Hyperscale by Briar Prestidge

After three years, dozens of episodes, and some of the most interesting conversations of my life, I am closing the chapter on my podcast series HYPERSCALE. I started the show with nothing but a cheap webcam in my office and one question I couldn’t shake: where is humanity actually heading? At the time, I couldn’t find anyone hosting that conversation the way I wanted to hear it. It was either too...

"The moon is basically grayscale. It's dark gray or light gray. There's no atmosphere, which means that the sky is completely black. There's no sunsets and sunrises. And on mars everything is very orange because the regolith is very rich in iron. The atmosphere is very thin on mars and the sunsets on mars are blue." I sat down with Phnam Bagley a few days after we met at the...

“Lots of money is being made in chronic diseases. And I have to say pharma is one of them… The food industry is another one. They make a lot of money making us sick.” Tina Woods is back on Hyperscale, and honestly, this one stuck with me. She went viral around the world after learning to DJ at 60. She’s been documenting her biological age reduction through HRT, intermittent fasting, dancing, joy,...

“AI is not your email tool. AI is your personal assistant. Each and every one of you now is a CEO of your own small company, and you have an assistant that does all the stuff for you.” On this episode of HYPERSCALE, Briar Prestidge is joined by Alaa Dalghan, a computer engineer and founder of Cognit DX, whose career has spanned smart homes, smart buildings, and smart cities. Alaa explains why most...

"We are understanding now that this code is there, amazing, but now how can I make this code behave in different ways?" On this episode of HYPERSCALE, I am joined by Dr. Federico, a physician specializing in genomics and regenerative medicine who founded one of Latin America's first direct-to-consumer genomics companies while still in medical school. Dr. Federico brings a unique pers...

“AI today is modeled on the human brain, and look how powerful it's become. You have to wonder, is AI surpassing us because it's tapping into the full potential of our neural design, while we humans are still far from realizing what we're truly capable of?” On this episode of HYPERSCALE, I am joined by Reza Hosseini Ghomi, a neuropsychiatrist specializing in dementia and brain health,...

"Those of us who learn to live with AI in a world of work where humans and machines co-exist will replace human beings who don't learn or don't want to learn." On this episode of HYPERSCALE, I sit down with Dr. Selina Neri for a powerful conversation about preparing ourselves for a rapidly evolving future. From her journey as a "woman of many lives" who pivoted from tec...

"We've been making people beautiful on the outside... but what about their internal cellular health?  When you see people who are a little bit older, you notice changes in the skin that despite what you do, you can't really change it back to where it was." On this episode of HYPERSCALE, I am joined by Dr. Jaffer Khan, Medical Director of Eon Clinic and a pioneering longevity specialist who transit...

"In microgravity, there is a very stressful environment that is placed on the body or even cells. And because of that stress, it helps us understand and study diseases at a very fast pace. And it's a really unique environment because when you remove the gravity, the cells form a 3D structure." On this episode of HYPERSCALE, I am joined by Kimberly Washington, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer...

"I am both incredibly hopeful and incredibly scared of where we're going and maybe that's always the case, maybe we've always lived at that intersection." On this episode of HYPERSCALE, I am joined by Sundar Raman for our second conversation on the show. What began as a five-hour chat weeks ago continues as we explore the intersection of technology, humanity, and hope. Sundar...

In this episode of HYPERSCALE, join Briar Prestidge and futures theorist Luke Robert Mason as they explore the question: What does it mean to be human in the age of humanoid robots and AI? They dive into the cutting-edge technologies that blur the lines between humans and machines, from microchip implants and bionic limbs to brain-computer interfaces and prosthetic envy. Luke shares his expertise...

I invited you all to share your questions with me on social media, and no topic was off-limits! So, in this special Q&A episode, you will see me discuss everything from how my entrepreneurial journey started with a worm farm in New Zealand and being a balloon-animal-making clown, to fascinating conversations about the future of humanity. I share candidly about my failures, successes, and how I...

“Every single one of us has been hacked, either directly or indirectly” says Ralph Echemendia who has spent his life on the frontlines of cybersecurity—starting as a curious 13-year-old breaking into systems to evolving into one of the world’s most renowned ethical hackers. He’s worked with Hollywood filmmakers like Oliver Stone on Snowden , advised Fortune 500 companies, and exposed vulnerabiliti...

“The future is coming at us so fast now that traditional foresight and futurism are no longer enough," explains Neil Redding, a near-futurist who analyzes how emerging technologies intersect and transform industries. Drawing from over three decades of experience in technology, philosophy, and human-computer interaction, Neil guides us through fascinating discussions about digital evolution -...

Season 3 of HYPERSCALE is here.  Join Briar Prestidge and Angela Radcliffe as they explore how technology and data are shaping the future of the next generation. From AI literacy in the classroom to the risks of deep fakes, they break down why we need to rethink how we educate the next generation. They also discuss how teaching kids about data literacy could open doors to solving real-world challe...

“I think each person should feel individually charged to think about their own data, think about their own privacy, and the implications for the people around them.” On this episode of HYPERSCALE, I am joined by Ramona Morgan, a senior associate at Barton's, where she represents operating businesses and specializes in cybersecurity, data privacy, and GDPR compliance, among other fields. Ramona...

“We have to stop valuing being busy because that's why people can't come up with new things. They don't have time to think.” On this episode of HYPERSCALE, I am joined by Lisa Bodell, an award-winning author and CEO of FutureThink, who is also known as a renowned futurist and panelist.  Join us as we explore how we can recover our agency, the difference between spending your time and i...

“Let's think about the future. Let's think about people who aren't here yet. Just because they're not here yet doesn't mean they just shouldn't have a voice or they shouldn't be factored in.” On this episode of HYPERSCALE, I am joined by Brendan McGetrick, the Creative Director of Museum of the Future who is also a writer, designer, and curator. His work has appeared in...

“But if you look at the diseases and what people are suffering with today, cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, autoimmune conditions, the health system hasn't been designed to deal with them,” Dr. Nas Al Jafari, Medical Director of DNA Health Clinic and Functional Medicine Specialist, told me on this episode of HYPERSCALE. Dr. Nas is a vocal advocate helping bring about a new revolution...

“So that's a sick care model… built around treating you when you're sick. And all the institutions and interests around that are propped up actually by chronic diseases. That's the problem. It's the whole incentive structures that are misaligned. And they're perversely against you,” said Tina Woods, the Founder and CEO of Collider Health, and the Co-Founder and CEO of Longevity...

“Ask yourself, what type of ancestor do you want to be? Look yourself in the mirror and recognize that I am part of the problem.” On this episode of HYPERSCALE, I am joined by Adah Parris, Chair of Mental Health First Aid England, and a keynote speaker, polymath, anti-disciplinary artist, tech futurist, and activist. Adah has worn many hats over the years, which has allowed her to form and share h...

“We're not going to get a Skynet. I think the James Cameron-sort of future of one all-seeing, all-knowing and essentially the existential threat that the government seems to want to paint a picture of, it's not going to happen.” On this special EMERGENCY episode of HYPERSCALE, I am joined by Professor Beth Singler and Futurist and Author Theo Priestley, who have joined me to discuss the go...

“First we make technology, then technology makes us.” On this special International Women’s Day episode of HYPERSCALE, I am joined by Biljana Markova, an eco-luxury entrepreneur, animal and social activist, and one of my dearest friends.  Above, she paraphrased the famous saying: “First we shape our tools, thereafter our tools shape us,” noting the importance of being proactive and considerate of...

“Over the years. I've really had to evolve my sense of self as an entrepreneur. Quite quickly it went from being me, myself, and I on the dining room table with the business to managing a large international team. I've had to go from saying yes to everything to no to most things. And that's perfectly okay, and you should do that. Our time is literally the greatest asset that we have.”...

“Women are two times more pessimistic about the future than men, self-identifying men. And men are 50% more disempowered, feel more frustrated, more likely that they can't do anything.” On this episode of HYPERSCALE, I am joined by Sarah DaVanzo, a Foresight Strategist and Futures Activist who boasts a remarkable 70% accuracy in quantitative data-driven futurism. Sarah has a historied career,...