FUTURE OF XYZ

Imagine a hiring process where all you have to do is put your name on a list. Where you can earn a living wage regardless of your education, disability, race, prison time, homelessness, or other traditional barriers to employment. It’s called ‘open hiring’ and Greyston Bakery- provider of brownies to Ben & Jerry’s ice cream- has been implementing it for 42 years. A positive catalyst for liftin...

How can companies ensure long-term mission alignment and drive value beyond just wealth creation for shareholders? Learn about the growing movement towards purpose trusts. An ownership model recently adopted by outerwear giant, Patagonia, this is a way for businesses to protect their values and ensure purposeful commitments endure over time. Episode 6, Season 5. ABOUT THE SERIES: Future of XYZ is...

Happy Leap Year! From cross-disciplinary design and discontinuity, to systems thinking and all that needs to be redesigned in the world – Episode 5, Season 5 dives deep into the topic of complexity. This February 29th, we are encouraged to accept what we cannot yet know and learn tools for adaptation. Tune in as our guest breaks down this fabulously complex topic for us.   ABOUT THE SERIES: Future...

ABOUT: Our guest this week runs an education nonprofit whose vast curriculum helps millions of individuals from ages 12-99+ understand more about how their food is produced, packaged, transported, sold, and ultimately consumed. The conversation addresses positive impacts on personal health, the role of technology, deforestation and ocean acidification, systems-level wellbeing, the power of informa...

This week, we hear from a woman who has spent her illustrious career in the world of money, capital, and investing. As an inaugural member of U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s Advisory Committee on Racial Equity and founder of the first Native American-owned investment bank– we gain a powerful perspective on what it means to create equitable access to growth capital and how to affect positive...

As we continue into Season 5 and a theme of the new year, we’re exploring Motivation. What it is, how one finds it and keeps it, and how it necessarily evolves in step with our individual and collective futures. Our guest this week is a motivational speaker, author, coach and tech entrepreneur who believes motivation comes from our values, our environment, or a sense of purpose. Tune in to the 2nd...

What topic is better to kick off the new year than ‘future of wellness’?! Tune in for a holistic conversation about how health, science, economics and the environment are interconnected and the impact on individuals, communities and systems. Don’t miss this fascinating 1st Episode of Season 5! ABOUT THE SERIES: Future of XYZ is a bi-weekly interview series that explores big questions about where w...

Caregiving is about taking care of others, but unpaid caregiving is a unique crisis in America. This holiday season, as we wrap up the year and end of Season 4, we connect with leadership at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island to explore what the growing lack of access to childcare, limited assistance for mental and physical disability, and outlived resources by the elderly means for individual...

From the Author of “Brave Together” and Co-Founder of BraveCore, a leadership + culture consultancy, we hear about bravery- what it is, how it can be learned, and why co-creating is the only way to a better future. With first-hand anecdotes from some of the greatest corporate leaders of the 21st century, including Apple’s Steve Jobs and Pixar’s Ed Catmull- you won’t want to miss Episode 24, Season...

This American Thanksgiving, we’re speaking with two children’s book authors about the value of stories, imagination, creativity, and exposure. From physical books to audio theater – both our guests reflect on having a unique voice that children respond to, whether that be via poetry, rhyming, entertainment, illustrations, and/or interactivity. Don’t miss Episode 23, Season 4.  ABOUT THE SERIES: Fu...

Back in 2006, world-renowned beatboxer, Doug E. Fresh teamed up with Dr. Olajide Williams, a neurologist at Columbia University to change health outcomes for New York City’s marginalized communities. Using the revolutionary force of hip hop music and culture (which celebrates 50 years this History Month), the organization they founded supports community-focused programs that improve health literac...

WOW. Do not miss this episode! From reverence for the mountain in the local Sherpa and original outdoors community, to the impact of humans continuously “pushing the ‘adventure’ envelope” – this is a powerful and informative conversation with a brilliant and empathetic expert. Episode 21, Season 4. ABOUT THE SERIES: Future of XYZ is a bi-weekly interview series that explores big questions about wh...

From ADHD and Autism Spectrum to Cerebral Palsy, Down’s and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, ‘developmental disabilities’ is a large umbrella that includes conditions that typically show up in childhood and last a person’s lifetime. While health professionals today can offer far better interventions, there is still much improvement underway in terms of specific policies, actions and technologies that will...

AI may be the tech term du jour, but the team at IBM has been on the cutting edge of developing AI since the 1950s. Today, two of IBM’s business unit leaders share with us what’s happening in the world of consumer, enterprise and generative AI- including its incredibly fast adoption, nose-to-tail value chain uses, and the imperative for aligned security, governance, and Green IT. Episode 19, Seaso...

As NY Fashion Week kicks off, we speak with one of the industry's top casting directors. She’s worked with Prada, Vuitton and all the biggest brands and influencers and talks with us about the importance of building brand identity and what it takes to be successful as a model today. She also shares why fashion is ripe for disruption and why she thinks the “supermodel” is dead. Episode 18, Season 4...

Social Impact is a term bandied about across nonprofit, corporate, government, and philanthropic communities– but what is it really and how is it evolving in a fast-moving world? In this episode, we speak with a seasoned impact veteran about the importance of taking time to listen and reflect, to co-create programs with the communities they’re intended to serve, to influence policy, and advance th...

In 2022, nearly $70 billion of art was sold across markets, categories, sales channels, talent levels (and price points). But our guest this week- a life-long “art marketer” and trailblazer in online galleries- helps demystify the hype addressing the role the art gallery plays today, traditionally, and into the future despite AI and other disruptive technologies. Episode 16, Season 4. ABOUT THE SE...

A first-time co-production with The Boston Globe's Rhode Island Report, this is an in-person conversation with the CEO of North America’s largest offshore wind company, the Danish firm Ørsted. From production to pricing, floating turbines to fisherman’s rights- this is a fascinating conversation from the country’s smallest state which also happens to be home to its first, second and largest offsho...

What is empathy? How is it different than compassion? And what role does it play in bridging the divides that seem to be growing across society? Our guest is an accomplished Professor in Political Science who served as the first female and first African-American Provost at Menlo Park College. Her book “Radical Empathy” explores how we can create a better future for us all. Episode 14, Season 4. AB...

What is metabolic health? In this great conversation with a naturopathic physician specialized in metabolic health and performance, we explore the interplay between anabolic vs. catabolic functions, build vs. recovery, personalized vs. generic care, and the innovations leading us towards the future. Episode 13, Season 4. ABOUT THE SERIES: Future of XYZ is a bi-weekly interview series that explores...

Found in the country’s top restaurants and revered by food critics and amateur eaters alike, Island Creek Oysters are among the very best. How better to kick off Summer than with a conversation about these tasty bivalves- what it takes to grow them, the value of aquaculture as an industry, and how to keep up with growing demand. Episode 12, Season 4 is delicious.  ABOUT THE SERIES: Future of XYZ i...

Who better to drive a conversation about the perils & pitfalls of globalization today and introduce the myriad plans & promises of a future model than the current Managing Director of the German Marshall Fund in the US and Former US Ambassador to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation & Development? From telecom to trade, protectionism to neocolonialism – this is an important and ti...

Welcome to Episode 100!! This week, long-time tech journalist, David Kirkpatrick joins us to talk about all that’s happened since Intel introduced the world’s first microprocessor in November 1971, the changes now so quickly coming our way related to generative AI and more, and where the internet is leading humanity for good or bad... Episode 10, Season 4.  ABOUT THE SERIES: Future of XYZ is a bi-...

Responsible for transporting nearly 80% of all goods worldwide, there are more than 60,000 merchant ships in operation today. Both essential contributors to our global economy, as well as major emissions polluters – this conversation with a maritime shipping industry thought-leader whose family has been in the business for seven generations is both fascinating and far-reaching. Episode 9, Season 4...

This week’s conversation is among the most important topics that will influence our collective futures. In this eye-opening conversation with a multi award-winning social and edtech entrepreneur, we hear about the state of K12 education in the US, the impact of screens, the role of AI, and what he and his companies are doing to achieve a ‘literacy moonshot’. Episode 8. Season 4.     ABOUT THE SERI...