Shows
Think Forward: Conversations with Futurists, Innovators and Big ThinkersThink Forward EP 129: The Dao of Foresight with Alex FergnaniAlex Fergnani takes us on a journey from his beginnings as a martial arts student in Asia to becoming a provocative voice in futures thinking with his groundbreaking approach to foresight wisdom. His upcoming book "The Dao of Foresight" with Penguin represents a fresh approach to teaching foresight concepts through an entertaining narrative set in a fictional world.Following a hero's journey structure, the novel follows a young disciple seeking a master to help save his endangered village. Through this adventure, readers learn foresight techniques while engaging with wisdom from Taoism, Zen Buddhism, and Confucianism. Alex shares...2025-04-141h 04
Italian Village - Il PodcastSS02 Ep001 - Foresight and Asia Culture with Alex Fergnani
For the first episode of the second season of Italian Village - The Podcast, we are excited to host Alex Fergnani, a leading expert in foresight and cultural dynamics in Asia. With his extensive research background and practical experience, Alex brings a unique perspective on how foresight can shape the future of businesses and societies, especially in the vibrant and complex cultural landscapes of Asia.
https://youtu.be/Wcp-xxC4Db0
In this episode, Alex delves into the intersection of foresight practices and Asian cultures, exploring how the two influence each other and offering insights into the opportunities and challenges...2025-01-2058 min
FARSIGHTWhy Peak Uncertainty is a MythPublic figures like to claim that the world has never been as volatile and complex as it is today - but is that really the case?
Subscribe to FARSIGHT by becoming a Futures Member at the Institute.
Author: Alex Fergnani
Narration: August Leo Liljenberg (ElevenLabs AI)
Published by the Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies2024-06-1214 min
4Sight ChatsAlex Lyon: Leaders' Communication, Facilitation, Difficult Conversations, YouTube - 4Sight Chats #21
Alexander (Alex) Lyon is a professor of communication at the State University of New York, an author and a YouTube content creator.
Also available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRKNGF95rN0
CHAT OUTLINE
[03:38] To what extent interventions on leaders’ communication can actually change their mindset?
[08:29] What’s the biggest challenge that prevents leaders from changing their communication style?
[11:23] How long does it take for a leader to see substantial change in their communication style?
[13:03] Is letting others know that you are working on your communication style any...2024-01-1641 min
4Sight ChatsHenry Mintzberg: Understanding Organizations, Strategy, Scenarios, Canoeing - 4Sight Chats #20
Henry Mintzberg is a management educator and writer. He is currently Cleghorn Professor of Management Studies at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. He authored 20 books and received 21 honorary doctorate degrees. He is one of the most influential management thinkers of all times.
Also available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/1_GjzfOkKqA
CHAT OUTLINE
[02:38] Henry's latest book "Understanding Organizations...Finally!"
[07:06] The value of lumps (organizational archetypes) for the practitioners who do not see it
[10:36] What has changed in Henry's ideas about strategy over the past few decades
[13:08] Strategy & serendipity
2023-10-0946 minFARSIGHTThe Overly Simplistic Future of Public IntellectualsOur public intellectuals feed us grand narratives at the expense of a variety of images of the future. We should demand more of them.
Subscribe to FARSIGHT by becoming a Futures Member at the Institute
Author: Alex Fergnani
Narration: August Leo Liljenberg
Published by the Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies2023-08-3124 min
4Sight ChatsNicolai J. Foss: The Bossless Company, Wokeness, Bocconi - 4Sight Chats SE2 Ep.9
Nicolai J. Foss is a professor of strategy at the Copenhagen Business School. He is a prolific contributor to the research literature in management and is one of the world's most cited management scholars. He is mainly interested in the organizational and individual-level aspects of processes of creating and capturing value.
Also available in video format on YouTube: https://youtu.be/QgKJOuJ1uNM
CHAT OUTLINE
[02:58] Can you give us a quick introduction to your recent book “Why Managers Matter: The perils of the Bossless Company”, with Peter Klein?
[10:21] Mark...2023-06-221h 01
4Sight ChatsAubrey de Grey: Longevity and Foresight - 4Sight Chats SE2 Ep.8
Dr. Aubrey de Grey is a biomedical gerontologist based in Silicon Valley, California, USA, and is the founder, President and Chief Science Officer of LEV Foundation, a biomedical research and advocacy charity focused on repairing the molecular and cellular damage of aging. He received his BA in computer science and Ph.D. in biology from the University of Cambridge. His research interests encompass the characterisation of all the types of damage that constitute mammalian aging and the design of interventions to repair and/or obviate that damage. Dr. de Grey is a Fellow of both the Gerontological Society of...2023-04-141h 02
4Sight ChatsDaniel Görtz: 12 Rules for Life for Metamodern Thinkers - 4Sight Chats SE2 Ep.7Daniel is a sociologist and transdisciplinary thinker specializing in metamodernism, the stage of societal development that comes after and goes beyond postmodernism. Alex is Co-founder and Head of Foresight at the Ideactio Centre for Foresight Research & Consulting (Singapore).
Also available in video format: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-x1xVy4n8o
CHAT OUTLINE
[04:03] For an audience of which mental development stage is this self-help book? In contrast, for an audience of which mental development stage are Peterson's self-help books? what is the difference between the two?
[18:50] Why...2023-01-071h 09
4Sight ChatsBONUS: "Futures & Foresight Science" Editor Interview with George WrightGeorge is a professor of management science at the university of Strathclyde (Glasgow), Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Behavioral Decision Making and Editor-in-Chief of the recently launched Wiley journal, Futures & Foresight Science. Alex is co-founder and head of foresight at the Ideactio Centre for Foresight Research & Consulting (Singapore).
Also available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSLE0Q7ayyY
CHAT OUTLINE:
[1:10] Introduction, scope and vision of the journal "Futures & Foresight Science" (FFS)
[05:39] Why would futures/foresight/scenario planning researchers and practitioners want to publish their work in F...2022-12-0522 min
4Sight ChatsDennis Tourish: Present and Future(s) of the Crisis in Management Studies - 4Sight Chats SE2 Ep.6Dennis Tourish is a professor of leadership and organization studies at the University of Sussex Business School. Alex Fergnani is the co-founder and head of foresight at the Ideactio Centre for Foresight Research and Consulting (Singapore)
Available in video format: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bD5kuYFHg0w
CHAT OUTLINE:
[02:35] Some statistics about the crisis in management studies
[05:20] Summary of the many interlinked problems behind the crisis in management studies (overemphasis of theory, questionable research practices, lack of relevant research, overemphasis of journals' impact factors, etc.)
[12:08] Taking a comple...2022-11-1651 min
4Sight ChatsMarcus Anthony: Culture Wars, Integrated Intelligence, Harmonic Circles - 4Sight Chats SE2 Ep. 5Marcus is Associate Professor at the Beijing Institute of Technology in Zhuhai, China. Alex is PhD Candidate at NUS Business School, Singapore.
Also available in video format: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_Ug2Frhcco
2022-09-231h 07
4Sight ChatsGerard Hodgkinson: Emotions in Strategic Decisions, Critical Realism - 4Sight Chats SE2 Ep. 4Gerard is Vice Dean for Research of the Faculty of Humanities and Professor of Strategic Management and Behavioural Science at Alliance Manchester Business School. Alex is PhD Candidate at NUS Business School, Singapore.
Available in video format: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqvNxpeG90k
Chat outline:
-The role of emotions in foresight and strategic decision making
-How to take emotions into account as foresight practitioners (both in others and ourselves)
-Risks as feelings
-The science-practice divide
-Critical realism as a philosophical framewo...2022-05-271h 19
4Sight ChatsBONUS: "Using Scenarios" Book Launch Interview with Thomas ChermackThis conversation is an interview between Tom Chermack and Alex Fergnani about Tom's latest book, "Using Scenarios". Tom is a Professor in organizational learning, performance and change at Colorado State University. Alex is a PhD Candidate at NUS Business School.
CHAT OUTLINE:
-Motivation behind writing the book
-How to choose which "after scenarios" method to use
-Translating scenarios into financials
-Responding to potential criticism
-The rationale behind the design of the book cover
The conversation is also available in video format...2022-05-0923 min
FuturePodEP 129: FuturePod Conversations - Alex Fergnani and Luke van der LaanIn this latest podcast, Alex Fergnani invites Luke van der Laan into a conversationGuests: Alex Fergnani and Luke van der LaanHost: Peter HaywardConversation Question“Does Futures and Foresight need to be taught and researched at Universities? What could be gained if it was not?““Should the field abandon preferred futures? Recently, Richard Slaughter even called into question the efficacy of "alternative futures." Distinguishing between anticipation for "the future" and anticipation for "emergence" also highlights this tension. How can (and must) the futures field shift in both theory...2022-03-3042 min
FuturePodEP 129: FuturePod Conversations - Alex Fergnani and Luke van der LaanIn this latest podcast, Alex Fergnani invites Luke van der Laan into a conversation
Conversation Question
“Does Futures and Foresight need to be taught and researched at Universities? What could be gained if it was not?“
Guests: Alex Fergnani and Luke van der Laan
Host: Peter Hayward
2022-03-3042 min
FuturePodEP 89: Empirical Research and Dialogue - Alex FergnaniAlex is passionate about better understanding how to use the methods we employ to assist people. He believes that through collaborating with other disciplines, we can become more influential in the public discourse.
2021-11-2953 min
4Sight ChatsTom Lombardo: Science Fiction, Future Consciousness, and the Future(s) - 4Sight Chats SE2 Ep. 3The 3rd episode of the 2nd season of the 4Sight Chats Series, with Thomas (Tom) Lombardo. Tom is s the Director of the Center for Future Consciousness, Editor of Future Consciousness Insights, and Professor Emeritus and Retired Faculty Chair of Psychology, Philosophy, and the Future at Rio Salado College. Alex is PhD candidate at NUS Business School (Singapore), and Associate Editor of the journal "World Futures Review".
Chat Outline:
-Using science fiction as a form of foresight and its challenges
-What is future consciousness and why it’s important
-Meas...2021-09-271h 10
4Sight ChatsBrent Cooper: Metamodernism and the Future(s) - 4Sight Chats SE2 Ep. 2The 2nd episode of the 2nd season of the 4Sight Chats Series, with Brent Cooper. Brent is a geopolitical sociologist, founder of The Abs-Tract Organization, and filmmaker. Alex is PhD candidate at NUS Business School (Singapore), and Associate Editor of the journal "World Futures Review".
Chat Outline:
- What is metamodernism?
- The normative aspect of metamodernism
- Differences and similarities between metamodernism and integral theory
- The relation between metamodernism and science
- Brent's film, The AbsTract: Core Philosophy, Act I
Av...2021-08-021h 28
4Sight ChatsYoung-chan Ro: Confucianism and the Future(s) - 4Sight Chats SE2 Ep. 1The 1st episode of the 2nd season of the 4Sight Chats Series, with Young-chan Ro. Young-chan is a professor of religious studies and the director of the Korean studies center at George Mason University. Alex is PhD candidate at NUS Business School (Singapore), and Associate Editor of the journal "World Futures Review".
Chat Outline:
- The ideal society according to Confucianism
- The five cardinal relationships of Confucianism and how they can inform/be reinterpreted for human societies today
- How to counter the claim that Confucianism supports dege...2021-06-071h 11
4Sight ChatsPeter Hayward: "Pracademia", Futures Games, and Futurepod - 4Sight Chats Ep. 1010th episode of the 4Sight Chats Series, with Peter Hayward. Peter is a "pracademic" with two decades of experience in teaching foresight to passionate and skillful people. He is also the co-host of Futurepod, one of the most well regarded and long-lasting podcasts in futures & foresight. Alex is PhD candidate at NUS Business School (Singapore), and Associate Editor of the journal "World Futures Review".
Chat Outline:
- Using foresight to solve clients' problems
- The Sarkar Game in organizational contexts
- The Polak Game in organizational contexts
- Th...2021-05-071h 37
4Sight ChatsPaul Schoemaker: Vigilance, Foresight, and Business Schools - 4Sight Chats Ep. 99th episode of the 4Sight Chats Series, with Paul Schoemaker. Paul is an internationally renown expert, an entrepreneur, and an educator in the fields of strategy, innovation and decision-making. Alex is PhD candidate at NUS Business School (Singapore), and Associate Editor of the journal "World Futures Review"
Chat outline:
-What is organizational vigilance?
-What is the difference between vigilance and foresight?
-Why are organizations not vigilant?
-Why is vigilance not taught in business schools?
-Advice on how to research/teach vigilance in business schools
-Paul's journey...2021-03-231h 00
4Sight ChatsErik F. Øverland: The World Futures Studies Federation and its Challenges - 4Sight Chats Ep.88th episode of the 4Sight Chats Series, with Erik Øverland. Erik is the President of the World Futures Studies Federation (WFSF), and Co-Editor in Chief of the European Journal of Futures Research. Alex is PhD candidate at NUS Business School (Singapore), and Associate Editor of the journal "World Futures Review"
Chat outline:
-What WFSF is and does
-The challenge of advocating for preferable futures while objectively presenting a range of scenarios
-The role of the WFSF in the current society and its political positions
-The future(s) of professional associ...2021-03-0555 min