Dreams of Future Past, Episode 3: Imagine a world’s fair that introduced the Ferris Wheel, hamburgers, spray paint, and electric light, all in one place. The 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, also known as the “White City,” put American innovation on the global stage, dazzling visitors with technology, architecture, and ideas that would shape the 20th century. It was part CES, part Olympics, and all spectacle.

There is so much to the fair that we had to break it up into two parts. In Part 1, we dive into the history and drama behind the fair and the futuristic ideas it showcased across electricity, architecture, food and much more! Join us as we cover the many dreams of the future at the fair which have become our everyday reality, including:

• A showcase of America’s manufacturing muscle and growing industrial power.
• The turning point from steam to electricity, featuring AC vs. DC showdowns between Tesla/Westinghouse and Edison.
• The Ferris Wheel as America’s answer to the Eiffel Tower.
• Moving Walkways as the ancestor of airport travelators and Disney’s Wedway movers.

Throughout history, people have imagined what the future might look like — sometimes in bold visions, sometimes in whimsical predictions. Dreams of a Future Past is a podcast that explores how humanity has dreamed of the future through movies, technology, philosophy, and design.

With an upbeat, conversational tone, the show will dive into iconic retro-futurist moments — from concept cars and world’s fairs, to sci-fi films and technology — and ask: what came true, what never did, and why? Along the way, listeners will discover the stories of inventors, businesspeople, and dreamers who helped shape our imagination of tomorrow.

Join McKay, Greg and Ian as they geek out over the future. What once was thought possible, and getting inspired by what might still be to come...

It’s one of the greatest sci-fi films—and books—of all time. Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke teamed up to create 2001: A Space Odyssey, a movie that redefined the genre just as the Space Race and the moon landing captured the world’s imagination.

In this episode, we dive into how 2001 was made, the future it imagined, and why it still sparks debate more than 50 years later. From HAL 9000’s chilling calm to trippy star gates, we’ll unpack what the film got right, what it missed, and why its influence still looms large today.

What It Got Right

• Tablets, flat screens, video calls… and Zoom from the moon!
• Realistic space travel with rotating stations and orbital flights.
• HAL 9000 foreshadowing today’s AI assistants—and our fears about them.
• That sleek, modernist design that still looks futuristic.

What It Got Wrong

• No internet, no smartphones—just giant room-sized computers.
• Moon bases and commercial space flights by 2001 (we wish).
• Corporate-controlled, uniform visions of the future that feel very “1960s chic.”

Lasting Impact

• Turned sci-fi into serious, thoughtful cinema.
• Iconic use of silence and classical music in space.
• A counterculture touchstone—interpreted by some as the ultimate psychedelic trip.

Was 2001: A Space Odyssey a dead-end fantasy—or a destined reality? Just tune in and we’ll rate it, and leave you to decide.

Throughout history, people have imagined what the future might look like — sometimes in bold visions, sometimes in whimsical predictions. Dreams of a Future Past is a podcast that explores how humanity has dreamed of the future through movies, technology, philosophy, and design.

With an upbeat, conversational tone, the show will dive into iconic retro-futurist moments — from concept cars and world’s fairs, to sci-fi films and technology — and ask: what came true, what never did, and why? Along the way, listeners will discover the stories of inventors, businesspeople, and dreamers who helped shape our imagination of tomorrow.

Join McKay, Greg and Ian as they geek out over the future. What once was thought possible, and getting inspired by what might still be to come...

Throughout history, people have imagined what the future might look like — sometimes in bold visions, sometimes in whimsical predictions. Dreams of a Future Past is a podcast that explores how humanity has dreamed of the future through movies, technology, philosophy, and design.

With an upbeat, conversational tone, the show will dive into iconic retro-futurist moments — from concept cars and world’s fairs, to sci-fi films and technology — and ask: what came true, what never did, and why? Along the way, listeners will discover the stories of inventors, businesspeople, and dreamers who helped shape our imagination of tomorrow.

Join McKay, Greg and Ian as they geek out over the future. What once was thought possible, and getting inspired by what might still be to come...

What if Disney had built not a theme park, but an actual city? That was Walt’s original plan for EPCOT—the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. Far more than rides and pavilions, it was a bold vision for a utopian city where futuristic transportation, corporate partnerships, and cutting-edge design would shape daily life.

In this episode, we paint a picture of Walt’s vision, place it in the larger “cities of the future” movement, and explore what it got right, what it missed, and why people are still trying to build EPCOT-style communities today.

What It Got Right

• Transit Innovation: Monorails, PeopleMovers, and underground service tunnels—Walt’s plan eliminated cars in the city core.
• Influence on Design: Elements of EPCOT’s blueprint shaped Disney’s theme parks and even inspired planned communities like Celebration, Florida.
• Global Echoes: Today’s mega-projects like Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah or Saudi Arabia’s “The Line” echo Disney’s vision of master-planned futures.

What It Missed

• The Utopian Dream: Perfectly planned lives under benevolent corporate guidance proved unrealistic.
• Funding & Leadership: Without Walt, investors weren’t willing to bet on such an experimental city.
• Design Complexities: Radial layouts and underground transport made the plan too difficult to execute at scale.

Lasting Impact

• EPCOT Center repurposed the name into a permanent world’s fair-style park.
• Walt’s vision still inspires architects, futurists, and tech giants who dream of building new cities from scratch.
• The legacy shows up every time someone promises a “city of the future”—whether for progress or profit.

Was Walt’s EPCOT a dead-end fantasy—or a destined reality just waiting to happen? Listen in and we’ll rate it, and invite you to decide.

Thanks for joining us on Dreams of Future Past. Subscribe for more episodes wherever you get you podcasts...and we'll "see you in the future!!!"