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© 2025 Think Forward: Conversations with Futurists, Innovators and Big Thinkers
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Welcome to the Think Forward podcast where we have conversations with futurists, innovators and big thinkers about what lies ahead. We explore emerging trends on the horizon and what it means to be a futurist.
138 Episodes
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What if the key to understanding tomorrow lies not in boardroom predictions but in the rhythms of a DJ's turntable? Derek Woodgate, with his 30+ years as an experimental futurist, takes us on a fascinating journey through his unique approach to futures thinking that blends underground arts with rigorous analysis. Derek reveals how his background in music management (working with bands like Swans and Sonic Youth) and his immersion in early digital communities shaped his distinctive methodolog...
Welcome to this episode of Think Forward! In this episode, we sit down with Cécile Cremer, founder of Wandering the Future, joins us to challenge conventional wisdom about how we prepare for tomorrow's challenges. With refreshing candor, she explains why she's moving away from traditional trend reports toward a more collaborative approach to future-building. "I truly believe that the future should be co-created with people from all over the world," she shares, questioning how much real influe...
What happens when you hold an artifact from a future that doesn't exist yet? A newspaper headline from 2045, a product manual for technology not yet invented, or a social media post from an entirely different world? These aren't just creative exercises—they're powerful tools for making abstract futures tangible. Julian Bleecker, one of the pioneering architects of design fiction, takes us on a fascinating journey through his approach to imagining possible tomorrows. Julian shares his journey...
The key to organizational survival lies in embedding foresight deeply into company DNA, creating structures that detect change, understand implications, and adapt accordingly before crises emerge. Futurist Steve Fisher shares practical frameworks for developing this capability, regardless of team size or organizational readiness. • Four organizational models for implementing foresight: Lone Wolf, Dynamic Duo, Special Forces Unit, and Enterprise Transformation • Step-by-step implementation pl...
Nicholas Badminton brings a refreshingly grounded yet visionary perspective to futures work, sharing his journey from growing up around a slaughterhouse to delivering over 450 keynotes worldwide as a renowned futurist. His approach focuses on breaking dominant narratives, finding overlooked implications, and helping organizations build futures fluency through practical, integrated methods that drive meaningful transformation. • Began his futurist journey when his father gave him "The Usborne...
Welcome to episode 132! We sit down with Roger Spitz of the Disruptive Futures Institute. Roger Spitz brings a refreshingly different perspective to the future of business and leadership. As the former global head of Tech M&A who pivoted into professional futures work, Roger's journey represents exactly the kind of transformation he advocates for—bold, purpose-driven, and responsive to a changing world. What sets Roger apart is his holistic approach to disruption. While most futurists fo...
Catherine Roy, a designer turned strategic futurist at Thales, reveals that flying taxis and advanced air mobility face substantial social acceptance challenges beyond mere technological hurdles. Her research identified 62 criteria for social acceptability of air taxis, demonstrating the complexity of successfully introducing this transportation mode. We touch upon many things in this episode including: How she transformed into a strategic futurist leading global design networksResearch found...
Jake Dunegan, a visionary operating at the intersection of futures thinking and political systems, shares how experiential futures can help us reimagine governance for the 21st century challenges we face. Drawing from his fascinating journey from anthropology to futures studies, Dunegan shares the moment he discovered a manuscript on "Quantum Politics" that proposed revolutionary ideas about constitutional design based on uncertainty rather than mechanistic balance. This epiphany eventually l...
Alex Fergnani takes us on a journey from his beginnings as a martial arts student in Asia to becoming a provocative voice in futures thinking with his groundbreaking approach to foresight wisdom. His upcoming book "The Dao of Foresight" with Penguin represents a fresh approach to teaching foresight concepts through an entertaining narrative set in a fictional world. Following a hero's journey structure, the novel follows a young disciple seeking a master to help save his endangered village. T...
We're launching Foundations and Futures, a special series of 100 bite-sized episodes to support our new book and make 1 million people future fluent by 2030. Each 5-7 minute episode delivers one key concept, tool, or practice to build your futures literacy from the ground up. • 100 free episodes starting March 17th to build future fluency • Episodes released in batches of 10 on Mondays and Thursdays • Each episode is 5-7 minutes focused on one key foresight concept • Series supports our book...
Organizational foresight is the key differentiator between companies that merely survive and those that actively shape their future, enabling systematic anticipation of change through expanded thinking across three time horizons. • Foresight isn't corporate fortune-telling—it's a sophisticated navigation system showing multiple routes and spotting opportunities others miss • The three horizons framework balances improving current business (H1: 0-2 years), exploring emerging opportunities (H2...
Organizations today face an urgent need to be future-ready. The conversation with Dr. Rene Rohrbeck emphasizes the critical role of strategic foresight in achieving business resilience and success in a rapidly changing environment. Companies that prioritize foresight not only adapt to emerging market trends but also enhance their financial performance. • Introduction of future fitness focused on proactive preparedness • Personal background influencing Dr. Rohrbeck's foresight perspecti...
Welcome to Episode 125 of the Think Forward Show! This episode features a conversation with Dr. John Sweeney, who discusses the evolution of futures studies and the importance of transformative foresight. The episode delves into using play and culture in futures work, advocating for broader futures literacy and anticipatory governance while stressing the ethical responsibilities of futurists in shaping inclusive narratives for diverse communities. In this episode we explore: • J...
Join Steve Fisher on this exciting episode of the Think Forward Show as share new content coming and we explore the transformative trends shaping 2025 and beyond. From ambient AI becoming the invisible infrastructure of our lives to agentic systems taking on complex tasks with autonomy, this episode breaks down the forces reshaping industries, work, and daily life. Steve also discusses sustainability’s integration into foundational technologies, advancements in quantum computing, and the evol...
2024 Year-End Special: Shaping the Future with Think Forward Join host Steve Fisher in this Think Forward podcast episode, where we recap the transformative events of 2024 and look ahead to 2025. From the integration of AI into everyday life to advancements in sustainable technology, climate change crises, and shifts in political and financial landscapes, this year has been monumental. The episode features reflections and clips from conversations with leading futurists and innovators about th...
Welcome to Episode 122 of the Think Forward Show! In this insightful episode, I sit down with Joanna Lepore, who leads Global Foresight at McDonald's Corporation. From her journey as an "accidental futurist" to co-founding FIG (Foresight Insight Group), Jo shares how real transformation starts at the core and ripples outward. In this episode, we explore: Why internal foresight capabilities are crucial for large organizationsHow to break through the "baggage" of corporate futures workTh...
"The only future we can make is the one we can imagine." Most organizations treat imagination like New Year's exercise equipment—they know they should use it, but somehow it ends up gathering dust in the corner. Join me for Episode 121 of the Think Forward Show as we explore how imagination transforms futures work from abstract possibilities into tangible futures we can build. In this episode, we explore: - Why imagination is the secret sauce of futures work - How to break free from the "...
🚀Episode 120 of the Think Forward Show is ready for you! 🚀 What if the key to seeing the future was learning to notice what others miss? 🎙️ Welcome to the Think Forward Show Episode 120: Non-Obvious Thinking with Rohit Bhargava 🔍 I'm Steve Fisher, your guide on this futurist journey, and in this enlightening episode, I sit down with Rohit Bhargava, author of the Non-Obvious series and the new book "Non-Obvious Thinking." We explore how developing a non-obvious mindset can help us spot opportu...
🎙️ Welcome to Think Forward Show Episode 119: The Art of Trendspotting 🔍🌐 I’m Steve Fisher, your guide on this futurist journey. In this episode, we continue our Being a Futurist series, and I dive deep into Trendspotting—a crucial skill for anyone looking to anticipate change, identify opportunities, and navigate the future. If you’ve ever wondered how to distinguish between a fad, a trend, and a megatrend, or if you want to spot hidden signals shaping tomorrow, this episode is for you! 🔑 Ke...
🎙️ Welcome to Think Forward Show Episode 118: Engineering Foresight with Kara Cunzeman 🌌🔧 In this episode, I sit down with Kara Cunzeman, a visionary in applied foresight, to discuss how engineering and futures work intersect to tackle some of the most complex national challenges. Kara brings a unique perspective, blending systems engineering with strategic foresight to guide national security and space policy. 🔑 Key Takeaways: •How to build a foresight function within large organizations fro...
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