70% of people find their next job through introductions, not through sending out resumes. Former academic and AI expert Joan Palmiter Bajorek shares practical insights on building career resilience in an AI-driven world.

Joan brings her experience from building infrastructure for Alexa and Siri, surviving two major tech layoffs, and successfully pivoting to run her own AI consultancy. She discusses how small teams are leveraging AI to generate millions in revenue, ways businesses can start implementing AI solutions, and why the future of work requires both technical skills and strong human connections.

Key topics covered:

• Building multiple income streams for career resilience and stability
• How small businesses and enterprises can effectively implement AI
• The importance of quality data before implementing AI solutions
• Finding the balance between AI-driven productivity and burnout
• Future opportunities in AI across healthcare, agriculture, and climate tech

Whether you're a business owner looking to implement AI or a professional wanting to future-proof your career, this conversation offers practical perspectives on thriving in an AI-enhanced future.

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The journey from scientific discovery to commercial success takes more than just a breakthrough - it requires strategic biotech leadership and vision. Steve Swan, a seasoned executive recruiter with 26 years in the biotech industry, reveals how companies navigate the complex path from laboratory research to market success. Swan shares insights on what makes biotech leaders effective, from securing funding in today's challenging economic climate to building teams that combine scientific expertise with business acumen.

You'll learn how successful biotech ventures like Roivant found opportunity in overlooked drug candidates, why gene therapy faces manufacturing challenges despite scientific progress, and which geographic hubs are leading biotech innovation in America. 

Whether you're considering a career transition to biotech or simply interested in how the industry can keep pushing for a brighter future, this conversation offers valuable perspective on leadership at the intersection of science and business.

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How does architecture shape our daily lives beyond just aesthetics? Nader Tehrani, principal at NADAAA and former Cooper Union Dean, reveals the hidden systems behind modern buildings and cities that most of us never consider.

Tehrani challenges conventional architectural thinking by prioritizing construction techniques before design concepts - a complete reversal of traditional methods. He explains how his firm reclaimed control over building processes when contractors deemed certain designs "unbuildable," and discusses the transition from mass production to mass customization in architecture.

The conversation explores how climate change is forcing architects to rethink building longevity, the unexpected environmental impact of glass facades, and why Boston has more architects per capita than anywhere else in the world. Tehrani also shares insights on architectural education, explaining why he teaches students to "design for uncertainty" rather than specific workplace skills.

Whether you're fascinated by urban spaces, sustainability, or how technology is transforming creative fields, this episode offers a thoughtful look at the innovative architecture that shapes our built environment.

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Can technology make a city more livable? Boston's Office of Emerging Technologies is tackling this challenge head-on through innovative solutions in climate monitoring, traffic management, and urban planning.

Michael Lawrence Evans and Abigail Menendez share how Boston is using AI-powered traffic signals to reduce congestion, deploying environmental sensors to monitor air quality in real-time, and preparing for climate challenges like coastal flooding. Learn about Project Greenlight's impact on traffic flow, community-led initiatives measuring air quality in Blue Hill Ave, and how the city is building resilience through data-driven decision making.

Join Dr. Awesome and his guests as they discuss current efforts, cities and technologies that inspire them, and their hopes for a brighter and more resilient Boston. 

Key topics covered:

• How AI and machine learning are improving government operations
• Community-driven environmental monitoring
• Traffic optimization through Google Maps data and signal timing
• Climate resilience strategies for flooding and heat management
• The future of Boston's transportation and climate infrastructure

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Modern parenting faces unique challenges as families become more isolated and traditional support systems fade away. Ami Meoded, co-founder of littleone.care, introduces Elora - a revolutionary baby wellness monitor that goes beyond basic sleep tracking to provide 24/7 insights into infant development.

Meoded explains how Elora's wearable technology analyzes baby movements and sounds to track key developmental metrics including activity levels, sleep patterns, and exposure to language. The device helps address modern parenting challenges by enabling multiple caregivers to stay connected through a shared app.

Drawing from personal experience of how early caregiving impacts development, Meoded discusses the importance of consistent, quality interactions in a baby's first 24 months. Learn how technology can support (not replace) the fundamentals of parenting - smiling, hugging, and engaging with your child. Welcome to the future of parenting!

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Will robots eventually take our jobs? The reality is more nuanced. Robotics expert Matthias Scheutz explains how robots are meant to augment human capabilities rather than replace us entirely. From automated warehouses to healthcare assistance, discover how the next generation of robots will transform our workplaces and homes.

Learn why creating robots that can function in unpredictable environments remains a major challenge, why human-like robots might not be the best approach, and how teaching machines to understand social norms is crucial for their successful integration into society. Scheutz shares insights on the practical limitations of current robotics technology and offers a realistic vision of how robots will shape our future in the next decade.

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⁠​Did you know that healthcare and biotech facilities produce more emissions than the airline industry? While medical innovation saves lives, it comes with an environmental cost. Meet Sam White, an innovator tackling this challenge by revolutionizing how biotech waste is recycled and transformed into new products.

This conversation explores:

• How a simple recycling solution is turning biotech waste into valuable products
• A groundbreaking cooling technology helping 95,000 farmers in India triple their income without relying on diesel generators
• The future of energy storage that could enable wind and solar to operate as reliably as nuclear power
• Why small, local innovations might be the key to fighting climate change

Join us for a practical look at how climate technology is transforming industries and creating sustainable solutions for our future.

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Thank you all for your amazing support. We want to wish you a wonderful holiday season. We are taking a short break but will be back on January 20th, 2025.

We're working on lots of exciting new episodes and some fun surprises. Looking forward to talking with you all again in the near future - 2025 is going to be awesome!

Enjoy the show? Have some suggestions? We'd love to hear from you at [email protected]

In this thought-provoking episode of The Futurist Society, Dr. Awesome welcomes Nobel Prize-winning economist Simon Johnson to explore the future of economics and its impact on society. Professor Johnson, from MIT's Sloan School of Management, shares insights from his recent work on technological progress and economic disparities. The conversation delves into the challenges of job market polarization, the potential of AI to reshape the workforce, and innovative approaches to creating more good jobs. Johnson also discusses the importance of investment in breakthrough technologies and the concept of a "protopia" - a continuously improving world enabled by responsible innovation.

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In this episode, we explore the fascinating world of machine translation with Dr. Philipp Koehn, a professor at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Koehn discusses the current state of machine translation technology, its challenges, and the potential future where universal translation could become a reality. He shares insights on the impact of deep learning, the integration of speech and text processing, and the cultural implications of advanced translation technologies.

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