Best Andrew Maynard Podcasts (2025)

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36. [Caribbean Echoes 5]: Live from the Abercrombie with Zahra Newman and Alana Valentine 45:55

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6h ago45:55

45:55

In this special episode of Caribbean Echoes, series producers Ben Etherington and Sienna Brown are in conversation with star Jamaican-Australian actress Zahra Newman and acclaimed playwright Alana Valentine. They discuss the making of the series and how performance emerged as a key theme across it. Zahra reflects on being a Black Caribbean-Australi…

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The AI Sustainability Paradox - Promise, Peril, and Planetary Futures 53:44

2d ago53:44

53:44

In this episode of Modem Futura, Sean and Andrew explore one of the most urgent and complex questions of our time: Can AI meaningfully help humanity navigate climate change, biodiversity loss, freshwater scarcity, and the broader planetary pressures shaping the Anthropocene — without worsening them? Drawing on the new 2025 synthesis report AI for a…

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The Metaverse - A Stack of Reality Layers 1:08:05

5h ago1:08:05

1:08:05

In this mind-bending episode of Modem Futura, Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard dive deep into the metaverse—not as a corporate brand or sci-fi fantasy, but as a living, evolving stack of realities. Drawing on their immersive experiences with Apple’s Vision Pro, they explore what happens when the physical and digital worlds begin to merge—when the head…

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35. History Lab Live: The Last Outlaws 50:04

7d ago50:04

50:04

Hear author and historian Katherine Biber tell the story of Jimmy and Joe Governor, Wiradjuri and Wonnarua brothers, who in 1900 went on a murder spree that killed nine people and terrified countless others. The men were pursued for three months across 3000 kilometres, taunting their hunters with clues, letters and tricks. The last men in the state…

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Through the lens: Spatial Computing with Apple Vision Pro 1:04:31

17d ago1:04:31

1:04:31

Recorded while actually wearing Apple Vision Pro headsets, Sean and Andrew go hands‑on with spatial computing to test what it’s good for today—and what it might become tomorrow. They compare “spatial” to VR and AR, unpack why Apple avoids the term “VR,” and explain pass‑through, eye/hand‑based interaction, and foveated rendering in plain English. T…

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Tech or Treat: A Haunted Futures Improv Special 23:37

11d ago23:37

23:37

It’s Halloween in the future — and things are getting weird. In this special Modem Futura mini-episode, Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard unleash a spooky edition of their improv game “Futures Improv: Tech or Treat.” Fueled by AI-generated prompts, the duo riffs on haunted algorithms, mirrors that remember, and nightmare-mode neural interfaces. What ha…

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Atlas, Higher Education, and How We Really Feel About AI 1:30:04

24d ago1:30:04

1:30:04

In this episode Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard dive deep into how people really feel about AI—drawing on the latest Pew Research Center global survey of 25 countries. From curiosity to concern, they unpack why so many remain unaware of AI’s everyday presence and what this says about our collective future. The hosts explore the widening gap between t…

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Sora, Slop, and the AI Economy: When ChatGPT Meets Walmart 1:16:35

1M ago1:16:35

1:16:35

In this episode of Modem Futura, Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard dive into a wide-ranging and characteristically lively discussion that spans the launch of Andrew’s new book AI and the Art of Being Human, the rise of OpenAI’s Sora 2video platform, and the surprising partnership between Walmart and ChatGPT that could reshape the economics of online re…

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34. [Caribbean Echoes 4] Susannah Andrews: Jamaican Matriarch to Footy Legends and Mining Startups 39:41

1M ago39:41

39:41

What connects a VFL “Champion of the Colony” to a woman born enslaved in Jamaica? In 1919, Richmond footballer Vic Thorp won the league’s highest honour for the second time — the equivalent of today’s Brownlow Medal. But just a century earlier, his great-grandmother Susannah Andrews was enslaved in Jamaica, before gaining her freedom. This episode …

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We Turned One - plus Liquid Media, Work Slop, and the Road Ahead 1:16:10

1M ago1:16:10

1:16:10

We celebrate a full year of Modem Futura with an open, in‑studio debrief on what’s worked, what’s changed, and why we double‑down on being a relational—not transactional—podcast. Sean and Andrew look back on 52+ weekly episodes that turned the studio into a “living laboratory,” where listeners pull up a chair to conversations spanning AI and AGI, s…

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33. [Caribbean Echoes 3] Nellie Small: Queer Black Caribbean-Australian Icon 48:48

1M ago48:48

48:48

Who was the Caribbean-Australian cabaret star who could bring down the house — and come back at racism with a joke? "Come sit by me, we don’t eat people anymore." Nellie Small was born in Sydney in 1900, just before the White Australia policy was introduced. She became one of the country’s most beloved performers, famous for wearing men’s suits on …

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AI and the Art of Being Human: How to Thrive with AI 1:13:16

1M ago1:13:16

1:13:16

This week, Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard welcome venture capitalist and AI Salon founder Jeffrey Abbott to launch the new book AI and the Art of Being Human—a practical, hands‑on guide to thriving with AI while rediscovering what matters most. Together, they unpack where the idea came from, why they fast‑tracked the project, and how they co‑created…

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AI in Elementary Education: Teaching Tech to Our Youngest Learners 1:22:11

2M ago1:22:11

1:22:11

In this episode of Modem Futura, Sean and Andrew sit down with veteran educator Tara Menghini to explore how artificial intelligence is shaping the formative years of K–6 learning. Tara brings over 25 years of classroom experience and a passion for helping young learners build healthy technology habits from the very start. Together, they discuss th…

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32. [Caribbean Echoes 2] From slavery to anticolonialism: John Maynard and Tony Birch on Black and Indigenous boxing 46:19

2M ago46:19

46:19

What does boxing have to do with anticolonial politics? How did the sport become a space where Black and Indigenous fighters in Australia pushed back against racism and empire? From Peter Jackson to Jack Johnson, Marcus Garvey to Les “Ranji” Moody, this episode explores how Black and Indigenous fighters turned the ring into a stage for resistance a…

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31. [Caribbean Echoes 1] Peter Jackson: Boxing Champion and Innovator in Black Self-Representation 42:02

2M ago42:02

42:02

Did you know that the most famous Australian in the world in 1890 was from the Caribbean? Peter Jackson was born in St Croix in the Caribbean in the years after slavery was abolished. He arrived in Sydney as a teenager and got noticed when he single-handedly fought off seven in a brawl at Wynyard Square. He soon stepped into Sydney’s boxing rings a…

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30. History Lab is changing 3:33

2M ago3:33

3:33

History Lab is back—refreshed and reimagined. From now on, you’ll hear us in regular seasonal runs, dropping new episodes once or twice a fortnight over six to eight weeks. Each run will showcase a mix of formats: History Lab Originals – our signature investigative storytelling that digs into the gaps between us and the past. History Lab Studio – i…

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Sloppy Clankers: Is This AI’s Frankenfood Moment? 1:02:46

2M ago1:02:46

1:02:46

In this lively milestone episode of Modem Futura, Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard dive into the strange cultural moment where AI hype collides with social backlash. The conversation begins with Apple’s latest tech updates—live translation in AirPods and cinematic filmmaking features in the iPhone 17 Pro—before shifting gears into the growing online p…

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Futures Thinking: Foresight You Can Use 1:04:02

2M ago1:04:02

1:04:02

Stuck in traffic and daydreaming about an eVTOL escape, Sean and Andrew use “flying cars” (and a new Blackmagic URSA spatial camera that gobbles terabytes) to make a larger point: tech doesn’t fix congestion—or much else—without a systems view that includes people, policy, and behavior. From there, they unpack futures thinking as a mindset, not for…

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Films from the Future: Moviegoer’s Guide to Tomorrow 1:21:39

2M ago1:21:39

1:21:39

In this episode of Modem Futura, hosts Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard dive into Andrew’s book Films from the Future: The Technology and Morality of Sci-Fi Movies, and the course it inspired, The Moviegoer’s Guide to the Future. Together, they explore how blockbuster films—from Jurassic Park and Minority Report to Limitless, Ex Machina, Elysium, and …

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Up in the Air: The Future of eVTOLs and Urban Air Mobility 1:08:36

3M ago1:08:36

1:08:36

In this episode of Modem Futura, Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard take to the skies—literally exploring the promise and pitfalls of eVTOLs (electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft). From personal one-seat “flying pod” drones to futuristic air taxis, eVTOLs are being touted as the next leap in personal and urban transportation. But do they repre…

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Agentic AI in Education & the Art of Becoming with Punya Mishra 1:15:23

3M ago1:15:23

1:15:23

Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard welcome ASU’s Punya Mishra back to unpack what “agentic AI” could—and shouldn’t—mean in education. After a nostalgic cold open on AOL’s September 30, 2025 dial‑up shutdown and why the show’s intro samples the 56K handshake, they question recent AI “study” and “agent” releases and the industry’s habit of mistaking promp…

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AI, Not AI: Riding the Hype Cycle 56:46

3M ago56:46

56:46

Summer-mode serendipity turns into a sharp tour of today’s tech hype and what actually matters. Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard open with the rapid-fire AI news cycle—GPT-5 rumors, Claude 4.1, and OpenAI’s new open‑weight releases (120B/20B under Apache 2.0 license)—and why running local models (think Whisper on M‑series Macs, or other local models) …

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Show Me the Receipts: the Futures of AI Super-intelligence 1:12:27

3M ago1:12:27

1:12:27

In this wide‑ranging summer episode, Sean and Andrew begin with the strange calm of an almost‑empty university campus and ponder how AI‑assisted “digital twins” could let us re‑imagine academic spaces once the students return. A quick shout‑out to Modem Futura’s growing global audience segues into a critical look at the latest AI headlines—especial…

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Living Machines: Inside the Future World of Bio‑Hybrid Robotics 1:13:51

4M ago1:13:51

1:13:51

What happens when living organisms become components of our machines—and our machines become partly alive? In fact – how do we tell when or if something is ALIVE? In this episode, hosts Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard sit down with guest Sean Dudley (Associate Vice President, ASU Knowledge Enterprise) to unpack the rapidly emerging field of bio‑hybri…

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Futures of Agentic AI and the 2025 AI Action Plan 1:25:04

4M ago1:25:04

1:25:04

In this episode, Sean  and Andrew dissect the newly released U.S. 2025 AI Action Plan, exploring its three pillars—accelerating innovation, building U.S. AI infrastructure, and leading global AI diplomacy. They probe the plan’s “build‑baby‑build” ethos, the push for deregulation, massive energy demands, and semiconductor incentives, and the geopoli…

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Summer School with AI: Rethinking Learning in the Age of GPT 1:23:29

4M ago1:23:29

1:23:29

In this “summer session” of Modem Futura, Sean is joined by the newly minted Dr. Rachna Mathur—artist, engineer, dancer, and Senior STEM Strategist at ASU Preparatory Academy—for a candid, big‑picture conversation about what emerging AI means for schools, work and humanity. Recording from a toasty Arizona studio, the pair trace Mathur’s path from s…

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Summer Movies, liquid media, and alien AI languages 56:57

4M ago56:57

56:57

Episode 40 of Modem Futura is a true summer grab‑bag. Sean and Andrew kick things off a conversation that ricochets from popcorn flicks to philosophical deep dives. First up is a spoiler‑free reaction to the new Superman film—praised for its Dolby Atmos spectacle and nostalgic cameos—followed by Andrew’s unexpected enthusiasm for Megan 2, a techno‑…

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Summer Vibes & Spatial Rides: Inside Vision Pro, F1 & Jurassic Reboots 54:41

5M ago54:41

54:41

In this laid‑back summer installment, Sean and Andrew sweat it out in the studio to deliver a free‑flowing “potpourri” of future‑focused topics. They compare practical effects vs. CGI through the lens of the original Jurassic Park and the new Jurassic World: Rebirth; share hands‑on insights from months of experimenting with the Apple Vision Pro, sp…

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29. Truth-telling: From Country to Classroom 25:20

4M ago25:20

25:20

What is the work of truth-telling? How is evidence collected? What happens next? What role should schools play in teaching Australia’s full history? Australia has completed its first, formal truth-telling process — the Yoorrook Justice Commission of Victoria. We joined Commissioner Travis Lovett on his 500-kilometre Walk for Truth from Portland on …

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28. Fishing for Answers 37:53

4M ago37:53

37:53

This special episode from our archives speaks to this year’s NAIDOC Week themes of strength, vision and legacy. Fishing for Answers explores the sophistication of the fishing practices of Eora women in Sydney Harbour, and asks, How can we hear from the women themselves and find out what their world sounded like? Content warning: If you are an Abori…

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Future Vibes: Sean & Andrew’s 2025 Summer Reading List 54:49

5M ago54:49

54:49

In this laid-back “summer reading list” edition of Modem Futura, Sean and Andrew swap stacks and playlists to prove that great ideas don’t always hide in weighty nonfiction tomes. After comparing the pleasures (and pitfalls) of audiobooks, narrator chemistry, and the lost art of radio drama, they dive into a dozen page-turners that feed futurist im…

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World Economic Forum Top 10 Emerging Technologies of 2025 1:31:49

5M ago1:31:49

1:31:49

In this episode of Modem Futura, Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard cover the World Economic Forum’s newly-released “Top 10 Emerging Technologies of 2025” report, unpacking what makes each breakthrough matter and how foresight professionals can turn hype into actionable insight. After a quick update on recording in Apple’s Spatial Video, the hosts explo…

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Osaka Expo 2025 Futures Lab: an inside look with Jamey Wetmore 1:06:24

5M ago1:06:24

1:06:24

Fresh off a 10-day immersion at Osaka’s 2025 World Expo, returning guest Dr. Jamey Wetmore joins Sean and Andrew to unpack the spectacle, surprises, and sociotechnical undercurrents he witnessed alongside 17 ASU students. Jamey explains why today’s expos feel less like gadget bazaars and more like “collaboration theme-parks,” spotlighting national …

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Murderbot: Futures of AI Superintelligence, Rogue Robots, and Care 58:23

5M ago58:23

58:23

Hosts Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard kick off this episode with a behind-the-scenes reveal: they’re now capturing each conversation in Apple’s easy-to-edit spatial video—and debating what immersive podcasting might become. From there the discussion rockets into the cultural obsession with AI super-intelligence and “rogue” robots, sparked by Apple TV…

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Living Circuits and Biofoundries: Ethics and Care of Synthetic Biology with Emma Frow 1:12:29

6M ago1:12:29

1:12:29

What does it really take to engineer life—and should we? In this wide-ranging conversation, Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard sit down with ASU colleague Dr. Emma Frow to unpack the promise and perils of synthetic biology. Emma traces the field’s origins—from the early “DNA-as-code” dream of rational genetic design to today’s reality of brute-force exp…

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Futures of Learning: AI in Education with Punya Mishra 1:25:32

6M ago1:25:32

1:25:32

In this lively round-table, hosts Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard sit down with renowned educational-technology scholar Dr. Punya Mishra to untangle the hype and hope around AI in education. Together they probe why “personalized learning” promises often miss the messy, human heart of learning; explore Sean and Punya’s shared devotion to John Dewey's …

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Symbiotic Futures: Megatrends, foresight, and Futures Thinking 59:16

6M ago59:16

59:16

Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard reunite after Sean’s trip to Lisbon’s Future Days conference to riff on everything from testing an Apple Vision Pro on an 11‑hour flight to the Iberian‑Peninsula blackout that plunged Portugal and Spain into darkness. They use those real‑world anecdotes to explore “symbiotic futures,” the fragility of complex socio‑tec…

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Severed Minds: Brain Implants, AI, and the Future of Being Human 1:10:49

6M ago1:10:49

1:10:49

In this episode of Modem Futura, Sean L and Andrew M examine Apple TV+’s hit series Severance, using its mind-bending premise of surgically split consciousness to explore real-world questions around emerging science and technology, identity, and ethical responsibility. They unpack the show’s depiction of “innies” and “outies” as a metaphor for how …

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AI on Campus: How Gen Z Is Redefining College with ChatGPT 1:04:56

7M ago1:04:56

1:04:56

In this “student-takeover” episode, hosts Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard sit down with Arizona State University sophomores Caleb Lieberman and Bella Faria to explore what it’s really like to be “AI-native” undergraduates. The conversation ranges from their day-to-day use of tools like ChatGPT Plus (Caleb’s personalized “Arthur Ivan”), Spotify’s DJ, …

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Dire Wolves and Dinosaurs: The Bioscience of De-Extinction 1:01:21

7M ago1:01:21

1:01:21

In this deep dive of Modem Futura, Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard tackle the sensational claims surrounding the "de-extinction" of the dire wolf by Colossal Biosciences. Using the hype-heavy headlines as a jumping-off point, the hosts explore the real science behind resurrection biology, CRISPR gene editing, and the ethics of engineered evolution. F…

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Beyond the Hero’s Journey: AI, Protopia & the Future of Film with Taryn O'Neill 1:23:53

7M ago1:23:53

1:23:53

In this lively, idea‑packed episode of Modem Futura, Sean and Andrew sit down with Taryn O’Neill—filmmaker, futurist, and impact storyteller—whose work bridges entertainment, emerging technology, and climate action. They trace the (nostalgic) arc from DVD‑by‑mail and the early YouTube web‑series boom to today’s streaming ecosystem, unpacking how re…

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Electronic Vehicles and the Future of Transportation with Jamey Wetmore 1:14:16

7M ago1:14:16

1:14:16

In this episode of Modem Futura, co-hosts Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard sit down with special guest Dr. Jamey Wetmore, Associate Professor at Arizona State University and author of the Substack The Tech Skeptic Goes Electric. They explore the intricacies of owning an electric vehicle, including the joys of quick acceleration, the challenges of char…

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Vibecasting: Studio Ghibli and AI Redefining Creativity and Intellectual Property 1:12:49

8M ago1:12:49

1:12:49

In this episode, Sean and Andrew navigate the complex landscape of generative AI image tools, using the new OpenAI image generator and its Studio Ghibli–style outputs as a springboard for broader ethical questions. They discuss the rapid evolution of AI capabilities, and the complicated relationship between intellectual property and emerging AI too…

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When AI Takes the Wheel: Rethinking Education for a Post-Scarcity World 1:02:23

8M ago1:02:23

1:02:23

In this episode that features the shortest cold open to date, Sean face-plants the introduction hard with a good laugh. Sean and Andrew quickly shift into a deep dive on the state of AI-innovation by navigating the complexities of AI literacy, cultural responsiveness, and educational reform. Drawing on the launch of OpenAI Academy and insights from…

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27. Faces Today: Indigenous Artists Return the Gaze 41:36

8M ago41:36

41:36

Colonial portraits have long dictated how Indigenous people were seen. But Indigenous artists continue to challenge that power. Through satire, reinterpretation, and resistance, they’re using art to question history—and reshape the future. In this episode, historians Kate Fullagar and Mike McDonnell speak with contemporary Indigenous artists who ar…

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26. Facing Off: From Botany Bay to Aotearoa 37:07

8M ago37:07

37:07

In this episode, historians Kate Fullagar and Mike McDonnell revisit Bennelong’s portraits to examine how colonial art encountered Indigenous identity. Indigenous scholar Jo Rey, a Dharug woman, challenges these depictions, questioning their accuracy and impact. The conversation then expands to the Pacific, where Māori scholar Alice Te Punga Somerv…

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25. Facing Empire: A Long History of Representing Others 40:45

8M ago40:45

40:45

Bennelong, a Wangal man of the Eora nation, was among the first Aboriginal people to travel to Europe and return. As a crucial interlocutor between his people and the British colonists, he navigated two worlds but the way he was depicted in colonial portraits raises complex questions. In one, he appears in traditional body paint. In another, years …

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Tech Trends 2025: Exploring Futures of Living Intelligence 1:09:44

8M ago1:09:44

1:09:44

Grab your flip flops and beach gear and join is us on this laid-back spring break episode, Sean and Andrew cover Apple’s latest hardware announcements, spotlighting the MacBook Air’s new M4 processor and the powerhouse M3 Ultra chip in the Mac Studio—both of which promise to accelerate AI workloads and offer impressive longevity. Andrew does his be…

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Introducing: Unsettling Portraits 2:04

8M ago2:04

2:04

Can colonial depictions of Indigenous people tell us anything useful about the past? How do Indigenous people today feel about these enduring images? Unsettling Portraits is a three-part series exploring the history of portraiture and colonialism, alongside contemporary First Nations responses. Indigenous artists and historians in Australia, the Pa…

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What's coming in 2025? History Lab update and previews with Tamson Pietsch 6:05

8M ago6:05

6:05

If you're an old friend, hello and thank you for hitting play. If you're a new listener, welcome. History Lab, as many of you will know, was Australia’s first investigative history podcast. We've made five seasons so far, and our tagline is exploring the gaps between us and the past. And while you notice that from season to season our storytelling …