Deep Futures

Deep Futures Trailer

Annalee Newitz: When I was a kid, I was obsessed with the future—I devoured science books about how our sun would explode in 5 billion years --

Annalee: and TV shows about travelers in space and time, exploring other societies --

Annalee: Science taught me how to understand the world, but science fiction taught me why it’s so important to imagine our future. If we want to build a better tomorrow, we have to dream it up first.

Annalee: In these weird days of pandemics, superstorms, and authoritarian politics, I have a lot of questions about the future. Basic questions like - Where will our food come from? What will our cities look like? Can democracy - survive? How will we all stay connected? This season on Deep Futures, I'm talking to six fascinating people - who just might have the answers.

Annalee: I’m Annalee Newitz. I’m a science fiction author, and I’m also a science journalist. I've criss-crossed the planet, covering scientific breakthroughs for outlets like the New York Times. My latest book -- Four Lost Cities -- took me back in time, to report on new archaeological discoveries about ancient urban life.

Annalee: In my new podcast, I’m time traveling again – and I’m taking you with me - into Deep Futures.In each episode, we’ll meet one visionary thinker whose work could change the way you live, whether you’re a maker, an artist, an entrepreneur -- or just a person who is curious about what tomorrow will bring. We’ll hear from people who have worked in forensics labs, disaster zones and peach orchards, picking fruit. We’ll talk to a surgeon who might one day hook you up with a new kidney – 3D printed, on demand.

Anthony Atala: just picture an ink inkjet cartridge, but instead of using ink, you're using cells. and then you have the nozzles go back and forth. really, it's just like your typical desktop inkjet printer. But of course, a lot more sophisticated.

Annalee: They share stories of how they made their greatest discoveries --

Sarah Parcak: And it was a shock to my eyes. Because I went from not being able to see anything to being able to see everything.

Annalee: And the moments that changed their lives--

Luke Masella: I remember asking my mom after the doctors left, does that mean I'm gonna die?

Armando Elenes: So I went and knocked on the tool shed and, to my shock, they opened the door. And there was four workers living in a tool shed. And I was like, wow, like, this is what you're putting up with.

Annalee: And of course my guests will step into a time machine with me, to explore the futures they imagine.

Sarah: I think future people will find us disgusting. “What do you mean? Like they didn't care about everyone's lives? What do you mean they actually ate living things?”

Annalee: We’ll get a glimpse of tomorrow, from perspectives you -- might not have considered. Because the future isn’t just about shiny gadgets. It’s about politics and culture.

Malka Older: I don't think democracy really exists in the world right now. I think we've got some pseudo democracies. But I think we have not done a very good job of advancing democracy at the pace that we could be.

Annalee: The future is about people --

Raychelle Burks: Technology, as amazing as it is, is not going to save us. We are going to save ourselves.

Annalee: Together, we’ll try to figure out how the humans of tomorrow might make sense of the chaos of today -- and maybe, just maybe, make things better. Join us, on Deep Futures from Campside Media and Mailchimp. Subscribe to Deep Futures wherever you get your podcasts.