The Future Report

Each year at McCrindle, we release our trends of the year predictions - the trends that we think will shape the year ahead.

From demographic, to technological and social trends, it’s a fascinating look into the future.

In this week's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle’s Founder and Principal, Mark McCrindle, to discuss these trends.

The conversation about diversity often focuses on gender, culture, or background - but not always on age.

Yet ageism - whether directed at younger people seen as “too inexperienced” or older people seen as “past their prime” - can limit innovation, collaboration, and opportunities.

In this week's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle’s Managing Director, Sophie Renton, to unpack what ageism really looks like, how it impacts individuals and organisations, and what we can do to create truly age-inclusive communities.

Gen Z, aged in their late teens and 20s today, already comprise more than a quarter of the global workforce.

But many people don’t know how to engage, attract, recruit and retain this emerging generation.

In this week's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle’s Director of Solutions, Geoff Brailey, to discuss Gen Z at work.

Artificial Intelligence is transforming how we work, learn, create, and even connect.

But like every major shift before it, this one raises as many questions as it does opportunities.

How do we use AI to enhance human potential rather than replace it?

What skills will matter most in a world of intelligent machines?

And what does leadership look like in an era where data canthink?

In this week's episode, our podcast producer, Holly Schaaf, sits down with McCrindle's Director of Advisory and Future Report host, Ashley Fell, to discuss the AI revolution.

The dynamic between schools and families is becoming increasingly complex.

Why?

Because new generations of parents are coming through and bringing with them new communication styles, expectations and values.

So how can schools respond?

In this week's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle's Managing Director, Sophie Renton, to share some insights into engaging the next generation of school parents.

We often hear people from different age groups claim they had it tougher than the rest - from rising costs to housing pressures, each generation argues their struggle is unique.

But what does the data actually say?

In this week's episode, our podcast producer, Holly Schaaf, sits down with social researcher and generational expert, Ashley Fell, to dig into some of McCrindle’s recent generational analysis: comparing Baby Boomers, Gen X, Gen Y and Gen Z on income, housing affordability, inflation, technology access, and more.

Language is always evolving - and for Generation Alpha, who are growing up fully immersed in digital culture, slang is more than just words.

It’s a way of connecting, creating identity, and signalling belonging online and offline.

From TikTok trends to schoolyard lingo, Gen Alpha has a whole vocabulary that might leave older generations scratching their heads - and sometimes even Gen Z a little confused!

In this week's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with two of McCrindle's Gen Z team members, Holly Schaaf and Luke Davies, to help decode this generation and their slang.

From streaming platforms and meal kits to beauty boxes and even pet food deliveries - it seems there’s a subscription for just about everything.

But what’s driving this shift from ownership to access?

And why are some generations more on board than others?

To kick off season 17, our podcast producer, Holly Schaaf, sits down with podcast host and Director of Advisory at McCrindle, Ashley Fell, to unpack McCrindle’s latest insights on the subscription economy.

Gen Alpha are the most materially endowed generation ever, the most technologically savvy generation ever and they will enjoy a longer life span than any previous generation.

They will stay in education longer, start their earning years later and stay at home with their parents later than even Gen Z and Gen Y who went before them.

They are clearly an important generation to understand!

To wrap up season 16, our podcast producer, Holly Schaaf, sits down with McCrindle's Director of Advisory, Ashley Fell, and McCrindle's Marketing and Insights Strategist, Luke Davies, to discuss recent research we were involved with on how Gen Alpha learn, spend and see the future.

The education sector sits at the heart of so many communities.

And yet they're facing a lot of change.

From generational to demographic and technological - all these trends are shaping the future of education.

In this week's episode, our podcast producer, Holly Schaaf, sits down with McCrindle's Director of Advisory and podcast host, Ashley Fell, to talk about how thriving schools stay ahead of change.