Build The Future

Building Robots for the Ocean — Will O’Brien, Ulysses Sep 15, 2026

In the 1960s, people imagined living and working beneath the ocean. What happened to that ambition—and what would it take to bring it back?
Ulysses co-founder Will O’Brien joins me for a conversation about building underwater robots and making ocean work cheaper. Will traces the company’s beginnings to a surf trip and the painstaking work of restoring seagrass, then explains the engineering behind Mako, Ulysses’ modular underwater vehicle.
We discuss a deployment that went badly wrong, the consumer technologies making ocean robotics possible, and why a future full of robots will need its own charging stations. Audience questions cover navigating without GPS, mapping the seabed, ocean restoration, company red lines and the unexpected appeal of treasure hunting.
This conversation was recorded live at a World's Fair Co gathering in San Francisco on August 19, 2026. If you'd like to attend, please sign up for notifications at www.worldsfair.org.
CHAPTERS
00:00 Welcome to World’s Fair
01:26 The forgotten ocean frontier
08:18 The ocean tax
10:36 A surf trip, seagrass and the start of Ulysses
13:44 A failed deployment and lessons learned
17:40 Meet Mako: modular underwater robots
22:38 Why underwater robotics is possible now
25:13 Ocean stewardship and mapping the seabed
30:05 Audience Q&A: climate, company values and San Francisco
34:52 Restoration, security and treasure hunting
38:12 Navigation, motherships and life at sea
42:25 What to build next—and the next 20 years
Links & references
The 1964–65 World’s Fair Futurama experience — A 7-minute General Motors promotional film follows a visitor through Futurama II, the experience discussed at the opening.
Cousteau’s underwater habitats — Background on the undersea living experiments discussed near the opening.
SEALAB: living and working beneath the sea — The U.S. Navy’s history of its underwater habitat experiments.
Ulysses’ seagrass restoration trial on the Great Barrier Reef — The Great Barrier Reef Foundation’s account of the robot trial, with field footage.
Seabed 2030 and Ulysses — The partnership behind the seabed mapping effort mentioned in the conversation.
Planet Labs and forest monitoring — Background on Will’s comparison with satellite monitoring of forests.
ARIA: Forecasting Tipping Points — Related reading for the audience question about ocean observations and climate models.

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Growing Salmon from Cells — Aryé Elfenbein (Co-founder of Wildtype) Sep 08, 2026

Aryé Elfenbein is the co-founder of Wildtype -- a San Francisco startup growing real salmon directly from cells. They're pioneers of cellular agriculture and have become the first company in the world to bring cultivated seafood to market.

In this live conversation, we discuss how Wildtype grows salmon from cells. We explore the work behind its texture and flavor, including techniques borrowed from textile manufacturing and changes to the cells’ diet.
Aryé recalls the early failures, the first restaurant tastings, and the practical problems of scaling production. The conversation was recorded at a World’s Fair Co gathering in San Francisco, with questions from an audience that had just tasted their salmon.
EPISODE PAGE + TRANSCRIPT
https://www.worldsfair.org/programs/wildtype
WATCH ON YOUTUBE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmbhsUVr3sM
CHAPTERS
00:00 A personal connection to salmon
02:36 From cardiology to cultivated fish
06:24 Why salmon?
09:46 Growing the cells
13:32 Recreating salmon’s texture
16:26 The first years—and the first taste
20:42 What kept the team going
22:22 When it started to feel like food
23:08 The road through regulation
28:05 What’s stopping the next scale-up?
30:35 Seeing people enjoy the food
32:05 Audience Q&A: what still needs improving?
33:22 Solving the practical problems
36:38 Learning from outside your field
37:30 The search for better flavor
41:58 A ten-year view of food
44:32 How to support Wildtype
CONNECT
Wildtype
Website: https://www.wildtypefoods.com/
X: https://twitter.com/wildtypefoods
World’s Fair Co.
X: https://x.com/WorldsFairCo
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/worldsfairco

If you want to learn more about our in-person events, please visit worldsfair.org.

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Getting Food Robots Out of the Lab — Rajat Bhageria Aug 08, 2024

Rajat Bhageria is an entrepreneur, investor, and the CEO of Chef Robotics.

What does it actually take to build and deploy generally intelligent robots? Rajat's company is actively scaling robotics in the food industry and is here to tell us all about it.

In this conversation, we talk about what the current food manufacturing process looks like, the challenges and opportunities in robotics, what the coolest AI and robotics companies are on the market today, why the future might look like WALL-E, and much more.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction
01:11 Introducing Chef Robotics
05:07 Automating Food Assembly
09:47 Technical Backend
17:50 Robotics Complexity
24:01 Deployment & Scaling
35:50 The Future of Robotics
46:49 Startups & Self-Actualization
50:38 Positive Vision of the future

Links

Chef Robotics

Rajat Bhageria

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Don Davis: Space Art & Humanity’s Future Dec 11, 2023

In this conversation, we talk with Don Davis, an artist and illustrator who has spent his career helping us imagine the wonders of space. His work with NASA, Carl Sagan, and the U. S. Geological Survey's branch of Astrogeologic Studies has been seen by millions and helps us bridge the gap between imagination and reality.

In this conversation, we talk about Don's childhood fascination with space, the influence of science fiction on his work, and how the ideas around space colonization evolved.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction
02:09 Reflecting on historical parallels between Apollo 11.
05:52 Fascination with space exploration during childhood.
08:14 Joining the USGS
12:04 Moon Paintings
15:41 Meeting Carl Sagan
19:35 Relationship between knowledge and art
22:36 Dinosaur reconstruction
28:49 Mars visions and von Braun
31:39 Painting Space Settlements
37:04 Future of rocketry
42:33 2001: A Space Odyssey
44:24 Willie Lay and,"Engineer's Dreams"
52:23 What's next for Don
52:51 Quote from "Shape of Things to Come"

Links

Don Davis — Space Art

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Isaiah Taylor of Valar Atomics — Nuclear Fission and Energy Abundance Dec 08, 2023

In this conversation, we talk with Isaiah Taylor the founder of Valar Atomics — a new energy startup using nuclear fission to create oil & gas from thin air. At Valar, their goal is to bring the cost of energy down 10-100x and unlock a new era of superabundance.

Enjoy!

Chapters

00:00 Welcome to Build the Future
01:11 Introducing Isaiah Taylor and Valar Atomics
01:53 Nuclear energy and the regulatory environment
04:38 Why use more energy?
08:53 Energy efficiency, cars and incentives
10:40 The Kardashev scale and planetary ambition
12:45 Recovering the confidence to build
18:29 Valar’s nuclear-to-fuel proposal
22:49 Moving energy through existing fuel infrastructure
29:12 Rethinking the starting assumptions
30:16 Hydrocarbon synthesis, explained
33:28 Comparing approaches to fuel production
35:44 What cheaper energy could enable
40:53 Beauty, energy and the frontier
45:21 Intelligence, energy and dexterity
48:11 Sources of conviction and inspiration
50:43 Where to find Isaiah and Valar

Links

Valar Atomics

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Rick Guidice — Art, Science, and Space Settlements Dec 01, 2023

In this conversation, we talk with Rick Guidice, an artist and illustrator renowned for his visionary depictions of space habitats and futuristic concepts, which have significantly contributed to NASA's Ames Research Center's visual explorations. His iconic work has played a pivotal role in shaping public perception of space exploration and human settlement beyond Earth.

In this conversation, we talk about the impact of Rick's space-themed artwork on envisioning future possibilities; his artistic process, inspirations, and the cultural influence; and the evolution of space exploration imagery and its role in shaping public perception and enthusiasm for space endeavors.

Enjoy!

Mentioned in this conversation

The Mandalorian
Space Settlements: A Design Study
Emerging Ecologies Exhibit
"Megastructures" by Neil Blevins

Chapters

00:00 Welcome to Build the Future
01:10 Introducing Rick Guidice
01:53 Why art makes future ideas tangible
03:07 From architecture to NASA illustration
08:33 Digital tools and the changing illustration industry
12:01 The space-settlement design study
17:49 Designing places people would want to live
21:32 Perspective, color and the painting process
24:56 Painting at home and raising a creative family
26:52 The artists and stories that inspired Rick
30:55 Growing up with Silicon Valley
34:17 Ambitious projects and unrealized concepts
39:06 Exhibitions and preserving the NASA art archive
44:20 Space art’s influence on a new generation
49:12 Film imagery and advice for aspiring artists
53:37 Closing

Links

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Jim Pethokoukis — Building an Up-Wing Culture Nov 17, 2023

In this conversation, we talk with Jim Pethokoukis, the author of "The Conservative Futurist" and the newsletter "Faster, Please!" where he writes about innovation, economics, and the potential of future technologies.

In this conversation, we talk about the optimistic cultural zeitgeist of the 1960s space race, the unfulfilled promises of that era, such as nuclear-powered space exploration, the role media plays in shaping societal attitudes towards the future, and much more!

Enjoy!

Mentioned in this conversation

"Faster, Please!" on Substack
The Conservative Futurist: How We Get the Science Fiction Future We Were Promised
"For All Mankind" TV series
SpaceX Mars colonization video
"The Peripheral" by William Gibson
"The High Frontier" by Gerard K. O'Neill

Chapters

00:00 Welcome to Build the Future
01:10 Introducing Jim Pethokoukis
01:52 The science-fiction future we were promised
05:10 The optimism of the 1990s
08:25 A new cluster of technologies and old constraints
12:37 Energy, growth and zero-sum thinking
16:43 What up-wing and down-wing mean
19:47 Ambition, politics and looking forward
23:08 Policy that supports innovation
26:00 The High Frontier and visions after Apollo
28:52 For All Mankind and the stories we tell
31:12 Energy, planetary defense and concrete goals
32:57 What dystopian stories leave us with
34:49 Fiction that inspires people to build
38:07 Creating compelling stories of progress
41:46 Interstellar and the cost of lost ambition
43:12 World’s fairs and the spectacle of progress
48:36 Where to find Jim and a closing challenge
50:16 Closing

Links

Jim Pethokoukis

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Isaac Arthur - From Physics to YouTube Nov 03, 2023

Isaac Arthur is a physicist turned YouTuber and science educator.

Join us as we discuss the roots of progress and its potential into post-scarcity futures, the challenges of building in practice, Isaac's favorite science fiction media and his vision for his channel, his personal journey studying physics to becoming a YouTuber, and what innovation and future utopian scenarios may be possible, including space colonization and virtual reality.

Isaac's story is proof that passion and optimism can blossom into a lasting career. We hope you find inspiration in his story to go build your own visions for a positive future!

Chapters

00:00 Long-form conversation and the changing media landscape
02:25 Fiction we enjoy and worlds we would choose
03:35 Progress, recurring ideas and everyday needs
07:01 The everyday benefits of progress
10:48 What post-scarcity means
12:31 Information abundance and trust
14:53 Science fiction and the complexity of governing
19:05 Communities, housing and different preferences
22:32 Space habitats and movable communities
25:14 Social needs, entertainment and abundance
29:33 Favorite science fiction and guilty pleasures
32:09 A playful idea for a manufacturing parody
34:40 From physics and the Army to YouTube
38:14 Choosing topics and telling science stories
39:35 Colonizing the Sun and challenging intuitions
43:44 How art, science and fiction reinforce each other
50:02 Different visions of utopia and virtual worlds
54:04 Turning future ideas into immersive experiences
57:46 Space progress and what to build next
01:00:44 Patience and long-term progress
01:02:19 Where to find Isaac’s work

Links

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Don Clark: Art & Optimism Nov 27, 2022

In this conversation, we talk with Don Clark, the incredible artist behind Invisible Creature.

Mentioned in this conversation

David Klein Art
Stan Galli
Syd Mead
Phantom City Creative

Chapters

00:00 Introducing Don Clark and Invisible Creature
00:49 Family, music and the path into illustration
03:19 The gig-poster resurgence
04:59 Choosing illustration and discovering visual development
07:46 The unseen work behind a film
10:03 Creative feedback and leadership
12:41 Shipping work and accepting constraints
14:17 Creative companies and independent opportunities
19:39 Art, shared culture and creative financing
22:22 What drew Don to the World’s Fair
25:01 Modernism, color and optimism
29:10 Designing an appealing future
32:55 Imagining bigger creative projects
34:49 How the World’s Fair posters developed
38:50 Composition and the power of travel posters
43:33 Contemporary poster artists and developing taste
47:18 Tangible things and an authentic future
50:43 Where to find Don and Invisible Creature

Links

Syd Mead

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Eliot Peper: Science Fiction & Culture Nov 13, 2022

In this conversation, we talk with Eliot Peper the novelist behind great science fiction books like Reap3r, Veil, Cumulus, and Bandwidth.

Mentioned in this conversation

Our World in Data
Nadia Asparouhova's tweet
Man in Space
Oliver Morton's The Moon

Chapters

00:00 Introducing Eliot Peper
01:05 Curiosity about the present
04:32 Writing an absorbing story
07:22 Reap3r and the reader’s experience
10:55 Questions instead of a message
13:41 Ambition across different lives
16:21 Speculative technology in Reap3r
18:17 Progress, gratitude and dissatisfaction
24:05 Agency in a complicated world
28:26 How fiction influences builders
31:18 Borges and the imagination of the internet
33:10 Spaceflight and its cultural prehistory
37:16 Institutions, technology and scrutiny
40:03 Finding a bias toward action
42:28 Data, culture and patronage
44:39 Eliot’s books and where to find him

Links

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Jason Green: Vertical Farming & Food Nov 09, 2021

In this conversation, we talk with Jason Green, the CEO and Cofounder of Upward Farms. At Upward Farms they're helping shape the future of food by growing organic, leafy greens and fish in a complete vertical farming ecosystem. In this conversation we cover the future of food, the work they're doing at Upward and how the tide is turning, how business as usual is over, and how we now have the opportunity to step up and build the future that we want to live in.

Chapters

00:00 Introducing Jason Green and Upward Farms
01:05 Livable cities and the scale of food production
04:00 Urban agriculture and regional supply chains
06:30 Energy, automation and regional production
08:24 Growing greens and fish in one ecosystem
09:26 The changing economics of agriculture
11:28 Energy abundance and automation
13:29 An abundance agenda for food
17:04 Who does the food system serve?
17:59 Consumer choices and affordable quality
21:25 The full cost of food
23:08 Trust, brands and simple ingredients
27:21 Transparency, standards and ecosystems
30:15 Freshness and supply-chain trade-offs
32:47 The tools and will to build
35:11 Capital, disruption and business as usual
38:11 Where Upward was headed in 2021

Links

Upward Farms — March 2023 cofounder update

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Ian Rountree: Venture & the Near Frontier Nov 05, 2021

In this conversation, we talk with Ian Rountree the founder and partner of Cantos.vc, a venture fund investing in near frontier technologies that will change the world. In this conversation Ian and I cover the changing landscape of venture, financing the future, and bounce around quite a bit between the various facets of the future that are being built right now.

Chapters

00:00 Introducing Ian Rountree and Cantos
00:35 Raising and deploying a venture fund
01:43 Institutional capital and emerging managers
05:18 What should venture capital fund?
07:29 Defining the near frontier
08:55 Hardware and the history of venture
11:03 What draws Ian to frontier technology
13:21 Energy abundance and constraints
16:40 Affordable and cleaner energy
18:54 Renewables and nuclear power
22:51 Capital requirements and reactor startups
25:33 Finding capital for deep technology
29:14 Long-term investors and post-phone computing
31:17 Biotechnology and longer lives
34:09 Longevity, learning and social change
37:16 Mobility and cultural exposure
39:15 Social media and access to information
42:31 Education in an information-rich world
44:33 Where to find Ian and Cantos

Links

Cantos — firm and Ian Rountree biography

Ian Rountree

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Sam Bhagwat: Gatsby.js & Open Source Nov 02, 2021

In this conversation, we talk with Sam Bhagwat, the Cofounder and Chief Strategy Officer at Gatsby. Gatsby's an open source web framework that enables developers to create websites optimized for the modern web. In doing so, they're ensuring that this digital web infrastructure, that we all take for granted, keeps improving and getting better.

Chapters

00:00 Introducing Sam Bhagwat and Gatsby
00:35 Making progress tangible
02:21 Economic history and building technology
04:25 Looking forward from the history of the web
06:19 Centralization and decentralization
09:38 Open source and global collaboration
13:00 Linux, Git and GitHub
17:11 How Gatsby began
20:01 Models of community contribution
22:52 Why contribution and speed of change matter
24:41 Open collaboration beyond software
26:51 Remote teams and a global pool of talent
28:26 Connectivity and web performance
30:52 Incentives and commercial open source
34:10 Maintaining shared digital infrastructure
35:14 Prizes, rewards and community incentives
36:54 Children, productivity and reasons for optimism
38:31 Where to find Sam

Links

Gatsby — open-source framework

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Alex Trembath: Policy, Food, & Energy Oct 26, 2021

In this conversation, we talk with Alex Trembath, the deputy director of Breakthrough, a global research center focused on promoting technological solutions, environmental and human development challenges. Specifically, we touch on two facets of the future here - feeding our growing population and creating a high-energy planet but not at the expense of our climate.

Chapters

00:00 Introducing Alex Trembath and Breakthrough
00:35 Imagining a positive climate future
02:23 Solarpunk and resilient infrastructure
05:25 Telling stories of progress
08:39 Media, influence and new audiences
11:59 The changing nuclear conversation
15:32 Small is beautiful and environmental ideology
18:41 Making new infrastructure tangible
19:39 Expanding abundance
23:27 Nuclear licensing and regulatory reform
26:28 Regulation, demonstration and other bottlenecks
28:12 The Simpsons and nuclear perceptions
31:07 Growth, institutions and public preferences
33:53 Stagnation and disillusionment with growth
35:41 Extending the benefits of modernity
37:49 Where to find Alex and Breakthrough

Links

Alex Trembath

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Thomas Eiden — Atomic Alchemy and Radioisotope Production Oct 22, 2021

In this conversation, we talk with Thomas Eiden, the founder of Atomic Alchemy who studied and researched nuclear engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Thomas is the expert of all things nuclear, so he gave us an awesome primer on the future of energy, nuclear space and the exciting future that might lie ahead with the clean and abundant nuclear energy.

Chapters

00:00 Introducing Thomas Eiden and Atomic Alchemy
00:36 Making future technology tangible
02:41 Telling technical stories to the public
06:24 Technology and unintended consequences
09:03 Nuclear optimism and public perception
11:30 A renaissance beyond the hype
13:08 Hands-on nuclear education
16:09 Learning through demonstrations
18:32 Radioisotopes beyond power generation
19:40 Medical applications and research
22:10 Radioisotope power in space
23:24 Remote applications and material supply
24:30 Industrial imaging and quality assurance
25:28 Why these applications matter
28:30 Nuclear energy and climate politics
30:58 Licensing costs and regulatory incentives
36:49 Supply chains and industry challenges
40:29 New designs and a path forward
42:10 Milestones before publicity
44:13 Where to find Thomas and Atomic Alchemy

Links

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Adrian Fenty — Building Better Cities Through Policy and Technology Oct 19, 2021

In this conversation, we talk with Adrian Fenty, the founding managing partner at MaC Venture Capital and the former mayor of Washington DC. We cover everything from investing in the future, changing the landscape of education, the importance of local political involvement and the future that we hope to build.

Chapters

00:00 Introducing Adrian Fenty
00:35 Parenthood and education
02:19 Creativity and innovation in schools
04:12 Scaling better education
07:23 Education outcomes and accountability
08:52 Local leadership and school governance
11:48 New cities as places to experiment
14:07 Choice, bike lanes and city life
16:06 Urban technology and the space frontier
17:50 Connectivity and satellite imagery
20:30 Government and private enterprise in space
23:25 What comes after a launch
25:03 Food innovation and hands-on learning
28:05 Exercise and working life
29:08 Nuclear power and innovation cycles
31:52 Environmental innovation and new business models
33:56 Improving existing systems and telemedicine
36:38 Transportation and reusable rockets
39:12 Getting involved and demanding results

Links

Adrian Fenty

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Courtney Boyd Myers: Akua & Kelp Oct 15, 2021

In this conversation, we talk with Courtney Boyd Myers, the founder of Akua. At Akua they're building a household brand for sustainable sea greens based foods including their delicious kelp jerky and kelp burger. I loved talking about the future of food, kelp and about changing global travel landscape with Courtney in this conversation.

Chapters

00:00 Introducing Courtney Boyd Myers
00:35 Responsibility and innovation
01:38 Optimism and learning across cultures
05:00 Local action and global responsibility
06:34 From journalism to building a business
09:47 Why kelp?
12:47 Food habits and convenience
15:46 Travel and eating across cultures
17:28 Developing the kelp burger
19:41 Retail, direct sales and marketing
21:02 Food choices and environmental awareness
23:19 Trust and echo chambers
24:33 Positioning plant-based foods
27:28 Cultivated meat and more food choices
29:34 Travel, culture and global citizenship
32:38 The future of seafood alternatives
36:41 Family and the next stage of the business
37:40 Where to find Courtney and AKUA

Links

AKUA — historical company profile and closed 2021 campaign

Courtney Boyd Myers

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Justin Kolbeck: Wildtype & Cultured Salmon Oct 12, 2021

In this conversation, we talk with Justin Kolbeck, the CEO of Wildtype. At Wildtype they're advancing the future of food with cellular agriculture, starting with Sushi Grade Salmon.

Chapters

00:00 Introducing Justin Kolbeck
00:33 Building the team and planning production
02:31 Inside the pilot plant
04:41 Transparency and more seafood choices
07:52 The early history of cultivated food
11:28 Sustainability and affordability
12:54 Taste, nutrition and realistic expectations
14:44 What food can learn from electric vehicles
17:27 Parenthood and the food system
19:50 Alternatives and conventional farming
23:02 Scaling production and lowering costs
26:56 Local food production and food miles
29:44 Food access and distributed production
31:16 The regulatory conversation in 2021
32:53 Cell-culture inputs and cost
35:25 Possible feedback into biomedical research
37:44 Reliable information and the next generation
40:27 Technology, trust and shared goals
43:12 Changing consumption choices
44:26 Where to find Wildtype

Links

Wildtype

Justin Kolbeck

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Gary Sheng: Civics Unplugged & Politics Oct 08, 2021

In this conversation, we talk with Gary Sheng, the co-founder of Civics Unplugged. Gary and I connected over our shared belief that this decade, the 2020s, is a make or break for humanity and that we have a lot of exciting work to do. On his end, Gary's working to train a new generation of leaders, committed to universal human flourishing.

Chapters

00:00 Introducing Gary Sheng
00:36 Independence and speaking up
02:24 Workplace politics and leadership
05:11 Institutional trust and cohesive teams
07:51 Career incentives and long-term thinking
11:46 Large companies and startup innovation
14:01 The leadership and coordination gap
16:49 Networks, cities and coordination
18:48 Cities as governance experiments
20:31 Experimenting with a Civics Unplugged DAO
21:47 Transparency and nonprofit incentives
23:50 Donor engagement and tracking impact
26:31 Local projects and visible contributions
27:52 Motivation and civic participation
29:19 Public input and voting systems
31:54 Civic engagement and social expectations
33:55 Reputation and contribution records
37:08 Voluntary participation versus coercion
39:00 Where to find Gary

Links

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Aaron Slodov — Atomic Industries and the Future of Manufacturing Sep 28, 2021

In this conversation, we talk with Aaron Slodov. Aaron's the founder of the stealth startup Atomic Industries where they're building the future of manufacturing with the goal of building a more efficient and less wasteful world.

Chapters

00:00 Introducing Aaron Slodov
00:35 Why technology policy matters
02:00 Autonomous vehicles and testing grounds
04:15 AI and the pace of policy
06:08 Proactive decisions and human oversight
08:46 Resource allocation and representation
10:43 Experiments in governance
12:32 AI-informed leadership and power
14:19 Information abundance and its tradeoffs
16:16 Craftsmanship and the physical world
17:56 Solarpunk and changing work
20:05 Deep tech and meaningful problems
23:18 Atomic and manufacturing bottlenecks
24:13 Apprenticeships and new industrial skills
28:07 Tools that extend skilled work
30:02 Automation and supply chains
32:11 A more proactive future
34:44 Connecting and sharing deep-tech work

Links

Atomic Industries

Aaron Slodov

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Laura Crabtree: Epsilon3 & Space Exploration Sep 21, 2021

In this conversation, we talk with Laura Crabtree the founder of Epsilon3 and a former SpaceX engineer. At Epsilon3 they're building a software stack to help teams working on space exploration and complex engineering projects operate more efficiently.

Chapters

00:00 Introducing Laura Crabtree
00:38 A growing space startup ecosystem
01:49 The pull of the unknown
02:43 Star Trek and the power of imagination
04:57 Making space more accessible
07:14 The Moon, Mars and the path ahead
08:29 Space research and benefits on Earth
10:27 Partnerships across organizations and countries
11:47 Travel and learning across cultures
14:11 The international space ecosystem
15:46 Why Epsilon3 focuses on software infrastructure
16:41 Connecting design, testing and operations
18:39 Integrating engineering tools
20:27 Making operations work for small teams
21:17 Explaining space innovation to more people
23:34 Disaster response and practical benefits
24:50 Imagining life on Mars
26:57 Food, family and curiosity
29:20 Life beyond Earth: speculation and questions
32:06 Hopes for the next generation
34:37 Epsilon3 beyond space
35:22 The ocean as another frontier

Links

Epsilon3

Laura Crabtree

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Pat Riley: Bitcoin & Freedom Sep 14, 2021

In this conversation, we talk with Pat Riley, a creative director at Bitcoin Magazine. At Bitcoin Magazine, they’re promoting the future of digital currency through media and the organization of the annual Bitcoin conference.

Chapters

00:00 Introducing Pat Riley
01:00 Miami, Austin and a year on the road
02:38 In-person connection and optimism
04:50 Hope for the next generation
06:48 Education and self-directed paths
09:37 Bitcoin and cross-border collaboration
10:43 The Bitcoin narrative and financial access
12:52 El Salvador as a 2021 experiment
16:48 Innovation and US policy
18:54 Understanding fast-moving legislation
20:45 Bringing a global technology into physical spaces
22:44 Connecting capital with ambitious projects
25:45 New funding models and research
27:16 Long-term thinking and consumption
30:09 Solarpunk: balancing cities and nature
32:17 Science fiction and post-scarcity questions
34:29 Inner exploration and speculative histories
37:41 Inequality and intentional technology
41:36 Biotechnology and future possibilities
43:49 Where to find Pat

Links

Pat Riley

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Rohit Krishnan: Investing in the Future Sep 07, 2021

In this conversation, we talk with Rohit Krishnan, a VC and the writer of Strange Loop. Strange Loop is a weekly newsletter about the systems underlying progress, innovation, and the world of technology — and in the process, he's trying to create a philosophy of business.

Chapters

00:00 Introducing Rohit Krishnan
00:36 Investing with incomplete information
02:18 From interests to company evaluation
03:29 How venture capital changes as it matures
05:47 Crypto: experimentation and caveats
08:17 Separating technology from financial speculation
09:57 Organizational models and cooperatives
11:11 Crowdfunding and coordination
12:50 Energy, materials and interdisciplinary work
15:26 How knowledge combines into progress
17:00 Software enabling hardware
18:26 Creative communities and more hubs
20:37 Nanotechnology and overlooked progress
23:13 From research results to commercial applications
26:36 Hype cycles, fusion and persistence
28:44 Incremental advances and major transitions
31:17 Commercialization and scientific ideas
32:16 Drug-development costs and uncertainty
35:24 Ruling out failures and connecting fields
38:35 Where to find Rohit

Links

Strange Loop Canon — Rohit Krishnan

Rohit Krishnan

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Robin Dechant: Aveo & Manufacturing Aug 31, 2021

In this conversation, we talk with Robin Dechant, the founder of Aveo and the writer behind The Future of Manufacturing Newsletter. In his work, Robin's helping shape the future of manufacturing and, in the process, helping people develop the skills they need to build the world of tomorrow.

Chapters

00:00 Introducing Robin Dechant
00:37 Living with complexity
01:46 Being present while thinking ahead
03:47 Running and time to think
06:10 Aveo and skills for manufacturing
07:58 Workforce planning
08:59 Why manufacturing and its people matter
11:22 Remote work and factory realities
13:29 Upskilling, reskilling and adjacent roles
15:30 Supporting people through job changes
16:57 Flexibility and meaningful work
17:59 How the newsletter led to Aveo
20:29 Following interests and staying consistent
22:23 A vision for smaller specialized factories
25:34 What is a factory stack?
28:04 Connecting existing machines
29:14 Building new factories and funding hard problems
32:46 Mission-driven companies and empowerment
35:37 Where to find Robin

Links

The Future of Manufacturing — Robin Dechant

Robin Dechant

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Chris Power of Hadrian - The Future of Manufacturing, Space, and America Jul 13, 2021

In this conversation, we talk with Chris Power the founder and CEO of Hadrian. In the episode, Chris describes Hadrian’s autonomous component factories and their goal of helping customers make rockets, satellites, jets and electric vertical take off and landing vehicles 2x faster and cheaper. In doing so they're ensuring the manufacturing of our future and the companies leading the way in defense and space have the tools they need to go build.

Chapters

00:00 Introducing Chris Power and Hadrian
01:38 The supply chain behind space and defense
03:56 Manufacturing capacity and the future
08:11 Inside a fragmented supply chain
11:59 Factory-market fit and vertical integration
13:52 The factory that builds the factory
15:24 Automating one process at a time
17:59 From part design to delivery
20:32 Why small delays cascade
22:11 Precision, data and environmental variables
25:01 Building software with manufacturing teams
28:01 A 2021 view of the Bezos launch
30:52 Lower launch costs and new possibilities
33:23 International cooperation and competition
35:02 A moment of rapid change
37:02 Optimistic culture and meaningful work
39:44 Finding a mission where you can contribute
41:38 Closing thoughts

Links

Hadrian

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Dan Grech of Global OTEC — Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Jun 29, 2021

In this conversation, we talk with Dan Grech the founder and CEO of Global OTEC. At Global OTEC they're deploying OTEC (ocean thermal energy conversion) technology to advance an underutilized path to clean energy production!

Chapters

00:00 Introducing Dan Grech and Global OTEC
01:39 Disney and thoughtful experiences
04:38 The spirit of Disneyland
05:38 How ocean thermal energy conversion works
07:24 Why put the system offshore?
08:45 Delivering power to shore
09:22 Island energy needs and a renewable mix
11:54 Why OTEC has remained underused
14:19 The challenge of commercial deployment
17:33 From demonstrations to commercial plants
20:44 Starting at a manageable scale
22:28 Working with oil and gas expertise
23:51 Curiosity, persistence and a shared mission
25:13 From resorts to island states
26:16 Global problems and local partnerships
29:10 Where to learn more

Links

Global OTEC

Dan Grech

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Dr. Yael Joffe of 3x4 Genetics - The Future of Genetics, Health, and Biology Jun 22, 2021

In this conversation, we talk with Dr Yael Joffe, the founder and CSO of 3x4 Genetics. At 3x4 Genetics they’re taking a new approach to genetic testing to provide people with actionable insights based on their genes. In doing so, they’re helping build the future where people can make decisions that help them live longer, healthier, and better lives.

Chapters

00:00 Introducing Dr. Yael Joffe
01:36 Genetic testing: promise and disappointment
04:23 Education, community and scientific standards
06:09 The vision for 3x4 Genetics
07:28 Designing for the consumer
08:53 Visual reports and scientific transparency
10:30 Understanding what consumers need
12:24 Discussing genetic variation
14:59 From information to action
17:10 Yael’s view of nutrition and gene expression
19:26 Genetic sequence and epigenetic measurements
20:57 Genetics as one piece of a larger picture
23:10 A vision for integrated health data
26:02 Personal agency and health information
28:51 Food systems and the wider context of nutrition
31:00 Gene editing and ethical boundaries
32:57 Culture, eugenics and regulation
35:48 Comparisons with stem cell research
36:52 Finding 3x4 Genetics

Links

3x4 Genetics — practitioner FAQs

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Jonathon Barkl of AirGarage - The Future of Parking, Cities, and Community Jun 15, 2021

In this conversation, we talk with Jonathon Barkl, the CEO of AirGarage. At AirGarage they’re reimagining the use of parking, real-estate and cities. In the episode, Jonathon describes parking as occupying 30% of the American city, and AirGarage’s work to repurpose those spaces and automate the operation of parking lots. In doing so, they’re helping transform the landscape of our cities turning these single-use spaces into multi-use hubs — all to support a future filled with cloud kitchens, micro-mobility, autonomous vehicles, on-demand fulfillment, and more.

Chapters

00:00 Introducing Jonathon Barkl and AirGarage
01:50 Making parking space more useful
04:41 The reality of parking operations
07:29 Parking minimums and city land use
09:34 A church parking example
11:21 Jonathon’s case for zoning reform
13:09 A proposed property-rights argument
16:49 Housing advocacy through the courts
17:50 Preservation, aesthetics and building rules
21:18 Building parking software with customers
22:08 Simplifying payment
23:42 Occupancy data and an automated experience
24:43 Beyond parking: a network of space
26:40 An API for the physical world
28:01 Smaller spaces and lower barriers
29:07 Starting a physical business in small steps
30:40 Retail space and neighborhood businesses
33:09 Where to find Jonathon and AirGarage

Links

AirGarage

Jonathon Barkl

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Liam Cadigan & Nick Warren — inspectAR and Augmented Reality for Electronics Jun 08, 2021

In this conversation, we talk to Liam Cadigan and Nick Warren, the co-founders of InspectAR. At InspectAR, they’re building augmented reality software that helps engineers building circuit boards visualize and test their circuit boards in real time. In doing so, they’re helping drive practical adoption of augmented reality technologies and reducing the friction in developing circuit boards...which are just about everything these days!

Chapters

00:00 Introducing Liam Cadigan and Nick Warren
01:39 Where InspectAR fits in electronics development
02:56 Connecting a circuit board to its design
04:17 Why better engineering tools matter
05:21 From student teams to a company
07:42 Hyperloop and new career possibilities
09:56 Entrepreneurship and the pull of Silicon Valley
12:07 Bootstrapping in St. John’s
12:48 Practical uses for augmented reality
15:41 Cameras, scanning and wearable platforms
17:55 Consumer hardware and workplace adoption
19:33 Computing for people working with their hands
21:11 Privacy, standards and an optimistic future
23:29 AR, VR and remote engineering
25:09 Imagining healthcare and training uses
27:44 Making training more accessible
28:43 What could drive widespread adoption?
30:05 Neural interfaces and remote connectivity
31:43 Bandwidth and access beyond cities
33:49 Where to learn about InspectAR

Links

InspectAR — Cadence FAQ

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Derek Morris of United Therapeutics — 3D Printing Organs May 18, 2021

In this conversation, we talk with Derek Morris, a Director of Engineering at United Therapeutics. At United Therapeutics they’re on a mission to develop novel, life-extending technologies for patients battling with lung disease. In addition to developing medicine and transplant technology, they’re also leading cutting-edge research on organ manufacturing (3D printing of organs) which Derek leads.

This episode should be reclassified as a schedule 1 stimulant — full of energy and optimism, we go off track on a wild tangent adventure covering art, media, inputs, the future, the World's Fair, and of course the incredible work being done at UT to print 3D organs.

Chapters

00:00 Introducing Derek Morris
01:50 Making progress tangible
03:58 Healthspan and the possibilities of longer lives
06:26 Passing knowledge between generations
08:05 New frontiers and opportunity
10:52 Sharing technological prosperity
13:33 Art that helps us imagine the future
17:38 Media, optimism and building
19:15 The mission to expand organ supply
20:25 Perfusion and other transplant approaches
21:59 Computing meets organ manufacturing
23:38 A collaboration across disciplines
25:39 Blueprints, printers and materials
27:47 The challenge of living cells
30:48 Could the approach extend to other organs?
32:08 Transport, storage and transplant logistics
34:42 Electric aircraft and organ delivery
37:01 Research milestones and expectations
37:58 Finding Derek and closing thoughts

Links

United Therapeutics

Derek Morris

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Nick Donahue of Atmos — The Future of Homes, Building, and Community Living May 11, 2021

In this conversation, we talk with Nick Donahue, the CEO of Atmos. At Atmos they help people design, buy, and build custom homes online. In doing so, they are literally helping build the future where building a home you love is as simple as buying one.

We cover the future of home building (and buying!), Miami (kinda), community living, and how we build.

Chapters

00:00 Introducing Nick Donahue and Atmos
01:31 Bringing home design online
02:22 The gap in custom home building
04:06 Design templates and personalization
05:54 What a home means to its owner
07:15 Housing incentives and changing cities
08:54 Shared ownership and networked living
11:55 Taking bigger swings in the physical world
13:55 Capital, ambition and a time to build
16:53 Sharing resources across a community
18:33 EPCOT and imagining new cities
20:44 Walking through the first Atmos home
22:02 Earning early customer trust
22:51 How customers customize their homes
24:04 Private spaces and common ground
25:50 Finding Nick and closing thoughts

Links

Atmos — historical company profile on Y Combinator

Nick Donahue

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Zach Dwiel of Terran Robotics — AI, Drones and Construction May 04, 2021

In this conversation, we talk with Zach Dwiel, the CEO of Terran Robotics. At Terran Robotics, they're developing drones and artificial intelligence to 3D print homes. We talk about the future of construction, teaching drones to learn, and building new cities.

Chapters

00:00 Introducing Zach Dwiel and Terran Robotics
01:29 Rethinking construction around material costs
03:31 Clay, thermal mass and building traditions
05:09 Moving beyond human construction constraints
06:31 Building walls with high-lift drones
07:34 Why choose drones over gantries?
09:30 Tethers, power and energy use
11:12 Design models and adaptive construction
13:33 Learning to control a particular machine
16:27 Why construction needs different flight control
18:40 Precision and industrial drone applications
20:00 Shaping clay with vibration and tamping
21:34 Prototype plans and building codes
22:57 Adoption, price goals and design freedom
25:46 What more affordable housing could unlock
27:03 Funding early work through an NSF grant
29:17 Different paths to research funding
30:26 Finding Terran and closing thoughts

Links

Terran Robotics

Zach Dwiel

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Adam Keating of CoLab — The Future of Engineering, Collaboration, and Work Apr 27, 2021

In this conversation, we talk with Adam Keating, the CEO & Co-founder of CoLab. At CoLab they’re building software to simplify design reviews for engineering teams building complex products. In doing so, they're enabling the engineers who are building our future to build faster and more collaboratively.

We talk about CoLab, the future of work, Hyperloops, and how bright our future is looking.

Chapters

00:00 Introducing Adam Keating and CoLab
01:31 A milestone for engineering collaboration
03:05 PLM and the missing communication layer
05:27 What CoLab helps engineering teams do
07:27 Remote design reviews during COVID
09:39 From Hyperloop teamwork to company-building
10:40 The human work software should support
12:32 Reducing administrative work and costly mistakes
13:30 Better tools and new ways to collaborate
16:06 A student Hyperloop competition changes everything
17:36 Belief and the commercial challenge for Hyperloop
21:07 Seeing what is possible
22:29 What ambitious student projects can lead to
23:58 What better collaboration could help build
27:41 Making 3D design and building more accessible
29:31 Scrappier paths into hardware
32:30 Long-term goals and wider access to technology
35:43 Advice for students and aspiring builders

Links

CoLab

Adam Keating

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Dr. Celeste Holz-Schietinger of Impossible Foods — The Future of Food, Sustainability, and Meat Apr 20, 2021

In this conversation, we talk with Dr. Celeste Holz-Schietinger, the VP of Product Innovation at Impossible Foods. At Impossible Foods they’re recreating foods at a molecular level to give people the taste and nutritional benefits of meat with the aim of reducing the health and environmental impact of traditional meat products.

We talk about the future of food, sustainability, engineering protein, and more!

Chapters

00:00 Introducing Celeste and Impossible Foods
01:39 The mission behind meat from plants
03:41 Going directly to plant ingredients
04:26 Land, water and biodiversity
07:58 What makes meat taste and feel like meat?
09:38 Heme and the chemistry of flavor
12:03 Proteins, fats and texture
13:08 From analytical instruments to tasting panels
15:40 Prototypes, consumer tests and iteration
17:26 Beyond replicating existing flavors
19:02 Meeting consumers where they eat
20:37 The breakthrough from version 1.0 to 2.0
22:59 The challenge of whole cuts
24:54 Plant-based and cultivated-meat approaches
26:56 Celeste’s path into food science
28:47 Nutrition and the meaning of processed food
32:19 Restoring land and reconnecting with nature
35:10 Food choices and ways to contribute

Links

Impossible Foods

Dr. Celeste Holz-Schietinger

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Noor Siddiqui of Orchid Health — The Future of Families, Conception, and Genetics Apr 13, 2021

In this conversation, we talk with Noor Siddiqui, the CEO of Orchid Health. At Orchid Health they’re developing advanced preconception screening to help families understand genetic predispositions. In doing so, they're building a future where couples can make more informed reproductive decisions.

We talk about Orchid, in-vitro fertilization, the future of conception, and more!

Chapters

00:00 Introducing Noor Siddiqui and Orchid
01:30 The vision for preconception and embryo screening
03:02 Carrier screening and complex genetic risk
05:16 Prevention, gene therapy and new sequencing tools
08:00 IVF and embryo reports
09:57 How embryo morphology is assessed
12:11 Genetic testing alongside visual assessment
13:19 Reproductive timing and access to care
15:36 The family experience behind Orchid
16:34 Choice and different paths to starting a family
18:47 Fertility misconceptions
20:43 Noor’s response to ethical objections
23:34 Examples from reproductive technology
26:12 Access, automation and IVF laboratories
27:59 The prospect of lab-derived eggs and sperm
29:40 Other futures Noor wants to see
32:17 Finding Orchid and closing thoughts

Links

Orchid Health

Noor Siddiqui

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Doug Petkanics of Livepeer — Decentralized Video Infrastructure Apr 06, 2021

In this conversation, we talk with Doug Petkanics, the CEO of Livepeer. At Livepeer they're building a decentralized video streaming network built on the Ethereum blockchain. In this conversation, we cover the technical side of Livepeer, the implications of decentralized video, Web 3.0, and more!

Chapters

00:00 Introducing Doug Petkanics and Livepeer
01:33 A vision for open video infrastructure
03:45 Infrastructure for streaming applications
06:06 The rest of the video stack
06:57 Applications for different kinds of creators
09:32 Autoscaling and practical adoption
12:03 Nodes, staking and protocol incentives
14:02 Delegation and network participation
14:48 Using spare GPU video-encoding capacity
16:14 The economics of video processing
18:43 What switching infrastructure could involve
20:45 Building directly on the open network
21:42 The path to founding Livepeer
24:56 Why decentralization matters to Doug
27:20 Web3 and an online financial system
30:09 Connecting digital and physical lives
31:10 What Doug is most optimistic about
32:22 Finding Livepeer and closing thoughts

Links

Livepeer

Doug Petkanics

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Roman Teslyuk of Earth AI — The Future of Mining, Energy, and Materials Mar 30, 2021

In this conversation, we talk with Roman Teslyuk the founder and CEO of Earth AI. Earth AI is a vertically integrated metals exploration company that finds and develops metal ore deposits required to manufacture technologically advanced products. In this pursuit, they're helping ensure sustainable energy production and clean mining practices.

We cover the definition of value, tribal signaling, sustainable energy, and more!

Chapters

00:00 Introducing Roman Teslyuk and Earth AI
01:29 Value, vision and supporting ambitious projects
05:25 Digital assets and the meaning of value
07:27 Community identity and ways to contribute
10:45 The physical world and the pandemic economy
15:12 Metals for sustainable energy
18:10 Why new deposits are harder to find
20:22 Learning from geological archives
22:08 From predictions to evidence in the field
24:30 An exploration funnel and mobile fieldwork
26:37 Drone surveys and remote logistics
27:43 Rethinking the drilling operation
29:16 A closed-loop drilling-fluid system
30:58 Mobility, water and site disturbance
32:23 Exploration today and future mining ambitions
34:02 Cuttings, contamination and waste handling
35:42 Critical materials and planetary exploration
37:53 Finding Earth AI and closing thoughts

Links

Earth AI

Roman Teslyuk

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Phnam Bagley of Nonfiction — The Future of Design, Experience, and Space Architecture Mar 23, 2021

In this conversation, we talk with Phnam Bagley, Co-Founder of Nonfiction - a creative studio specializing in industrial design, engineering, strategy, branding, user experience design, and space architecture. Nonfiction turns science fiction into reality for a better future.

We cover the future of space architecture, design, the self, and more!

Chapters

00:00 Introducing Phnam Bagley and Nonfiction
01:30 Curiosity and connecting disciplines
03:32 Finding a purpose for life and work
06:01 Turning science fiction into something attainable
08:06 Science, technology, design and art
09:22 A different process for each project
10:52 Rethinking education from human experience
13:03 Designing for different ways of learning
15:51 Self-awareness, difference and hierarchy
20:14 Hope, agency and finding help
23:28 Honesty and the conditions for hope
24:27 What space architecture includes
26:19 From surviving in space to thriving
29:29 Starting with the human experience
31:09 Adaptability and multisensory environments
32:02 What designing for space could teach us on Earth
34:34 VR, presence and staying connected to ourselves
36:55 Having a part in the future
38:53 Finding Nonfiction and Future Future

Links

Nonfiction

Phnam Bagley

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Dr. Anton Howes of The Royal Society of Arts — Innovation, Invention, and Great Exhibitions Mar 16, 2021

In this conversation, we talk with Dr. Anton Howes the author of Arts & Minds and the historian-in-residence at the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce.

In this conversation, Dr. Howes & I discuss his research, how institutions help drive progress, the history of invention, and of course, the Great Exhibitions.

Chapters

00:00 Introducing Anton Howes
01:36 Writing and sharing research
03:21 Arts and Minds and the RSA
06:16 How an improving mentality spreads
08:14 Learning from the history of invention
09:54 Polymaths, outsiders and self-education
12:30 Inventors inspiring other inventors
14:50 Subcultures and public-spirited invention
18:11 Thinking about growth and stagnation
21:46 Useful narratives and progress studies
24:52 The myth of effortless genius
26:26 Resources and small improvements
28:53 Progress and a diversifying economy
30:43 A new Great Exhibition?
31:21 Industry, media and a focal point
33:07 Competition and the original Great Exhibition
36:10 Mass appeal and specialist exhibitions
37:36 Possibilities in medicine and research
39:17 Making invention feel accessible

Links

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Ro Gupta — Maps, Autonomous Transportation and Urban Mobility Mar 09, 2021

In this conversation, we talk with Ro Gupta the CEO of Carmera. At Carmera, they maintain the maps that move the world — from HD maps for autonomous cars to consumer maps for human navigation.

We cover the future of maps, autonomous vs. human driving, autopilot, and more!

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and introducing Ro Gupta
03:00 Why autonomous vehicles need current maps
10:04 Mapping the middle and last mile
11:58 The autonomous-vehicle hype cycle
15:09 Barriers to deployment
18:12 The next revolution in the physical world
24:26 Implications for cities and other industries
30:43 Tesla, driver assistance and public trust
34:20 The future Ro wants for his children
36:11 Finding Carmera and closing

Links

Ro Gupta — Woven by Toyota

Ro Gupta

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Anna Cheniuntai — 3D-Printed Buildings on Earth and Mars Mar 02, 2021

In this conversation, we talk with Anna Cheniuntai of Apis Cor. At Apis Cor, they're developing the robotics & materials technology to 3D print buildings both here on earth and eventually on Mars.

We cover the process of printing buildings, a little bit of the material science, the future of construction, and how 3D printed buildings are critical to our ability to inhabit Mars.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and introducing Apis Cor
01:49 Housing and the role of construction robots
06:57 What a building printer actually prints
12:24 Materials for printing walls
19:13 Adoption and building codes
23:59 From demonstrations to occupied homes
25:54 Construction beyond Earth
32:31 A longer-term vision for construction

Links

Apis Cor

Anna Cheniuntai

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Geffen Avraham — CubeSats and a More Accessible Space Economy Feb 23, 2021

In this conversation, we talk with Geffen Avraham the CEO of Pandion Orbital. At Pandion Orbital, they're making it easy for anyone to deploy a Cubesat (personal satellite) and get involved in Space — the final frontier. We cover satellites, the future of space, city aesthetics, and more.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and introducing Geffen Avraham
05:27 Why space captures the imagination
09:15 Pandion and access to orbit
13:29 What CubeSats are used for
16:03 Making launch easier to buy
20:06 The next barrier: satellite hardware
25:13 Interoperable satellite networks
34:06 A decentralized communications vision
38:37 Ideas beyond satellites

Links

Geffen Avraham

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Elliot Roth — Algae, Food and the Future of Space Feb 16, 2021

In this conversation, we talk with Elliot Roth the CEO of Spira. At Spira, they are currently farming algae, with a goal to produce the basic materials and goods needed locally, to replace the many chemicals and animal compounds currently being used in our foods today. We cover the importance of algae as a sustainable food source, what the future of food looks like, Elliot's NASA simulation, and more.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and introducing Spira
03:13 What makes algae useful
04:13 Starting with colors and blue pigment
09:21 Using the protein as well as the pigment
13:02 How algae is grown
17:14 A lunar simulation and scarce resources
22:24 Photosynthesis and the future of production
24:22 Imagining other planetary environments
32:25 Science fiction and finding inspiration

Links

Elliot Roth

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Samuel Ian Rosen (“Captain Planet”) — Water, Plastic and Tap Feb 09, 2021

In this conversation, we talk with "Captain Planet," born Samuel Ian Rosen, founder and CEO of Tap. At Tap, they're democratizing access to clean water by connecting water to the internet.

We talk about the future of water, America's water problem, greenwashing, water ATM's, and how all of us should be thinking about our relationship with water.

Mentioned in this conversation

Tap on Instagram

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and introducing Captain Planet
02:34 Connecting water to the internet
07:47 Finding and understanding water stations
13:43 Plastic packaging and incentives
18:52 How water ATMs work
23:24 Water quality and the information gap
30:46 Rethinking our relationship with water
41:34 Finding Tap and joining the conversation

Links

Tap

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Dival Banerjee — 3D-Printed Metal and Better Manufacturing Feb 02, 2021

In this conversation, we talk with Dival Banerjee, founder of Vuecason. At Vuecason, they're developing the technology to 3D print metal like we can currently print plastic. We cover what additive technology is, how to print metal, and the moral imperative for technology to improve life on Earth (and in Space!)

Mentioned in this conversation

Boom
Hyperloop

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and introducing Vuecason
03:33 Materials and additive manufacturing
05:50 Printing metal and handling heat
10:28 Print time versus total lead time
15:08 Changing how parts are designed
23:40 Business models for manufacturing hardware
26:52 Hyperloop and infrastructure challenges
28:22 Technology as a way to improve life
32:52 Manufacturing problems Dival wants to hear about

Links

Dival Banerjee — founder profile

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Sri Kosuri — Engineering Biology for Complex Diseases Jan 26, 2021

In this conversation, we talk with Sri Kosuri, CEO & co-founder of Octant. At Octant they engineer biology to design multi-targeted small molecule drug leads to transform the treatment of society’s most complex diseases. We talk about their drug discovery engine, engineering biology, genetics, advances in biotech, and much more!

Mentioned in this conversation

Octant Launches Polypharmacology Drug Discovery Engine for Complex Diseases with $30 Million Series A Financing Led by Andreessen Horowitz article on biospace.com

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and introducing Octant
01:56 New tools for engineering biology
07:48 Genetics and complex disease
16:13 Measuring many biological responses at once
21:03 From a platform to drug programs
29:04 What the next stage of biology could enable
35:58 Finding Octant and closing

Links

Octant

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Galen Wolfe-Pauly — Urbit, Communities and Personal Computing Jan 19, 2021

In this conversation, we talk with Galen Wolfe-Pauly the cofounder and CEO of Tlon. At Tlon, they're helping develop a new decentralizing computing platform called Urbit which is a new operating system and network built for the 21st century. We cover the future of the internet, privacy, the changing of the guard and more!

Mentioned in this conversation

The Digital Archipelago: How to Build an Internet Where Communities Thrive, a Coindesk Article by Galen Wolfe-Pauly

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and introducing Tlon
03:18 Urbit as a personal server
10:57 Different cultures and communities online
17:23 Moving beyond familiar social platforms
19:08 Building and sharing software differently
29:28 What drew Galen to the project
33:10 Exploring new ways of living together
37:00 Getting started with Urbit

Links

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Celine Halioua — Helping Dogs Live Longer Jan 12, 2021

In this conversation, we talk with Celine Halioua CEO & Founder of Loyal. At Loyal, they're developing drugs intended to delay and reverse aging in dogs. We cover the aging in both humans and dogs, the longevity space, and building a biotech.

Mentioned in this conversation

How to Build a Biotech

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and introducing Loyal
04:07 Why start with dogs?
08:47 Deciding to start a biotech
16:06 Finding the first teammates
17:11 The idea behind Loyal
20:25 Misconceptions about longevity
24:11 A new generation of biotech founders
30:27 Supporting Loyal and the field

Links

Celine Halioua

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Dryden Brown — Cities, Herofuturism and Immortality Jan 05, 2021

In this conversation, we talk with Dryden Brown, CEO & Founder of Bluebook Cities. At Bluebook, they're building the city of the future for Praxis which is a society of founders, engineers, artists, researchers, and young aspirants building towards a shared vision for the future through the pursuit of heroic projects.

We cover the future of cities, herofuturism, college campuses & trailer parks, David Bowie's pool, and more.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and introducing Bluebook Cities
01:42 The vision for a different kind of city
02:43 Heroic projects and symbolic immortality
04:13 College campuses, trailer parks and social fabric
06:19 Designing for spontaneous encounters
17:26 Choosing a different path
27:50 The practical challenge of building a city
31:20 What a new community could make possible

Links

Praxis — current project site

Dryden Brown

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Manu Ignatius — Underwater Networks and the Future of Oceans Dec 29, 2020

In this conversation, we talk with Manu Ignatius, CEO of Subnero, about the future of underwater wireless communications.

In addition to talking about the work they're doing at Subnero, we cover: the state of underwater networks today, marine research, underwater robots, and the future of our oceans.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and introducing Subnero
02:53 Why underwater communication is different
05:05 From point-to-point links to networks
09:47 Connecting sensors for research and monitoring
15:42 Software-defined underwater systems
20:41 Underwater robots and their applications
28:15 What else could be built on the platform?
29:20 Ideas beyond ocean technology

Links

Subnero

Manu Ignatius

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Rahul Rana — Making Moonshots and Building the Future Dec 22, 2020

In this conversation, we talk with Rahul Rana, Author of Making Moonshots. He tells us about his life and the unique paths that led to writing his book about Moonshot companies and why it is so important that we continue to build the future with these types of innovative and forward-thinking companies.

“It is time for conventional thinkers to stand aside and give way to the crazy ones, the contrarians, the radically creative geniuses who work outside the box to create massive breakthroughs.” Rahul Rana

We will also cover:

· What is a moonshot company?

· Why majoring in finance helped him realize his true passion for innovation.

· Who influenced him and how he decided to write his book?

· How a Georgetown Professor helped to guide him through the writing of his book.

· The process for picking the topic for his book.

· The literal blood, sweat, and tears that went into researching and writing the book.

· His positive views about the future of Moonshot companies.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and introducing Making Moonshots
02:51 What makes a company a moonshot?
03:56 Mindsets of ambitious founders
06:18 What holds people back?
10:23 Choosing to write a book
16:21 Researching and finishing the book
21:21 Making ambitious founders feel accessible
25:57 Finding the book and closing

Links

Making Moonshots — Rahul Rana’s later essay (2022)

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Gabriel Luna-Ostaseski — Braintrust and the Future of Work Dec 15, 2020

In this conversation, we talk with Gabriel Luna-Ostaseski, Founder and CRO of BrainTrust — the first user-controlled talent network that connects organizations with world-class tech talent.

We talk about how Braintrust is building the future of work through their decentralized job marketplace, the token model they've built on, and how the future of this marketplace is owned by the users.

Key Ideas & Questions

Chapters

00:00 Introduction
01:50 Tell me about the future you're building with Braintrust, what's the vision?
03:33 What does it mean for the network to be owned and operated by the talent?
04:43 How does this shift in a talent owned marketplace grow and evolve over the coming decades?
06:39 Because there are global demands of highly technical talent, what does the future of work look like for individuals operating that world?
08:00 How do we get everyone around the world upscaled and how do we think about this moving forward, if a lot of work is going to be project based and decentralized?
10:19 How do you see this evolving in a way where instead of pursuing traditional modes of higher education, people would go to the Braintrust Academy to learn the skills they need to immediately be valuable? Or to immediately have a job in the market?
11:13 How Braintrust will build camaraderie and teamwork, while using their company model.
12:56 How Braintrust is organically building teams within their group of multidisciplinary experts, where they bid and do projects as a group, not only as an individual consultant.
13:54 Description of the Hollywood Model of work and how it compares to what Braintrust is doing.
16:54 How Companies are beginning to understand the benefit of a highly flexible and autonomous workforce and answers the question on where there is still friction for companies that are slowly moving to adopt this model?
18:59 The types of soft skills needed in order to thrive in this future.
20:50 The biggest misconceptions about this mode of operating.
21:48 The components of the Blockchain Model that Braintrust currently uses.
24:46 Why it is important for each individual working with Braintrust to have governance rights and voting rights as well as having the one token one vote system.
25:59 The evolutionary process of Braintrust becoming a foundation.
26:53 How individuals will earn the trust tokens and be able to use them.
28:14 Why Braintrust decided to use this brand new type of business model.
29:39 What are some of the other facets that are really interesting to you or that you think you would like to see other entrepreneurs, go build?
31:05 Gabriel speculates on what categories might move into this decentralized model in the future.
32:38 How would you recommend someone get started in pursuing this independent solo entrepreneur kind of lifestyle? And how does braintrust fit into that?
33:12 What excites you the most about the future?

Links

Braintrust

Gabriel Luna-Ostaseski

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Michael Levin — Regeneration, Xenobots and the Software of Life Dec 08, 2020

In this conversation, we talk with Dr. Michael Levin, Principal Investigator at The Levin Lab, where their goal is to "understand how individual cell behaviors are orchestrated towards appropriate large-scale outcomes despite unpredictable environmental perturbations."

We cover his research and insights on:

How living tissues and cells make decisions
Cell regeneration
The benefits of using Xenobots
The intersection between biology and computer science
And much, much more!

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and introducing the Levin Lab
05:29 Regeneration and anatomical goals
09:59 Xenobots and cells in new arrangements
14:09 Practical and conceptual implications
21:24 Memory through regeneration and metamorphosis
25:37 Mind, cognition and ethical questions
28:52 Challenging established ideas in research
32:45 Advice for pursuing new directions
35:49 Models and tools for scientific discovery

Links

The Levin Lab

Dr. Michael Levin

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Jamie Gull of Talyn — Electric Flight Between Cities Dec 01, 2020

In this conversation, we talk with Jamie Gull, CEO of Talyn Air, about their electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft system that separates and recombines in the air. Talyn Air has designed a green, battery operated aircraft system that will be able to take off from a local convenient location, without the hassle of having to fly out of a standard airport. It will be able to take you from city to city in less time than it would take to drive or fly through a commercial airline.

Are you tired of waiting at the airport for hours to travel a short distance? If so, this is the episode to listen to in order to find out more about this new stress free and environmentally safe way to travel.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and introducing Talyn
03:36 A more direct trip between cities
07:00 The two-part aircraft approach
12:15 Starting with cargo
16:40 How faster travel could affect cities
18:41 Building hard tech together
27:26 Batteries, autonomy and electrification
31:57 Freight costs and environmental trade-offs
34:21 Opportunities beyond software

Links

Jamie Gull — Talyn acquisition update (2023)

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Justin Glibert — Factories on the Moon Nov 24, 2020

In this conversation, we talk with Justin Glibert, Founder and CEO of Foundation, about building the first moon factory. Foundation is designing self-replicating robots, which will use resources from outer space and the moon to replicate and manufacture items and new factories. This will provide a much-needed depot for those traveling in outer space. They will be able to stop by the moon and purchase or make their own needed devices for their space travels, without the need to return to earth. Justin is designing a way for us to live a “Star Wars” life, where you can take vacations on Mars and other outlying planets. If you have been dreaming of intergalactic travel, this is the episode for you.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and introducing Foundation
04:28 Energy, resources and industrial scale
08:11 The first lunar manufacturing steps
12:42 What self-replication would involve
17:31 Customers and a market for lunar infrastructure
22:36 Why attempt this now?
25:32 Products and possibilities beyond the first factory
31:37 Dependencies and unsolved engineering work
33:59 Other technologies Justin wants to see

Links

Justin Glibert — personal website

Justin Glibert

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Dr. Sandhya Sriram — Growing Seafood from Cells Nov 17, 2020

In this conversation, we talk with Dr. Sandhya Sriram, CEO & Co-founder of Shiok Meats & SciGlo, about the fascinating world of growing stem cell based meats. If you have ever worried about the future of our food sources and our inability to grow or raise enough food to feed the ever-growing population, this is the episode for you. Dr. Sriram will give us an inside view on the sustainable food industry of animal stem cell meat, with a concentration on crustaceans stem cell meat, and how this will allow us to grow meat without having to kill the animals to attain an alternative meat source.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and introducing Shiok Meats
02:41 How meat grows from cells
06:07 Developing a food-grade growth medium
11:25 Will consumers try cultivated seafood?
14:33 Taste, price and returning customers
17:54 Problems in the seafood industry
22:49 Why start with crustaceans?
27:25 From stem-cell research to a food company
30:29 A future with more food choices

Links

Dr Sandhya Sriram — Shiok Meats founder profile

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Tyler Hayes — Artificial Limbs and the Future of the Human Body Nov 10, 2020

In this conversation, we talk with Tyler Hayes, CEO of Atom Limbs, about their highly anticipated mind controlled bionic arm. The bionic arm goes beyond a prosthetic arm and brings us into the new “Human Body 2.0.” We will cover the evolution of the bionic arm and how this is only the beginning of the creation of more bionic limbs and organs. Lastly, we will talk about Tyler’s reasons for being so open and why he is encouraging people to follow along as Atom Limbs creates their products.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and introducing Atom Limbs
02:00 Controlling an artificial arm
04:48 Signals between the body and the device
06:37 The longer-term vision for artificial bodies
10:08 Identity and the meaning of being human
11:57 What else should people build?
18:52 Helping hard-tech and scientist founders
22:16 Why publish a company’s plans?
27:40 Advice for getting started

Links

Atom

Tyler Hayes

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Matteo Franceschetti — Sleep Fitness and the Connected Bed Nov 03, 2020

In this conversation, we talk with Matteo Franceschetti, Co-Founder and CEO of Eight Sleep, about their patented sleep fitness technology. If you lack energy during the day because of the low quality of sleep you are getting each night, this is the episode for you. We will cover suggestions on how to improve your overall health with fitness, nutrition, and the proper amount of sleep. We will also discuss the two pillar vision and the technology that Eight Sleep has designed and is now available to improve your sleep.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and introducing Eight Sleep
02:30 What sleep fitness means
05:51 The company’s vision for more efficient sleep
06:53 Temperature and personalization
12:29 The Pod and its temperature-control approach
17:01 Imagining a complete sleep environment
19:01 Why Matteo started Eight Sleep
21:13 Future possibilities for health monitoring
27:30 How feedback can change habits

Links

Eight Sleep

Matteo Franceschetti

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Gonzalo Espinoza Graham — Building a Flying Car at Watfly Oct 27, 2020

In this conversation, we talk with Gonzalo Espinoza Graham, Founder and CEO of Watfly, about the future with flying cars. Gonzalo gives us a behind the scenes view on how the car is being designed and transformed from a recreational vehicle to a multi-passenger air vehicle. We will discuss the difference between an aircraft and an air vehicle and how that changes the licensing requirements as well as no longer needing a runway to launch and return to a location.

If you have ever dreamed about a future with flying cars and feeling the freedom of quicker travel without obstacles, this is the episode for you.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and introducing Watfly
01:29 A more practical personal aircraft
05:47 Starting with recreational flight
07:18 A roadmap from early customers to wider use
08:40 How transportation shapes cities
17:22 Different approaches to electric flight
20:20 Regulation and adoption
23:33 Funding a hardware company
29:55 Building in public and what comes next

Links

Watfly

Gonzalo Espinoza Graham

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Garrett Scott — Pipedream and the Future of Delivery Oct 20, 2020

In this conversation, we talk with Garrett Scott, CEO of Pipedream Labs, about the world of hyper-logistics. Hyper-logistics is the ability to instantaneously receive goods, delivered to you no matter where you are, within seconds. “Think beyond food!” Hyper-logistics via an underground tubing system will be used to deliver goods and tools, to relieve the need to purchase and store items only needed on occasion, and after the items have been used they can be returned through the pipeline to the sender.

Join us today as we discuss the possibilities of logistics and our ideas to create a better and more efficient future.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and introducing Pipedream
01:43 The vision for hyper-logistics
05:05 Sending and returning physical objects
08:14 Tunnels, pods and the network design
11:02 A first useful delivery loop
15:46 Sharing tools instead of storing everything
18:35 What changes for homes and commerce?
24:21 No-code tools and more people building
28:57 Finding collaborators and building in public

Links

Pipedream Labs on X

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Alexis Rivas — Building Homes Like Products at Cover Oct 06, 2020

"Imagine having to, every time you want to service your car, take a hacksaw to the body panels, make a hole, and then have to patch it up. That's what you're doing with home construction today. And so what we've done is we've made it so that you can actually unclip our ceiling and wall panels, access everything, and then just put them back up."

In this conversation, we talk with Alexis Rivas the CEO of Cover where they're building ultra-high quality homes using algorithms and production lines to get us to a future where homes are beautiful, abundant, well-built, and improve the environment.

We talk with Alexis about literally building the future of homes, their Tesla-esque go-to-market strategy, and how our relationships with the home may evolve.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and introducing Cover
01:10 Rebuilding the home-construction process
02:55 Manufacturing with a system of panels
04:43 Software, customization and permitting
09:25 Why people build backyard homes
12:07 A Tesla-inspired path to a wider market
15:38 Housing supply and cities that can adapt
17:48 Designing homes for service and reuse
25:11 How architecture shaped the approach

Links

Cover

Alexis Rivas

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Katie Rae — Building an Ecosystem for Tough Tech Sep 29, 2020

"So the question was, could we create a community and a venture capital fund that would inspire people to stick to these really important. But tough technologies, right. Ones that could stand the test of time, but take capital and know how and deep knowledge in order to be able to actualize."

In this conversation, we talk with Katie Rae the CEO and Managing Partner of The Engine which is a venture fund in partnership with MIT that's building an ecosystem to support the development of tough tech companies.

We talk with Katie about building a tough tech ecosystem, science vs. engineering risk, and whether or not Katie agrees that we're in a period of stagnation.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and introducing The Engine
02:18 Why create a home for tough tech?
04:56 Labs, partnerships and a founder community
09:18 Engineering risk, science risk and patient capital
13:19 Are we really in a period of stagnation?
15:49 Optimism and making progress
18:53 How communities nurture founders
21:05 Helping founders grow as leaders
24:36 Technologies and people worth backing

Links

Katie Rae

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Felix Ejeckam — Satellites and Internet Access for Everyone Sep 22, 2020

"The limits of your imagination today define the limits of, of space tomorrow"

In this conversation, we talk with Felix Ejeckam, the CEO of Akash Systems which is developing and supplying the next generation of extreme bandwidth, hyper-efficient communications gear for space satellites to accelerate the world towards universal and low-cost access to the internet.

We talk with Felix about the revolutionary GaN-on-Diamond technology they’ve invented, what’s happening in the space space, and what it might look like to bring low-cost, high bandwidth internet to all.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and introducing Akash Systems
01:17 The goal of low-cost internet access
02:33 Gallium nitride on diamond
06:13 What wider connectivity could make possible
09:11 How heat affects electronics and cost
11:52 Applications beyond satellites
14:20 From components to a broader satellite plan
15:13 New opportunities in the space industry
25:14 Why Felix took on this challenge

Links

Akash Systems

Felix Ejeckam

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Indra Sofian — Rethinking High School at Sora Sep 15, 2020

"We believe that every student should have a school and an education that's really designed for you, your learning style, your pace, your interests, and ultimately your goals and aspirations."

In this conversation, we talk with Indra Sofian, the co-founder of Sora Schools which is an online, project-based high school where students explore their interests and future careers.

We talk with Indra about the sham of standardized testing, the importance of project-based learning, and how we've opened Pandora's Box in education.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and introducing Sora Schools
01:16 A school designed around the student
05:16 Why the traditional model persists
10:38 Tests, incentives and Indra’s school experience
14:10 How project-based learning works
20:42 Teamwork and managing your own time
24:13 Virtual schooling during the pandemic
28:27 Growing without losing the purpose
29:46 More choices in the future of education

Links

Sora Schools

Indra Sofian

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Wes Wagner — Learning, Incentives and Outcomes-Based Payments Sep 08, 2020

"We sort of forgot that this isn't how things used to be, because in no one's collective memory is a time when education was relatively affordable."

In this conversation, we talk with Wes Wagner, the co-founder of Align where they make it extremely easy for anyone to set up an outcomes-based payment agreement with their students, customers, or clients.

We talk with Wes about the history of higher education, incentives, unbundling, and the role that outcomes-based payment agreements will have on making quality education accessible and affordable for all.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and introducing Align
01:15 Connecting talent with opportunity
02:59 How payment structures shape incentives
06:52 Unbundling higher education
09:20 Beyond content: learning and community
13:51 Infrastructure for outcomes-based education
19:24 Risks and limitations of early agreements
21:03 Direct relationships versus third-party finance
24:47 Community and the changing role of institutions

Links

Wes Wagner — founder interview

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Josh Clemente — Metabolic Health and Real-Time Feedback Sep 01, 2020

In this conversation, we talk with Josh Clemente, the co-founder of Levels Health where they help you track your blood glucose in real time, so you can maximize your diet and exercise.

We talk with Josh about the importance of metabolic health, the smart health stack, and the implications of living in a world where we have 24/7 realtime monitoring of all of our essential biometric data.

Resources

Everything you may want to know about Energy Balance
The other leaders in the smart health stack ecosystem: Oura, Whoop, Eight Sleep.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and introducing Levels
02:15 What metabolic health means to Levels
04:54 Making feedback more immediate
11:16 Understanding individual responses to food
14:11 Beyond glucose: future health feedback
20:04 Data, motivation and behavior change
23:29 Making wearable data useful
26:23 A connected health-data ecosystem
30:25 New possibilities built on better information

Links

Energy Balance

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Alex Bouaziz — Remote Work and a Borderless Workforce Aug 25, 2020

"What used to be called outsourcing has become normalized and standardized as remote teams"

In this conversation, we talk with Alex Bouaziz, the founder of Deel which is a startup that streamlines compliance, onboarding, and payroll for remote teams.

We talk with Alex about the future of work, what people get wrong about remote work & the independent contractor model, and how offloading the work of dealing with laws in every country is going to accelerate us to a future where talent, wealth, and access are available to all.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and introducing Deel
01:07 Making cross-border hiring simpler
02:44 Contractors, employees and local requirements
05:14 Keeping up with different countries
09:52 How the pandemic changed remote work
12:28 Relationships and culture on a remote team
15:26 What a borderless workforce could mean
18:59 Independent work and changing employment models
25:23 Payments and opportunities for other builders

Links

Deel

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Jill Carlson — Money, Hyperinflation and Financial Access Aug 18, 2020

"The future looks like a world in which everyone has free and open access to their money, to a financial system that functions in their favor."

In this conversation, we talk with Jill Carlson, the founder of the Open Money Initiative which is a non-profit that researches how people use money in closed economies and collapsing monetary systems.

We talk with Jill about what's actually going on the ground in Venezuela, hyperinflation, Bitcoin, financial security as a basic human right, and much more!

Mentioned in this conversation

Read more about the Crisis in Venezuela
Open Money Initiative Announcement

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and introducing the Open Money Initiative
01:18 Why study money where access breaks down?
04:19 The everyday effects of hyperinflation
07:28 Learning from Venezuelans’ experiences
12:03 Financial access as a human right
14:16 Why cryptocurrency is not a cure-all
16:27 What being unbanked can mean
24:48 What drew Jill to this work
28:44 Reasons for hope and places to learn more

Links

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Ken Chong — Restaurants and the Food Delivery Economy Aug 11, 2020

"It's really just about a platform or service that allows restaurants to continue doing what they do best. Right. Which is design great food and prepare great food while taking some of the complexity of the technology out and setting up the integration with couriers, delivery drivers, or these delivery apps, in really seamless way."

In this conversation, we talk with Ken Chong, the founder of Virtual Kitchen Company which empowers restaurants, chefs, and food entrepreneurs to take advantage of the delivery boom without enduring the challenges of building out additional locations themselves.

We talk with Ken about the food delivery economy, food entrepreneurship, and the role delivery will play in building the future of both food and restaurants!

Mentioned in this conversation

Read the A16Z Investment Thesis

Go build!

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and introducing Virtual Kitchen Company
01:57 Helping restaurants adapt to delivery
03:47 What changed during the pandemic?
04:35 The restaurant of the future
06:49 Dining out and ordering in
07:37 Data alongside culinary creativity
11:01 Opportunities for food entrepreneurs
13:59 The challenges of physical operations
16:38 Consumer habits and the shape of cities

Links

Why a16z invested in Virtual Kitchen Co (2019)

localfoodhall.com

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Evan Goldin — Parking, Public Space and the Future of Cities Aug 04, 2020

"Forcing people to provide this hugely expensive good that they then have to give away for free has been a mistake and it's resulted in a lot less flexibility for businesses. It's resulted in more expensive housing. It's resulted in cities that are flooded with cars and with buses that are stuck in public transit. And I think we're just getting to the point where we're starting to see the light. And we're starting to realize that perhaps the future could look a little different."

In this conversation, we talk with Evan Goldin, the founder of Parkade which builds parking software that helps businesses, cities, and individuals better utilize the overabundance of parking spaces around them.

We talk with Evan about the havoc that free parking has wrecked on our cities, the impact of COVID on our city streets, and the role that parking innovation will play in building the future of cities.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and introducing Parkade
02:34 Parking requirements and the cost of housing
06:08 How parking rules developed
09:13 Who pays for free parking?
13:02 Reclaiming streets for people
18:13 Sharing the parking we already have
22:14 Workplace parking and travel choices
25:04 A lifelong interest in transportation
27:30 Parkade’s starting point and longer-term vision
30:17 What it takes to change transportation policy

Links

Evan Goldin

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Jason Crawford — Progress, Prescriptive Optimism and Useful Knowledge Jul 28, 2020

"I want all of us to build a world where we in the future and our descendants are as fantastically well off compared to today as we are compared to the past."

In this conversation, we talk with Jason Crawford, the founder of Roots of Progress. Roots of Progress is an organization promoting the history of technology and industry, and the philosophy of human progress.

We talk with Jason about the three layers of progress, how much better the world is now vs. 100 years ago, the space race, knowledge creation, and so much more!

Take a listen to this episode to understand the importance of understanding the role progress has played in our past and how important it is in building the future.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome to Build The Future
02:42 Why study the roots of progress?
07:50 Financing and organizing new discoveries
10:08 Institutions, rules and regulation
11:51 Culture and prescriptive optimism
15:36 Progress includes tackling risks
19:20 Learning from cultural movements
20:29 What the space race can teach us
26:49 Teaching the history of technology
29:17 Stories that make building feel possible
30:39 Communities and the creation of knowledge
37:38 The Haber-Bosch process and modern agriculture

Links

Roots of Progress Institute

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Patri Friedman — Charter Cities, Law as Code and Governance Experiments Jul 14, 2020

My long term goal is to create a world where people can start countries. Like they start companies today.

In this conversation, we talk with Patri Friedman (@patrissimo), the founder of Pronomos Capital where they're supporting the development of charter cities and new forms of governance. In doing so, they're building the future of how new cities are created, how they're run, and how they innovate.

Key Ideas

Law as Code, Cities as Product — Similar to code, law can operate as an open source library or database of the best laws that people around the world are continually contributing to and adapting. As a result, the cities and governments that are built off of these laws will be best positioned to serve their people.
Everything as Insurance — In these charter cities, insurance would be used as a way to control who is allowed to visit the city. Everyone may buy liability insurance based on the risk they pose given their past history, psychological profile, and assets they own. Rather than being discriminatory, the efficiency of markets could make this a very accurate model reducing and providing compensation for any harm or damage that occurs.
Markets Eating the World — By creating more markets, such as a market for governments, competition between different ways of doing things will arise which forces those who want to be at the forefront to optimize and improve their solutions.

Mentioned in this conversation

Follow Patri on Twitter (@patrissimo)
Pronomos VC
Charter Cities Institute

Chapters

00:00 Welcome to Build The Future
03:01 Law as code and the city as a product
05:40 Testing laws and provisioning physical space
11:00 Voice, exit and governments that serve residents
13:38 Insurance and market incentives as policy tools
19:38 Charter city projects and host countries
24:05 The longer-term vision of a sovereign city-state
25:43 Citizenship, coalitions and geopolitics
30:05 Working with existing governments
34:23 Could charter cities emerge in the United States?
39:49 Software, cryptocurrency and new sources of capital
42:55 Finding a mission worth decades of work
48:53 Other opportunities in the physical world and markets

Links

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Goke Olubusi — Digital Healthcare Infrastructure and Telemedicine Jul 07, 2020

We had a unique understanding and we said, okay, we're going to rebuild healthcare software, but we're not going to make it look like traditional healthcare software. We're going to make it feel like platforms these people already use. And more importantly, we're going to make it so easy and flexible and affordable for them that it just becomes a no brainer.

In this conversation, we talk with Goke Olubusi, the founder and CEO of Helium Health. Goke describes clinics where access to technology and familiarity with it are constraints, and how his team at Helium Health works within existing tools and behaviors to reshape healthcare.

The next question seems to be how?

Due to his extensive knowledge of the African market gathered from previous startups, Goke knew he had to work within people’s existing behaviors. While access to technology and the skills to use it are both constraints, he recognized that most people have a smartphone and are familiar with programs like Facebook, Twitter and Whatsapp. From there, Goke shares how he specifically developed a new healthcare software that can be used on a smartphone and has a similar interface to apps people already know.

Key Ideas

Data-driven decision making: Goke envisions healthcare in Africa and other markets being driven entirely by data and technology. Collecting and analyzing data rather than storing thousands of paper files would allow hospitals in Africa to analyze things such as when they are busiest and need to allocate the most resources, where they are losing money and where they could be more efficient.
Digital Infrastructure: In order to enable this, Helium is building the digital infrastructure for hospitals. This is a collection of data and metrics that is built on top of the existing infrastructure of smartphones that already exists. Hospitals can then easily access and use this data to operate more efficiently.
Telemedicine: Similar to other countries, the coronavirus pandemic has accelerated the use of telemedicine in Africa. Before coronavirus, Hospitals were not very interested in telemedicine, but they are now looking for a solution because they have never thought of operating virtually and their revenue is down 80% to 90%.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome to Build The Future
02:35 A vision for data-driven healthcare
03:35 Lessons from messaging and social platforms
07:16 Designing software people want to use
10:00 Flexible pricing, existing devices and offline access
12:23 Turning records into useful operational insights
16:02 Interoperability from the beginning
18:43 Local care, investment and the impact of lockdowns
24:07 Accelerating telemedicine and virtual care
30:20 Building emergency response infrastructure
35:08 Why more young people should build in healthcare

Links

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Ryan Dunn — Carbon Fiber 3D Printing and the Next Generation of Machines Jun 30, 2020

"What we're really trying to accomplish is, providing another tool for one of these step changes. Something where we go from an expensive & manual process to one that's highly automated to enable the next generation of machines."

In this conversation, we talk with Ryan Dunn the CEO of Mantis Composites.

Mantis Composites has developed a 5-axis, 3D printer for carbon fiber parts. In the development of this technology, they're helping usher in the next step change in materials innovation. Innovation that will enable the technologies of tomorrow to be built more efficiently and affordably — technologies like rockets, satellites, hyper-cars, and planes.

In this conversation, we talk about the step changes throughout history; Ryan's most anticipated technologies and their implications; and the role that government can play in helping foster the development of these frontier technologies.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome to Build The Future
01:10 Materials, manufacturing and economic step changes
04:33 The components behind ambitious machines
06:55 Space infrastructure, supersonic flight and satellite internet
11:09 Why faster travel can matter
14:09 What makes carbon fiber composites useful?
18:19 Why this manufacturing approach became possible
20:46 Lightweight parts and aerospace applications
25:08 Working across defense and commercial technology
33:02 Funding hardware and explaining enabling technologies
36:38 Long development cycles and working backward

Links

Ryan Dunn

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Jon Dishotsky — Co-Living, Community and the Future of Cities Jun 23, 2020

"To make cities affordable for everyone, it's a ridiculous mission. But it’s ridiculous on purpose, because it should drive us to work on this for the next 50 years."

In this conversation, we talk with Jon Dishotsky the CEO of Starcity.

Starcity builds intentional and sustainable co-living communities to help people find a place to call home in today's cities. In pursuit of their mission to make cities more accessible to everyone, Starcity is shaping the future of urban living, community, and sustainable development.

In this conversation, we talk about the trends around city living, the challenges of our individualism, and the role that cities can play in providing opportunity and community.

Mentioned in this conversation

Starcity
Raj Chetty and the Opportunity Atlas
Jerry Seinfeld: 23 Hours to Kill
Study: 48% of people have < 1 close friend
What people regret on their deathbeds
The Israeli Kibbutz
The Japanese Ryokan
US Communes
Conversation between Elon Musk and Joe Rogan on Space X
Michael Phelps: Winning as a team vs. winning solo.
Y Combinator
Schlep Blindness by Paul Graham

Chapters

00:00 Introduction
00:47 Can you tell us a little bit about what you’re building at Starcity and the future you are trying to create?
03:44 Is the idea that previously inaccessible areas for a large number of people become more accessible?
05:31 How do you see the dynamic of people working remotely and leaving cities working out in the future?
10:55 Are cities providing in-person communities the answer to painful social isolation?
13:20 Will there be a regression back to cities after people realize living in an affordable house in the suburbs leaves them socially isolated?
16:07 How do we build a sense of community into our cities?
19:31 How do you think we ended up in this state where everyone is so individualistic and trying to get that glass box in the sky?
23:41 Do you think the idea of having to do it alone stops them from starting or does getting support along the way help build that momentum?
28:47 Can you tell me about your relationship with work and if you’re doing it at Starcity and how the 10, 20 year lifetime scale factors into that?
31:38 It’s like seeing something that needs to exist and recognizing that it’s going to take some time but there’s nothing else I’d rather be doing
33:49 Why do you think people don’t go build things?
37:47 What’s your favorite city and why?

Links

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Kelly Smith — Microschools, Mastery and Empowered Learners May 25, 2020

In this conversation, we talk with Kelly Smith the CEO of Prenda. Prenda is a new type of school — called a microschool — that blends in-person interaction and technology to create personalized learning programs for kids that focuses on mastery and responsibility.

We talk about alternative education models, growth mindset, and how Prenda is working to develop the next generation of empowered learners.

Mentioned in this conversation

Growth Mindset
The Inner Game of Tennis
Kelly's article on taking the red or blue pill when it comes to education.
Principles by Ray Dalio
Acton Academy
Khan Academy
Mystery Science

Chapters

00:00 Welcome to Build The Future
01:45 Rethinking education around empowered learners
08:11 The role of a learning guide
10:59 Mastery, goals and the learning frontier
15:13 Moving beyond labels and fixed abilities
22:31 Mindset, curiosity and learning for yourself
25:00 Rethinking what families want from education
31:50 Kelly’s own experience with grades and learning
35:44 From Code Club to a kitchen-table microschool
39:54 Conquer, collaborate and create
44:42 Student choice and starting an education project

Links

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Tyler Shaddix of GoGuardian — Building the Future of Learning May 20, 2020

In this conversation, we talk with Tyler Shaddix the CPO of GoGuardian. They provide thousands of K-12 schools with the technology they need to create safe and effective digital learning environments.

We talk about how Tyler ended up at GoGuardian, the incentives in the K-12 system, digital learning technology, and how we can use data to create experiences that meet the needs of every student.

“Education is one of the best ways to change the world because you’re basically sculpting the next generation” - Tyler Shaddix

Mentioned in this conversation

- GoGuardian
- GoGuardian founders: Aza Steel, Advait Shinde and Nick Tyler
- UC Merced
- GoGuardian products: classroom
management tool, suicide prevention, and
learning filter
- Build Bridges Before Kingdoms (Tyler's Essay)
- Elon Musk - Plan to colonize Mars
- Minimum Viable Product - MVP
- GoGuardian's Beacon Suicide Prevention Service
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
- American Association for Suicidology
- A Young Lady's Illustrated Primer

Chapters

00:00 Introduction
03:01 The story about how Tyler ended up at Go Guardian.
06:57 Courting process for joining Go Guardian.
08:37 Technology and internet adoption in the classroom.
10:38 What have some of the technology roll-out challenges been?
14:11 Tells the story of the kingdom versus bridges analogy.
16:46 Incremental steps that lead to building the future.
17:58 Building the first step to a 25 year journey.
20:23 Story of Beacon, the suicide prevention product.
24:51 Has the rise of technology contributed to the mental health crisis?
27:34 Student vs. Administrative culture for mental health services.
34:16 What are some of the positive implications of new access to data?
39:08 Future of Educational content & breakdown of the entire system for creating content.
40:26 What advice would you give to your younger self when you were trying to make a decision to go join Go Guardian or not?

Links

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

Welcome to Build the Future May 15, 2020

Build the Future begins with a sense of wonder: the feeling that tomorrow could be different, and that we can help shape it. This short trailer introduces the show’s ambition to explore frontier technology, research and bold projects through conversations with the people pursuing them. It closes with an invitation to question the status quo and build the world we want to live in.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome to Build the Future
00:16 A sense of wonder
01:04 The people and ideas we will explore
01:31 An invitation to build

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Build the Future Podcast. This is a project by World's Fair Co. You can learn more at worldsfair.org.

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