Lives of Tomorrow

In this episode of Lives of Tomorrow, WGSN CEO Carla Buzasi speaks to Apple Fitness+ Trainer Cory Wharton-Malcolm about running.We’ve been tracking the boom in outdoor lifestyles since 2015, and in this episode we throw the spotlight on arguably the most accessible form of exercise. We discuss the future of running, the importance of different running communities, plus how Cory motivates people globally to push themselves. Author of new book All You Need Is Rhythm and Grit, Cory works with Nike and Apple Fitness. Head out for a run and tune in to hear the renowned running guru talk about the need for speed, essential running tips and how brands can engage and sustain meaningful relationships with different running groups.

Will the robots take over? How will brands tackle sustainability? And what will become our favourite tipple in 2024? Tune in to get the answers as we discover just some of the trends WGSN is forecasting for the coming year. Join Carla Buzasi, CEO of WGSN and the host of this end-of-the-year episode with her fellow WGSN guests Andrea Bell, VP of Consumer Insights, and Lisa White, Director of Strategic Forecasting and Creative Direction. And if you’re listening to this from the comfort of a heated blanket on your chair... find out how we called it in 2022. Happy 2024 to you all!

Normally Carla Buzasi the CEO of WGSN asks the questions in the Lives of Tomorrow podcasts. But in this special end of the year episode we turn things around and put Carla in the hot seat and ask her the questions she normally asks her guests. So listen in and find out what makes her tick, what drives her in her role as CEO of WGSN and what she thinks the future of trend forecasting looks like. The host of this special episode is Akeem Nicol who normally works as Carla’s podcast producer.

Let’s be honest, trend forecasting is a really unique industry. We've been global leaders in this space for 25 years, and because it’s our birthday, we’re making some noise about it.We compile and analyse information for brands to use to help them make informed decisions about the future of their business and the products they should create, whatever the industry. Today we talk fashion. WGSN CEO Carla Buzasi unpicks the seams to find out about the fashion industry, and the role that trend forecasting plays. To celebrate 25 years of working with brands across the globe, we speak to Sally Joyce, Trend Design Lead at British multinational retailer Marks & Spencer. Who better to take stock of trend forecasting with us at 25 years than one of our first ever clients who has shared the journey and continues to work with us today.Sally tells Carla what clients will want from WGSN in coming years, why the role of the trend forecaster has to evolve, and the science behind how trends are created. We also hear from Sally what it feels like to set trend directions for a global company. Press play and join the party!

In this episode of Lives of Tomorrow, Dor Skuler, CEO and co-founder of Intuition Robotics, joins WGSN CEO Carla Buzasi to discuss the future of aged care, and how AI can play a part.How much do we think about care for the elderly, and what questions are we asking about how we will care for the elderly in the future? To address this social issue, Dor’s company launched award-winning proactive social robot ElliQ. The AI tech robot focuses exclusively on older adults who are living alone, and acts as a companion to offer support and connection.Dor is serial entrepreneur who has co-founded five ventures – the most recent being IntuitionRobotics. The company is driven by his passion to develop AI robotics that can address major social issues of the 21st century, such as loneliness. In addition to discussing the value of AI in aged care, he also discusses the ethics of the technology in this episode.

Do we respond best to managers or leaders, and what is the difference?CEO of WGSN, Carla Buzasi, talks about the future of management with Sarah Moore, UK head of workforce at PwC – one of the Big Four accounting firms. Sarah explains what it means to be a manager, the fine line between leading and managing, plus what the future holds for management.In this episode, Carla and Sarah broach a number of topics, including the approach to hiring managers and different manager styles; for example, micro versus macro. Sarah talks about her work with hybrid employees, creating connections in the workplace, and reflects on some of the challenges and positives of evolving working environments.Carla picks Sarah’s brain about placing value on non-management roles and how you can still climb the career ladder without going for managerial positions. Sarah goes into detail about different generations’ approaches to management, a shift in attitudes towards career progression, and work-life balance.Plus, find out how Sarah went from am-dram to leading hundreds of colleagues at PwC, one of the leading firms in the country.

In this episode we explore how systems found in nature can futureproof our lives. WGSN Consumer Tech Editor Matt Zara argues that many solutions to modern problems already exist in plants, animals and other living organisms. Matt recently published a forecast, Intelligence: Biomimicry, which looked at the evolution of designs and production methods that are modelled on biological entities and processes, with a particular focus on tech innovation.Discover why biomimicry is important now, what it will do to benefit us all in the future, and how companies can use it to make their operations more efficient. Plus we look at some novel and surprising applications, including the links between eels and eclectic cars; bird migration patterns and hurricane predictions; and how insects have inspired robots and facial recognition.

Martina Rocca, Cultural Strategist and Foresight Lead at WGSN, talks polycrisis, shifting consumer brand relationships and what tomorrow looks like.In this episode, WGSN CEO Carla Buzasi and Martina unpack what a polycrisis is, how it’s impacting our lives and what the future holds for consumer brand relationships. Martina’s forecasts on this topic highlight a shift in what consumers demand from brands. In this discussion, she breaks down how brands can engage and sustain consumers who increasingly want more than just products and services.Expect to hear details about how brands can evolve with consumers and the specific behaviours that will make them change how they operate. Martina also goes through examples of brand campaigns she feels have effectively pivoted and committed to new consumer needs.

This podcast explores the impact of social media on the music industry, including the rise of TikTok and its role in promoting viral earworms. The speakers discuss the potential of AI in creating music, the quick recovery of concerts after the pandemic, and the unique way music engages us. They also provide advice for aspiring musicians and recommend TV shows to watch.

In this episode of Lives of Tomorrow, sex and relationship therapist Jordan Dixon joins WGSN CEO Carla Buzasi to talk about AI sex hotels, sexual optimisation and whether there’s a future for marriage.Jordan is a psychosexual and relationship psychotherapist who runs a busy private practice in London, and is also an associate at The Thought House Partnership. She sees eroticism as an essential dimension of being human, and says there are no limits to achieving optimal sexuality. She talks to Carla about how she sees relationships evolving in the future, and describes a recent visit to a new AI sex hotel in Berlin which opened her eyes to what the future might bring. Carla and Jordan also discuss how to know when therapy ends (or if it ever does); how watching porn could impact our sex lives; and what relationships will look like in the future.