Ecosystemic Futures engages with the world’s elite thought leaders who are researching and leading meaningful development in areas that could impact society in the next half century.
Provided by Shoshin Works in collaboration with NASA Convergent Aeronautics Solutions Project - Ecosystemic Futures explores technological advances and structural patterns that will help us better innovate, operate, and navigate in our increasingly connected world.
Join the conversation as NASA leaders, and industry and policy luminaries share their perspectives with host Dyan Finkhousen, a leading strategist and global authority on ecosystemic solutions, and brilliant co-hosts.
Last refreshed: ⓘ
Follow this podcast in the Metacast mobile app to refresh it and see new episodes.
Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more
How can we transform fragmented urban transportation networks into resilient, adaptive ecosystems that drive economic value while addressing complex societal challenges? In this episode of Ecosystemic Futures, host Marco Annunziata engages with Robin Hutcheson, whose multifaceted expertise spans the complex urban transportation ecosystem. The conversation explores how cities generate more than 80% of global GDP despite occupying limited physical space, and function as dynamic testbeds for next-g...
How do boundary zones fuel innovation breakthroughs in complex organizations? Join host Marco Annunziata as he welcomes Jaspar Roos, a member of the European Commission's OISP innovation group and founding partner of the Human and Tech Institute. With MIT credentials in AI Strategy and implementation experience with ISO56001 innovation frameworks, Jaspar examines how ecosystemic models are reshaping societal governance and network orchestration systems. This conversation examines why 80% of empl...
This episode explores the convergence of science, consciousness, UAPs, and historical/religious traditions. Guests Dr. Hal Puthoff, Dr. Diana Pasulka, and John von Blauch discuss how compartmentalized knowledge limits understanding of complex phenomena, examining anomalous events like levitation through the lenses of quantum physics, faith, and ancient wisdom. The conversation highlights the potential for a more holistic approach to unlock transformative capabilities for humanity by integrating these disparate fields.
The complex challenges of our interconnected world demand new approaches to discovery and collaboration. In this powerful episode from NASA Convergent Aeronautics Solutions Project in collaboration with Shoshin Works, innovation expert Teri Schindler tackles how the traditionally chaotic "first mile of innovation" can be transformed from a bottleneck into an accelerator of breakthrough solutions. With decades of cross-disciplinary expertise spanning DARPA research projects, Emmy-winning media pr...
What can a 5,000-year-old textile teach us about cutting-edge technology? In this episode of Ecosystemic Futures, presented by NASA's Convergent Aeronautics Solutions Project in collaboration with Shoshin Works, host Marco Annunziata explores the revolutionary potential of silk as a biomaterial platform with Dr. Fiorenzo Omenetto, the Frank C. Doble Professor of Engineering at Tufts University. From a chance hallway conversation to pioneering a new field of material science, Fio shares how his S...
Is your organization built for a world where 90% of organizational value now comes from intangibles? Rita McGrath explores why traditional hierarchies are dissolving into ecosystem constellations. In this thought-provoking episode of Ecosystemic Futures, host Marco Annunziata welcomes Columbia Business School professor and strategy expert Rita McGrath to discuss how ecosystemic thinking can help organizations navigate major economic inflection points. Professor McGrath reveals how our economic e...
Could the next nanotechnology breakthrough come from a college student's laptop rather than a million-dollar lab? In this Ecosystemic Futures episode, Marco Annunziata speaks with Dr. Aaron Santos, physicist and president of DNP123 Company. Santos examines nanotechnology as complex molecular networks rather than isolated components. Santos explains why physics fundamentally changes at nanoscale, requiring new paradigms. Despite predictions in the 1990s of a trillion-dollar nanotechnology industr...
In this enlightening episode of Ecosystemic Futures, Shelli Brunswick, CEO & Founder of SB Global LLC and former Chief Operating Officer of Space Foundation, reveals the measurable impact of space innovation on Earth's most pressing challenges. The numbers tell a compelling story: The global space economy, valued at $630 billion in 2023, is projected to reach $1.8 trillion by 2035, with NASA's investments yielding a remarkable 40:1 return through commercialized technologies. Brunswick shares...
In this eye-opening episode of Ecosystemic Futures, hosts Marco Annunziata and Vikram Shyam welcome Dr. Giulia Ajmone Marsan, Head of Startups and Inclusion, at the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia. Dr. Marsan challenges conventional wisdom about innovation with complex data. In just 20 years, the global share of patenting activity from OECD countries has dropped dramatically by 20 percentage points, signaling a significant shift in the geography of innovation. The conversatio...
In this data-driven episode of Ecosystemic Futures, host Marco Annunziata interviews Dr. Tiffany Vora, a molecular biologist, Singularity Fellow in Biotechnology, and Vice President for Innovation Partnerships at ExploreMars. Drawing from her background in pharmaceutical research, teaching at Stanford University, and extensive work in space innovation, Dr. Vora examines how synthetic biology advances the development of specialized biosystems for space exploration. The discussion explores her rec...
In this fascinating episode of Ecosystemic Futures, host Marco Annunziata interviews Himanshu Bharadwaj, a design strategist who applies cognitive science principles from Eastern traditions to modern digital ecosystems. Trained at the National Institute of Design and Syracuse University, Bharadwaj presents empirical observations on how his Joyful Design methodology measurably improves innovation outcomes and team performance. The discussion examines the quantifiable limitations of current AI sys...
What's the measurable return on organizational health? Through rigorous assessment frameworks and 25 years of transformation data, former IBM Change Leader Dr. Donna-Marie Arias quantifies the dividends of workplace wellness. She unpacks a landmark case study: a troubled global financial institution's 3.5-year journey to becoming an industry health leader, demonstrating how organizational wellness compounds into market performance. Beyond McKinsey's research showing 3x performance gains, Dr. Ari...
Join host Marco Annunziata in conversation with Gloria Bouillon, distinguished aviation strategist and founder of Aviatrice Advisors, for a critical discussion on one of the nation's most strategic infrastructure opportunities. As global competition in advanced air mobility intensifies, the U.S. faces a pivotal moment in transforming its aviation infrastructure and urban transportation systems. From electric vertical takeoff vehicles to autonomous systems, we discover how emerging technologies c...
What happens when industrial design meets strategic foresight? Lucy Ziegler, founder of TBD Futures and former McKinsey design strategist, reveals how leaders can transform business uncertainty into opportunity. Through scenario planning and design thinking, she demonstrates why the future isn't something to predict—it's something to design. Highlights: Why traditional forecasting falls short in today's complex business landscape How design thinking unlocks strategic foresight for better decisio...
Stanford professor Dr. Garry Nolan reveals how UAP observations should refactor our approach to materials science. In this compelling episode, Dr. Nolan demonstrates how studying anomalous phenomena provides unprecedented insights, reshaping materials research and development. Drawing from his pioneering work in biotechnology and advanced analysis, he illustrates why incorporating UAP insights could accelerate technological breakthroughs in many domains and transform our understanding of what's ...
The landscape of UAP research has transformed dramatically over the past two decades from a taboo topic to congressional testimony. In this pivotal episode, pioneering investigative journalist Leslie Kean bridges past discoveries with current developments, including the latest wave of mass sightings across multiple states. Featuring crucial insights from former Navy pilot Ryan Graves and Enigma Labs' Christine Kim, this conversation reveals how civilian science, military observation, and profess...
In this groundbreaking discussion, intelligence veteran and former Pentagon UAP program director Lue Elizondo reveals how classified research drives innovation across multiple industries. This episode explores how UAP-related discoveries could revolutionize human longevity, space exploration, and global technological leadership, from quantum computing breakthroughs to biotechnology advances. Learn why major investors, government agencies, technology leaders, and brilliant entrepreneurs are posit...
Join host Marco Annunziata and guest Dr. Sophia Ononye, Founder and CEO of The Sophia Consulting Firm, as they explore how scientific storytelling reshapes healthcare ecosystems and drives systemic transformation. In this illuminating discussion, discover how emerging communication models are breaking down traditional boundaries between scientists, healthcare providers, and patients - creating new patterns of interaction and value creation. Learn how ecosystemic thinking revolutionizes everythin...
*Expanded Content Release Due to Popular Demand* Join this expanded version of the popular and groundbreaking discussion with global leaders in aerospace, biotechnology, and advanced manufacturing as they explore the "More Shots on Goal" initiative - a collaborative effort to dramatically scale up manufacturing capabilities in low Earth orbit. From revolutionary drug development to next-generation semiconductors, discover how increased space manufacturing throughput could transform industries on...
A panel of experts delves into groundbreaking theories and technologies, including extended electrodynamics and zero-point energy, examining their potential for advanced propulsion, communication, and energy generation. The discussion also covers the increasing openness around unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs) and the need for increased funding and interdisciplinary collaboration to accelerate these revolutionary advances. It highlights the convergence of theoretical physics and practical engineering, suggesting we are on the cusp of transformative breakthroughs.
In this inspiring episode, we explore how ecosystem approaches and collaborative leadership reshape global industries with Amina Razvi, former CEO of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition and current Chief Partnerships Officer at Travalyst. Drawing on her unique background spanning architecture, sustainability, and industry transformation, Razvi reveals how effective coalitions can drive systemic change. Key themes: How unlikely partnerships between competitors created unprecedented industry collabo...
In this comprehensive episode, we explore the multifaceted nature of modern leadership with Dr. Brenda Fellows, President and CEO of Fellows Corporate Consortium. She is a distinguished industrial, organizational, and clinical psychologist who partners with corporate boards and C-Suite executives across Fortune 20-500 companies. Drawing on over two decades of strategy and management consulting experience, Dr. Fellows reveals her groundbreaking framework combining eight distinct intelligences and...
In this thought-provoking episode, we explore the transformation of education in an era of rapid technological change and workplace evolution. Dr. Steven Johnson, founder and CEO of EDSENSE and former senior vice president of innovation at Harvard University, examines how emerging technologies, changing workforce demands, and new learning models are reshaping education's future. Key themes addressed: The convergence of AI, learning science, and personalized education New models for lifelong lear...
This landmark episode convenes leading aerospace, energy, and advanced technologies experts to explore game-changing innovations that challenge our current understanding of what's possible. From quantum physics to advanced propulsion, we examine operational technologies displaying capabilities previously confined to science fiction - including craft demonstrating extraordinary energy capacity, trans-medium travel, and apparent space-time manipulation. Our distinguished panel delves into critical...
Description In this insightful episode, we explore the transformative intersection of artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, and human decision-making in aerospace applications. Through the lens of national security and technological innovation, we examine the critical pathways and challenges in deploying AI capabilities responsibly. The discussion spans the complex ecosystem dependencies between human operators and autonomous systems, the importance of justified confidence in AI adoption,...
In this episode, Wendy Gonzalez, CEO of Sama, joins us to discuss the complexities and opportunities of AI implementation. Together, we explore the balance between business strategy, cost, and environmental impact in AI, along with the rising energy demands and potential of renewable solutions. Gonzalez highlights the importance of regulatory compliance to guard against cybersecurity risks and biases and advocates for public-private partnerships in fostering responsible AI. We close with a look ...
In this episode, we are joined by guest Mischa Dohler, Vice President of Emerging Technologies at Ericsson, as we explore the revolutionary concept of the "Internet of Skills." Dohler explains how emerging technology seeks to democratize access to skills by enabling remote, real-time expertise transfer through digital platforms. One of the most promising applications is telesurgery, which could address critical healthcare challenges by combining reliable communication networks with medical robot...
In this episode, we dive into the cutting-edge world of AI simulations and their transformative impact on societal governance. Rob Auten, CEO and co-founder of Hexgram, shares insights from his experience developing AI-powered worlds for gaming and beyond. Joined by Marco Annunziata, the discussion explores how AI-driven simulations reshape how we understand complex systems, predict outcomes, and craft more dynamic interactions. From creating immersive, emotionally engaging gaming environments t...
In this episode, we explore innovative solutions for climate resilience, emphasizing the role of AI, big data, and effective communication. Guest Sharron McPherson and co-hosts Dyan and Vik discuss the challenges of defining and measuring resilience, aligning stakeholder values, and implementing scalable solutions for small and medium-sized businesses. The conversation also highlights the importance of storytelling and digital media in improving the communication of resilience strategies. Guest:...
In this episode of the Ecosystemic Futures Podcast we explore the integration of technology into the human experience with Dr. Ali Hossaini, Research Fellow at the Institut d'études avancées de Nantes at King's College in London . Dr. Ali and our hosts Dr. Vikram Shyam and Dyan Finkhousen explore the parallels between biological ecosystems and business ecosystems, emphasizing the need for multi-disciplinary approaches to tackle complex societal problems and achieve creative evolution. Guest: Dr....
