The New Abnormal

Sean Pillot de Chenecey

The New Abnormal podcast (which has over 250,000 downloads) focuses on 'Now / Next / Why'. My guests have include a wide variety of experts based in locations from Los Angeles to Shanghai, Rio to Beirut, and Helsinki to Melbourne. Those guests have included activists, creatives, writers, philosophers, strategists, psychologists, lecturers, futurists etc, and asking them to explain their views has led to some fascinating conversations. Re: my bio, I'm a futurist, public speaker, and author whose written two books - my first went to No1 in the business charts whilst my second was shortlisted for the 'Business Book of the Year' Awards. (I'll be writing a third as soon as time allows.) So, I hope you enjoy listening to the series - which was set up during the early days of Covid and is therefore divided into a series per year.  All rights reserved. #TheNewAbnormal podcast series © Sean Pillot de Chenecey 2020. 

  1. 5d ago

    Marie Stafford 'The Future 100, 2026'

    This episode of The New Abnormal podcast feature, Marie Stafford, Global Director, Intelligence at VML. In it, she spoke about the latest edition of VML’s Future 100 report and the broader forces shaping consumers, brands and culture. Unlike many annual trend reports, VML’s research is continuously updated, allowing the team to identify meaningful shifts rather than seasonal observations. The discussion centres on five macro themes underpinning this year’s report. The first, ‘Disoptimism’ captures a paradoxical mindset: people clearly recognise the political, economic and environmental challenges facing society, yet remain personally optimistic about their own futures. Closely connected is ‘Resilience Rising’ which argues that resilience has evolved from a reactive survival mechanism into an intentional life skill. The third theme ‘Metamorphic Lives’ reflects consumers’ growing desire for experiences that actively transform them. The fourth ‘Story Worlds’ explores the shift from passive media consumption towards immersive participation. The final macro theme ‘Future Archaeology’ examines how brands and consumers are rediscovering heritage, indigenous knowledge and craftsmanship as sources of innovation.  The conversation then shifted to Marie’s observations from the latest Cannes Lions Festival. She identified several dominant themes emerging across the industry: first is a call to escape what she describes as the #AgeOfBeige. A second major theme focused on preserving uniquely human capabilities in the age of AI. Marie also highlights the growing strategic importance of creators. Another discussion centred on the value of ‘creative friction’. Finally, she illuminated how the debate around brand purpose has evolved. Throughout the discussion, Marie argues that while technology continues to transform every industry, the greatest opportunities lie in combining innovation with authentic human insight, creativity, resilience and cultural understanding. These qualities, she concludes, will define the brands best equipped to thrive amid continuing uncertainty… So, I hope you enjoyed listening to her as much as I did!

    Marie Stafford 'The Future 100, 2026'

  2. 6d ago

    Geci Karuri-Sebina ‘The African Foresight Network, Post-Activism, and Interconnected Capacities’

    This episode of The New Abnormal podcast features the Johannesburg-based ‘thinker, researcher, and sometimes do-er’ Geci Karuri-Sebina, who is an Assoc Professor at the WITS Southern Centre for Inequality Studies, Organiser at the Civic Tech Innovation Network, and Chair / Director of the Southern African Node of the Millennium Project. In what I hope you'll agree is a fascinating conversation, she discussed rethinking futures, activism, and development through more pluralistic and imaginative approaches. Drawing on her interdisciplinary background across technology, urban studies, and foresight, Geci explained her shift towards post-activism, arguing that conventional responses to crisis often reproduce the very systems they seek to change. Rather than prioritising action alone, she advocates deeper understanding, experimentation, and humility in the face of complexity.  She also illuminated the emerging African Foresight Network, which seeks to cultivate futures thinking rooted in African and Global South perspectives, indigenous knowledge systems, and diverse conceptions of time. Geci discussed challenging linear, Western models of futures thinking and encouraging more culturally grounded approaches - she also critiques the dominance of reductionist foresight methods (e.g. the 2x2 scenario matrix) calling for richer, more inclusive epistemologies and methodologies.  Turning to urban futures, Geci outlined her work on a decolonial critique of urban studies, arguing that African cities are often constrained by limiting narratives. She advocates moving beyond these imaginaries through experimentation and new narratives. The discussion concluded with her work on AI, development models, and an "Alt Lab" for social experimentation. Finally, she explained how creating better futures depends on strengthening imagination, inclusion, and institutional transformation...

    Geci Karuri-Sebina ‘The African Foresight Network, Post-Activism, and Interconnected Capacities’

  3. 6d ago

    Julian Boulding 'The Cannes Review 2026'

    This episode of The New Abnormal podcast features Julian Boulding, Owner of TheNetworkOne. The organisation works with over 1000 agencies in over 100 countries, providing ‘open-source creativity’ and communications services from independent agencies for a growing number of leading international marketing companies. They also help independent agencies develop their own business internationally, through providing international partners, consulting resources and professional development programs.  A renowned industry figure, each year Julian produces a much-quoted review of the annual Cannes Lions Festival, and this podcast was recorded on the day of its 2026 release. In it, Julian illuminates a range of the key talking points from the event, in what was a challenging year for the Lions… So, I hope you enjoy listening to him as much as I did, in what I hope you'll agree is a very insightful conversation!

    Julian Boulding 'The Cannes Review 2026'

  4. Jul 1

    Clare Stark 'Futures Literacy: Building Better Decisions for an Uncertain World'

    This episode of The New Abnormal podcast features Clare Stark, Head of Futures Literacy and Foresight at UNESCO - the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. They’re a specialized UN agency dedicated to promoting world peace and security through international collaboration in education, arts, sciences, and culture. Headquartered in Paris, its mission spans 194 member states and encompasses several focus areas. Key Initiatives include World Heritage Sites, Global Education, Scientific & Ethical Standards, and Cultural Heritage Safeguarding. Clare is a dedicated professional with more than 20 years of experience in international development cooperation, she’s passionate about ensuring that technology leads to positive social transformations, and using futures literacy and foresight to inspire collective action to shape the futures we want, using evidence-based approaches to enhance anticipatory capacities. She covers a lot of ground in the podcast, including UNESCO's role in advancing futures literacy and anticipatory governance / Embedding foresight into national and int’l policymaking / The Global Anticipatory Policy Coalition / AI governance, AI readiness and responsible deployment / Climate anxiety & information anxiety / Trust, democracy and misinformation / Leadership through collective intelligence and collaboration / The importance of culture, history and indigenous knowledge in shaping future policy / Participatory foresight involving young people, educators and citizens / The future of education, creativity and public policy in an AI-enabled world.  So, I hope you enjoy listening to her as much as I did, in what I hope you'll agree is a fascinating conversation re: the growing importance of anticipatory governance and futures thinking in addressing today's global challenges.

    Clare Stark 'Futures Literacy: Building Better Decisions for an Uncertain World'

  5. Jun 8

    Fatima-Zahra Ma-el-ainin 'Foresight, Social Transformation and Systemic Wellbeing'

    This episode of The New Abnormal podcast features Fatima-Zahra Ma-el-ainin, who is a psychologist, poet, and narrative architect reimagining how societies cultivate wellbeing.  Her work sits at the intersection of systems work, knowledge design, and social transformation, informed by more than a decade of experience in systems mapping, programme design, and conversational leadership. Through global commissions, institutional partnerships, and field-building initiatives, she develops frameworks that elevate wellbeing from intervention to design principle.  She currently serves on the Lancet-LSHTM Commission on the Emotional Determinants of Health, and co-leads the World Economic Forum’s Future50 Initiative. Previously, she co-founded a mental health social enterprise whose programs and curricula impacted seven million students in Morocco.  A sought-after speaker, she has addressed audiences at the UK Parliament, the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos, the IAYMH Conference, and TEDx, among other platforms.  So, I hope you enjoy listening to her as much as I did, in a dynamic conversation that takes in all of the above and more!

    Fatima-Zahra Ma-el-ainin 'Foresight, Social Transformation and Systemic Wellbeing'

  6. May 6

    Mark Bloomfield 'Making Sense of AI'

    This episode of The New Abnormal podcast features Dr Mark Bloomfield, who has leveraged AI and advanced technology for over fifteen years to drive innovation, transformation, and measurable impact across an array of businesses. Operating at the intersection of business, technology, and academia, he now works across multiple industries, advising organisations on how to apply AI and emerging technologies for real commercial impact with measurable results.  As a Fellow at Cambridge Judge Business School, Mark teaches on executive education programmes. Hence, he's constantly immersed in the most cutting-edge thinking and practice, engaging with some of the brightest minds in academia and business. So, I hope you enjoy listening to him as much as I did, in what I hope you'll agree is a fascinating conversation.

    Mark Bloomfield 'Making Sense of AI'

  7. Apr 30

    Tommaso Cesano 'The future role of design'

    This episode of The New Abnormal podcast features Tommaso Cesano, Founder of Osmo, a Strategy+Design studio focused on creating impactful products and experiences, aiming to build products for clients that can 'change their tomorrow'.  Based in Italy, this award-winning studio works with ambitious companies who wish to be innovators in their industries. They believe in 'Curiosity, Adventurism, and Effort'. Along with their work for leading-edge companies, one of the many dynamic things they do is to oversee the visual identity of TEDx events in their beautiful home city of Brescia.  We discuss Tommaso's design ethos, and along the way also cover the amazing bookzine that they publish (L'osmonauta), which has something of a cult following. So, if you're interested in hearing a detailed viewpoint on the issues impacting design agencies today, this one's for you!

    Tommaso Cesano 'The future role of design'

  8. Apr 20

    Jonas Drechsel ‘Futurist Archetypes and Futures Thinking’

    This episode of The New Abnormal podcast features the independent futurist Jonas Drechsel, who is also a member and co-initiator of the dynamic collective practice youngK Berlin; which is interdisciplinary, exploratory, and holistic. His mission as a solo freelance futurist is to make desirable futures more likely. As a critical futurist, he thinks about how the status quo works and what doesn't. As a real utopian, Jonas participates in the creation of exemplary projects that anticipate a better world. And thereby create spaces of possibility.  We discuss those issues in this episode, where he explains why working with the youngK collective is so fun, as their culture, exchange, and collaboration contributes to shaping futures with joy and dedication. He also covers the leading-edge methodologies that he’s using, along with a piece he’s just written for the Journal for Futures Studies. And we cover the recent ‘Futurist Archetypes’ report that he produced, which has gained a lot of attention in the futurist-community. Whilst he insists that these archetypes are ironic and deliberately exaggerated, they’re also both funny and uncannily accurate. The crucial question for futurists is, of course, in which of them might you recognise yourself? So, I hope you enjoy the conversation!

    Jonas Drechsel ‘Futurist Archetypes and Futures Thinking’
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3.2
out of 5
33 Ratings

About

The New Abnormal podcast (which has over 250,000 downloads) focuses on 'Now / Next / Why'. My guests have include a wide variety of experts based in locations from Los Angeles to Shanghai, Rio to Beirut, and Helsinki to Melbourne. Those guests have included activists, creatives, writers, philosophers, strategists, psychologists, lecturers, futurists etc, and asking them to explain their views has led to some fascinating conversations. Re: my bio, I'm a futurist, public speaker, and author whose written two books - my first went to No1 in the business charts whilst my second was shortlisted for the 'Business Book of the Year' Awards. (I'll be writing a third as soon as time allows.) So, I hope you enjoy listening to the series - which was set up during the early days of Covid and is therefore divided into a series per year.  All rights reserved. #TheNewAbnormal podcast series © Sean Pillot de Chenecey 2020. 

Information

  • Creator
    Sean Pillot de Chenecey
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    229
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The New Abnormal
  • Show Website
    The New Abnormal

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