John Lanchester on the real value of money

In our fourth FutureFest podcast, we explore the concept and future of money. Did you know your £1 coin isn’t technically worth £1? Or that the largest coin still in use on the Micronesian island of Yap is 12-foot across and made of stone? Author and journalist John Lanchester draws on fascinating examples to demonstrate what makes money money. And have you ever considered that your bodily fluids could be your future currency? Biohacker and designer Raph Kim talks about the possibility of ditching notes and coins for spit and snot. Finally, find out what comedian and scientist Dr Steve Cross had to say to us on money matters. FutureFest is Nesta‘s weekend festival of radical ideas, compelling talks, and immersive experiences to inspire, excite and challenge perceptions of the future. The most recent festival took place in March 2015 in London. To find out more about FutureFest, visit www.nesta.org.uk/futurefest A transcript of this episode is available at: http://www.nesta.org.uk/sites/default/files/episode-4-future-money-transcript.pdf Podcast presented by Emiliy Elias This podcast features the following music: Broke for free - Melt The Moss - Cosmo Sheldrake