the future — Podcast Transcripts

In this interview, Don MacPherson is joined by Hank Greely, a specialist in the ethical, legal, and social implications of new biomedical technologies. They discuss the roles CRISPR, preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), and in vitro fertilization will have on the future of reproduction. They also discuss the ethical questions that will accompany selecting specific characteristics for implanted embryos and the possibility of creating babies with superhuman capabilities.

Season Three of the podcast is dedicated to exploring the future and how life is sure to change over the next decade. This episode provides insight into how developments in reproduction will disrupt the way we live and work.

Hank Greely specializes in the ethical, legal, and social implications of new biomedical technologies, particularly those related to neuroscience, genetics, or stem cell research. Hank is a genetics professor at the Stanford School of Medicine, the Director of the Center for Law and the Biosciences, and the Chair of the Steering Committee of the Center for Biomedical Ethics.

E32 The Future of Transportation

Transportation is about to get a whole lot faster. In this episode of 12 Geniuses, Don MacPherson speaks with aerospace engineer, rocket scientist, professor, and pilot, Dr. Anita Sengupta. Together they explore the futuristic forms of transportation that are currently being developed. From Hyperloop technology to interplanetary exploration, Dr. Sengupta explains how travel and transportation will be disrupted in the coming years. Don and Dr. Sengupta also discuss her work at NASA, and her current project at Airspace Experience Technologies (ASX) where they are designing electric vertical and takeoff aircraft as a commuter transport option in urban environments.

Season Three of the podcast is dedicated to exploring the future and how life is sure to change over the next decade. This episode provides insight into the future of transportation in order to understand how the way we commute, travel, and explore will be disrupted in the coming years.

Dr. Anita Sengupta is an aerospace engineer, rocket scientist, and pilot who for 20 years has developed technologies that have enabled the exploration of Mars, asteroids, and deep space. She is a Research Professor of Astronautics at the University of Southern California where she is conducting research on transportation technologies including electric propulsion for aviation, Hyperloop technology, and in-space propulsion systems.

leadership, the futuredon macphersonJuly 28, 2025transportation, self-driving vehicles, trends

E31 The Future of Faith

The way we find, adopt, and practice faith is changing. In this episode of 12 Geniuses, Don MacPherson speaks with writer, founder, and host of On Being, Krista Tippett. Together they dive into the way we practice faith, what it means to be human, and the dichotomy between good and evil. They also discuss how religion will animate the 21st century, including the next religious reformation, the relationship between science and religion, and the rise of the religious “nones.”

Season Three of the podcast is dedicated to exploring the future and how life is sure to change over the next decade. This episode provides insight into the future of faith in order to understand how religion, science, and society will all intersect in the coming years.

Since the mid-1990s, Krista Tippett has studied the religious, spiritual, and moral aspects of human life. Krista is a Peabody Award-winning broadcaster, a New York Times Bestselling Author, and a National Humanities Medalist. She is also the Founder and Host of On Being.

leadership, the futuredon macphersonJuly 19, 2025faith, religion, artificial intelligence, science, evolution

E30 The Future of Aging

In this interview, biologist and aging expert Dr. Steven Austad joins host Don MacPherson to discuss how and why we age, various ways to extend human life, and ethical questions that accompany a 100-year life expectancy. They also dive into medical treatments that show signs of slowing the aging process, the impossibility of immortality, and the societal changes that will occur if we all live longer.

Season Three of the podcast is dedicated to exploring the future and how life is sure to change over the next decade. This episode provides insight into the current developments in the field of aging and the impact of longer life on culture, parenthood, lifestyle, and our careers.

Dr. Austad has dedicated his career to understanding the science of how and why we age. He is a distinguished professor and Chair of the Biology Department at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He has also authored numerous books, academic papers, and articles on aging.

leadership, the futuredon macphersonJuly 18, 2025aging, immortality, life extension, aging in a pill

E29 The Future Entrepreneur

In this interview, entrepreneurial expert and best-selling author Gino Wickman joins host Don MacPherson to discuss what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur including how to tell if you are a “true entrepreneur,” how to plan for a successful career, and how to make the best decisions for your business. They also discuss common mistakes made by entrepreneurs, the entrepreneur’s identity after they sell their business, and the impact of COVID-19 on entrepreneurship.

Season Three of the podcast is dedicated to exploring the future and how life is sure to change over the next decade. This episode provides insight into how to be a successful entrepreneur in order to manifest future change for yourself, the economy, and society.

An entrepreneur since the age of 21, Gino has an obsession for learning what makes businesses thrive. Gino is the founder of Entrepreneurial Leap and EOS Worldwide. He has also authored Traction and Entrepreneurial Leap while continuing to help entrepreneurs-in-the-making thrive and succeed.

E28 The Future of Trust

Imagine a global event that rocks the world in a way that fundamentally changes how we trust each other, our governments, companies, and other institutions. That is the premise of the Trust 2030 report authored by Álvaro Marquez and his team at Method in partnership with Hitachi. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to unfold, we may be living through the very event that could so significantly alter our concepts of trust.

In this interview, Álvaro joins host Don MacPherson as they discuss Trust 2030 and its three potential scenarios for life over the next decade. They also discuss deepfakes, fake news, social media, and the appeal of outrage culture.

Season Three of the podcast is dedicated to exploring the future and how life is sure to change over the next decade. This episode provides insight into the future of trust and guidance for how to better understand that future.

A true global citizen who speaks five languages, Álvaro Marquez is Chief Design Officer at Method, where he led a team of researchers for the Trust 2030 Project in partnership with Hitachi.

E27 The Future of Leadership

In this episode of 12 Geniuses, host Don MacPherson and Dr. Robert Eichinger discuss the latest in neuroleadership and what the leaders of the future will look like. They dive into the importance of EQ, mindfulness, and how technology will change the way we approach leadership. They also discuss virtual management, developing emotional intelligence, confirmation bias, and how to build psychological safety.

Season Three of the podcast is dedicated to exploring the future and how life is sure to change over the next decade. This episode provides insight into the future of leadership and guidance for how to better understand that future.

Dr. Robert Eichinger is an expert in leadership with over five decades of experience. He is co-founder of TeamTelligent and has authored over 50 books, articles, software products, and other intellectual property around the topic of talent management and succession planning.

E26 Making Sense of the Future

Cecily Sommers is a futurist and business consultant. In this episode of 12 Geniuses, host Don MacPherson interviews Cecily as she explains her Four Forces of Change model. She shares which of those forces - energy, access to water, aging - will dominate the next decade and beyond.

Cecily goes in depth to describe how three technologies - artificial intelligence, bioengineering, and quantum mechanics - will reshape humanity. Finally, Cecily shares advice for how we can manage the incredible changes the future is sure to bring us.

Season Three of the podcast is dedicated to exploring the future and how life is sure to change over the next decade. This episode provides tools and guidance for how to better understand that future.

Cecily Sommers speaks, writes and consults on emerging trends, markets, and technologies shaping business and society. Cecily works with a wide range of Fortune 500 companies and organizations that are looking to stay ahead of the curve and become future-ready.

E25 Building the Leaders of Tomorrow

A positive role model can change a child’s life. This is a lesson Shakeel Nelson learned firsthand. With his father incarcerated for much of his youth, Shakeel grew up in a single parent household in a community with limited resources and opportunities. The lure of gangs and other dangers were present, but with guidance and a love of sports, Shakeel resisted and found his path in life.

Today, Shakeel is sharing what he has learned from his mentors and athletics with young people in his community. In early 2019, he and two other people founded the Inner City Ducks. Their mission is to provide a place where young boys (and soon young girls) can learn life lessons through the power of athletics so they are better able to reach their full human potential. Starting with 13 boys on a spring football team in May of 2019, the Ducks have grown to more than 50 children from ages 5 through 14.

Shakeel and the Inner City Ducks provide mentoring, a safe space to play and learn, discipline, and exposure to new experiences for the young people in his community. The players have participated in tournaments in Kansas City, Indianapolis, Chicago, Wisconsin, and South Dakota. Eating in restaurants, staying in hotels, and seeing new places expands their sense of what is possible in their lives and teaches them life skills they will apply in adulthood.

In this interview, Shakeel shares his personal experience growing up without a father and candidly shares the challenges he faced. Shakeel explains his inspiration for creating the Inner City Ducks and how he sees the organization and its players growing in the years to come. Shakeel also tells us about the creative ways he is introducing his kids to new experiences and teaching them life skills while developing athletes hungry for success.

At the young age of 25, Shakeel volunteers four days a week to support the youth of his community as a coach, role model, and mentor through the Inner City Ducks. Shakeel’s vision for the organization is to serve 150+ boys and girls and to provide a community center where the kids can go after school to play, study, work out, and receive mentoring.

E24 The Making of the “Miracle on Ice”

For two weeks in February of 1980, twenty young athletes determined to do the impossible, gave the United States a respite from the Cold War, the economic malaise of the 1970s, and the hostage crisis in Iran. In arguably the greatest upset in sports history, the 1980 United States Olympic Hockey Team defeated the Soviet Union and then went on to clinch the gold medal against Finland. The sports world was shocked and the “Miracle on Ice” was complete.

In this interview, Lou Nanne, a key influencer of the team, takes us back nearly 40 years and tells the story of the 1980 “Miracle” team, his involvement in securing Herb Brooks as the head coach of the Olympic team, and how the team was best prepared to face the international competition through innovative practice routines and training methods. Lou describes the nervousness and atmosphere during the game against the Soviet Union and the reactions afterwards. He also reminds us of how isolated players and fans were in Lake Placid during the Olympic Games. Social media didn’t exist, games were not televised live, and there was very little indication of what the rest of the world knew or felt about this historical run.

Lou Nanne has been a leading figure in the hockey community for decades. Lou was captain of the 1968 United States Olympic Hockey team. Later he played, coached, and served as general manager for the Minnesota North Stars. Lou is a member of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame and the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame. He has also been awarded the Lester Patrick trophy for his impact on the sport of hockey.

leadership, the futuredon macphersonJuly 5, 2025creativity, innovation, olympic games, ice hockey, preparation

E23 Nurturing Crazy Ideas That Change the World

In this interview, Safi Bahcall talks about “Loonshots” - what are they, how can we encourage them, and how they change the world. Safi dives into how good ideas are often killed by great teams and how we can develop the skills to nurture and encourage “Loonshots” in our own organizations. Safi also discusses the importance of company culture, understanding the roles of different employees, and the importance of anticipating and learning from failure.

Safi Bahcall worked for three years as a consultant for McKinsey before co-founding a biotechnology company that developed new drugs for treating cancer. Safi regularly speaks with senior executives about how to implement the ideas in his bestselling book Loonshots: How to Nurture the Crazy Ideas That Win Wars, Cure Diseases, and Transform Industries.

leadership, the futuredon macphersonJune 30, 2025creativity, innovation, failure, company culture

E22 Following a Creative Passion

After selling a software company and working in consulting, Patrick Riley took a risk and produced the film Tuscaloosa. He shares his experience during the making of the film, how he collaborated with the cast and crew, and shares hilarious stories about making the best of situations that are going all wrong. Patrick comments on the complexity of creating an accurate depiction of 1970s Alabama for a 2020 audience. Patrick offers advice for creatives and provides examples for how to nurture creativity while working in a professional career. Finally, Patrick discusses the innovations developing in the film industry and their impact on the way we consume, create, and find films.

Patrick Riley is a veteran technology entrepreneur, producer, and musician. As a technology entrepreneur, Patrick co-founded and was CEO of Modern Survey. Over the course of his career, Patrick has directed and produced dozens of music videos, documentaries, and short films.

leadership, the futuredon macphersonJune 30, 2025creativity, music, art, filmmaking

E21 The Spiritual Creative

In this interview, hip-hop artist Brother Ali explores what makes a successful artist, how to create work that speaks to others, and where creativity originates. He discusses what the touring lifestyle is like, how he grounds himself while traveling, and the importance of Islam in his life and in his creative pursuits. Ali describes his process for creating songs and albums, how he pushes himself to get out of his creative comfort zone, and the collaboration process with other artists and producers. Later in the interview, Ali dives deep into the role music and art have on informing the human experience and expression.

For two decades, Brother Ali has earned wide critical acclaim for his deeply personal, socially conscious, and inspiring brand of hip-hop. Under Rhymesayers Entertainment, he’s unleashed a series of lauded projects, establishing himself as one of the most respected independent voices in music.

leadership, the futuredon macphersonJune 30, 2025creativity, music

E20 A Concrete Innovation for Climate Change

The planet is warming at an alarming rate and Mehrdad Mahoutian may have invented one of the solutions that can help slow or stop warming temperatures. Merdad is CTO and Co-founder of Carbicrete which has developed a carbon-negative concrete manunfacturing process.

In this interview, Mehrdad, discusses how he discovered and further developed his new technology, the key aspects of making Carbicrete, and his plans for distributing the new technology in the future. He also talks about his education experience in Iran and Canada, and the failures and success along his academic journey. Finally, Mehrdad shares how carbon-negative technologies can aid in our fight against global warming.

Mehrdad Mahoutian has a Master of Science degree in structural engineering and earned a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering. While in his Ph.D. program, he developed the technology that has led to the founding of Carbicrete.

leadership, the futuredon macphersonApril 15, 2025climate change, innovation

E19 MIT, AI, & the Power of People Analytics

In this interview, Ben Waber - an innovator in the human capital space and co-founder of Humanyze, discusses the power and potential of people analytics. Ben explains the innovative uses of AI-powered behavior analytics. He describes numerous creative ways the technology can be used to make impactful decisions for organizations, the importance of ensuring employee privacy in data collection, and the need for emotional intelligence when leadership interprets the data. Ben also shares his thoughts on the future of artificial intelligence and people analytics.

Ben Waber is President and Co-Founder of Humanyze, a behavior analytics company. For over 15 years, Ben has studied, researched, and implemented new technology to better understand human behavior.

leadership, the futuredon macphersonApril 13, 2025artificial intelligence

E18 The Cleaner, Greener, Smarter Jail of the Future

In this interview, Ken Ricci makes the case for why we need humane detention facilities, the design principles critical to creating spaces for the justice system, and the concept of the three-door jail. Ken also discusses the balance between designing for safety and security versus ethical and humane conditions, the importance of understanding mental health when designing justice system facilities, and key elements to designing courtrooms for best possible outcomes.

Ken’s extensive experience has led him to work on justice architecture around the country including courthouses, jails, correctional facilities, and government buildings. Ken is the founding Principal of CGL RicciGreene, and currently serves as the Executive Vice President.

leadership, the futuredon macphersonApril 7, 2025criminal justice

E17 Solving Sexual Harassment & Bullying

Bullying and sexual harassment are real issues that plague organizations and impede performance. In the United States, 81% of women have reported being sexually harassed. When that harassment occurs at work, four out of five women who are harassed leave their jobs within two years. That’s an incredible detriment to the woman leaving and to the organization losing a talented employee.

One solution for greatly reducing sexual harassment is by building empathy. Morgan Mercer is CEO of Vantage Point. They have developed an innovative Virtual Reality training platform designed to build empathy and help companies prevent harassment and bullying. By creating immersive experiences, Morgan and her team are helping organizations resolve one of society’s greatest social issues.

In this interview, Morgan explains why we need better training for a safer workplace, the impact of #MeToo on training standards, and how to build empathy through immersive experiences. She also discusses her experience as a woman of color in the tech industry, her drive to empower others through VR, and her take on the future of VR.

Morgan and Vantage Point are based out of Los Angeles and serve clients around the world.

leadership, the futuredon macphersonApril 1, 2025virtual reality, workplace training

E16 Creating a Culture of Innovation

In this interview, innovation expert Simone Bhan Ahuja defines the role and impact of an “intrapreneur" in large organizations, the importance of creating a permissionless and safe culture for innovation to occur, and how c-suite executives need to encourage innovation at all levels. Simone also shares tips for large organizations to attract innovative talent away from start-ups and ways to build structured innovation into your organization.

For 15 years, Simone has studied emerging markets and how organizations can continue to innovate across all levels in resource-constrained environments. Simone is the author of Disrupt It Yourself and co-author of Jugaad Innovation: Think Frugal, Be Flexible, Generate Breakthrough Growth. Simone is also the Producer and Director of Indique | Big Ideas From Emerging India, a TV documentary on innovators in India.

leadership, the futuredon macphersonMarch 23, 2025innovation

E15 Innovations in Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity expert Max Heinemeyer defines the threats to our cybersecurity and explores how the cyber field is changing as more devices are tied into the Internet of Things. He also discusses how hackers have evolved, solutions for protecting yourself from cyber-attacks, and how companies can safeguard against apathetic or malicious employees. Finally, Max provides tips for how you can better protect your personal data and identity.

Max is a cybersecurity expert specializing in network monitoring and offensive security. At Darktrace, Max works with strategic customers to help them investigate and respond to threats, as well as overseeing the cybersecurity analyst team in their Cambridge headquarters in the United Kingdom. Max has extensive experience as a white hat hacker in addition to his membership to the German Chaos Computer Club.

leadership, the futuredon macphersonMarch 20, 2025

E14 The Secrets of Perfect Timing

In this interview, New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Daniel Pink discusses how to use our understanding of cognitive ability throughout the day to optimize our performance including when to conduct creative work, strategies for presenting ideas to leadership, how to schedule administrative tasks, and when to tackle complex problems. Finally, Daniel explains how to implement optimal timing in our personal lives.

Over the course of his career, Daniel Pink has written six bestselling books including Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, To Sell Is Human, A Whole New Mind, and most recently, When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing. Daniel lives in Washington, D.C. where he continues to write about business and human behavior.

leadership, the futuredon macphersonMarch 15, 2025