Episode
How to be a futurist | The TED Interview
42:49
Published: Tue Dec 27 2022
Description
Future forecaster and game designer Jane McGonigal ran a social simulation game in 2008 that had players dealing with the effects of a respiratory pandemic set to happen in the next decade. She wasn't literally predicting the 2020 pandemic -- but she got eerily close. In this episode, McGonigal teaches us how to be futurists and talks about the role of imagination and gaming in shaping a future that we're truly excited about. (This episode is part of the TED Talks Daily end-of-year wrap-up. As 2022 draws to a close, we're sharing some of the most perspective-expanding ideas from the TED Audio Collective to give you a sense of the bigger picture, help you better understand the trends of the past year and get ready for the one ahead.)
Chapters
Jane McGonigal shares insights on how we can think more creatively and intelligently about the future.
00:00 - 01:20 (01:20)
Summary
Jane McGonigal shares insights on how we can think more creatively and intelligently about the future. She also discusses how her simulations on a global future pandemic ended up being a precursor to the COVID-19 pandemic.
EpisodeHow to be a futurist | The TED Interview
PodcastTED Talks Daily
Jane McGonigal talks about the pandemic simulations she created with ordinary people, anticipating ripple effects and social consequences that many epidemiologists didn't think about, helping anticipate the current pandemic.
01:20 - 08:22 (07:02)
Summary
Jane McGonigal talks about the pandemic simulations she created with ordinary people, anticipating ripple effects and social consequences that many epidemiologists didn't think about, helping anticipate the current pandemic.
EpisodeHow to be a futurist | The TED Interview
PodcastTED Talks Daily
This episode explores the concept of future thinking and how it can bring excitement and hope for the future, even as we age.
08:22 - 18:43 (10:20)
Summary
This episode explores the concept of future thinking and how it can bring excitement and hope for the future, even as we age.
EpisodeHow to be a futurist | The TED Interview
PodcastTED Talks Daily
The speaker discusses the importance of getting young people interested in science and technology in order to create a lifelong fascination and engagement with these fields, building a foundation for potential future success.
18:43 - 24:06 (05:23)
Summary
The speaker discusses the importance of getting young people interested in science and technology in order to create a lifelong fascination and engagement with these fields, building a foundation for potential future success.
EpisodeHow to be a futurist | The TED Interview
PodcastTED Talks Daily
As extreme weather events become more frequent, individuals are advised to prepare themselves by sleeping with shoes under their bed or wearing shoes to bed.
24:06 - 30:28 (06:21)
Summary
As extreme weather events become more frequent, individuals are advised to prepare themselves by sleeping with shoes under their bed or wearing shoes to bed. Learning to play future forecasting games can also better prepare individuals for the unpredictability of future events.
EpisodeHow to be a futurist | The TED Interview
PodcastTED Talks Daily
The power to create a future scenario that makes you excited and hopeful is in your hands.
30:28 - 36:09 (05:41)
Summary
The power to create a future scenario that makes you excited and hopeful is in your hands. Use optimistic thinking to make the world more free and to create new productivity, art, cultures, and community.
EpisodeHow to be a futurist | The TED Interview
PodcastTED Talks Daily
The podcast discusses how imagining something in the past can change our experience in the future, and the ethical issues surrounding the use of imagination for manipulation, propaganda and conspiracy theories.
36:09 - 39:39 (03:30)
Summary
The podcast discusses how imagining something in the past can change our experience in the future, and the ethical issues surrounding the use of imagination for manipulation, propaganda and conspiracy theories.