Flash Forward

Today we travel to a future where we can take a robot home for a good time, or a long time, depending on what you’re into.Content note: today’s episode discusses sex and includes explicit language. This one is more “mature” than most episodes, so proceed accordingly. ✨ REMEMBER TO SIGN UP FOR THE WRAP PARTY HERE! ✨Guests: Tina Horn: author of SFSX (Volume 2 out now) and host of Why Are People Into That?  Danielle Blunt: dominatrix and community organizer with Hacking//Hustling Samantha Floreani: Program Lead at Digital Rights Watch  Ingrid Burrington: journalist and host of RIP Corp Dr. Debbie Chachra: professor of engineering at Olin College Render Man: hacker & founder of the Internet of Dongs Voice Actors: Rachael Deckard: Richelle Claiborne Brad: Brent Rose Halimah: Zahra Noorbakhsh Malik: Henry Alexander Kelly Summer: Shara Kirby Ashoka: Anjali Kunapaneni Eliza: Chelsey B Coombs Dorothy Levitt: Tamara Krinsky John Dee: Keith Houston Dr. Marcia Eckers: Andrea Silenzi Original X Mark

Today we travel to a future where militaries employ killer robots. Should a robot be allowed to take a human life? Is the speed of war increasing too quickly? What does a tech worker do when they find out their work is being used for war?Guests: Kelsey Atherton, a reporter who covers military technology. Ryan Calo, a professor of law at the University of Washington. Dr. Ryan Jenkins, an associate professor of philosophy at California Polytechnic State University. Liz O’Sullivan, the CEO of Parity. Dr. Lucy Suchman, a professor emerita of sociology at Lancaster University. Dr. Jesse Kirkpatrick, an assistant professor of philosophy at George Mason University. Dr. Carlotta Berry, chair of the electrical and computer engineering department at the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. Kate Conger, a technology reporter at the New York Times. Voice Actors: Rachael Deckard: Richelle Claiborne Chad: Brett Tubbs Lina: Ashley Kellem Brad: Brent Rose Halimah: Zahra Noorbakhsh Malik: Henry Alexander Kelly S

Today’s episode is part one in our FOUR PART MINI SEASON SERIES AND SHOW FINALE [airhorn noises]. We’re going out with a robotic bang: four episodes about four different ways that robots might impact your life in the future, starting with sports. Also, you'll hear a special announcement about the future of the show.For more about that go here.Guests: Joe Choong, gold medalist in the Tokyo Olympic games in modern pentathlon. Dr. Peter Stone, a professor of computer science at the University of Texas at Austin, and president of the International RoboCup Federation. Jessica Luther and Dr. Brenda Elsey, two of the co-hosts of sports podcast Burn it All Down. Dr. Rayvon Fouché, a professor of American studies at Purdue University. Dr. Josh Siegel, an assistant professor of computer science and engineering at Michigan State University. Brent Verdialez, founder and CEO of STRYK. Voice Actors: Rachael Deckard: Richelle Claiborne Alex: Aiya Islam Amanda: Emma Bracy Chad: Brett Tubbs Lina: Ashley Kellem Brad:

Today’s episode is about a future where humans learn how to shrink ourselves. What are the ethics of making someone smaller against their will? Would we keep all our fingers and toes? Would we even be considered humans anymore?Guests: Dr. Fei Chen, an assistant professor of stem cell and regenerative biology at Harvard. Dr. Jonathan Payne, a professor of geological sciences at Stanford. Dr. Sebastian Alvarado, an assistant professor of biology at Queens College, CUNY. Dr. Joyce Lee, a pediatric endocrinologist at the University of Michigan. Silvia Yee, a senior staff attorney at the Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund. Micah Perks, an author and director of creative writing at UC Santa Cruz. Voice Actors: Parvus Employee #1: Henry Alexander Kelly Parvus Employee #2: Ashley Kellem Harry Purvis — Brett Tubbs Parvis Tour Guide — Chelsey B. Coombs → → → Further reading & resources here! ← ← ← Flash Forward is hosted by, Rose Eveleth and produced by Julia Llinas Goodman. The intro music is

Today’s episode is all about making our technologies and medicines tiny. Like, super tiny. Guests: Ainissa Ramirez -- scientist, speaker, author of The Alchemy of Us Eun Ji Chung -- biomedical engineer at the University of Southern California Inge Hermann -- chemical engineer at ETH Zürich Raj Bawa -- biotechnologist at Bawa Biotech  Richard Handy -- environmental toxicologist at University of Plymouth Lisa Yaszek -- professor of science fiction studies at Georgia Tech Voice Actors: Harry Purvis -- Brett Tubbs Parvis Tech -- Chelsey B. Coombs → → → Further reading & resources here! ← ← ← Music provided by Jay_You and Ketsa. Flash Forward is hosted by, Rose Eveleth and produced by Julia Llinas Goodman. The intro music is by Asura and the outro music is by Hussalonia. The episode art is by Mattie Lubchansky.Get in touch:  Twitter // Facebook // Reddit // info@flashforwardpod.comSupport the show: Patreon // DonorboxSubscribe: iTunes // Soundcloud // Spotify Episode Sponsors:  BirdNote Daily: BirdNo

Today we travel to a future where your face is findable no matter where you go. Guests: Scott Myers — former editor of the Perplex City Wiki Laura E. Hall — game designer and author of Planning Your Escape Tom-Lucas Säger — technologist & Satoshi finder Stan Alcorn — senior reporter at Reveal from the Center for Investigative Reporting Erin — long lost camp friend Dr. Kate Klonick — assistant professor of law at St. John’s University School of Law → → → Further reading & resources here! ← ← ← Flash Forward is hosted by, Rose Eveleth and produced by Julia Llinas Goodman. The intro music is by Asura and the outro music is by Hussalonia. The episode art is by Mattie Lubchansky.Get in touch:  Twitter // Facebook // Reddit // info@flashforwardpod.comSupport the show: Patreon // DonorboxSubscribe: iTunes // Soundcloud // Spotify Episode Sponsors:  BirdNote Daily: BirdNote Daily is a short, two-minute podcast that answers all of your burning bird-related questions — like, how do birds stay perched i

Today we revisit an episode from way back in season one, and ask: what even is gender in the first place? How could it be different? Why does science fiction like playing with gender? And what would happen if we removed it from our legal identities?Guests: Os Keyes, a PhD student at the University of Washington who studies gender, disability, and technology. Dr. Flora Renz, co-director of the Centre for Sexuality, Race and Gender Justice at Kent Law School. Tuck Woodstock, a professional gender detective and host of the podcast Gender Reveal. Dr. Oliver Haimson, an assistant professor at the University of Michigan School of Information. Blue Delliquanti, a contributor to the Flash Forward book and author of the forthcoming graphic novel Across A Field Of Starlight. → → → Further reading & resources here! ← ← ← Flash Forward is hosted by, Rose Eveleth and produced by Julia Llinas Goodman. The intro music is by Asura and the outtro music is by Hussalonia. The episode art is by Mattie Lubchansky. Our ad

Today’s episode is all about fire: how does it work? Why is it so dangerous? And could we ever make it safe? And it's an extra special episode because it's hosted by Julia Llinas Goodman!Guests: John Lentini, a certified fire investigator who has served as an expert witness in over 200 legal cases. Dr. Lynn Hulse, a psychologist with the University of Greenwich’s Fire Safety Engineering Group. Nisha Baliga, the co-executive director of urban planning nonprofit Hester Street, and Jimena Veloz, a senior project manager at Hester Street. Dr. Frank Lake, a research ecologist with the U.S. Forest Service who has family in the Karuk Tribe and the Yurok Tribe. → → → Further reading & resources here! ← ← ← Flash Forward is hosted by, Rose Eveleth and produced by Julia Llinas Goodman. The intro music is by Asura and the outtro music is by Hussalonia. The episode art is by Matt Lubchansky.Get in touch:  Twitter // Facebook // Reddit // info@flashforwardpod.comSupport the show: Patreon // DonorboxSubscribe: iTun

Today’s episode is about a future where the economy revolves around gifts, instead of money.Guests: Ilana Strauss, a journalist and producer at National Geographic’s podcast, “Overheard.” Dr. Niels Thygesen, an associate professor at the Copenhagen Business School. Dr. James Parisot, a researcher at the University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley and author of How America Became Capitalist: Imperial Expansion and the Conquest of the West. Dr. Anna Grear, a professor of law at Cardiff University and author of The Great Awakening: New Modes of Life Amidst Capitalist Ruins. Ricardo Nuñez, the director of economic democracy at the Sustainable Economies Law Center. Dr. Sara Nelson, an economic policy fellow at the University of British Columbia. Dean Spade, an activist, professor at Seattle University School of Law, and author of Mutual Aid: Building Solidarity During This Crisis (and the Next). Dr. Hyunseok Hwang, an assistant professor of sociology at the University of Houston. Monica Byrne, a novelist, playw

Today’s episode is about a future where humans get weird with sleep. First, what if we tried to take shifts all day, every day? Second, what if we tried to become nocturnal?Guests: Dr. Matthew Wolf-Meyer, an associate professor of anthropology at Binghamton University and author of The Slumbering Masses: Sleep, Medicine, and Modern American Life. Sarah Kaplan, a science reporter at the Washington Post who’s worked the night shift. Dr. Bala Koritala, a researcher at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. Alexandra Mariani, a listener who works the night shift at a hospital. Kelton Minor, a PhD student at the University of Copenhagen Center for Social Data Science. Dr. Kaitlyn Gaynor, a researcher at the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis. Voice Actors: Aiya Islam Anjali Kunapaneni → → → Further reading & resources here! ← ← ← Flash Forward is hosted by, Rose Eveleth and produced by Julia Llinas Goodman. The intro music is by Asura and the outtro music is by Hussalonia. The e

Today’s episode is about a future where we try to control crime with brain implants.Guests: Stephen Kinzer, a journalist and author of Poisoner in Chief: Sidney Gottlieb and the CIA Search for Mind Control. Dr. Shaun Patel, a neuroscientist at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Steph Griffiths and Dr. Jarkko Jalava, co-authors of The Myth of The Born Criminal: Psychopathy, Neurobiology, and the Creation of the Modern Degenerate. Dr. Liat Ben-Moshe, an assistant professor at the University of Illinois Chicago and author of Decarcerating Disability: Deinstitutionalization and Prison Abolition. Dr. Hank Greely, director of the Center for Law and the Biosciences at Stanford University. Dr. Apryl Alexander, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Denver. Elliott Fukui, a community organizer and facilitator. Dhruv Mehrotra, a data reporter at Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting. Voice Actors: Chelsey Coombs Aiya Islam Anjali Kunapaneni → → → Further reading & resources here! ←

Today we do a bit of spelunking into the history of Flash Forward, revisit last year’s anniversary, and talk about how the future sausage gets made.Things I talked about on today's episode. Tamara Krinsky’s work The limits of empathy A Queen of Sorts On the Ice Scientists Excited About Humpback Whales Singing In Waters Off New York City On the Verge of Extinction, These Whales Are Also Shrinking → → → Further reading & resources here! ← ← ← Flash Forward is hosted by, Rose Eveleth and produced by Julia Llinas Goodman. The intro music is by Asura and the outtro music is by Hussalonia. The episode art is by Matt Lubchansky.Get in touch:  Twitter // Facebook // Reddit // info@flashforwardpod.comSupport the show: Patreon // DonorboxSubscribe: iTunes // Soundcloud // Spotify Episode Sponsors: BetterHelp: Affordable, private online counseling. Anytime, anywhere. Flash Forward listeners: get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/flashforward Skillshare: Skillshare is an online learning community where mi

Today’s episode is about a future where humans decide to live underground.Guests: Dr. Brian Toon, an atmospheric scientist and professor at the University of Colorado, Boulder Jason Wright, a tour guide and resident of Coober Pedy, Australia Dr. Youqin Huang, a professor at Albany State University who studies housing and migration in China Dr. Eun Hee Lee, an assistant professor at the University of Nottingham, Malaysia who’s researched the psychology of underground spaces Finbarr Fallon, a designer and visual artist based in Singapore Rob van Son, a researcher based in Singapore who leads the Digital Underground project Dr. Michael Doyle, an assistant professor of architecture at Laval University Julio Amezcua, an architect based in Mexico City Voice Actors: Mom: Ashley Kellem Ben: Brett Tubbs Adam: Aiya Islam Song by Shannon & Scott of Song Salad → → → Further reading & resources here! ← ← ← Flash Forward is hosted by, Rose Eveleth and produced by Julia Llinas Goodman. The intro music is b

Today’s episode is about a future where we (try to) mine asteroids for resources.Guests: Atossa Abrahamian, a journalist who’s written about space mining and is working on a new book about “places in the world where the rules don’t (fully) apply.” Dr. Andreas Hein, a space systems engineer and executive director of the Initiative for Interstellar Studies. Dr. Ram Jakhu, a professor at the McGill Institute of Air and Space Law and editor of Global Space Governance: An International Study. Dr. Erika Nesvold, an astrophysicist, co-founder of the JustSpace Alliance, and host of the podcast Making New Worlds. Dr. Jim Schwartz, a professor of philosophy at Wichita State University who writes about space ethics. Voice Actors: Receptionist/Robot: Ashley Kellem Gabby: Anjali Kunapaneni Melissa: Chelsey B. Coombs Mark: Henry Alexander Kelly → → → Further reading & resources here! ← ← ← Flash Forward is hosted by, Rose Eveleth and produced by Julia Llinas Goodman. The intro music is by Asura and the outtro

Today’s episode is all about the future of cities. Do we want them to be smart? What does that even mean? Guests: Ben Passmore, a comic artist and contributor to the Flash Forward book! Annalee Newitz, a science journalist, science fiction writer, and author of Four Lost Cities: A Secret History of the Urban Age. Dr. Jathan Sadowski, author of Too Smart: How Digital Capitalism is Extracting Data, Controlling our Lives, and Taking Over the World and cohost of a podcast called This Machine Kills. Dr. Brenda McPhail, director of the Privacy, Technology, and Surveillance Program at the Canadian Civil Liberties Association. Dr. Jarah Moesch, a multidisciplinary artist and professor at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Voice Actor: Smart City Cop — Brett Tubbs→ → → Further reading & resources here! ← ← ← Flash Forward is hosted by, Rose Eveleth and produced by Julia Llinas Goodman. The intro music is by Asura and the outtro music is by Hussalonia. The episode art is by Matt Lubchansky.Get in touch:  Twitte

Today’s episode is about a future without touch. Guests: Dr. Angela Rasmussen, a virologist currently working at the Georgetown Center for Global Health, Science and Security but soon to be head of her own lab up at the University of Saskatchewan.  Dr. Catherine Cudlick, a historian and the Director or the Paul K. Longmore Institute on Disability at San Francisco State University. Dr. Tiffany Field, the director of the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami School of Medicine. Dr. David Parisi, a professor at the college of Charleton the author of a book called Archaeologies of Touch: Interfacing with Haptics from Electricity to Computing. Voice Actors: Naomi Jackson — Shara Kirby Dr. Sandra Bowles — Richelle Claiborne  Advertisement Voices — Rachel Lara, Jake & Rory Terracina, and Kathryn Dollens → → → Further reading & resources here! ← ← ← Flash Forward is hosted by, Rose Eveleth and produced by Julia Llinas Goodman. The intro music is by Asura and the outtro music is by Hussalo

WELCOME BACK TO FLASH FORWARD! Today we travel to a future where we become immune to every poison, venom and toxin in the world. What happens next? Guests: Dr. Bryan Fry — biochemist and molecular biologist at the University of Queensland Dr. Christie Wilcox — science writer & author of Venomous: How Earth’s Deadliest Creatures Mastered Biochemistry Dr. Karin Broberg — geneticist at the Karolinska Institute Dr. Trysh Travis — cultural historian at the University of Florida  Dr. Mark Bonta — cultural geographer  Voice Actors:Pharmaceutical Ad Narrator — Shara Kirby → → → Further reading & resources here! ← ← ← ✨✨GET THE FLASH FORWARD BOOK HERE!! ✨✨Flash Forward is hosted by, Rose Eveleth and produced by Julia Llinas Goodman. The intro music is by Asura and the outtro music is by Hussalonia. The episode art is by Matt Lubchansky.Get in touch:  Twitter // Facebook // Reddit // info@flashforwardpod.comSupport the show: Patreon // DonorboxSubscribe: iTunes // Soundcloud // Spotify Episode Sponsors: 

Today we travel to three past futures, and update you on recent developments! How has COVID brought us closer to robot teachers? Why did Oregon vote to decriminalize all drugs? And what the heck is going on with the antitrust suits against Google and Facebook? Guests: Audrey Watters — ed-tech expert & author of The Monsters of Education Technology (2014), The Revenge of the Monsters of Education Technology (2015), The Curse of the Monsters of Education Technology (2016), and The Monsters of Education Technology 4 (2017) Matt Sutton — Director, Media Relations Drug Policy Alliance Rani Molla — reporter, Recode  → → → Further reading & resources here! ← ← ← Flash Forward is hosted by, Rose Eveleth and produced by Julia Llinas Goodman. The intro music is by Asura and the outtro music is by Hussalonia.Get in touch:  Twitter // Facebook // Reddit // info@flashforwardpod.comSupport the show: Patreon // DonorboxSubscribe: iTunes // Soundcloud // Spotify Episode Sponsors:  PNAS Science Sessions: Science S

Today’s episode is the LAST OF THE SEASON! And we're getting weird. What if there wasn't just this one timeline, this one universe, but tons and tons of and tons of universes all around us all the time? Constantly splitting and forming? Well it turns out that there is an interpretation of quantum mechanics that says just that. And today we talk about alternate universes, many worlds, memory, and stories. Plus: what Flash Forward might be like in other timelines.Guests: Dr. Sean Carroll — professor of physics at the California Institute of Technology & host of the podcast Sean Carroll's Mindscape Dr. Charan Ranganath — professor of psychology at UC Davis Tom, Matt, and Nate — twins! Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone — co-authors of This Is How You Lose the Time War → → → Further reading & resources here! ← ← ← Flash Forward is hosted by, Rose Eveleth and produced by Julia Llinas Goodman. The intro music is by Asura and the outtro music is by Hussalonia. The episode art is by Matt Lubchansky.Get in t

Today’s episode is all about trash. What if every country had to deal with its own garbage instead of shipping it elsewhere? Did you know what trash is bought and sold on a global market? What would happen if that market was shut down?Guests: Dr. Ifesinachi Okafor-Yarwood — lecturer in sustainable development at the University of St. Andrews. Jim Puckett — founder and executive director of the Basel Action Network Dr. Jenna Jambeck — professor of environmental engineering at the University of Georgia Dr. Joshua Lepawsky — professor in the department of geography at Memorial University of Newfoundland James Wakibia — environmental activist in Kenya  Dr. Mustafa Santiago Ali — vice president for environmental justice, climate and community revitalization at the National Wildlife Federation Voice Actors: New Plastic Commercial — Richelle Claireborn Friend 1 — Henry Alexander Kelly Friend 2 — Shara Kirby → → → Further reading & resources here! ← ← ← Flash Forward is hosted by, Rose Eveleth and prod