As this is a podcast all about the trends shaping the future, we can’t go past space colonisation. So, is living in space a realistic possibility or is our Jetson’s fantasy just that - science fiction?Today on the podcast, Dr Ben Hamer breaks down the history of our fascination with the moon and space travel, and whether we could be living on Mars one day.  Recommendations:  An article about how NASA plans to send astronauts to Mars in 2030 and how they’ll make it happen An interview with one of the people who did the year-long Mars simulation    Follow Ben everywhere HERE Sign up for the ThinkerTank newsletter HERE Book Ben as a keynote speaker at Saxton See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re talking more and more about climate change, and yesterday, September 25, was the International Day of Climate Action. So to mark the occasion, Dr Ben Hamer is jumping into the future of our climate, and while it’s not all doom and gloom it is a big one, so we’ve split this one in two parts. Join us for part one now which will get you across the headlines and everything you need to know about the future of climate change.  Recommendations:  A blog from the UN around actions you can do for a healthier planet A link to Climate Action Australia and some of their organisations taking action in case you want to get involved   Follow Ben everywhere HERE Sign up for the ThinkerTank newsletter HERE Book Ben as a keynote speaker at Saxton See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Future Of Climate Change Part One

Currently there are some crazy things going on with our population outlook, and in many Western countries, like Australia, there will be a point where we see more grandparents than grandchildren. Not to mention the fact that kids born today are more than likely going to live into the next century, and that we're currently in a “baby recession”.On this episode of ThinkerTank, Dr Ben Hamer breaks down exactly why and how population will play a massive part in shaping what our future looks like.  Recommendations:  A short video from 7:30 Report on Australia’s baby recession. This article from advocacy group, Age International, on the advantages of ageing population to bring more balance to convo.   Follow Ben everywhere HERE Sign up for the ThinkerTank newsletter HERE Book Ben as a keynote speaker at Saxton See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Future Of Our Population

Have you heard of the circular economy? Well, it could help solve critical resource shortages in the future, but also help with reducing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. In this episode of ThinkerTank Dr Ben Hamer explains why it’s important we find out what it is, why it matters and what it could look like in future.  Recommendations:  A link to influencer Jools Lebron’s TikTok so you can see where this 'demure' stuff all began A link to all the cool case studies and articles from WEF where you can go down whole heap of different rabbit holes on all things circular economy   Follow Ben everywhere HERE Sign up for the ThinkerTank newsletter HERE Book Ben as a keynote speaker at Saxton See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Future of the Circular Economy and Recycling

Women’s sport is having a moment. And for all the right reasons. It hasn’t always been the case though, and it's been a lot of struggle and hard work to get to this moment. While still a way to go, it’s important to take stock of the achievement and look at what it could mean for the future, and that's exactly what Dr Ben Hamer does on this episode of ThinkerTank.  DISCOVER MORE:  Link to the Female Athlete Project on Insta - fastest women’s sport platform in Australia. No Dribble podcast - Cath Cox and Liz Ellis, and their friend and comedian Caroline as they talk about netball and life. Article from UK that’s an awesome story about the invincible U12 Queens Park Ladies team - an all girl soccer team what went undefeated in their local comp… while playing in a boys league.   Follow Ben everywhere HERE Sign up for the ThinkerTank newsletter HERE Book Ben as a keynote speaker at Saxton  Produced by DM PodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Future of Women's Sport

The Future of Space

While we talk about cost of living and the price of houses a lot today, there's also the matter of just how much the houses themselves have changed.From the use of renewable energy to tech-free rooms and hot new kitchen appliances - on today's episode we're bringing you some of the cool tech you can expect and the future of homes and living.  DISCOVER MORE:  An article from HowStuffWorks on some designs that resemble the home of the future that exist today  A video showing a 3D printer creating a seven-ingredient slice of cheesecake so you can get excited about one day having it as your fave new kitchen appliance   Follow Ben everywhere HERE Sign up for the ThinkerTank newsletter HERE Book Ben as a keynote speaker at Saxton  Produced by DM PodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Future Of Our Homes

As we look back through history, right through to today, an unfortunate reality is war and conflict, and these days tech is playing a bigger role in combat. But could it get to the point that it results in a war with no dead? Today on the podcast, Dr Ben Hamer breaks down the future of war and the effect tech might have on conflict, from drones to AI to cyber warfare.  DISCOVER MORE:   A book by Bill Clinton and James Patterson - The President is Missing, a political thriller about preventing a catastrophic cyber attack  An episode of Unknown on Netflix called Killer Robots where you can look at some of these technologies in action   Follow Ben everywhere HERE Sign up for the ThinkerTank newsletter HERE Book Ben as a keynote speaker at Saxton  Produced by DM PodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Future of War Could Have No Casualties

Do you sometimes find yourself being a little bit of a Negative Nancy? Well, it turns out our brains are actually hardwired that way. And it’s why we all seem to have a pretty grim outlook when it comes to the future. In today’s episode, we’re looking at something a little different - that is, the neuroscience of negativity and how we can try and be a little bit more glass half-full about what the future has in store for us.  Recommendations: Check out this article that goes into a little bit more detail on the negativity bias in a way that’s easy to understand. And if you haven't already, follow or subscribe to this podcast for your weekly dose of future positivity!  Follow Ben everywhere HERE Sign up for the ThinkerTank newsletter HERE Book Ben as a keynote speaker at Saxton  Produced by DM PodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Future...And Why It Doesn't Suck

From France's charging motorways to Norway's impressive adoption rates, we discuss how various countries are leading the charge. Join us to uncover when Australia might reach the tipping point and see a significant shift toward electric vehicles. We also explore the history and advancements of Electric Vehicle technology, the global surge in Electric Vehicle sales, and the hurdles we still face.  There was a fair bit in this episode but if you’re still left wanting more, then fear not. Check out the show-notes where you’ll see:  A link to a video where Jeremy Clarkson and James May from The Grand Tour battle it out between a petrol and an electric car As well as a link to all the different EV charging stations around Australia courtesy of our friends at the NRMA so you can get a gauge on where they all are.  Next episode, where we’re going to jump into the brain and look at the neuroscience of negativity and why we can sometimes be a bunch of negative Nancies. I’m Dr Ben Hamer, I’ll catchya then  Follow Ben everywhere HERE Sign up for the ThinkerTank newsletter HERE Book Ben as a keynote speaker at Saxton  Produced by DM PodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Future of Electric Vehicles

From virtual and eco-friendly funerals to cryogenic freezing and digital immortality through deepfakes and mind uploading, we discuss the evolving landscape of end-of-life practices. Join Dr Ben Hamer as we delve into the fascinating, and sometimes eerie, possibilities for honouring and extending life beyond traditional boundaries.  DISCOVER MORE:  Article from the BBC, which is titled ‘Would you get buried in a mushroom suit like Luke Perry?’ The Right to Be Forgotten Wikipedia page, a law or policy in different countries that looks at how they treat someone’s data once they have died. And the final one? Well, there’s no link, just a recommendation that is me saying it’s winter and these cold nights are a great excuse to re-watch Harry Potter :)   Follow Ben everywhere HERE Sign up for the ThinkerTank newsletter HERE Book Ben as a keynote speaker at Saxton  Produced by DM PodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Future of Death

 In the next 30 years, food scarcity will become a major issue due to our wasteful habits. Did you know throwing out a burger wastes as much water as a 90-minute shower? Discover more about food scarcity and the future of our food in this appetising episode of the ThinkerTank Podcast.  DISCOVER MORE: There’s the A-Z of Food Saving Tips from OzHarvest, which is all about what you can do to reduce your own food waste.  And then there’s a video from the BBC that’s all about eating insects  Follow Ben everywhere HERE Sign up for the ThinkerTank newsletter HERE Book Ben as a keynote speaker at Saxton  Produced by DM PodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Future of Food

In this week's episode, Dr Ben Hamer breaks down the future of misinformation and fake news. Find out how governments, news agencies and schools will tackle the post-truth era.  DISCOVER MORE: Check out the ABC's Fact Check site if you ever wanted to question or check the accuracy of claims by politicians, public figures, and advocacy groups. Read this article about the AI deepfake images from the Met Gala this year.   Follow Ben everywhere HERE Sign up for the ThinkerTank newsletter HERE Book Ben as a keynote speaker at Saxton  Produced by DM PodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How Will Misinformation and Fake News Shape the Future?

In this week's episode, Dr Ben Hamer explains how LSD came to be, what microdosing is and how it will change the future treatments of depression, PTSD and other mental health disorders.  DISCOVER MORE: Read this article from Harvard that explains the current state of scientific research on microdosing and psychedelics, including the pros and cons. Watch this presentation from SXSW last year on How Psilocybin Mushrooms Can Help Save the World.  Watch Cosima De Vito's Australian Idol performance of When the War is Over.   Follow Ben everywhere HERE Sign up for the ThinkerTank newsletter HERE Book Ben as a keynote speaker at Saxton  Produced by DM PodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is Microdosing Psychadelics the Future of Health?

Join Dr Ben Hamer for a look at the state of energy in Austalia and around the world. From renewables to nuclear energy, this episode walks us through what other countries are doing and what Australia can expect in coming years.  DISCOVER MORE: Read this article from IBM on the future of renewable energy. Read the Liberal party’s press release announcing their plan for nuclear energy. The controversial ranking of the top 25 Simpsons episodes of all time  Follow Ben everywhere HERE Sign up for the ThinkerTank newsletter HERE Book Ben as a keynote speaker at Saxton  Produced by DM PodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Energy

You've heard of high end fashion and you've probably heard of fast fashion, but what about 'ultra fast fashion'? Join Dr Ben Hamer in this episode as he unpacks how fashion consumption has changed over the decades, and how fashion manufacturing and consumer trends will change in the future.  DISCOVER MORE: Check out this video of an influencer testing a whole heap of wacky and weird Shein products. Download this app to help you find sustainable and ethical brands while shopping.  Follow Ben everywhere HERE Book Ben as a keynote speaker at Saxton  Produced by DM PodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ultra Fast Fashion

Everyone’s talking about housing affordability in Australia, which has been declining since the early 1980s. That’s over forty years of it getting harder and harder to get into the property market. Jump into this episode of the ThinkerTank podcast and hear Dr Ben Hamer unpack why housing affordability is such a complex issue in Australia and what the future of housing will look like.  DISCOVER MORE: Check out this article of the weirdest homes in Australia  Follow Ben everywhere HERE Book Ben as a keynote speaker at Saxton  Produced by DM PodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Housing Affordability

A couple of years ago some Australian companies did a six-month trial of a four-day working week - and the results were incredible. In this episode Dr Ben Hamer reveals how work will change in the future and when we can expect to be working four-days instead of five.  DISCOVER MORE: Read this article listing Australian companies who have already implemented the four-day working week. Check out this article with suggestions on where to spend your day off  Follow Ben everywhere HERE Book Ben as a keynote speaker at Saxton  Produced by DM PodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Four Day Working Week

In Australia, we can expect to have lab-grown meat in our mouths in just 12 months’ time. It's being hailed as a way to combat climate change and stop deforestation, as well as addressing food shortages across the globe. Join Dr Ben Hamer as he chews through the innovations and ethical considerations of lab-grown meat and asks - would you eat it?  DISCOVER MORE: Watch this video of a blind taste test where three judges taste both traditional and lab-grown chicken - can they spot the difference? Read this article from the Good Food Institute about The Science of Cultivated Meat  Follow Ben everywhere HERE Book Ben as a keynote speaker at Saxton  Produced by DM PodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lab-Grown Meat

400 million people a month spend time in the metaverse. But if you, like many, have no idea what the 'metaverse' is - let alone what happens in it -  then this episode is for you. Join Dr Ben Hamer as he dives deep into the metaverse, shares what's happening in it, who's using it and what it will look like in the future.  DISCOVER MORE: Watch this video of an interview between Lex Fridman and Mark Zuckerberg - it's the first interview to be conducted in the Metaverse. Check out this video from the Wall Street Journal, where tech journo Joanna Stern spent a full 24-hours in the Metaverse to see what it's like. Read this article from Wired, titled "what is the Metaverse, Exactly?"  Follow Ben everywhere HERE Book Ben as a keynote speaker at Saxton  Produced by DM PodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Metaverse

With a more sedentary lifestyle, addictions to screens, limited access to affordable healthy options and high calorie diets - it's no wonder that the weight-loss drug Ozempic has become the miracle drug of our lifetime.  DISCOVER MORE: Watch this video and find out how Ozempic works in the body. Listen to this podcast from The Economist and hear how weight-loss drugs will change the world.  Follow Ben everywhere HERE Book Ben as a keynote speaker at Saxton  Produced by DM PodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ozempic

Rather than being a 'Jetson's fantasy' - light years away from our reality - flying cars are zooming around our skies today.  Join Dr Ben Hamer as he unpacks how flying cars came to be, what we're already doing with them and how they'll play a big part in our future.  DISCOVER MORE:Bloomberg Businessweek Podcast - The Future of Flying Cars Comes Closer Watch this video and take a tour of a flying car worth $300K The first ever gender equal Olympics in Paris  Follow Ben everywhere HERE Book Ben as a keynote speaker at Saxton  Produced by DM PodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Flying Cars

The Enhanced Games, which has been described as 'The Olympics of the Future', is where athletes are encouraged to take performance enhancing drugs and could win a million dollars for their efforts. Join Dr Ben Hamer in this surprising episode as he dives into the technology in sport and the future of doping.  DISCOVER MORE:The ABC video on the Enhanced Games A Triple M radio interview with the creator of the Enhanced Games - Dr Aron D'souza and Australian Olympain Liesel Jones.  Follow Ben everywhere HERE Book Ben as a keynote speaker at Saxton  Produced by DM PodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Enhanced Games

Generation Z - those born between 1997 and 2012 - are playing a bigger role in shaping the way we'll live, work and play over the next decade. And it's more than just mullets and friendship bracelets. So, join Dr Ben Hamer as he shares more about these 'digi-sapiens' and what we can expect from them in the future.  DISCOVER MORE: Watch the Australia Day Lamb commercial Gen-Z Instagram Trend Talk  Follow Ben everywhere HERE Book Ben as a keynote speaker at Saxton  Produced by DM PodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gen-Z

ThinkerTank is a podcast that explores the trends shaping the way we'll live, work, and play in the future. Coming 20 May 2024See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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