--- title: "Live Holiday Special: Futures Speed Round" podcast: "Modem Futura" episode: "Episode 11" hosts: "Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard" date: 2024-12-24 audio: https://cdn.simplecast.com/audio/018f87c3-4d42-4bc0-9d66-53873b51ec68/episodes/2f512bcb-c4ba-4b77-935d-e9a6829b6c5d/audio/ec2abd9e-2d69-481a-9bf5-12a832e7d029/default_tc.mp3?aid=rss_feed&feed=3frRI0HN mirror: https://text.futureofbeinghuman.com/modemfutura/11-live-holiday-special-futures-speed-round.html --- # Live Holiday Special: Futures Speed Round Modem Futura · Episode 11 · December 24, 2024 · 55 min · Hosts: Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard Listen: [MP3 audio](https://cdn.simplecast.com/audio/018f87c3-4d42-4bc0-9d66-53873b51ec68/episodes/2f512bcb-c4ba-4b77-935d-e9a6829b6c5d/audio/ec2abd9e-2d69-481a-9bf5-12a832e7d029/default_tc.mp3?aid=rss_feed&feed=3frRI0HN) · [Apple Podcasts](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/live-holiday-special-futures-speed-round/id1771688480?i=1000681533653&uo=4) · [Spotify (show)](https://open.spotify.com/show/3eFl4hY4t1qTCWE2Bxotrg) · [YouTube (video)](https://www.youtube.com/@ModemFutura) --- In this lively and thought-provoking episode, Sean and Andrew team up with Ed Finn, Ruth Wylie, and Bob Beard from ASU’s Center for Science and the Imagination for a rapid-fire discussion on the future of humanity. Together, they explore themes like the values that will shape our future, the role of kindness in communities, AI's potential role in governance, and how humor evolves alongside technology. The conversation delves into fascinating intersections between technology, nature, and human experience. Topics include plant communication, the Gaia hypothesis, the future of transportation and tourism, the evolution of universities, and the existential question: does the future need humanity? This engaging live discussion underscores the importance of balancing technological progress with a deeper connection to nature and community. **Links:** - [ASU Center for Science and the Imagination](https://csi.asu.edu/) - [Ed Finn](https://csi.asu.edu/people/ed-finn/) - [Ruth Wylie](https://csi.asu.edu/people/ruth-wylie/) - [Bob Beard](https://csi.asu.edu/people/bob-beard/) **Chapters** 00:00 Introduction to the Future of Being Human Initiative 02:40 Exploring Values in the Future 05:02 The Role of Kindness in Future Societies 12:50 AI, Politics, and the Future of Governance 19:23 The Future of Humor and AI 26:22 Interpreting Communication in Nature 27:38 Plant Communication and Intelligence 30:57 The Gaia Hypothesis and Planetary Awareness 33:41 Technology vs. Nature: A Double-Edged Sword 34:37 The Future of Transportation and Tourism 39:18 The Evolution of Universities in the Future 44:25 The Role of Kindness in Future Communities 48:25 Does the Future Need Us? -----Modem Futura is a production of the Future of Being Human initiative at Arizona State University. Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. To learn more about the Future of Being Human initiative and all of our other projects visit - [https://futureofbeinghuman.asu.edu](https://futureofbeinghuman.asu.edu/)Subscribe to our [YouTube Channel: @ModemFutura](https://www.youtube.com/@ModemFutura)Follow us on Instagram: [@ModemFutura](https://www.instagram.com/modemfutura/)**Host Bios:****Sean M. Leahy, PhD** - [ASU Bio](https://search.asu.edu/profile/3183014)\ Sean is an internationally recognized technologist, futurist, and educator innovating humanistic approaches to emerging technology through a Futures Studies approach. He is the Executive Director for the [Future of Being Human Initiative](https://futureofbeinghuman.asu.edu/) and Research Scientist for the [School for the Future of Innovation in Society](https://sfis.asu.edu/) and Senior Global Futures Scholar with the [Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory](https://globalfutures.asu.edu/) at [Arizona State University](http://www.asu.edu/).**Andrew Maynard, PhD** - [ASU Bio](https://search.asu.edu/profile/2670673)\ Andrew is a scientist, author, thought leader, and Professor of Advanced Technology Transitions in the ASU [School for the Future of Innovation in Society](https://sfis.asu.edu/). He is the founder of the ASU [Future of Being Human initiative](https://futureofbeinghuman.asu.edu/), Director of the ASU [Risk Innovation Nexus](https://riskinnovation.org/), and was previously Associate Dean in the ASU [College of Global Futures](https://collegeofglobalfutures.asu.edu/).----- --- *These are the show notes for this episode of Modem Futura (), a podcast hosted by Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard and part of the ASU Future of Being Human initiative (). This file is a text mirror of the episode’s show notes — not a transcript. Listen to the full episode via the links above, or watch it on YouTube ().*