What if the economy our children inherit looks nothing like the one we grew up in—not because of disaster, but by design? Gaya Herrington, the econometrician whose viral research confirmed we're tracking toward the collapse scenarios predicted 50 years ago, believes we're at a pivotal moment. We can either let limits to growth force themselves upon us, or we can deliberately redesign our economy around wellbeing instead of endless expansion. Drawing from her work with the Club of Rome and her book Five Insights for Avoiding Global Collapse, Gaya reveals what a post-growth economy actually looks like—and why it might be exactly the world we'd want our children to inhabit anyway.
Why This Matters
→ The economic system our kids will inherit is fundamentally breaking down—whether we acknowledge it or not. Gaya's research shows we're tracking the "business as usual" scenario that predicted global industrial decline beginning around now. This isn't pessimism; it's data. The question isn't if the growth-obsessed economy ends, but whether it ends by design or disaster.
→ Post-growth doesn't mean post-prosperity—it means redefining what prosperity is. A wellbeing economy isn't about sacrifice or deprivation. It's about working less, connecting more, meeting everyone's needs by design rather than hoping growth will trickle down, and building resilience in a world where "business as usual" is no longer viable.
→ We're teaching our kids to succeed in an economy that won't exist. If parents don't understand what a post-growth world looks like, we're preparing our children for a game whose rules are already changing. Understanding this shift isn't just about their economic future—it's about their values, their wellbeing, and their ability to thrive in the world they'll actually inhabit.
links:
https://gayaherrington.com/
https://www.ted.com/talks/gaya_herrington_will_the_end_of_economic_growth_come_by_design_or_disaster
Understanding Fear and Proven Neurohacks to Help Kids (and Parents) Override Overwhelm | Guest, Dr. Mary Poffenroth, Biopsychologist and Fear Researcher
Our kids are growing up in a world moving faster than any generation before—constant change, information overload, and pressures that can overwhelm even the most resilient young minds. Dr. Mary Poffenroth, a biopsychologist and fear researcher, believes the answer isn't to shield our children from stress, but to give them the neurohacks to navigate it. Drawing from her award-winning book Brave New You and her work with organizations from NASA to Google X, Mary reveals science-backed strategies to help kids of all ages regulate their nervous systems, transform fear into fuel, and build everyday courage. These aren't just coping mechanisms—they're tools that rewire how our children respond to an uncertain world.
Why This Matters: We're raising the most overstimulated generation in history—and traditional parenting advice isn't enough.
• Kids today face neurological challenges previous generations never encountered. Without neurohacks grounded in science, we're asking them to navigate a Ferrari-paced world with horse-and-buggy tools.
• Fear isn't the enemy—suppressing it is. Teaching kids to "be brave" or "push through" actually amplifies anxiety and leads to burnout. Dr. Poffenroth's research and easy-to-follow RAIN Method shows that transforming our relationship with fear—not avoiding it—unlocks courage, creativity, and resilience.
• Small neurohacks create massive shifts. Simple, science-backed techniques can help kids regulate their nervous systems in real-time, turning everyday fears from roadblocks into stepping stones. These aren't just survival skills—they're the foundation for thriving in uncertainty.
HelloBraveNewYou.com
www.marypoffenroth.com
Brave New You book: https://a.co/d/5jkLDR4
Staying Focused in an Age of Distraction | Guest: Erik Qualman, Digital Leadership Expert and Best-Selling Author
What if the greatest superpower in a distracted world isn’t speed, but focus? In an era defined by endless notifications, constant multitasking, and digital overload, the ability to direct our attention has become one of the most valuable skills we can cultivate. In this conversation with Erik Qualman, we explore how focus fuels productivity, creativity, and resilience—and how teaching kids (and ourselves) to harness it can change the trajectory of our lives and work.
Why this matters: Because the quality of our future will be determined not by how much information we consume, but by what we choose to give our attention to.
Meet Your Robot Nanny: Creepy or Caring? | Guest: Faith Popcorn, Futurist.
What happens when our children’s first caregivers aren’t just human, but also machines? From AI-powered Barbie dolls to baby monitors that promise to soothe your child with predictive algorithms, the next generation of parenting tools raises urgent questions about privacy, ethics, and the boundaries of care. In this timely conversation with futurist Faith Popcorn, we explore how families can thoughtfully navigate the rise of AI companions—balancing the promises of convenience and safety with the deeper responsibilities of human connection, values transmission and privacy protection. Looking ahead, how will families evaluate technology wisely and shape it ethically ensuring AI tools uplift rather than replace our essential roles as caregivers and guides?
Why this matters: Because our children’s first experiences of comfort and learning are increasingly shaped by algorithms, not just human relationships.
Employment is Dead; What Comes Next? | Guest: Deborah Perry Piscione - Future of Work expert and author of "Employment is Dead"
What if the future of work isn’t about jobs at all? In this eye-opening conversation with innovation expert Deborah Piscione, we explore why the next generation must think like innovators, not employees—building career capital through skills, networks, and creative pursuits rather than chasing job titles or climbing outdated ladders. In the future they’ll need a mosaic of experiences, passions, projects and collaborations to thrive, so how do we prepare them for a world where success isn’t defined by employment, but by the ability to continuously create, adapt, and contribute? And how does this shift the conversation on the kind of education that matters most now?
Why this matters: Because the question isn’t what job your child will have—it’s what problems they’ll solve, what communities they’ll build, and what future they’ll help design.
Your Child’s Confidence Begins in the Crib | Guest: Deborah Carlisle Solomon - Ex Executive Director of RIE & author “Baby Knows Best”
What would change if home was every child’s first experience of dignity, respect, and belonging? In this powerful conversation with Deborah Carlisle Solomon, we explore how the earliest moments of life shape a child’s sense of agency, trust, and confidence in themselves and the world. Drawing from the RIE® (Resources for Infant Educarers) approach, Deborah shares how simple, mindful parenting practices—rooted in empathy, autonomy, and reciprocal relationships—can transform our homes into spaces where children feel seen, heard, and valued from the very beginning. Because the way we nurture our babies isn’t just parenting—it’s culture-building, laying the foundation for how future generations will lead, relate, and create.
Why this matters: Because simple, conscious caregiving choices can shift generations; from raising children who comply to raising humans who contribute.
Get in Touch with Nancy: @nancygiordano.com
The Future of Education: The Big Opportunity to Flip Things | Guest: MacKenzie Price, Founder Alpha School
What if education wasn’t about preparing kids for tests, but preparing them for life? In a world where the pace of change outstrips any static curriculum, today’s learners crave relevance, purpose, and the freedom to solve real problems that matter with a true understanding of the tools shaping our new world. In this conversation with MacKenzie Price, founder of Alpha School -- a new model of K-12 education that radically redesigns the approach to 21st century learning in the age of AI -- we explore how education can shift from rigid systems to dynamic learning environments where technology empowers, curiosity leads, and teachers become trusted guides in the pursuit of mastery, equipping students not just to succeed in the world as it is but to shape the world as it could be.
Why this matters: Because the most important test our kids will take isn’t on paper—it’s how prepared they feel to shape the future.
Parenting At The Pace Of Change | Guest: Dr Katie Pritchett
Societal wellbeing begins at home, and yet a rapidly changing world puts so much more pressure on the shoulders (and minds) of parents/caregivers today. What does it take to build capacity for constant change and communal thriving? What are we learning about organizational change and leadership adapativity that we can bring into our homes? How can we better support each other as we reimagine Parenting as a generative practice of mutual growth, adaptivity and genuine caring?
Why this matters? Because the way we parent shapes not only our children’s futures but the wellbeing and resilience of society itself.
Welcome to the podcast that has been swirling in my heart and head for many years! As a global futurist, technology strategist, and mother to three young adults, I can see how much pressure is mounting on families and children to feel prepared and safe in an era of constant change and uncertainty. So, let’s meet those building the future and get their insights on what lies ahead – from robot nannies and AI-led education to a world of changing work. And let's rethink Parenting and the best ways to support kids in the world of exponential tech, planetary stress, cultural polarization, and work reinvention. Let’s meet the future—and each other—to change the narrative of what is possible ahead.
Why this matters: As exponential technology advances and big cultural shifts are reshaping our world, parents, caregivers, and kids are facing big new questions about what it means to stay aware, curious, and well prepared.