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. Think Forward EP 137: Mapping Tomorrows Terrain with Derek Woodgate

    23 JUN

    Think Forward EP 137: Mapping Tomorrows Terrain with Derek Woodgate

    What if the key to understanding tomorrow lies not in boardroom predictions but in the rhythms of a DJ's turntable? Derek Woodgate, with his 30+ years as an experimental futurist, takes us on a fascinating journey through his unique approach to futures thinking that blends underground arts with rigorous analysis. Derek reveals how his background in music management (working with bands like Swans and Sonic Youth) and his immersion in early digital communities shaped his distinctive methodology. "Think like a DJ," he explains, involves deconstructing concepts completely before rebuilding them into something revolutionary. This process requires skills beyond traditional analysis – demanding intuition, comfort with paradox, and the ability to see connections where others don't.  • Bringing music, art, and cultural experiences into futures work through "think like a DJ" methodology • Breaking concepts down to their elements and reconstructing them with fresh perspectives • Finding "colors that are missing" and identifying rhythms between the beats when analyzing trends • Leveraging intuition and creativity alongside analytical skills for deeper futures insights • Balancing professional futurism work with real-world immersion in emerging cultural movements • Developing new educational approaches that break down silos for complex problem-solving • Working with AI as a collaborative tool while preserving uniquely human foresight abilities • Understanding "rebel laboratories" and underground innovation that signals future directions • Living the future rather than just studying it to better anticipate coming challenges If you'd like to connect with Derek, you can reach him at dwoodgate@futures-lab.com where he welcomes conversations about futures thinking. Order your copy of SuperShifts: www.bit.ly/supershifts ORDER 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.

    1 h y 28 min
  2. Think Forward EP 136 - Wandering the Future with Cecile Cremer

    16 JUN

    Think Forward EP 136 - Wandering the Future with Cecile Cremer

    Welcome to this episode of Think Forward! In this episode, we sit down with Cécile Cremer, founder of Wandering the Future, joins us to challenge conventional wisdom about how we prepare for tomorrow's challenges. With refreshing candor, she explains why she's moving away from traditional trend reports toward a more collaborative approach to future-building. "I truly believe that the future should be co-created with people from all over the world," she shares, questioning how much real influence isolated trend forecasting actually has on shaping our collective tomorrow • Moving beyond trend reports to co-create futures with diverse perspectives • The Future Fluent Framework: developing resilience, adaptivity, and consciousness • Why mindset must precede strategy for meaningful transformation to occur • Making futures thinking accessible through education and physical trend walls • Democratizing future literacy by teaching it alongside fundamental subjects in schools • How even small innovations can create a significant positive impact when guided by futures thinking • The importance of taking personal responsibility for shaping our collective futures Connect with Cecile Kramer on LinkedIn or visit wanderingthefuture.com to learn how you can build a more resilient and hopeful future. Order your copy of SuperShifts: www.bit.ly/supershifts ORDER 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.

    38 min
  3. Think Forward EP 135 - Artifacts of Imagination with Julian Bleecker

    9 JUN

    Think Forward EP 135 - Artifacts of Imagination with Julian Bleecker

    What happens when you hold an artifact from a future that doesn't exist yet? A newspaper headline from 2045, a product manual for technology not yet invented, or a social media post from an entirely different world? These aren't just creative exercises—they're powerful tools for making abstract futures tangible. Julian Bleecker, one of the pioneering architects of design fiction, takes us on a fascinating journey through his approach to imagining possible tomorrows. Julian shares his journey from building computers in eighth grade to pioneering design fiction, creating tangible artifacts from imaginary futures that spark meaningful conversations about tomorrow's possibilities. • Discovered a love for technology as a child, building a Xerox 820 computer with an 8-inch floppy drive • Needed two engineering degrees and a PhD to articulate what he'd been chasing—that "whoa cool feeling" of exploring possibilities • Created TBD Catalog, a breakthrough project that materialized possible futures through a product catalog format • Founded Super Seminars as experimental gatherings where no one person is the expert • Describes design fiction as "future archaeology"—retrieving artifacts from possible futures to understand what those worlds might be like • Emphasizes imagination as an evolutionary advantage and essential skill that needs regular exercise • Advocates "imagining harder" as vital for navigating our rapidly changing world • Recommends doing design fiction exercises 2-3 times weekly, 20 minutes each, to build imaginative fitness • Works across disciplines, recently bringing design fiction approaches to policy discussions around AI Find Julian at the following places: His Patreon (SUPPORT HIM!) https://patreon.com/nearfuturelaboratory  *** The Patreon includes access to the coolest Discord on the planet. His Podcast (LISTEN TO HIM!)  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/near-future-laboratory-podcast/id1546452193 His LinkedIn (CONNECT WITH HIM!)  https://www.linkedin.com/in/julianbleecker Order your copy of SuperShifts: www.bit.ly/supershifts ORDER 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.

    58 min
  4. Think Forward EP 134 - Embedding Futures Thinking Into Your Company DNA:: A Practical Guide

    4 JUN

    Think Forward EP 134 - Embedding Futures Thinking Into Your Company DNA:: A Practical Guide

    The key to organizational survival lies in embedding foresight deeply into company DNA, creating structures that detect change, understand implications, and adapt accordingly before crises emerge. Futurist Steve Fisher shares practical frameworks for developing this capability, regardless of team size or organizational readiness. • Four organizational models for implementing foresight: Lone Wolf, Dynamic Duo, Special Forces Unit, and Enterprise Transformation • Step-by-step implementation playbook covering environmental scanning, scenario thinking, and strategy connection • Common pitfalls to avoid: academic rabbit holes, crystal ball expectations, shiny object syndrome • Real-world success stories from retail, manufacturing, and financial services • Practical tactics anyone can implement tomorrow, from weekly signal drops to future press releases • DNA integration framework showing progression from basic immune system to full imagination system • Metrics that actually work for measuring foresight success, beyond traditional ROI • Strategies for handling resistance from time horizon skeptics, control freaks, and resource guardians Take the 30-day challenge to start embedding foresight into your organization. Begin with one signal to track, one scenario to explore, or one assumption to challenge. The future belongs to organizations that see it coming, and it's up to you to help develop that vision. Order your copy of SuperShifts: www.bit.ly/supershifts ORDER 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.

    28 min
  5. Think Forward EP 133 - Hope Engineering with Nik Badminton

    27 MAY

    Think Forward EP 133 - Hope Engineering with Nik Badminton

    Nicholas Badminton brings a refreshingly grounded yet visionary perspective to futures work, sharing his journey from growing up around a slaughterhouse to delivering over 450 keynotes worldwide as a renowned futurist. His approach focuses on breaking dominant narratives, finding overlooked implications, and helping organizations build futures fluency through practical, integrated methods that drive meaningful transformation. • Began his futurist journey when his father gave him "The Usborne Book of the Future" at age eight • Accidentally became known as a futurist after building a reputation for writing about humanity and technology • Developed a modular keynote approach that connects global megatrends to industry-specific futures • Created events like Future Camp and Dark Futures to explore cutting-edge thinking in collaborative settings • Focuses on "hope engineering" - combining possibility thinking with futures work and positive psychology • Advocates for simple, practical futures thinking that can be integrated into daily organizational operations • Emphasizes human creativity over AI in futures work, noting AI's inability to connect weak signals creatively • Worked with major organizations on futures projects that informed multi-billion dollar investments • Helps organizations develop internal futures capability by mentoring staff and integrating foresight practices • Values working with children and young people to develop futures thinking abilities early Connect with Nicholas at futurist.com or find him on LinkedIn to learn more about his work in futures thinking. Order your copy of SuperShifts: www.bit.ly/supershifts ORDER 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.

    1 h y 6 min
  6. Think Forward EP 132 - Disruptive Futures with Roger Spitz

    5 MAY

    Think Forward EP 132 - Disruptive Futures with Roger Spitz

    Welcome to episode 132! We sit down with Roger Spitz of the Disruptive Futures Institute. Roger Spitz brings a refreshingly different perspective to the future of business and leadership. As the former global head of Tech M&A who pivoted into professional futures work, Roger's journey represents exactly the kind of transformation he advocates for—bold, purpose-driven, and responsive to a changing world. What sets Roger apart is his holistic approach to disruption. While most futurists focus narrowly on technological innovation, Roger delves into the systemic changes reshaping our entire landscape. His Triple A framework—Anti-fragile, Anticipatory, and Agility—offers a practical operating system for navigating uncertainty that goes beyond standard playbooks. The concept of "meta-eruptions" that Roger introduces challenges conventional thinking about trends and forecasting. As he explains, we're living in a world where "unprecedented" has become the norm, requiring fundamentally different approaches to preparation and response. His global perspective, having lived across nine countries by age 18, combined with his unconventional study of disciplines like improv comedy alongside traditional futures methodology, creates a unique lens for understanding adaptation and resilience. In this fantastic talk, we cover: Developing the Triple A framework: Anti-fragile foundations, Anticipatory thinking, and Agility to reconcile long-term vision with immediate actionUnderstanding "meta-eruptions" as constant, often surprising systemic changes that require a new approach beyond traditional megatrend analysisHow global perspective and varied experiences (including studying improv comedy) enhance futures intelligence and adaptabilityCreating the Disruptive Futures Institute to address the gap between specialized fields and build a new operating system for decision-makingApplying futures thinking to complex challenges like climate action and sustainable market transformationEmphasizing relevance as the ultimate test for individuals and organizations in a rapidly changing worldRecognizing our agency to create virtuous tipping points even amid accelerating disruptionFind Roger Spitz online through LinkedIn, the Disruptive Futures Institute website, or his book "Disrupt with Impact: Achieve Business Success in an Unpredictable World." Order your copy of SuperShifts: www.bit.ly/supershifts ORDER 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.

    1 h y 14 min
  7. Think Forward EP 131 - Future of Flight with Catherine Roy

    28 ABR

    Think Forward EP 131 - Future of Flight with Catherine Roy

    Catherine Roy, a designer turned strategic futurist at Thales, reveals that flying taxis and advanced air mobility face substantial social acceptance challenges beyond mere technological hurdles. Her research identified 62 criteria for social acceptability of air taxis, demonstrating the complexity of successfully introducing this transportation mode. We touch upon many things in this episode including: How she transformed into a strategic futurist leading global design networksResearch found 62 social acceptability criteria for advanced air mobility versus industry's focus on just 7-8Urban planners view flying vehicles as extending traffic problems into the air rather than solving mobility issuesCapacity limitations make eVTOLs inefficient compared to mass transit (only 0-125 passengers/hour in 2040 projections)Entire infrastructure including vertiports and communication systems would need building from scratchFlying vehicles could increase social stratification between wealthy "skylanders" and ground-dwelling "flatlanders"Future climate priorities may overshadow investments in advanced air mobility infrastructureInnovation requires developing unique perspectives and courage to stand your ground against mainstream thinkingOrder your copy of SuperShifts: www.bit.ly/supershifts ORDER 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.

    48 min
  8. Think Forward EP 130: Futures of Democracy with Jake Dunagan

    21 ABR

    Think Forward EP 130: Futures of Democracy with Jake Dunagan

    Jake Dunegan, a visionary operating at the intersection of futures thinking and political systems, shares how experiential futures can help us reimagine governance for the 21st century challenges we face. Drawing from his fascinating journey from anthropology to futures studies, Dunegan shares the moment he discovered a manuscript on "Quantum Politics" that proposed revolutionary ideas about constitutional design based on uncertainty rather than mechanistic balance. This epiphany eventually led him to establish the Governance Futures Lab at the Institute for the Future, where he pushes for nothing less than a renaissance in political system design thinking. Background in anthropology exploring fundamental questions about why people do what they doDiscovered futures studies through a manuscript on "Quantum Politics" that proposed redesigning the US ConstitutionCo-created the Reconstitutional Convention in 2013 to bring together diverse thinkers to redesign political systemsDeveloped experiential futures approaches to make possible tomorrows tangible todayLed the Hawaii 2050 project creating immersive experiences of alternative futuresCreated pandemic simulations years before COVID-19 that explored prioritization of vaccinesFounded the Governance Futures Lab at Institute for the Future to support political system designBelieves our current governance structures aren't equipped for 21st-century challengeEmphasizes the importance of emotional connection to future possibilities, not just intellectual understandingAdvocates for embedding futures thinking throughout our systems rather than treating it as a specialized activityAnd we find out where the best tacos and food trucks are in Austin, TexasThe conversation explores Dunegan's groundbreaking work in experiential futures—creating immersive, tangible experiences that help people feel possible futures rather than just intellectually understand them. From the Hawaii 2050 project that created four radically different versions of Hawaii's future to pandemic simulations developed years before COVID-19, Dunegan demonstrates how making futures visceral can change decision-making in profound ways. Find Jake at jakedunegan.com or on BlueSky as dunegan23. Order your copy of SuperShifts: www.bit.ly/supershifts ORDER 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.

    1 h y 1 min
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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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