Explore every episode of the podcast The Future Is How
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Future Has a Scent | Christophe Laudamiel on Memory, Emotion & Designing the Invisible | 08 Mar 2026 | 00:37:18 | |
At a glance In this episode of The Future Is HOW, I sit down with world-renowned master perfumer Christophe Laudamiel to explore one of the most powerful yet overlooked senses shaping our future: smell. Christophe shares how his journey into perfumery began, what mentors in the fragrance world taught him, and why scent is far more complex than we usually imagine. Together we explore the deep connection between smell and memory, why no scent ever represents just one thing, and how fragrance can be designed to evoke emotions, experiences, and even entire stories. The conversation moves from the personal to the future: How would you design the scent of a humanoid robot? Why do we crave certain smells, like fruit, yet rarely experience them authentically in fragrance? And what happens when scent becomes personalized, expressive, and deeply human? From creativity and diversity to memory and imagination, Christophe reminds us that scent is not just chemistry. It is language. It is emotion. It is a way of experiencing the world. A conversation about the invisible forces that shape how we remember, feel, and imagine what comes next. Chapters
Where to Find Frederik G. Pferdt NextLetter: https://www.nextletter.frederikgpferdt.com Website: https://www.frederikgpferdt.com Make the test: https://awareness.frederikgpferdt.com Music: Andreas Horchler | |||
| Igniting Belief - The Power of Evangelism | Guy Kawasaki | 28 Nov 2025 | 00:52:53 | |
Today on The Future is How, Frederik's guest is Guy Kawasaki. In 1983, when there was no such thing as evangelism in businesses and corporations, he popularized it, while working with the Macintosh Division of Apple. He set standards beyond Apple. Today, Guy is the Chief Evangelist of Canva, the online graphics-design company from Australia. Guy is also the author of fifteen books, New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestsellers. He is a keynote speaker and host of the Remarkable People Podcast, as well as an investor. In this episode: • Belief in oneself is the most powerful gift. • Evangelism is an ethos, not just a title. • Remarkable people go through growth, grit, and grace • It's not about how you get your job, but what you do once you're in. • Showing up for others can have a profound impact. • Purpose is often created through passion and experimentation. • An open mind is essential for recognizing wisdom. • Empowerment can come from simple acts of kindness. • AI is a transformative force in our lives. • The future is shaped by our choices and actions. • A mindstate moment on evangelism • Underrated and overrated tech-trends Chapters: 00:00 Intro 04:38 A kick butt-moment: Frederik’s first encounter with Guy at a Steve Jobs Keynote. 07:31 Evangelism is ethos: the good news on creativity 10:15 Remarkable people: growth, grit, and grace 14:14 Steve Jobs: The remarkable Apple Universe 16:53 Inspire inspiration: Basic human skills 19:01 The embodiment of grace: Jane Goodall 21:52 The Chris Webster-story: Showing up at the chauffeur´s memorial 25:16 Finding purpose: Experiment your way forward 28:16 In love with AI?: The biggest deal in Guy´s career 30:46: Recognizing wisdom: Open and closed minds 34:23: A mindstate moment: Tangible evangelism 38:58: A quick fire round of questions 47:29: Quitting jobs: Certainty versus unchartered territory 49:29: The shit sandwich: Finding your calling
Where to find Guy Kawasaki: Homepage: https://guykawasaki.com/ Book: Wiser Guy: https://guykawasaki.com/books/wiser-guy/ Podcast: https://guykawasaki.com/remarkable-people/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/guykawasaki/ Where to Find Frederik G. Pferdt: NextLetter: https://www.nextletter.frederikgpferdt.com Book: whatsnextisnowthebook.com LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram | frederikgpferdt.com Music: Andreas Horchler | |||
| Harnessing the power of beauty to create a life-centered future | Tim Leberecht | 27 Dec 2024 | 01:05:24 | |
How do you envision the future—yours, ours, and the planet’s? Join me, Frederik Pferdt, in the first episode of The Future Is How, as I sit down with Tim Leberecht, the founder of the House of Beautiful Business, to explore how beauty can inspire connection, reimagine the future, and help us live more meaningful lives. Together, we discuss why it’s time to value all life—including AI—and how moving beyond human-centeredness can address some of our biggest challenges. In our conversation today, we explore the following topics: • Why you shouldn’t limit yourself to one vision of the future • Exercises in cultivating intimacy inspired by the artist Marina Abramovic • Attributes of beauty and how to find it • Practices for strengthening your imagination muscles • Why Tim is optimistic about AI’s role in our future • The cost of human-centeredness and the case for valuing all life • And so much more! — Where to find Tim Leberecht: • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/timleberecht/ • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tleberecht/ • Business website: https://houseofbeautifulbusiness.com/ • Website: http://timleberecht.com/ — Where to find Frederik Pferdt • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fgpferdt/ • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/frederikgpferdt • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frederikgpferdt/ • Website: https://www.frederikgpferdt.com/ — In this episode, we cover: (0:00) Intro (02:57) Welcome Tim Leberecht (03:40) A sneak preview of the future Tim (first version) (06:24) A sneak preview of the future Tim (second version) (09:06) Lessons from Marina Abramovic’s art (14:37) Tim’s practice of “silent dinners” (20:41) The transcendent power of moments of beauty and awe (23:15) Attributes of beauty—and why intimacy and attention are key components (26:25) An exercise in attention and fostering intensity (27:22) A moment to pause and reconnect (31:50) Applying the lens of beauty to the future by imagining lives we haven’t lived (37:15) Getting started with practices to create the future you want (47:28) How AI might be used for beauty and connection (48:10) What shifted Tim's perspective on AI, making him more optimistic (50:22) Human-centeredness vs. life-centeredness (57:20) A case for beauty as a source of connection and peace (59:20) How Tim wants to be in the future (1:03:15) Frederik’s final thoughts Music: Andreas Horchler Art Design: Stefan Schuster, Dino Hohos, Flo Dietrich Production: Jordan & Adam Bornstein | |||
| The Art of Starting Before You’re Ready | Tessa Forshaw and Rich Braden | 14 Nov 2025 | 00:53:30 | |
Today on The Future is How, Frederik's guests are Tessa Forshaw and Rich Braden – authors of Innovation-ish: How Anyone can Create Breakthrough Solutions to Real Problems in the Real World Rich Braden is the founder and CEO of the San Francisco-based consulting firm, People Rocket. For the past 15 years he has been a design educator at universities around the world including Stanford University and Harvard University. Tessa Forshaw is a cognitive scientist, senior researcher, and co-founder of the Next Level Lab at Harvard University. She teaches design thinking, creativity, and innovation at the Harvard Innovation Lab and Harvard University DCE. She also served on the Teaching Faculty at Stanford’s design school for several years. In this episode: • How the Innovation-ish approach can lead to real innovation • Why hesitation isn't bad and how you can overcome it • How complex issues can be addressed playfully • Joint efforts of testing and iterations lead to good results • Exploration comes first, explaining later • A mindstate moment with 5 questions about your future • How to integrate Innovation-ish into your daily life • AI as a partner for innovation Chapters 00:00 Intro 02:25 Tessa and Rich's future Bio 05:13 “Ish-ness”: what Innovation-ish is about 08:46 From hesitation to momentum 14:22 Clarity and curiosity: Enjoying the unknown 19:03 Innovation compass: Real life experience with students 24:53 Explore before explain: Embrace the non-perfect 31:42 Mindstate Moment: 5 questions, 5 reasons to start 35:06 Make it real: Innovation-ish into your life 40:08 Toolbox: AI and innovation-ish boost 46:51 The lightning question round: Routines and practices
Where to Find Tessa Forshaw: Book: https://www.innovationish.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessaforshaw/
Where to find Rich Braden: Book: https://www.innovationish.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardcoxbraden/ Where to Find Frederik G. Pferdt NextLetter: https://www.nextletter.frederikgpferdt.com Book: whatsnextisnowthebook.com LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram | frederikgpferdt.com Music: Andreas Horchler | |||
| How Trust Is The Future | Esther Wojcicki | 13 Jun 2025 | 00:52:44 | |
In this episode, we explore how trust shapes the future — in parenting, education, and leadership. Esther Wojcicki is known as "The godmother of Silicon Valley", a legendary educator, journalist, and author of How to Raise Successful People. She has taught thousands of students, raised three remarkable daughters (a CEO, a doctor, and a professor), and sparked a global movement with her TRICK philosophy: Trust, Respect, Independence, Collaboration, and Kindness. “Kids are not luggage — they are human beings,” Esther says. Her message is clear: the next generation doesn’t need more control, they need more trust. Together, we dive into:
We also explore how TRICK applies not just to kids — but to how we lead, live, and even treat our parents. Plus: A “Mindstate Moment” to help you reflect and activate your own TRICK. Where to find Esther Wojcicki: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heywoj/?hl=en Where to find Frederik G. Pferdt: What'sNextIs Now The Book: https://www.whatsnextisnowthebook.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fgpferdt/
In this episode, we cover: (00:00) Intro (05:53) A future with TRICK- Trust Respect Independence Collaboration Kindness (24:50) Belts for the homeless-how children's ideas help (29:53) A better school-play, take time, explore (33:09) In it together-Having patience, as kids and as parents (35:49) Lost kids-The Helicopter Parenting crisis (40:04) A Mindstate Moment with Frederik (47:45) We are all children-what we can offer our parents through TRICK Music :Andreas Horchler | |||
| Time to Grow | Angela Pferdt | 02 Jun 2025 | 00:38:56 | |
In today’s episode of The Future is How, it's all about growth, from plants to the inner self. And we have a more than special guest: Angela Pferdt. Coming from a background in finance, today she is a Healing Artist, a Reiki Master, a Master Gardener, and she is Frederik's wife, in Frederik's words: one of his greatest teachers. Frederik and Angela spent decades together, building a home and raising three children. “Home is where I grow”, says Angela. This time The Future is How comes straight from Angela's and Frederik's home in the Santa Cruz Mountains, an exchange of experiences, thoughts, callings, insights, and more than that: their future, like a walk together we all can listen to. Today, we talk about: • Plant based medicine and how psychedelics can help opening up and finding love and answers inside • Finding patience and presence Where to find Angela Pferdt: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/santa_woodz/ Where to find Frederik G. Pferdt: What's NextIs Now The Book: https://www.whatsnextisnowthebook.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fgpferdt/ In this episode, we cover: (00:00) Intro (20:53) Plant based medicine: Is it for me? (25:11) A Mindstate Moment with Frederik (29:35) Psychedelic myths: Breaking addictions instead of creating addictions (32:06) It's not exclusively about trauma or seeing colors: Psychedelics can break patterns, accessing the unconscious (33:54) Patience and presence: How her children benefit from Angela's work (36:10) Words of encouragement: if you can imagine it, you can achieve it, if you can dream it, you can become it. Music: Andreas Horchler | |||
| Harnessing the power of imagination to create a better future | Lisa Kay Solomon (Stanford) | 07 Feb 2025 | 00:56:06 | |
In today’s episode of The Future is How, futurist Lisa Kay Solomon joins me. Lisa is a designer in residence at the Stanford d.school. Lisa focuses on bridging the disciplines of futures and design thinking, creating experiences like “Vote by Design: Presidential Edition” and "The Future’s Happening" to help students learn and practice the skills they don’t yet know they need. At the d.school, she teaches classes such as Inventing the Future, where students imagine, debate, and analyze the 50-year futures of emerging tech. In our conversation today, Lisa emphasizes the importance of being future-forward and leveraging our imaginations to shape a better world. We explore topics such as: • The value of developing a ‘futurist’ mindset, and strategies for long-term thinking • How to expand your perspective by engaging in wider learning and learning from others • The games, approaches, and activities Lisa uses to help her students visualize the future • Lisa’s work with Vote By Design and how a futurist approach allows us to build a better world • Why Lisa leans into curiosity and openness • A mindfulness practice engaging your imagination to visualize your future in five years • And more! — Where to find Lisa Kay Solomon: • X: https://x.com/lisakaysolomon • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisakaysolomon/ • Website: https://www.lisakaysolomon.com/ — Where to find Frederik G. Pferdt • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fgpferdt/ • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/frederikgpferdt • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frederikgpferdt/ • Website: https://www.frederikgpferdt.com/ — In this episode, we cover: (00:00) Intro (02:41) Lisa’s future bio (06:14) The value of adopting a more ‘futurist’ outlook (09:28) Strategies for developing a long-term perspective in problem-solving (14:36) Techniques for imagining the future and your future self (18:30) Using present day anchors to imagine future prototypes (22:24) Lisa’s new class, View from the Future (25:35) Lisa’s civic work at Vote by Design (31:50) The story of how Eric Reveno got election day off for college athletes (33:34) Lisa’s continued engaging athletes in civics (35:15) An explanation of The Polak game (37:10) How Lisa uses The Polak game and rethinking who is a futurist (39:47) The power of imagination and why we need to value it more (43:41) An exercise in imagining the future (48:55) Lisa’s daily practices (54:55) Closing — Music: Andreas Horchler Art Design: Stefan Schuster, Dino Hohos, Flo Dietrich Production: Jordan & Adam Bornstein | |||
| The Art of What Could Be | Francesco Ciccolella | 27 Jun 2025 | 00:32:27 | |
Today in The Future Is How: Francesco Ciccolella. His illustrations don’t just decorate the page– they challenge how we see the world. Francesco is a Vienna-based artist, illustrator, and designer whose work has appeared in The New York Times, The Guardian, The New Yorker, MIT Technology Review, and on the covers of books and ideas that have shaped our thinking. He also brought Frederik's ideas to life , through incredible sketches, including the one-line illustrations in Frederik's book What’s Next Is Now. Francesco's illustrations hold up a mirror to our culture–showing us not only what is, but what could be. Today, we talk about: • The Power of Visual Thinking • Making the complex visually accessible through empathy • Everyone Is an Artist (as long as we overcome our fears) • A well of inspiration—exploring world views and travelling Where to find Francesco Ciccolella: https://www.francescociccolella.com/ Between The Lines The Book: https://www.francescociccolella.com/Between-The-Lines-Artist-s-Book Where to find Frederik G. Pferdt: What's NextIs Now The Book: https://www.whatsnextisnowthebook.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fgpferdt/ In this episode, we cover: (00:00) Intro (05:45) Complexity in one image—empathy and the visual vocabulary (21:03) A Mindstate Moment with Frederik (27:30) Finding inspiration—travelling, exploring world views, new paths (29:09) Provoking emotion—The illustrator's playbook Music: Andreas Horchler | |||
| Enriching our lives and work with the power of storytelling | Kalle Ryan | 08 Mar 2025 | 00:59:28 | |
In today’s episode of The Future is How, I am thrilled to be joined by my friend Kalle Ryan. Kalle is an award-winning writer, poet, and founder of Poetic, a creative consultancy dedicated to crafting compelling narratives, solving communication challenges, and unlocking creativity for organizations of all sizes. Before founding Poetic, Kalle refined his storytelling and communication skills at Google and Meta. At Meta, he led internal communication strategies that connected employees globally through creative content. At Google, he drove Cloud9, EMEA's innovation hub, launching initiatives to foster employee creativity. In our conversation today, we dive into the captivating world of creativity and storytelling, covering topics such as: • What sparked Kalle’s love of storytelling • The tale of "Bringing Batman to Work" • The pivotal role creativity played in propelling Kalle’s career to new heights • Viewing the world through a creative lens • A creativity practice inspired by Pam Houston’s concept of "glimmers" • Using your creativity to live more intentionally • The essence of great storytelling: making people feel • Building human connections through stories • Kalle’s perspective on AI tools and why he remains optimistic for the future of creatives — Where to find Kalle Ryan: • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kalleryan/ • Website: https://kalleryan.com/ • Poetic: https://poetic.ie/ — Where to find Frederik Pferdt • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fgpferdt/ • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/frederikgpferdt • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frederikgpferdt/ • Website: https://www.frederikgpferdt.com/ — In this episode, we cover: (00:00) Intro (03:02) Kalle’s future bio (07:26) Our obsession with dystopian fiction and why we should be more optimistic (11:23) How Kalle fell in love with creativity and storytelling (16:33) Kalle’s story about integrating his creative self with his corporate self (22:30) Why viewing the world with a creative lens allows for greater opportunity (23:47) A creative exercise borrowing from Pam Houston’s “glimmers” (29:47) The creative practice of one word at a time stories (32:05) A moment to pause and reconnect with your creativity (35:39) The power of storytelling to live more intentionally (45:30) The role of storyteller in first nations of Australia (46:20) Storytellers today (47:40) The merits and shortcomings of AI for creativity (57:08) Closing — Music: Andreas Horchler Art Design: Stefan Schuster, Dino Hohos, Flo Dietrich Production: Jordan & Adam Bornstein | |||
| The secret to a long and happy life | Dr. Robert Waldinger (Harvard) | 24 Jan 2025 | 00:42:30 | |
In today’s episode of The Future is How, I explore the topics of relationships and happiness with Dr. Robert Waldinger. He is a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development at Massachusetts General Hospital, and co-founder of the Lifespan Research Foundation. He is also a Zen priest and co-author of the book, The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness. In our conversation today, we talk about the following topics: • The surprising finding from Dr. Waldinger’s research about connection’s impact on longevity • What social fitness is, and advice on how to practice it • Why you should try talking to a stranger and tips for getting started • Dr. Waldinger’s daily practices that promote health and happiness • Tips for building better relationships and the best way to make new friends • How to maintain connection and stay positive in our polarized world — Where to find Robert Waldinger: • X: https://x.com/robertwaldinger • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-waldinger-90012169/ • Website: https://www.robertwaldinger.com/ • Substack: https://robertwaldinger.substack.com/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertwaldingermd/ — Where to find Frederik Pferdt • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fgpferdt/ • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/frederikgpferdt • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frederikgpferdt/ • Website: https://www.frederikgpferdt.com/ — In this episode, we cover: (00:00) Intro (02:28) Dr. Waldinger’s future bio (03:47) How our connections keep us healthier and living longer (04:47) How to keep your relationships strong (08:55) A case for talking to strangers (10:52) Tips for connecting with strangers (13:20) Why you should join a group activity doing something you like (16:01) Quality vs. quantity in friendship—and the type of relationships you’re better off without (18:13) How Zen has influenced Dr. Waldinger’s idea of happiness and relationships (19:55) Dr. Waldinger’s daily practices that help him live his best life (23:04) Challenges Dr. Waldinger faces (25:10) The importance of not trying to fix everything about yourself or others (27:57) How Dr. Waldinger dealt with a colleague who gave painful feedback (32:04) A moment of presence (35:32) Ways Dr. Waldinger is sharing his mission of happiness and connection (36:57) Top ways to nurture our current relationships and happiness (40:40) Closing — Music: Andreas Horchler Art Design: Stefan Schuster, Dino Hohos, Flo Dietrich Production: Jordan & Adam Bornstein | |||
| Be the Prompt: How AI Can Power the Future of Ideas | Jeremy Utley | 22 Sep 2025 | 00:49:59 | |
What happens when AI meets human creativity? In this episode, Frederik sits down with Jeremy Utley—adjunct professor at Stanford University, co-author of Ideaflow: The Only Business Metric That Matters, Thinkers50 Top Innovation Leader, host of Paint & Pipette: The Art & Science of Innovation, and co-host of Beyond the Prompt. Jeremy has taught nearly a million students worldwide, advises CEOs and startup founders, and is currently researching how individuals and organizations can accelerate their comfort and confidence in leveraging generative AI. Together, Frederik and Jeremy explore how AI can amplify—not replace—our creative capacities. They discuss why voice matters in AI interactions, how words shape agency, and why humans must take the role of initiator when engaging with AI. The conversation ranges from practical ideation exercises to the deeper implications of AI on identity, creativity, and education—always with the reminder that AI is a collaborator, not a substitute.
Original music by Andreas Horchler | |||
| The Future Is How We Eat | Dalad Kambhu on Food, Creativity & Connection | 03 Oct 2025 | 00:36:03 | |
What if every meal could shape the future? In this episode of The Future Is HOW, I sit down with Michelin-starred chef Dalad Kambhu — a culinary trailblazer who has redefined Thai cuisine in Berlin. Born in Texas, raised in Bangkok, and shaped by New York’s creative energy, Dalad’s journey shows us that food is never just food. It’s imagination. It’s connection. It’s gratitude. Together, we explore how cooking can become a classroom for empathy, how rituals around the table can transform relationships, and why sustainability isn’t a trend in Thai cuisine — it’s a tradition. Dalad shares her vision of a future where food nourishes not only our bodies, but also our communities and our spirit. In this conversation, you’ll discover:
This episode isn’t just about what’s on your plate — it’s about how every bite can be an act of future-making. Where to find Dalad Kambhu: https://www.instagram.com/daladk/?hl=en https://www.vogue.com/article/kin-dee-restaurant-berlin Where to find Frederik G. Pferdt: Website: https://www.frederikgpferdt.com/ What's NextIs Now The Book: https://www.whatsnextisnowthebook.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fgpferdt/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/frederikgpferdt Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frederikgpferdt/ In this episode, we cover: (00:00) Intro (10:36) Dalad's future bio: Paving the way for young Female, Asian, POC Chef's (12:24) Empowering Future Chefs: Starting to change collectively (17:40) Sharing practice: Don't be afraid of new tastes, go local! (30:05) A future recipe: Fresh, plentiful, available to the world Music: Andreas Horchler | |||
| The Future is How | Best of 2025 | 18 Dec 2025 | 00:57:47 | |
As 2025 comes to a close, it’s time to pause and look back. Not to summarize the year, but to harvest what truly mattered. This was a year full of futures. Full of encounters with people who don’t wait for what’s next, but actively practice it. We are living in a moment where the future often feels unclear, even heavy. And that’s why the real question is no longer what will happen next, but how do we create something better, starting now. In this special Best Of episode of The Future Is HOW, I’ve curated moments from the past year that are designed to shift how you think, feel, and act when the future feels uncertain. You’ll hear from people who practice the future in very different ways: And you’ll also hear from my wife Angela, who works with plant medicine and Reiki energy healing, reminding us that creating the future isn’t only an outward act. It begins by listening inward. This is not a podcast about predictions. Short moments. Because the future isn’t something we wait for. Welcome to the Best Of The Future Is HOW. If something resonates with you, I invite you to explore the full conversations in the individual episodes. Where to find Frederik G. Pferdt NextLetter:https://www.nextletter.frederikgpferdt.com Book: whatsnextisnowthebook.com LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram | frederikgpferdt.com Music: Andreas Horchler | |||
| How to improve your sleep to boost productivity, cognition, creativity, and mood | Dr. Els van der Helm | 10 Jan 2025 | 00:58:29 | |
In this exciting episode of The Future is How, I am joined by Dr. Els van der Helm, a leading sleep neuroscientist and adjunct professor at IE Business School. Dr. Els is a trusted advisor to CEOs and organizations worldwide, helping them unlock better performance through improved sleep and well-being. In our conversation today, we do a deep dive into the science of sleep and its transformative effects on your life and work and discuss the following topics: • Why skipping sleep won’t boost productivity • Quality vs. quantity: What matters most • How aging impacts your sleep • Two strategies to break the sleep deprivation-stress cycle • How to use gratitude to fall asleep faster • Why your late-night brain might mislead you • Morning routines that set the stage for a good night’s sleep • Evening wind-down tips • And much more! — Where to find Dr. Els van der Helm: • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elsvanderhelm/ • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drelsvanderhelm/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elsvanderhelmconsulting/ • Website: https://www.elsvanderhelm.com/ — Where to find Frederik Pferdt • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fgpferdt/ • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/frederikgpferdt • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frederikgpferdt/ • Website: https://www.frederikgpferdt.com/ — In this episode, we cover: (00:00) Intro (03:40) Els’s next five years (05:10) Why we aren’t sleeping enough and the importance of quality work over quantity (10:30) The value of power naps and which areas suffer from inadequate sleep and rest (15:00) The myth of too much sleep and an explanation of sleep debt (17:50) How aging impacts sleep and what to do about it (23:21) How sleep helps us process emotions, and tips for managing stress (28:04) Why your brain is prone to catastrophizing late at night (30:15) The power of novelty and how sleep helps you process a problem (36:37) Practices for beginning and ending the workday (38:15) Els’s bedtime rituals (40:38) Tips for starting your day and get the most from your early waking time (45:04) Adding a social element to waking and sleeping rituals (47:00) A quick gratitude practice (51:38) How prioritizing sleep and gratitude helped Els get through a stressful time (55:27) Conclusion — Music: Andreas Horchler Art Design: Stefan Schuster, Dino Hohos, Flo Dietrich Production: Jordan & Adam Bornstein | |||
| The Future is HOW – Zukunftsgeist on the Road | 18 Apr 2025 | 00:37:09 | |
“Zukunftsgeist”—or Future Spirit—is not only the German title of Frederik’s book What’s Next Is Now. It became a living, breathing movement during his Zukunftsgeist Tour across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. But this wasn’t your typical book tour. Instead of classical readings, Frederik invited people into a shared experience—to ignite their own future spirit. And it worked. The response was overwhelming: after each event, participants didn’t just ask for a signature—they leaned in, saying things like “I’m starting my future right now.” “I didn’t expect a book event to move me this deeply. It wasn’t just inspiring—it felt like a wake-up call from my future self.” “For the first time in a long time, I feel like I have permission to imagine a radically better future—and the tools to start today.” From intimate conversations to standing ovations, people across three countries wanted more than inspiration—they wanted transformation. And in this special episode of The Future is HOW, Frederik himself steps into the guest seat to share the stories, surprises, and soulful moments from this extraordinary journey. He’s interviewed by Andreas Horchler, the journalist, music composer behind the podcast theme, and producer of this very show. Recorded live in Frankfurt, they reflect on the power of presence, possibility, and what happens when optimism becomes contagious. In this episode:
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| Becoming Future You | Suzy Welch | 17 Oct 2025 | 00:29:54 | |
The Future Is HOW with Suzy Welch. Suzy is a bestselling author, journalist, and educator — and one of the most authentic voices when it comes to leadership and purpose today. Most people spend their lives searching for their purpose. In this episode, Frederik and Suzy explore the concept of purpose — and how it shows up in real life and leadership.
Where to find Suzy Welch: 🌐 suzywelch.com Where to find Frederik G. Pferdt: 📰 NextLetter — your Friday practice for shaping what’s next 🎵 Music by Andreas Horchler (00:00) Intro | |||
| How inspiration shapes our lives and drives our decisions | Adam Galinsky | 22 Mar 2025 | 00:47:32 | |
Inspiration is more than a feeling. Its´ an active force that fuels creativity, leadership and change. Today, Adam Galinsky joins me. Adam is an expert in Leadership, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Adam is a Professor of Leadership and Ethics at the Columbia Business School. Among his many publications, he co-authored "Friend and Foe", a book exploring the science behin collaboration and competition. His latest book is "Inspire-The Universal Path for Leading Yourself and Others". Here, Adam explores the science of inspiration, how to find it, to develop it, and to use it. In this episode, we talk about the origins and the power of inspiration. •The spark of inspiration-becoming more inspiring •Inspiration at the crossroads of creativity and usefulness •Inspiration? Listen to your children •Inspired travel •Wood and water: Natural inspiration •Variety helps •Different people, different times, different needs •Inspiration today, boredom tomorrow? •The Copenhagen lesson: Improvisation and embracing vulnerability •The mindstate moment by the ocean •The universal continuum: Vision Example Mentoring •The big picture energy: optimism counts •Inspiration is daily work •REIP: Reflect Emulate Intend Practice to become a more inspiring person tomorrow •Too much clam chowder? The power in making things more scarce •You can make things better: Look out for possibilities
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| Be More Pirate, Build the Future | Sam Conniff | 31 Oct 2025 | 00:53:14 | |
Today on The Future is HOW, Frederik sits down with Sam Conniff – bestselling author of Be More Pirate, social entrepreneur, and creator of Uncertainty Experts, the world’s first science-based immersive program designed to help people navigate change with courage and creativity. In this conversation, Frederik and Sam explore what it truly means to live and lead in uncertain times. They uncover how breaking rules can be an act of purpose, why discomfort is the birthplace of creativity, and how rewriting the stories we tell ourselves can unlock deeper connection and meaning. Sam shares his personal experiments around masculinity, courage, and vulnerability, revealing why the most radical thing we can do right now might be to stay open when everything feels unknown. Frederik connects this to the Future Ready Mindstate, showing how curiosity and courage can transform uncertainty into a creative force. By the end of the episode, you’ll see that uncertainty isn’t something to survive — it’s something to use. In This Episode:
Chapters 00:00 Intro Where to Find Sam Conniff: Website: samconniff.com Where to Find Frederik G. Pferdt | |||
| How Words Whisper Into Our Tomorrow | Matt Abrahams | 02 May 2025 | 00:48:43 | |
In today’s episode of The Future is How, I explore the power of communication with Matt Abrahams—author, podcast host, communication coach, and lecturer in Strategic Communication at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business. In our conversation today, we talk about the following topics: — — • What's Next Is Now The Book: https://www.whatsnextisnowthebook.com • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fgpferdt/ — — | |||
| The Future Belongs to the Ones Who Try | Fynn Kliemann on Courage, AI & Creating Without Permission | 20 Feb 2026 | 01:02:52 | |
The Future Is How with Fynn Kliemann. In this episode of The Future Is HOW, Frederik G. Pferdt speaks with Fynn Kliemann about courage, AI, entrepreneurship, and creating without permission. Fynn shares the one thing he plans to do with his mother that he’s never done before, the project he’s secretly building that no one has seen yet, and why he recently stopped something that he was really good at. A deeply personal and human conversation about risk, reinvention, money, meaning, and why the future belongs to the ones who try.00:00 Herzlich Willkommen, Fynn Kliemann!02:39 Krasser als Jakobsweg!04:42 Ich hab das Gefühl, ich kann ein ansteckendes Abenteuer für meine Family starten05:37 Ich hab das Gefühl, alleine sein ergibt schon voll Sinn.09:35 Fynns Reise in die Zukunft - 203511:05 Fynns fragwürdigstes Projekt der Gegenwart13:40 Parallelen zwischen Fynn und Momo15:06 Fynn darüber, ob er Kunstwerk oder Bauprojekt ist.17:12 Fynn zwischen erster Idee und dem Moment "Das mach ich jetzt einfach!"18:55 Bauamt - als würd ich mir Betonschuhe gießen20:49 AI & Technologien - alles kleine Raketenschuhe23:59 Was Innovation mit Revolution zu tun hat?!26:32 Wenn Fynn, meine Liebsten und ich im Kliemannsland los tigern28:28 Was ist denn da noch, wenn Roboter unsere Welt übernehmen?!32:15 Was passiert, wenn Geld (k)eine Rolle spielt34:30 Ich hab das Gefühl DAS ist das Ziel meines Lebens!37:24 Der einzige Weg, Menschen zu überzeugen, ist etwas zu bieten, was Freude bringt41:17 Musik vermarkten macht mir 0 Bock43:01 Wie Frederik entscheidet, ob er gerade richtig unterwegs ist?46:06 Fynn fordert Frederik auf, seine Zukunftsvision zu teilen48:59 Klappe halten oder ausprobieren - was führt eher zu Erfüllung?50:49 Die geilsten Dinge - Fynns einfache Formel52:08 Frederiks Einladung an Fynn - 10 Tage Schweigereise53:59 Wie sich Frederik beim Meditieren kurz vor dem Übergriff sah57:06 Woran Fynn gerade baut, was noch niemand sehen darf57:38 Womit Fynn zuletzt aufgehört hat, obwohl es super lief58:05 Das größte Kompliment, das Fynn je bekommen hat59:28 Welche Zukunftsfähigkeiten wir komplett unterschätzen01:00:22 Welche Dinge Menschen zukünftig wieder mehr selber machen können01:01:29 Welche Haltung Fynn vermitteln möchte01:01:56 DANKE und wir sehen uns in der Zukunft, Fynn!Subscribe for more conversations about AI, entrepreneurship, innovation, creativity & courage.📩 Join the NextLetter: https://nextletter.frederikgpferdt.com/📘 Frederik’s Book “What’s Next Is Now”: https://whatsnextisnowthebook.com/🎵 Follow Fynn Kliemann: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2YIxQoGvBukvoC1CbJ7opSYouTube: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fimbim/Kliemannsland: https://www.youtube.com/Kliemannsland🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts: https://www.podpage.com/the-future-is-how/ | |||
| How Money Trains Us Every Day. Greed, Desire, Fear, Love and the Future of Wealth | Markus Koch | 06 Feb 2026 | 00:59:27 | |
Episode Summary Money is not just something we earn, spend, or invest.It is something that trains us every day. In this episode of The Future Is HOW, Frederik G. Pferdt sits down with Markus Koch, widely known as the face of Wall Street, live from New York. What unfolds is not a conversation about markets or forecasts, but about how money shapes our inner world. Together, they explore how our relationship with money influences fear, freedom, trust, happiness, and the choices we make about our future. They talk about personal journeys, the role of improvisation in life and finance, and why community and trust matter more than ever in a world shaped by AI and constant change. Markus shares stories from his own life, including formative experiences in Africa, how fatherhood changed his priorities, and why he intentionally puts himself into situations where he is not good yet, from jazz to artificial intelligence. Not to master them, but to stay open. This episode invites a shift in perspective:from asking “How much can I accumulate?”to asking “How do I want to relate to money as I create my future?” Because the future is not what happens to us. The future is how we live, decide, and relate.
AI will change how we interact with money, but not why it matters. Gratitude and reflection create clarity in a noisy financial world. Chapters 00:00 Welcome Markus Koch – live from New York 02:45 Who Markus Koch wants to be in the future 05:10 Where his sense of contentment comes from 07:28 What money really does to us as humans 08:46 What money can and cannot give us 10:27 Money in an entrepreneurial context 12:14 Out of Africa – experiences that shaped Markus 14:58 Where he draws strength and energy from 16:11 When money once meant something very different 18:33 Markus as a father, at home and in life 19:59 What matters more: money or happiness? 23:01 A future-ready relationship with money 25:56 The biggest fears Markus sees in people today 32:11 What it truly means to have “enough” 34:30 Finding calm and clarity around finances 36:33 Why Markus seeks out things he’s bad at – jazz, AI, learning 38:32 “I won’t be here anymore” – AI and impermanence 41:18 Why people stay in familiar but unhappy situations 46:48 “Machen, einfach machen” Socks, gifts, and what they reveal about American culture 51:07 Frederik’s gratitude ritual while traveling 52:04 Markus on community, trust, and the future 57:26 Will money become less important in the future? 58:00 Markus Koch’s wish for what comes next
Explore Frederik G. Pferdt and The Future Is HOW — reflections, practices, and conversations on creating what’s next: | |||
| How Art Regulates the Brain When the World Feels Overwhelming | Ivy Ross | 23 Jan 2026 | 00:51:18 | |
The Future Is HOW with Ivy Ross How Art Regulates the Brain When the World Feels Overwhelming | Ivy Ross In this episode, Frederik Pferdt sits down with Ivy Ross, Vice President of Design for Hardware Products at Google and co-author of Your Brain on Art, for a quiet, deeply human conversation about art, design, neuroscience, and what it really takes to build a future that still feels alive. While most conversations about the future focus on speed, technology, and efficiency, this one moves in the opposite direction. Together, Frederik and Ivy explore why art is not decoration, but infrastructure for our nervous system, our empathy, and our ability to imagine what comes next without hardening. Drawing on their shared history from the early days of Google Glass, Ivy reflects on designing for feeling, not just function, and why everything matters in design: texture, color, sound, space, and intention. This episode is an invitation to slow down, reconnect with your senses, and remember that the future is not something we plan. It’s something we feel our way into. In this conversation, you’ll explore
Timestamps & key moments 00:00 Welcome 03:34 What Ivy wants to make people feel or remember 04:15 What Ivy doesn't want to be remembered for 05:21 The top 3 things that stood out in Ivy's life so far 09:43 The impact of arts and neuroscience on designing products 14:38 The first time the public experienced neuroaesthetics live 21:45 A mindstate moment with Ivy and YOU 23:45 Why arts in moments of uncertainty or trauma 27:22 We're designed to express ourselves not for outcome 30:29 What Frederik sent Ivy and why creativity has to be everything but not perfect 31:57 If leaders understood art, what would workplaces look like? 35:02 How painting helps you being successful in life 39:22 How art changes in the age of AI 41:17 "Lightning round" with Ivy 43:02 What Ivy had to unlearn about arts 45:12 How to practice your future with art this week | |||
| The Future Sounds Within | Tyler Winick (Tahüm) | 22 Aug 2025 | 01:01:39 | |
Today on the show: Tyler Winick, is an explorer of self, a facilitator of deep inner work, and the creative force behind Tahüm, where his music guides people into presence and discovery. He’s also the co-creator of Garden of True Self, a framework for reconnecting to our truth and protecting our energy. As an artist and musician, he has just recently, hit his first million streams. In this episode, we explore the profound impact of music as a universal language that transcends borders and cultures. Discover how melodies and rhythms have the power to transform lives, foster connections, and inspire change. Join us as we delve into stories of personal and societal transformation through the universal language of music. Tune in to be moved and inspired by the transformative power of sound. Today, we talk about: Inner Work as a Path to future Freedom The Power of Music and Creativity The Garden of True Self Breathwork and Energy The Role of Intent and Empathy Where to find Tyler Winick: Where to find Frederik G. Pferdt: What's NextIs Now The Book: https://www.whatsnextisnowthebook.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fgpferdt/ In this episode, we cover: (00:00) Intro (07:55) Origins & Inner Work (10:55) Out in the desert: The calling of Burning Man (23:30) Stage fright and antidodes (33:33) Energy Ceiling: A Daily Practice (53:50) Quick Questions - Visual Creativity from Scratch (59:14) One Seed to Plant: Get better at Feeling Music: Andreas Horchler & Tahüm | |||
| The Future is HOW – Best Of: HOW to Grow Your Future | 11 Jul 2025 | 00:48:42 | |
Today in The Future Is How: Frederik's Summer Best-of Special: "Growing Your Future" Welcome to a very special summer edition of The Future is How. Frederik wants to take you on a walk through a different kind of garden. This garden has rich soil made of powerful questions, strong trellises of trust, flowing channels of communication, and restorative greenhouses of rest. But it's also alive with the buzz of cross-pollinating bees, nourished by both sunshine and rain, enriched by compost that transforms challenges into growth, and tended by a community that understands how every element supports the whole. Over this past season of conversations, Frederik had the privilege of speaking with remarkable gardeners of the future - people who've mastered different aspects of this living ecosystem. Today, he shares their wisdom as we explore eleven essential elements in this garden of possibility. Today, we talk about: Welcome to the Garden - one small thing that could grow into something bigger The Soil of Questions - the richest soil is made up of the questions we ask The Trust Trellis - some plants need support to reach their full potential. In our garden, trust serves as the strongest trellis of all. The Communication Channels - the irrigation system that nourishes everything we're trying to grow. The Storytelling Sunshine - compelling narratives don't just entertain - they transform how we see ourselves and our possibilities. The Rest and Recovery Greenhouse - sleep and rest aren't empty spaces - they're specialized greenhouses where our most important growth actually happens. The Wellness Ecosystem - A thriving garden (and humans)requires attention to the health of the entire ecosystem. The Compost of Transformation - Personal transformation often requires composting old patterns to create rich soil for new growth. The Cross-Pollination Bees - cross-pollination between future thinking and design creates innovations we never could have imagined. The Connection Root Network - human connections create the invisible networks where our best futures can flourish. The Innovation & Inspiration Blooms – inspiration, an active force that transforms individuals and communities. The Beautiful Purpose That Blooms - beauty as the naturalexpression of purpose lived with intention. In this episode, we cover: Intro (03:14) The Soil of Questions The next big disruption will not be technological, but psychological." - MarcChampagne (06:47) The Trust Trellis "Kids are not luggage — they are human beings. The next generation doesn't need more control, they need more trust." - Esther Wojcicki (10:31) The Communication Channels "It's about connection, not perfection." - Matt Abrahams (14:13) The Storytelling Sunshine "Great storytelling is about making people feel." - Kalle Ryan (17:45) The Rest and Recovery Greenhouse "Quality vs. quantity: What matters most for unlocking better performance." - Dr. Els van der Helm (21:32) The Wellness Ecosystem "Destigmatizing mental health struggles through openness creates safety and trust." - Newton Cheng (25:25) The Compost of Transformation "Home is where I grow." - Angela Pferdt (29:22) The Cross-Pollination Bees "We need to develop a 'futurist' mindset and use our imagination to shape a better world." - Lisa Kay Solomon (32:53) The Connection Root Network "The surprising finding: connection's impact on longevity is stronger than almost any other factor." - Dr. Robert Waldinger (36:30) The Innovation & Inspiration Blooms "Inspiration is more than a feeling. It's an active force that fuels creativity, leadership and change." - Adam Galinsky (40:07) The Beautiful Purpose That Blooms "The future belongs to those who can create beauty in business and meaning in work." - Tim Leberecht (44:58) Your Future is HOW “HOW will you nourish your garden today? HOW will you plant seeds for tomorrow? HOW will you shape the future you want to see?” – Frederik Pferdt
Music: Andreas Horchler | |||
| The Power of Vulnerability: How Owning Your Mental Health Creates Strength | Newton Cheng (Google) | 21 Feb 2025 | 00:36:29 | |
In today’s episode of The Future is How, I sit down with my friend and former colleague, Newton Cheng, the Director of Health and Performance at Google. Newton is passionate about guiding leaders through skillful conversations on mental health—a topic he's deeply familiar with. After experiencing burnout, Newton took a mental health leave from his role at Google. Upon his return, he openly shared his journey instead of concealing it behind the term "sabbatical." In our discussion, we explore the significance of embracing vulnerability in the workplace and delve into key topics such as: • Destigmatizing mental health struggles through openness • Expressing vulnerability in a way that fosters safety and trust • Why finding balance in your life isn’t always what feels good • A mind state moment aimed at improving by 1% • Newton’s morning routines, including non-judgmental reflection and writing morning pages • And more! — Where to find Newton Cheng: • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/newtoncheng/ • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/newtoncheng/ • Website: https://www.newtoncheng.com/ — Where to find Frederik Pferdt • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fgpferdt/ • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/frederikgpferdt • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frederikgpferdt/ • Website: https://www.frederikgpferdt.com/ — In this episode, we cover: (00:00) Intro (03:00) Newton’s future bio (04:46) The importance of vulnerability in leadership (06:42) How Newton’s mental health leave inspired his vulnerable leadership movement (10:25) The profound impact of Newton’s mental health leave story on three groups (15:26) An explanation of Ikigai, how it shaped Newton’s work, and continues to evolve (21:05) How Newton takes care of his mental health (25:10) Mind state moment (29:01) Newton’s morning practices (33:10) Making vs. managing — Music: Andreas Horchler Art Design: Stefan Schuster, Dino Hohos, Flo Dietrich Production: Jordan & Adam Bornstein | |||
| How Asking Better Questions Unlocks Your Future | Marc Champagne | 16 May 2025 | 00:44:55 | |
In today’s episode of The Future is How, questions take center stage. Questions shape our futures much more than we believe in everyday life. Marc Champagne, author of “Personal Socrates” and podcast host of “Behind the Human” is a pioneer in mental fitness, who explores the practices of brilliant thinkers, visionaries, and high-impact performers. He trained thousands of professionals to gain clarity in momentsthat matter. The next big disruption, Marc believes, will not be technological, but psychological. In our conversation today, we talk about: Where to find Marc Champagne: Where to find Frederik G. Pferdt: What's Next Is Now The Book: https://www.whatsnextisnowthebook.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fgpferdt/ In this episode, we cover: (41:30) Starting the day on your terms: Breathe Music: Andreas Horchler | |||
| The Mirror We Built | Dr. Léa Steinacker on Presence, Attention & What AI Reveals About Us | 20 Mar 2026 | 00:57:44 | |
At a glance In this episode of The Future Is HOW, I sit down with Dr. Léa Steinacker — social scientist, bestselling author, and co-founder of ada Learning. Léa opens with a surprising observation: the moments technology makes her feel most human are not the moments of wonder — they are the moments of frustration. And from there, the conversation goes somewhere unexpected. We talk about running along Lake Zurich at sunrise, listening to birds instead of podcasts, and why she once spent an entire hour eating a single raisin. We explore AI as a mirror — not just for our thinking, but for our deepest tendencies: our hunger for confirmation, our preference for frictionless relationships, and what Esther Perel calls "artificial intimacy." And we talk about centaur skills — the rare ability to know when to let the machine run and when to bring the human back in. Not as a technical skill. As a way of living. The future Léa imagines is more inefficient, on purpose. More alive. A conversation about what it means to dare to pay attention — to another person, to yourself. Chapters 00:00 Welcome, Léa Steinacker! 01:37 A moment when technology made me feel deeply human 05:08 Morning rituals: How my connection to nature brings me to myself 11:49 AI as a mirror: Reflecting human behavior 16:59 The future of relationships with AI 17:55 Why Esther Perel called Frederik a non-futurist 21:27 Imagining humanoid robots and emotional connections 32:06 The power of eye contact 36:09 Centaur skills for the future 43:10 What I'd do while my AI is working for me 46:34 Why I ever wanted to be inefficient 50:03 I was eating a raisin for one hour. 53:44 Fast Future Round — final questions and answers Where to Find Frederik G. Pferdt NextLetter: https://www.nextletter.frederikgpferdt.com Book: whatsnextisnowthebook.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fgpferdt YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/frederikgpferdt Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frederikgpferdt Website: https://www.frederikgpferdt.com Make the test: https://awareness.frederikgpferdt.com Where to Find Léa Steinacker Website: https://www.leasteinacker.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr... ada Learning: https://www.ada-learning.com Books – Alles überall auf einmal (co-authored with Prof. Dr. Miriam Meckel, 2024): https://www.amazon.de/Alles-üb... Music: Andreas Horchler | |||
| Loved, But Not Feeling It | Sonja Lyubomirsky on Connection, Vulnerability & What Makes Us Happy | 12 Jun 2026 | 00:39:26 | |
Sonja Lyubomirsky is a Distinguished Professor of Psychology at UC Riverside and the author of The How of Happiness, The Myths of Happiness, and her new book How to Feel Loved (with Harry Reis). Her work has reached readers in 39 countries. In this conversation she shares the five mindsets that help us feel more loved, why being known matters more than being impressive, the vulnerability paradox, what her research says about control and the future, and her own daily practice of presence and radical curiosity. This is a future built from within: less about better tools, more about the human capacity to connect. It is the Future-ready Mindstate turned toward the most personal question of all - how we love and let ourselves be loved.
02:33 Welcome - and how Frederik and Sonja met in Copenhagen 03:27 Waking up happy and loved: morning anxiety and the "magic potion" of a friend 04:50 What Sonja was most wrong about early on: social comparison 06:23 Social media and the comparison trap 07:56 What to do about it: "Excessive self-focus is the door to all misery" 11:06 Being genuinely happy for others 12:09 From happiness to love: why feeling loved is the key 13:47 Loved vs. feeling loved, and why the answer is to be known 19:42 The vulnerability paradox (and JFK after the Bay of Pigs) 21:58 Our relationship with the future: expectations and losing a future 24:07 The sailing story: handing over the wheel and the power of control 27:11 Self-love: the open-heart mindset and treating yourself like a kind friend 29:21 Sonja's own rituals: deep intimacy, presence, curiosity 31:20 On boredom and going beyond the words 33:49 The nature of love (Fast Future Round) 36:49 The smallest first move you can make today Sonja's Website: https://sonjalyubomirsky.com/ Sonja's New Book: https://howtofeelloved.com/ Sonja at UCR: https://profiles.ucr.edu/app/home/profile/sonja The Future Is How: https://www.frederikgpferdt.com/#podcast Online Courses: https://www.frederikgpferdt.com/course 1:1 Coaching: https://www.frederikgpferdt.com/coaching Books: https://www.frederikgpferdt.com/book Awareness Test: https://awareness.frederikgpferdt.com/ Ask Frederik: https://www.frederikgpferdt.com/ask-frederik Contact: https://www.frederikgpferdt.com/contact | |||
| The Mind on Fire | OpenAI's Brice Challamel on Stewardship, Questions & What AI Asks of Us | 29 May 2026 | 00:42:44 | |
What's left of us when AI can generate the idea, write the memo, and build the prototype faster than we ever could? Brice Challamel, Head of AI Strategy and Adoption at OpenAI offers a surprising answer: we become stewards of our own intent. In this episode he shares why he doesn't ask AI for answers in the morning but for questions, how a movie-night app turned into a love letter to his family, why he has actually cried during AI conversations - and what makes us irreplaceably human. Chapters
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| What If Everything Works Out? How to Turn Up your Inside Volume | Dushka Zapata + Dan Roam | 16 May 2026 | 00:54:19 | |
Dushka Zapata has written 17 books and is one of the most-read writers on Quora. Dan Roam wrote "The Back of the Napkin" and has taught Google, Microsoft, and the U.S. Navy how to think with pictures. For the first time on this show, I have two guests at the same mic - recorded inside my geodesic dome, words on one side, pictures on the other. Together we explore why imagining your future too clearly is actually a form of anxiety, why the fear of drawing is really the fear of your own future, and the practice that helped my 10-year-old draw a horse in under two minutes. Dan also shares a brand-new idea, born live in this conversation: the Palace of the Present Moment. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by the future, this one is for you. Chapters 00:00 - First time in the dome, first time with two guests 03:15 - How Dan helped my daughter Josefina draw a horse in under two minutes 05:42 - The fear of drawing is the fear of your own future 11:27 - Dushka's antidote to overwhelm (and the Einstein quote you'll steal) 14:00 - Why half of your brain is built for visual thinking 17:17 - Generative AI and why you should draw first, prompt later 20:00 - "Claude is mad at me" - why AI is just a mirror 24:00 - Patience as a minor form of despair disguised as a virtue 26:48 - The annoying bell and the power of the pause 30:00 - The Zen master, the trash over the fence, and a better way to react 32:11 - Drawing your future self 39:09 - Anxiety is too much future 41:00 - What if everything works out? 50:30 - Find silence. Draw a circle. Repeat. Links Dushka Zapata How to Be Ferociously Happy (Book)
Links Frederik Take the Awareness Test – How future-ready is your mindstate? What's Next Is Now (Book) – Frederik's book on designing your future (HarperCollins) 8-Day Foundation Course – Build your future-ready mindstate Ask Frederik – AI trained on 20 years of Frederik's work NEXTletter – One question, two perspectives, one experiment (bi-weekly, free) Live Events 2026 – See Frederik speak live The Future Is How Podcast – New episodes every two weeks | |||
| How Connection Becomes Your Superpower | Laura Jones (CMO Instacart) | 01 May 2026 | 01:06:58 | |
In this episode, Frederik sits down with Laura Jones, CMO of Instacart, to explore how connection isn't just a strategy, but a way of leading, seeing, and creating. Laura shares the moment she stood outside a trailer on Stanford's campus, placed her hand on it, and knew: "Whatever is inside here will change my life." That moment became the beginning of a career that took her to Google, Uber, and one of the most joyful Super Bowl ads of the year. | |||
| Why Fulfillment Is a Dead End - and What to Design Instead | Bill Burnett | 17 Apr 2026 | 00:54:05 | |
Bill Burnett co-wrote the number one New York Times bestseller Designing Your Life and helped over a million people figure out what to do with their lives. Now he's asking the harder question: once you're doing it, does it actually feel worth it? In this episode, Bill and I explore why fulfillment might be a dead end, how Maslow got his own pyramid wrong, and what it really takes to design a life full of meaning - not just success. We talk about wonder, community, flow, and why the most meaningful moments are already right in front of you. If you've ever wondered whether there's more to life than crossing things off your to-do list, this one is for you. Chapters 00:00 - What it means to search for meaning in life 04:11 - Was Maslow selling us something that never existed?! 08:31 - The two ways of looking at the world 09:53 - Why students are not burning down stuff anymore when protesting 12:49 - Reframing the Meaning of Life 17:40 - Where in the world are wonder and awe 27:05 - Do Communities help us avoid personal crisis and finding meaning? 29:01 - The crisis of loneliness and community building 34:32 - How you design a meaningful life in a world hostile to slowness? 41:18 - Fast Future with Bill Burnett 46:58 - Get the human part right and everything else is gonna work. Links Bill Burnett How to Live a Meaningful Life (Book) Designing Your Life (Book) Fully Alive by Design (Newsletter) Links Frederik Take the Awareness Test — How future-ready is your mindstate? What's Next Is Now (Book) — Frederik's book on designing your future (HarperCollins) 8-Day Foundation Course — Build your future-ready mindstate in 20 min/day Ask Frederik — AI trained on 20 years of Frederik's work NEXTletter — One question, two perspectives, one experiment (bi-weekly, free) Live Events 2026 — See Frederik speak live The Future Is How Podcast — New episodes every two weeks #designingyourlife #billburnett #meaningoflife #fulfillment #maslowhierarchy #lifedesign #loneliness #communitybuilding #frederikgpferdt | |||
| Luck Is a Skill - Here's How to Build It | Dr. Tina Seelig | 03 Apr 2026 | 00:50:43 | |
Intro 02:18 Teaching Creativity: Come up with the most disgusting restaurant idea ever! 05:22 How my science book got into the cooking section of the book store 07:44 Why it is really important to distinguish fortune from luck 10:26 Between stimulus and response 11:27 Building Your Luck: The Three Pillars 14:10 Understanding Core Values and Skills 14:55 They backed me in the corner and said, are you a spy? 17:25 What is the no. 1 skill we need to grow as humans? 20:25 How to assess your risk profile 22:53 Recruiting Your Crew for Luck 26:01 The Power of Appreciation and Relationships 26:51 Cultivating Gratitude and Relationships 28:58 Resolving Conflicts and Building Trust 30:24 The Long Game of Luck 33:44 The Impact of Choices on Future Opportunities 36:15 What ANTs are and why grace and curiosity help 38:45 Curiosity and Understanding in Relationships 40:10 What I find is the best thing of working with students 41:54 What everyone can do to start building luck right away 43:24 Fast Future with Tina 45:41 Hoisting Your Sail: Daily Practices for Luck | |||