Future Think Tank: Recent Episodes
Benjamin Jones
Ben talks about why reading is important in the age of social media and announces the beginning of a Future Think Tank series on The Age of Surveillance Capitalism by Shoshana Zuboff. So read and listen along every Friday from next week. As usual, email anything to bhdecjones@icloud.com.
Ben takes on the theme of ‘Will’, starting with individual desire and moving up to national and international politics. As usual, this is a sounding board for ideas, a way to think about the state of the world and to raise interesting questions about the future. Questions, feedback, anything else to bhdecjones@icloud.com
In light of current events in Ukraine, Fake News and verifying information is once again a big news story itself. First, Ben looks at how information is recorded, transmitted and received by people as a physical process. Then he examines the various motives behind the information that is presented to us, before making a general conclusion about how we can check facts ourselves using common sense. Feedback, questions, and anything else to bhdecjones@icloud.com
After ten months, Ben returns to steer the Future Think Tank back on track, with a reminder of what it’s all about and some ideas for the future. So jump on board and join the journey! Please contact him at bhdecjones@protonmail.com (correction: this is episode 15, not 16)
Three ideas/thoughts/facts are jettisoned into the famous Future Think Tank one at a time by Ben, Will G and Will P in our exciting new format. Listen in to see if they sink or float or whether the trio reach any eureka moments. Without spoiling too much, you’re guaranteed to hear something about sneaky Social Media tricks, brave/foolish climate change activism and an intriguingly unique new city. Be our friend and get to the end. As always, any comments, reviews or complaints to bhdecjones@gmail.com.
Ben and Future Think Tank regular Will are joined by another Will to take on the hefty topic of 2020 and some healthy speculation for 2021. We cover a wide range of topics and opinions (which are all our own). Please share with your respective echo chambers and email us at bhdecjones@gmail.com with any libel, comments or suggestions (professional email address coming very soon).
Join Ben and Will for their third discussion on a future theme. Today’s episode examines all things ‘local’ - how the idea of local is changing and what it might look like in the future. More detailed notes to follow, in the meantime contact Future Think Tank on bhdecjones@gmail.com with feedback, comments and suggestions.
Ben briefly reminds all you listeners about why he started this podcast and whither he hopes to travel with it. As always, email him at bhdecjones@gmail.com
Ben and Will use ‘travel’ as a prompt for this week’s Future Think Tank group chat, examining present trends, exploring some interesting possibilities and identifying ideas for future episodes.
Ben attempts to aggregate the week’s futurist news and looks at podcast highlights and recommendations. As always, email bhdecjones@gmail.com with comments, advice and ideas.
Ben talks about why Jordan B Peterson is relevant to Future Think Tank and urges you to read (or listen) to ‘12 Rules of Life’ - if you haven’t already!
Will joins Ben for the weekly chat about anything and everything to do with the future. The format is experimental - there are no rules or regulations here, just a general aim to explore the future and see where we end up. Our conversation organically evolved, quite quickly, towards what future entertainment might look like, based on some current trends around using gaming platforms to spend time with others virtually and even for music artists to perform. Listen in to see where we end up! As usual - email Ben on bhdecjones@gmail.com with feedback, ideas and to get involved in Future Think Tank.
Into week 2 of Future Think Tank, Ben looks back at the first week, assessing how he thinks he did. He then talks about the general direction of Future Think Tank and a couple of spin-off project ideas - ‘Start Me Up’ podcast and ‘Same Page’ book group. Finally, he looks forward to next week, starting with the first group discussion this weekend. Feedback to bhdecjones@gmail.com
Ben’s end-of-first-week ramble on using knowledge of the present and general trends as the solid foundation to move on to speculate and discuss potential projects to influence the future. Don’t forget to specialise. Feedback to bhdecjones@gmail.com
Ben talks about his plan for a recurring feature to talk to people about projects they are working on that are trying to make Futureland a better place for everyone. He touches on some Startup fundamentals - iterating, MVPs, pivots - before moving on to a project idea of his own and some rationale behind it. Please join the discussion here: bhdecjones@gmail.com
All about people! When working on your ideas, do not forget that people are what you need to get things done, to inspire, to progress. As always, email Ben at bhdecjones@gmail.com with recommendations, ideas and anything else.
Take 2 - The first hour-long effort was lost in a haze of technical glitch, so here is a frenzied recap of that sprawling ramble. Contact me on bhdecjones@gmail.com with any questions, suggestions, etc.
What is Future Think Tank? This is Ben telling you his vision for the Tank in one take, no editing, no effects, just words. If you like what you hear and want to get involved in episode 2, please contact me via email bhdecjones@gmail.com