Quest for Better Futures

What do you see, when you picture the future? If it’s AI, rockets and a highly engineered, precise world, you’re not alone. However, these visions are rooted in old, harmful ideas that dismiss nature and indigenous knowledge as “primitive,” carrying forward ideas with troubling origins.In episode 7 of Quest for Better Futures, Monika Bielskyte and Aakash Sethi explore how our ideas of the future continue to be shaped by outdated sci-fi and why that’s a problem.Host - Aakash SethiGuest - Monika BielskyteProduction Crew - Shivam PandeyProduced By Quest AllianceEditor(s)- Chandan CM, Shashank KSConcept - Bhawna Parmar, Tanvi NegiContent - Bhawna Parmar, Sahana HMMusic - Smooth Future Bass Logo by LEXMUSICVFX & Motion graphics - Chandan CM#QuestforBetterFutures #QuestAlliance #EdTech #podcast #futuresliteracy #futuresthinking #NGO

In episode 6 of Quest for Better Futures, Neha Parti and Suchetha Bhat dig deep into the uncomfortable truths of leadership and privilege. From language, caste, and class to the subtle ways competition and control can undermine true collaboration, they confront the urgent questions we need to ask to co-create futures that are inclusive, equitable, and responsible. Host(s) - Neha PartiGuest(s) - Suchetha BhatProduction Crew - Chandan CM, Dilip P, Hiranya Singh, Mohammed Sajjad, Zaheera VazProduced By Quest AllianceEditor(s) - Chandan CM, Shashank KSConcept - Bhawna Parmar, Tanvi NegiContent - Bhawna Parmar, Neha Parti, Sahana HMMusic - Smooth Future Bass Logo by LEXMUSICVFX & Motion graphics - Chandan CMLocation courtesy - Quest Learning Observatory, Bangalore (India)#QuestforBetterFutures #QuestAlliance #GenderEquity #FuturesThinking #FuturesLiteracy

How do we balance today’s urgent demands while also being equally conscious of the rights of future generations? In Episode 5 of Quest for Better Futures, Bhawna Parmar and Cat Tully of School of International Futures talk intergenerational fairness, the limitations of short-term political cycles, and the importance of civil society and youth in helping society move from outdated systems toward more sustainable and just futures.Long-term thinking can feel impossible, futile or even inconvenient, given the changing nature of the world we inhabit. But as this episode reveals, the cost of ignoring the future is already showing up in our present — whether it is polluted cities, broken infrastructure, or inequality growing by leaps and bounds. Host - Bhawna ParmarGuest - Cat Tully, Founder of SOIF, the School of International Futures Production Crew - Chandan CMProduced By Quest AllianceEditor(s) - Chandan CM, Shashank KSConcept - Bhawna Parmar, Tanvi NegiContent - Bhawna Parmar, Sahana HMMusic - Smooth Future Bass Logo by LEXMUSICVFX & Motion graphics - Chandan CM, Hiranya Singh

If the future belongs to all of us, why do only a few get to shape it? What would it take to change that?In Episode 4 of Quest for Better Futures, Aakash Sethi sits down with Urvashi Aneja of Digital Futures Lab, to talk about the power of foresight, not just for policymakers and academics, but also for young people and communities to reclaim their place in shaping the future. They explore how foresight can help us question dominant narratives (often shaped by the privileged few), reclaim agency over what lies ahead, and co-create futures that are more inclusive, equitable, and grounded in local realities.Host(s) - Aakash SethiGuest(s) - Urvashi AnejaProduction Crew - Chandan CM, Sahana HMProduced By Quest AllianceEditor(s) - Chandan CM, Shashank KSConcept - Bhawna Parmar, Tanvi NegiContent - Bhawna Parmar, Sahana HMMusic - Smooth Future Bass Logo by LEXMUSICVFX & Motion graphics - Chandan CM, Hiranya SinghLocation courtesy - Sadhana D'ell Arte, Merces, GoaContact - info@questalliance.net

Can we tackle the climate crisis without listening to those affected by it the most?
Prof. Lyla Mehta and Shibaji Bose unpack the current dominant climate narratives with our colleagues Bhawna Parmar and Neha Parti. They highlight the critical role of education and the need for future literacy that equips youth with agency, imagination and real-world tools to navigate uncertainty and lead climate action.Host(s) - Bhawna Parmar, Neha PartiGuest(s)    - Shibaji Bose, Lyla MehtaProduction Crew - Chandan CM, Zaheera VazProduced By    Quest AllianceEditor(s) - Chandan CMConcept - Bhawna Parmar, Tanvi NegiContent - Bhawna Parmar, Neha PartiMusic - Smooth Future Bass Logo by LEXMUSICVFX & Motion graphics - Chandan CM, Dilip P

AI has moved from hype to a habit. In Episode 2 of Quest for Better Futures hosted by Namrata Agarwal, we are joined by Aapti Institute's Sarayu Natarajan to explore how we can take a more intentional role in shaping the direction of AI and emerging technologies, one that is youth-led and centres equity, ethics and human values.

How are young people shaping their futures in an ever-changing world?In a time when opportunities feel out of reach and the future is shaped by forces like AI, climate change and outdated education systems, young people are grappling with more than just career choices.In Episode 1 of Quest for Better Futures, we bring you the voices of Jai and Chandana, two young learners striving to rise above the chaos with the ambition to create something meaningful for themselves.Hosted by our colleague Nikita Bengani, this episode dives deeper into the lived experiences of young people and their visions for the future.Credits:Host - Nikita BenganiGuests - Chandana Barman, Jai BasyalProduction Crew - Chandan CM, Dilip P, Flarantxa Pereira, Kathelene Reena, Mohammed Sajjad, Sahana HM, Zaheera VazProduced By Quest AllianceEditor - Chandan CMConcept - Bhawna Parmar, Tanvi NegiContent - Bhawna Parmar, Nikita Bengani, Aparna Santha-JayanthanMusic - Smooth Future Bass Logo by LEXMUSICVFX & Motion graphics - Chandan CM, Hiranya SinghLocation courtesy - Quest Learning Observatory, Bangalore (India)

In a world of constant disruption, what does it take to build futures where young people thrive?Hosted by us, Quest for Better Futures brings you voices from young people and their allies at the frontlines of education, work, emerging technologies and climate change to challenge assumptions about what's possible and reimagine more just and inclusive futures.Host(s) - Aakash Sethi, Bhawna Parmar, Namrata Agarwal, Neha Parti, Nikita BenganiProduction Crew - Chandan CM, Mohammed Sajjad, Padma Koppa, Sahana HMProduced By - Quest AllianceEditor - Chandan CMConcept and Content - Bhawna Parmar, Sahana HMMusic - Smooth Future Bass Logo by LEXMUSIC and Simple Logo by az_studioVFX and Motion graphics - Chandan CM, Hiranya SinghLocation courtesy - Quest Learning Observatory, Bangalore (India)