Best Futurology Podcasts (2025)

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Ep 746 Building Digital Trust In Hiring 22:12

Play Pause

2d ago22:12

22:12

The recruitment experience is undergoing a fundamental transformation with AI and automation playing an increasingly larger role. It's essential to recognise the consequences of lost human connection. Trust is an absolutely critical element here, and employers need to ensure they aren't losing the emotional intelligence and genuine connections that…

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Ep 745: Recruiting Excellence In Disruptive Times 35:50

2d ago35:50

35:50

Talent acquisition is being tested like never before. Teams are continually being asked to do more with less, hiring volumes remain unpredictable, and technology is evolving faster than organizations can adapt. AI promises transformation but often delivers confusion, with some vendors labeling simple automation as intelligence, while, at the same t…

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Ep 744: How Job Ads Impact Quality Of Hire 32:56

4d ago32:56

32:56

Application volumes are continuing to rise, but finding quality hires remains a challenge. The usual suspects that tend to get the blame are candidates using AI, economic uncertainty, and a continuing decline in job board effectiveness. However, research suggests a more fundamental issue that many organizations overlook. The words in job descriptio…

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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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Round Up October 2025 34:41

11d ago34:41

34:41

Recruiting Future Round Up is back in a brand-new live format. Round Up has always been a quick way to catch up on the most important insights from the month’s Recruiting Future interviews. Now we’re taking it further, streaming live on LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube so you can join the conversation in real time. In this recording (previously live…

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Ep 743: The Talent Acquisition Revolution 30:04

13d ago30:04

30:04

The recruiting technology landscape is transforming at an unprecedented speed. AI Tools that seemed like far-fetched concepts just a few years ago are hitting the market and delivering results. But adoption is messy and uneven. Some employers are experimenting with AI-driven interviews, while others worry about bias and legal risks. High-volume rec…

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

15d 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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Ep 742: Aligning Hiring with Values 22:00

15d ago22:00

22:00

Most hiring currently focuses on assessing a mix of skills and experience. However, there's a deeper layer that often gets overlooked. Companies talk endlessly about culture and values, yet few know how to genuinely assess them. This matters especially for purpose-driven organizations. Whether it's a B Corp, a sustainability-focused business, or an…

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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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Ep 741: The Competitive Advantage Of Neuro-Inclusion 33:02

20d ago33:02

33:02

As many as 1 in 7 people are neurodivergent, with brains that process information, communicate, and work differently. Many have ADHD, autism, dyslexia, or other conditions they've hidden throughout their careers, masking to fit workplace norms. But creating environments where these individuals thrive isn't about expensive accommodations or special …

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Ep 740: Are We Really Ready For AI? 32:59

21d ago32:59

32:59

We've lived through technology revolutions before. Personal computers. The Internet. Smartphones. Social media. Each felt transformative at the time, reshaping how we work and communicate. But something fundamentally different is happening now. AI learns from every interaction and improves with each release. Yet the signals are confusing. Some pilo…

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

22d 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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S7 Episode 9: Reimagining Real-Time: Motorsport, AI, and the Future of Precision Tracking with Gill Switalski 26:21

11d ago26:21

26:21

In this episode of Digitally Curious, host Andrew Grill sits down with Gill Switalski, CEO of Infrared Kinetics, to explore how cutting-edge infrared technology is revolutionising real-time tracking and data precision - not just in motorsport, but across a host of industries. Gill shares her journey from corporate lawyer to tech innovator, describi…

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S7 Episode 8: AI, Empathy, and the Human Edge. Digitally Curious meets the Somewhere on Earth Podcast 53:06

24d ago53:06

53:06

Two tech worlds meet to answer a pressing question: if AI can act for us, what should remain meaningfully human? In this episode, We've teamed up with Gareth Mitchell and Ghislaine Boddington from the Somewhere on Earth Podcast to compare notes on practical adoption, cultural nuance, and the messy, beautiful realities of bringing AI into daily life…

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

29d 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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Ep 739: TA's Challenges and Priorities for 2026 30:56

1M ago30:56

30:56

The economic, demographic, and technological forces of change are continuing to drive disruption, confusion, and chaos. Against the backdrop of this ever-shifting landscape, TA Leaders are expected to deliver greater value to their organizations than ever before. So how are they planning to do this in the next 12 months? What are the strategic prio…

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Ep 738: How to Implement AI Successfully In HR & TA 25:14

1M ago25:14

25:14

Most organizations approaching AI are struggling and running pilot projects that go nowhere. The common assumption is that the technology itself is flawed, over hyped, or too complex. However, the employers that are succeeding with AI have discovered something different. The technology isn't the problem, and the real barriers are human. Employee re…

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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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Ep 737: Building A Team Of Talent Partners 23:33

1M ago23:33

23:33

To survive as a function, it's clear that TA teams need to become strategic partners to their businesses rather than service providers. But what does that really mean in practice? It's easy to talk about being strategic, but the execution is where most teams struggle. The challenge isn't just about new processes or technologies. It's about fundamen…

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Ep 736: Trust, Influence & The Future Of Recruitment Marketing 39:16

1M ago39:16

39:16

Something fundamental has shifted in how people find work. Job boards that dominated for decades are losing their effectiveness. Candidates are overwhelmed and skeptical. Employers are drowning in applications that are all the same. The old playbook simply isn't working anymore. Meanwhile, the TikTokification of communication and the rise of the cr…

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Future-Proofing with Resilience - with Travis Allison - Camp Ahead #9 41:08

29d ago41:08

41:08

Send us a text Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/campahead/resilience-travis Welcome to Season 2 of Camp Ahead! - Let’s talk resiliency. Join host Joe and guest Travis Allison, co-founder of Go Camp Pro, as they explore into The Resilient Camp Blueprint. In an industry facing increasing demands, staff burnout, and an uncertain f…

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Round Up September 2025 36:34

1M ago36:34

36:34

Recruiting Future Round Up is back in a brand-new live format. Round Up has always been a quick way to catch up on the most important insights from the month’s Recruiting Future interviews. Now we’re taking it further, streaming live on LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube so you can join the conversation in real time. In this recording (previously live…

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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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Ep 735: AI's Impact On Recruitment Marketing 29:41

1M ago29:41

29:41

Recruitment marketing is undergoing a fundamental shift as AI transforms the way work is done and who does it. Marketing automation is evolving at a rapid pace and will drive significant, efficient gains, but what is the impact of originality, creativity, and strategic thinking? So how are recruitment marketers evolving, and what should employers n…

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Ep 734 Why Skills Really Matter 30:03

1M ago30:03

30:03

We have been discussing skills for so long that there is a temptation to dismiss anything skills-based as just another set of buzzwords. However, if anything, we aren't talking about skills enough and certainly not in the holistic way we need to be. Forward-thinking companies are already using skills-based approaches to solve critical business prob…

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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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Ep 733: Making Sense of HR Tech's AI Explosion 34:15

2M ago34:15

34:15

I recently returned from my annual pilgrimage to the HR Technology Conference in Las Vegas. There are a ton of conferences in our industry, but HR Tech still remains the event to come to for the most comprehensive view of innovation in talent acquisition. It is clear that things are moving fast with technology; AI is already moving from narrow, sin…

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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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Ep 732: Are Job Interviews Obsolete? 22:35

2M ago22:35

22:35

The job interview has been a part of the recruiting process for over 100 years, with Thomas Edison widely credited as the original architect of this central tenet of the recruiting process. But with so much change happening since then, are interviews still fit for purpose in their current format, and if they aren't, what should they be replaced wit…

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S7 Episode 7: Trevor Davis on The AI Revolution in Creative Industries 42:35

2M ago42:35

42:35

In this episode of Digitally Curious, Andrew Grill speaks with Trevor Davis, renowned futurist and pioneer in big data, AI, and digital transformation about the evolving intersection of artificial intelligence and the creative industries. Trevor shares insights drawn from decades of experience at the cutting edge, delving into the opportunities, ch…

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Ep 731: Recruiting Top AI Talent 27:45

2M ago27:45

27:45

The ongoing slump in tech hiring is well-documented. However, the demand for talented AI professionals, particularly at the leadership level, is absolutely off the scale. With unprecedented salaries being promised by the leading AI players, how can other employers compete, and what do the TA team need to know to secure the talent their organisation…

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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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Ep 730: Is Recruitment Marketing Stuck In A Rut? 27:53

2M ago27:53

27:53

Jobseeker behavior is changing with Gen AI and social media becoming ever stronger forces of influencers in career choices. However, a lot of recruitment marketing activity is failing to keep up with employers stuck in a rut and not casting the net wide enough or in the right way. Shockingly, many TA teams still lack basic visibility into their rec…

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Ep 729: Using AI Responsibly In TA 28:11

2M ago28:11

28:11

The AI landscape in recruiting is evolving rapidly, with vendors racing to add AI features and many employers eager to embrace transformation. But navigating this shift successfully requires understanding what questions to ask and which foundations to build. From vendor transparency to compliance, from bias auditing to data governance, the path to …

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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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Ep 728: The Problem With Bias 27:51

2M ago27:51

27:51

Bias in recruiting isn't just unfair, it's also bad for business. Bias in the recruiting process means many employers miss out on top talent simply because they're not seeing the full picture. Most organizations focus their anti-bias efforts on the interview stage, but the real damage happens much earlier in the process. With AI as a new complicati…

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Ep 727 Becoming A Long-Haul Leader 38:40

3M ago38:40

38:40

The modern workplace has created an epidemic of burnout that's quietly destroying careers and companies alike. Many professionals are quietly battling anxiety, sleep disruption, and physical exhaustion while maintaining a facade of having everything under control. TA leaders are currently navigating AI adoption, defending budgets, managing anxious …

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Round Up August 2025 27:34

3M ago27:34

27:34

Recruiting Future Round Up is back in a brand-new live format. Round Up has always been a quick way to catch up on the most important insights from the month’s Recruiting Future interviews. Now we’re taking it further, streaming live on LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube so you can join the conversation in real time. In this recording (previously live…

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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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Best of The Alder Hour - Master Burnett, Madeline Laurano & Laurie Ruettimann 55:40

3M ago55:40

55:40

Recruiting Future is currently on summer break, and the regular show will resume next week. I didn't want to leave you with nothing to listen to over Labor Day weekend, though… The Alder Hour is my show with Purple Acorn, which live streams on LinkedIn every Monday afternoon. Every show features an interview segment, and I wanted to share here thre…

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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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A Deep Dive Into AI & The Future Of Talent Acquisition 55:12

3M ago55:12

55:12

Recruiting Future is taking a couple of weeks off and will return the first week in September. In the meantime, I've got some summer specials for you. As I don't need to tell you, AI is a massive topic at the moment and isn't going to change any time soon; it's only going to get bigger and more critical. With that in mind, I wanted to share my thou…

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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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Ep 726: How AI Is Finally Killing The Resume 26:20

3M ago26:20

26:20

The explosion of AI-generated applications isn't just breaking traditional recruiting - it's creating an unprecedented opportunity by making sophisticated assessment tools accessible for early-stage screening. There is now the opportunity to filter thousands of applicants based on actual predictive data. However, the vendor landscape here can be co…

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Ep 725: Making Neurodiversity Work 36:07

3M ago36:07

36:07

Up to 20% of the global workforce is likely to be neurodivergent and mostly undiagnosed. Understanding how to unlock the full potential of people with non-typical brains should be important to all employers. The difference between the right and wrong job fit for someone with ADHD or other neurodivergent conditions can be the difference between stru…

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S7 Episode 6: From Particle Physics to Parliament: Making Governments More Human Through Artificial Intelligence with Dr Laura Gilbert CBE 39:41

3M ago39:41

39:41

How does a particle physicist end up shaping the UK Government’s approach to artificial intelligence? In this thought‑provoking episode, Andrew Grill sits down with Dr Laura Gilbert CBE, former Director of Data Science at 10 Downing Street and now the Senior Director of AI at the Tony Blair Institute. Laura’s unique career path, from academic resea…

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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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Ep 724: Search, Social, And Strategic Recruitment Marketing 21:24

3M ago21:24

21:24

Recruiting Future helps Talent Acquisition teams drive measurable impact by developing strategic capability in Foresight, Influence, Talent, and Technology. If you're interested in finding out how your TA function measures up in these four critical areas, I've created the free FITT for the Future Assessment. It'll give you personalised insights to …

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Ep 723: The Impact Of Career Gap Bias 32:18

3M ago32:18

32:18

For too long, gaps in resumes have been a red flag for recruiters. But what if this outdated bias is costing you your best hires? In today's world, where everyone's constantly reskilling and skills become obsolete within months, penalizing career breaks makes absolutely no sense. This red flag mentality drives ageism and automatically screens out e…

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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…