Flash Forward

Today we travel to a future where a coalition of concerned mothers convinces the United States to shut off the Internet. Guests: Philip Elmer‑DeWitt, journalist  Chipo Dendere, assistant orofessor of Africana Studies, Wellesley College Tim Maughan, author of Infinite Detail Actors:Billy’s mother -- Tamara Krinsky → → → Further reading on today’s episode can be found here ← ← ←Content Notes[2:20-6:00] [21:00-23:00] Suicide, onling bullying & mass shooting[11:20-17:00] Pornography[23:00-25:00] Drunk driving fatalityFlash Forward is produced by me, Rose Eveleth. The intro music is by Asura and the outtro music is by Hussalonia. The episode art is by Matt Lubchansky. Huge huge huge thanks to Tamara Krinsky who played Billy’s mom on this episode, and also (did you notice?) played a time traveler dipping in and out of all the futures this season. Get in touch:  Twitter // Facebook // Reddit // info@flashforwardpod.comSupport the show: Patreon // DonorboxSubscribe: iTunes // Soundcloud // SpotifySponsor info

Today’s episode is about a future in which China supplants the US as the dominant world superpower. Is it imminent? What does a China-led world look like? And why are so many people worried about it?Guests: Meredith Oyen, professor of history and director of Asian studies at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County Gina Tam, professor of history at Trinity University  Linda Yueh, economist and author of The Great Economists Lina Getachew Ayenew, author of The Complete Beginner’s Guide to China-Africa Relations Michael Wahid Hanna, senior fellow at The Century Foundation Actors: Employee welcomer -- Ewan Chung New employee -- Tamara Krinsky → → → Further reading on today’s episode can be found here ← ← ←Flash Forward is produced by me, Rose Eveleth. The intro music is by Asura and the outtro music is by Hussalonia. The episode art is by Matt Lubchansky. Special thanks to Yutong Yuang who provided the translation into Mandarin and to Tony Chow for introducing me to Yutong.Get in touch:  Twitter //

Today’s episode is about nuclear fusion, a technology that might save us all or might be a complete waste of time and money. Guests: Charles Seife, professor at NYU and author of Sun in a Bottle: The Strange History of Fusion and the Science of Wishful Thinking Sabina Griffith, communications officer at ITER Nicholas Evans, professor of ethics at UMass Lowell Michael Wahid Hanna, senior fellow at The Century Foundation  Actors: Radio Host -- Brett Humphries (a Patron!)  Moses Blackman -- Eden Rohatensky Dr. Amelia Brand -- Soleil Ho Lawrence O’Donnell -- Tamara Krinsky → → → Further reading on today’s episode can be found here ← ← ←Flash Forward is produced by me, Rose Eveleth. 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s the 100th episode!!!!!! To mix things up, today we’re traveling to the 1919 to see how three different events shaped the last 100 years, and will continue to shape the future. 

Today we travel to a future where we can travel through time. Is it possible? Would you kill Hitler? Would it matter? Guests: Annalee Newitz, science journalist and author of The Future of Another Timeline Bryan Méndez, astronomer at UC Berkeley  Donna Rose Addis, psychologist at the University of Toronto Actors: Tamara Krinsky as Dr. Catherine Moore (watch her show Tomorrow's World Today!) Molly Woodstock as Dr. Brownlow (listen to Molly's podcast Gender Reveal!) Jim Westrich as Dr. West → → → Further reading on today’s episode can be found here ← ← ←Flash Forward is produced by me, Rose Eveleth. 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode we take everything we’ve learned so far about the future of crime, and take it to space. Guests:Loren Grush — senior space reporter at The VergeMichelle Hanlon — associate director of the National Center for Air and Space Law at the University of Mississippi and co-founder of For All Moonkind.Erika Nesvold — astrophysicist and developer for Universe SandboxLucianne Walkowicz — astronomer at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago and co-founder of The JustSpace Alliance. Bianca I Laureano — educator, curriculum writer, and sexologistActors:Evan Johnson as Mr. MortonDavid Romero as DavidAsh Greenberg as AshSantos Flores as SantosCharlie Chalmers as CharlieGrace Nelligan as GraceAva Ausman as AvaSidney Perry-Thistle as SidneyArthur Benjamin as Arthur→ → → Further reading on today’s episode can be found here ← ← ←Flash Forward is produced by me, Rose Eveleth. The intro music is by Asura and the outtro music is by Hussalonia. The episode art is by Matt Lubchansky. Special thanks to Veronica Simonetti

Today’s episode is about the future of forensics: what happens when just a few skin cells can make you suspect number one? Guests:Raychelle Burks — professor of chemistry at St. Edward’s UniversityKelley Kulick — deputy public defender at the Santa Clara Public Defender’s OfficeMitra Sharafi — professor of law at University of Wisconsin-Madison Law SchoolMary Graw Leary — professor of law at The Catholic University of America Columbus School of LawActors:Evan Johnson as Mr. MortonBrent Rose as Dr. KarpouHelen Rosner as Dr. Duncan DougalTamara Krinsky as Dr. Susan Simmons→ → → Further reading on today’s episode can be found here ← ← ←Flash Forward is produced by me, Rose Eveleth.The intro music is by Asura and the outtro music is by Hussalonia. The episode art is by Matt Lubchansky.Special thanks to Veronica Simonetti and Erin Laetz at the Women’s Audio Mission, where all the intro scenes were recorded this season. Special thanks also to Evan Johnson who played Mr. Morton and also coordinated the actors of the

Today we travel to a future where algorithms can be put on trial. Guests:Rumman Chowdhury -- Global Lead for Responsible AI at Accenture Applied IntelligenceKevin De Liban -- attorney at Legal Aid or Arkansas Nicholson Price -- assistant professor of law at University of MichiganShobita Parthasarathy -- professor of public policy and women’s studies at University of Michigan Actors:Evan Johnson as Mr. MortonDavid Romero as DavidAsh Greenberg as AshSantos Flores as SantosCharlie Chalmers as CharlieGrace Nelligan as GraceAva Ausman as AvaSidney Perry-Thistle as SidneyArthur Benjamin as Arthur→ → → Further reading on today’s episode can be found here ← ← ←Flash Forward is produced by me, Rose Eveleth. The intro music is by Asura and the outtro music is by Hussalonia. The episode art is by Matt Lubchansky. Special thanks to Veronica Simonetti and Erin Laetz at the Women’s Audio Mission, where all the intro scenes were recorded this season. Special thanks also to Evan Johnson who played Mr. Morton and also coordin

Today we travel to a future where satellites can catch criminals.Guests:Sarah Parcak, professor of anthropology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and author of Archaeology from Space: How the Future Shapes our PastJamon Van Den Hoek, professor of geography at Oregon State UniversityWenyao Xu, professor of computer science at the State University of New York (SUNY) at BuffaloActors:Evan Johnson as Mr. MortonCharlie Chalmers as CharlieGrace Nelligan as GraceDavid Romero as DavidAsh Greenberg as AshSantos Flores as SantosAva Ausman as AvaSidney Perry-Thistle as SidneyArthur Benjamin as Arthur→ → → Further reading on today’s episode can be found here ← ← ←Flash Forward is produced by me, Rose Eveleth. The intro music is by Asura and the outtro music is by Hussalonia. The episode art is by Matt Lubchansky. Special thanks to Veronica Simonetti and Erin Laetz at the Women’s Audio Mission, where all the intro scenes were recorded this season. Special thanks also to Evan Johnson who played Mr. Morton and also

Today we travel to a future where your face can be held against you.Guests:Brandeis Marshall -- data scientist & professor at Spelman CollegeMatt Cagle -- attorney, ACLU Northern California Keith Kaplan -- councilman, Teaneck, NJAnkita Shukla -- PhD candidate, IIIT DelhiActors:Evan Johnson as Mr. MortonDavid Romero as DavidAsh Greenberg as AshSantos Flores as SantosCharlie Chalmers as CharlieGrace Nelligan as GraceAva Ausman as AvaSidney Perry-Thistle as SidneyArthur Benjamin Allison as Arthur→ → → Further reading on today’s episode can be found here ← ← ←Season One episode about facial recognitionFlash Forward is produced by me, Rose Eveleth. The intro music is by Asura and the outtro music is by Hussalonia. The episode art is by Matt Lubchansky.Special thanks to the Women’s Audio Mission, where all the intro scenes were recorded this season. Special thanks also to Evan Johnson who played Mr. Morton and also coordinated the actors of the Junior Acting Troupe who play the students in the intros this seaso

Today we travel to a future where dying isn’t the end. What if you could live on as a simulation? A bot that knows everything you’ve ever said, and can pretend to be you?

Today we travel to a future where we can swap bodies with one another. Would you trade places with someone? Do you own your body? Guests:Calvin Gimpelevich — writer, author of “Rent, Don’t Sell”Sav Schlauderaff — PhD student, University of Arizona, co-founder Queer Futures CollectiveKrizia Puig — PhD student, UC Santa Cruz, co-founder Queer Futures CollectiveSusan Gelman — professor of psychology, University of MichiganActors:Maria -- Cara Rose de Fabio Gaby -- Eler de GreyNew Marquis -- Xandra Ibarra John -- Keith Houston (also check out his karaoke nights in San Francisco) → → → Further reading on today’s episode can be found here ← ← ←Flash Forward is produced by me, Rose Eveleth. The intro music is by Asura and the outtro music is by Hussalonia. The episode art is by Matt Lubchansky. Special thanks to Adria Otte and Molly Monihan at the Women’s Audio Mission, where all the intro scenes were recorded this season.Get in touch:  Twitter // Facebook // Reddit // info@flashforwardpod.comSupport the show: Patre

Today we travel to a future where all animal testing is banned. What are the alternatives? What can we do without using animals, and what can’t we do? → → → Further reading on today’s episode can be found here ← ← ←Guests:Janet D. Stemwedel -- professor of philosophy at San Jose State UniversityLawrence Carter Long -- communications director at the Disability Rights Education & Defense FundKristie Sullivan -- vice president of research policy at the Physicians Committee for Responsible MedicineDeepak Kaushal -- director of the Southwest National Primate Research Center at Texas Biomedical Research InstituteHunter Rogers -- researcher at Northwestern University on EVATAR projectActors:Maria -- Cara Rose de FabioGaby -- Eler de GreyMarquis -- Rotimi Agbabiaka (check out his new solo show called Manifesto on June 21 at the African American Arts and Culture Complex as part of the National Queer Arts Festival.)New Marquis -- Xandra IbarraJohn -- Keith Houston (also check out his karaoke nights in San Francisco

Today we travel to a future where we can tattoo sensors right onto our skin. What happens when you can get a live readout of everything from glucose to hormones to hydration levels built into a tattoo? What kind of privacy can you expect when your medical data is literally written on your skin? And what does any of this have to do with Inspector Gadget and René Descartes? → → → Further reading on today’s episode can be found here ← ← ←

Today we travel to a future where humans can see at night. What happens when we expand our vision out into the darkness? How does that impact everything from work, to architecture, to poaching to horror movies? And is it even possible?→ → → Further reading on today’s episode can be found here ← ← ←

Today we travel to a future where fisheries collapse world wide, and we turn the ocean into a giant farm. Guests:Amanda Nickson: director of international fisheries at The Pew Charitable TrustsDaniel Pauly: professor University of British Columbia, principal investigator at Sea Around Us, author of Vanishing Fish: Shifting Baselines and the Future of Global FisheriesBernard Friedman: founder of Santa Barbara MaricultureTyler Sclodnick: senior scientist, InnovaSea Systems Inc. Patricia Majluf: vice president, Peru of OceanaActors:The Snowglobe Narrator: Brent RoseLenny Haywood: Evan JohnsonFarah Mousterian: Zahra Noorbakhsh, host of Good Muslim, Bad MuslimJohn Jacob Siwa: Joseph JonesJuana Aguilar: Tamara KrinskyChristina Amity: Angeli R. Fitch → → → Further reading, images, resources here. ← ←←Flash Forward is produced by me, Rose Eveleth. 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@flashforwardpo

Today we travel to a future where we try to break up with cement. Can it be done? How did cement because so ubiquitous? And what’s so bad about cement in the first place? Guests:Grady Hillhouse: civil engineer and host of Practical EngineeringRobbie Andrew: senior researcher at CICERO Center for International Climate ResearchAmy Slaton: historian at Drexel University and author of Reinforced Concrete and the Modernization of American BuildingDavid Stone: inventor of Ferrock→ → → Further reading & full transcript ← ← ← Actors:The Snowglobe Narrator: Brent RoseLenny Haywood: Evan JohnsonFarah Mousterian: Zahra Noorbakhsh, host of Good Muslim, Bad MuslimJohn Jacob Siwa: Joseph JonesJuana Aguilar: Tamara Krinsky, host of Tomorrow’s World TodayKevin Macklin: Lawrence Carter LongFlash Forward is produced by me, Rose Eveleth. 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

Today, we travel to the deserts. Or, actually, the deserts travel to us. What happens if dust swallows up over 30% of the planet?→ → → Background reading, source material and other links here ← ← ← As air pollution gets worse, a dystopian accessory is born ← My piece on face masks mentioned in the episode! Guests:Sumant Nigam: climate researcher at University of MarylandMorgan Gorris: PhD candidate at UC IrvineChristina Xu: freelance technology researcherLindsay C. Stringer: researcher on land use and sustainability at the University of LeedsMatthew Bowker: soil ecologist at Northern Arizona UniversityActors:The Snowglobe Narrator: Brent RoseLenny Haywood: Evan JohnsonFarah Mousterian: Zahra Noorbakhsh, host of Good Muslim, Bad MuslimJohn Jacob Siwa: Joseph JonesJuana Aguilar: Tamara Krinsky, host of Tomorrow’s World TodayAmy Trisol: Ariela Morgenstern Flash Forward is produced by me, Rose Eveleth. The intro music is by Asura and the outtro music is by Hussalonia. The episode art is by Matt Lubchansky.Get in

Today we travel to a future where the Earth’s magnetic poles reverse.→ → → Further reading available here ← ← ← Guests:Eftyhia Zesta -- Chief of the Geospace Physics Laboratory in the Heliophysics Division at NASAMichael Purucker -- Planetary Magnetosphere Lab chief at NASAAlanna Mitchell -- author of The Spinning Magnet Rory Cottrell -- archaeomagnetism researcher at The University of Rochester Thorsten Ritz -- biophysics researcher at UC Irvine Actors:The Snowglobe Narrator: Brent RoseLenny Haywood: Evan JohnsonFarah Mousterian: Zahra Noorbakhsh, host of Good Muslim, Bad MuslimJohn Jacob Siwa: Joseph JonesJuana Aguilar: Tamara Krinsky, host of Tomorrow’s World TodayRoberta Peary: Avery Trufelman, host of Articles of InterestRamona Byrd: Andrea Silenzi, host of The Longest Shortest Time Flash Forward is produced by me, Rose Eveleth. The intro music is by Asura and the outtro music is by Hussalonia. The episode art is by Matt Lubchansky.Join the Listener Facebook Group!Get in touch:  Twitter // Facebook // Re

We're back! Did you miss me? Don't answer that please. Today's episode kicks off Season FIVE of Flash Forward. This year, I'm doing things a little bit differently. Instead of doing a new episode every other week, you're getting little mini-seasons. Each little block of five episodes will come out weekly, and center around a theme. This week we're starting our EARTH series. Five episodes, five different future Earths. Buckle up, I hope you're ready for some fun. And some terror. This is Flash Forward after all.Today we travel to a future where humanity decides to pull the climate emergency break, and spray sulphuric acid into the upper atmosphere.GuestsAnthony Jones, climate model researcher at University of ExeterJane Flegal, climate science and policy advisor, program officer at The Bernard and Anne Spitzer Charitable TrustKate Marvel, climate scientist at Columbia University and NASA Goddard Institute for Space StudiesRomaric Odoulami, climate scientist at the University of Cape TownPrakash Kashwan, politi