In this episode, I sit down with Mathias Behn Bjørnhof to explore the stories we tell about the future and how those stories shape the world we build.
Mathias, founder of Anticipate, works in strategic foresight and futures thinking, a field that challenges us to move beyond prediction and into possibility. Drawing from his background in anthropology and systems change, he walks us through eight Megatrends shaping our world. Going from Blurry Realities, AI, and Wealth Polarization to Health Optimization and New Urban Paradigms.
Together we explore what it means to be active participants in our tomorrow, how imagination can become infrastructure, and why optimism, empathy, and grounded inquiry are crucial tools for navigating complexity.
Whether you're a futurist, a strategist, or simply curious about where things are headed, this episode is a rich, honest invitation to reflect on what’s possible and who gets to decide.
→ Listen & subscribe on your favorite platform
→ Read more on Substack
→ Connect with Mathias: Anticipate | LinkedIn
Thank you for listening. This is just the beginning.
Chapters
00:00 Understanding Change Through Megatrends
02:59 The Role of Empathy in Future Studies
05:58 Personal Journey to Strategic Foresight
09:10 Optimism and Human Potential
12:02 The Nature of Idealism and Pragmatism
15:02 Identity and Entrepreneurial Growth
17:56 Contextualizing Change with Megatrends
20:58 Exploring the Eight Megatrends
23:59 The Impact of Urban Transformation
26:52 Navigating Liquid Lifestyles
29:53 Blurring Realities and Information Manipulation
32:45 The Artificial Revolution
36:14 Addressing Collapsing Ecosystems
38:59 Wealth Polarization and Its Implications
41:47 The Future of Governance and AI
44:06 The Role of AI in Society
48:46 Personal Reflections on Meaning and Purpose
52:01 The Future of Work and Human Agency
58:33 Authenticity in the Age of AI
01:01:01 The Impact of Technology on Food and Health
01:10:25 Imagining Regenerative Cities
01:20:09 Agency and the Future of Society
01:30:53 The Future of Mental Health and Well-Being
01:36:38 Ancient Wisdom and Future Insights
01:42:41 Organizational Futures and Strategic Foresight
01:50:44 Navigating Change in a Rapidly Evolving World
01:57:39 The Search for Meaning in Modern Society
