Heja Framtiden – Global Conversations on the Future

Christian von Essen

Heja Framtiden is a podcast about the future of technology, innovation, sustainability, entrepreneurship and systems change. Hosted by Christian von Essen, the show features conversations with founders, researchers, futurists, investors and changemakers exploring the ideas, technologies and business models shaping our shared future. Topics include AI, climate solutions, deeptech, energy, mobility, health, impact investing and societal transformation. This feed contains all English-language episodes from Heja Framtiden, one of Sweden's leading podcasts on the future. https://hejaframtiden.se/

  1. Jun 5

    Javier Arroyo: Energy resilience for food production

    Many farmers run small businesses with limited time to evaluate different energy solutions. Javier Arroyo is on a mission to help this group become more self-sufficient and cost-efficient through batteries and smart software. He founded ⁠Edgy Systems⁠ for industries and the business segment ⁠Edgy Battery⁠ for farmers after previously working with battery engineering at Volvo Cars in Gothenburg. Heja Framtiden met Javier at the combined trade shows Stockholm Smart City, Energy, Infrastructure and Mobility i Kista. Podcast host: ⁠Christian von Essen⁠ Learn more at ⁠hejaframtiden.se⁠

    13 min

  2. May 19

    Griet Vanhee: Inclusion by design

    Technology can unlock life-changing opportunities for people with disabilities. Griet Vanhee previously worked as a speech therapist for ALS patients. She was recruited to the Swedish eye-tracking company Tobii and the newly formed division ⁠Tobii Dynavox⁠, focusing on AAC solutions - Assistive and Alternative Communications. On stage at ⁠Women in Tech Sweden 2026⁠, Griet showcased one of their products together with twelve-year-old Linnea, suffering from cerebral palsy, who could communicate through an eye-tracking device and a screen prepared with letters, words and phrases. Inclusion does not happen by accident, it happens by design. What potential could be fulfilled if more people were able to communicate on their own terms? Podcast host: ⁠Christian von Essen⁠ // Learn more at ⁠hejaframtiden.se⁠ and ⁠subscribe to the newsletter on Substack⁠ (in Swedish).

    10 min

  3. May 12

    Ken Villum Klausen: Agentic fintech and invisible banking

    When ⁠Ken Villum Klausen⁠ founded ⁠Lunar⁠ in Denmark almost 11 years ago, he could hardly foresee the current AI landscape. With a resilient backbone formed on the struggles of building a proper Nordic challenger bank, Lunar is now increasingly positioning itself as an infrastructure for other fintech companies - and AI agents. Are we finally moving into invisible banking? Podcast host: ⁠Christian von Essen⁠ // Check out more episodes at ⁠hejaframtiden.se⁠ and ⁠subscribe to the newsletter⁠ (in Swedish) The episode was produced in collaboration with Lunar.

    35 min

  4. May 8

    Gertrude Chilufya: The AI adoption cheerleader

    AI solutions are being rolled out at an incredible pace, but how do organizations and individuals implement these new ways of working in practice? Turns out there's a gap in AI adoption, not only between genders, industries and continents, but within companies and teams as well. Sweden-based ⁠Gertrude Chilufya⁠ is on a journey to bridge these gaps. As an AI Adoption Strategist, she helps individuals and leaders to get the AI ball rolling for increased productivity and better workflow. Heja Framtiden met Gertrude at ⁠Women in Tech Sweden 2026⁠ in Stockholm. Podcast host: Christian von Essen // Learn more at ⁠hejaframtiden.se⁠

    18 min

  5. May 1

    Devon Young & Hannah Prior: Talking to Trees

    Urban forests and gardens are increasingly important for shade, climate change mitigation, noise pollution and air quality. But out of the 100 Billion USD invested annually, there has been plenty of waste because trees are not properly taken care of. A third don't even survive their first year. ⁠Devon Young⁠ from Avanade and ⁠Hannah Prior⁠ from Microsoft set out to change this. Using their companies' combined technologies, they created a way of ⁠communicating with individual trees⁠ to see how they are doing. The solution is soon being rolled out to cities and municipalities looking to strengthening their preventive green maintenance. Heja Framtiden met Devon and Hannah at the ⁠Women in Tech Sweden conference 2026⁠ in Stockholm. Podcast host: ⁠Christian von Essen⁠ Check out ⁠hejaframtiden.se⁠ and ⁠subscribe to the newsletter⁠ (in Swedish). Also: ⁠epic talkshow at Maxim in Stockholm 7th of May⁠ (also in Swedish).

    12 min

  6. Apr 17

    Shaena Harrison: The value of human connection

    Anyone who's met ⁠Shaena Harrison⁠ remembers the encounter, since she probably introduced you to a person you didn't know you wanted to meet. During her more than ten years in Stockholm, she has been working for tech companies like Klarna, Oneflow, LinkedIn, SingularityU Nordic and Telia, while volunteering at TEDx Stockholm. Eventually, she realized that could build something unique based on her skill as a super-connector, and founded ⁠Wing People - The Human Connection Company⁠, offering busy executives a professional "wing person" at events and conferences in order to make the most out their time, money and effort. In this episode, we dive into the topics of event design, connection skills, artificial intelligence and the power of opening doors for others. Podcast host: ⁠Christian von Essen⁠ Check out ⁠hejaframtiden.se⁠ and ⁠subscribe to the newsletter⁠ (in Swedish).

    50 min

  7. Apr 7

    James Arrowood: What if cryonics actually works?

    Cryopreservation is a common process in nature. Given that it already works with IVF embryos, could it potentially work for entire human bodies? James Arrowood believes so. He is CEO of Arizona-based non-profit organization ⁠Alcor Life Extension Foundation⁠, one of the largest cryonics facilities in the world. This is no longer just science fiction. Heja Framtiden met him after a ⁠cryonics seminar at Institute for Futures Studies⁠ in Stockholm. How far has the technology come today and when will we see the first attempts to revive people in the future? How does it actually work? And what happens if you wake up a hundred years from now? Podcast host: ⁠Christian von Essen⁠ // Learn more at ⁠hejaframtiden.se⁠ and check out the ⁠newsletter on Substack⁠ (in Swedish).

    27 min

  8. Feb 13

    Mitchell Davis: Can top chefs be food system activists?

    Mitchell Davis⁠ is a renowned authority in many different parts of the food system. He has been involved in The World's 50 Best Restaurants and the James Beard Foundation, and runs his own media outlet Kitchen Sense on platforms like Instagram and Substack. Heja Framtiden met Mitchell at the ⁠Stockholm Food Forum⁠, when the new Eat Lancet Commission was released. The episode is part of a paid collaboration with Stockholm Business Region's initiative ⁠Stockholm ImpACT Days 2025⁠. Podcast host: Christian von Essen // Learn more at ⁠hejaframtiden.se⁠ and ⁠subscribe to the newsletter (in Swedish)⁠.

    22 min
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About

Heja Framtiden is a podcast about the future of technology, innovation, sustainability, entrepreneurship and systems change. Hosted by Christian von Essen, the show features conversations with founders, researchers, futurists, investors and changemakers exploring the ideas, technologies and business models shaping our shared future. Topics include AI, climate solutions, deeptech, energy, mobility, health, impact investing and societal transformation. This feed contains all English-language episodes from Heja Framtiden, one of Sweden's leading podcasts on the future. https://hejaframtiden.se/

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