The New Abnormal

This episode of 'The New Abnormal' podcast features the author, academic and consultant Nardia Haigh, who has spent nearly two decades helping people navigate uncertainty using scenario planning. She has taught hundreds of people how to apply scenario planning methods, and advised individuals and organizations across corporate, nonprofit, and public sectors. Her work has been referenced in articles published in outlets including Forbes, FastCompany, and Medium. Nardia holds a Ph.D. in Business Management from The University of Queensland, Australia, and brings a practical, real-world approach to managing uncertainty.In this episode (which coincides with the COP30 climate summit in Brazil) we therefore discuss her practical approach to consulting activity, and the insights illuminated in her writing and lecturing. 

Bulent Duagi is an executive advisor and cross-pollinator in Romania's futures ecosystem, guiding organizations through strategic challenges. He discusses the importance of staying relevant in a rapidly changing world and the impact of skill erosion on businesses. Bulent advocates for on-the-job learning over traditional training methods. He also highlights Romania's growing foresight community and its intersection with tech, while revealing insights on geopolitical confidence. His commitment to democratizing foresight shines through in his plans for accessible workshops.

This episode of The New Abnormal podcast features Jordi Serra del Pino, who is a consultant with more than 40 years experience in foresight, strategy and intelligence.As a professor, he’s participated in numerous academic programmes and currently holds several positions:Deputy Director at the Centre for Postnormal Policy & Futures Studies, Associate Professor at Blanquerna Ramon Llull University, Foresight professor at Lisa Institute, and is responsible for foresight at the Interuniversity Master’s in Intelligence Analysis. He also serves on the editorial board of Futures and World Futures Review.Jordi has consulted for private companies, government agencies and international organizations.He’s also a writer, contributing to major journals and mainstream media, and as a public speaker has given keynotes at numerous events around the world.In this episode, we discuss all of the above, along with some of the key influences on his thinking over a long and fascinating career. Jordi also outlines the imminent arrival of a dynamic new platform that he’s about to launch in the futures-consulting space…

This episode of The New Abnormal podcast features Andre Spicer, Dean and Professor at Bayes Business School, City St George's, University of London. He's an expert in the fields of organisational behaviour, leadership and corporate social responsibility, and is the founding director of ETHOS: The Centre for Responsible Enterprise at Bayes. Andre is the author of a number of successful books, has co-authored numerous reports and written columns for the Guardian, Financial Times, New Statesman, and The Conversation. However, in this episode, we mainly focus on his latest book 'The Art of Less: How to Focus on What Really Matters at Work'.In it, Andre explains how "organisational sludge" gets in the way of performance, and what can be done about it. An issue which I'm sure all listeners will recognise as something that leaves us feeling overwhelmed but underproductive.So, listen to this essential guide on how to achieve more by doing less...

This episode of The New Abnormal podcast features Dr Emma Louise Briant, an internationally recognised expert and professor of information warfare & propaganda.She helps policymakers, governments, business leaders, journalists and the public understand and respond to the challenge of contemporary online threats.Her research, testimony and solutions on the rapid evolution of surveillant propaganda and its implications for democracy were central in exposing the Cambridge Analytica scandal. Her work has informed civil society organisations, the UN, US Congress, UK Parliament, Canadian Parliament, New Zealand Parliament, and EU Parliament. Emma's books include the Routledge Handbook of the Influence Industry, Bad News for Refugees, and Propaganda & Counter-Terrorism. She also served as advisor for Emmy-nominated ‘People You May Know’, and as Senior Researcher for Oscar-shortlisted ‘The Great Hack’.She's an absolutely fascinating person, so I really enjoyed listening to Emma's perspectives, and hope you will too!

I’m honoured that the focus of this episode of ‘The New Abnormal’ podcast is Jim Dator, who’s had an extraordinary impact on futures-thinking. Indeed, I believe one would struggle to find someone else who could today be genuinely given the title of “the world’s leading futurist”. Although Jim is far too self-effacing to bestow that title on himself, it’s an accolade he thoroughly deserves.His career has been a lifelong invitation to ‘think differently about tomorrow’, with his intellectual rigor and curiosity expanding what it means to study “The Future.” Professor Emeritus and former Director of the Research Centre for Futures Studies, Dept of Political Science, at the University of Hawaii; he more or less invented futures studies during his time teaching at university in Japan in the 1960’s, before returning to the US and introducing the first course there. He’s also taught at universities in Canada, Yugoslavia, France, and Korea. And he’s the former President of the World Futures Studies Federation. For this podcast, we agreed to mainly focus on his latest book “Living Make-Belief: Thriving in a Dream Society” in which Jim illuminates his ideas about the past, present, and futures of modes of communication and social change. (And he of course mentions Rolf Jensen c/o Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies.) But we naturally also allude to his other books, articles and staggeringly wide array of intellectual viewpoints, in a podcast where, while he supplied the script, as he’s over ninety years old, Jim asked me to voice the episode on his behalf.It was incredibly kind of him to allow me to tell his story (or at least some of it) and I’m delighted that he was so pleased with the results.  And, of course, I hope you enjoy the episode as well. He really is a genius.

Series Five This episode of The New Abnormal podcast features the famous physicist and futurist Dr Joseph Voros, who helps people and organisations think about the future in serious ways through futures-orientated intelligence and strategic foresight capability-building. He’s been a professional futurist for over 25 years, initially as a practitioner of and lecturer in strategic foresight, but increasingly in the Defence and National Security context, including participation in NATO’s Strategic Foresight activities.We therefore discuss his views on issues including the various categories of futurists (with a nod to 'Synoptic Generalists'), linkage between futurists and intelligence analysts ('cousins or twins?'), why futurists are lucky that they don't have to persistently deal with counterintelligence, and a thought-leadership paper he's just presented to a gathering of officers from that sector. Joseph has a strong belief in the need for both rigorous intellectual discipline as well as practical pragmatic utility in ‘real world’ contexts, and this belief lies at the heart of his renowned approach to Futures Studies and strategic foresight. And before you ask, yes we do discuss the “Futures Cone” that he so popularised, regarding a range of ‘nested class’ futures i.e. Potential, Preposterous, Possible, Plausible, Probable, Preferable, Projected, and Predicted. Meanwhile, and indeed as what was satire becomes ever more a lived reality, Joseph stresses that one must never forget Wildcards…So, we cover all of the above, in what I hope you’ll agree is a fascinating interview. 

Series Five In this episode of The New Abnormal podcast, I interview Neil Shearing, the Group Chief Economist at Capital Economics, where he leads a world-class team of economists and oversees the firm’s global research agenda. A trusted voice in international finance, Neil is known for his clear, insightful analysis of the global economy - insights that regularly feature in the Financial Times and other major publications, as well as on TV and radio.Earlier in his career, he served as an Economic Adviser at HM Treasury, working on fiscal policy and global economics.In the interview, we discuss his new book 'The Fractured Age' in which he describes how the tectonic plates of the global order are shifting, creating new pressures that will strain long-standing financial structures. Neil explains where the world's new economic fault lines will emerge, and how disruptive they'll be...

Series FiveThis episode of The New Abnormal podcast features Gergely Nemeth, former Head of Strategic Foresight at NATO and now CEO of Hungary’s Defence Innovation Research Institute (VIKI), who reflects on a career ‘impacted by coincidence’ but marked by increasing responsibility in defence planning, policy, and foresight. Beginning as an intelligence analyst, he moved through roles in Hungary’s Ministry of Defence, NATO committees, and finally NATO’s Strategic Foresight team, where he revitalized foresight processes disrupted by COVID. A pivotal assignment in Brussels during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine gave him direct experience in international defence collaboration and NATO’s “art of the deal” diplomacy.At VIKI, Nemeth leads efforts in foresight, innovation, and strategic outreach, supporting projects such as XR-based training systems and advancing the robotization of armed forces, which he views as inevitable due to demographic, technological, and battlefield realities.A key point we discuss is the role of hope in futures thinking: Gergely believes that foresight must not only identify risks but also shape preferable futures through agency and action. Above all, he stresses the importance of intellectual honesty, institutional adaptation, and collaborative innovation as vital for building resilient defence ecosystems...

Series FiveThis episode of The New Abnormal features Lourdes Rodriguez, a Strategic Foresight Consultant with the European Commission and Co Exec Director at Teach the Future. With a background in Psychology, her work has been focused on trends research and foresight for more than 15 years, and she's therefore deeply experienced in discovering new signal of change and seeds of the future in the present.Lourdes is currently also doing a Master’s in Cyber Politics and Government, as she's interested in learning more about the impact of emerging technology in a geopolitical context, how it could affect our governments, our democracies and ultimately, our lives.You'll understand why Forbes magazine describes her as 'one of the best futurists in Spain' as she describes her past career and current activity in our conversation. So...I hope you enjoy the discussion!