FUTURES Podcast

The FUTURES Podcast explores the multitude of possible tomorrows. Meet the scientists, technologists, artists and philosophers working to imagine the sorts of developments that might dramatically alter what it means to be human. Hosted by Luke Robert Mason.

Last refreshed: April 15th, 2026 at 6:35 AM ⓘ

Follow this podcast in the Metacast mobile app to refresh it and see new episodes.

Follow on

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

RSS

Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app

Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more

Episodes

Immersive Virtual Experiences w/ Jeremy Bailenson

Virtual reality (VR) pioneer Jeremy Bailenson discusses how VR experiences can change our perception of self, increase empathy, and lead to new forms of social interaction. Jeremy Bailenson is the founding director of Stanford University's Virtual Human Interaction Lab where he studies the psychology of VR, in particular how virtual experiences lead to changes in perceptions of self and others. His lab builds and studies systems that allow people to meet in virtual space, and explores the change...

Dec 23, 2019•55 min•Ep. 8

Trust Shift w/ Rachel Botsman

Author and media commentator Rachel Botsman discusses trust, collaborative consumption, and innovative new uses for blockchain technology. Rachel is the leading global authority on an explosive new era of trust. She's an award-winning author, speaker, university lecturer and media commentator. Her specialism is an engaging and intelligent long-view of how technology is transforming human relationships and what this means for life, work and and how we do business. Her book, Who Can You Trust? (Pe...

Dec 17, 2019•50 min•Ep. 7

Virtual Reality Therapy w/ Michael Carthy

Therapist Michael Carthy discusses how he uses virtual reality to help individuals overcome anxiety, conquer their phobias and tackle their fears. Virtual Reality Therapy (VRT) is backed by twenty years of scientific studies that prove its efficacy. Together with specialised software, Michael supervises his client's use of VR to ensure the process is controlled, safe & effective. Find out more: futurespodcast.net ON THIS EPISODE Virtual Reality Therapy Human Givens Joe Griffin Ivan Tyrrell P...

Dec 09, 2019•40 min•Ep. 6

Electronic Waste w/ Dani Ploeger

Performance artist Dani Ploeger discusses electronic waste (e-waste), planned obsolescence of technology and the posthuman in performance. Dani's work investigates and subverts the spectacles of sex, violence and waste in techno-consumer culture. He has undergone an operation in which electronic waste was installed in his abdomen by a body piercer, has worked with traditional metal workers in the old city of Cairo to encase tablet computers in plate steel, attended firearms training in Poland to...

Dec 09, 2019•42 min•Ep. 5

Emoji Delights w/ Carla Gannis

Carla Gannis discusses emoji, using augmented reality for creativity and the current state of digital art in New York. Carla is an American artist and Industry Professor of Integrated Digital Media at NYU. She identifies as a visual storyteller and with the use of 21st Century representational technologies she narrates through a "digital looking glass" where reflections on power, sexuality, marginalization, and agency emerge. Find out more: futurespodcast.net ON THIS EPISODE Emoji Garden of Eart...

Dec 09, 2019•51 min•Ep. 4

Transhumanism and Risk w/ Prof. Steve Fuller

Professor Steve Fuller discusses transhumanism, how scientists should approach risk, and what it means to be human in the 21st Century. Steve is a Professor of Sociology at the University of Warwick, his most recent work has been concerned with the future of humanity, or 'Humanity 2.0'. During the interview he discussed the ideas of transhumanism and posthumanism and explained the potential directions in which humanity may move. He also argued that we should embrace technological and medical adv...

Dec 09, 2019•56 min•Ep. 3

Cybersex w/ Dr. Trudy Barber

Cybersexpert Dr. Trudy Barber discusses the history of cybersex, the future of teledildonics, and the emerging field of sex robotics. For the past 20 years Trudy has been investigating how people become intimate with technology, and is credited with creating one of the first immersive virtual reality sex environments. She shares her experience of working with people who use technology to explore their sexual identities and explains her thoughts on how technology can enhance sexuality, the percep...

Dec 09, 2019•26 min•Ep. 2

Cyborg Experiments w/ Prof. Kevin Warwick

Professor of Cybernetics Kevin Warwick discusses augmenting human capabilities, the exciting field of robotics, and what it means to be a cyborg. His pioneering research into robots with biological brains and enhancing human physiological functioning with electronic devices has brought the science fiction future into the present. Prof Warwick is no stranger to using himself as a guinea pig for his research. One experiment, which previously had only been tested on chickens, involved him undergoin...

Dec 09, 2019•34 min•Ep. 1

FUTURES Podcast Trailer

On this show we meet the scientists, technologists, artists and philosophers working to imagine the sorts of developments that might dramatically alter what it means to be human. Some of their predictions will be preferable, others might seem impossible, but none of them are inevitable. Join your host Luke Robert Mason, and explore the multitude of possible tomorrows. --- Produced by Futures Podcast Recorded, Mixed & Edited by Luke Robert Mason Twitter: @FuturesPodcast | #FuturesPodcast Inst...

Dec 05, 2019•1 min

← Prev

Hosted on Libsyn

For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android