Best Sean Leahy Podcasts (2025)

1
Anjelica AJ Hadsell | Crafted Clues 52:09

Play Pause

3d ago52:09

52:09

After 18 year old Anjelica Hadsell was reported missing, clues started showing up around town. But were they leading to police closer to the an answer or were they intended to send them in the wrong direction? This case is *solved* Thank you to Newspapers.com for sponsoring today's episode! Head over to Newspapers.com/gift and use the code 'Crimeli…

1
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…

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

12d 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…

1
Listen Now: Against The Odds 5:29

12d ago5:29

5:29

Humans are resilient. In our toughest moments, we will fight, we will struggle, and we will triumph...often against the odds. In this immersive series from Wondery, host-adventurers Mike Corey and Cassie De Pecol will share thrilling stories of survival. From the daring rescue of a soccer team trapped in an underwater cave in Thailand, to a woman t…

1
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…

1
Cody Bowles and Clent Chavers (FIXED) 40:20

17d ago40:20

40:20

When Cody Bowles supposedly left town to join a motorcycle gang, it actually sounded like something he would do. But when he stopped contacting his family and didn’t fill his life saving prescriptions, people got worried and soon one mysterious death was uncovered… and then another. This case is *solved* Thank you to Uncommon Goods for sponsoring t…

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

19d 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…

1
Julie-Anne Leahy and Vicki Arnold Pt 2: More Evidence and No Justice 1:04:37

25d ago1:04:37

1:04:37

Last week we talked about the 1991 deaths of Vicki Arnold and Julie-Anne Leahy, initially ruled a murder suicide. This week, we are going to go through Vicki Arnold’s psychological profile, very serious accusations against Julie Anne’s husband Alan, two more inquest findings, and eventually a suspect no one expected. This case is *disputed* Podcast…

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

26d 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…

1
Julie-Anne Leahy and Vicki Arnold | Three Inquests and More Questions (Part 1) 1:06:17

1M ago1:06:17

1:06:17

Two women were found dead in 1991 and the police soon concluded it was a murder suicide. The families did not accept that answer and it took multiple reinvestigations and reviews and 3 coronial inquests for that assumption to be fully challenged. And then, in the end, a surprise suspect emerged that said everyone had it wrong. This case is *dispute…

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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…

1
Father Edward Hinds | Passion Provocation 57:24

1M ago57:24

57:24

A parish priest was found dead and a confession quickly came. But what the killer said happened and what the state pieced together were not the same thing and it would be up to a jury to decide if this was manslaughter or was it murder. This case is *solved* Podcast recommendation: Making of a Musician Thank you to today's sponsor Uncommon Goods. F…

1
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…

1
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…

1
Kenyatta Bush | Injustice 50:42

2M ago50:42

50:42

When an Omaha teenager disappeared outside of her school, the police looked at people she knew as their likely suspects. But when a surprise confession came in, this case ended up in years of legal wrangling only to leave people asking if someone can be wrongfully convicted without being actually innocent. This case is *disputed* Support the show! …

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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…

1
Martre Coles | Inconvenient Motive 54:02

2M ago54:02

54:02

As we know, a motive is not necessary to prove a crime in court. But when the state struggles to come up with one, does it impact the jury’s ability to come to an agreement? This case is *solved* Book recommendation: https://neweraincj.org/book-now-available-1 Thank you to Newspapers.com for supporting Crimelines. Use code CRIMELINES to get 20% off…

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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…

1
Candace Hiltz | Tunnel Vision 52:29

2M ago52:29

52:29

When a young mother was found dead in her home in 2006, her family suspected a police coverup but the police were narrowed in on a person of interest. Unfortunately, a decade later, police misconduct was uncovered and even if it wasn’t directly connected to the investigation, it made it only that much harder to find justice for Candace Hiltz. This …

1
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 …

1
Kayla Kelley | Modern Methods 38:33

2M ago38:33

38:33

Kayla Kelley thought she found the love of her life on a dating app. But red flags started popping up and right as she uncovered his secrets, she disappeared. Modern investigative methods seemingly solved the case, but her boyfriend had one final bizarre story about what really happened. This case is *solved* Support the show! Get the exclusive sho…

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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…

1
Stephen Douglas | A Coronial Inquest 54:25

3M ago54:25

54:25

Stephen Douglas was a passionate advocate and nurse working in mental health services. After he was killed by one of his clients, the Coroners Court of New South Wales took a hard look at the case to see if gaps in the system needed to be filled to prevent another tragedy. This case is *solved* Support the show! Get the exclusive show Beyond the Fi…

1
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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John Chakalos and Linda Carman | The Last To See Them 1:15:36

3M ago1:15:36

1:15:36

In 2013, a young man was the last person to visit his grandfather before his grandfather was murdered in bed. In 2016, that same young man was the last person to see his mother alive. Though some say the evidence clearly points to his guilt, others say not so fast. If you have any information on the murder of John Chakalos, you can call (860) 688-5…

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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) …

1
Bobby Sexton | Disorganized Crime 43:52

3M ago43:52

43:52

When Bobby and Tricia Sexton decided to reconcile in early 1998, many thought it was the start of the family finding peace again. But according to the authorities, it was just a plot to set someone up to be murdered. This case is *solved* Thank you to Newspapers.com for supporting Crimelines once again. Use code CRIMELINES for an exclusive discount…

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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…

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

3M 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…

1
Wanda Lopez | Carlos v Carlos 1:19:49

4M ago1:19:49

1:19:49

Multiple eyewitnesses identified the murderer of Wanda Lopez and his alibi story didn’t quite check out. Twenty years later, a team from Columbia University reinvestigated the case and showed the terrifying truth: the state of Texas very likely executed an innocent man. This case is *disputed* Support the show! Get the exclusive show Beyond the Fil…

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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…

1
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…

1
Carey and Charles Smith | Accomplice? Testimony 44:56

4M ago44:56

44:56

When two men were killed in their home, there was no forensic evidence… just a lot of suspicion. But after a key witness made a deal with the state, the case went to trial to see if the jury would believe a single somewhat incentivized witness. This case is *solved* Thank you to Newspapers.com for supporting Crimelines once again. Use code CRIMELIN…

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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‑…

1
Relisha Rudd | Missing from DC 50:30

4M ago50:30

50:30

In 2014, a social worker attempted to make contact with a doctor in a homeless shelter where a little girl named Relisha Rudd lived with her family. The doctor claimed to be treating Relisha for an unspecified neurological condition that caused her to miss a lot of school. But when the social worker arrived at the homeless shelter, he learned this …

1
Summer Vibes & Spatial Rides: Inside Vision Pro, F1 & Jurassic Reboots 54:41

4M 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…

1
Dr. Deborah Iverson | Media Frenzy 39:20

5M ago39:20

39:20

After the murder of a doctor in Michigan, her husband offered a reward for information leading to the perpetrators. And then he increased the reward. And then, against the advice of the police, he increased it again. Would it be enough for a tip to come in? This case is *solved* If you know anything about the murder of Verna Brown, you can call the…

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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…

1
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…

1
Julian and CJ Lewis | The Head of the Serpent? 45:11

5M ago45:11

45:11

In 2002, a home invasion left two people dead but the plot quickly unraveled. The only question–one that would last beyond the deaths of two of the co-conspirators–is who was the mastermind. This case is solved. (Episode correction: Matthew Shallenberger's name is mispronounced as Shallenberg twice in the episode. I am out of town and cannot re-rec…

1
Listen Now: The Rise & Fall of Diddy: The Federal Trial 10:05

5M ago10:05

10:05

Episode 1: The United States vs. Sean Combs Opening statements rock the courtroom as federal prosecutors accuse Sean “Diddy” Combs of running a decades-long criminal enterprise built on violence, sex trafficking, and power. The defense hits back hard, painting it all as a toxic relationship, not a RICO case. Then Cassie Ventura takes the stand, and…

1
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 …

1
Sylvia Browne | America's Favorite Psychic 1:10:59

5M ago1:10:59

1:10:59

Sylvia Browne made a name for herself in the true crime world on talk shows, giving psychic readings to the families of the missing and the murdered. But an evaluation of her success rate shows that she was probably just guessing and she wasn’t that good of a guesser. Skeptical Inquirer articles: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2020/03/psychic-defect…

1
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…

1
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…

1
Danyese LaClair | Holdback Information 25:06

6M ago25:06

25:06

When a woman’s body was found in a field, the police found a potential piece of evidence in the grass. But they decided to hold that information back, leading some to wonder if that is what stalled the investigation. If you have any information, call the Burton Police Department at (810) 742-2542 or the Crimestoppers at 1-800-422-JAIL. This case is…

1
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 …

1
Emmett Corrigan | Crossroads 47:57

6M ago47:57

47:57

When a confrontation between a husband and the man his wife was having an affair with erupted in violence, two families were left to grapple with what led to that moment and how to move forward. Read Ashlee’s book: Silence Breaks: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22873779-silence-breaks See me at the True Crime Podcast Festival! https://www.true…

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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…

1
Becky Bliefnick | Images in the Dark 42:02

6M ago42:02

42:02

Becky Bliefnick was ready to have her divorce settled so she could move on. She and her estranged husband fought almost every issue but none more than whether his father should be around their children unsupervised. Were any of those conflicts enough to end in murder? Becky Bliefnick Memorial Fund: https://gofund.me/cf34b08e This case is solved. Th…