millions into DEI training.

And yet most employees still report discrimination. Promotion gaps persist. Trust remains uneven.

So what’s going on?

In this episode of FUTUREPROOF., I sit down with Lily Zheng — strategist and author of Fixing Fairness — to interrogate a hard truth: much of what we call DEI doesn’t work. Not because fairness is unpopular. Not because inclusion is misguided. But because we keep trying to fix people instead of fixing systems.

Lily introduces the FAIR framework — Fairness, Access, Inclusion, and Representation — and argues that the real leverage isn’t in workshops. It’s in incentives, evaluation criteria, hiring processes, and executive accountability.

We explore:

Why standalone DEI training can backfire
The “missing stair” metaphor — and how organizations normalize dysfunction
The Cobra Effect of poorly designed diversity incentives
Why representation is ultimately about trust, not optics
What meritocracy gets wrong about itself
And why rebranding DEI won’t solve structural problems

At a moment when DEI faces political backlash and corporate retrenchment, Lily makes a counterintuitive claim: the future of workplace inclusion will be more rigorous, more measured, and more accountable — not less.

This is a systems conversation.

Not about slogans.
Not about performative commitments.
About incentives, power, and what actually moves outcomes.

If you care about leadership, governance, and the second-order effects of institutional design, this episode will challenge you.

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For years, we treated emotional intelligence like a cultural add-on.

Nice to have.
Important, maybe.
But not central to performance.

That framing doesn’t survive the AI era.

In this episode of FUTUREPROOF., I sit down with Dr. Bushra Khan, founder of Leading with BK, to examine what actually differentiates leaders as automation compresses the knowledge gap. When AI can draft, analyze, summarize, and even simulate difficult conversations, the advantage shifts. It moves from what you know to how you show up.

Bushra has spent over 15 years helping leaders translate emotional intelligence from buzzword into operating system. We talk about why “soft skills” should be understood as strategic skills, how negativity bias quietly distorts leadership judgment, and why loneliness inside high-performing teams is less about remote work and more about emotional avoidance.

We also explore some uncomfortable tensions:

If AI amplifies leaders, what exactly is it amplifying?
When does candor become bluntness — and erode trust instead of building it?
Why do leaders underestimate the emotional consequences of automation?
What does bravery look like when decisions are both rational and painful?

Bushra argues that most organizations are still trying to fix people instead of fixing environments. They invest in workshops while ignoring incentives. They push productivity while neglecting psychological safety. They assume proximity equals connection.

But as AI takes over more technical tasks, influence becomes the real differentiator. And influence is emotional before it is analytical.

This conversation isn’t about positivity or platitudes. It’s about leadership under pressure — layoffs, automation, rapid skills shifts — and what it takes to signal trust and authority through noise.

Because the future of work won’t just test our systems.

It will test our emotional maturity.

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This episode of FUTUREPROOF. is different.

My guest is Trevor Reed, a former U.S. Marine who was wrongfully detained and abused in a Russian gulag for nearly three years, freed in a high-profile prisoner exchange in 2022—and then made a decision few could comprehend: he voluntarily went to Ukraine to fight against the same system that imprisoned him.

In this conversation, Trevor reflects on what captivity does to the human mind, how survival reshapes your definition of justice, and why freedom—real freedom—can’t be taken for granted once you’ve lost it.

We talk about:

What daily life inside a Russian penal colony is actually like—and how close he came to dying there
The mental discipline required to survive prolonged isolation, hunger, and uncertainty
The emotional toll of being turned into a geopolitical bargaining chip
Why revenge eventually gave way to a deeper definition of justice
The surreal contrast between everyday life and active war zones in Ukraine
Being critically wounded by a landmine—and what it means to survive twice
How his understanding of freedom, responsibility, and humanity has fundamentally changed

This is not a conversation about politics.
It’s a conversation about power, resilience, moral injury, and what it means to remain human when systems fail you.

Trevor’s memoir, Retribution: A Former US Marine's Harrowing Journey from Wrongful Imprisonment in Russia to the Front Lines of the Ukrainian War, is not an easy read—but it is an important one. And this conversation is not comfortable—but it is necessary.

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What if the most undervalued leadership skill in the AI era isn’t technical fluency—but emotional presence?

This episode of FUTUREPROOF. features Claude Silver, the world’s first Chief Heart Officer and the No. 2 executive at VaynerX, joining the show to unpack why authenticity, empathy, and belonging are no longer “nice-to-haves,” but strategic advantages.

Claude’s 2025 book, Be Yourself at Work, challenges the long-standing belief that professionalism requires emotional distance. Instead, she argues that in a world defined by AI, automation, and burnout, the leaders who win are the ones who lead with heart—intentionally, skillfully, and without performative fluff.

We explore:

Why “authenticity” has been misunderstood—and how to practice it without oversharing or losing authority
What leading with heart actually looks like inside a 2,000-person global organization
How emotional skills become power skills as AI absorbs more technical work
The difference between fitting in and true belonging—and why that gap is costing companies talent and trust
How leaders can balance emotional bravery with emotional efficiency in an always-on, high-pressure world

This is a conversation about leadership after the old playbook breaks—and what replaces it when humanity becomes the edge.

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Healthcare is entering its most consequential design moment in decades.

As AI moves from the background into the core of clinical decision-making, diagnostics, and patient experience, the real question isn’t what AI can do—it’s whether people can trust it.

This week on FUTUREPROOF., I’m joined by Peter Skillman, Global Head of Design at Philips, and one of the few leaders shaping what responsible, human-centered AI looks like in healthcare at scale.

Peter has spent three decades designing products and systems at the intersection of hardware, software, and services—across Palm, Nokia, Microsoft, AWS, and now Philips. Today, he’s helping reimagine healthcare not as a hierarchy of authority, but as an experience built around patients, clinicians, and trust.

We talk about:

Why AI in healthcare must be designed with people, not just for them
What happens when teenagers—future patients and clinicians—help design care systems
How healthcare design is shifting from “what looks impressive” to “what feels humane”
Why speed, clarity, and emotional context now matter as much as clinical accuracy
The long timelines of healthcare innovation—and why today’s design choices shape the next decade
What it really means to make AI visible, explainable, and trustworthy in life-and-death environments

This conversation isn’t about futuristic demos or abstract ethics.
It’s about how design decisions today will determine whether AI improves healthcare—or quietly erodes trust in it.

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Guest: Joe Devon
Title: Chair, GAAD Foundation | Co-founder, Global Accessibility Awareness Day

AI is reshaping how we design software—but accessibility still too often shows up as an afterthought. In this episode of FUTUREPROOF., Joe Devon joins us to unpack what it actually means to build technology that works for everyone, especially as generative AI becomes embedded across products, platforms, and workflows.

Joe explains why accessibility isn’t a niche concern—it affects more than 1.3 billion people globally—and why AI represents both the biggest risk and the biggest opportunity the accessibility movement has ever seen. We dig into the early findings from the AI Model Accessibility Checker (AIMAC), what most AI models still get wrong about accessible code, and why “AI will fix it later” is a dangerous assumption.

We also explore how front-end tools like AI-generated captions, voice interfaces, and image descriptions are changing daily life for users with disabilities—and where back-end AI systems can finally close the gap between automated testing and real-world usability. Throughout the conversation, Joe makes a compelling case that accessibility is not just a moral imperative, but a design discipline that will separate future-proof products from legacy ones.

Topics covered:

Why most digital products still fail basic accessibility standards
How AI can dramatically expand—or quietly restrict—access
What AIMAC reveals about how accessible today’s AI models really are
Front-end vs. back-end accessibility breakthroughs
The ethical stakes of deploying inaccessible AI at scale
Why inclusive design must be a core requirement, not a patch

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Climate change is a global problem—but climate capital doesn’t flow globally.

In this episode of FUTUREPROOF., Jeremy sits down with Lassor Feasley, co-founder and CEO of Renewables.org, to unpack why some of the highest-impact climate solutions on Earth remain dramatically underfunded.

Renewables.org applies a Kiva-style crowdfunding model to distributed solar projects across the Global South. Individuals can invest as little as $25 into no-interest loans that fund solar installations—and are repaid monthly over five years, allowing capital to be recycled again and again.

Lassor explains why:

A dollar invested in Global South solar can deliver up to 5x the carbon impact of a comparable U.S. project
Traditional climate fintech and ESG models break down in frontier markets
Repayment isn’t just financial—it’s proof of impact
Design, not just technology, determines whether climate solutions scale

This conversation goes beyond solar panels to explore systems, incentives, trust, and the future of climate finance—and why everyday individuals may be better positioned than institutions to fund the energy transition where it matters most.

If climate change is a race against time, this episode asks a harder question: are we deploying capital where it actually counts?

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When Google’s algorithm changes caused HubSpot’s traffic to plummet 80%, most companies would have panicked.

Aja Frost saw an opportunity.

As Senior Director of Global Growth at HubSpot, Aja led the transformation that helped HubSpot not only recover—but become the most-cited CRM in generative AI results.

In this episode of FUTUREPROOF., Jeremy Goldman sits down with Aja to talk about how the rules of discovery, demand, and digital visibility are being rewritten in real time—and why Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) may be the next big discipline marketers can’t afford to ignore.

They discuss:
🔍 What happens when users trust ChatGPT more than Google
🧠 How HubSpot rebuilt its content strategy around AI answers
💬 The formula for getting cited by AI models—and what most brands get wrong
📈 Why visibility beats clicks in an LLM-driven world
🌐 The new off-site frontier: Reddit, YouTube, and the “dark funnel” of discovery
⚙️ How to measure success when your customer journey starts with a chatbot

If you work in marketing, SEO, or content—and you’ve felt the ground shifting under your feet—this episode will help you understand how to thrive in the AI search era.

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In a world where algorithms amplify outrage and newsfeeds reward noise, 1440 Media has quietly built something radical — a daily newsletter that promises “all your news, none of the bias.”

This week on FUTUREPROOF., Jeremy Goldman talks with Tim Huelskamp, CEO and cofounder of 1440, about how a 15-person team grew to reach over 4 million subscribers without chasing clicks, outrage, or political extremes.

Tim shares what he’s learned about:
- How 1440 found “white space” in a crowded media market
- Why being unbiased is both a superpower and a branding challenge
- How 1440’s ad model bucks media’s obsession with vanity metrics
- Why curiosity—not content—is the new currency for growth
- And what The Free Press sale reveals about the shifting trust economy

If you’re tired of doomscrolling and looking for what’s next in digital publishing, this conversation offers a blueprint for rebuilding trust, curiosity, and connection—one inbox at a time.

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As AI reshapes the world faster than most of us can process, we’re left with an uncomfortable question: What does it really mean to be human now?

This week on FUTUREPROOF., Jeremy sits down with Jeff Burningham — tech entrepreneur, investor, and author of The Last Book Written by a Human — to explore how we can cultivate wisdom, purpose, and empathy in an age obsessed with speed, scale, and artificial intelligence.

Jeff’s story is as surprising as it is inspiring: from Mormon missionary to real estate mogul, from political candidate to spiritual seeker. After years of building billion-dollar companies, he found himself confronting a deeper question — not how to make more, but how to matter more.

In this episode, Jeff and Jeremy discuss:

Why becoming wiser, not just smarter, is the next competitive advantage
How technology mirrors our consciousness — including our biases and blind spots
Why the future of leadership depends on emotional and moral intelligence
What it means to design an economy — and a life — centered on meaning, not metrics
And how AI’s reflection of us can become humanity’s greatest teacher

Whether you’re a founder navigating AI disruption or a curious human trying to stay grounded in a digital age, this conversation will remind you that wisdom — not code — may be the ultimate frontier.

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Seth Berkley, MD has been at the front lines of the world’s biggest battles against infectious disease. As the longtime CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the cofounder of COVAX, and the founder of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Berkley has helped bring lifesaving vaccines to billions of people.

In his new book, FAIR DOSES: An Insider’s Story of the Pandemic and the Global Fight for Vaccine Equity, Berkley lays out the hard truths of what went wrong during COVID—and how we can do better next time. From the rise of vaccine nationalism and political roadblocks to the explosion of misinformation, Berkley explains why inequitable vaccine access cost millions of lives and weakened global stability.

On this episode of FUTUREPROOF., we discuss:

Why the next pandemic is not a question of if, but when
What COVID-19 revealed about the politics of global health
How vaccine nationalism and misinformation threaten our collective safety
Lessons from COVAX and how to design faster, fairer systems in the future
Why global cooperation isn’t just moral—it’s economic and existential

This is a candid conversation about science, trust, and survival in a world that will inevitably face future pandemics.

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In a world obsessed with hustle, noise, and nonstop self-promotion, what if the most powerful way to stand out… is to stay true to your quieter side?

This week on FUTUREPROOF., Jeremy talks with Goldie Chan, once dubbed the “Oprah of LinkedIn” and author of Personal Branding for Introverts, about how to build visibility and influence without faking extroversion — or burning out.

Goldie is the founder of Warm Robots, a personal branding agency that’s helped executives, creators, and companies sharpen their stories. A LinkedIn Top Voice and keynote speaker, she’s also one of the platform’s earliest viral creators — though she still calls herself an introvert at heart.

In this episode, Goldie and Jeremy explore:
💡 Why authenticity beats volume in the new era of personal branding
🧠 How introverts can leverage empathy, observation, and storytelling as their edge
🌐 How to build digital presence without performing online 24/7
🚀 Why quiet consistency often outlasts viral moments
❤️ How to create meaningful visibility that aligns with your values

Whether you’re a leader who hates self-promotion, or a creator struggling to balance visibility with authenticity, this episode is your guide to building a brand that resonates deeply — not just loudly.

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What if luck isn’t random — but designed?

In this episode of FUTUREPROOF., we sit down with Judd Kessler, Wharton economist and author of Lucky by Design, to explore how hidden markets quietly decide who gets what — from job interviews and college spots to concert tickets, dating matches, and even organ transplants.

Kessler argues that what looks like “good fortune” is often the result of understanding — and leveraging — the invisible systems that govern access to opportunity. Whether it’s the algorithms behind dating apps, the psychology of lotteries and waitlists, or the structure of modern hiring, he reveals how we can all become more intentional “designers of luck.”

We discuss:

How hidden markets shape everything from careers to healthcare
Why “fairness” isn’t as equal as it looks — and how to spot the trade-offs
The economics of lotteries, rankings, and “first come, first served” systems
Why second choices sometimes lead to the best outcomes
How behavioral design can make opportunity more equitable — or more rigged
What it means to be “lucky by design” in an algorithmic world

Whether you’re a leader trying to create fairer systems, or an individual looking to navigate them more wisely, this episode reveals the unseen structures that quietly shape your chances — and how to work with them instead of against them.

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Most companies say they care about engagement — but decades of data show those engagement scores barely move. Meanwhile, burnout has become a global epidemic.

In this episode of FUTUREPROOF., we sit down with Mark C. Crowley, bestselling author of Lead from the Heart and the new book The Power of Employee Well-Being, to explore why the billion-dollar engagement industry has failed workers — and what science says actually drives performance.

Crowley argues that engagement is a symptom, not a cause — and that well-being, not busyness, is the real engine of productivity. He shares evidence-backed ways leaders can track and improve well-being, hold managers accountable for the human side of leadership, and create workplaces where people genuinely thrive.

We discuss:

Why engagement surveys don’t work (and what to measure instead)
How well-being directly impacts innovation and retention
What post-pandemic workforces really want from leadership
The neuroscience of motivation and connection at work
How to lead with authenticity without losing authority

If you’ve ever wondered why “perks” don’t fix burnout, or what the next era of human-centered leadership looks like, this episode will make you rethink what it means to truly lead people.

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Every leader has data. Few have a story worth following.

In this episode of FUTUREPROOF., we sit down with Christina Farr, journalist-turned-investor and author of The Storyteller’s Advantage. Christina argues that storytelling isn’t a soft skill — it’s a business superpower. Whether you’re pitching investors, recruiting talent, or leading a team through turbulence, the right story can make the difference between momentum and mediocrity.

We explore:

Why stories outperform facts and figures in memory and persuasion
How startup founders use narrative to raise money before their product is ready
The seven plot structures that show up again and again in successful company lore
Why authenticity and vulnerability make leaders magnetic
How to use storytelling not just in PR, but across sales, hiring, and product development

If you think storytelling is just marketing fluff, this episode will change your mind.

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Cars have long been sold as the ultimate symbol of freedom. But what if they’ve trapped us instead? In this episode of FUTUREPROOF., we sit down with Arthur Kay, urban designer and coauthor of Roadkill: Unveiling the True Cost of Our Toxic Relationship with Cars.

Kay argues that America’s car dependency is more than a climate issue—it’s a system of financial, political, and social control that burdens working and middle-class families, strains local economies, and limits real choice. Together, we explore:

Why cars drive hidden costs in housing, taxes, and debt
How car-centric cities hollow out communities and opportunities
The global lessons America can learn from more walkable, resilient urban models
A realistic blueprint for building cities that prioritize people, not vehicles

This conversation goes far beyond traffic jams and tailpipe emissions—it’s about the future of freedom, equity, and the way we design our lives.

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Disruption rarely looks like disruption when it begins. In his new book Epic Disruptions: 11 Innovations That Shaped Our Modern World, Scott D. Anthony—ranked by Thinkers50 as one of the world’s leading innovation thinkers—uncovers the stories of 11 breakthroughs that reshaped the modern world. From the transistor radio to AI, from McDonald’s business model to cryptocurrency, he shows how innovation unfolds in surprising, nonlinear ways.

In this episode of FUTUREPROOF., Scott explains why disruption often takes far longer than we expect, what leaders can learn from past “failures” like Google Glass, and how incumbents can overcome the barriers that keep them from investing in transformative change.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Why disruption usually takes decades, not years—and why patience matters
How unexpected figures—from Julia Child to McDonald’s—played surprising roles in innovation
What makes some technologies “sleeping giants” rather than failures
The recurring patterns that connect historical breakthroughs to today’s AI revolution
How leaders can balance operational demands with disruptive bets

Links & Resources:

Scott’s book: Epic Disruptions: 11 Innovations That Shaped Our Modern World (Little, Brown Spark, Sept 2025)
Learn more about Scott’s work: Scott D. Anthony at Tuck
Follow Scott on LinkedIn

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Gaming isn’t just entertainment anymore—it’s the new frontier of consumer engagement. With more than three billion players worldwide and brands from Peloton to Burberry using game mechanics to build loyalty, gaming has become a mainstream business strategy.

In this episode of FUTUREPROOF., Bastian Bergmann, co-founder and COO of Solsten, explains why every company—not just game studios—needs to think like a game designer. He draws from his new book Press Play and his work with Solsten, which helps brands understand audiences on a psychological level to create immersive, resonant experiences.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
🎮 Why gaming is becoming a must-have strategy for every industry
🎮 How luxury brands, fitness companies, and even media outlets are using play to connect with customers
🎮 The psychology of play and why it unlocks deeper loyalty than ads alone
🎮 Practical entry points for companies curious about gaming without overcommitting
🎮 How audience intelligence and psychology fuel better design and better business outcomes

Links & Resources:

Bastian’s book: Press Play: Why Every Company Needs a Gaming Strategy (Harvard Business Review Press, Sept 9, 2025)
Solsten: solsten.io
Follow Bastian on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bastianbergmann

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Most leaders say they want creativity. Few know how to make it happen. Andrew Robertson, Chairman of BBDO Worldwide, has spent two decades leading one of the most awarded creative networks in the world—and now he’s written the playbook for bringing creativity back to the heart of business.

In his new book, The Creative Shift, Robertson argues that organizations can’t just hope for inspiration—they need to deliberately design for it. He explains how to balance operational discipline with imaginative thinking, why bad ideas are essential for breakthroughs, and how simple changes—like rethinking meeting spaces—can spark better group collaboration.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Why most corporate cultures quietly stifle creativity
The flaws in traditional brainstorming—and how BBDO aims to fix them
How to manage creative risk and know which ideas to pursue
Practical ways to spark group creativity and make room for unconventional thinking
Why operational excellence and visionary thinking aren’t opposites—they’re partners

Links & Resources:

Andrew’s book: The Creative Shift: How to Power Up Your Organization by Making Space for New Ideas (released Sept 2, 2025)

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Guest: Nick Foster, futures designer, former Head of Design at Google X, and author of Could Should Might Don’t

Episode Summary:
Everyone’s talking about the future, but few are thinking about it well. Nick Foster, one of the world’s most influential futures designers and former Head of Design at Google X, argues that our imagination about what’s next is often shallow, clichéd, and dangerously incomplete.

In his book Could Should Might Don’t, Foster introduces a powerful framework for rethinking how we approach tomorrow. Instead of relying on sci-fi utopias, doomsday scenarios, or neat statistical projections, he challenges us to combine different lenses—what could, should, might, and don’t happen—to build a more rigorous and useful picture of the future.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Why sci-fi optimism and dystopian doom both fail as guides to the future
The four dominant ways we imagine tomorrow—and how to balance them
Lessons from inside Google X on how bold organizations explore the unknown
Why overconfidence in forecasts blinds us to hidden possibilities
How leaders, policymakers, and innovators can think more responsibly about what’s coming next

Links & Resources:

Nick’s book: Could Should Might Don’t (on shelves today, Aug 26!)

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Search isn’t just about Google anymore — and the fastest-growing search engine might already be on your phone. With 55% of consumers now starting their search journey on social platforms, TikTok is leading a massive shift in how people discover, evaluate, and buy.

In this episode of FUTUREPROOF., Brian Torpey, TikTok’s Global Head of Search Monetization Product Solutions and Operations, takes us inside how TikTok is redefining the search experience for a new generation. We dig into the platform’s latest search ad products, the surprising ways consumers use TikTok to find answers, and how brands can harness TikTok’s organic and paid tools to stay ahead.

We also explore:

Why TikTok search is fundamentally different from traditional search engines
How Omnicom Media Group’s partnership with TikTok is reshaping paid search strategies
What TikTok’s search data reveals about real consumer intent
The opportunities (and challenges) for marketers in the “social-first” search era

Whether you’re a marketer looking to future-proof your search strategy or just curious about how TikTok is quietly becoming a search powerhouse, this is one episode you don’t want to miss.

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The path to breakthrough ideas starts with… the bad ones.

In a world obsessed with perfection, Jason Keath makes a counterintuitive—and surprisingly liberating—case: bad ideas aren’t the enemy, they’re the engine. As the founder of Social Fresh and a longtime advisor to brands seeking creative edge, Jason argues that creativity is a process, not a personality trait—and the faster we get comfortable with failure, the faster we unlock genius.

In this episode, Jason and Jeremy talk about:

Why we mythologize creativity—and how to make it practical
The Fast & Ugly method that beats overthinking
How constraints fuel creativity rather than stifle it
What teams get wrong in brainstorms—and how to fix it
Why “creative blocks” are often just fear in disguise
The surprising neuroscience behind idea volume and quality
Why marketers, leaders, and founders need to stop waiting for inspiration

Whether you’re leading a brand, launching a product, or staring down a blank page, this conversation will help you stop polishing and start producing.

Links:

Jason’s site: jasonkeath.com
Social Fresh: socialfresh.com
Jason’s book: The Case for More Bad Ideas (Out now!)

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What if the internet as we know it is quietly ruled by one company?

Ari Paparo, ad tech insider and author of Yield: How Google Bought, Built, and Bullied Its Way to Advertising Dominance, joins FUTUREPROOF. to expose how Google quietly cornered the online ad market—and what that means for journalism, business, and democracy.

We dig into auction rigging, publisher exploitation, antitrust litigation, and whether anyone can really compete with Google in digital advertising. If you care about the business model of the internet, this episode is essential listening.

Topics Discussed:

How Google consolidated power in digital advertising
The myth of platform neutrality
What publishers lost—and what they’re trying to win back
Key moments that shaped Google’s ad empire
Why the DOJ’s antitrust case matters more than you think
How Google’s dominance affects the future of journalism

Resources:

Yield by Ari Paparo (Amplify, 2025)
Follow Ari at marketecture.tv

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In a world driven by data, Kevin Perlmutter argues that the most powerful force in marketing isn’t logic—it’s emotion. Kevin is the founder of Limbic Brand Evolution and author of Brand Desire: Spark Customer Interest Using Emotional Insights, a guide to building emotionally intelligent brand strategies that connect, convert, and last.

We explore why emotional intelligence is the most underused tool in a marketer’s toolkit, how neuroscience is reshaping brand research, and what leaders must do to future-proof their relevance in a noisy world.

Topics Discussed:

Why emotional intelligence drives brand relevance
The Limbic Sparks® method for identifying emotional drivers
How brands can differentiate through feeling—not just function
Common mistakes that kill brand desire
The neuroscience behind consumer behavior and loyalty
How to evolve your brand without losing your soul
Lessons from emotionally smart brands
Why “making people care” is the most future-proof strategy of all

Resources:

Brand Desire by Kevin Perlmutter
Learn more about Kevin's work

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Even the most experienced leaders have one thing in common: they’re not seeing the full picture. In this episode, psychologist, executive coach, and former CEO Martin Dubin joins FUTUREPROOF. to talk about the hidden habits and patterns that quietly derail careers and businesses.

Drawing from his new book Blindspotting, Martin reveals the six types of leadership blindspots, why your greatest strength might be your biggest liability, and how to stop projecting old patterns onto new problems. Whether you’re leading a Fortune 500 team or trying to level up personally, this conversation is about developing the awareness you didn’t know you needed.

Topics Discussed:

The six most common leadership blindspots—and how to identify them
Why high performers often stumble at the top
The danger of “overused strengths” and unchecked habits
How your identity and internal stories shape your leadership lens
What leaders can learn from therapists (and vice versa)
How to create a feedback loop that doesn’t sugarcoat reality
What only CEOs can—and should—do
Practical tools for improving self-awareness without getting stuck in self-doubt

Resources:

Blindspotting: How to See What’s Holding You Back as a Leader
MartinDubin.com

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In a time when shouting often drowns out speaking, Emily Kasriel wants us to rediscover a fading superpower: the ability to truly listen. Drawing on her experience as a longtime BBC journalist, mediator, and executive coach, Emily joins FUTUREPROOF. to discuss her new book Deep Listening, a transformative guide for better conversations, stronger relationships, and healthier communities.

We explore her eight-step method for listening with intention, how to defuse conflict without giving up your values, and why silence, curiosity, and discomfort are the keys to unlocking connection. Whether you're navigating workplace dynamics, political disagreements, or parenting in the digital age, this episode is a roadmap for showing up—and tuning in—more fully.

Topics Discussed:

How to listen to someone you fundamentally disagree with
What deep listening looks like in a leadership or corporate setting
The role of silence and curiosity in difficult conversations
How deep listening builds trust, reduces burnout, and strengthens teams
Tactics for navigating polarized environments with empathy

Resources:

Deep Listening: Transform Your Relationships with Family, Friends and Foes by Emily Kasriel
Learn more at EmilyKasriel.com
Follow Emily on LinkedIn

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How do you build a business that thrives because of AI—not in spite of it?

In this episode, we’re joined by Adam Brotman, former Chief Digital Officer at Starbucks, and Andy Sack, serial entrepreneur and longtime advisor to Microsoft, to talk about their new book: AI FIRST. Drawing insights from conversations with leaders like Sam Altman, Reid Hoffman, and Bill Gates, Adam and Andy argue that being “AI-aware” isn’t enough—leaders must put AI at the center of how they operate.

They break down their AI First Playbook—from building an AI council to running internal prompt competitions—and offer practical advice for making your team more adaptive, creative, and resilient in the face of rapid change.

If you're leading a team, scaling a company, or just trying to keep up with the pace of innovation, this is your cheat code for the AI-powered era.

Topics Discussed:

Why “AI First” is a mindset, not just a tech stack
What Sam Altman, Reid Hoffman, and Bill Gates taught them about the future of work
Offense vs. defense: how to think about AI strategy
The centaur vs. cyborg model of human-AI collaboration
Real-world case studies from Moderna, Suzy, and more
Why you need an internal AI council—and how to launch one
The cost of sitting still while your competitors experiment with genAI
What every C-suite leader should be asking themselves in 2025

Resources:

AI FIRST: The Playbook for a Future-Proof Business and Brand (Harvard Business Review Press)
Forum3 website
Follow Adam Brotman and Andy Sack on LinkedIn

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What does it mean to lead in a world increasingly shaped by algorithms? In this episode, Jeremy Williams, certified emotional intelligence practitioner and expert on collective intelligence, argues that how we work together is becoming even more critical than what we do. As generative AI automates more functions, Williams says emotional intelligence will define the teams—and leaders—that remain relevant.

We dig into the dangers of toxic positivity, the difference between cyborg leadership and “copy-paste” management, and how to operationalize emotional intelligence at scale. Jeremy also unpacks the idea of collective intelligence, why psychological safety is a business imperative, and how to future-proof your team’s humanity.

Topics Discussed:

What emotional intelligence really means—and why AI can't replicate it
The rise of collective intelligence and its strategic value
How to spot toxic positivity and why it erodes trust
Emotional reasoning vs. rational leadership
“Copy-paste” management: the hidden risk in fast-moving orgs
How to scale emotional intelligence without making it performative
Preparing teams for ambiguity, volatility, and change
How EQ is the new “why” in an AI-powered world

Resources:

Follow Jeremy Williams on LinkedIn
The Fluent Executive

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Is the financial system broken—or just misunderstood? Economist and author Matt Sekerke joins FUTUREPROOF. to challenge conventional wisdom on money, banking, and policy. In his new book Making Money Work (co-authored with Steve Hanke), he argues that fiat money is still king, the Fed doesn’t have as much power as we think, and the obsession with decentralization is distracting us from deeper issues. This episode dives into the real causes of inflation, how trade deficits actually work, and what it would take to restore trust in our economic institutions.

Topics Discussed:

Why the Global Financial Crisis broke the system
What monetary neutrality means—and why we’ve forgotten it
The role of broad money supply in predicting recessions
The myth of crypto’s superiority over fiat
The misunderstood mechanics of trade deficits
How Trump-era tariffs reshaped global finance
Why China can’t yet lead a global financial system
The future of central banking and financial trust

Pick up the book here.

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Today's guest is Phanish Puranam, INSEAD Professor and author of Re-Humanize: How to Build Human-Centric Organizations in the Age of Algorithms. He's the perfect guest to discuss how AI is transforming—not just tasks—but the very DNA of how organizations operate.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

Why the future of AI in business isn’t about job replacement, but organizational redesign
How AI is turning from tool to teammate, and what that means for leadership and decision-making
What "bionic organizations" are—and how companies can blend algorithms and humans without crushing autonomy or purpose
Why algorithmic bureaucracy might quietly become the most dangerous workplace trend
How poor implementation of AI threatens to destroy learning cultures and employee agency
The four pitfalls of AI adoption most companies fall into—and how to avoid them
A framework for designing AI systems that enhance human competence, not erode it
Why employees—not just executives—should shape the future of AI-powered work

About our guest:
Phanish Puranam is the Roland Berger Chaired Professor of Strategy & Organization Design at INSEAD, where he also leads the Organizations & Algorithms research initiative. With a career focused on the science of how organizations work—and how they change—he brings a deeply research-backed, globally informed perspective on the next phase of AI’s workplace evolution.

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In this episode, Jeremy sits down with Jonathan Stutz, co-author of the powerful book Daily Practices of Inclusive Leaders, to explore what it really means to lead with inclusion in mind—every single day. As a former executive at Microsoft, Amazon, and Zulily, Jonathan blends deep corporate experience with a people-first lens to rethink how workplaces should function in an age of upheaval.

Together, they dig into:

Why inclusion is no longer an HR side quest but core to effective leadership
The case for small, intentional “inclusive pebbles” that ripple into systemic change
What leaders get wrong about DEI—and how to fix it without corporate jargon or empty gestures
Why inclusive leadership is increasingly being rebranded as just... good leadership
How to build cultures where people feel seen, heard, and equipped to succeed

Whether you're a people manager, an exec navigating culture shifts, or just someone who wants to show up better at work, Jonathan offers grounded advice and personal stories that will inspire and challenge you.

Referenced in this episode:
📘 Daily Practices of Inclusive Leaders – Get the book
🔗 Learn more about Jonathan's work at Global Diversity Partners

Key quote:
"Inclusion isn't a department. It's a daily habit that belongs to every leader." – Jonathan Stutz

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Enterprise AI is having a moment—but it's not the one you think. In this episode, Jeremy sits down with Inna Tokarev Sela, founder of Illumex, to talk about what it really takes to build reliable, governed AI systems at scale. With decades of experience at Sisense, SAP, and now at the helm of her own company, Inna lays out why explainability, trust, and diversity in leadership are the keys to unlocking AI’s potential inside the enterprise. From hallucination hazards to governance gaps and the ethics of AI design, this episode is a must-listen for anyone building the future of intelligent systems.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

Why the biggest obstacle to enterprise AI isn’t ethics—it’s infrastructure
The three pillars of AI trust: explainability, data access, and governance
How diverse teams lead to more ethical and effective AI
What hallucinations in AI outputs reveal about your data pipeline
Why unifying context matters more than ever for AI accuracy
How leaders can future-proof their companies by fixing their foundations
Why being “application-free” might be the future of business workflows

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Join us in a compelling discussion with Wes Adams and Tamara Myles, seasoned advisers to global companies and authors of MEANINGFUL WORK: How to Ignite Passion and Performance in Every Employee. Dive into the science of positive psychology and discover how it can transform leadership and workplace cultures.

What You’ll Learn:

The Importance of Meaning: Explore why meaningful work is crucial for employee engagement and organizational success.
Leadership Influence: Understand the significant impact leaders have on cultivating a sense of meaning and purpose at work.
The Three Cs Framework: Discover how Community, Contribution, and Challenge play pivotal roles in enhancing workplace environments.
Generational Insights: Gain insights into how different generations view meaningful work and what this means for future workplaces.
Autonomy in Leadership: Learn about the balance between providing direction and granting autonomy to foster innovation and trust.
Onboarding and Integration: Discuss the critical role of onboarding in setting the stage for meaningful employee experiences.

Episode Highlights:

Real-life stories from leading companies like Patagonia and HubSpot
Discussion on recent shifts in workplace dynamics post-pandemic
Actionable advice for leaders to implement immediately

About Our Guests: Wes Adams is the CEO of SV Consulting Group, with a background in positive psychology research and leadership at organizations including the University of Pennsylvania. Tamara Myles is a renowned speaker and consultant, with a focus on human flourishing at work, teaching at Boston College and conducting research at the University of Pennsylvania.

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Episode Overview: Join us on FUTUREPROOF as we delve into the seismic shifts in the workplace with Paula Davis, the founder and CEO of the Stress & Resilience Institute. In this episode, Paula discusses her latest book, Lead Well: 5 Mindsets to Engage, Retain, and Inspire Your Team, offering a fresh perspective on leadership in the wake of the pandemic and the rise of generative AI.

Here's What You'll Learn:

The New Leadership Challenges: Understand the profound changes in the workplace environment due to pandemic aftershocks and technological advancements.
Five Key Mindsets for Modern Leaders: Explore the transformative mindsets that can significantly enhance team well-being and resilience.
Actionable Leadership Tools: Gain insights into practical strategies and tools that can help leaders foster a more meaningful and engaging workplace.
Building Resilient Teams: Learn how to cultivate a culture that embraces change, supports stress management, and promotes sustainable productivity.
Implementing TNTs: Discover the Tiny Noticeable Things (TNTs) that can make a big difference in daily management and team dynamics.

About Paula Davis: Paula is not only the CEO of the Stress & Resilience Institute but also a renowned author and advisor who has shaped leadership strategies across global corporations. With her extensive background in law and positive psychology, Paula brings a unique blend of insight and practical advice to the challenges of modern leadership.

Why This Episode Is a Must-Listen: In today's rapidly evolving work landscape, leaders face unprecedented challenges that require new thinking and innovative approaches. Paula's expertise offers valuable guidance for navigating these complexities and leading teams to success with resilience and adaptability.

Closing Thoughts: Whether you’re steering a small team or managing a large organization, this episode provides essential strategies to enhance your leadership effectiveness and prepare your team for the future. Tune in to transform your approach to leadership and create a thriving work environment in today’s dynamic world.

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In this episode of FUTUREPROOF., we sit down with Sabina Nawaz, a renowned leadership coach and author, to delve into the evolving landscape of leadership and management. With over two decades of experience coaching top executives around the globe, Sabina shares her insights on how leaders can thrive amidst the pressures of modern-day management.

Here's what you'll learn:

The critical distinction between power and pressure and how it affects leadership effectiveness.
Practical strategies for new managers to transition smoothly into leadership roles.
How to maintain authenticity while exercising authority in high-stakes environments.
Techniques to foster a culture of resilience and adaptability among teams.
Insights from Sabina's latest book, "You're the Boss: Become the Manager You Want to Be (and Others Need)."

Deep Dive Topics:

Understanding the "Power Gaps" and "Pressure Pitfalls" that many leaders face.
The importance of self-awareness and continuous personal development in leadership.
How leaders can leverage "Tiny Noticeable Things (TNTs)" to enhance team dynamics and productivity.
The role of values alignment in creating meaningful work experiences.

Sabina wraps up with actionable advice for aspiring leaders to enhance their leadership style, ensuring they not only meet but exceed the expectations of their roles and drive their teams towards success.

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Join us for an insightful conversation with Artem Rodichev, founder and CEO of Ex-human, a company focused on building empathetic ai characters for engaging conversations Today, we explore the integration of artificial intelligence in human emotions and relationships.

Here's what you'll learn:

Advancing Emotional AI: Delve into how AI can simulate human emotions and the technological advancements making this possible.
Ethics of Emotional AI: Discuss the moral implications of AI systems that can understand and mimic human feelings.
AI's Role in Alleviating Loneliness: Understand how AI is being used as a tool to combat loneliness and its effectiveness.
Building Trust with AI: Learn about the challenges and solutions in making AI a reliable companion and aide.
The Future of Human-AI Relationships: Forecast the potential future developments in AI interactions with humans, especially in personal contexts.

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Today, we delve into the evolving landscape of cybersecurity with Ross Young, the CISO at Team8 and former CIA analyst. Ross brings his extensive experience in cybersecurity to discuss the impacts of AI on security practices, the dual role of AI as both protector and target, and the ethical implications of AI in cybersecurity.

Here's what you'll learn:

AI and Cybersecurity Dynamics: Explore how AI is reshaping the strategies and vulnerabilities in cybersecurity.
AI as a Double-Edged Sword: Discussion on the paradox where AI both fortifies defenses and creates new vulnerabilities.
Ethical Dilemmas in AI Use: Ross tackles the tough questions about bias and ethics in AI development and deployment in security contexts.
Building Resilient Systems: Insights into developing systems that can anticipate and withstand AI-driven attacks.
Future Trends in AI and Security: Predictions for the next big challenges and innovations at the intersection of AI and cybersecurity.

Ross offers a vision for a future where cybersecurity and AI work hand in hand to enhance protection without compromising ethical standards or efficiency. We think you'll dig this one.

Resources Mentioned:

Team8’s latest research on AI and cybersecurity

Connect with Ross:

LinkedIn
Team8's site

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Join us as we sit down with Jennifer Moss, work culture expert and author, to dive deep into the dynamics of workplace stress, burnout, and the changing relationship we have with work in the wake of global crises and technological shifts. Her new book, Why Are We Here?: Creating a Work Culture Everyone Wants, has just hit shelves, and is a great read.

Here's what you'll learn:

Understanding Burnout: Jennifer explores the real reasons behind workplace burnout and why simple solutions often fall short.
The Role of Leadership: How leadership styles can dramatically influence employee well-being and organizational health.
Cultural Shifts in Work: Discussion on the seismic shifts in work culture influenced by recent global events and technological advancements.
Strategies for Engagement and Resilience: Practical advice for leaders to foster resilience and maintain engagement in challenging times.
Future of Work: Insights into the future trends in workplace culture and leadership strategies.

Jennifer offers strategies that can help both leaders and employees navigate the complex landscape of modern work life, focusing on sustainability and well-being. You're in for a treat with this one.

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Note: This episode previously served up the wrong audio for some of you last time 🤦🏻‍♂️ —now fixed.

In this captivating episode, Devin DeCiantis and Ivan Lansberg, authors of "The Enduring Enterprise," discuss the resilience and innovative strategies of family businesses in emerging and frontier markets. With their deep expertise and extensive research, they offer a unique perspective on how these enterprises thrive amid crises such as wars, environmental disasters, and economic volatility.

Highlights Include:

The Role of Family Businesses in Stabilizing Economies: Devin and Ivan explore how family enterprises in volatile regions contribute to economic stability and community welfare.
Innovative Strategies for Crisis Management: Learn how these businesses implement creative and effective strategies to navigate through crises, ensuring both survival and growth.
Impact of Cultural and Familial Bonds: The authors discuss the significant role of strong familial bonds and cultural values in the resilience and long-term success of these businesses.
Global Lessons for Western Leaders: Insights into what leaders in more stable economies can learn from the adaptive strategies of family businesses in less stable environments.
Future Outlooks: Devin and Ivan share their predictions on the evolving landscape of family businesses globally and the implications for future economic policies and leadership strategies.

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We sit down with Siri Chilazi, renowned researcher at the Women and Public Policy Program at Harvard Kennedy School and co-author of the new book Make Work Fair: Data-Driven Design for Real Results, to explore the essential strategies for creating and sustaining equity in workplaces. Siri's extensive research focuses on advancing gender equality with evidence-based methods, and she brings her expert knowledge to shed light on what truly works in achieving a balanced and inclusive work environment.

Highlights:

Evidence-Based Approaches to Gender Equality: Siri discusses her latest findings on what interventions are most effective at reducing gender disparities in the workplace.
The Role of Leadership in Fostering Inclusive Cultures: Insights into how leaders can actively contribute to enhancing diversity and inclusivity at all levels of an organization.
Practical Tools for Equity: Exploration of actionable tools and strategies that organizations can implement to improve equity in real-time.
Challenges and Opportunities: A look at the common obstacles organizations face in implementing diversity programs and how to overcome them.
Future Trends in Workplace Equity: Predictions for the evolution of diversity and inclusion practices in the coming years.

Siri provides a compelling call to action for leaders and organizations to embrace her research-backed approaches to not just improve workplace culture but also enhance overall organizational performance by fully leveraging a diverse workforce.

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In this captivating episode, Devin DeCiantis and Ivan Lansberg, authors of "The Enduring Enterprise," discuss the resilience and innovative strategies of family businesses in emerging and frontier markets. With their deep expertise and extensive research, they offer a unique perspective on how these enterprises thrive amid crises such as wars, environmental disasters, and economic volatility.

Highlights Include:

The Role of Family Businesses in Stabilizing Economies: Devin and Ivan explore how family enterprises in volatile regions contribute to economic stability and community welfare.
Innovative Strategies for Crisis Management: Learn how these businesses implement creative and effective strategies to navigate through crises, ensuring both survival and growth.
Impact of Cultural and Familial Bonds: The authors discuss the significant role of strong familial bonds and cultural values in the resilience and long-term success of these businesses.
Global Lessons for Western Leaders: Insights into what leaders in more stable economies can learn from the adaptive strategies of family businesses in less stable environments.
Future Outlooks: Devin and Ivan share their predictions on the evolving landscape of family businesses globally and the implications for future economic policies and leadership strategies.

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In this episode, we dive into the world of obesity treatment with Dr. Alexandra Sowa, author of The Ozempic Revolution and a trailblazer in the field of obesity medicine. We explore the revolutionary impact of GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy, which are transforming the approach to obesity—a condition affecting nearly half of Americans.

What You'll Learn:

The science behind GLP-1 medications and how they work to combat obesity.
Eligibility criteria for these medications and how to access them.
Addressing common misconceptions and misinformation surrounding GLP-1s.
Practical strategies for managing side effects and optimizing treatment outcomes.
The importance of holistic approaches in treating obesity, beyond medication.

About our Guest: Dr. Alexandra Sowa, an expert in internal medicine and obesity medicine, clinical instructor at NYU School of Medicine, and a prominent voice in public discussions on obesity.

Topics Covered:

The Role of GLP-1 Medications: Understanding their mechanism and who benefits the most.
Navigating Access and Insurance: Tips on prescription accessibility and insurance coverage.
Combating Misinformation: Debunking myths and clarifying what users can really expect.
Lifestyle Integration: How to incorporate these medications into a holistic health regimen.
Emotional and Psychological Considerations: Handling the mental challenges associated with dramatic weight loss.
Future of Obesity Treatment: Insights into upcoming advancements and what the next decade could hold.

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Today on FUTUREPROOF, we sit down with Andrew Zimmerman, CEO and Co-Founder of Journey, a pioneer in the realm of multidimensional experiences (MDX). With a storied career that spans major stints as CEO of frog design and foundational roles at Accenture and PwC, Andy brings a wealth of knowledge and insight into the evolving landscape of design and customer experience.

What You'll Learn:

Discover how Andy's vision for MDX emerged from his experiences leading global design initiatives.
Explore the applications of MDX across various sectors from entertainment to healthcare, and how it's revolutionizing customer engagement.
Andy shares his thoughts on the future of design and experience, highlighting how companies can navigate from traditional omnichannel strategies to robust multidimensional experiences.
Tips and strategies for upcoming designers and business leaders looking to implement MDX in their operations.

Featured Stories:

Las Vegas Sphere: A deep dive into the design and impact of one of the most ambitious entertainment venues designed under Andy's leadership.
Empire State Building Observatory: How MDX was used to transform a classic attraction into a modern experience that engages diverse audiences.

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Today, we’re diving into the fascinating world of artificial intelligence and coding with Itamar Friedman, CEO & Co-Founder of Qodo, a groundbreaking generative AI coding platform.

About Itamar : With a rich background in technology and innovation, including a pivotal role as Director of Machine Vision at Alibaba, Itamar now leads Qodo, which has transformed the way over a million developers write code.

Episode Highlights:

Qodo's Genesis: Itamar shares the story of Qodo’s inception and its mission to revolutionize coding through AI.
Ethical AI: Delving into the significance of ethical AI, Itamar discusses how Qodo ensures its technology enhances rather than hinders human effort.
AI and the Future of Work: Itamar offers insights into how AI is reshaping job roles and industries, predicting significant shifts in the tech landscape.
Challenges and Triumphs: Hear about the obstacles Qodo faced and the milestones they’ve achieved under Itamar’s leadership.
Advice for Tech Innovators: Itamar provides valuable advice for aspiring tech entrepreneurs and innovators looking to make a mark in the AI space.

Interested in learning more about how AI is transforming coding? Check out Qodo’s platform.

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Welcome to today's episode of FUTUREPROOF, where we delve into the future of education with Jenee Henry Wood, co-author of "Extraordinary Learning for All: How Communities Design Schools Where Everyone Thrives." Jenee, a leader in school innovation, brings a rich blend of experience and passion to the discussion of transforming educational landscapes.

What We Discussed:

Educational Innovation: Jenee discusses the concepts behind creating schools that foster extraordinary learning experiences for all students, focusing on the practical and humane approaches needed to reinvent schooling.
Community Involvement: Insights on how engaging with parents, teachers, and local communities plays a crucial role in improving educational outcomes.
Mental Health in Schools: Strategies to address the increasing rates of boredom, stress, and anxiety among students.
Teacher Retention: Jenee shares effective practices to uplift teachers’ voices and combat the high turnover rates in the profession.
Future of School Design: Exploring the frameworks and real-world applications that are guiding the next generation of school design and implementation.

Key Takeaways: Jenee highlights the importance of community-centric approaches to education reform, emphasizing that real change comes from within communities themselves. The discussion also covers the need for schools to be adaptable and responsive to the evolving needs of their students and the broader societal shifts.

Call to Action: For educators, policymakers, and anyone interested in the future of education, Jenee’s insights offer valuable guidance. Check out her book, "Extraordinary Learning for All," for a deeper dive into how you can contribute to shaping the educational environments of tomorrow: https://www.amazon.com/Extraordinary-Learning-All-Communities-Everyone/dp/1394230540

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In today’s episode, we’re diving into the world of career development and mentorship with Pete Schramm, author of "Pathfinders: Navigating Your Career Map With A Personal Board of Advisors." Pete brings a wealth of experience from his roles at Lockheed Martin and as the CEO of Lattitude, a platform designed to enhance employee engagement and career development.

What We Discussed:

Career Navigation: Pete shares his insights on how a personal board of advisors can dramatically shift your career trajectory and why it’s crucial in today’s fast-paced work environment.
Mentorship Impact: The importance of mentorship and how it can be structured within organizations to foster growth and development.
Lattitude Platform: A look into Lattitude and how it’s revolutionizing the way companies engage with employees, focusing on mentorship and career development.
Career Mapping: Pete discusses the tools and strategies individuals can utilize to effectively map out their career paths.
Innovative Leadership: Insights on leading diverse teams and driving innovation within large corporations and startups.

Key Takeaways: Pete emphasizes the significance of building a supportive career network and actively engaging in mentorship, both as a mentor and a mentee, to facilitate personal and professional growth. His approach to career mapping and development through structured support systems provides a new perspective on navigating career challenges and opportunities.

Call to Action: Check out Pete Schramm’s book, "Pathfinders," available in both ebook and paperback formats, and explore how you can start building your personal board of advisors today.

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Join us on FUTUREPROOF. as we delve into the world of gene editing with Dr. Neal Baer, a distinguished physician and award-winning television producer. In this compelling episode, Dr. Baer discusses his latest book, The Promise and Peril of CRISPR, which explores the transformative potential and ethical dilemmas posed by CRISPR technology.

What You'll Learn:

The Basics of CRISPR: Understand the science behind this groundbreaking gene-editing technology and its capacity to cure genetic diseases.
Ethical Concerns: Explore the moral and ethical implications of editing the human genome, from designer babies to bioweapons.
Regulatory Challenges: Hear Dr. Baer's insights on what regulations are needed to prevent misuse of gene-editing technologies.
Future Outlooks: Discover the potential long-term consequences of CRISPR on human evolution and societal norms.
Public Involvement: Learn about the importance of public engagement in shaping the policies governing genetic modification.

Featured Stories:

Dr. Baer shares his first-hand experience tackling misinformation and public fear during the anti-vax movement and how it parallels challenges in the CRISPR debate.
An examination of the 2020 election "Big Lie" and pandemic conspiracy theories to understand the broader impacts of misinformation on public health and safety.

Call to Action:

Engage with us through our social media to share your thoughts on how society should navigate the promises and perils of CRISPR. Do you think the benefits outweigh the risks?

Subscribe and Review:

Loved this discussion? Make sure to subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Stay tuned for more insightful conversations on FUTUREPROOF.

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Join us on FUTUREPROOF. as we dive deep with Renée DiResta, a leading researcher at Stanford Internet Observatory, exploring the intricate web of online misinformation and its impact on society. Renée brings her extensive knowledge from investigating foreign influence operations, conspiracy theories, and the challenges posed by social media moderation to discuss how digital tribalism and bespoke realities are shaping our world.

What You'll Learn:

Understanding Misinformation: How misinformation spreads through digital platforms and the psychological factors driving its reach.
Impact on Society: The consequences of online echo chambers for public discourse and political polarization.
Digital Tribalism: Exploring the concept of bespoke realities and how they threaten societal cohesion.
Strategies for the Future: Renée’s insights on how social media platforms and policymakers can combat the spread of false information.
The Role of Education: The importance of digital literacy in empowering the public to navigate misinformation.

Episode Highlights:

DiResta's Journey: From battling anti-vaccine misinformation to testifying in front of Congress, hear how Renée's career has evolved alongside the rise of digital misinformation.
Case Studies: Renée discusses specific examples of misinformation campaigns and their effects, from election interference to public health crises.
Looking Ahead: Gain perspective on what the future holds for digital communication and the ongoing fight against misinformation.

Call to Action:

Check out Renée’s book, Invisible Rulers, for a deeper understanding of the forces shaping our digital landscape. Engage with us on social media to share your thoughts and questions about today’s discussion.

Subscribe & Share:

Loved this episode? Subscribe to FUTUREPROOF. for more insights on technology and society, and don’t forget to share this episode with your network to spread the word about the importance of understanding and combating misinformation.

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Welcome to another episode of FUTUREPROOF., where we dive into the technological forces shaping our lives and futures. Today, we’re joined by renowned AI experts Anindya Ghose and Ravi Bapna to discuss their new book, "Thrive: Maximizing Well-Being in the Age of AI." In this episode, we unpack the complexities and potential of AI through everyday examples and professional insights.

What We Cover:

Understanding AI’s Role: How AI influences various aspects of our lives, from finding love to securing the perfect job.
Balancing AI's Risks and Rewards: Addressing the dual nature of AI in modern society.
Practical AI Applications: Real-world applications that illustrate AI's potential to enhance personal and professional well-being.
Navigating AI Ethically: How to approach AI development and use with a focus on ethical outcomes and avoiding biases.
Future of AI in Daily Life: Predictions and advice for individuals looking to navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of AI technology.

Join us as Anindya and Ravi provide a balanced perspective on AI’s transformative power and its implications for our future. Whether you’re an AI skeptic or enthusiast, this conversation will equip you with a deeper understanding of how AI can be a force for good in your life.

Don't forget to check out "Thrive: Maximizing Well-Being in the Age of AI" for a comprehensive guide on making AI work for you. Available now wherever books are sold.

Subscribe and Share this episode to help spread the word about the positive potentials of AI!

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Today, we’re joined by Philippe De Ridder, founder of Board of Innovation and a seasoned entrepreneur renowned for his forward-thinking approach to business and innovation.

In today’s discussion, Philippe shares insights from his extensive experience working with global giants like Microsoft and Amazon. We delve into how AI is reshaping the creative landscape and what it means for future entrepreneurs and innovators. Philippe also touches on the importance of maintaining a human-centric approach in an increasingly automated world.

Key Points We'll Cover Include:

Understanding AI's Role: How AI is becoming an integral part of creative processes and innovation strategies.
Human Creativity vs. AI: Philippe’s perspective on the unique value of human creativity in the age of AI.
Navigating the Future: Strategies for entrepreneurs and businesses to stay relevant and competitive as technology evolves.

Join us as Philippe De Ridder unpacks the complexities of integrating AI into creative endeavors and offers a blueprint for thriving in this new digital renaissance.

Don't forget to subscribe for more insights and discussions on the latest in technology and innovation. Check out Philippe’s work and contributions to the field to stay ahead in the evolving world of AI-driven creativity.

In this episode of FUTUREPROOF., we delve into a critical discussion with Dr. Richard Cytowic, a neurologist renowned for his research on how our ancient brain wiring contends with today's digital onslaught. Dr. Cytowic’s latest work, Your Stone Age Brain in the Screen Age, serves as the backbone of our conversation, exploring the future of human cognition amidst the rise of virtual reality, AI, and pervasive digital connectivity.

Key Discussion Points:

Future Tech vs. Ancient Brains: How emerging technologies could reshape our cognitive functions.
Adaptation or Overload: The brain's capacity to handle increasing digital stimuli.
Virtual Realities: The impact of VR and AR on brain function and social behavior.
Empathy and Connection: How technology influences our social interactions and emotional intelligence.
Combating Digital Addiction: Strategies to manage the seductive pull of advanced personalization and AI-driven interfaces.

Join us as Dr. Cytowic provides a thought-provoking analysis on whether our brains can evolve fast enough to keep up with the technological advancements or if we're heading toward an unavoidable cognitive crisis.

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review if you found this episode enlightening. Also, check out Dr. Cytowic's book for a deeper dive into how we can safeguard our cognitive health in a world dominated by screens.

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Today's guest, Tommy Means, the mastermind behind Mekanism, brings a fresh perspective on the enduring power of human creativity. Tommy, who has directed culturally impactful campaigns for some of the world’s most influential brands, shares his insights on:

The Unique Human Touch: How empathy and personal experience fuel creativity that resonates on a deeper emotional level.
Technology vs. Creativity: Why Tommy believes that no AI can replicate the authentic creativity derived from human struggles and emotions.
Adapting to Rapid Change: How visual storytelling has evolved with technology, and the way Mekanism has adapted to stay ahead of the curve.
The Role of Humor: Exploring how humor can cut through the noise, making messages memorable and effective.
Future of Advertising: What the rise of AI and digital platforms mean for the future of creative professions and how to remain relevant.

Tommy also dives into his recent work with Xumo, illustrating how simplicity in campaign design can address modern consumer challenges like decision fatigue in digital streaming.

For those inspired by creativity and innovation, this episode not only explores the current landscape but also offers a vision of how to thrive in the future of advertising. Tune in to gain valuable insights and perhaps, find that spark to fuel your next creative endeavor.

Don't forget to check out Tommy's latest campaigns and follow Mekanism for more innovative projects. If today's discussion sparked any thoughts or questions, share them with us on social media or leave a comment below. We love hearing from our listeners!

In this thought-provoking episode of FUTUREPROOF., we sit down with Mo Bunnell, author of "Give to Grow" and an expert in business development and client relationships. Mo, who has trained thousands in his comprehensive business development system, shares actionable insights on how to deepen relationships and drive growth both professionally and personally.

In this episode, you'll learn:

The Core Mission of 'Give to Grow': Mo discusses the inspiration behind his book and why nurturing relationships is key to professional growth.
The Power of High-Impact Relationships: Discover how strategic relationships can transform your business trajectory.
Overcoming Common Relationship-building Challenges: Mo provides solutions for the most frequent issues people face when trying to strengthen business connections.
Strategies for Sustained Success: Learn the actionable steps you can take today to start building more meaningful and productive relationships.
Balancing Personal Growth with Professional Development: Mo shares his philosophy on how helping others succeed can propel your own success.

Mo's insights are invaluable for anyone looking to enhance their influence and effectiveness in any business setting.

Elevate your relationship-building skills by grabbing a copy of "Give to Grow" available now at major book retailers. Learn from Mo Bunnell how to cultivate genuine connections that not only enhance your career but also enrich your personal life. Purchase here

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Welcome back to FUTUREPROOF.! In today's episode, we're hanging out with Barry Conchie and Sarah Dalton, the dynamic duo behind the eye-opening book, "The Five Talents That Really Matter." Barry, a renowned leadership guru and New York Times bestselling author, alongside his partner Sarah, takes us on a deep dive into the genetic makeup of great leaders. They're here to bust some big leadership myths and share killer insights from their extensive research.

What we discuss today:

Busting Leadership Myths: They tackle some common misconceptions about what leadership really entails.
Backed by Science: Discover how their rigorous Executive Leadership Assessment influenced their groundbreaking findings.
Unexpected Leader Traits: Barry and Sarah reveal some surprising traits of top-performing leaders.
Experience vs. Talent: They explain why more years on the job doesn't always mean better leadership skills.
Climbing the Wrong Ladder: How do ineffective leaders end up at the top, and what can we do about it?
Search Firms' Role: The impact of search firms in perpetuating poor leadership and how to break the cycle.
Overlooking the Strategists: Why strategic thinkers often get sidelined and how companies can better value these key players.

Join us as we decode what really makes leaders tick, with insights that might just change how you view the leadership ladder.

This episode of FUTUREPROOF. features Tamara Alesi, CEO of Mediaplus North America, who shares her profound insights on the intersection of creativity and technology in the media industry.

With over two decades of experience, Tamara discusses her journey through the ranks to leadership, highlighting pivotal moments that shaped her approach to media and marketing. Listen as we explore how Mediaplus leverages AI to enhance creativity, the importance of diversity in building successful campaigns, and the strategies that have led to innovative projects for global brands like Apple and L'Oréal.

Tamara also delves into the challenges and opportunities presented by new technologies, advocating for a balanced approach that incorporates data-driven insights without stifling creative freedom. Discover how Mediaplus is navigating the evolving landscape of advertising and what it means to foster a culture of creativity and inclusion in today’s fast-paced market.

In this compelling episode of FUTUREPROOF., Jeremy sits down with Libby Liu, CEO of Whistleblower Aid, to delve into the pivotal role of whistleblowers in maintaining transparency and accountability in both government and the private sector.

Libby shares insights into the challenges and risks faced by those who dare to speak out and the comprehensive support systems her organization has established to protect them. From discussing the digital age's impact on whistleblowing to exploring legal landscapes and potential reforms, this conversation not only highlights significant cases but also underscores the evolving nature of whistleblowing as a crucial facet of democratic societies.

In this enlightening episode of FUTUREPROOF., we dive deep with Zontee Hou, digital marketing consultant and author of "Data-Driven Personalization," into the nuances of creating highly personalized marketing experiences. Zontee brings her expertise from working with top brands and offers actionable insights into enhancing customer engagement through precise data usage and behavioral economics. Here’s what you’ll discover:

The Importance of Data in Marketing: Zontee explains why leveraging data effectively is now more critical than ever for businesses aiming to connect meaningfully with their audiences.
Understanding Personalization: From discussing how personalization shifts customer expectations to its significant impacts, Zontee provides a comprehensive view of effective marketing strategies.
Deep Dive into Customer Understanding: Learn how businesses can identify and maintain key customer segments to ensure marketing efforts resonate and convert.
Content Personalization Tactics: Zontee shares strategies for crafting content that feels personal, addressing the challenges of engaging diverse audiences.
Balancing Personalization and Privacy: A look at how companies can navigate the complex landscape of data privacy while still offering personalized experiences to their customers.

Through this conversation, Zontee Hou not only shares her rich knowledge but also inspires marketers to think differently about the power of data in crafting personal and impactful customer journeys.

In this exciting episode of FUTUREPROOF, Jeremy dives into the transformative world of pet healthcare with Mark Bordo, CEO and Co-Founder of Vetster. As pet ownership reaches unprecedented heights, Vetster is at the forefront of revolutionizing how we care for our beloved animals. This episode explores the challenges and innovations reshaping pet care in today's technology-driven world.

Key Takeaways:

Discover how Vetster is innovating the field of pet health by integrating telehealth solutions to ensure every pet gets the care they need, whenever they need it.
Understand the critical issues like veterinary shortages and the increasing demand for accessible care that Vetster aims to solve.
Learn about the significant legislative changes in states like Florida that are enhancing telemedicine's role in veterinary care.
Explore how Vetster uses data-driven technology to improve services for both pets and veterinarians.

This episode is a must-listen for pet owners, tech enthusiasts, and anyone interested in how innovation and technology are making a real-time impact on our lives and the lives of our pets.

Join us on for an enlightening conversation with Dr. Frederik Pferdt, Google’s first Chief Innovation Evangelist and the visionary behind the transformative book, What's Next is Now.

In this episode, we delve into the essential shifts needed to cultivate a future-ready mindstate, exploring the powers of radical optimism, curiosity, and empathy. Frederik shares invaluable insights on how to embrace change, navigate uncertainty, and turn every moment into an opportunity for personal and professional growth.

Discover how to prepare for future challenges not with fear, but with a proactive, positive outlook that turns potential disruptions into opportunities for innovation and advancement. Tune in to learn how you can start building the future you desire today, only on FUTUREPROOF.

Jeremy welcomes Matt Beane, a trailblazer in exploring the dynamic relationship between AI, robotics, and human labor. Beane, a seasoned researcher and the author of the new book "The Skill Code: How to Save Human Ability in an Age of Intelligent Machines," dives into the evolving roles of experts and novices amidst technological advancements.

The discussion revolves around the challenges and opportunities presented by AI and robotics in the workplace, emphasizing how these technologies can both disrupt traditional learning paths and offer new avenues for enhancing human capabilities.

Throughout the episode, Beane shares his unique insights on fostering a positive interaction between humans and machines, aiming to harness the potential of AI to enrich the workforce rather than diminish it.

Key topics include the preservation of human skills, the importance of the mentor-mentee dynamic in skill development, and practical strategies for integrating AI into daily work practices to boost productivity and skill acquisition.

In this gripping episode of FUTUREPROOF, host Jeremy dives deep with Chip Massey, an ex-FBI hostage negotiator, and Adele Gambardella, a seasoned crisis PR consultant. Together, they unravel the complex world of high-stakes negotiation and crisis management in their co-authored book, "CONVINCE ME: High-Stakes Negotiation Tactics to Get Results in Any Business Situation." From forensic listening to mastering the unstated narrative, they share invaluable insights into the psychology behind convincing others and navigating crisis scenarios with poise. Discover how these tactics can be applied not just in life-or-death situations but across various business contexts to enhance your persuasive powers and leadership effectiveness.

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In this captivating FUTUREPROOF. episode, Jeremy dives deep with legal scholars Naomi Cahn, June Carbone, and Nancy Levit, authors of Fair Shake: Women and the Fight to Build a Just Economy.

They discuss the systemic issues causing the stagnation of progress for women in the workforce, challenging old-fashioned sexism with a fresh perspective on workplace redesigns that inadvertently favor men.

The conversation covers a wide array of topics including corporate policies, the impact of gender roles on career advancement, and innovative legal and societal strategies to combat these ingrained inequities. Through engaging dialogue and powerful insights, this episode sheds light on the necessity for systemic change to achieve gender parity in the workplace.

Join us on FUTUREPROOF. as we dive deep with Dr. Alan Amling, a mastermind in supply chain transformation and digital disruption. From his early days loading packages to strategizing at the top tiers of UPS, Dr. Amling shares a wealth of insights on navigating the rapidly changing business landscape. We'll explore his latest book, "Organizational Velocity," and uncover how leading companies leap ahead by embracing innovation and agility. Discover the critical 'mind leaps' that can transform your business model and prepare you for the future. Whether you're a business leader or an aspiring entrepreneur, this episode is your guide to thriving in an era of unrelenting change. Tune in to learn how to not just survive but thrive in the fast-paced world of global commerce.

In this episode of FUTUREPROOF., we delve deep into the world of artificial intelligence with UN AI Advisor Neil Sahota. We explore the pressing threats that AI technologies pose to the integrity of upcoming elections, discussing tactics such as fake news, deepfake content, and the role of social media bots in amplifying divisive narratives. Neil provides insights on the psychological impacts of AI-driven propaganda on public trust and the critical role of media literacy in combating misinformation. Join us as we uncover the comprehensive measures governments should adopt to safeguard democratic processes in an era increasingly dominated by AI. Don’t miss this enlightening conversation on navigating the challenges of AI in the political sphere.

In this episode, host Jeremy Goldman explores the fascinating intersection of AI, education, and language learning with his guest Steve Toy, the CEO of Memrise - a renowned language learning app. Toy, who has an extensive background in technology, mobile apps, and artificial intelligence, shares his insights on the transformative power AI can have in enhancing how we acquire new languages.

He explains how AI enables personalized learning experiences by tailoring content to individual interests, filtering multimedia resources based on one's vocabulary level, and facilitating conversational practice through AI-powered chatbots. These capabilities essentially allow learners to replicate the immersive experience of being in the native country. Toy also highlights AI's role in providing valuable tools like pronunciation feedback and vocabulary games to cement learning.

While acknowledging the ethical considerations around ensuring equitable access to AI across different markets to prevent widening socioeconomic gaps, Toy remains optimistic that freemium models can help democratize access to some extent. Beyond the practical applications, he emphasizes the broader cognitive, social, and career benefits of becoming multilingual. Most importantly, Toy believes learning languages fosters cross-cultural understanding - something vitally needed in today's increasingly divisive world. His perspective offers an inspiring vision for AI's potential to transform not just language acquisition but also cross-cultural connections.

In this episode of FUTUREPROOF, we're diving into the fast-paced world of financial technology with Atif Siddiqi, founder and CEO of Branch. The company strives to revolutionize payment methods by offering instant, digital solutions that enhance worker satisfaction and promote financial wellness. Atif discusses how Branch aligns with emerging payment technologies like FedNow and addresses the demand for quicker access to earnings, especially within the gig economy. We explore the challenges of traditional payment systems, Branch's innovative strategies for improving user experience, and the regulatory landscape affecting fintech. Join us for a deep dive into the future of payments and financial health.

In this episode, we dive deep with Alison Taylor, a clinical associate professor at NYU Stern, focusing on the organizational aspects of corporate responsibility and ethics. Drawing on her vast experience and research, Alison's new book "Higher Ground" explores the ethical quandaries businesses confront in today's complex world. We'll unpack how leaders can prioritize ethical commitments amidst diverse challenges, the pitfalls of transparency, the systemic issues beyond the 'bad apples' myth, and the real substance of corporate 'purpose.' Join us as we explore how to navigate business ethics in a rapidly evolving landscape, seeking a path to genuine integrity and accountability.

In this episode, we dive deep with Nick Romeo into the heart of economic myths and the visionary paths toward a just and sustainable economy. Drawing on his extensive reporting, Romeo challenges long-held beliefs, showcasing innovative global efforts that redefine success beyond profit. From purpose trusts like Patagonia to Oslo's climate initiatives, he illuminates a future where economies serve all, not just the few. Join us for a riveting journey into "The Alternative" - where moral action shapes our collective destiny.

In this enlightening episode, we delve into the complexities of human decision-making with Professor Dan Ariely, a leading figure in psychology and behavioral economics at Duke University. Through a series of probing questions, we explore the "Funnel of Misbelief" framework, the impact of stress on misbelief, and the influence of social cohesion on our beliefs. Ariely offers insights into the challenges posed by advanced AI in spreading misinformation, and outlines societal measures for rebuilding trust. We also discuss the pivotal role of education and discourse in enhancing critical thinking and resilience against misinformation, drawing from Ariely's extensive research and personal experiences.

Welcome to today’s episode of FUTUREPROOF. where we dive into the fascinating intersection of technology, food, and health with our esteemed guest, Raina Kumra. Raina is a beacon of innovation and dedication, with a career spanning over two decades in the tech industry, now turned start-up founder and food activist. Her mission? To revolutionize our access to nutrient-dense food and enhance health at a global scale.

After witnessing firsthand the transformative power of Ayurvedic practices on her family's health during the pandemic, Raina embarked on a new journey beyond the realms of Big Tech and Big Pharma, into the heart of Big Food. Named one of Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business, Raina's storied career has seen her making waves from digital advertising with giants like Nike and Coke, to serving as an innovation diplomat at the U.S. Department of State, and co-founding a tech start-up.

Today, she brings her wealth of experience, creativity, and passion to Spicewell, aiming to tackle nutrient deficiencies head-on. In this episode, we’ll explore Raina’s unique approach to blending her tech savviness with food activism, the hurdles she’s navigated in the food industry, the impact of celebrity endorsements on Spicewell, and her vision for the future of functional foods. Join us as Raina Kumra shares her insights, experiences, and the lessons learned on her journey to making healthier eating accessible to all.

We're thrilled to host Kence Anderson, a trailblazer at the forefront of autonomous AI in the industrial sector. Kence brings a wealth of experience from his tenure as the director of autonomous AI adoption at Microsoft to his current role as CEO of Composabl, where he's redefining the landscape of intelligent automation with a platform designed to democratize the creation of autonomous agents. With a remarkable track record of designing over 150 autonomous decision-making AI systems for large enterprises, Kence has mastered the art of bridging the gap between cutting-edge AI technology and practical industrial application.

In this episode, Kence will unpack the essentials of effective collaboration between AI technologists and industrial stakeholders, share the ambitions behind his 'Introduction to Industrial AI' course, and provide a firsthand look at how autonomous AI can revolutionize industries by optimizing processes in real-time. We'll delve into the synergy of AI for Perception and Action in enhancing automation, tackle the challenges of deploying AI-powered systems, and explore the transformative potential of machine teaching. Plus, Kence will highlight the game-changing advantages of Composabl's no-code platform, making the power of AI accessible to all, regardless of their technical background.

Join us as we navigate the future of industrial automation with Kence Anderson, discovering how today's AI innovations are paving the way for a smarter, more efficient world.

Today, we dive into a conversation with award-winning science writer Eve Herold, discussing her latest book, "ROBOTS AND THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEM: Holding on to Our Humanity in an Age of Social Robots." This book, hailed by Publishers Weekly as a captivating and clear-eyed analysis of androids’ shortcomings, explores the transformative role of socially interactive robots in every aspect of modern life, from friendship and work to love and warfare.

In today’s episode, we unravel the complex web of human-robot interactions. Eve sheds light on her inspiration behind the book and shares surprising discoveries about our evolving relationship with robots. We delve into the ethical implications of robots capable of reading and reacting to human emotions, the potential of AI and robotics in therapeutic settings, and the future of work and employment in a world increasingly reliant on automation.

Join us as we navigate these uncharted waters, examining how robots might change human culture and address issues of loneliness, and even ponder the possibility of robots developing psychopathic personalities. Prepare to be challenged and inspired as we discuss whether our future cohabitants will enhance or endanger our humanity.

Welcome to this episode of FUTUREPROOF, where we delve into the intricate world of AI and data quality with Curtis G. Northcutt, the visionary CEO and Co-Founder of Cleanlab. With a prestigious background, including a PhD in Computer Science from MIT and impactful roles at Google, Meta, and Oculus, Curtis is at the forefront of AI innovation.

Today, he'll share insights from his journey, discussing the critical issue of data hallucinations in AI and their profound industry implications. We'll explore the challenges of ensuring data accuracy, particularly in large language models, and the ripple effects on sectors like healthcare, finance, and legal. Curtis will also shed light on the roles of regulatory bodies, collaborative industry efforts, and the ethical landscape of AI deployment in sensitive areas. Finally, we'll look ahead to how AI and machine learning technologies are evolving to tackle data quality and hallucinations. Prepare to be enlightened by the expertise of a leader who is defining the future of AI. Let's dive in!

Welcome to another FUTUREPROOF, the podcast where we dive into how to succeed in the world of tomorrow. Today, we're thrilled to have Kate Bravery, a trailblazing organizational psychologist and one of the co-authors of the enlightening new book, "WORK DIFFERENT: 10 Truths for Winning in the People Age." Kate brings her global experience from China to the UK and her expertise from Mercer, the leading people strategies firm, to discuss sustainable people management in the post-pandemic era.

In this book, they delve into transforming employees into contributors, cultivating empathy-driven cultures, and leveraging AI for workplace equity. Drawing on her collaboration with the World Economic Forum and her insight into workforce trends, Kate shares valuable lessons on navigating staffing and management challenges in these transformative times. Stay tuned as we explore the future of work with Kate Bravery, where every insight promises a step towards a more resilient and fulfilling workplace—let’s jump right in.

Today I’m thrilled to bring Alan Eagle to you to discuss his new book, Learned Excellence, with Eric Potterat. If you don’t know Alan, he’s Eagle is an author and executive communications consultant, helping leaders and companies shape and tell their stories. He spent 16 years at Google, partnering with executives to communicate the company’s story to clients, partners, employees, and the public. He is the co-author of the books How Google Works and Trillion Dollar Coach, and the author, all by himself, of seven letters-to-the-editor published in Sports Illustrated. He has never won the New Yorker Caption Contest.

To give you a little tease of the new book, on shelves now, we discuss why we care so much about what other people think, the 10 techniques we can use to handle stress and achieve the excellence we crave, why balance is so critical to prevent burnout, and more. So without further ado, let’s jump right in!

Welcome to another FUTUREPROOF, the podcast where we dive into how to succeed in the world of tomorrow. And if there’s one thing we learned from 2023, it’s that the intersection of technology and ethics is going to be critical to that world in 2024.

In today's episode, we're joined by Dr. Nick Mattei, a distinguished Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Tulane University and an expert in the intersection of AI, Big Data, and ethics. With a background that includes time with the IBM TJ Watson Research Laboratory, Nick brings a unique perspective on how AI and advanced technology are shaping our society. As AI regulation discussions unfold on Capitol Hill, his insights into the ethical implications of these technologies are more relevant than ever. We'll explore the challenges of managing massive data, balancing personalized marketing with ethical standards, and the importance of transparency and consumer trust in the age of AI. Get ready for an enlightening conversation with Dr. Nick Mattei, a visionary in the AI academic community, who is guiding us through the complex yet fascinating world of AI and ethics.

Welcome to another FUTUREPROOF, the podcast where we dive into how to succeed in the world of tomorrow. And frankly, I don’t think any of us can succeed in that world if we don’t get a firm grasp on the topic of sustainability.

Today, we're delighted to have Michael Bayr, Head of Communications at Ucon Acrobatics, a trailblazer in sustainable fashion. With a career that started with co-founding Be-Mag, the oldest roller skating magazine, Michael has been at the forefront of design and cultural trends for over two decades. At Ucon Acrobatics, he's pioneering sustainable practices in the production of bags and backpacks, transforming the industry with a commitment to eco-friendly materials and circular economy principles. Join us as we delve into how Ucon Acrobatics is revolutionizing sustainability in fashion, the challenges of sustainable production, and the future of eco-conscious design. Get ready for an insightful conversation with Michael Bayr, a leader reshaping the way we think about fashion and sustainability.

InDrive, a ride-hailing app where passengers name their price and drivers respond, recently launched in Miami. Popular in Latin America and Asia, InDrive is now entering markets like Africa and the U.S., offering no commission to drivers until January 2024 and a minimum $10 fare in Miami. The app, tackling challenges like long wait times, focuses on markets with limited mobility and prioritizes sustainable growth.

Today, we're joined by Adam Warner, Operations Strategy Director at InDrive. Adam, who moved from Lyft to InDrive, advocates for fair wages and surge-free fares. He's dedicated to making ride-hailing equitable for everyone.

Adam will discuss InDrive's innovative pricing model, its effects on the rideshare market, gig worker protections, and AI's role in the gig economy. We'll also cover the changing regulations affecting drivers and riders worldwide.

Join us for a conversation with Adam about revolutionizing gig work, the technology reshaping rideshare, and its worldwide implications. This talk is crucial for those interested in transportation's future.

In today’s episode, we delve deep into the transformative role of digital technologies in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. With the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) highlighting that over two-thirds of these goals can benefit directly from digital advancements, our discussion focuses on the urgency and methods to accelerate solutions for global challenges. It’s important to explore how businesses can harness technologies like AI, advanced materials, and 3D printing not just for growth, but for the betterment of our planet and its inhabitants.

Joining us to navigate this complex yet fascinating terrain is Mar-cha Hoek, a distinguished figure in the realm of sustainable business and capital. Marga, a three-time CEO, Chair, and Board Member, has been a global voice for the G20 and is celebrated for her visionary, purpose-driven leadership. Her work has earned her numerous accolades, including being recognized by Thinkers50 for her global management thinking. As the author of influential books like "New Economy Business," and "The Trillion Dollar Shift," and now her latest, "Tech for Good," she has been a trailblazer in marrying technology with sustainability.

In our conversation with Marga, we'll address some critical questions. How do we define the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and why is it pivotal in addressing today's societal challenges? What are some examples where AI, like generative AI, has driven positive change? We'll also discuss the potential of advanced materials in the fight against climate change, the integration of 4IR technologies in business for sustainable efficiency, and the role of investors in advocating for 'Tech for Good' practices. Additionally, Marga will share her insights on how new technologies can foster a more diverse and inclusive job market and the intriguing use of 3D printing in coral reef restoration.

Alain Sylvain was a really incredible die guy who is the founder and CEO of Sylvain, a strategy and design company headquartered here in New York City he also played a key role in the number of organizations including his alma mater Vassar College and kindred and networking organization for DEI and E.S.G. professionals and he also serves on New York City's mayor's creative council. He leaves behind three children and his wife after passing away suddenly at age 47 last week and he had so much to say that I really felt this was a good opportunity to share some of it with you.

And it's almost wrong of me to say that he had so much to say in the past tense because the reality is he still has quite a lot to say that we can learn from about brand purpose and about how companies don't have to choose between doing good and being profitable. So I wanted to bring one of my past conversations with him from this podcast back to you guys in honor of him.

From his family: One way to help honor and build on the community of love that Alain created is to direct donations to Anseye Pou Haiti and the Haitian Education and Leadership Program.

Welcome back to another scintillating FUTUREPROOF conversation! Our guest this week is with Babak Pahlavan, an incredible mind in the world of technology and AI. A product thinker and a seasoned entrepreneur who sold his startup CleverSense to Google in 2011, then spent more than a decade with the company, Babak brings a wealth of experience to his new venture, Ninja Tech, which is looking to revolutionize the AI space.

In this interview, Babak shares his insightful perspectives on the evolving roles of AI as co-pilots and autopilots in our lives, tackling both the technical intricacies and the broader impacts on society. His vision for a future where AI enhances human capabilities is not just fascinating—it's a glimpse into a world where technology and empathy intersect. So, buckle up and get ready for a thought-provoking ride into the future, starting right now.

In a world where GenAI's influence is inescapable, from Hollywood disruptions to the talk of the advertising industry, how is it truly shaping the media business? Today on FUTUREPROOF. we're diving deep with Alex Persky-Stern, CEO of the trailblazing startup Waymark. They're not just talking about GenAI; they're revolutionizing commercial video production with it.

After creating a sensational short feature with DALL-E generated images alone, Waymark could be looked at as a beacon of GenAI's potential. But what truly ignited the birth of Waymark? Alex will unpack that story for us. We'll also venture into the often debated realm of copyright infringement in GenAI and explore its future implications. How will GenAI transform creative job roles, and what does it mean for the digital ad spend? Comparing the might of GenAI to the revolutionary power of the internet — Alex shares his insights. As we touch upon the synergy between AI and human creativity, be prepared for an episode brimming with revelations and forward-thinking perspectives.

Today, we're diving deep into a topic that touches every corner of our digital lives: technology overload. Our special guest, Mat Ellis, CEO of Sixty AI and seasoned entrepreneur, is here to unravel the startling findings of a recent survey, revealing the alarming impact of our constant connectivity. With over 85% feeling overwhelmed by pings and alerts, and a staggering majority lamenting the blurred lines between work and personal time, we're in the midst of a digital crisis.

But there's hope. Mat, with his rich background ranging from Frito-Lay to Goldman Sachs, and then diving into the world of startups, is championing a movement to redefine our relationship with technology. As the founder of Cloudability and now leading Sixty AI's mission to 'Take Back Your Time,' he's on the frontline of creating tools that prioritize our mental well-being in a world of ceaseless digital chatter. We'll explore the groundbreaking AI behind Sixty AI, the vision for a balanced digital future, and the urgent call for a digital detox. Prepare for a conversation that's not just about technology, but about reclaiming our time, our sanity, and our human connections.

Have you ever wondered why, in a world where we can speak three times faster than we type, we're still relying on outdated buttons and touchscreens? Today, we're diving deep into the revolutionary world of voice technology with none other than Tobias Dengel, the author of 'The Sound of the Future: The Coming Age of Voice Technology,' on shelves now. As the President of WillowTree, a digital experience developer recently acquired for $1.3 billion, he's shaped digital strategies for global giants like T-Mobile, HBO, and Mastercard.

We're about to uncover the potential of voice tech way past early attempts like Siri and Alexa, understand its transformative power across industries, and discover the profound shifts awaiting the financial sector and beyond. Plus, we'll touch on the key challenges, privacy concerns, and the tantalizing future of this groundbreaking technology. Stay tuned for an enlightening conversation, starting right now:

Catalina Daniels and James Sherman are startup company founders, angel investors, and co-authors of SMART STARTUPS: What Every Entrepreneur Needs To Know—Advice from 18 Harvard Business School Founders, on shelves today, October 10th! Which is my birthday, so feel free to leave FUTUREPROOF. A review on Apple Podcasts in my honor, and thanks in advance!

Anyhow, I really enjoyed SMART STARTUPS since it provides unconventional advice for entrepreneurs based on the experiences of 18 companies founded by Harvard Business School graduates—including unicorns like Rent The Runway, Gilt Groupe, and more.

Daniels and Sherman studied entrepreneurship together at Harvard Business School. Years later, their experiences as founders were drastically different from what they learned at HBS. There was so much they learned the hard way, that they wish they wished they had known beforehand. And as angel investors and mentors to founders, they’ve seen many promising startups fail due to unexpected pitfalls—some of which we’re going to discuss right now, so let’s jump right in!

W. Russell Neuman is Professor of Media Technology at New York University. A founding faculty of the MIT Media Laboratory, he served as Senior Policy Analyst in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. His recent books include The Digital Difference: Media Technology and the Theory of Communication Effects

In his new book EVOLUTIONARY INTELLIGENCE: How Technology Will Make Us Smarter (MIT Press; September 26, 2023), Neuman offers a surprisingly positive vision in which computational intelligence compensates for the well-recognized limits of human judgment, improves decision making, and increases our agency. Drawing on his vast experience, Neuman makes a convincing case about how human intelligence will coevolve with digital technology to revolutionize how we think and behave.

In today's episode, we explore the relationship between humans and artificial intelligence. While many view AI with suspicion, Neuman offers a hopeful perspective. He believes that just as the wheel enhanced mobility, the rise of AI in everyday devices will revolutionize our decision-making. Neuman suggests that by embracing AI's evolutionary intelligence, we can better adapt to challenges and ensure our long-term survival. Join us as we delve into this optimistic view on AI's role in our future.

In Mid-July, I heard about how a conversational AI and metaverse company, MeetKai, was partnering with a semiconductor integration startup, Silicon Box, to unveil a digital twin of Silicon Box's new $2 billion semiconductor packaging facility in Singapore. This virtual replication in the metaverse’s goal was to help revolutionize chip manufacturing by addressing major bottlenecks, while also offering an innovative avenue for business growth, talent development, and professional training. And this got me thinking about all of the potential, exciting uses for VR and/or the metaverse in the future—not necessarily for marketing to consumers, but for plenty of other business applications just like this one.

To that end, I tracked down James Kaplan, the co-founder and CEO of MeetKai for a discussion.

In this episode, we discuss the concept of digital twins, how they might help us in the future, what role VR acceptance might help us develop interesting new use cases for the metaverse in coming years, and whether or not humans will care if they’re talking to a fellow human or an AI in the future. James is a sharp guy so I think you’ll really enjoy this one, so let’s jump right in!

While I've enjoyed watching Sanjay Gupta over the years on CNN, I have to say, I've learned just as much from his brother Suneel. He's a multifaceted entrepreneur, teacher, and researcher known for his profound expertise in human behavior, energy, and motivation.

The founding CEO of RISE, a healthcare startup now owned by Amazon, Gupta notably collaborated with former First Lady Michelle Obama to extend affordable health coaching to those in need. As a celebrated author, he penned the bestselling book "Backable", narrating his transformative journey from setbacks to success. His latest offering, "Everyday Dharma", released on September 5, 2023, masterfully interweaves personal anecdotes, history, science, and both Eastern and Western philosophies to guide readers towards achieving joy and success in every facet of life. Join us as we delve into the insights and stories of this captivating storyteller.

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A lot of what this show talks about broadly falls under the umbrella of “what can go wrong” with our shared future—and what we can do about it. And there are a lot of GREAT things about the internet—and quite a few shady, more than unfortunate things right below the surface, including child predators and child sex abuse material, or CSAM.

Today I’m speaking with Julie Cordua, the CEO and Executive Director of Thorn, an organization co-founded with Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore, focused on leveraging technology to combat child sexual abuse online—and Dr. Rebecca Portnoff, Thorn’s Director of Data Science.

In today's interview, we'll delve into the alarming intersection of AI technology and child exploitation: exploring the rise of AI-generated abusive content, the tactics of modern child predators harnessing AI tools, the prevailing threat overshadowing future AI risks, and the evolving stance of AI companies towards child safety since the inception of social media platforms. Join us as we unpack these pressing issues.

Extreme heat is the number one weather-related cause of death in the USA. That’s the bad news. But the good news is we have a solution to combat it: Urban tree cover is one of the most effective ways cities can cool heat islands and save lives. The problem: tree coverage is not equitable across urban neighborhoods in the US.

That’s where the Tree Equity Alliance — a new coalition of conservation nonprofits American Forests, GreenLatinos, Groundwork USA, and One Tree Planted — comes in. It will work to advance equitable urban tree cover, AKA “Tree Equity.” New data from American Forests now shows:

Lower-income neighborhoods have 36% less tree cover and are 6 degrees warmer than wealthier neighborhoods during the hottest summer months
Communities of color tend to have 45% less urban canopy and are 9 degrees warmer during that same timeframe.

This disparity has lasting effects on the health and economic opportunity in low-income neighborhoods. By pooling funding and resources together, the Tree Equity Alliance aims to achieve Tree Equity in 100 U.S. cities by 2030.

To learn more about this initiative and why advocating for adequate urban tree cover in underrepresented communities is essential to fight both climate change and racial justice, I sat down with American Forests’ tree equity lead, Benita Hussain. Prior to joining American Forests, Hussain was the director of the 10 Minute Walk, a national campaign led by The Trust for Public Land which was named as a 2020 Fast Company World Changing Idea under her leadership. Hussain was an environmental policy advisor to Mayor Mike Bloomberg and to late-Boston Mayor Thomas Menino. She and her writing have been featured in The New York Times, and The Hill, among other outlets, and she sits on multiple environmental and conservation boards.

This is part two of our conversation with Cory Doctorow, a name synonymous with tech activism, digital rights, and the future of the internet—so if you haven’t heard Part I yet, make sure to go check that out first!

In the second part of our conversation, we'll be unpacking the shifting tide of antitrust regulations, the evolving landscape of tech monopolies, and the very essence of what it means to have digital self-determination in today's age. Plus, a sneak peek into Cory's upcoming book, 'The Internet Con: How to Seize the Means of Computation.' So, whether you're a tech enthusiast, an entrepreneur, or just curious about the future of the digital world, this episode promises insights that will both challenge and enlighten. Buckle up, it's going to be a thrilling ride! Let's dive in.

So today we're diving deep into the digital realm with none other than Cory Doctorow. For those unfamiliar, Cory is a digital rights activist, a prolific novelist with over 20 books under his belt, and a key voice in the discourse around technology, monopolies, and the future of the internet. He's been at the forefront of the digital rights movement for two decades, co-created the Boing Boing blog, and has been a staunch advocate for a free and open internet.

In our conversation, we'll explore the intricacies of platform growth, the economics behind tech monopolies, and the challenges of the modern digital landscape. Cory offers a unique perspective on the transformation of the internet, from its golden age to what he terms the "enshittification" of the web. We'll also delve into the power dynamics between tech giants, the role of antitrust laws, and the implications for everyday users like you and me.

So, whether you're a tech enthusiast, an aspiring digital rights activist, or just curious about the future of the internet, this episode promises to be both enlightening and thought-provoking.

A few weeks ago we sat down with Adam Alter, renowned Professor of Marketing at New York University’s Stern School of Business and New York Times bestselling author. Adam is a thought-leader in the field of judgment, decision-making, and social psychology, with a keen interest in how subtle environmental cues impact our cognition and behavior. His latest book, released this past May, is Anatomy of a Breakthrough: How to Get Unstuck When It Matters Most.

We ran out of time but I had one more question to ask him—so we got him back on to make a bonus episode which we'll run this week.

If you missed the original episode, including our full conversation, you can catch it here!

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So today we’re going to be hearing from Tom Kemp, a prominent tech policy advisor and CEO based in Silicon Valley. He's set to release his compelling book, "Containing Big Tech: How to Protect Our Civil Rights, Economy, and Democracy," which masterfully intertwines the dangers posed by the Big Tech industry. From the alarming overcollection and weaponization of our sensitive data to the problematic use of AI in processing and acting upon our information, Tom leaves no stone unturned in shedding light on the critical issues arising from Big Tech's dominant market position.

Having played an instrumental role as a technology policy advisor for political campaigns and advocacy groups, Tom Kemp was at the forefront of promoting the passage of the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) and co-authoring bills like the California Delete Act of 2023. His expertise in cybersecurity and privacy has garnered widespread recognition, making him a sought-after interviewee on these subjects.

During our interview, we delved into the inspiration behind his book, his unique perspective influenced by years of experience in Silicon Valley, and the evolution of the digital surveillance-based business model that has become so pervasive. Kemp also illuminated the shadowy world of data brokers and their significant impact on privacy concerns.

But it's not just about highlighting problems; Kemp offers actionable solutions. He provided key recommendations from his book to combat the challenges posed by Big Tech and discussed the essential role individuals can play in containing Big Tech's excesses in their everyday lives.

Overall, I think you’ll gain valuable insights into the pressing challenges posed by Big Tech and some ways forward that just might safeguard our rights and democracy, which seems like a good thing to do, no? So let’s jump right in!

Back in May, Extreme Networks one of the top companies in the cloud networking space, announced that Living Tomorrow Innovation Campus, an experimental lab located just outside of Brussels, selected Extreme as its network connectivity partner to build, test and validate cutting-edge, technology-driven experiences and products that are likely to become widely adopted by the year 2030.

The new Campus will become the largest technological showcase to date, with a 10,000-square-meter demo center, a large space that includes a conference center and 96 hotel rooms outfitted with smart technology. Living Tomorrow’s IT team will also rely on Extreme’s solutions to leverage AI to automate tasks related to daily network maintenance and detect anomalies in network activity.

One of the things that this show keeps coming back to is the idea that less sexy topics like infrastructure are actually majorly impactful when it comes to developing the world we’ll inhabit tomorrow—and I think there are many people listening right now that find infrastructure and connectivity sexy, but there are a lot of listeners who may not. So, this episode’s for you guys.

Today, we use the Living Tomorrow Innovation Campus project as an entry point for a discussion with Markus Nispel, Extreme’s CTO for EMEA and Wes Durow, Extreme’s CMO, for a discussion about connectivity, AI, innovation, and much more—and I think you’ll get quite a bit out of this, even if you’re not a 10 out of 10 on the technical scale. So let’s jump right in!

🎙️ Welcome to another riveting episode where we sit down with some of the most fascinating minds shaping the future. Today, we're thrilled to have with us Adam Alter, renowned Professor of Marketing at New York University’s Stern School of Business and New York Times bestselling author. Adam is a thought-leader in the field of judgment, decision-making, and social psychology, with a keen interest in how subtle environmental cues impact our cognition and behavior. His latest book, released this past May, is Anatomy of a Breakthrough: How to Get Unstuck When It Matters Most.

In this episode, we're giving you a taste of the book. We dive deep into Adam's insights on the human tendency to quit just before breakthroughs, turning threats into challenges, and the evolving dynamics of borrowing in the realm of innovation. We'll also explore the paradox of rigidity in the creative process, the significance of age and experience, and the invaluable role of diversity and nonredundancy in sparking breakthroughs.

As we uncover these intriguing topics, we'll also grapple with the question of whether being 'stuck' is a matter of fate or just a phase. This conversation is guaranteed to shift your perspective and arm you with strategies to leverage in the face of your own challenges.

So, whether you're an executive in the tech industry, a forward-thinking innovator, or someone intrigued by the psychological intricacies of success, this episode promises a wealth of knowledge. Prepare to be inspired as we tap into the brilliant mind of Adam Alter. 🎧 Let's get started!

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Tobias Rose-Stockwell is a writer, designer, and technologist who is known for his work in various fields. His writing and research have been featured in numerous prestigious outlets, including The Atlantic, WIRED, NPR, The BBC, and CNN. Rose-Stockwell's work often addresses issues related to technology and media. His research has been used in implementing key interventions to reduce toxicity and polarization within leading tech platforms.

He is also the author of the book "Outrage Machine," the new book which delves into the influence of social media on news, discourse, and democracy.

Social media changes introduced in the past decade unintentionally created an "Outrage Machine" that has reshaped society and politics, argues Tobias Rose-Stockwell. His book "Outrage Machine" illustrates how social media exploits our instincts and psychological vulnerabilities, often being used by authoritarians and threatening democratic norms. Despite detailing the problem, the book also offers solutions, placing social media within a historical context of media technology disrupting our understanding of the world, while providing a hopeful outlook.

We’re thrilled to welcome Brian Evergreen, a thought-leader and visionary in the realm of technological transformation and human-centered innovation.

He’s the former head of Global Head of Autonomous AI Co-Innovation at Microsoft, advisor to Fortune 500 execs on AI strategy, and now the author of Autonomous Transformation: Creating a More Human Future in the Era of Artificial Intelligence, which hits shelves this August and is available for pre-order now.

We discuss how autonomous transformation can help create a more human centered approach in the workplace, whether or not technology is the hero or villain in this era of transformation, some of the potential societal challenges that might arise as a result of widespread Autonomous Transformation, how organizations can ensure that their implementation of Autonomous Transformation technologies doesn’t compromise ethics or human values, and much more.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!

Pre-order Brian's book: https://www.amazon.com/Autonomous-Transformation-Creating-Artificial-Intelligence/dp/1119985293

I feel like we all want to be able to predict where things are going, right? It’s such a helpful skill, irrespective of what type of role you’re in. But it’s especially important at a time of significant change—so I figured it was time to have a show about that very topic.

What makes a good analyst and how can one get better at determining what the future looks like? To address that critical topic, I wanted to turn to Andrew Lipsman. He’s a Principal Analyst (and colleague of mine) at Insider Intelligence, focusing on retail and ecommerce. He was previously SVP of Marketing & Insights at comScore, covering multiple industries and overseeing the company’s global marketing insights and thought leadership initiatives. He’s also been frequently quoted by leading news organizations like the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Advertising Age, CNN, Fortune, Reuters and Bloomberg.

I speak to Andrew today about why it helps to develop frameworks and models when making predictions, how an analyst calibrates, why the three most important variables in predictions often hold about 80% of the predictive value, why some forecasters gravitate towards “sexy” storylines that might not actually be that accurate, and how futurists and prognosticators can bealance between being right vs. being effective.

Many of us didn't think all that much about air quality until the pandemic hit. And then post-pandemic, we wanted to go back to not thinking about air quality anymore. But then last week, on account of the Canadian wildfires, the air quality got so awful in New York, it made Jeremy realize how there’s no getting around it: the air we breathe is inexorably tied to our health.

To learn more about that subject, we wanted to turn to Tyler Smith. He’s Vice President, Healthy Buildings at Johnson Controls, a world leader in smart buildings. Tyler has spent over 18 years with Johnson Controls in various roles, making him just the person to speak to about this important topic.

We talk to Tyler about the concept of Healthy Buildings and why they’re so important for sustainability, how having good air quality inside a building actually impacts the well being and productivity of people using them, and how sensors might actually allow us to detect the next pandemic before it happens. we learned a lot and are sure you will too, so let’s jump right in!

In this episode, we unravel the insanely complex world of management with the help of David Dodson, a renowned educator at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business, a serial entrepreneur, and a board member in over 40 public and private companies. David's real-world experience culminates in his highly anticipated book, The Manager's Handbook, which serves as the centerpiece of our discussion today.

Dive into this enlightening conversation where David shares the inspiration behind his new book, revealing his belief that anyone can become a great leader with the right tools and mindset. He distills his decades of wisdom into five straightforward steps to building a team, staying focused, making better decisions, and crushing competition—a sneak peek into the transformative guidance his book offers.

Listen as David recounts his own on-the-job leadership learning experiences, shedding light on the importance of effective delegation and how it can empower teams. He also presents invaluable strategies for managing underperforming employees, a common but tricky challenge for many managers.

As we delve further, David offers insights into hiring the right people for a team, emphasizing the crucial factors to consider during the hiring process. Lastly, he introduces the concept of quality as a competitive weapon, an approach that can differentiate organizations in today's competitive marketplace.

Whether you're a seasoned manager or a budding entrepreneur, this episode with David Dodson will equip you with the tools to thrive in the complex world of management. So, tune in and prepare to level up your leadership game.

Jeremy's been been fascinated by the zeitgeist for as long as he can can remember. Some people are dismissive of the zeitgeist, but others think it can say a good deal about where we’re going as a society. To learn more about that, we knew just who to turn to.

Taylor Lorenz is a columnist at The Washington Post covering technology and online culture. In fact, she’s probably one of the leading authorities on internet culture. Before joining The Post, she was a technology reporter for the New York Times' business section.

Her reporting is serious yet entertaining and illuminates deep truths about ourselves and the lives we create online. In her debut book coming out later this year, Extremely Online, she reveals how online influence came to upend the world, demolishing traditional barriers and creating whole new sectors of the economy.

Extremely Online is the inside, untold story of what we have done to the internet, and what it has done to us—and I’m excited to give you a sneak peek about what you can expect when you place your preorder, and maybe a few tangents along the way.

It seems like the world of social media keeps on evolving—and the business of social media has been changing quite a bit over the last few years. To discuss that, I wanted to turn to Jasmine Enberg. She’s a principal analyst covering social media at Insider Intelligence, the leading research, data and insights provider I happen to work at when I’m not bringing you this very podcast.

On this episode, we unravel the complexities around TikTok, its bans outside the US and at the state level, its influence on young users, and the potential xenophobia in the discourse surrounding it.

We also discuss the impact of Linda Yaccarino's appointment as Twitter's new CEO, and explore the future of social media, and how generative AI could play a major part. So, join us for this intriguing conversation——I think you’ll enjoy it quite a bit in the process.

In this thought-provoking episode, we dive into the future of technology and its impact on our lives with Sara M. Watson, a renowned tech critic, analyst, and former fellow at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University. With a wealth of experience covering data, privacy, tech policy, and responsible development, Sara brings a unique perspective to the conversation.

We discuss Sara's radically optimistic vision for the year 2037, a future where humans have more agency, autonomy, and control over their lives. Sara shares her thoughts on the role of agency interfaces, the importance of trust, and the need for a dialogic relationship with technology. We explore how society's relationship with technology must change as we continue to embrace automation, AI, and other emerging tech.

Sara also emphasizes the importance of prioritizing human agency without slowing down our adoption of new technology. By asking ourselves crucial questions and adopting a constructive tech criticism approach, we can ensure a future where everyone is an active participant.

Finally, we discuss how companies can support this radically optimistic vision for the future by prioritizing agency in their law, code, market, and norms. Tune in to this insightful conversation to learn more about the exciting possibilities that lie ahead in our relationship with technology.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!

🎙️ We just had an amazing conversation with Sami Shalabi, Founder and COO of Outcomes4Me, on the show.

Sami is a true visionary in the healthcare technology space, with a background that includes co-founding and leading Google Play Newsstand and Google News to over a billion users.

Outcomes4Me, an AI-driven patient empowerment platform, helps cancer patients take a proactive approach to their care by providing personalized, evidence-based treatment options and information.

In our interview, we:

Delve into Sami's passion for technology, sparked by witnessing an MIT robotics competition on TV.
Cover the importance of inspiring today's children to become problem solvers of tomorrow.
Discuss Outcomes4Me's State of Patient Empowerment Report, which highlighted the current landscape of cancer treatment.
Talk about how humans are increasingly embracing technology to improve their health outcomes.

Don't miss this compelling interview with a trailblazer in healthcare technology! 🚀 #HealthTech #PatientEmpowerment #Outcomes4Me

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!

It seems like the broader economic climate is commoditizing each and every last one of us. It’s scary, isn’t it? Feeling like we’re moving into a world where everyone is interchangeable?

Not so fast. There’s a reason people buy iPhones instead of other smart phones, and they’re willing to pay a premium to do so. Brands matter. So do personal brands. It’s a topic near and dear enough to me that I devoted my 2nd book, Getting to Like, to it. But a far greater expert on this topic, I’d say, is Aliza Licht.

Aliza is an award-winning marketer, bestselling author, podcaster, personal branding expert, and the founder of LEAVE YOUR MARK, a multimedia brand and consultancy. She was named one of "America's Next Top Mentors" by The New York Times and Business Insider's "Top 20 Most Innovative Career Coaches." As a social media pioneer and one of the first fashion influencers, Licht created and was the voice of the anonymous social media phenomenon DKNY PR GIRL, which I covered in my first book, Going Social, a decade ago.

Aliza’s new book, On Brand: Shape Your Narrative. Share Your Vision. Shift Their Perception is a comprehensive roadmap to building your personal brand—we give you a taste of it today, and encourage you all to pick it up.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!

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One of our favorite topics we keep coming back to is Environmental, Social, and Governance, or (ESG). It’s come up as a critical topic for many companies over the last few years since investors are demanding more from the firms they do business with. There’s a lot of data that shows consumers care, too—and so do regulators.

To learn more and hear a different perspective on the importance of ESG, I wanted to turn to Tim Clover. He’s the CEO and Founder of Australia-based Glow, an online research platform, often compared to SurveyMonkey on steroids. For Tim, it is about a lot more than just creating surveys. It is about the whole workflow for research.

We talk to Tim about ESG, its impact on consumer perceptions and brand loyalty, greenwashing and the relatively new term of greenhushing, differing consumer expectations from one market to another, and how ESG has the potential to change how we do business in the longterm. I really enjoyed this conversation and I think you will too, so let’s jump right in.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!

There are some things that have been part of society forever—like selling. And the art of persuasion. But how are those things changing in the wake of new technologies like automation and AI? Are these very human skills now obsolete—or more useful than ever?

To figure that out, we thought we’d turn to Colin Coggins and Garrett Brown. They teach Sales Mindset for Entrepreneurs at USC Marshall School of Business, and they’ve written a new book, THE UNSOLD MINDSET: Redefining What It Means to Sell. It’s a great book that's helpful for people who sell, which is all of us.

This book isn’t just for people who have a career in sales. We spoke to Colin and Garett about the emotional mindset of great salespeople, if the qualities that make a good salesperson are changing, and the role that technology is playing in transforming sales—and if that’s for the better or the worse.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!

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We first had the chance to interview Bradley Tusk a few years ago—right before COVID lockdowns, in fact. He’s a well-known venture capitalist, political strategist, philanthropist, and writer who helped Uber break into a number of key markets in the early part of last decade, and now he invests in startups that face regulatory hurdles.

Given that regulation has been in the news quite a bit lately, I wanted to catch up with him and have a wide-ranging discussion on Section 230—an important part of a 1996 law that created the internet as we know it, what the FTC’s role should be in reining in major platforms like Twitter and if it’s too partisan of an organization, and how better access to the ballot box might actually lead to tech policies that better reflect how most Americans feel.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!

Fraud. It’s all around us. Enough so that it got me thinking: has it always been that way? Is it getting worse?

To that end, I wanted to speak to Kelly Richmond Pope. She’s the Barry Jay Epstein Endowed Professor of Forensic Accounting at DePaul University in Chicago. Pope's research on executive misconduct culminated in directing and producing the award-winning documentary, All the Queen's Horses, which explores the largest municipal fraud in US history. She’s been called one of the twenty-five Most Powerful Women in Accounting.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!

With all the talk in the tech community lately around AI, it’s important not to forget the role of actual human beings on the future of the global economy. To dive into that, I wanted to speak to Tony Jamous. Tony founded Oyster, a global employment platform, to help companies everywhere hire people anywhere. Oyster itself is a fully distributed company and has as of last year achieved unicorn status.

Tony’s view that everyone should be able to participate in the global economy regardless of where they live and he’s passionate about discussing the untapped potential within the labor market--one with 90M unfulfilled jobs resulting in $8.5T in economic loss--that can be met through global employment. With 1.5B knowledge workers joining the economy in the next 10 years, Tony’s….a strong perspective on the future of work.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!

Years after companies spend millions of dollars on digital transformations, their investors ask why there's no return on investment. It’s not that digital transformations are a waste, but that companies haven't designed them to maximize value. They overpay and get no payback. I’ve worked at companies who might fall into that category, so I know the struggle is real!

In a fantastic, incredibly useful book that came out in December, Digital Transformation Payday: Navigate the Hype, Lower the Risks, Increase Return on Investments, Tim Bottke, senior Strategy Partner at Monitor Deloitte and Associate Professor for Strategy and Digital Transformation at SDA Bocconi business school—that’s one of Europe’s top B-Schools for all you Americans out there—delivers a provocative new perspective on digital business transformation—using research to get beyond the hype and uncover its real financial payback.

This is a book that gives you a legit framework for defining a company’s next digital transformation effort end to end to ensure maximum return on investment and value—and I loved that Tim wrote this book with a very specific audience in mind who know how critical digital transformation is to developing the future state of a company.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!

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We’ve been talking about AI quite a bit lately, and for good reason: you guys are clearly interested in it. And there’s been so much talk about ChatGPT, but one of the things that’s crystal clear about AI is it has the power to transform so many things about our society, including the way consumers receive customer support. That’s why I wanted to turn to the one, the only, Deon Nicholas.

Deon is the CEO and co-founder of Forethought, the AI company whose mission is to transform customer experiences with human-centered AI. Forethought has raised over $100 million in venture capital, including from NEA, which led Forethought’s $9.52 million Series A.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!

Gregory Galant is the cofounder and CEO of Muck Rack, the software platform that enables thousands of organizations including Google, Golin and Duolingo to find the right journalists to pitch, report on media coverage and prove the value of their work. He is also the co-creator and executive producer of The Shorty Awards, which honor the best of social media.

We speak to Greg today about what PR is meant to do, how it can be better in the future, how journalism is changing, and how AI can change content marketing and writing in the future.

There’s been so much talk of AI of late. I think when ChatGPT came on the scene towards the end of 2022, it inspired so much curiosity and concern. And of course, intangible AI has the potential to be hugely impactful—but what about when you combine the power of AI with robotics? Does that become even more exciting or more terrifying to you?

To help illuminate the topic, I wanted to turn to Dor Skuler. He’s the co-founder and CEO of Intuition Robotics. The company's award-winning product, ElliQ, is a proactive care companion for older adults. His company has won several awards for its work with ElliQ including Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies and the CES Best of Innovation award.

Over the last few years I’ve seen a greater amount of focus on how much meat we consume as a society—and what the environmental impacts of all that consumption are.

Because of that, we wanted to turn to George Peppou. George is co-founder and CEO of food-tech startup, Vow, which aims to produce meat that is better than the meat we eat today, creating tantalizing and unique culinary experiences.

Vow does this by culturing the cells of animals, from both species we eat today and those we could never farm, creating a range of cell ingredients which can be turned into a wide variety of products – all produced using the same manufacturing process.

George began his career as a chef while studying biochemistry at the University of Sydney. George is a serial entrepreneur and inventor, with over 30 patents granted.

We discuss cultured meat, the benefits of cell-grown meat, what's going to happen to this market longterm, and the regulatory problems that govern this emerging market.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!

It’s a new year! And everyone is excited about developing their best selves in the new year. To that end, I wanted to speak to designer, innovator, best-selling author, and life coach Ayse Birsel.

Through her workshops and writing, Ayse has helped thousands of people design their work and lives, and I really wanted to get the chance to share her methods with our audience.

Ayse is one of the world’s leading industrial designers—and her latest book which hit shelves in December, Design the Long Life You Love: A Step-by-Step Guide to Love, Purpose, Well-Being, and Friendship, draws on key principles of design - optimism, empathy, collaboration, open-mindedness, and holistic thinking - as well as the experiences of older people on the pioneering frontiers of long life.

You can subscribe to Ayse's newsletter here: https://www.aysebirsel.com/newsletter

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!

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We’re heading into a new year, and I think everyone—or most people—want to figure out how to just be better in a number of ways in 2023. How to make better decisions, better predict what’s going to happen in the future, and transform their organizations to improve performance. That’s why I thought it’d be fantastic to turn to Aaron de Smet. He’s the co-author of Deliberate Calm: How to Learn and Lead in a Volatile World.

Aaron’s a Senior Partner at McKinsey, where he counsels leadership teams as they transform their organizations to improve performance, organizational health, speed, and agility. He's also an expert on organizational design, corporate culture, leadership development, team effectiveness, capability building, and transformational change.

Today, we talk about why adaptation is so important to today's leaders, how leaders can become active and curious listeners, how emotion can help or hinter decision making, and even how neuroscience ties into management consulting.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!

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We’re hearing a lot about generative AI these days—seemingly out of the blue. And AI is a scary subject to a lot of people; let’s face it. That’s why I wanted to speak to one of the people behind one such company, May Habib.

May is the founder and CEO of Writer, an AI writing platform for teams.

They believe themselves to be the only company truly doing generative AI in a meaningful way in the enterprise, so I wanted to talk to her to learn more about the technology, talk about its pros and cons, and try to imagine how generative AI might impact the world.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!

It’s always nice when an old friend gets into podcasting. We recently had Eli Lake on, he’s now the host of the fantastic The Re-Education with Eli Lake, and now I get to have on an old FUTUREPROOF favorite who’s now hosting a brand new podcast by the Harvard Business School. The debut season of Deep Purpose features captivating conversations between host Ranjay Gulati and top global CEOs, such as Unilever CEO Alan Jope and Walgreen-Boots Alliance CEO Rosalind Brewer, about their personal paths to finding purpose and how those journeys benefited their businesses and beyond.

We talk to Ranjay about what purpose actually means, whether or not the successful companies of tomorrow truly will be driven by purpose, and whether or not being purpose driven can make a leader better able to stick to their "north star."

It’s critical to get out of our echo chambers, but if you look at the state of the US these days, sometimes I feel like I’m alone in that opinion. One of the things Jeremy's long believed is that to be better a forecaster of what’s to come, you need to seek out divergent perspectives.

One of those perspectives Jeremy often disagrees with and yet still respects is Eli Lake. He’s a noted former senior national security correspondent for The Daily Beast and Newsweek, former columnist for the Bloomberg View, and now the host of The Re-Education with Eli Lake.

We wanted to speak to Eli given the US midterm elections, again, given that I know he feels pretty differently than me when it comes to politics, to hear a different take on where we’re heading. We also discuss Kanye, antisemitism, Israel, Elon Musk and the future of Twitter, and what geopolitical threats loom large over our future. It’s rare to find someone who can speak in an informed manner on such a wide array of topics.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!

McKenna Sweazey is an experienced global marketer and Web3 expert, having worked for brands such as YSL, Google, and the Financial Times. Her focus is taking marketing best practices and applying them to Web3 opportunities for brands.

She runs metaXmoda, a marketing consultancy that helps brands develop their plans and implementation strategies for harnessing Web3. We talk about what is and isn't the metaverse, what the value of decentralization is, what Web3 means, and whether or not NFTs have staying power.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!

McKenna Sweazey is an experienced global marketer and Web3 expert, having worked for brands such as YSL, Google, and the Financial Times. Her focus is taking marketing best practices and applying them to Web3 opportunities for brands.

She runs metaXmoda, a marketing consultancy that helps brands develop their plans and implementation strategies for harnessing Web3. We talk about what is and isn't the metaverse, what the value of decentralization is, what Web3 means, and whether or not NFTs have staying power.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!

If you’ve ever ordered food online, there’s a decent chance you’ve ordered from Grubhub. Co-founder Mike Evans took a small idea and revolutionized an industry, turning $140 into a $7 billion dollar business. He’s now at the helm of Fixer, another company he founded, and ther author of Hangry: A Startup Journey, which is hitting shelves right now. I highly recommend you pick it up, it’s fascinating. I talk to Mike about his own startup journey, the mistakes he made along the way that other innovators should be on the lookout for, the state of the gig economy and its future, and much more.

Boys and men are struggling: in the classroom, the workplace, and in the family. In the new book Of Boys and Men, which hit shelves last month, Brookings Institution scholar (and father of three sons) Richard V. Reeves examines this crisis and argues that helping boys and men doesn’t mean abandoning the ideal of gender equality.

Richard contends that we can hold two thoughts in our head at once: we can be passionate about women’s rights and compassionate toward vulnerable boys and men—and I have to say, I was a little worried going into this interview, if we would touch a third rail of some sort. But I found Richard’s arguments very compelling and 100% reasonable. We talk about why it’s actually OK to root for males, how income inequality comes into play, why boys are falling behind in school, and what are some of the solutions we can embrace to solve some of these problems.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!

We haven't really covered a critical topic: the topic of Russia, its invasion of Ukraine, and the ramifications for that conflict for the world writ large in some time—probably since we had Dima Shvets from Ukraine-founded Reface on before the war.

To cover the topic we're bringing on one of our longest sought-after guests, Russia expert Miriam Elder. She’s an American journalist who’s previously served as a foreign and national security editor for BuzzFeed News and was also formerly The Guardian's Moscow-based correspondent.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!

At the end of the day, so much of society is focused on consumerism– but how do you make the right decisions about what to sell and how to sell it if you don’t understand consumers in a meaningful way?

We’re excited to be talking to my personal favorite Kraskinski brother. Prior to co-founding Epicenter Experience, Paul Krasinski served as an SVP at SessionM, acquired by Mastercard, and at Arbitron, later acquired by Nielsen. Paul's developed and refined a deep understanding for the consumer perspective, developed insight services and the industry relationships required to revolutionize how brands and consumers connect.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!

Consumer privacy is such a big topic these days. There’s so much evidence that users really do care about their personal information—but there’s also data that suggests that people don’t care assuming they’re getting something in return for giving something up.

To dive into this topic and more, we sat down with Brian Mandelbaum, CEO of Klover, a leading fintech app that raised $60 million last year and provides high-level analytics of buyer behavior by capturing users’ spending data and compensating them for it. We talk to Brian about the perception around legacy payday advance firms, whether we need federal privacy policies in place similar to Europe’s GDPR, and how consumer spending and behavior is changing in the wake of today’s inflationary environment.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!

We live in enormously divisive times. Divisions based on class, politics, race, religion, gender, and nationality are erupting around the globe. The consequences of not having a sense of belonging range from political strife to illness to underperformance at work and in the classroom. In 2020, 40% of each political party said that supporters of the opposition party were “downright evil.” In 2019, hate crimes reached a 10-year high in the U.S.

Americans have become disconnected from their communities. About one in five Americans suffers from chronic loneliness, especially young adults. How did we end up so divided and alienated? Why is our sense of belonging so undermined? What if there were a set of science-backed techniques for navigating modern social life that could help us overcome our differences, create empathy, and forge lasting connections across divides?

To tackle all of this, I wanted to turn to Stanford University Professor Geoffrey L. Cohen. His new book BELONGING: The Science of Creating Connection and Bridging Divides is out September 13, and available to pre-order now.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!

For brands looking to resonate with consumers, sustainability isn’t just a nice add-on. It’s table stakes. Why, then, are so many companies getting it wrong?

Today, we talk to Erin Allweiss and Melody Serafino, the co-founders of No. 29, an acclaimed PR agency focused exclusively on sustainability and social impact. Today we discuss exactly how much consumers do care about sustainability, why greenwashing is such a problem these days, and how brands can get on the right side of history.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!.

To figure out what direction society is going, every now and then we like to check in with our friends in the investment space—after all, they’re highly motivated to get the future right. That’s why I wanted to talk to Gene Frantz, a leading investor in cybersecurity and enterprise tech and General Partner at CapitalG, the private equity firm owned by Google parent Alphabet.

Gene’s track record includes backing some of the most significant tech companies of the past decade, including CrowdStrike, Zscaler, and Freshworks Collectively, his investments at CapitalG have achieved nine major exits, including four IPOs, and are worth more than $125B.

We talk to Gene about how much emotion should come into play when investing in startups, the problem with greater sums of money going into capital rounds, identifying the companies of the future, how many hits you need to offset the investments that don't pay off, and more.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!.

David Livermore is a social scientist devoted to the study of cultural intelligence (CQ) and global leadership and the author of several award-winning books. He is a founder of the Cultural Intelligence Center in East Lansing, Michigan, and prior to that, he spent twenty years in leadership positions with a variety of nonprofits and taught in five universities.

David is a frequent speaker and adviser to leaders in Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits, and governments, and he has worked in more than one hundred countries. He has been interviewed and referenced by myriad news sources, including The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, CBS News, the New York Times, and quite a few other spots.

He’s also the author of the forthcoming DIGITAL, DIVERSE & DIVIDED: How to Talk to Racists, Compete with Robots, and Overcome Polarization, which is out this September and is available for pre-order now.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!.

Saleem Ali is the Distinguished Prof. of Energy & the Environment at the Univ. of Delaware. He’s known for his work in environmental conflict resolution and was recognized as an “Emerging Explorer” by National Geographic. Dubbed the “The Alchemist” by Forbes, Ali connects politics, science, and nature in Earthly Order, weaving narratives of his experience as a National Geographic field explorer throughout. I’ve included advance praise for the book below my signature. He’s also the author of Earthly Order: How Natural Laws Define Human Life, which just hit shelves July 1.

We discuss how natural and social/political systems influence planetary crisis (and climate change in particular), how climate change acceptance evolved over the time he's been focused on this topic, and how much hope we should have for the future, considering how much work there's left to be done.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!.

Gretchen Rubin is one of today’s most influential and thought-provoking observers of happiness and human nature. She’s the author of many books, including multiple New York Times bestsellers—her books have sold over 3.5 million copies worldwide, in more than thirty languages.

On her top-ranking, award-winning podcast Happier with Gretchen Rubin, she discusses happiness and good habits with her sister Elizabeth Craft. She is a regular columnist for O, The Oprah Magazine and makes regular appearances on CBS This Morning.

She’s also a sought-after collaborator, and recently partnered with Oracle on some really interesting research about…you guessed it, happiness. So I’m excited to talk to her about that today.

Read the full report: https://www.oracle.com/cx/happiness/

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According to INSEAD professor Nathan Furr and entrepreneur Susannah Harmon Furr—yes, they are married—we really can learn how to face the unknown and find the creative opportunity – the capacity for innovation - that it represents. In their new book The Upside of Uncertainty: A Guide to Finding Possibility in the Unknown, which hits shelves mid-July and is available for pre-order now, they present a reassuringly practical approach to help us all develop the critical skills we need for dealing with uncertainty.

We discuss whether or not uncertainty can be a blessing in disguise, leaning into serendipity, how much the pandemic has changed our relationship with uncertainty, and today's current challenges relating to inflation, supply chains, and politics.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!

The Covid-19 pandemic triggered a supply chain crisis that has disrupted peoples’ lives in every corner of the globe and continues to unfold. But the current crisis is just the tip of the iceberg of a much broader, pernicious, and long-term problem: the dark side of the “middleman economy.”

In her new book DIRECT: The Rise of the Middleman Economy and the Power of Going to the Source, on sale now! financial expert and Columbia Law professor Kathryn Judge reveals the surprising and insidious ways that middlemen rule our economy and our lives. While Amazon and Walmart are probably the most vivid examples of all-powerful middlemen, there are middlemen in domains beyond retail, like real estate, food, cars, cbanking, and even philanthropy. Obviously middlemen have gained their power for a reason – they have given consumers unprecedented choice, convenience, and lower costs—but as Kathryn discusses in her work, the benefits come at a steep cost to people, the economy, and our planet, so I’m excited to discuss her work with her now.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!

Encore presentation!

I don’t know how much time you spend thinking about things like how people move around cities and how inefficient urban mobility can be, but it’s admittedly something I’ve been thinking about since I developed the logo and branding for autonomous driving startup Mobileye, now part of Intel. How people get around, and even how we park, is an essential part of the future we live in. To that end, I wanted to speak to Alex Israel. He’s the CEO co-founder of Metropolis, the autonomous commerce platform disrupting the traditional real estate industry to make way for urban mobility - starting with the dirty underbelly of parking. I wanted to talk to Alex about his computer vision-based solution and autonomous vehicles in general, so I’m looking forward to this chat.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!

Encore presentation! Alec Ross is the author of the New York Times bestseller The Industries of the Future as well as The Raging 2020s, which came out this past September. During the Obama administration, he served as Senior Advisor for Innovation to the Secretary of State, and he’s appeared on CNN Fareed Zakaria GPS, CNBC “Squawk Box”, Bloomberg TV, among many other programs.

I wanted to talk to Alec since I know he has well-informed perspectives on issues ranging from privacy to sustainability to diversity and workers’ rights, and I feel like we’re at an inflection point, as the world rages amidst pandemic, rising inequality and increasingly frequent climate disasters, Alec has some interesting ideas about how we move forward.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!

Future Forum is a consortium launched by Slack focused on building a way of working that is flexible, inclusive, and connected. They conduct research and convene executives to design a people-centered and digital-first workplace. You might be familiar with their quarterly Future Forum Pulse survey of 10,000+ knowledge workers around the globe. They also produce playbooks to help decision-makers tackle real-world challenges like how to measure the success of digital-first teams, how to make hybrid work work, and how to build for diversity, equity, and inclusion

Today we have the Future Forum’s leadership in the house: Brian Elliott, Sheela Subramanian, and Helen Kupp. They’re here to discuss, among other things, their new book: “How the Future Works” —which was such an audacious title, it intrigued the heck out of me, and having read an advance copy, I’m happy to say it delivers.

Saatchi Art is the world’s largest online art gallery. The platform has over 100,000 artists from 100 countries and sells more than $50 million per year in art. Recently they announced their moving into the world of NFTs, and I wanted to speak to the person responsible for leading the company's efforts, Wayne Chang.

On this episode we discuss what an NFT is, what are some of the benefits of NFTs, what it means to 'mint' an NFT, how they're stored, their relationship to crypto, and more.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!

The term “purpose” has been hijacked. The vast majority of companies today deploy corporate purpose superficially as a promotional vehicle to makes themselves appear virtuous to the outside world or to rally employees. But purpose—if used correctly—can be a transformative way of doing business. In his book, distinguished Harvard Business School professor Ranjay Gulati argues that companies must embed purpose much more deeply than they currently do, treating it as a radically new operating system for the enterprise.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!

Barry J. Nalebuff is the Milton Steinbach Professor at the Yale School of Management. Nalebuff applies game theory to business strategy and is the co-founder of one of America's fastest-growing companies, Honest Tea. He’s also the author of quite a few books, including his latest book, Split the Pie: a radical new way to negotiate, which just hit shelves.

"You'll never think of negotiations the same way again," writes FUTUREPROOF. alum Zoe Chance about Barry's book—enough said.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!

Cathy O'Neil is a mathematician, data scientist, and author. She’s written books on data science, including the New York Times best-seller Weapons of Math Destruction, which is an influential source for the Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence community—and where I first started following her work.

She’s now the author of The Shame Machine: Who Profits in the New Age of Humiliation, which just came out a week or two back, and I’m excited to talk to her all about it, including what exactly a shame machine is, what’s the difference between punching up and punching down, and even if shame can be a good think and lead to societal growth.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!

One of the things we discuss on this show often is what the future will look like. Another key theme we keep coming back to is how individuals and companies can increase their impact so they can build the future they’re looking to create.

To that end, there was a book that came out right at the beginning of the year you might’ve missed, and I sure hope you didn’t. The book is SMART GROWTH: How to Grow Your People to Grow Your Company, and it’s by Whitney Johnson, who’s CEO of Disruption Advisors, #8 on the Thinkers50 list of leading business thinkers in the world, and host of the popular Disrupt Yourself podcast. I talk to her about the concept of Smart Growth, how individuals and companies take stock of where they are now in order to help figure out where they ought to go next, how the Great Resignation is tied into the ideas she discusses in her book, and much more.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!

What if we could imagine the future and even plan for it? What if there was a way to feel secure while still bracing for the next “unthinkable” event? What if we could still feel hope for the future while squarely facing its challenges? Jane McGonigal believes we can imagine the “unimaginable.” Why is she so confident? In 2008 and 2010, McGonigal and her team at the Institute of the Future ran simulations that predicted human behavior in the face of a hypothetical global respiratory pandemic in precise detail, from social distancing to masking to wildfires and even the spread of disinformation, conspiracy theories, and the unbridgeable political divide. Cut to 2020/2021, and not only were McGonigal’s predictions proven correct, but her findings have also shown that the participants in the simulation found themselves less shell shocked when COVID-19 hit. And I thought we could all stand to learn from her.

Jane is a future forecaster and a world-renowned designer of alternate reality games that are designed to improve real lives and solve real problems— andin her spare time, she’s the New York Times bestselling author of Reality Is Broken and SuperBetter, and her TED talks have more than 15 million views. I talk to her today about IMAGINABLE: How to See the Future Coming and Feel Ready for Anything—Even Things That Seem Impossible Today, which came out this week.

I talk to her about getting better at imagining the unimaginable, why facial recognition technologies and climate change stand to have an impact on the years ahead, and the concept of urgent optimism. This is one of my favorites in recent memory, and I think it’ll be one of yours as well—so let’s jump right in!

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SuperBetter: A Revolutionary Approach to Getting Stronger, Happier, Braver and More Resilient--Powered by the Science of Games

Reality Is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World

Think about all of the financial decisions we make about our education, careers, marriages, retirement ages, Social Security, taxes, and investments. They all affect our standard of living —but most of us make these decisions by relying on crude rules of thumb or take questionable advice from friends and family, media gurus, self described experts, and advisers who are frequently little more than self-interested salespeople. There’s obviously a problem with what I’m describing, don’t you think?

That’s why I wanted to talk to noted economist and New York Times bestselling author Larry Kotlikoff about his new book, Money Magic, which distills his best personal finance advice to increase your spending power and enhance your standard of living. If you’ve ever felt like you could be living better or making better financial decisions, I think you’ll enjoy this one.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!

When we first heard about Joe Brew and Hyfe, I knew we had to schedule a FUTUREPROOF. Conversation. Originally from Florida, Joe’s work in public health has led him all over the world to tackle some of the biggest global health issues such as malaria and tuberculosis. His background in data science makes him an integral member of the team at Hyfe, where he’s a co-founder and CEO. With Hyfe’s sophisticated AI cough detection technology, anyone with a smartphone can track and analyze their respiratory patterns.

I’m talking to Joe today about data science, the need for expanding healthcare access and services for the global poor, why coughs are rich with medical information, and the future of global health in general.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!

We’re speaking today with Zoe Chance, who has a very cool story: she grew up poor and shy and worked her way up from telemarketing and door-to-door sales to professional acting to managing a $200 million segment of Barbie. Now, Zoe focuses on impact. She trains CEOs, activists, and leaders worldwide; and she teaches the most popular course at Yale School of Management.

Her new book is INFLUENCE IS YOUR SUPERPOWER: The Science of Winning Hearts, Sparking Change, and Making Good Things Happen, and I think this book has the potential to be a game-changer in the way people think about, talk about, and practice influencing each other.

We speak to Zoe about why influence is a superpower, the difference between gators and judges, why Empathy is a precursor to persuasion, and why one has to learn to be influential in order to chart the course of future history.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!

One of the topics I get asked about often these days is NFTs, digital goods, and virtual goods, which are overlapping topics and not exactly the same thing—well, you asked, and we listened. Let’s talk about that, shall we? I asked Leading Commerce expert, Holden Bale, Group Vice President & Head of Commerce at Huge, a global experience company I’ve covered for years—and even lost pitches to back when I ran an agency, but that’s another story. Holden lives and breathes this topic so you’re absolutely going to learn today about the future of digital goods, whether or not these are a fad or a long-term trend, which companies are innovating in this arena, and much more.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!

A World Economic Forum Young Global Leader and ranked one of the “50 Leading Female Futurists” in the world by Forbes, April Rinne (pronounced Rih-Nee) is a trusted advisor to well-known brands and organizations including Airbnb, Nike, Intuit, the World Bank, as well as governments ranging from Singapore to South Africa, Canada to Colombia, Italy to India.

April’s also the author of Flux: 8 Superpowers for Thriving in Constant Change, which came out in 2021 and centers on what I think is a fascinating topic: Change! Humans very much struggle with change; especially change we did not choose! We resist it, we fear it, and we mistakenly believe we can control it. April writes that when we accept change as a feature, not a bug of the system, it catalyzes insights and opportunities for individual, organizational, and societal success.

We talk to her about her book, the eight flux superpowers she’s identified, the concept of a portfolio career, and how organizations can benefit from flux mindsets.

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John A. List is the Kenneth C. Griffin Distinguished Service Professor in Economics at the University of Chicago. John joined the UChicago faculty in 2005, and served as Chairman of the Department of Economics from 2012-2018. List was the first Chief Economist at Uber and the founder of its Ubernomics Team. Now he is the Chief Economist for Lyft.

We wanted to talk to John because of his new book, The Voltage Effect: How to Make Good Ideas Great and Great Ideas Scale, which just hit bookshelves. It identifies five measurable warning signs that a scalable idea must avoid, and offers proven strategies for preventing voltage drops and engineering voltage gains. It’s backed by decades of field research, so we're really excited to have him here today.

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A lot of brands just don’t get it. That’s one of the things I’ve learned as a longtime brand marketer and as someone who now covers them for a living. That’s why I’m excited to talk to Dr.Emmanuel Probst, the Global Lead, Brand Thought-Leadership at Ipsos and Consumer Market Research Professor at UCLA. He’s also the author of the Brand Hacks: How to Build Brands by Fulfilling the Consumer Quest for Meaning, which came out this past fall and is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestseller.

We talk to Emmanuel about why many advertising campaigns fail, the important of psychographics, why leveraging micro-moments to build connections with consumers can be a competitive advantage—and more.

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I think it’s safe to say so much of our society is based off of consumption, no? But at the same time, there’s another interesting trend: people want to hold onto their stuff for longer. Consumers have demonstrated an interest in their purchases’ longevity, partially fueled, perhaps, by a greater interest in sustainability and the effect our consumption has on the environment.

That’s why we wanted to talk to Woodrow H. Levin. Woody is the CEO and Co-Founder of Extend, the leading provider of modern product protection. We talk to him about the problem with legacy protection plans, why consumers are trying to hold onto products for longer, some big news he’s breaking this week, and why that big news is such a big deal.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!

The world of marketing is shifting broadly, and that’s why I wanted to speak to someone who can speak broadly to the future of marketing. Enter John Connors. He started Boathouse in 2001 after years at the biggest agencies in New England and the world, whe wanted to bring a new type of performance-mindedness to the agency business. He previously served as a part of the McCann World Group Management team—at the time the largest agency in the world.

We talk to John about whether or not the CMO role is broken, what chief marketing officers are doing wrong, how they can improve, and whether or not they need to do a better job aligning with CEOs' visions.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!

Dima Shvets is co-founder and CEO (since 2021) at Reface, a leader in applying AI/ML technologies for personalized content creation. The Reface app hit #1 in the App Store soon after release and was listed among the best apps of 2020 by Google Play. Celebrities including Elon Musk, Justin Bieber, Snoop Dogg, and Miley Cyrus have shared refaced videos. The Reface app has been installed 180+ million times, and users have generated 5 billion pieces of synthetic media. But of course, there's been plenty of news about the dark side of synthetic media, including deepfakes.

We talk to Dima about his vision for synthetic media as a form of entertainment, his concern for how these tools can be used for nefarious purposes, how Reface protects against bad actors, the dangers of synthetic media being used to create pornographic representations of women, the guardrails he's implemented to prevent malicious use of his platform, and much more.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!

The current employer-sponsored retirement savings plans are in desperate need of innovation: 401Ks aren’t cutting it, pension plans are nearly extinct, and a large portion of our workforce isn’t even eligible for such benefits. Even those who do have a savings plan will have to pay high penalty fees to withdraw them when they inevitably change jobs (a huge contributing factor to the one trillion of unclaimed dollars that are trapped in old 401K accounts). Further, many Americans are locked out of 401K eligibility including gig workers, part time workers, and typically excluded industries like retail and restaurants. That’s why I wanted to speak Laurie Rowley, a financial services industry vet who’s the founder and CEO of Icon Savings Plan, which calls itself the first portable savings provider. I talk to Laurie about why retirement savings are so critical to society, and why the industry is ripe for disruption.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!

One thing we’ve wanted to cover on this show for awhile is brand purpose,. It’s increasingly becoming an important consideration for brands, in part because many consumers care more about that attribute, especially younger consumers. 27% of Gen Zers are very likely to pay more for a purpose-driven brand, according to an April study by Cubist Martini. That’s why I wanted to speak to Andreas Markdalen. He’s the award-winning Global Chief Creative Officer of frog. For 20+ years, Andreas has been leading and forming relationships with the leading global consumer and enterprise brands across a wide array of industries and domains, and increasingly those brands care a good deal about something near to Andreas’ heart: brand purpose.

I spoke to Andreas about how the concept of brand purpose has evolved over the years, how brand purpose has to be aligned with a brand’s values, and whether or not brand purpose actually increases customer loyalty—or if loyalty is dead. I know I learned quite a bit and I think you will too, so let’s jump right in!

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Alec Ross is the author of the New York Times bestseller The Industries of the Future as well as The Raging 2020s, which came out this past September. During the Obama administration, he served as Senior Advisor for Innovation to the Secretary of State, and he’s appeared on CNN Fareed Zakaria GPS, CNBC “Squawk Box”, Bloomberg TV, among many other programs.

I wanted to talk to Alec since I know he has well-informed perspectives on issues ranging from privacy to sustainability to diversity and workers’ rights, and I feel like we’re at an inflection point, as the world rages amidst pandemic, rising inequality and increasingly frequent climate disasters, Alec has some interesting ideas about how we move forward.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!

For years now I’ve heard about the problems with funding entrepreneurs and how the funding landscape is broken. To that end, I wanted to speak with Andrew D'Souza. He’s the co-founder and CEO of Clearco, the world’s largest e-comm investor and unicorn valued at $2B. After years of witnessing founder challenges in the VC world, Andrew saw an opportunity to modernize the funding system. Traditional access to funding is biased, based on assets, connections, and exponential forecasts. Clearco is attempting to remove those barriers.

I wanted to talk to Andrew about his mission to democratize capital, how the funding landscape will evolve in the coming years and how Clearco uses data to create an unbiased approach to funding.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!

Dr. Rebecca Parsons is the Chief Technology Officer at Thoughtworks (TWKS), a global software consultancy. Dr. Parsons has deep technical expertise, including leading the creation of large-scale distributed applications and the integration of disparate systems. Separate from her passion for deep technology, she is a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion in the technology industry. Dr. Parsons is a frequent speaker at industry events including Collision Conference, Web Summit, YOW!, Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing and more. She is the co-author of several books: “Domain-Specific Languages,” “The ThoughtWorks Anthology,” and “Building Evolutionary Architectures.”

We spoke to her live at Web Summit 2021 on whether or not the tech sector is approaching sustainability in the right way, DEI efforts within the sector, and how the tech sector can take responsibility for the unintended consequences of tech innovation.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!

I’ve followed today’s guest for years. Not in a scary, stalker-ish way...I just have a lot of respect for the guy, so much so that I quoted him in my first book, Going Social, eight years ago. Simon Mannering is the Founder and CEO of We First, a strategic consultancy that turns companies into movements by empowering their brands to lead with a purpose larger than themselves. He’s also the author of LEAD WITH WE: The Business Revolution That Will Save Our Future, which came out yesterday!

Lead With We shows how all of us—from the CEOs of the biggest corporations to exciting entrepreneurs to the everyday consumer—can make more environmentally friendly, purpose-driven, and positively impactful choices in service of everyone’s future. I talk to Simon about how consumers can help businesses more accountable to make better decisions, specific ways companies can not only do less harm but more good, and why sustainability is at such a critical juncture right now. I think you’ll learn a lot from Simon in this episode.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!

Lead with We: The Business Revolution That Will Save Our Future

Ulcca Joshi Hansen is Chief Program Officer at Grantmakers for Education. Hansen has worked in education for two decades. Her experiences as an English-language learner and first-generation college student inform her perspective on what it means to provide an “equitable” education for every child and engage communities in that effort. She’s also the author of THE FUTURE OF SMART: How Our Education System Needs to Change to Help All Young People Thrive, which hit shelves in September.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!

The Future of Smart: How Our Education System Needs to Change to Help All Young People Thrive

Jonathan Brill is an expert on resilient growth, innovation, and decision-making during uncertainty. He was a senior leader and the Global Futurist at Hewlett Packard, where he directed long-term strategy programs, a creative director at frog design, and now he’s the managing director at Resilient Growth Partners and a board member at Frost & Sullivan, a major market intelligence firm.

He advises globally on product innovation and resilient growth strategy with clients, including Samsung, Microsoft, Verizon, PepsiCo, the United States government, and the MIT Media Lab, and is the author of ROGUE WAVES: Future-Proof Your Business to Survive and Profit from RadicalChange, which hit bookshelves recently.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!

COVID has changed the world to such an extent over the past year and a half, and of course it’s not something that anyone would ever wish on society, but there have been some interesting developments - a lot of them positive. One of those innovations comes from SiO2, a little-known material science company from Alabama that received a $143 million investment from the US government to tackle the vaccine vial shortage. To date, they have provided the government with vials for over 100 million covid vaccine doses. I spoke to the company’s president, Lawrence Ganti [at the 1:01 mark], about why the future of drugs will be biological — and the long-term positive effects that COVID could bring to pharma and life sciences.

My conversation with Lawrence got me thinking about the new kinds of jobs that might have been created on account of the pandemic, which then had me thinking about how companies are finding the talent they need in a post-COVID world. To help clue us in on that front, I turned to Evan Sohn [at the 11:11 mark]. He’s the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Recruiter.com, an on-demand recruiting platform that combines AI and video job-matching technology with the world's largest network of small and independent recruiters. We talked about how the pandemic changed how companies recruit, what the post-COVID world of work looks for job candidates, and much more.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!

Think about how much of our lives are spent communicating behind computer screens these days, and then compare that with most of human history when we were communicating face to face using body language. It’s such a shift that it’s perhaps not unexpected so many of us are bad at it. That’s why we wanted to speak to Erica Dhawan.

Erica is a globally recognized leadership expert and keynote speaker helping organizations and leaders innovate faster and further, together. Her writing has appeared in dozens of publications, including Fast Company and Harvard Business Review. She has an MPA from Harvard Kennedy School, MBA from MIT Sloan, and BS from The Wharton School—so you could say she knows a thing or two about a thing or two. Her new book, Digital Body Language: How to Build Trust & Connection No Matter the Distance, came out this past May, and I wanted to talk to her about her research and advice for us as digital body language keeps growing in importance. Her book's been praised by everyone from Seth Godin to Sheryl Sandberg to Billie Jean King, so I’m happy we get the chance to learn from her.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!

Last week we discussed blockchain, and I wanted to continue that conversation, at least for a few minutes, with Amy Wu, a Partner at Lightspeed Ventures I’ve become acquainted with recently. Amy joined Lightspeed in 2019 as an early member of the growth team, investing in growth-stage consumer and enterprise businesses. Prior to Lightspeed, Amy was an executive for several years, including at global media company Discovery, Inc, and at NewsCred, which she helped raise $60 million for, after starting her career at Insight Venture Partners.

Amy’s breadth of experience – in early-stage and corporate, in consumer and enterprise businesses, and across the US, Europe, and Asia – make her the perfect candidate to talk to about how venture capitalists make decisions. How, exactly, does a VC place bets on the future? Should emotion be a part of those decisions, or can emotion blind you? And does being a cheerleader and spokesperson, as many VCs are these days, throw off your judgement as a futurist? We talk about all of that and more in this conversation.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!

Blockchain. It's one of those things the average person knows is going to be transformative in so many ways, but don't quite understand 100%. I have a confession to make: I'm one of those people.

In a few words, Blockchain is a shared, immutable ledger that facilitates the process of recording transactions and tracking assets (both tangible and intangible) in a network. Virtually anything of value can be tracked and traded on a blockchain network, reducing risk and cutting costs for all involved.

To get a sense of some of the unexpected ways blockchain can be used, we wanted to speak to a few innovators doing interesting things with the technology. Let's start with Nadav Zemier [at the 1:31 mark], an award-winning educator, author, blockchain expert and pioneer at the intersection of technology and education. He's the author of Education in the Digital Age: How We Get There where he offers an evaluation of how digital technology and economics are poised to transform education by examining the concept of academic capital.

Nadav's a big believer that Non-transferrable NFTs will Upend Public Schools—and after this conversation, there's a good chance you might too.

My conversation with Nadav got me thinking about all of the other innovative uses of blockchain technology are out there these days. Some common uses are anti-money laundering tracking system, supply chain and logistics monitoring, and secure sharing of medical data. But what about professional fighting? I spoke to Donn Davis [at the 18:20 mark], Chairman and Co-Founder of Professional Fighters League (PFL)—the #2 MMA league in the world right behind UFC— on how his league leverages technology, including blockchain, to provide a better fan experience.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play.

One of the most engaging interview subjects I’ve ever had is probably futurist Byron Reese a few years back, when I was writing for Inc.com, and it’s great to have the excuse to speak with him again. A successful tech entrepreneur, speaker, author, and inventor with 2 NASDAQ IPO's, Byron’s newest book Wasted launched this past June from Random House, and it was one of my favorites of this past summer. Along with his co-author , Scott Hoffman, Byron interprets waste in a very broad way, looking at the subject through the lens of how we waste natural resources, time, money, and even human potential.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!

I feel like most of us know on some level that recycling is important, right? But...how does it work? And why is it important? And are we even doing a good job at it? And how much is plastic an impediment to a brighter future?

To answer those questions, I wanted to turn to Jennie Romer. She’s a lawyer, a sustainability expert, and author of Can I Recycle This?, an illustrated guide to better recycling and how to reduce single-use plastics.

I wanted to speak to Jennie since she has more than a decade of experience as an attorney and sustainability consultant fighting for effective legislation on waste reduction and single-use plastics. Her knowledge is routinely sought by legislators, environmental nonprofits, and businesses across the US, and her work and expertise has been featured in National Geographic, The New York Times, Vice, Politico, and other outlets.

We wanted to do something a little different this week and do a deep dive on an important topic: the topic of content governance on Facebook, given that it is for all intents and purposes, the modern public square. A while back, we read about Facebook’s creation of an Oversight Board- almost like Facebook’s version of a Supreme Court, so to speak - to help the platform make the right decisions on some thorny issues. And shortly after its creation, the Oversight Board was tasked with a somewhat famous decision, weighing in Facebook’s decision to ban then-President Trump in the aftermath of the January 6th insurrection.

For this topic, I knew just who to turn to: Jennifer Broxmeyer, the Director of Content Governance at Facebook. (I’m actually related to Jen: she’s my cousin by marriage, but don’t hold that against her!)

We talk about what the Oversight Board is, how it’s autonomous from Facebook itself, the challenges of content governance at scale, how Facebook tries to have a fair appeal process for its users, and much more.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!

What will the future of genetic testing look like, and why is it so important? To answer that question, we turned to Dr. Yael Joffe, an expert in the field of nutrigenomics. She started as a dietitian and then went on to obtain her Ph.D. in Nutrigenomics from the University of Cape Town, exploring various aspects of genetics. We wanted to speak to her because she’s a practitioner/scientist in addition to being an entrepreneur - she founded 3x4 Genetics in 2018. The startup has developed a proprietary genetic test that's sold through a network of accredited health practitioners. We talk to Yael about what exactly genetic testing is and what it isn’t, how the field has evolved over the past 20 years, where its future may lie, and how genetic testing could help us fight or even avoid the next pandemic.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!

`It seems like the pandemic has forced many of us to realize how connected today’s kids are. Just think about how much of their life is spent online vs. so little of ours - I’m speaking as a kid who grew up in the 80s and 90s - It’s such a shift in just one generation. We spend a lot of time talking about all of the ills of this connectivity, but how can it be harnessed for good?

To answer that question, I wanted to turn to Richard Culatta. He was appointed by President Obama as the Director of the Office of Educational Technology for the US Department of Education. In that capacity, he focused on expanding internet connectivity to schools across the country, promoting personalized learning, and developing a national ed tech plan. He’s also the CEO of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), a nonprofit serving education leaders in 127 countries, currently serves as a senior fellow at NYU’s GovLab and as a design resident for the San Francisco-based innovation and design firm IDEO, and is now the author of DIGITAL FOR GOOD: Raising Kids to Thrive in an Online World.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!

1I don’t know how much time you spend thinking about things like how people move around cities and how inefficient urban mobility can be, but it’s admittedly something I’ve been thinking about since I developed the logo and branding for autonomous driving startup Mobileye, now part of Intel. How people get around, and even how we park, is an essential part of the future we live in. To that end, I wanted to speak to Alex Israel. He’s the CEO co-founder of Metropolis, the autonomous commerce platform disrupting the traditional real estate industry to make way for urban mobility - starting with the dirty underbelly of parking. I wanted to talk to Alex about his computer vision-based solution and autonomous vehicles in general, so I’m looking forward to this chat.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!

Rob Siegel teaches two of the most popular courses at Stanford Graduate School of Business. Business Insider listed him as one of the top professors to know at Stanford. He’s also a Silicon Valley VC, sits on the boards of several startups, is a many-time entrepreneur himself, and was previously an exec at GE and Intel, working with Andy Grove. He’s also the author of the new book, The Brains and Brawn Company, out as of July 27th.

We wanted to talk to Rob because he’s a contrarian in many ways. We talk about how logistics, manufacturing, customer service, and quality control are still important, the ten key attributes companies must master going forward, and why we sometimes overrate the importance of the digital disruptors and pretend like they're all going to win in the long-term.

Bryan Walsh is Axios’ Future Correspondent, covering emerging technology and trends shaping geopolitics, work, warfare and more. He’s been the writer of the Axios Future newsletter, editor of the Axios What’s Next newsletter, and author of the 2019 book End Times: A Brief Guide to the End of the World. In his new What’s Next newsletter from Axios, he’s overseeing coverage of the future of cities, autonomous vehicles, and the working world.

Today we discuss a few stories he’s been focusing on lately that might have been off your radar, including AI in medicine, the growth of automation technology, text-generation models and disinformation, and why we’re currently living with an unsustainable amount of risk in society. We talk about all that, and what it means to be a future correspondent.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play - and make sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!

Earlier this year, the multibillion-dollar business consulting and IT giant Cognizant joined XPRIZE to launch the Pandemic Response Challenge, a competition to create AI systems that can help societies reopen safely in the wake of COVID-19. Cognizant’s work was based on data from Oxford and John Hopkins and provided data-centric strategies for governments that want to support healthcare professionals in the fight against future pandemics.

Given that, we wanted to speak to Bret Greenstein, the SVP and Global Head of AI & Analytics at Cognizant to discuss the Pandemic Response Challenge, how COVID has shaped the direction of AI research, the promise AI holds for a number of industries, and how we guard against the potential pitfalls that AI and algorithms may hold.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play.

It seems like year after year, content is becoming increasingly important to companies’ marketing efforts. At the same time, it’s also become a way that more entrepreneurs make a living. To figure out the future of content, I really wanted to turn to Joe Pulizzi. He’s the bestselling author of Content Inc., Killing Marketing and Epic Content Marketing, which was named a “Must-Read Business Book” by Fortune Magazine.

You might know him from his podcast series, This Old Marketing, which has millions of downloads from over 150 countries. He’s also the founder of the new digital content news site, The Tilt, his updated version of Content Inc. just hit shelves this May.

Today, we talk about how the world of content marketing has changed since his first edition of Content Inc., how to find an area where no content exists and to address that market need, the future of the creator economy, how companies and creators figure out what content ought to be free and what ought to be directly monetized, and much more.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play.

Content Inc., Second Edition: Start a Content-First Business, Build a Massive Audience and Become Radically Successful (With Little to No Money)

Annie Murphy Paul is an acclaimed science writer whose work has appeared in the New York Times Magazine and Scientific American, among many other publications. She’s the author of a number of books, including her latest, The Extended Mind: The Power of Thinking Outside the Brain, which just came out last month. The extended mind is a really interesting notion that we don't just think with our brains. We also "think with" the sensations and movements of our bodies, the physical spaces in which we learn and work, and the minds of the other people we know. Adam Grant selected it as one of 12 books every leader should read this summer, and in their review in the Wall Street Journal called it “Fascinating, sure-footed and wide-ranging.”

I wanted to speak to Annie since it seems obvious to me that if we want to have better outcomes as a society and make better predictions about where things are going, surely we have to learn to think better, no? So that’s some of what we talk about today: how we can become better thinkers by being aware of our bodies and how our surroundings can impact our thoughts, how we’re very unlike computers and probably need to stop trying to emulate them, and even how we can learn to better collaborate with other minds to achieve better outcomes.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play.

The Extended Mind: The Power of Thinking Outside the Brain

You probably know Kevin Roose as an award-winning technology columnist for The New York Times the host of the “Rabbit Hole” podcast, but did you know he’s the bestselling author of two books, and now a third called Futureproof: 9 Rules for Humans in the Age of Automation, which inspired to have us on - not just the title, but the topic: namely, how people can futureproof themselves in the age of automation (or at least try).

Today we discuss what jobs are most likely to be automated away, how individuals can protect their own futures, if we’re numb to the concept of AI and automation thanks to sci-fi movies, and why being pragmatic yet hopeful is a good outlook when it comes to being a futurist. I think you’ll enjoy this one, so let’s jump right in!

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play.

Futureproof: 9 Rules for Humans in the Age of Automation

With the country opening up to in-person gatherings on an increasingly rapid pace, I thought it’d be interesting to speak to Company Nurse’s CTO, Henry Svendblad. I was reading up on the company’s COVID-19 digital screening tool, Screen, that allows students and staff to conduct COVID screenings via any device with an internet browser before entering school buildings, in order to help fight the spread of COVID-19. We talk to Henry about Screen, why Company Nurse’s offerings are especially relevant to the moment we’re in, and what the future of workers’ comp looks like, especially given the potential long-term rise in remote work.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play.

Eric Redmond. By day, he’s Director of Tech Innovation at Nike. By night and on weekends, he’s the author of the new book Deep Tech: Demystifying the Breakthrough Technologies That Will Revolutionize Everything, which just came out a month ago. He’s here today in his guise as an author, which is great, since Eric writes that things like AI, VR, Blockchain, and the Internet of Things will soon play the same role in our lives that social media does today.

Today we discuss what is deep tech, exactly, how studying the seven pillars of deep tech can help anyone better anticipate what’s to come, and how we can evaluate all the positives and negatives associated with cutting edge technology. Without further ado let’s jump right in!

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play.