#79 Imagining the Future - Where Sci-Fi Meets Curiosity with Ari Popper (Founder & CEO, SciFutures)

In this episode of The Curious Advantage podcast, Simon Brown and Paul Ashcroft speak with Ari Popper, Founder & CEO of SciFutures, to explore the intersection of science fiction, innovation, and leadership. Ari shares his journey from experiencing a midlife crisis to founding SciFutures, where he helps organizations envision and prepare for the future through storytelling and strategic foresight. The conversation delves into the role of narrative in shaping our understanding of emerging technologies, the evolving nature of leadership in an AI-driven world, and the importance of curiosity, adaptability, and ethical awareness. Together, they explore how science fiction can serve as a powerful tool for sparking innovation, cultivating future-ready mindsets, and navigating the challenges of rapid technological advancement. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to SciFutures and Ari Popper's Journey 03:10 Understanding the Future: Methodologies and Insights 06:01 The Role of Storytelling in Shaping Futures 08:57 Predicting the Future: Successes and Misses 11:57 Emerging Technologies and Their Impacts 15:10 Preparing for the Future: Education and Leadership 17:58 Human Skills in an AI-Driven World 20:59 The Future of Leadership and Organizational Change 26:42 The Art of Time Travel on a Budget 28:04 Mindsets for Future Thinking 29:50 Distilling Challenges in Innovation 30:58 Minding the Gap in Leadership 32:59 Curiosity and Information Synthesis 38:06 Optimism in the Age of AI 40:58 Exploring Emerging Technologies 45:06 The Skill of Future Thinking About the Curious Advantage Podcast Series Join the authors of The Curious Advantage in an exploration of how individuals and organizations can harness the power of curiosity to drive success in our new digital reality. In each episode, they engage in enlightening conversations with world-leading experts from a diversity of disciplines to bring to life the latest understanding of curiosity in a way that’s useful to anyone looking to embark on a journey of discovery, navigate challenges, and unlock opportunities. About The Curious Advantage Book The Curious Advantage is an exploration of the idea of Curiosity and its increasing importance for thriving in the digital age. Taking the widest possible exploration of things Curious – historical, contemporary, neuro-scientific, anthropological, behavioural, semantic and business-focused. At the heart of the book is our model of Curiosity, called ’Sailing the 7C’s of Curiosity’. This model provides individuals with a practical framework for how to be successfully Curious and use Curiosity as a power skill to unlock their own potential. To find out more visit: curiousadvantage.com Get your copy of The Curious Advantage on Amazon The Curious Advantage Audiobook is also available on Audible Follow The Curious Advantage on LinkedIn and Instagram The Curious Advantage Podcast is executive produced by Jessica Wickham, Pasha Adam and Aliki Paolinelis. Audio editing is expertly by Danny Cross. Video editing is done by Jessica Wickham & Helena Gonzalez.