FUTUREPROOF.

Send us Fan MailWe talk a lot about AI reshaping the future.We talk less about who gets to participate in it.In this episode of FUTUREPROOF., I sit down with Corbb O’Connor, who leads accessibility advocacy at Level Access. Corbb is blind. He’s spent years consulting enterprise teams — from financial institutions to global brands — helping them design digital experiences that are actually usable by people with disabilities.This isn’t a compliance conversation.It’s a systems conversation.As AI systems increasingly generate interfaces, content, decisions, and workflows at scale, accessibility can no longer be an afterthought. If accessibility isn’t embedded upstream — in product design, in data pipelines, in AI outputs — exclusion compounds just as quickly as innovation.Corbb argues that inclusion is not a moral add-on. It’s infrastructure. It’s economics. It’s risk management. And increasingly, it’s competitive advantage.We explore: Why accessibility should be treated like cybersecurity — a non-negotiable requirement, not a retroactive fix  The difference between “AI for accessibility” and “accessible AI”  Why automated scanning tools can’t replace human testing  How poor product design quietly excludes users without teams even realizing it  Why psychological safety and culture matter just as much as tooling  And whether AI will widen or narrow accessibility gaps over the next five years If digital products define access to banking, healthcare, employment, and civic life, then accessibility isn’t a feature.It’s participation.And as AI becomes core infrastructure, the question becomes sharper:Are we scaling inclusion — or scaling exclusion?

Send us Fan MailWe talk constantly about the future of work — AI agents, automation, leaner teams, productivity gains.But what if the real drag on performance isn’t technology — it’s coordination?Unproductive and unnecessary meetings cost companies up to $1.4 trillion every year. Seventy-one percent of senior leaders say meetings are inefficient. The average knowledge worker now spends around 11 hours a week in meetings. And nearly half admit to faking excuses to avoid them.This isn’t a scheduling issue.It’s a systems issue.Dr. Rebecca Hinds — founder of the Work Innovation Lab at Asana, the Work AI Institute at Glean, and author of YOUR BEST MEETING EVER: 7 Principles for Designing Meetings That Get Things Done — argues that meetings are organizational “junk drawers.” Instead of asking whether a meeting is necessary, companies simply default to adding another recurring invite.Her solution is radical in its simplicity: treat meetings like products.Define the user. Clarify the outcome. Design the experience. Measure performance. Iterate.In this episode, we zoom out beyond tactics and ask deeper questions:Why are humans so inefficient at coordinating with one another? What do broken meetings reveal about incentives, trust, and accountability? Does AI meaningfully solve meeting dysfunction — or simply automate it? And in a world pushing toward automation, what is the human role in collaboration?If coordination is broken, no productivity tool can save us.And if meetings are the canary in the coal mine, we should probably pay attention.

Send us Fan MailWe live in a moment where disagreement feels dangerous.Politics is polarized. Social media amplifies outrage. Inside companies, dissent is often muted — not because people agree, but because they assume speaking up will damage relationships or reputations.But what if most of that fear is wrong?Julia Minson, decision scientist at Harvard Kennedy School, studies the psychology of disagreement. Her research on “conversational receptiveness” reveals something counterintuitive: people systematically overestimate how much disagreement will harm a relationship and underestimate how much thoughtful dissent earns respect.That miscalculation has consequences.When leaders avoid disagreement, bad ideas survive. When teams confuse persuasion with understanding, trust erodes. When we treat conflict as a character flaw rather than a cognitive process, we weaken our institutions.In this episode, we explore why humans are wired to assume they’re objectively right, how subtle language shifts can dramatically increase receptiveness, and why polarization may be less about ideology and more about judgment errors.And in an era where AI systems increasingly summarize, mediate, and even “assist” in conflict, what happens if our tools inherit our biases? And if healthy disagreement is essential to good decision-making, how do we preserve it inside organizations that prize alignment over friction?This isn’t a conversation about compromise.It’s about whether we still know how to disagree in ways that make us smarter.

Send us Fan MailEveryone says they’re “AI-first.”Very few organizations are AI-ready.In this episode of FUTUREPROOF., we sit down with Ben Tasker, who is leading one of the largest workforce-scale AI education efforts in the public utility sector — upskilling 36,000 employees while advising global organizations on certification and governance.Ben calls this moment the “AI Between Times.” The tools are evolving rapidly, but the AI-driven economy they promise hasn’t fully stabilized. That gap creates risk — and opportunity.We unpack what actually breaks when companies try to move beyond pilot projects:Why buying AI tools is easy — and building internal capability isn’tThe tension between augmentation and displacementWhat the 70/30 rule means in cost-constrained environmentsWhy governance must precede implementationAnd how AI fluency is quietly becoming a new form of institutional powerBen argues that AI strategy lives or dies at the human level. Not because technology isn’t powerful, but because incentives, culture, and leadership determine whether that power compounds or fractures an organization.This conversation isn’t about hype cycles.It’s about whether institutions can transform fast enough — without breaking trust in the process.Because the future of work won’t be defined by who bought the best tools.It will be defined by who prepared their people.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of FUTUREPROOF., we sit down with Kevin Ashton—the technologist who coined the term Internet of Things and helped usher in the smartphone era—to talk about something even more foundational than AI.Stories.In his new book, The Story of Stories, Kevin traces a million-year arc—from the first fires where early humans gathered, to the invention of writing and printing, to electricity, electronics, and the smartphone. His thesis is provocative: language did not create stories. Stories created language.Every major storytelling revolution has followed a simple pattern: it increases the number of people who can tell stories—and the number of people who can hear them.For the first time in history, anyone can tell stories to everyone.But there’s a catch.While AI cannot understand meaning, algorithms now determine which stories we see, amplifying bias, shaping belief, and influencing behavior at scale. The power of storytelling has never been more democratized—or more intermediated.We explore: Why storytelling is innate, not cultural  The eight great revolutions of human communication  Why machines can generate content but not meaning  The risks of algorithmic amplification  The role of critical thinking in a post-scarcity information world  Whether the next storytelling revolution is technological—or cognitive This conversation isn’t about nostalgia. It’s about understanding the oldest human technology in a moment when the newest one is accelerating everything.If we think in stories—and we always will—the question becomes: Who shapes the stories that shape us?

Send us Fan MailHealthcare is colliding with technology faster than most people realize.In this episode of FUTUREPROOF., I sit down with analyst Rajiv Leventhal, who covers the intersection of healthcare, pharma, and tech, to unpack three forces reshaping the system at once: AI, GLP-1 weight loss drugs, and the mental health impact of digital life.We start with AI as a health tool. Nearly a quarter of ChatGPT’s global weekly users now use it for health-related prompts. That’s not a niche behavior. It’s a mainstream one. The question isn’t whether people will turn to AI for medical guidance. They already are.The real tension is trust and liability. General-purpose AI tools aren’t bound by HIPAA in the same way healthcare providers are. Yet they’re increasingly acting as digital concierges — answering late-night pediatric questions, explaining lab results, and helping people prepare for appointments in a system where access is strained.And that system is strained. Even in major cities, patients can wait months — sometimes a year — to see specialists. When access gaps widen, alternative tools step in. AI isn’t replacing doctors. It’s filling holes.We then turn to GLP-1 drugs and the weight-loss explosion. What began as diabetes treatment became a cultural and commercial wave driven by social media, FDA approvals, and aggressive advertising. But beneath the surface is a regulatory gray market of compounded versions, patent battles, and telehealth platforms monetizing demand.Finally, we tackle social media’s impact on mental health. The evidence linking heavy use — especially among teens — to anxiety and depression is growing, even if causation remains complex. Is this a regulation problem? A parental problem? A public health issue? Or another example of technology moving faster than governance?This episode isn’t about hype.It’s about what happens when broken systems create openings — and tech companies move into the space.Because when trust erodes and access declines, people don’t wait.They improvise.

Send us Fan MailFor years, organizations have poured millions into DEI training.And yet most employees still report discrimination. Promotion gaps persist. Trust remains uneven.So what’s going on?In this episode of FUTUREPROOF., I sit down with Lily Zheng — strategist and author of Fixing Fairness — to interrogate a hard truth: much of what we call DEI doesn’t work. Not because fairness is unpopular. Not because inclusion is misguided. But because we keep trying to fix people instead of fixing systems.Lily introduces the FAIR framework — Fairness, Access, Inclusion, and Representation — and argues that the real leverage isn’t in workshops. It’s in incentives, evaluation criteria, hiring processes, and executive accountability.We explore:Why standalone DEI training can backfireThe “missing stair” metaphor — and how organizations normalize dysfunctionThe Cobra Effect of poorly designed diversity incentivesWhy representation is ultimately about trust, not opticsWhat meritocracy gets wrong about itselfAnd why rebranding DEI won’t solve structural problemsAt a moment when DEI faces political backlash and corporate retrenchment, Lily makes a counterintuitive claim: the future of workplace inclusion will be more rigorous, more measured, and more accountable — not less.This is a systems conversation.Not about slogans. Not about performative commitments. About incentives, power, and what actually moves outcomes.If you care about leadership, governance, and the second-order effects of institutional design, this episode will challenge you.

Send us Fan MailFor years, we treated emotional intelligence like a cultural add-on.Nice to have. Important, maybe. But not central to performance.That framing doesn’t survive the AI era.In this episode of FUTUREPROOF., I sit down with Dr. Bushra Khan, founder of Leading with BK, to examine what actually differentiates leaders as automation compresses the knowledge gap. When AI can draft, analyze, summarize, and even simulate difficult conversations, the advantage shifts. It moves from what you know to how you show up.Bushra has spent over 15 years helping leaders translate emotional intelligence from buzzword into operating system. We talk about why “soft skills” should be understood as strategic skills, how negativity bias quietly distorts leadership judgment, and why loneliness inside high-performing teams is less about remote work and more about emotional avoidance.We also explore some uncomfortable tensions:If AI amplifies leaders, what exactly is it amplifying?When does candor become bluntness — and erode trust instead of building it?Why do leaders underestimate the emotional consequences of automation?What does bravery look like when decisions are both rational and painful?Bushra argues that most organizations are still trying to fix people instead of fixing environments. They invest in workshops while ignoring incentives. They push productivity while neglecting psychological safety. They assume proximity equals connection.But as AI takes over more technical tasks, influence becomes the real differentiator. And influence is emotional before it is analytical.This conversation isn’t about positivity or platitudes. It’s about leadership under pressure — layoffs, automation, rapid skills shifts — and what it takes to signal trust and authority through noise.Because the future of work won’t just test our systems.It will test our emotional maturity.

Send us Fan MailThis episode of FUTUREPROOF. is different.My guest is Trevor Reed, a former U.S. Marine who was wrongfully detained and abused in a Russian gulag for nearly three years, freed in a high-profile prisoner exchange in 2022—and then made a decision few could comprehend: he voluntarily went to Ukraine to fight against the same system that imprisoned him.In this conversation, Trevor reflects on what captivity does to the human mind, how survival reshapes your definition of justice, and why freedom—real freedom—can’t be taken for granted once you’ve lost it.We talk about:What daily life inside a Russian penal colony is actually like—and how close he came to dying thereThe mental discipline required to survive prolonged isolation, hunger, and uncertaintyThe emotional toll of being turned into a geopolitical bargaining chipWhy revenge eventually gave way to a deeper definition of justiceThe surreal contrast between everyday life and active war zones in UkraineBeing critically wounded by a landmine—and what it means to survive twiceHow his understanding of freedom, responsibility, and humanity has fundamentally changedThis is not a conversation about politics. It’s a conversation about power, resilience, moral injury, and what it means to remain human when systems fail you.Trevor’s memoir, Retribution: A Former US Marine's Harrowing Journey from Wrongful Imprisonment in Russia to the Front Lines of the Ukrainian War, is not an easy read—but it is an important one. And this conversation is not comfortable—but it is necessary.

Send us Fan MailWhat if the most undervalued leadership skill in the AI era isn’t technical fluency—but emotional presence?This episode of FUTUREPROOF. features Claude Silver, the world’s first Chief Heart Officer and the No. 2 executive at VaynerX, joining the show to unpack why authenticity, empathy, and belonging are no longer “nice-to-haves,” but strategic advantages.Claude’s 2025 book, Be Yourself at Work, challenges the long-standing belief that professionalism requires emotional distance. Instead, she argues that in a world defined by AI, automation, and burnout, the leaders who win are the ones who lead with heart—intentionally, skillfully, and without performative fluff.We explore:Why “authenticity” has been misunderstood—and how to practice it without oversharing or losing authorityWhat leading with heart actually looks like inside a 2,000-person global organizationHow emotional skills become power skills as AI absorbs more technical workThe difference between fitting in and true belonging—and why that gap is costing companies talent and trustHow leaders can balance emotional bravery with emotional efficiency in an always-on, high-pressure worldThis is a conversation about leadership after the old playbook breaks—and what replaces it when humanity becomes the edge.

Send us Fan MailHealthcare is entering its most consequential design moment in decades.As AI moves from the background into the core of clinical decision-making, diagnostics, and patient experience, the real question isn’t what AI can do—it’s whether people can trust it.This week on FUTUREPROOF., I’m joined by Peter Skillman, Global Head of Design at Philips, and one of the few leaders shaping what responsible, human-centered AI looks like in healthcare at scale.Peter has spent three decades designing products and systems at the intersection of hardware, software, and services—across Palm, Nokia, Microsoft, AWS, and now Philips. Today, he’s helping reimagine healthcare not as a hierarchy of authority, but as an experience built around patients, clinicians, and trust.We talk about:Why AI in healthcare must be designed with people, not just for themWhat happens when teenagers—future patients and clinicians—help design care systemsHow healthcare design is shifting from “what looks impressive” to “what feels humane”Why speed, clarity, and emotional context now matter as much as clinical accuracyThe long timelines of healthcare innovation—and why today’s design choices shape the next decadeWhat it really means to make AI visible, explainable, and trustworthy in life-and-death environmentsThis conversation isn’t about futuristic demos or abstract ethics. It’s about how design decisions today will determine whether AI improves healthcare—or quietly erodes trust in it.

Send us Fan MailGuest: Joe Devon Title: Chair, GAAD Foundation | Co-founder, Global Accessibility Awareness DayAI is reshaping how we design software—but accessibility still too often shows up as an afterthought. In this episode of FUTUREPROOF., Joe Devon joins us to unpack what it actually means to build technology that works for everyone, especially as generative AI becomes embedded across products, platforms, and workflows.Joe explains why accessibility isn’t a niche concern—it affects more than 1.3 billion people globally—and why AI represents both the biggest risk and the biggest opportunity the accessibility movement has ever seen. We dig into the early findings from the AI Model Accessibility Checker (AIMAC), what most AI models still get wrong about accessible code, and why “AI will fix it later” is a dangerous assumption.We also explore how front-end tools like AI-generated captions, voice interfaces, and image descriptions are changing daily life for users with disabilities—and where back-end AI systems can finally close the gap between automated testing and real-world usability. Throughout the conversation, Joe makes a compelling case that accessibility is not just a moral imperative, but a design discipline that will separate future-proof products from legacy ones.Topics covered:Why most digital products still fail basic accessibility standardsHow AI can dramatically expand—or quietly restrict—accessWhat AIMAC reveals about how accessible today’s AI models really areFront-end vs. back-end accessibility breakthroughsThe ethical stakes of deploying inaccessible AI at scaleWhy inclusive design must be a core requirement, not a patch

Send us Fan MailClimate change is a global problem—but climate capital doesn’t flow globally.In this episode of FUTUREPROOF., Jeremy sits down with Lassor Feasley, co-founder and CEO of Renewables.org, to unpack why some of the highest-impact climate solutions on Earth remain dramatically underfunded.Renewables.org applies a Kiva-style crowdfunding model to distributed solar projects across the Global South. Individuals can invest as little as $25 into no-interest loans that fund solar installations—and are repaid monthly over five years, allowing capital to be recycled again and again.Lassor explains why:A dollar invested in Global South solar can deliver up to 5x the carbon impact of a comparable U.S. projectTraditional climate fintech and ESG models break down in frontier marketsRepayment isn’t just financial—it’s proof of impactDesign, not just technology, determines whether climate solutions scaleThis conversation goes beyond solar panels to explore systems, incentives, trust, and the future of climate finance—and why everyday individuals may be better positioned than institutions to fund the energy transition where it matters most.If climate change is a race against time, this episode asks a harder question: are we deploying capital where it actually counts?

Send us Fan MailWhen Google’s algorithm changes caused HubSpot’s traffic to plummet 80%, most companies would have panicked.Aja Frost saw an opportunity.As Senior Director of Global Growth at HubSpot, Aja led the transformation that helped HubSpot not only recover—but become the most-cited CRM in generative AI results.In this episode of FUTUREPROOF., Jeremy Goldman sits down with Aja to talk about how the rules of discovery, demand, and digital visibility are being rewritten in real time—and why Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) may be the next big discipline marketers can’t afford to ignore.They discuss: 🔍 What happens when users trust ChatGPT more than Google 🧠 How HubSpot rebuilt its content strategy around AI answers 💬 The formula for getting cited by AI models—and what most brands get wrong 📈 Why visibility beats clicks in an LLM-driven world 🌐 The new off-site frontier: Reddit, YouTube, and the “dark funnel” of discovery ⚙️ How to measure success when your customer journey starts with a chatbotIf you work in marketing, SEO, or content—and you’ve felt the ground shifting under your feet—this episode will help you understand how to thrive in the AI search era.

Send us Fan MailIn a world where algorithms amplify outrage and newsfeeds reward noise, 1440 Media has quietly built something radical — a daily newsletter that promises “all your news, none of the bias.”This week on FUTUREPROOF., Jeremy Goldman talks with Tim Huelskamp, CEO and cofounder of 1440, about how a 15-person team grew to reach over 4 million subscribers without chasing clicks, outrage, or political extremes.Tim shares what he’s learned about:- How 1440 found “white space” in a crowded media market- Why being unbiased is both a superpower and a branding challenge- How 1440’s ad model bucks media’s obsession with vanity metrics- Why curiosity—not content—is the new currency for growth- And what The Free Press sale reveals about the shifting trust economyIf you’re tired of doomscrolling and looking for what’s next in digital publishing, this conversation offers a blueprint for rebuilding trust, curiosity, and connection—one inbox at a time.

Send us Fan MailAs AI reshapes the world faster than most of us can process, we’re left with an uncomfortable question: What does it really mean to be human now?This week on FUTUREPROOF., Jeremy sits down with Jeff Burningham — tech entrepreneur, investor, and author of The Last Book Written by a Human — to explore how we can cultivate wisdom, purpose, and empathy in an age obsessed with speed, scale, and artificial intelligence.Jeff’s story is as surprising as it is inspiring: from Mormon missionary to real estate mogul, from political candidate to spiritual seeker. After years of building billion-dollar companies, he found himself confronting a deeper question — not how to make more, but how to matter more.In this episode, Jeff and Jeremy discuss: Why becoming wiser, not just smarter, is the next competitive advantage How technology mirrors our consciousness — including our biases and blind spots Why the future of leadership depends on emotional and moral intelligence What it means to design an economy — and a life — centered on meaning, not metrics And how AI’s reflection of us can become humanity’s greatest teacherWhether you’re a founder navigating AI disruption or a curious human trying to stay grounded in a digital age, this conversation will remind you that wisdom — not code — may be the ultimate frontier.

Send us Fan MailSeth Berkley, MD has been at the front lines of the world’s biggest battles against infectious disease. As the longtime CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the cofounder of COVAX, and the founder of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Berkley has helped bring lifesaving vaccines to billions of people.In his new book, FAIR DOSES: An Insider’s Story of the Pandemic and the Global Fight for Vaccine Equity, Berkley lays out the hard truths of what went wrong during COVID—and how we can do better next time. From the rise of vaccine nationalism and political roadblocks to the explosion of misinformation, Berkley explains why inequitable vaccine access cost millions of lives and weakened global stability.On this episode of FUTUREPROOF., we discuss:Why the next pandemic is not a question of if, but whenWhat COVID-19 revealed about the politics of global healthHow vaccine nationalism and misinformation threaten our collective safetyLessons from COVAX and how to design faster, fairer systems in the futureWhy global cooperation isn’t just moral—it’s economic and existentialThis is a candid conversation about science, trust, and survival in a world that will inevitably face future pandemics.

Send us Fan MailIn a world obsessed with hustle, noise, and nonstop self-promotion, what if the most powerful way to stand out… is to stay true to your quieter side?This week on FUTUREPROOF., Jeremy talks with Goldie Chan, once dubbed the “Oprah of LinkedIn” and author of Personal Branding for Introverts, about how to build visibility and influence without faking extroversion — or burning out.Goldie is the founder of Warm Robots, a personal branding agency that’s helped executives, creators, and companies sharpen their stories. A LinkedIn Top Voice and keynote speaker, she’s also one of the platform’s earliest viral creators — though she still calls herself an introvert at heart.In this episode, Goldie and Jeremy explore: 💡 Why authenticity beats volume in the new era of personal branding 🧠 How introverts can leverage empathy, observation, and storytelling as their edge 🌐 How to build digital presence without performing online 24/7 🚀 Why quiet consistency often outlasts viral moments ❤️ How to create meaningful visibility that aligns with your valuesWhether you’re a leader who hates self-promotion, or a creator struggling to balance visibility with authenticity, this episode is your guide to building a brand that resonates deeply — not just loudly.

Send us Fan MailWhat if luck isn’t random — but designed?In this episode of FUTUREPROOF., we sit down with Judd Kessler, Wharton economist and author of Lucky by Design, to explore how hidden markets quietly decide who gets what — from job interviews and college spots to concert tickets, dating matches, and even organ transplants.Kessler argues that what looks like “good fortune” is often the result of understanding — and leveraging — the invisible systems that govern access to opportunity. Whether it’s the algorithms behind dating apps, the psychology of lotteries and waitlists, or the structure of modern hiring, he reveals how we can all become more intentional “designers of luck.”We discuss: How hidden markets shape everything from careers to healthcare Why “fairness” isn’t as equal as it looks — and how to spot the trade-offs The economics of lotteries, rankings, and “first come, first served” systems Why second choices sometimes lead to the best outcomes How behavioral design can make opportunity more equitable — or more rigged What it means to be “lucky by design” in an algorithmic worldWhether you’re a leader trying to create fairer systems, or an individual looking to navigate them more wisely, this episode reveals the unseen structures that quietly shape your chances — and how to work with them instead of against them.

Send us Fan MailMost companies say they care about engagement — but decades of data show those engagement scores barely move. Meanwhile, burnout has become a global epidemic.In this episode of FUTUREPROOF., we sit down with Mark C. Crowley, bestselling author of Lead from the Heart and the new book The Power of Employee Well-Being, to explore why the billion-dollar engagement industry has failed workers — and what science says actually drives performance.Crowley argues that engagement is a symptom, not a cause — and that well-being, not busyness, is the real engine of productivity. He shares evidence-backed ways leaders can track and improve well-being, hold managers accountable for the human side of leadership, and create workplaces where people genuinely thrive.We discuss:Why engagement surveys don’t work (and what to measure instead)How well-being directly impacts innovation and retentionWhat post-pandemic workforces really want from leadershipThe neuroscience of motivation and connection at workHow to lead with authenticity without losing authorityIf you’ve ever wondered why “perks” don’t fix burnout, or what the next era of human-centered leadership looks like, this episode will make you rethink what it means to truly lead people.

Send us Fan MailEvery leader has data. Few have a story worth following.In this episode of FUTUREPROOF., we sit down with Christina Farr, journalist-turned-investor and author of The Storyteller’s Advantage. Christina argues that storytelling isn’t a soft skill — it’s a business superpower. Whether you’re pitching investors, recruiting talent, or leading a team through turbulence, the right story can make the difference between momentum and mediocrity.We explore:Why stories outperform facts and figures in memory and persuasionHow startup founders use narrative to raise money before their product is readyThe seven plot structures that show up again and again in successful company loreWhy authenticity and vulnerability make leaders magneticHow to use storytelling not just in PR, but across sales, hiring, and product developmentIf you think storytelling is just marketing fluff, this episode will change your mind.

Send us Fan MailCars have long been sold as the ultimate symbol of freedom. But what if they’ve trapped us instead? In this episode of FUTUREPROOF., we sit down with Arthur Kay, urban designer and coauthor of Roadkill: Unveiling the True Cost of Our Toxic Relationship with Cars.Kay argues that America’s car dependency is more than a climate issue—it’s a system of financial, political, and social control that burdens working and middle-class families, strains local economies, and limits real choice. Together, we explore:Why cars drive hidden costs in housing, taxes, and debtHow car-centric cities hollow out communities and opportunitiesThe global lessons America can learn from more walkable, resilient urban modelsA realistic blueprint for building cities that prioritize people, not vehiclesThis conversation goes far beyond traffic jams and tailpipe emissions—it’s about the future of freedom, equity, and the way we design our lives.

Send us Fan MailDisruption rarely looks like disruption when it begins. In his new book Epic Disruptions: 11 Innovations That Shaped Our Modern World, Scott D. Anthony—ranked by Thinkers50 as one of the world’s leading innovation thinkers—uncovers the stories of 11 breakthroughs that reshaped the modern world. From the transistor radio to AI, from McDonald’s business model to cryptocurrency, he shows how innovation unfolds in surprising, nonlinear ways.In this episode of FUTUREPROOF., Scott explains why disruption often takes far longer than we expect, what leaders can learn from past “failures” like Google Glass, and how incumbents can overcome the barriers that keep them from investing in transformative change.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:Why disruption usually takes decades, not years—and why patience mattersHow unexpected figures—from Julia Child to McDonald’s—played surprising roles in innovationWhat makes some technologies “sleeping giants” rather than failuresThe recurring patterns that connect historical breakthroughs to today’s AI revolutionHow leaders can balance operational demands with disruptive betsLinks & Resources:Scott’s book: Epic Disruptions: 11 Innovations That Shaped Our Modern World (Little, Brown Spark, Sept 2025)Learn more about Scott’s work: Scott D. Anthony at TuckFollow Scott on LinkedIn

Send us Fan MailGaming isn’t just entertainment anymore—it’s the new frontier of consumer engagement. With more than three billion players worldwide and brands from Peloton to Burberry using game mechanics to build loyalty, gaming has become a mainstream business strategy.In this episode of FUTUREPROOF., Bastian Bergmann, co-founder and COO of Solsten, explains why every company—not just game studios—needs to think like a game designer. He draws from his new book Press Play and his work with Solsten, which helps brands understand audiences on a psychological level to create immersive, resonant experiences.What You’ll Learn in This Episode: 🎮 Why gaming is becoming a must-have strategy for every industry 🎮 How luxury brands, fitness companies, and even media outlets are using play to connect with customers 🎮 The psychology of play and why it unlocks deeper loyalty than ads alone 🎮 Practical entry points for companies curious about gaming without overcommitting 🎮 How audience intelligence and psychology fuel better design and better business outcomesLinks & Resources:Bastian’s book: Press Play: Why Every Company Needs a Gaming Strategy (Harvard Business Review Press, Sept 9, 2025)Solsten: solsten.ioFollow Bastian on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bastianbergmann

Send us Fan MailMost leaders say they want creativity. Few know how to make it happen. Andrew Robertson, Chairman of BBDO Worldwide, has spent two decades leading one of the most awarded creative networks in the world—and now he’s written the playbook for bringing creativity back to the heart of business.In his new book, The Creative Shift, Robertson argues that organizations can’t just hope for inspiration—they need to deliberately design for it. He explains how to balance operational discipline with imaginative thinking, why bad ideas are essential for breakthroughs, and how simple changes—like rethinking meeting spaces—can spark better group collaboration.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:Why most corporate cultures quietly stifle creativityThe flaws in traditional brainstorming—and how BBDO aims to fix themHow to manage creative risk and know which ideas to pursuePractical ways to spark group creativity and make room for unconventional thinkingWhy operational excellence and visionary thinking aren’t opposites—they’re partnersLinks & Resources:Andrew’s book: The Creative Shift: How to Power Up Your Organization by Making Space for New Ideas (released Sept 2, 2025)

Send us Fan MailGuest: Nick Foster, futures designer, former Head of Design at Google X, and author of Could Should Might Don’tEpisode Summary: Everyone’s talking about the future, but few are thinking about it well. Nick Foster, one of the world’s most influential futures designers and former Head of Design at Google X, argues that our imagination about what’s next is often shallow, clichéd, and dangerously incomplete.In his book Could Should Might Don’t, Foster introduces a powerful framework for rethinking how we approach tomorrow. Instead of relying on sci-fi utopias, doomsday scenarios, or neat statistical projections, he challenges us to combine different lenses—what could, should, might, and don’t happen—to build a more rigorous and useful picture of the future.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:Why sci-fi optimism and dystopian doom both fail as guides to the futureThe four dominant ways we imagine tomorrow—and how to balance themLessons from inside Google X on how bold organizations explore the unknownWhy overconfidence in forecasts blinds us to hidden possibilitiesHow leaders, policymakers, and innovators can think more responsibly about what’s coming nextLinks & Resources:Nick’s book: Could Should Might Don’t (on shelves today, Aug 26!)

Send us Fan MailSearch isn’t just about Google anymore — and the fastest-growing search engine might already be on your phone. With 55% of consumers now starting their search journey on social platforms, TikTok is leading a massive shift in how people discover, evaluate, and buy.In this episode of FUTUREPROOF., Brian Torpey, TikTok’s Global Head of Search Monetization Product Solutions and Operations, takes us inside how TikTok is redefining the search experience for a new generation. We dig into the platform’s latest search ad products, the surprising ways consumers use TikTok to find answers, and how brands can harness TikTok’s organic and paid tools to stay ahead.We also explore:Why TikTok search is fundamentally different from traditional search enginesHow Omnicom Media Group’s partnership with TikTok is reshaping paid search strategiesWhat TikTok’s search data reveals about real consumer intentThe opportunities (and challenges) for marketers in the “social-first” search eraWhether you’re a marketer looking to future-proof your search strategy or just curious about how TikTok is quietly becoming a search powerhouse, this is one episode you don’t want to miss.

Send us Fan MailThe path to breakthrough ideas starts with… the bad ones.In a world obsessed with perfection, Jason Keath makes a counterintuitive—and surprisingly liberating—case: bad ideas aren’t the enemy, they’re the engine. As the founder of Social Fresh and a longtime advisor to brands seeking creative edge, Jason argues that creativity is a process, not a personality trait—and the faster we get comfortable with failure, the faster we unlock genius.In this episode, Jason and Jeremy talk about:Why we mythologize creativity—and how to make it practicalThe Fast & Ugly method that beats overthinkingHow constraints fuel creativity rather than stifle itWhat teams get wrong in brainstorms—and how to fix itWhy “creative blocks” are often just fear in disguiseThe surprising neuroscience behind idea volume and qualityWhy marketers, leaders, and founders need to stop waiting for inspirationWhether you’re leading a brand, launching a product, or staring down a blank page, this conversation will help you stop polishing and start producing.Links:Jason’s site: jasonkeath.comSocial Fresh: socialfresh.comJason’s book: The Case for More Bad Ideas (Out now!)

Send us Fan MailWhat if the internet as we know it is quietly ruled by one company?Ari Paparo, ad tech insider and author of Yield: How Google Bought, Built, and Bullied Its Way to Advertising Dominance, joins FUTUREPROOF. to expose how Google quietly cornered the online ad market—and what that means for journalism, business, and democracy.We dig into auction rigging, publisher exploitation, antitrust litigation, and whether anyone can really compete with Google in digital advertising. If you care about the business model of the internet, this episode is essential listening.Topics Discussed:How Google consolidated power in digital advertisingThe myth of platform neutralityWhat publishers lost—and what they’re trying to win backKey moments that shaped Google’s ad empireWhy the DOJ’s antitrust case matters more than you thinkHow Google’s dominance affects the future of journalismResources:Yield by Ari Paparo (Amplify, 2025)Follow Ari at marketecture.tv

Send us Fan MailIn a world driven by data, Kevin Perlmutter argues that the most powerful force in marketing isn’t logic—it’s emotion. Kevin is the founder of Limbic Brand Evolution and author of Brand Desire: Spark Customer Interest Using Emotional Insights, a guide to building emotionally intelligent brand strategies that connect, convert, and last.We explore why emotional intelligence is the most underused tool in a marketer’s toolkit, how neuroscience is reshaping brand research, and what leaders must do to future-proof their relevance in a noisy world.Topics Discussed:Why emotional intelligence drives brand relevanceThe Limbic Sparks® method for identifying emotional driversHow brands can differentiate through feeling—not just functionCommon mistakes that kill brand desireThe neuroscience behind consumer behavior and loyaltyHow to evolve your brand without losing your soulLessons from emotionally smart brandsWhy “making people care” is the most future-proof strategy of allResources:Brand Desire by Kevin PerlmutterLearn more about Kevin's work

Send us Fan Mail Even the most experienced leaders have one thing in common: they’re not seeing the full picture. In this episode, psychologist, executive coach, and former CEO Martin Dubin joins FUTUREPROOF. to talk about the hidden habits and patterns that quietly derail careers and businesses.Drawing from his new book Blindspotting, Martin reveals the six types of leadership blindspots, why your greatest strength might be your biggest liability, and how to stop projecting old patterns onto new problems. Whether you’re leading a Fortune 500 team or trying to level up personally, this conversation is about developing the awareness you didn’t know you needed.Topics Discussed:The six most common leadership blindspots—and how to identify themWhy high performers often stumble at the topThe danger of “overused strengths” and unchecked habitsHow your identity and internal stories shape your leadership lensWhat leaders can learn from therapists (and vice versa)How to create a feedback loop that doesn’t sugarcoat realityWhat only CEOs can—and should—doPractical tools for improving self-awareness without getting stuck in self-doubtResources:Blindspotting: How to See What’s Holding You Back as a Leader MartinDubin.com