The Friendly Futurist: Towards Society 5.0
Episodes
Why do we need more digital wisdom? Interview with Barbara Whitmann
17 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Joining us on board the good ship SS tomorrow this week is Barbara Whitmann, who discusses the importance of digital wisdom in bridging the gap betwee...
Is The Tide Turning In Favour of Renewables? Nathan Rhodes from Intium Revisited
03 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Joining us back on board the good ship SS Tomorrow this week. We revisit Nathan Rhodes from Intium, who discusses the significant changes in the energ...
What Are Virtual Power Plants? Kaluza Revisited with Jesse Warburg
05 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On board the good ship SS Tomorrow this week, we are revisiting Kaluza. This time around, Jesse Warburg discusses his journey in the renewable energy ...
Is AI Giving Rise to Neo-Luddites? Lee Schneider Revisited
08 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Long time listeners will know the penultimate question I ask each guest: Where do you see the world in 5-10 years time. Since the good ship SS Tomorro...
Why Hydrogen is the Smartest Fuel Choice. With Rinaldo Brutoco
24 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you think that the weather is getting crazier by the year, then you are not alone. In fact at the time of recording this episode in late July 2025 ...
What is the future of the AI-Human relationship? Interview with Peter Swimm from Toilville
10 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join us on board the good ship SS Tomorrow, as we discuss Conversational AI with Peter Swimm from Toilville. Discover how conversational AI is transfo...
How is IBM utilising data to help build smarter cities? Interview with Asanga Lokusooriya
28 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today on board the good ship SS Tomorrow. We ask What makes a city "smart"? With our guest Asanga Lokusooriya from IBM. Is it the technology, the d...
Why you need to give yourself 10 Permissions. Interview with Jill Reilly
20 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Joining us on board the good ship SS tomorrow this week is Jill Reilly. Jill shares her experiences in aid work and social development, with a focus ...
When is Q Day? Interview with Aaron Momin from Synechron
06 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Joining us today on the bridge of the good ship SS Tomorrow is Aaron Momin, the CISO of Synechron, discussing the evolving landscape of cybersecurity....
Where to next for Agentic AI? Interview with Philip Swan
23 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Joining us on the bridge of the good ship SS Tomorrow is, Phillip Swan from Iridius discusses the concept of agentic AI, its mission to provide safe a...
What is Social Engineering? And why you should be concerned? Interview with JJ from SoSafe
25 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Joining us on deck this week on the Goodship SS Tomorrow is JJ from SoSafe In this episode, Dave and JJ discuss the evolving landscape of cybersecuri...
What is Urban Mining? Interview with Don Weatherbee from Regenx
11 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Joining Dave, on the bridge of the good ship SS Tomorrow is Don Weatherbee from Regenx, discussing the innovative recycling of catalytic converters, p...
Why a Walled Garden is Holding You Back. Interview with Andrew McCarthy from Notion.
28 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Andrew McCarthy from Notion will join us on board the bridge of the good ship SS tomorrow. .He shares insights on the evolution of software tools, th...
Meet Your AI Co-Worker. Interview with Nick Jain from IdeaScale
07 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Joining us on board the bridge of the good ship SS Tomorrow is Nick Jain, CEO of Ideascale, discusses the future of work, the challenges of the curre...
How is Australia Transitioning to Renewable Energy? With Gavin Mooney from Kaluza
23 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Joining us on board the bridge of the good ship SS Tomorrow this week is Gavin Mooney from Kaluza. Discussing the evolution of renewable energy, the r...
Why a CAIO will be a Career in the Near Future. With Graham Kittle from Heidrick & Struggles
09 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, host Dave interviews Graham Kittle, managing partner of Heidrick & Struggles in Australia, discussing the current state of AI tec...
We Made it to 150!!!
02 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
To celebrate our 150th episode let's take a look back at some of our amazing renewable energy and green tech startup success stories across Australia ...
Are We Destined to Become a Spacefaring Species? With J. Craig Wheeler
19 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Are we destined to explore the stars? After all, we do travel on this podcast on board the good ship SS Tomorrow. In this conversation, astrophysicis...
Why We Should Take Sextech Seriously. With Dr Elliot Justin
05 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Joining us on board the bridge of the good ship SS Tomorrow is Dr. Elliot Justin, who discusses the intersection of sex technology and health, focusin...
Where does the frontier of biotechnology sit today? With Lou Hawthorne and Dr Jeff Gross
19 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the first chapter, Dave interviews Lou Hawthorne, an expert in nanotechnology, particularly its applications in medicine. Lou shares his unique jou...
What Cyber Threats Should You Be Wary of in 2025? With Daniel Garcia
05 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel Garcia from Kaseya is joining us on the bridge here on the good ship SS tomorrow. He discusses his journey in the MSP space and the mission of ...
Does The Renewable Energy Transistion Equal a Jobs Bonanza? Interview with Nathan Rhodes from Intium
22 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Nathan Rhodes, General Manager of Intium, is joining us on board the bridge of the good ship SS tomorrow this week. In this conversation, we discuss ...
Why does Green Energy Storage Matter? Interview with Erich Kisi from MGA Thermal
08 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Here on board the good ship SS Tomorrow we love to showcase Aussie ingenuity. Joining us on board today is Erich Kisi, co-founder and chief scientist...
Is There a Potential for a Societal Renaissance? With Jason Perelson
18 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Joining us on the flight deck this week on the good ship SS Tomorrow is Jason Perelson, who discusses the concept of upside-down thinking and its appl...
Can AI Guard us Against Cyber Threats? with Massimo Gherardi
04 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Joining us today on the flight deck of the good ship SS Tomorrow is Max Gharardi from Point Break Security. He discusses the use of AI agents in cyber...
What are some other applications of drone technology? with Mat Johnsson
20 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Joining us on board the good ship SS Tomorrow, today is Mat Johnson, a drone expert from Bristol, UK. They discuss the various applications of drone t...
Can XR Help with Speech? Interview with Sophie Thompson
06 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Joining us on board the good ship SS Tomorrow today is. Sophie Thompson, founder and CEO of Virtual Speech, discusses the use of virtual reality (VR) ...
What is the second human evolution? With JJ Jerome
30 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
JJ Jerome will join us on board the good ship SS Tomorrow to discuss the concept of the second human evolution Evolution is no longer moving forward ...
Do we need digital twins for critical infrastructure? Interview with Jack Curtis
16 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Summary Joining us today on board the good ship SS Tomorrow is Jack Curtis, the Chief Commercial Officer at NEARA, a software company that creates ...
Is AGI Coming Real Soon? Interview with Stefan Fehr
02 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Joining us today, on board the good ship SS Tomorrow is Stefan Fehr, who will discuss artificial general intelligence (AGI) and the current state of A...
How could you save music festivals? Interview with Luke Trickett
18 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Joining us on board the good ship SS Tomorrow this week is Luke Trickett, a former national swimmer turned tech entrepreneur, who discusses his paymen...
Why is Fast Fashion Bad for the Planet? with Rachel Gallagher and Tom Hussey
04 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Joining us on the good ship SS Tomorrow this week are Rachel Gallagher and Tom Hussey to discuss sustainability in the fashion industry. Rachel Gallag...
Can House Plants have Smart Tech? Interview with Jared and Jimmy from Willow
21 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Joining us on board the good ship SS Tomorrow are Jared and Jimmy from Perth Tech Startup Willow, a plant care sensor that helps users take care of th...
Why Does Digital Sovereignty Matter? with Arie Trouw
07 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Arie Trouw is joining us today on board the good ship SS Tomorrow and discusses the concept of self-sovereignty in the digital era and its application...
What is Digital Nutrition? Interview with Jocelyn Brewer
24 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Joining us on board the good ship SS Tomorrow is Jocelyn Brewer, who will discuss the concept of digital nutrition and how to have a healthy relations...
Should We Care for Peace? Interview with Jeff Hardy
10 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Joining us on board the good ship SS Tomorrow is Jeffrey Charles Hardy, an experienced planner who shares insights on planning for a better future, gl...
What makes Generation Z Tick?
26 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This conversation explores the differences between the Millennial and Gen Z generations, with a focus on the impact of technology and social media on ...
What does a deep tech investor looks for? With Danielle Haj-Moussa
29 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Joining us on board the good ship SS Tomorrow is Danielle Haj-Moussa, a deep tech investor, who discusses the world of tech innovation and what deep t...
Can we trust self-driving vehicles? With Noah Gedrimas
22 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Joining us on board the good ship SS Tomorrow is Noah Gedrimas from GPR. Noah Gedrimas, Vice President of Strategy at GPR, discusses developing and a...
Does it take a village to raise an AI? Interview with David Sneider
08 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
David Schneider from Lit Protocol joins us on board the Good Ship SS Tomorrow, where he discusses the mission of making the internet a better place fo...
Do we still need the office? with Nathan Rawlins from Lucid
17 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Summary In this episode, Dave interviews Nathan Rawlins from Lucid about how the workplace has changed in the last four years. They discuss the uni...
What is the State of the Metaverse in 2024? pt 2 Josh Jones from Cornucopias
10 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Summary In this episode, Dave interviews Josh Jones from Cornucopius about the state of play for the Metaverse in 2024. Josh shares his journey int...
What is the State of the Metaverse in 2024? pt 1 with Alec Wantoch from Hyperplay
03 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Alec Wontoch, Head of Product at HyperPlay, joins us on board the good ship SS Tomorrow. Here he discusses all about the future of th...
Why do you need Cyber Insurance? with Sam Weaver from Coalition
27 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Sam Weaver from Coalition joins us on board the good ship SS Tomorrow. Where he talks about the importance of cyber insurance for sma...
How do we build trust and safety in the industrial metaverse? Interview with Nathan from NTT
13 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Nathan Vandenberg from NTT joins us on board the good ship SS Tomorrow. Where he chats to us about trust and safety in the industrial...
What is ReFI? And how it will save the planet? Interview with Alan Ransil
06 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Alan Ransil from Operad joins us on board the good ship SS Tomorrow about the concept of refi (regenerative finance) in the context o...
Will the Singularity Give us Hope? With Sam Sammane
28 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Joining us today on the good ship SS Tomorrow. Is Sam Sammane, who discusses the concept of singularity and his belief in the singularity of hope, whe...
Had we forgotten about the Fungal Kingdom? With Sliver Laus from Shroomwell
14 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On the good ship SS Tomorrow this week we interview Silver Laus, Founder of Shroomwell, and an expert in functional mushrooms. Silver shares his journ...
What's in store for 2024? with Roberto Capodieci
07 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On the good ship SS Tomorrow we have Roberto Capodieci, a blockchain expert, about his journey in the tech space and his passion for decentralization....
(Lab Grown) Diamonds are Forever? Interview with Marty Hurwitz
31 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Finally a good use for carbon! Not only are lab-grown diamonds used in jewellery they are also critical in the development of quantum computing. Did ...
Why Aren't There More Generative AI Apps at Scale? Interview with Grant Case from Dataiku
24 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A year has passed since ChatGPT was launched, and have you asked yourself: Why isn't there more generative AI at scale. Today's guest, Grant Case fro...
What is the Movement Economy? Interview with Oleg Fomenko from Sweat Economy
16 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It is January 17th, traditionally the "Ditch Your New Year Resolution" day. However, this year, 2024, is going to be different. What if I told you tha...
Merry Christmas! We'll be back in January 2024
20 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We'll be taking a short break over Christmas and New Year. And we will be back with three fresh, new episodes starting on January 17th. Have a curiou...
Why Gamify Going Green? Interview with Neil McVeigh from Greener
13 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I know what you are thinking; yes, I would like to go greener; however, with our modern consumer culture, there are so many pitfalls and a lack of inc...
How Green is Green Hydrogen? Interview with Cathy Clennett from Hiringa Energy
29 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's episode, we have Cathy Clennett from Hiringa Energy in the co-pilot seat talking about green hydrogen and the future of energy. If you ...
(The Lost Tape) Is The Metaverse Dead? Part Two with James Kaplan
02 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Continuing to answer the question: Is the metaverse dead? We have managed to recover a lost tape from James Kaplan from Meetkai earlier this year, whe...
What are some other uses of AI other than ChatGPT?
19 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
ChatGPT has dominated tech news in 2023. However, there must be more to the technology than large language models. In this episode, we delve deeper in...
Is the Metaverse Dead?
12 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Last year the Metaverse was all the tech hype, this year it went quiet. So what we wanted to know is: Is the Metaverse dead or are we at the bottom en...
What does the classroom of tomorrow look like? Interview with Angus Stevens
05 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments? I love to hear feedback from listeners and read them back the following episode. Send them directly to me friendlyfuturist@podcas...
How Green is my Carbon Offset? Interview with Misha Cajic from Avarni
28 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments? I love to hear feedback from listeners and read them back the following episode. Send them directly to me friendlyfuturist@podcas...
What Role does Quantum Computing and AI play in Sustainability? Interview with Mahesh from Fujitsu Australia
26 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
🚅 🚅 Fast Tracked! 🚅🚅 Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of interviewing Mahesh Krishnan, CTO of Fujitsu Australia, on Fujitsu's resea...
Can We Stop Cows Burping? Interview with Dr Tom Williams
07 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We're back after a small hiatus. This week we chatted with Dr Tom Williams from Number 8 Bio. On tackling one of the main causes of carbon emissions:...
MetaPerth: Can we create better urban environments?
10 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Long-time listeners may have noticed that I am a geek for all things urban planning. Earlier this year, there was a debate about the concept of 15-min...
Can you walk 50 at 50?
01 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this podcast, we love to chat about the future. However, sometimes it is important to take time out and look after your health, otherwise, you will...
How Green is my Shopping List? Interview with Denis from IMPT
20 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
You may have heard of carbon credits. You may have heard of green blockchain. But an app that gives you carbon credits as you shop? In this episode, w...
How Green is my Tuk-Tuk?
06 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Rarely on this show, we come across a project that ticks all of the boxes. Emerging technology that is good for the planet and people. This is what to...
We Made it to 100!! 🥳
23 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We made it to our 100th episode! A big thank you to all Futureheads—all 6,000 of you—for helping us build this podcast into what it is today. To c...
Why Production of Microchips Matters
22 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to episode 99, and we are having a special monologue. In the wake of Nvidia's extraordinary valuation, I explain why the production of microch...
Can Blockchain Maintain Your Health Record? Interview with Esther O'Callaghan from Hundo
16 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Imagine for one second that you are a refugee. You had to flee a conflict or a land decimated by climate change. You are in a foreign country with lim...
Why Web 3.0 Isn't Going Away Anytime Soon. Interview with Stefan from Venly
09 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Recently, you may have read in the tech press that Web 3 is dead, and "Zuck killed it". The truth is, however, that the metaverse was last year's hype...
Where does copyright law sit with Generative AI Art?
26 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today we are looking at the legal grey area of where generative AI sits within the context of copyright law. Especially in an Australian context. We ...
How long before we work for our Robot Overlords? Interview with Lee Schneider Part Two
19 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week, we continue with Part 2 of our interview with fellow futurist, Lee Schneider. In this episode, we have a chat about where artificial intell...
Is it okay to suffer from Climate Change Anxiety? Interview with Lee Schneider
12 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Here on the good ship SS Tomorrow, we'd like to, from time to time, address the rather large green elephant in the room: climate change. Today is the ...
What is Metaverse Fashion Week? Interview with McKenna Sweazey
05 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
While everyone is still getting caught up in the AI hype, the metaverse is not going anywhere. In fact, recently on Decentraland, the second-ever Me...
Will We Ever Close the Interactive Loop? Interview with David A. Smith from Croquet
15 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Continuing with the second half of our interview, with virtual space pioneer David A. Smith from Croquet. We look to the future by asking: Can we clos...
Can We Retrace Metaverse History to Date? Interview with David A. Smith from Croquet
08 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Our guest today is David A. Smith from Croquet, and he has been in the interactive space since 1987. In a two-part special, we asked him where the met...
Captain's Announcement: Season 9 Coming Soon
01 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Hi Future Heads! Thought to let you know that we are working hard behind the scenes adding in the finishing touches for season 9. Which will be out n...
Can a Robot Have a Name? Interview with Mauricio Zolliker from EOT
08 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today in the hot seat, we have Mauricio from EOT, to discuss the Peaq ecosystem, and all things, about the economy of things. For more information ch...
Blockchain Alternatives to Carbon Offsets? Interview with Brianna Welsh from Reneum
01 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Brianna Welsh, founder of Reneum joins us today in the hotseat. Reneum is a global green energy marketplace on the blockchain for individuals and org...
What Will The Metaverse Sound Like? With Val and Ethan from Edge Sound Research
25 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
One of the hottest products from this year's CES is here! A lot of Metaverse development has been centered on visuals, what about audio? At the momen...
The Bunker List Cross Over Special with an Real Life Evacuee
24 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today a little break from normal programming, and this time the good ship SS Tomorrow is back down on terra firma. This is a special episode from one...
What is a POAP? With Colfax Selby from GitPOAP
16 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Proof of Attendance Protocol, or POAP, are NFT verification badges, that you receive for attending events or actively participating in communities. ...
Can EmergingTech Save You $$$ on Groceries? Interview with Gennady from Shping
09 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today the good ship SS Tomorrow is back down on terra firma as we deal with one of 2022's biggest elephants in the room: Inflation. Gennady Volchek f...
Can We Build With More Energy Efficency? Interview with Keith Hutchings
02 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Confession time, one of the guilty pleasures I nerd out is on future construction videos on YouTube, especially the brilliant B1M produced by Fred Mil...
Is Venice Really Up For Sale (as a NFT) ? Interview with Diego from Over
26 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Digital Real Estate, anyone? Today we are chatting with Diego from Over, a decentralised Augmented Reality (AR) platform that enables users to purchas...
How do Non-Binary People Represent their Ideal Selves in the Metaverse?
19 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is dedicated to every teenage boy who got given grief by his mates racing as Daisy in Mario Kart in the late 1990s. A listener question ...
Can a Virtual Pet Help With Loneliness? with Max from Metapals
12 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
If you were a child of the late 1990s, you may have had a Tamagotchi. In today's episode, we meet a Singaporean start-up founder, Max Giammario, from ...
How do Self Driving Cars Work? with Fed from Baraja
05 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What exactly is lidar technology and how does it work? In this episode, we talk about self-driving cars and lidar technology. Find out more as we chat...
Saving Ukrainian Tech with Den Burykin from Fastlane Solutions
29 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Given the current geopolitical climate in Eastern Europe at the moment. This episode is perhaps the most profound we have recorded this year. This is...
How Do Satellites Monitor Climate Change?
21 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today on the good ship SS Tomorrow, we are discussing craft that we share the orbit with: satellites and how satellite technology are used in agricult...
What is The State of Play for Mining Software Today? Interview with Jonathan Girroir from Techsoft
19 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Back by popular demand, we have a good friend of the show, Jonathan from the biggest software firm you may have not heard of: Techsoft 3D. This time ...
What is ESG? With Frank Meehan, General Manager, FiscalNote ESG Solutions
14 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
You may have heard of ESG or Environmental, Social, and Government inside of industrial marketing parlances, especially as a way of counteracting clai...
How Green Is My NFT?
31 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Previously on The Friendly Futurist, we have covered NFTs, we have covered climate change, but have we covered green NFTS? Our special guest is Perth...
Why Do Thermal Paper Receipts Suck? Interview with Abe Ghani from Slyp
24 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's episode, we continue chatting with great Aussie tech startup success stories. This time we have got Abe Ghani, Vice President of Produc...
What is a Spacedraft?
17 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to season 7! In this series we focus more on the human side of tech, starting with a great local WA startup success story Spacedraft. Our g...
Coming Soon: Season 7
10 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Hi Futureheads, This is your captain speaking. We are working hard behind the scenes, producing an even bigger and better season 7. Which will be out ...
Blockchain Revolution: Where Are They Now?
03 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Thank you for listening to the Blockchain Revolution. Since the last episode, we have followed up with some of our guests, to see where they are at, s...
Blockchain Revolution: Where To From Here?
27 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
So far in our journey through the world of Web 3 and the Metaverse. We have uncovered some amazing applications of the technology and have shown that ...
Blockchain Revolution: What is DeFi?
14 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
So what is DeFi? DeFi, or Decentralised Finance, is one area of Web 3 that you may not have heard of. Yet, by cutting out the middle man in the tradit...
Blockchain Revolution: We Need To Talk About NFTs !
29 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Continuing our series on the blockchain revolution, we need to have a chat about non-fungible tokens (NFTs). For the past 12 months, they have been a...