FUTURES Podcast

Global Esports Federation CEO Paul J. Foster shares his insights on the role games could play in shaping the future of society, how artificial intelligence may transform the gaming ecosystem, and why esports could emerge as a strategic platform for economic development and diplomacy. 
Paul J. Foster is President and CEO of the Global Esports Federation (GEF), where he has been instrumental in shaping the organisation's vision and expanding its global presence. Under his leadership, the GEF has focused on promoting esports as a platform for social impact, inclusion, and innovation.
Foster's extensive experience spans over two decades in the Olympic movement, including roles at the International Olympic Committee (IOC), where he led teams at more than 12 Olympic Games and served as Head of Protocol, Events, and Hospitality. His background also includes leadership positions in major international events such as Expo 2020 Dubai and Expo 2025 Baku, Azerbaijan.
Bonus episode recorded live from the World Governments Summit 2026 at the House of Impact on 05 February 2026.
Full-Video Version: 

ABOUT THE HOST
Luke Robert Mason is a British-born futures theorist who is passionate about engaging the public with emerging scientific theories and technological developments.
He hosts documentaries for Futurism, and has contributed to BBC Radio, BBC One, The Guardian, Discovery Channel, VICE Motherboard and Wired Magazine.
CREDITS
In Partnership with the World Governments Summit

Producer & Host: Luke Robert Mason
Join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @FUTURESPodcast
Follow Luke Robert Mason on Twitter at @LukeRobertMason
Subscribe & Support the Podcast at http://futurespodcast.net

Geneticist Adrian Woolfson shares his insights on designing life with artificial biological intelligence, the possibility of creating new species, and the responsibility that comes with rewriting the rules of evolution.
Adrian Woolfson is the co-founder of Genyro, a California-based biotechnology company specialising in synthetic genome design and construction. Born in London, he studied medicine at Balliol College, Oxford, and was formerly the Charles and Katherine Darwin Research Fellow at Darwin College, Cambridge, working at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology. He is the author of the critically acclaimed Life Without Genes: The History and Future of Genomes and An Intelligent Person's Guide to Genetics. He has authored over 160 scientific papers, book chapters, reviews, and patents, and is a regular contributor to the Wall Street Journal and Science magazine.
Bonus episode recorded live from the World Governments Summit 2026 at the House of Impact on 03 February 2026.
Full-Video Version: https://youtu.be/ejHgoD1Wt5I 

ABOUT THE HOST
Luke Robert Mason is a British-born futures theorist who is passionate about engaging the public with emerging scientific theories and technological developments.
He hosts documentaries for Futurism, and has contributed to BBC Radio, BBC One, The Guardian, Discovery Channel, VICE Motherboard and Wired Magazine.
CREDITS
In Partnership with the Dubai Future Foundation

Producer & Host: Luke Robert Mason
Join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @FUTURESPodcast
Follow Luke Robert Mason on Twitter at @LukeRobertMason
Subscribe & Support the Podcast at http://futurespodcast.net

Science Fiction Author Stephen Oram shares his insights on collaborating with scientists to transform research into speculative storytelling, using near-future fiction to explore the ethical implications of emerging technology, and leveraging narrative to foster public engagement with science. 
Stephen Oram writes near-future science fiction, exploring the intersection of messy humans and imperfect technology. He also works with scientists and technologists on projects that explore possible future outcomes of their research through short stories. He is published in several anthologies, including the Best of British Science Fiction 2020 and 2022, and has two published novels and three collections of sci-fi shorts. His recent collection – Extracting Humanity – includes stories from the projects with scientists.
ABOUT THE HOST
Luke Robert Mason is a British-born futures theorist who is passionate about engaging the public with emerging scientific theories and technological developments.
He hosts documentaries for Futurism, and has contributed to BBC Radio, BBC One, The Guardian, Discovery Channel, VICE Motherboard and Wired Magazine.
CREDITS
Producer & Host: Luke Robert Mason
Join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @FUTURESPodcast
Follow Luke Robert Mason on Twitter at @LukeRobertMason
Subscribe & Support the Podcast at http://futurespodcast.net

Computer Scientist Neil Lawrence shares his insights on what machine intelligence can teach us about being human, the risks of relying on technologies that prioritise efficiency and scalability over ethics, and the hubris of efforts to extend or upload human consciousness using AI.
Neil Lawrence is the inaugural DeepMind Professor of Machine Learning at the University of Cambridge. He has been working on machine learning models for over 20 years. He recently returned to academia after three years as Director of Machine Learning at Amazon. His main interest is the interaction of machine learning with the physical world. This interest was triggered by deploying machine learning in the African context, where 'end-to-end' solutions are normally required. This has inspired new research directions at the interface of machine learning and systems research, this work is funded by a Senior AI Fellowship from the Alan Turing Institute. Neil is also visiting Professor at the University of Sheffield and the co-host of Talking Machines.
ABOUT THE HOST
Luke Robert Mason is a British-born futures theorist who is passionate about engaging the public with emerging scientific theories and technological developments.
He hosts documentaries for Futurism, and has contributed to BBC Radio, BBC One, The Guardian, Discovery Channel, VICE Motherboard and Wired Magazine.
CREDITS
Producer & Host: Luke Robert Mason
Join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @FUTURESPodcast
Follow Luke Robert Mason on Twitter at @LukeRobertMason
Subscribe & Support the Podcast at http://futurespodcast.net

Architect Liam Young shares his thoughts on how science fiction can be a powerful tool for prototyping new possibilities, why problems like climate change urgently need planetary-scale solutions, and how speculative design can inspire meaningful cultural transformation. 
Liam Young is a designer, director, and BAFTA-nominated producer who operates in the spaces between design, fiction, and futures. Described by the BBC as 'the man designing our futures', his visionary films and speculative worlds are both extraordinary images of tomorrow and urgent examinations of the environmental questions facing us today. As a world-builder, he visualises the cities, spaces, and props of our imaginary futures for the film and television industry. His own films have premiered with platforms ranging from Channel 4, Apple+, SxSW, Tribeca, the New York Metropolitan Museum, The Royal Academy, Venice Biennale, the BBC, and The Guardian.
Bonus episode recorded live from the Dubai Future Forum at the Museum of the Future in partnership with the Dubai Future Foundation on 20 November 2024.
Full-Video Version: https://youtu.be/gGyALHTnxk8 

ABOUT THE HOST
Luke Robert Mason is a British-born futures theorist who is passionate about engaging the public with emerging scientific theories and technological developments.
He hosts documentaries for Futurism, and has contributed to BBC Radio, BBC One, The Guardian, Discovery Channel, VICE Motherboard and Wired Magazine.
CREDITS
In Partnership with the Dubai Future Foundation

Producer & Host: Luke Robert Mason
Join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @FUTURESPodcast
Follow Luke Robert Mason on Twitter at @LukeRobertMason
Subscribe & Support the Podcast at http://futurespodcast.net