Series Two

In this episode of #TheNewAbnormal I interviewed Richard Watson,
Futurist-in-Residence at Judge Business School, Cambridge University.

He helps organisations to think, especially about emerging opportunities and risks. Particular interests include emerging tech, AI, robotics, education, energy, and water.

Richard has written extensively on societal trends and the impact of technology, and has given over 300 talks to various organisations throughout the world.

He's worked extensively on scenario planning projects having been introduced to the discipline by one of the founders of GBN.

The author of five books about various aspects of the future (inc the scenario process), he's blogged on innovation for Fast Company and written for Copenhagen Institute for Future Studies and McKinsey & Co.

He's also a visiting lecturer at both Imperial College Business School and London Business School, co-founder of 'Thinking Allowed' and one of the people behind Sci-Fi nights at the Royal College Of Art.

So, we discuss all of the above alongside issues such as a potential corona chronology, leadership, the merits of studying politics, philosophy & economics, and the entrepreneurial mind.

Finally, Richard outlines a strategic approach based on 'scenario worlds or a preferred future'...

Series Four

This episode of 'The New Abnormal' podcast features Jonas Gissel Mikkelsen, Futurist and Director at The Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies, where he heads up business development. Jonas is responsible for creating new initiatives, collaborations and joint-ventures, as well as overseeing publications and managing the Institute's brand & identity. His primary competencies lie within an abstract ability to create prototypal ideas and an understanding of the larger perspective of initiatives re: the externalities and long-term effects. So, we discuss all of the above, with a particular focus on strategic transformation, Non-Profits and Civic Society. But before all that, we discuss his first job after leaving University...

Series Three

This episode of #TheNewAbnormal podcast features the designer, urbanist and strategist Johanna Hoffman, who explores the ties between design, planning, fiction and futures.

She's the founder of California-based Design for Adaptation, a studio using strategic planning, interactive storytelling and speculative design to survey the impacts of potential futures and spur proactive adaptation.

Johanna also works with other firms, implementing foresight assessment, futures research, story and strategy to help people, cities and organisations understand what future changes mean for them, and develop actionable plans in response.

In this episode, she explains how the emerging field of speculative futures can help us dream - and build - better, sustainable, and more equitable cities for everyone. Her new book 'Speculative Futures: Design Approaches to Navigate Change, Foster Resilience, and Co-Create the Cities We Need' is out now!