Tomorrow - The Future Forum Podcast

What if millions of people living with paralysis could regain movement—without invasive treatment? In this episode of Tomorrow by Future Forum, host Oli Barrett sits down with Dr Laura Salisbury - Founder and CEO at KnitRegen, to explore a breakthrough in wearable neurotechnology that could transform stroke recovery and rehabilitation. Blending design, material science, and neuroscience, Laura shares how a simple wrist-worn device, using precisely timed taps and sound, can reconnect neural pathways and restore movement in patients long after traditional therapy has ended. 🎙 About the Podcast The Future Forum podcast brings together leaders, thinkers and innovators to explore the ideas shaping tomorrow. For more information, head to www.futureforum.co Each episode explores the intersection of leadership, technology, creativity and systems thinking. 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations about the future of leadership, innovation and creativity. Chapters 00:00 – Intro: A Future Where Millions Regain Movement 00:45 – Meet Dr. Laura Salisbury (Founder, Knit Regen) 01:01 – The Vision: Restoring Independence After Stroke 01:56 – The Scale of the Problem (Millions Left Without Treatment) 03:18 – From Fashion to Science: An Unconventional Path 04:49 – Can Materials Improve Human Health? 06:48 – The Turning Point: Designing for Disability 08:47 – What Actually Happens After a Stroke? 11:30 – The Breakthrough Discovery (Sound + Neural Signals) 13:25 – Rewiring the Brain: The “Two Motorways” Explained 14:57 – The Device: How It Works (Tap + Click System) 16:06 – Early Results: Movement Returning in Hours 16:57 – What Stage Are We At? (Clinical Trials & Next Steps) 18:25 – The 10-Year Vision: From Treatment to Prevention 20:44 – Beyond Stroke: Tackling Obesity & Muscle Health 21:37 – Quickfire Round Begins 21:39 – Lessons from Fashion That Still Apply 23:22 – Hidden Downsides of “Sustainable” Textiles 23:58 – Feeling Out of Depth & Changing Lanes 25:25 – Mentorship & Finding Belonging 26:46 – The Frustration: Slow Innovation Systems 29:08 – What Needs to Change in Healthcare Innovation 30:34 – How This Reaches Patients (Clinics vs Consumer) 31:53 – Advice for Innovators Crossing Industries 33:38 – Learning New Fields (Electrical Engineering) 35:15 – How You Can Support the Mission 35:53 – Final Message: A Call to Innovate Earlier Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What does it really take to build a high-performing team? In this episode, Oli Barrett is joined by Victoria Gosling OBE, CEO of GB Snowsport to explore the reality behind elite performance, from culture and leadership to mental health and marginal gains. They discuss why the best athletes aren’t superhuman, how high-performance environments are carefully designed, and what sport can learn from industries like Formula One. From balancing pressure and wellbeing to creating sustainable success, this conversation offers powerful insights for leaders, teams, and anyone striving to perform at their best. 🎙 About the PodcastThe Future Forum podcast brings together leaders, thinkers and innovators to explore the ideas shaping tomorrow. For more information, head to www.futureforum.co Each episode explores the intersection of leadership, technology, creativity and systems thinking. 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations about the future of leadership, innovation and creativity. Chapters 00:00 – Introduction 01:10 – What high performance really looks like 03:45 – The myth of “superhuman” athletes 07:20 – Why mental health matters in elite sport 11:05 – Building a winning culture 16:40 – Marginal gains and lessons from Formula One 21:30 – Pushing performance without burnout 26:15 – Leadership, values, and long-term success 30:00 – Final reflections Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What kind of future are we building—and who gets to decide? In this episode of Tomorrow: The Future Forum, host Oli Barrett sits down with Dex Hunter-Torricke, founder of the Centre for Tomorrow and former communications leader at Google DeepMind and SpaceX. They explore why we are at a critical crossroads moment and how the rise of AI could either unlock unprecedented human progress… or trigger massive disruption across jobs, economies, and global stability. From universal basic income to leadership responsibility, this conversation is a wake-up call for business leaders, policymakers, and anyone shaping the future. 🎙 About the Podcast The Future Forum podcast brings together leaders, thinkers and innovators to explore the ideas shaping tomorrow. For more information, head to www.futureforum.co Each episode explores the intersection of leadership, technology, creativity and systems thinking. 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations about the future of leadership, innovation and creativity. ⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:00 The Future Starts Now 00:31 Meet Dex Hunter-Torik 01:56 Two Possible Futures (Hope vs Collapse) 03:11 Why Leaders Will Be Blamed 04:33 Why AI Is NOT the Industrial Revolution 05:42 What Is the Centre for Tomorrow? 07:25 Why Current Systems Are Failing 08:27 How Did We Get Here? 09:49 Why Fixing This Will Be So Hard 11:04 The Real Impact of AI on Jobs 12:09 Reasons for Optimism (Science & AI) 14:00 The Graduate Job Crisis 15:05 Rethinking the Entire Economy 16:13 What Needs to Happen Next 17:15 Why Leaders Aren’t Acting 18:46 The “Doomers” vs Realists 20:05 Who Gets a Voice in the Future? 22:13 Advice for Overwhelmed Leaders 23:18 Communication in Times of Crisis 25:31 Why Honesty Matters in Leadership 28:59 Corporate Responsibility in the AI Era 29:24 One Reason to Be Optimistic 31:25 The Conversation We Haven’t Had Yet 32:38 The Wake-Up Call for Leaders 34:25 The UK’s Role in the Future 35:20 How to Get Involved 37:04 Will Dex Go Into Politics? 38:09 A Message to the Future Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What does leadership look like in a world defined by AI, complex systems, and rapid technological change? In this episode of the Future Forum podcast, host Oli Barrett speaks with engineering leader and former CEO of the Royal Academy of Engineering, Hayaatun Sillem. Together they explore how leadership is evolving in an increasingly complex world, from systems thinking and engineering biology to the role of diversity, convergence, and the next generation of leaders. Hayaatun shares insights from decades at the intersection of science, engineering, technology and policy, and explains why the most powerful leaders of the future will prioritise humility, adaptability and human-centred systems. If you're a founder, creative thinker, innovator or future-focused leader, this episode will challenge how you think about leadership, technology and the future. 🎙 About the Podcast The Future Forum podcast brings together leaders, thinkers and innovators to explore the ideas shaping tomorrow. For more information, head to www.futureforum.co Each episode explores the intersection of leadership, technology, creativity and systems thinking. 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations about the future of leadership, innovation and creativity. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:05 A glimpse of the future 03:40 The mindset of an “active optimist” 05:30 Why engineering must become human-centric 08:30 Being an outsider on the inside 09:30 Quickfire leadership questions 13:15 AI, quantum and engineering biology 16:10 Why innovation happens outside your lane 19:05 Learning to be comfortable with uncertainty 21:46 The evolution of leadership 24:30 How to build better future leaders 27:37 What motorsport teaches about teamwork 29:57 What we should have taken seriously 10 years ago 32:24 Memo to the future Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode one launches Monday March 9th. A weekly series hosted by Oli Barrett spotlighting cross-sector collisions exploring the critical questions, thinking and systems defining the global economy. Join us as our guests share glimpses of the future, reflect on "leaving their lane," and take us to the edge of their industry. If you care about what's next, listen to "Tomorrow, the Future Forum Podcast," available on YouTube, Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your content. Help us shape what comes next.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices