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Welcome to Futures Hub Podcast, where we explore the pathways to tomorrow. This podcast navigates the intersecting landscape of foresight, community engagement, and personal growth.
Each episode explores aspects of futures thinking, delving into foresight and systems techniques and discovering how these methods can both shape personal foresight capacity and contribute to community co-creation and meaningful decision-making.
Recognizing the power of information to empower individuals and communities, episodes dive into research to unearth valuable insights to help foster future-focused collaboration, inclusivity, and community building. Learn about engaging with communities, listen to their voices, and explore strategies for genuine community consultation. From youth to seniors, newcomers to minorities, everyone has a role in crafting a future where all belong.
Our commitment extends to the synergy of creativity and strategy, combining the art of foresight with tangible policy outcomes.
Join us on this exciting journey as we share insights, mine data, and discuss strategies to empower individuals and build resilient communities. Together, let's soften the impact of future shock, empower through information sharing, increase civic participation, enhance decision-making, and build community capacity.
The future is a canvas waiting to be painted. Welcome to Futures Hub Podcast, where we learn how to co-create the masterpiece of tomorrow.
Each episode explores aspects of futures thinking, delving into foresight and systems techniques and discovering how these methods can both shape personal foresight capacity and contribute to community co-creation and meaningful decision-making.
Recognizing the power of information to empower individuals and communities, episodes dive into research to unearth valuable insights to help foster future-focused collaboration, inclusivity, and community building. Learn about engaging with communities, listen to their voices, and explore strategies for genuine community consultation. From youth to seniors, newcomers to minorities, everyone has a role in crafting a future where all belong.
Our commitment extends to the synergy of creativity and strategy, combining the art of foresight with tangible policy outcomes.
Join us on this exciting journey as we share insights, mine data, and discuss strategies to empower individuals and build resilient communities. Together, let's soften the impact of future shock, empower through information sharing, increase civic participation, enhance decision-making, and build community capacity.
The future is a canvas waiting to be painted. Welcome to Futures Hub Podcast, where we learn how to co-create the masterpiece of tomorrow.
18 Episodes
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In the Season 2 finale of Futures Hub, we reflect on the ideas, provocations, and insights that shaped our conversations this year with guests Jessica Thornton, Everton Lewis, Samantha Matters, Method Collective, Sarah Brin and Disha Arora. This wrap-up synthesizes the five cross-cutting themes that emerged across the season and traces how Season 2 emulated many of the trends captured at the beginning of the year. We also share highlights from the Futures Room - Futures Hub's immersive public installation - and offer a glimpse of what's ahead as we continue expanding futures thinking through the Futures Hub community being built. Whether you've been listening from the beginning or are tuning in for the first time, this episode offers inspiration and an invitation to imagine and co-create better futures together.
In this episode of Futures Hub, we are joined by Lorna Okeng and Emmanuel Rukundo - the creative minds behind Keepers XR and the VR film Keepers of the Forest: The Batwa Legacy. Filmed in Uganda, Keepers of the Forest features the Batwa people - ancestral guardians of the Bwindi and Virunga mountain ranges, which is home to half of the world's mountain gorillas. Once evicted from their forest, the Batwa are now working to preserve their culture, identity, and environmental knowledge. Using virtual reality, Lorna and Emmanuel preserve knowledge systems and feature African futurist perspectives. During the episode, we explore: How emergent tech like VR can preserve cultural knowledge The importance of ancient ecological wisdom for climate resilience Co-creation with Indigenous communities AI (that is: "Ancestral intelligence") as a futures and design methodology Emotional reactions to immersive storytelling, including empowering youth through creative technology; and The landscape of African digital creativity and XR innovation This conversation bridges past, present, and future, showing how intangible heritage, oral traditions, and technology can create better futures. If you're passionate about foresight, XR, climate justice, innovation, or storytelling, this episode is a must-listen for you. Tune in to be inspired and imagine what becomes possible when the world honours its early storytellers and future protectors.
In this episode of the Futures Hub podcast, we are joined by Julius Lindsay, climate strategist and futurist with over twenty years of experience working across municipalities, nonprofits, and national initiatives in Canada. Julius shares his approach to systems thinking and why his perspective on climate leadership has shifted over time from high-level policy to deeply local, community-based action. He explores why trust, context, and conversation matter more than control, and how climate work can move from telling people what to do to enabling communities to lead. The conversation also dives into the Prismatic Project - an initiative developing a futures-based game that helps communities imagine climate futures using Black and Indigenous worldviews. Julius explains how games and creative forms of engagement can lower barriers to participation and why involving voices beyond traditional "experts" leads to better outcomes. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in climate action and reimagining public participation beyond traditional consultation. Whether you work in climate policy, local government, community organizing, or are simply curious about how we can plan for more inclusive futures, this conversation offers practical insights and a powerful reframing of what's possible.
For our Season 3 launch, the Futures Hub podcast moves from naming trends to working with tensions. Rather than predicting what's next, this episode invites listeners into a personal futures practice designed to help make sense of the futures we're already living inside. Listeners are invited to hold one future they care about and move through a series of tools, guided by three core tensions impacting many futures today: moral urgency vs. material capacity forward motion vs. remembering individual vs. collective agency This episode adapts tools from management, foresight and systems thinking and offers them to listeners for private reflection, establishing a longer arc of shared sensemaking across the season. The episode is designed to be paused. It is best experienced slowly. Grab a paper and pen, or download the complementary Season 3 Tensions Map found in this episode's show notes as a companion for your experience.
In this episode of Futures Hub, listeners are joined by Disha Arora, founder of the Faith Futures Collective - a South Asia-based initiative amplifying women's perspectives in religion to promote gender justice. Disha shares how her journey from creating a documentary on women and religion in India to founding Faith Futures Collective revealed the risks, resilience, and transformative power of narrative change. Together, we explore: Why foresight and futures thinking are vital for reimagining faith. The obstacles women face in faith institutions and how creativity and safety strategies open space for change. How movements like the campaign around the Sabarimala temple spark wider conversations on equality. The practice of "active hope" as a way to keep moving forward in uncertain times. Why narrative power - who gets to tell the story - shapes the futures we build. Tune in to learn more about imagination, resilience, and the power of stories to transform centuries-old systems.
What makes an experience truly immersive, and how can it help us imagine better futures? In this episode of Futures Hub, experience designer and creative strategist Sarah Brin joins us to explore the intersection of art, technology, and futures thinking. Drawing on her work with projects like Meow Wolf's Omega Mart, Sarah shares how playful, hands-on design can spark critical reflection on the systems that shape our lives. We dive into: How immersive experiences engage more than just our senses The power of creative R&D and "doing it bad" as a path to innovation How design can be used to spark reflections on personal agency; and Trends in art, entertainment, and technology that are shaping futures work Sarah's message is clear: futures work doesn't just belong to tech giants or elite institutions - it belongs to all of us. Whether you're an artist, futurist, or simply curious about where culture and creativity are headed, this episode will leave you inspired to experiment, play, and take action toward building a thriving world.
In this episode, we speak with Method Collective, a team of interdisciplinary creatives working at the intersection of life-centered design, systems thinking, and strategic foresight. Together, we explore their groundbreaking initiative, Space for Grief, and their pioneering work in grief-informed futures - frameworks that acknowledge how loss shapes our collective imagination and possibilities. We dive into why grief needs dedicated public spaces, how collective memory influences societal change, and how designing for mutual benefit - across human and more-than-human worlds - is key to a resilient future. Along the way, the team shares practical insights on shifting from resilience to sustainability mindsets, navigating uncertainty with care, and weaving art, business, and community together. Whether you're a designer, futurist, changemaker, or community builder, this conversation offers moving, actionable reflections on how we might build more compassionate, interconnected futures for all.
Join us as we speak with Samantha Matters - Co-Founder and Principal Futurist of Eras Foresight and Consulting Corp - about practicing foresight with purpose and care. Samantha shares how her work is rooted in care, relationships, and responsiveness to complexity, and how Eras Foresight and Consulting Corp aims to do things differently from traditional consulting firms by working with clients to shape process together, rather than arriving at ready-made answers. Together, we unpack what it means to co-create futures in ways that are participatory, rooted in community, and mindful of long-term transformation. From reframing change management to navigating uncertainty with humility and curiosity, this conversation offers insights into more carefull ways of building the future.
How can organizations move beyond "innovation theatre" to create meaningful transformation? In this episode of Futures Hub, we talk with Everton Lewis, Managing Director and Head of Consulting of OCAD U CO, and explore topics of design, leadership, impact measurement and value. Everton shares how he brings together teams to help organizations navigate complexity and explains the value of constraint to spark innovation. From practical frameworks to real-world experiences, join us as we dive into the power of design thinking to create positive change.
How do we prepare for an uncertain future while making decisions today? In this episode of Futures Hub, we sit down with Jessica Thornton, co-founder of Creative Futures, to explore how strategic foresight can help organizations navigate complexity, embrace uncertainty, and build better futures. Jessica shares her journey—from reimagining systems change to launching Creative Futures during the pandemic—and breaks down the foresight tools and co-creation methods she uses to help public and nonprofit leaders think beyond short-term crises. We discuss: ✨ Why everyone should think like a futurist 🔮 The power of scenarios and storytelling 🚀 How to balance urgent demands with long-term vision 🎭 Why play and imagination are key to transforming organizations Whether you're a leader, innovator, or just future-curious, this conversation will challenge the way you think about uncertainty—and inspire you to take action.
Welcome to a new season of Futures Hub! This season, we're not just exploring the future - we're creating it alongside a growing community of foresight practitioners and future-curious individuals who are actively shaping what's next. In this kickoff episode, we reflect on what we've learned so far and explore some emerging trends shaping our world in 2025. From participatory futures and speculative design to the ethical implications of AI, we dive into some of the key tools and ideas that are shaping tomorrow. Join us as we unlock the potential of collective transformation and explore how futures thinking can drive real-world change. Whether you're a futurist, a changemaker, or just curious about what's next, this is the season you won't want to miss!
In this Season 1 finale of Futures Hub, we discuss the key insights that defined our first season. From creativity to personal practice, community engagement to rethinking the conventional, this episode synthesizes the wisdom of Season 1 guests Nataljia Vojno, Alicia Richins, Grace Guadarrama, Sabrina Meherally and Jenn Chan. Whether you're new to the podcast or have been with us from the start, this episode offers inspiration and a call to action for anyone who wants to build a better tomorrow.
Join us for an enlightening episode featuring Jennifer Chan, Co-Founder and CEO of the Department of Imaginary Affairs. Jenn shares her insights on how nonprofits can break free from scarcity mindsets and embrace creativity within constraints. Explore the importance of collective liberation, the unique paths to readiness, and the transformative power of community engagement. This episode challenges us to rethink how stories are told, how they're received, and how we can support each other in the pursuit of change. Tune in to learn more from a nonprofit that's doing so much good in the community space!
In this episode, we talk about ways of futuring with Sabrina Meherally, founder of Pause+Effect. Sabrina shares insights about the nuances of foresight, exploring how curiosity, humility, and inclusive practices are key to shaping the futures we envision. We discuss the challenges of exclusionary definitions and methodologies and the importance of embodying the future we seek to create. Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation that challenges conventional thinking and invites you to become an active participant in the futures we all share. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in how foresight can be a tool for inclusion, creativity, and transformative change.
Join us on a journey into the world of design, storytelling, and community engagement with Grace Guadarrama - a seasoned design strategist and foresight expert. In this episode, we delve into the nuances of design research and the role of diverse voices in shaping inclusive futures, learn about the power of storytelling in shaping positive futures, and better understand the importance of participatory design in creating meaningful change. Discover how Grace's curiosity and a passion for making things better led her from industrial design to strategic foresight and hear more about her foresight work in Mexico, Dubai, and beyond. Not only does Grace highlight the transformative power of community engagement and co-creation, but she shares ways design and foresight can inspire us to envision and act towards a better future.
In this episode, we delve into the creation of The Climateverse, a media platform reporting news from parallel dimensions where humanity is actively taking transformative action on climate and social justice issues. Join us as we explore the vision behind The Climateverse and the potential impact of immersive storytelling on activism. With firsthand insights from The Climateverse creator Alicia Richins, this episode offers insight into the intersection of futures, media, technology, and advocacy to enact positive change.
In this episode, Natalija Vojno shares insights from her work in water governance, environmental peacebuilding, and social cohesion. Drawing from her experiences in regions like the Balkans and Nile Basin countries, Natalija shares valuable insights on how transformative dialogue and inclusive initiatives can pave the way for peace and sustainability. She also sheds light on the challenges and opportunities in fostering community engagement, promoting peace, and envisioning sustainable futures. From the importance of creativity to the power of long-term visioning, this episode is packed with inspiration for anyone passionate about building bridges and creating positive change in the world.
In this episode, we introduce the concepts of foresight, futurists, co-creation and community engagement; talk about what futurists do and how they even become futurists to begin with; and share tidbits around foresight methodology to whet the appetite.
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