The Future With Friends

We’re back for Episode 2 of Season 2 of The Future With Friends, and this time we’re exploring The Future of Analogue with Simon’s good friend, Colin D Ellis.Colin shares a beautifully imagined future where society has consciously stepped away from smart technology and re-embraced the analogue world, from dumb phones and vinyl to simply noticing what’s happening around us.His scenario paints a calm, intentional future, but the conversation quickly moves beyond the vision itself. Simon leans in to explore what would actually need to happen for such a significant cultural shift to take place, and whether a movement back to analogue living is truly possible in a hyper-connected world.Together, they explore the impact of digital technology on our mental health, the growing appetite for disconnection, and the conditions required for meaningful societal change. They even begin to toy with the idea of creating their own social movement, grounded in simplicity, presence and human connection.As two dads, they also don’t shy away from the role parents play in shaping the next generation’s relationship with technology, reflecting on the habits we model and the environments we create for our kids.It’s a thoughtful, warm and quietly provocative conversation that feels like it’s only just getting started, and will leave you questioning your own relationship with technology and what kind of future you actually want to live in.