Quest for Better Futures

QUEST Alliance
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Quest for Better Futures brings you voices from young people and their allies at the frontlines of education, work, emerging technologies and climate change to challenge assumptions about what's possible and reimagine more just and inclusive futures.

Episodes

  1. 10/31/2025

    Funding the Future

    In Episode 11 of Quest for Better Futures, Gautam John and Namrata Agarwal discuss how we can move beyond seeing young people as passive recipients of change and instead recognize them as active co-creators of solutions.How can we build a culture of active citizenship in India? How should institutions, leadership, and philanthropy change, given that uncertainty is the new normal? What if the future isn’t driven by states or markets, but by relationships, diversity, and a shared imagination? Credits: Host(s) - Namrata Agarwal Guest(s) - Gautam John Production Crew - Chandan CM, Dilip P, Hiranya Singh, Mohammed Sajjad, Zaheera Vaz Produced By Quest Alliance Editor(s) - Shashank KS Concept - Bhawna Parmar, Tanvi Negi Content - Bhawna Parmar, Sahana HM Music - Smooth Future Bass Logo by LEXMUSIC VFX & Motion graphics - Chandan CM Location courtesy - Quest Learning Observatory, Bangalore (India)

    55 min

  2. 10/25/2025

    Government’s Role in Building Thriving Futures

    For many of us, education, skilling, and employment are seen as three distinct stages, and not as a holistic continuum. Time and again, it has proven that skilling succeeds only when education and industry are seamlessly connected.In Episode 10 of Quest for Better Futures, Nikita Bengani and Atul Kumar Tiwari, IAS - Former Secretary, Ministry Of Skill development and Entrepreneurship discuss the role of AI in classrooms, insights on female workforce participation, and what it takes to design skilling initiatives for Indian youth. Credits Host(s) - Nikita Bengani Guest(s)- Shri Atul Kumar Tiwari Production Crew - Chandan CM, Hiranya Singh, Mohammed Sajjad, Navya D'Souza, Pritika Das, Revathi R, Syed Umer, Winnie Pande Produced By Quest Alliance Editor(s) - Chandan CM, Shashank KSConcept - Bhawna Parmar, Tanvi Negi Content - Bhawna Parmar, Nikita Bengani, Risha Ramachandran Music - Smooth Future Bass Logo by LEXMUSIC VFX & Motion graphics - Chandan CM Location courtesy - Quest Learning Observatory, Bangalore (India)

    52 min

  3. 10/17/2025

    Future Skills for Thriving Careers

    A Google search for “top workplace skills” reveals lists full of ‘time management’, ‘leadership’, ‘creativity’, and ‘teamwork’. However, as Arnab and Arpita note, the idea of skills often hides deeper hierarchies of class, gender, and power. Think about it – how does society define and value skills? What do you classify as skills worthy of picking up?

    1h 4m

  4. 10/10/2025

    Integrating Imagination in Learning: Futures Thinking as a Pedagogy

    People often say that if something can’t be measured, it can’t be managed, but what if that exact mindset holds us back from making meaningful change? In Episode 8 of Quest for Better Futures, Bhawna Parmar speaks with Punya Mishra about what happens when numbers define social change, and how education,in particular, has faced the consequences of this thinking.The full episode is now live on our YouTube channel. Also streaming on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Host(s) - Bhawna ParmarGuest(s) - Punya MishraProduction Crew -Chandan CMProduced By Quest AllianceEditor(s) - Shashank KSConcept - Bhawna Parmar, Tanvi NegiContent - Bhawna Parmar, Sahana HMMusic - Smooth Future Bass Logo by LEXMUSICVFX & Motion graphics - Chandan CM#FuturesThinking #AI #QuestAlliance #FuturesLiteracy #Podcast #YouthFutures

    59 min

  5. 09/26/2025

    Imagining Life-centric Futures

    What do you see, when you picture the future? If it’s AI, rockets and a highly engineered, precise world, you’re not alone. However, these visions are rooted in old, harmful ideas that dismiss nature and indigenous knowledge as “primitive,” carrying forward ideas with troubling origins. In episode 7 of Quest for Better Futures, Monika Bielskyte and Aakash Sethi explore how our ideas of the future continue to be shaped by outdated sci-fi and why that’s a problem. Host - Aakash Sethi Guest - Monika Bielskyte Production Crew - Shivam Pandey Produced By Quest Alliance Editor(s)- Chandan CM, Shashank KS Concept - Bhawna Parmar, Tanvi Negi Content - Bhawna Parmar, Sahana HM Music - Smooth Future Bass Logo by LEXMUSIC VFX & Motion graphics - Chandan CM #QuestforBetterFutures #QuestAlliance #EdTech #podcast #futuresliteracy #futuresthinking #NGO

    57 min

  6. 08/29/2025

    How do you build better futures?

    In episode 6 of Quest for Better Futures, Neha Parti and Suchetha Bhat dig deep into the uncomfortable truths of leadership and privilege. From language, caste, and class to the subtle ways competition and control can undermine true collaboration, they confront the urgent questions we need to ask to co-create futures that are inclusive, equitable, and responsible. Host(s) - Neha Parti Guest(s) - Suchetha Bhat Production Crew - Chandan CM, Dilip P, Hiranya Singh, Mohammed Sajjad, Zaheera Vaz Produced By Quest Alliance Editor(s) - Chandan CM, Shashank KS Concept - Bhawna Parmar, Tanvi Negi Content - Bhawna Parmar, Neha Parti, Sahana HM Music - Smooth Future Bass Logo by LEXMUSIC VFX & Motion graphics - Chandan CM Location courtesy - Quest Learning Observatory, Bangalore (India) #QuestforBetterFutures #QuestAlliance #GenderEquity #FuturesThinking #FuturesLiteracy

    41 min

  7. 08/06/2025

    What is Futures Literacy?

    How do we balance today’s urgent demands while also being equally conscious of the rights of future generations?  In Episode 5 of Quest for Better Futures, Bhawna Parmar and Cat Tully of School of International Futures talk intergenerational fairness, the limitations of short-term political cycles, and the importance of civil society and youth in helping society move from outdated systems toward more sustainable and just futures. Long-term thinking can feel impossible, futile or even inconvenient, given the changing nature of the world we inhabit. But as this episode reveals, the cost of ignoring the future is already showing up in our present — whether it is polluted cities, broken infrastructure, or inequality growing by leaps and bounds.  Host - Bhawna Parmar Guest - Cat Tully, Founder of SOIF, the School of International Futures Production Crew - Chandan CM Produced By Quest Alliance Editor(s) - Chandan CM, Shashank KS Concept - Bhawna Parmar, Tanvi Negi Content - Bhawna Parmar, Sahana HM Music - Smooth Future Bass Logo by LEXMUSIC VFX & Motion graphics - Chandan CM, Hiranya Singh

    54 min

  8. 07/18/2025

    Does India Need Foresight?

    If the future belongs to all of us, why do only a few get to shape it? What would it take to change that? In Episode 4 of Quest for Better Futures, Aakash Sethi sits down with Urvashi Aneja of Digital Futures Lab, to talk about the power of foresight, not just for policymakers and academics, but also for young people and communities to reclaim their place in shaping the future. They explore how foresight can help us question dominant narratives (often shaped by the privileged few), reclaim agency over what lies ahead, and co-create futures that are more inclusive, equitable, and grounded in local realities. Host(s) - Aakash Sethi Guest(s) - Urvashi Aneja Production Crew - Chandan CM, Sahana HM Produced By Quest AllianceEditor(s) - Chandan CM, Shashank KS Concept - Bhawna Parmar, Tanvi Negi Content - Bhawna Parmar, Sahana HM Music - Smooth Future Bass Logo by LEXMUSIC VFX & Motion graphics - Chandan CM, Hiranya Singh Location courtesy - Sadhana D'ell Arte, Merces, Goa Contact - info@questalliance.net

    47 min

  9. 07/06/2025

    Facing the Storm : Future vs Climate Change

    Can we tackle the climate crisis without listening to those affected by it the most?
 Prof. Lyla Mehta and Shibaji Bose unpack the current dominant climate narratives with our colleagues Bhawna Parmar and Neha Parti. They highlight the critical role of education and the need for future literacy that equips youth with agency, imagination and real-world tools to navigate uncertainty and lead climate action. Host(s) - Bhawna Parmar, Neha Parti Guest(s)    - Shibaji Bose, Lyla Mehta Production Crew - Chandan CM, Zaheera Vaz Produced By    Quest Alliance Editor(s) - Chandan CM Concept - Bhawna Parmar, Tanvi Negi Content - Bhawna Parmar, Neha Parti Music - Smooth Future Bass Logo by LEXMUSIC VFX & Motion graphics - Chandan CM, Dilip P

    56 min

  10. 06/20/2025

    Shaping the Future of Tech

    AI has moved from hype to a habit. In Episode 2 of Quest for Better Futures hosted by Namrata Agarwal, we are joined by Aapti Institute's Sarayu Natarajan to explore how we can take a more intentional role in shaping the direction of AI and emerging technologies, one that is youth-led and centres equity, ethics and human values.

    48 min

  11. 06/05/2025

    Lost and Found : The Voices of Youth

    How are young people shaping their futures in an ever-changing world? In a time when opportunities feel out of reach and the future is shaped by forces like AI, climate change and outdated education systems, young people are grappling with more than just career choices. In Episode 1 of Quest for Better Futures, we bring you the voices of Jai and Chandana, two young learners striving to rise above the chaos with the ambition to create something meaningful for themselves. Hosted by our colleague Nikita Bengani, this episode dives deeper into the lived experiences of young people and their visions for the future. Credits: Host - Nikita Bengani Guests - Chandana Barman, Jai Basyal Production Crew - Chandan CM, Dilip P, Flarantxa Pereira, Kathelene Reena, Mohammed Sajjad, Sahana HM, Zaheera Vaz Produced By Quest Alliance Editor - Chandan CM Concept - Bhawna Parmar, Tanvi Negi Content - Bhawna Parmar, Nikita Bengani, Aparna Santha-Jayanthan Music - Smooth Future Bass Logo by LEXMUSIC VFX & Motion graphics - Chandan CM, Hiranya Singh Location courtesy - Quest Learning Observatory, Bangalore (India)

    48 min

  12. 05/30/2025

    Quest for Better Futures: Meet the Hosts

    In a world of constant disruption, what does it take to build futures where young people thrive? Hosted by us, Quest for Better Futures brings you voices from young people and their allies at the frontlines of education, work, emerging technologies and climate change to challenge assumptions about what's possible and reimagine more just and inclusive futures. Host(s) - Aakash Sethi, Bhawna Parmar, Namrata Agarwal, Neha Parti, Nikita Bengani Production Crew - Chandan CM, Mohammed Sajjad, Padma Koppa, Sahana HM Produced By - Quest Alliance Editor - Chandan CM Concept and Content - Bhawna Parmar, Sahana HM Music - Smooth Future Bass Logo by LEXMUSIC and Simple Logo by az_studio VFX and Motion graphics - Chandan CM, Hiranya Singh Location courtesy - Quest Learning Observatory, Bangalore (India)

    33 min
  • 12 Episodes

About

Quest for Better Futures brings you voices from young people and their allies at the frontlines of education, work, emerging technologies and climate change to challenge assumptions about what's possible and reimagine more just and inclusive futures.

Information

  • Creator
    QUEST Alliance
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    12
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © QUEST Alliance
  • Show Website
    Quest for Better Futures