An October 9, 2024 notice from Dr. Andrew Maynard, Professor, School for the Future of Innovation in Society At Arizona State University (ASU) about one of his latest projects, a podcast, popped into my emailbox,
My apologies if this is a duplicate email, but I wanted to let you know
that we’ve just launched a new podcast through the ASU [Arizona State University] Future of Being Human initiative that you may be interested in:
Modem Futura:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/modem-futura/id1771688480 [1]
The podcast’s available on Apple Podcasts and pretty much everywhere
else you listen to your favorite podcasts. Hosted by myself and my
colleague Sean Leahy, it’s a conversational podcast that explores the
intersection between emerging technologies, society and the future in
what we hope is an authentic, nuanced and entertaining way.
Please do check it out if you have a moment (or are an avid podcast
listener), and if you enjoy it, please do spread the word, subscribe,
and even leave us a review.
We believe there’s a real hunger for nuanced and balanced discussions
in this area, and are expecting the podcast to have considerable reach
— but every bit helps us in achieving this.
I listened to the episode, “The Pilot – Exploring the Future of Being Human” and it was an engaging 22 mins. The two hosts, Andrew Maynard and his colleague, Dr. Sean Leahy, obviously like and get along well with each other. Here are some episode notes, from https://modem-futura.simplecast.com/episodes (click on the Pilot episode for the notes),
In this pilot episode of Modem Futura, hosts Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard explore the intersection of technology, society, and the human experience. They discuss the origins of the podcast, the significance of the Future of Being Human Initiative, and the importance of inclusive conversations about the future. The episode highlights personal journeys into futurism, the need for diverse voices in discussions about emerging technologies, and the wonder of scientific exploration. The hosts also tease future topics and themes for upcoming episodes, emphasizing the podcast’s goal of inspiring curiosity and dialogue.
Key takeaways
The podcast aims to explore the intersection of technology and humanity.
Modems symbolize the translation of complex signals into understandable insights.
The Future of Being Human Initiative seeks to create inclusive conversations about the future.
Personal experiences shape our understanding of futurism and technology.
Everyone has valuable insights to contribute to discussions about the future.
Creating spaces for difficult conversations is essential in a polarized world.
Science and wonder can coexist in discussions about the future.
The podcast will cover a wide range of intriguing topics.
Engaging with diverse voices enriches the conversation about the future.
Sean and Andrew are excited to explore the unknown and challenge conventional thinking.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Modem Futura
01:53 The Concept of Modems and Futures
04:51 The Future of Being Human Initiative
08:41 Personal Journeys into Futurism
12:21 The Importance of Inclusive Conversations
16:24 Exploring the Intersection of Science and Wonder
19:05 Looking Ahead: Topics and Themes for Future Episodes
Modem Futura is a production of the Future of Being Human initiative at Arizona State University.
…
The Future of Being Human Initiative is describe this way on its homepage,
We are a unique community of bold, audacious and visionary thinkers who are inspired by what it might mean to be human in a technologically transformed future and who are passionate about exploring how this influences our thinking and actions in the present.
…
We create and curate ways of bringing people together to explore compelling questions and transformative ideas around the future of being human.
Some of these are intimate informal hangouts, others are cutting edge online discussions. And some are high profile public events and even retreats.
We are even developing educational opportunities unlike anything you’ll find anywhere else!
All of these are driven by a passion to bring together audacious, original and passionate thinkers to push the boundaries of how we imagine the future of being human in a technologically complex world, and how this can inform our ideas, aspirations, and actions, in the present.
…
As a community we are captivated andinspired by compelling questions around the how emerging technologies may challenge and transform what it means to be human.
Questions like:
- Will we live our future lives in a computer simulation?
- Will aging one day become a thing of the past?
- Will artificial intelligence upend our notions of personhood and autonomy?
- Could cryopreservation transform how we think about the future?
- What will life in a post-scarcity future look like?
- Will we be able to design and create synthetic consciousness in the future?
- How will quantum computing change our understanding of ourselves and what is possible?
- How could atomically precise manufacturing transform our lives?
- Will we be able to upload our memories and personalities to the cloud in the future?
- How will advanced technologies transform the future of travel?
- Could advanced gene editing allow us to radically rethink our biological selves?
- How do we successfully navigate Advanced Technology Transitions?
- Is longtermism a viable approach to designing the future?
- Will future technologies radically catalyze our creative potential?
…
Enjoy!