Think Forward: Conversations with Futurists, Innovators and Big Thinkers

Steve Fisher

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. 

  1. Aug 12

    Right Sizing the Future with Gabe Cervantes | Think Forward EP 149

    A lot of strategy collapses the moment a "guarantee" fails, and the easiest way to find those guarantees is to notice what you never question. We start with something as small as flipping a light switch, then zoom out with futurist Gabe Cervantes, Director of Scalable Foresight at the Institute for the Future, to ask what leaders should do when the assumptions behind business, society, and daily life stop holding up. The goal isn't predicting the future. It's building the habit of challenging what feels inevitable, so you can see disruption earlier and respond with intent. Gabe shares what he's learned building scalable strategic foresight as a design problem: how much futures thinking an organization actually needs, and who should own it. We talk through a counterintuitive rule, sometimes the most productive futures workshop happens when the boss steps out, because psychological safety is the fuel for "ridiculous" ideas that later become real insights. We also unpack the lonely futurist problem and why "never future alone" protects teams from bias and makes the capability last. From there we get into generative AI and the future of work. Gabe makes the case for augmentation over automation and effectiveness over raw efficiency, especially when AI can deliver confidently wrong answers with total conviction. He offers a practical way to use AI well in foresight work: challenge, augment, reframe. We close by connecting foresight to lived experience through Gabe's nomadic journey across 16 cities, remote work incentive programs, and the need for "islands of continuity" in a world that keeps moving. The companion Future Proof newsletter issue built on this conversation, Confidently Wrong, is out this week: https://befutureproof.substack.com/ / https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/future-proof-7303526412311842816/ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Challenging Assumptions With A Light Switch 0:34 Meet Gabe And The 10-Year Horizon 2:25 Measuring Foresight By Conversation 4:20 Building Scalable Foresight In Organizations 7:41 When The Boss Leaves The Room 10:57 Never Future Alone 12:58 Foresight Finds Better Questions 16:30 Generative AI For Augmentation 24:03 Challenge Augment Reframe With AI 25:58 Tipping Point For The Futures Field 28:01 Training Futurists To Drive Action 30:55 The Nomadic Futurist Across 16 Cities 37:39 Islands Of Continuity For Nomads 40:09 Signals We Might Be Missing 41:02 Career Advice And Legacy 45:51 Where To Find Gabe And Closing ABOUT GABE CERVANTES Gabe Cervantes is Director of Scalable Foresight at the Institute for the Future, where he helps organizations build the internal capability to think seriously about their own futures instead of outsourcing it to a single consultant or a single report. Gabe's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabe-cervantes-ab147338/ Gabe's Firm: https://www.cfuturesconsulting.com RESOURCES MENTIONED SuperShifts, my book on the forces reshaping business and society: https://www.supershiftsbook.com/ Future Proof, my weekly newsletter on foresight and leadership: Substack: https://befutureproof.substack.com/ My website: https://www.stevenfisher.io/ My LinkdedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenfisher/ SPONSOR THIS EPISODE Interested in sponsoring Think Forward or partnering as an affiliate? Email sfisher@humanfrontier.org to reach a growing audience of leaders and futurists thinking seriously about what's next. CONNECT Think Forward Show: https://thinkforward.buzzsprout.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/106181361/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thinkfwdshow/ X/Twitter: https://x.com/ThinkFwdShow If you found something useful, subscribe, share this with a colleague, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What assumption do you think your organization needs to challenge next? Let me know in the comments. #Foresight #Leadership #FutureOfWork #ArtificialIntelligence #StrategicForesight #ThinkForward PodMatchPodMatch Automatically Matches Ideal Podcast Guests and Hosts For InterviewsORDER SUPERSHIFTS! bit.ly/supershifts 🎧 Listen Now On:  Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/think-forward-conversations-with-futurists-innovators-and-big-thinkers/id1736144515 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0IOn8PZCMMC04uixlATqoO Web: https://thinkforward.buzzsprout.com/ Thank you for joining me on this ongoing journey into the future. Until next time, stay curious, and always think forward.

    Right Sizing the Future with Gabe Cervantes | Think Forward EP 149

  2. Aug 4

    Anticipating the Future with Mathias Bjornhoff | Think Forward EP 148

    The future does not fail because we lack ideas. It fails because we cannot commit to turning insight into action. We sit down with a Mathias, a futures practitioner who grew up on a small Danish island, found his way into the Copenhagen Institute for Future Studies, and later built Anticipate Futures to make strategic foresight more usable, more teachable, and more accessible to people who are trying to drive real change inside organizations. We get practical about what actually works: how to move beyond “foresight as a project” and build organizational foresight as a capability, how to find allies so the work does not die when one champion leaves, and why communication matters as much as any framework.  We also talk about... • growing up on a small Danish island and how travel shapes global citizenship • moving from innovation and diplomacy ambitions into futures studies and strategic foresight • learning by doing at the Copenhagen Institute for Future Studies and what practice teaches that theory cannot • building Anticipate Futures to make foresight accessible, actionable, and present-focused • using the ACT framework to connect anticipation, creation, and transformation • embedding organizational foresight so it survives beyond a single champion • selling foresight as making a business case and finding allies across departments • making futures education more affordable through lightweight masterclasses • using hopeful framing to avoid apathy while staying pragmatic • generative AI as an amplifier and a risk for bland “beige futures” You can find us on all the major podcast platforms and at www.thinkforwardshow.com as well as on YouTube under Think Forward Show. Subscribe for more conversations like this, share the episode with a colleague who needs a better future toolkit, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show. PodMatchPodMatch Automatically Matches Ideal Podcast Guests and Hosts For InterviewsORDER SUPERSHIFTS! bit.ly/supershifts 🎧 Listen Now On:  Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/think-forward-conversations-with-futurists-innovators-and-big-thinkers/id1736144515 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0IOn8PZCMMC04uixlATqoO Web: https://thinkforward.buzzsprout.com/ Thank you for joining me on this ongoing journey into the future. Until next time, stay curious, and always think forward.

    Anticipating the Future with Mathias Bjornhoff | Think Forward EP 148

  3. Jul 9

    Fashion Futures and The Trap of Novelty with Clarice Garcia | Think Forward Show 147

    Trends aren’t just a fashion problem. They’re a system for manufacturing novelty, and right now that system is running at TikTok speed. I sit down with Clarice Garcia, a futurist and designer who moved from architecture in Brazil to studying fashion in Milan, only to realize the real story isn’t clothing at all. The story is the logic behind “new,” and what that logic does to sustainability, culture, and our sense of belonging. We get specific about how trend forecasting works in the fashion industry, why it becomes a worst-case scenario for sustainable consumption, and how microtrends shorten the life span of taste from months to days. We also unpack the luxury contradiction: brands that talk about sustainability while destroying unsold inventory to protect scarcity and symbolic value. That tension forces a bigger question: if we don’t change what luxury and status mean, how can the system ever change? Clarice then walks me through fashion futuring, her speculative design and futures thinking toolkit built to spark imagination and provoke a values-driven transition toward sustainability. The method uses fiction to create artifacts and narratives, then extracts the values inside them and turns those values into action through backcasting. We explore how the same “fashion logic” shows up in electronics, automotive, and cosmetics, and why values-centered work can reveal real pathways beyond greenwashing and futures theater. If you care about sustainable fashion, design fiction, systems change, or values-driven innovation, this conversation will stretch your thinking. Subscribe, share this with a friend who loves “the new,” and leave a review with the value you think your industry should put first. PodMatchPodMatch Automatically Matches Ideal Podcast Guests and Hosts For InterviewsORDER SUPERSHIFTS! bit.ly/supershifts 🎧 Listen Now On:  Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/think-forward-conversations-with-futurists-innovators-and-big-thinkers/id1736144515 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0IOn8PZCMMC04uixlATqoO Web: https://thinkforward.buzzsprout.com/ Thank you for joining me on this ongoing journey into the future. Until next time, stay curious, and always think forward.

    Fashion Futures and The Trap of Novelty with Clarice Garcia | Think Forward Show 147

  4. May 26

    Thinking Liquid: Navigating Neverending Change w/ Geoff Livingston | Think Forward Show 146

    Many of us are navigating a world defined by relentless change—and AI is transforming every part of it faster than we can keep up. But what if the key isn’t resisting these shifts, but mastering how to flow with them?  Geoff (a storytelling tech veteran and AI integrator) reveals how to turn the chaos into opportunity by cultivating a mindset of fluidity and continual reinvention. In this candid conversation, he shares how storytelling, your ability to craft an authentic narrative, is more crucial than ever in a landscape overwhelmed by content and noise. He debunks the myth of “long-term jobs” in a volatile economy and explains why roles like the “AI orchestrator” are the future of work. From navigating the ethics of AI development to understanding how your organization can adapt quickly and ethically, we explore concrete strategies for thriving amid systemic upheaval. We chat about many things, including: - Why “speed of slop” in marketing and design damages quality—and how to combat it - How AI tools like Claude Coworker are reshaping collaboration and productivity without sacrificing human nuance - Why the role of the “orchestrator” will become essential in managing complex AI-driven processes - The importance of mindse, like staying liquid and resilien, in facing political, societal, and technological chaos - Practical advice for future-proofing your career and business skills in a world where change is the only constant This isn’t just a discussion about AI; it’s a blueprint for building mental resilience, embracing fluidity, and turning systemic shifts into breakthroughs. If you believe adaptability is your strongest asset, this episode is your essential guide toward navigating the future confidently—whatever it holds. Perfect for entrepreneurs, executives, creators, and anyone feeling overwhelmed by the rapid pace of change. Tap into Jeff’s insights, leverage AI ethically, and learn how to stay ahead of the curve—without losing your human edge. Connect with Geoff on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoffliving/  and stay tuned for his upcoming book arriving this June. This is your call to embrace the ongoing journey of reinvention—because in a world where nothing stays still, the only way forward is to stay fluid. Order Now Is Gone: Think Liquid to Navigate Neverending Change (Amazon): https://www.amazon.com/Now-Gone-Liquid-Navigate-Neverending-ebook/dp/B0GHNMM383/ You can find us on all the major podcast platforms under www.thinkforward.com as well as on YouTube under ThinkForward Show. PodMatchPodMatch Automatically Matches Ideal Podcast Guests and Hosts For InterviewsORDER SUPERSHIFTS! bit.ly/supershifts 🎧 Listen Now On:  Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/think-forward-conversations-with-futurists-innovators-and-big-thinkers/id1736144515 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0IOn8PZCMMC04uixlATqoO Web: https://thinkforward.buzzsprout.com/ Thank you for joining me on this ongoing journey into the future. Until next time, stay curious, and always think forward.

    Thinking Liquid: Navigating Neverending Change w/ Geoff Livingston | Think Forward Show 146

  5. Apr 14

    Think Forward EP 145 - The Mind at the End of the Universe with Richard Yonck

    You can feel the ground shifting under AI right now, but the hardest question isn’t “When do we get AGI?” It’s this: if we can’t prove whether something is conscious, how would we ever know when a machine deserves rights and protection? That single uncertainty turns today’s AI excitement into a genuine ethical dilemma with real stakes for business, policy, and daily life. We follow futurist and author Richard Yonck from a childhood obsession with technology into the real craft of forecasting, where methods matter more than titles. We pressure-test AGI hype, unpack why LLMs feel human, and confront the ethical trap of building minds we cannot prove are conscious. • Richard’s path from science writing to futures research and consulting • How the futurist label evolved from think tanks to LinkedIn noise • What corporate foresight work reveals about prior knowledge and hidden politics • Big history and the pattern of rising complexity against entropy • Why “AGI” is a misleading idea and why human intelligence is not “general” • Why generative AI and LLMs are powerful tools but limited • The hard problem of consciousness and what AI personhood could mean • Ethical risks from digital feudalism to digital serfdom • Future of work questions including automation, meaning, and UBI • Why education must shift toward lifelong learning and rapid upskilling • Hybrid intelligence as the realistic near-term model • How writing techno-thrillers can explore futures without selling hype You can reach Richard and find out about his books and more at RichardYonk.com. You can find us on all the major podcast platforms at www.thinkforward.com PodMatchPodMatch Automatically Matches Ideal Podcast Guests and Hosts For InterviewsORDER SUPERSHIFTS! bit.ly/supershifts 🎧 Listen Now On:  Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/think-forward-conversations-with-futurists-innovators-and-big-thinkers/id1736144515 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0IOn8PZCMMC04uixlATqoO Web: https://thinkforward.buzzsprout.com/ Thank you for joining me on this ongoing journey into the future. Until next time, stay curious, and always think forward.

    Think Forward EP 145 - The Mind at the End of the Universe with Richard Yonck

  6. Apr 8

    Think Forward EP 144 - A Stone Age Body In An AI World with Tom Meyers

    We explore how an evolutionary mismatch between ancient biology and modern culture keeps our stress response switched on and quietly shapes health, behavior, and society. Tom shares how future thinking helped him rebuild his own life and why “eustasis” is a practical north star for resilience and meaning in a fast-changing world.  • Tom’s journey from hospitality work to futurist thinking through a personal crisis  • The “ideal day in 10 years” prompt as a tool for direction and agency  • Letting the future pull you forward rather than the past pushing you  • Why many modern pain patterns are “software” problems, not hardware injuries  • Autonomic nervous system dysfunction, chronic stress, and dysautonomia as root drivers  • Evolutionary mismatch explained through everyday triggers and nonstop activation  • Eustasis as good balance through change across biological, psychosocial, and spiritual needs  • The risk of “no Project Human” as technology accelerates without shared purpose  • How transhuman paths could fracture humanity into diverging “species”  • The Reset Approach for resilience, including low-tech self-regulation skills for space travel  You can find us on all the major podcast platforms under www.thinkforwardshow.com as well as on YouTube under Think Forward Show.  PodMatchPodMatch Automatically Matches Ideal Podcast Guests and Hosts For InterviewsORDER SUPERSHIFTS! bit.ly/supershifts 🎧 Listen Now On:  Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/think-forward-conversations-with-futurists-innovators-and-big-thinkers/id1736144515 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0IOn8PZCMMC04uixlATqoO Web: https://thinkforward.buzzsprout.com/ Thank you for joining me on this ongoing journey into the future. Until next time, stay curious, and always think forward.

    Think Forward EP 144 - A Stone Age Body In An AI World with Tom Meyers

  7. Mar 31

    Think Forward EP 143 - Rivers, Cities and Invisible Futures with Sherman Cruz

    We explore why fear-based futures work narrows imagination and how an indigenous lens replaces control with respect for the unknown. Sherman shares how futures literacy, decolonizing foresight, and relationship-centered thinking change the way leaders prepare for crisis, technology, and the long term. • Sherman’s journey from governance and risk work to full-time futures studies and strategic foresight  • How Future Shock shaped a generation’s view of disruption and adaptation  • Why we do not get to choose our crises and what that means for preparedness  • Weak signals, Black Swans, and the limits of “safe futures” thinking  • Dreams and Disruptions as a futures literacy card game for fast scenario building  • Uncertainty as a learnable environment that surfaces hidden assumptions  • Leadership archetypes inspired by Sarkar and what they reveal about organizations  • Decolonizing foresight as power awareness and reclaiming diverse ways of knowing  • Global South Futures and the idea that relationships are reality  • Rivers as living entities and what regenerative cities demand from long-term thinking  • A critique of utilitarian foresight and AI as hyper-optimization built to sell  • Practical advice for the next generation of futurists centered on improvisation You can find us on all the major podcast platforms under www.thinkforwardshow.com as well as on YouTube under Think Forward Show. PodMatchPodMatch Automatically Matches Ideal Podcast Guests and Hosts For InterviewsORDER SUPERSHIFTS! bit.ly/supershifts 🎧 Listen Now On:  Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/think-forward-conversations-with-futurists-innovators-and-big-thinkers/id1736144515 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0IOn8PZCMMC04uixlATqoO Web: https://thinkforward.buzzsprout.com/ Thank you for joining me on this ongoing journey into the future. Until next time, stay curious, and always think forward.

    Think Forward EP 143 - Rivers, Cities and Invisible Futures with Sherman Cruz

  8. 12/11/2025

    Think Forward EP 142 - Hunting for Another Earth with Dr Sara Seager

    Welcome to this special crossover episode from our other show, Going Off World. In this episode, the hunt for alien life isn’t a sci-fi dream. It’s a patient, high-stakes investigation unfolding across labs, observatories, and space missions—and Sarah Seager is charting the course. We sit down with the MIT exoplanet pioneer to unpack how a field once defined by four puzzling worlds grew into a catalog of thousands, each challenging our assumptions about what planets can be and where life might take hold. We trace Dr Sarah Seager’s path from early skepticism about hot Jupiters to leading-edge missions seeking signs of life in exoplanet atmospheres and even the acid clouds of Venus. The conversation blends technology, theory, and personal resilience to map the long road to finding another Earth. If you care about exoplanets, biosignatures, Venus, and the future of discovery, this conversation is a guided tour of what it will take to spot another Earth and how that finding could reshape our place in the cosmos. If you enjoyed this episode, follow the show, share it with a friend who loves space, and leave a review to help more curious minds find us. • how exoplanet science matured from four planets to thousands • why hot Jupiters reshaped formation theories • Kepler’s impact and TESS’s role in finding follow-up targets • what biosignature gases are and why they matter • starshade and direct imaging to see Earthlike worlds • red dwarf habitability, tidal locking, and stellar flares • Venus phosphine debate and sulfuric acid cloud chemistry • realistic timelines, tech limits, and the long view • career foundations, generalist leadership, and mentorship Find her over at SarahSeager.com. She is also on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and a bunch of other social media platforms. You can just search for her name, Sarah Seager. Thanks for listening to the Think Forward Podcast. You can find us on all the major podcast platforms and at www.thinkforwardshow.com as well as on YouTube under Think Forward Show. PodMatchPodMatch Automatically Matches Ideal Podcast Guests and Hosts For InterviewsORDER SUPERSHIFTS! bit.ly/supershifts 🎧 Listen Now On:  Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/think-forward-conversations-with-futurists-innovators-and-big-thinkers/id1736144515 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0IOn8PZCMMC04uixlATqoO Web: https://thinkforward.buzzsprout.com/ Thank you for joining me on this ongoing journey into the future. Until next time, stay curious, and always think forward.

    Think Forward EP 142 - Hunting for Another Earth with Dr Sara Seager
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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. 

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