Per Capita

Capita
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Relationships

In this new series, we explore some of the major transformations in culture and society that are already reshaping the lives of families and the communities around them.

  1. Per Capita: In Conversation with Nils Gilman

    Mar 3

    Per Capita: In Conversation with Nils Gilman

    At a moment when the old global order is fraying and the future feels radically uncertain, how can we prepare for what comes next? In this episode of Per Capita, Joe Waters speaks with Nils Gilman, Senior Advisor at the Berggruen Institute, about how to think systematically about the future in a moment of institutional rupture and geopolitical instability. Drawing on his intellectual journey—from Berkeley in the aftermath of the Cold War to Silicon Valley and his work in scenario planning—Nils explains the importance of interrogating assumptions, analyzing intersecting technological, demographic, political, and ecological trends, and challenging the “official future” narratives that shape collective expectations. He reflects on how historical change often emerges either from centers of power or from the periphery, and situates today’s disruptions within a broader pattern of punctuated equilibrium. Nils discusses the concept of the “planetary,” developed in his book Children of a Modest Star: Planetary Thinking for an Age of Crises, and its ethical commitment to multispecies flourishing. He argues that existing institutions are ill-equipped to manage planetary-scale challenges. Rather than advocating world government Nils proposes “planetary subsidiarity”: narrowly tailored institutions that address specific transboundary problems while preserving local democratic agency.  Addressing America’s current political trajectory, democratic fragility, and the retreat from international institutions, Nils urges us to learn from other countries' experiences with authoritarianism and to strengthen civil society, scientific capacity, and participatory governance as foundations for a more resilient and ecologically grounded future. www.capita.org

    49 min
  2. Per Capita: In Conversation with Blessing Adesiyan

    Jan 27

    Per Capita: In Conversation with Blessing Adesiyan

    Africa’s demographic future is arriving faster than most policymakers are prepared for.  In this episode of Per Capita, Joe Waters speaks with Blessing Adesiyan, Founder and Chief Care Officer of Caring Africa, about how rapid population growth, urbanization, and changing family structures are creating an urgent care crisis in Nigeria. With nearly half of the country’s population under 15 and a growing elderly population, families and workers are increasingly overstretched by care responsibilities in systems that remain largely informal and unregulated. Blessing argues that care must be treated as essential infrastructure, not a private family matter. She describes how the absence of professionalized, affordable care limits women’s participation in the workforce, reduces productivity, and increases inequality. The lack of existing policy and regulation is a unique opportunity to design modern, inclusive care systems from the ground up. From public policy to private investment, building a robust care economy is not only a social imperative, but also a foundation for long-term economic growth across the African continent. www.capita.org

    48 min
  3. Per Capita: In Conversation with Joseph Asunka

    Jan 13

    Per Capita: In Conversation with Joseph Asunka

    Africa’s rapid urbanization is shaping the future of cities and families in the continent.  In this episode of Per Capita, Joe Waters speaks with Joseph Asunka, CEO of Afrobarometer, about what Africans across more than 40 countries say their governments should prioritize—from the recent rise of health as a top concern to ongoing challenges around unemployment, security, and economic opportunity. The conversation explores how current global transformations are influencing migration, religion, and the role Africa will play in the global workforce, as well as what it will take to build cities and systems that serve families and their communities. Joseph also discusses the opportunities and risks of artificial intelligence for the continent, and why African data, talent, and infrastructure must be part of shaping the technologies that will define the future. www.capita.org

    48 min
  4. Per Capita: In Conversation with Ron Ivey

    12/16/2025

    Per Capita: In Conversation with Ron Ivey

    Artificial intelligence is advancing faster than our social, moral, and political frameworks, and families are feeling the consequences first. In this episode of Per Capita, Joe Waters speaks with Ron Ivey, Founder & CEO of Noēsis Collaborative, about how artificial intelligence is reshaping family life, work, and education. They explore why many parents fear AI will undermine economic stability, how rapid technological change is outpacing governance, and why education must focus less on tool use and more on developing moral, relational, and human capacities.  The conversation argues for a new framework for AI policy and design which is centered on human and family flourishing rather than economic growth. www.capita.org

    50 min
  5. Per Capita: In Conversation with Marshall Kosloff

    12/02/2025

    Per Capita: In Conversation with Marshall Kosloff

    The United States and many other democracies are in the midst of a dramatic political realignment with shifting views on national security, economics, technology, and the role of government.  In this new episode of Per Capita, Joe Waters is joined by Marshall Kosloff, Senior Fellow and Director of Special Projects at the Niskanen Center, and host of The Realignment, one of the most insightful podcasts on how economic and cultural shifts are remaking politics in the U.S. and beyond. The conversation focuses on how today’s realignment is reshaping the right, what it means for the center-left, how families and their communities are feeling these pressures, and why structural economic change matters as much as cultural identity. www.capita.org

    50 min
  6. Per Capita: In Conversation with Jessica Grose

    11/18/2025

    Per Capita: In Conversation with Jessica Grose

    Are families caught in a polycrisis within the polycrisis? Housing, health care, caregiving, paid leave, economic uncertainty are just some of the relentless forces reshaping family life in the U.S. today. In the midst of these overlapping pressures, a deeper question emerges: who do we believe ourselves to be? Are we independent, self-reliant individuals? Or are we fundamentally dependent, interconnected, and relational beings? How we answer that profoundly impacts how we view our responsibilities, our communities, and the role of public policy in shaping family life. In this episode of Per Capita, Joe Waters, Capita’s Co-Founder and CEO, speaks with Jessica Grose, opinion writer at The New York Times, about the challenges families face and what government is doing—and could do—to support family flourishing. They also explore broader social trends, including declining workforce participation among women, the limits of policy in influencing birth rates, and the role of recreation and community spaces. www.capita.org

    50 min
  7. In Conversation with Aspen Ascend Fellows

    08/20/2025

    In Conversation with Aspen Ascend Fellows

    In this episode, Jay Chaudhary, a Visiting Fellow at Capita and Senior Fellow at the Sagamore Institute, interviews Capita Co-Founder + CEO Joe Waters, Daniel Williams, CEO of the Steelcase Foundation, and Jesús Gerena, CEO of UpTogether, during the Aspen VisionXChange in Aspen, Colorado. They explore recent coverage of the Baby’s First Years evaluation, the role of two-parent households in addressing poverty, a more thoughtful definition of abundance, the influence of elite preferences on social policymaking, and the importance of centering the voices and aspirations of parents and families in shaping policy. We are grateful to the Aspen Institute for allowing us to use the podcast studio on the Aspen Meadows campus to record this conversation on July 29, 2025. www.capita.org

    54 min
  8. Capita In Conversation with Katie King

    02/10/2025

    Capita In Conversation with Katie King

    In this episode, Capita’s Chief Strategy Officer Caroline Cassidy sits down with Katie King, Senior Director of Strategic Engagement at KnowledgeWorks to revisit the first-ever ten-year forecast focused on the flourishing of young children and their families co-developed by Capita and KnowledgeWorks in 2019. A lot has changed in just five years. From the pandemic’s lasting impact to the rise of homeschooling and the growing urgency of climate change, they reflect on how a host of forces are reshaping childhood and family life in the U.S. They also dive into unexpected shifts, like the rapid evolution of AI and the complexities of children’s autonomy and equity in an increasingly digital world. The episode wraps up with a discussion on the power of strategic foresight—how leaders can use these tools to navigate uncertain futures and create better systems for families and their communities. Katie King is the Senior Director of Strategic Engagement for KnowledgeWorks. Katie manages externally facing strategic foresight projects and partnerships, co-designs and delivers workshops and contributes to KnowledgeWorks publications about the future of learning. Katie leads foresight strategy in state supports for personalized, competency-based learning, supports the management of foresight operations and strategic execution, and manages strategic foresight projects focused on sensemaking and strategy development. Katie has previously served as a consulting futurist for various nonprofit organizations and taught middle school English in Texas and California. She holds a bachelor’s in journalism from the University of Southern California and a master’s in foresight from the University of Houston. She is a member of the Association of Professional Futurists and co-author of The Futures Thinking Playbook. Caroline Cassidy directs overall strategy for Capita, which includes public engagement, communications, and organizational development. For two decades, Caroline has been a leader in the think tank, global development and not-for-profit sectors where she has orchestrated initiatives aimed at shaping a more just and humane world. She is a strong advocate for embedding a deeper approach to communications throughout an organization or project- from language, relationships, and framing to deep listening, behaviour change, and values.  www.capita.org

    28 min
See All (24)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

In this new series, we explore some of the major transformations in culture and society that are already reshaping the lives of families and the communities around them.

Information

  • Creator
    Capita
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    24
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2023 - 2025 Capita Social, Inc.
  • Show Website
    Per Capita

You Might Also Like