Attracting and retaining great people in an organisation is no easy feat. A key part of thriving organisations is the people who work for them, how engaged they are in their work, and whether or not they feel part of the culture of their organisation. But what is culture? It can be hard to define and even harder to measure. That is why we developed a cultural health index. In this week's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle’s Managing Director, Sophie Renton, to discuss build...
Aug 12, 2025•27 min•Season 16Ep. 3
You might know McCrindle for our research, our infographics, or our keynote presentations. Well, this year we’re celebrating something pretty special - 20 years since McCrindle was founded! In this week's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle's Principal and Founder, Mark McCrindle, to reflect on two decades of trends, team, and transformation. We're exploring where it all began, the big turning points along the way, and what’s next for our team and the future. And to help tel...
Aug 05, 2025•23 min
You might be thinking a lot can change in 10 years. Or, you might feel like nothing really does! But when you zoom out and look at the data, you’ll find we’re already on the edge of enormous transformation. From population milestones to Olympic moments, retirement waves to airport megaprojects, the 2030s is set to be anything but boring. At McCrindle, we’ve been mapping these shifts for decades. And while we’re known for our generational research, we’re also deeply invested in understanding how ...
Jul 29, 2025•25 min•Season 16Ep. 1
You might love generational analysis, or you might critique and dismiss it. At McCrindle, we’ve spent decades researching generations— and coined the term Generation Alpha — but we also believe in listening to the critics. Whatever perspective you hold, we’re diving headfirst into the Reddit threads, TikTok comments, and water cooler conversations that ask: Are generational labels like Gen Z, Millennials, and Boomers even real? Or are they just stereotypes dressed up in data? To wrap up Season 1...
Jun 24, 2025•34 min•Season 15Ep. 8
It took years for technologies such as the telephone, radio and the TV to reach mass adoption. Yet now, technological change happens in mere months. The latest iteration of technological change is Artificial Intelligence, and the uptake of it is occurring at a pace that hasn’t been seen before and shows no signs of slowing down. In this week's episode, McCrindle's Advisory Executive, Holly Schaaf, sits down with McCrindle’s Director of Advisory, Ashley Fell, to discuss this important topic....
Jun 17, 2025•35 min•Season 15Ep. 7
How do you think your morning routine compares to that of the average Aussie? Does it involve getting up early or sleeping in, drinking a caffeinated beverage at home or grabbing one once you’re out the door? And importantly, is that beverage hot, or iced? We were recently commissioned by Nespresso to uncover Aussie coffee habits, with a focus on their morning routines. In this week's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with Research Executive at McCrindle, Uteng Masuku, to discuss these i...
Jun 10, 2025•19 min•Season 15Ep. 6
Retail has transformed more in the last five years than the last five decades — from the rise of eCommerce to the evolution of customer expectations and delivery speeds. In this week's episode, our podcast producer, Holly Schaaf, sits down with Director of Advisory at McCrindle and Future Report host, Ashley Fell, to unpack recent research that McCrindle conducted for Australia Post’s eCommerce Industry Report. You can access the full report here: https://ecommerce-report.auspost.com.au/...
Jun 03, 2025•38 min•Season 15Ep. 5
Students, parents, employers, and policymakers all have growing and shifting expectations for schools and educators. From curriculum updates to wellbeing initiatives, career preparation to technological integration, education is being asked to do more than ever before. In this week's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with Director of Strategy at McCrindle, Grant Dusting, to explore what’s driving these changes and what educators need to be prepared for.
May 27, 2025•36 min•Season 15Ep. 4
As we look toward 2035, we are on the cusp of a new era in education - one that will be shaped by the emergence of Gen Beta, the first generation born entirely into a world of advanced technology and digital connectivity. These young learners, born from 2025, will experience an education system unlike any before, offering exciting opportunities to rethink how we teach, learn, and support future generations. At McCrindle we have just launched our annual education future report, which this year is...
May 20, 2025•23 min•Season 15Ep. 3
Today, the journey to parenthood is influenced by a complexinterplay of career aspirations, financial considerations, and evolving cultural norms. While the desire to have children remains strong, many people are reevaluating the timing and feasibility of starting a family. Recent research by McCrindle sheds light on these shifting dynamics, revealing how modern life is redefining what it means to become a parent. In today's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with Managing Director at McC...
May 13, 2025•27 min•Season 15Ep. 2
Welcome back to another season of The Future Report! Have you ever wondered how popular your name is? Or perhaps you’re about to welcome a little one, and you are deep in the world of name lists, baby books, and family opinions. Each year, McCrindle analyses the top baby names across Australia — and the 2025 results have just been revealed! In this week's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with Research Executive at McCrindle and key author of this report, Abby Robinson, to unpack these r...
May 06, 2025•23 min•Season 15Ep. 1
The charities and not-for-profit sector is a significant contributor to Australia. For decades, charities have been making an impact and caring for those in need. The operating environment for organisations, however, is increasingly complex. Organisations are navigating technological change, tightening regulations and reporting, demographic and generational change, and cost-of-living pressures, which are altering the giving landscape. Understanding the psyche of donors, therefore, is critical to...
Mar 25, 2025•27 min•Season 14Ep. 10
Many people are intimidated by data, believing that withouta background in mathematics or statistics, they are not equipped to engage with it. However, most data is not the heavy, academic material - and you don’t need to be an expert to effectively use data in a presentation. In this week’s episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle’s Founder and Principal, Mark McCrindle, to discuss how data can be used as a storytelling tool.
Mar 18, 2025•25 min•Season 14Ep. 9
Consumer behaviour is evolving faster than ever, shaped by economic pressures, technology, and generational preferences. In this week's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with Marketing and Insights Strategist at McCrindle, Luke Davies, to dive into how different generations are spending, saving, and shopping—and what this means for businesses and brands. The generations as consumers infographic: https://mccrindle.com.au/resource/infographic/generational-consumer-profiles/...
Mar 11, 2025•37 min•Season 14Ep. 8
Have you ever worked with someone of a different generation and found it to be a bit of a challenge? Well, you’re not alone. In a recent study, we uncovered the different priorities, expectations and preferences of each generation at work. In this week's episode, our podcast producer, Holly Schaaf, sits down with Social Researcher and Director of Advisory at McCrindle, Ashley Fell, to discuss these insights.
Mar 04, 2025•36 min•Season 14Ep. 7
The pace of generational change is accelerating, with each new cohort bringing fresh perspectives and reshaping the world faster than ever before. We call this phenomenon, “Generation Acceleration.” In this week's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle's Principal and Founder, Mark McCrindle, to discuss what this acceleration means for society and organisations.
Feb 25, 2025•22 min•Season 14Ep. 6
We live in an increasingly connected world, with that set to only continue in the future as we undergo what some call “the third digital revolution”, driven by artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. Despite this, people are seeking balance by stepping away from their screens — a movement we have labelled the “Digital Detox.” This trend highlights a growing awareness of the need for mental and physical well-being in the digital age. In this week's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits ...
Feb 18, 2025•26 min•Season 14Ep. 5
Economic uncertainty has led to a shift in consumer behaviour, with many opting for what we’re calling “Consumer Compromise.” From prioritising needs over wants to finding value in second-hand goods, today’s consumers are making smarter, more deliberate choices. In today's episode, our Future Report podcast producer, Holly Schaaf, sits down with McCrindle’s Director of Advisory and podcast host, Ashley Fell, to discuss this shift and its implications.
Feb 11, 2025•29 min•Season 14Ep. 4
Despite advancements in technology and innovation, productivity growth has slowed — an intriguing phenomenon known as the “Productivity Paradox” (as we have called it!). As workplaces adopt new tools and processes, the question remains: why isn’t output increasing at the same rate? In today's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle's Founder and Principal, Mark McCrindle, to explore this topic.
Feb 04, 2025•19 min•Season 14Ep. 3
2025 is shaping up to be a landmark year for infrastructure. With cities expanding and populations growing, we’re going to see an era of major development projects, which we’ve deemed to be our first trend of 2025, titled the “Big Build.” These projects aim to accommodate future generations, reshape urban living, and improve connectivity. In today's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle's Director of Solutions, Geoff Brailey, to unpack this trend set to shape the year ahead....
Jan 28, 2025•23 min•Season 14Ep. 2
Welcome back to another season of The Future Report! The year 2025 marks not only a new year, but the beginning of a whole new generation. That’s right - from 2025 we will welcome Generation Beta into the world. To kick off Season 14, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle’s Founder and Principal, Mark McCrindle, to discuss this new generation and their future.
Jan 21, 2025•35 min•Season 14Ep. 1
Although we are futurists, we do think it’s wise to look back at the past, for context and helpful insights about what might lie ahead. As 2024 draws to a close, we are going to reflect on the year that has been. In this final episode of season 13 and of the year, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle’s Managing Director, Sophie Renton, to discuss some of the memorable things we’ve lived through in 2024.
Dec 10, 2024•39 min•Season 13Ep. 8
As we approach the middle of this decade, the world continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, shaped by demographic, economic, and social shifts. An understanding of the transformative trends set to shape 2025 is essential. Why? Because the future of an organisation rests in its relevance and innovation. That is why, every year at McCrindle, we release our predictions for the trends set to shape the year ahead. These are based on our thought leadership, which is grounded in research. After a...
Dec 03, 2024•34 min•Season 13Ep. 7
How often do you get distracted by your digital device? Do you feel like you spend too much time on social media? Do you wish it had never been invented? We are in a unique era where society is now questioning technology and taking steps to reduce its impact on their life. In today's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle’s Managing Director, Sophie Renton, to investigate this topic from our trends of 2025 research.
Nov 26, 2024•34 min•Season 13Ep. 6
In recent years, we have witnessed the greatest transformation to work in a century. The rapid rise of AI and machine learning, as well as the shift towards hybrid work, and redefined employee expectations, have all reshaped the world of work, and in turn the role of Human Resources (HR) leaders. Organisations are increasingly looking to these HR leaders to inform strategy, recognising that the alignment of people to processes and technology is crucial to success. That is why we were commissione...
Nov 19, 2024•33 min•Season 13Ep. 5
A futurist can be described as someone who studies the future and makes predictions about it based on current trends. As you can imagine, it’s a fascinating profession to be in, and one that we love to explore. In today's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle’s Principal and futurist himself, Mark McCrindle, to discuss the behaviours of a great futurist.
Nov 12, 2024•28 min•Season 13Ep. 4
Consumers today are different to that of the past. They have different expectations, different values, and subsequently, different expectations of the brands they engage with. Thus, if companies want to connect with current and future consumers, they need to do things a little differently. In today's episode, our podcast producer, Holly Schaaf, sits down with podcast host and social researcher, Ashley Fell, to discuss the future consumer.
Nov 05, 2024•33 min•Season 13Ep. 3
Younger Australians, particularly Gen Z and Gen Y, are optimistic about their future financial prospects. Yet some of our latest research reveals that financial anxiety remains prevalent, especially among Gen Z, who report worrying about their finances more than any other generation. Although this is true, many younger Australians are still taking proactive steps toward financial freedom, investing and building wealth while juggling personal aspirations like work/life balance and homeownership. ...
Oct 29, 2024•27 min•Season 13Ep. 2
Welcome back to another season of The Future Report podcast! Last week, Mark McCrindle and Ashley Fell had the pleasure of speaking at the second iteration of SXSW in Sydney - a conference for global creative professionals seeking future industry trends and adventurous new ways of thinking. In today's episode, our podcast producer, Holly Schaaf, sits down with our host, Ashley Fell, to discuss McCrindle's recent involvement with this great event.
Oct 22, 2024•23 min•Season 13Ep. 1
You might think that Baby Boomers and Generation Z are worlds apart in their work ethic and values, but our latest research challenges those assumptions, revealing surprising similarities and debunking some common stereotypes. In this final episode of season 12, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle's Managing Director, Sophie Renton, to explore how each generation approaches work, what they value most in their colleagues, and how these insights can help create more harmonious and prod...
Sep 10, 2024•18 min•Season 12Ep. 8
