The Disruptors

Are you a climate or impact startup looking for funding? Are you an investor looking for interesting world-positive companies to invest in? Then let me introduce you to The Startup Tank presented by 4WARD.VC, the ultimate startup investor pitch contest where top climate tech and impact founders pitch to a panel of VCs looking to fund world-positive cleantech, sustainability, health and impact startups looking to move the world forward. If you've ever wanted a chance to pitch your company or get in front of VCs and angel investors, now is your time to shine. Learn more and apply at thestartuptank.com -- Subscribe to The Startup Tank on your favorite podcasting platform of choice: Apple Podcast | Spotify | Youtube | Google Podcast | Stitcher | Anchor -- TODAY'S PRESENTING STARTUPS INCLUDE: wiCow: Reducing cow birthing deaths from 6% to 1%. Bomway: The Alibaba of sustainable product/supplier sourcing DOTS: Soil sensing to stop billions in fertilizer runoff pollution Materials Nexus: Harnessing AI to develop sustainable new materials Foodsquared: Upcycling food and drink by-products into plant-based proteins Voltiris: Transforming greenhouses into renewable solar powerplants Investor Panelists: Sven Meyer - Investor at 4Impact VC Madeline Lawrence - Investor at Peak Capital Ricardo Camarinha - Investor at Teal Impact About 4WARD.VC's Angel Syndicate: 4WARD.VC's angel group invests in mission-driven pre seed and seed stage startups moving the world forward by tackling big problems in the areas of commerce/ecommerce, platforms/marketplaces, consumer tech, fintech, cleantech & climate change, B2B/enterprise, hardware-as-a-service and of course software/SaaS. For more information on 4WARD.VC and our angel syndicate: 4WARD.VC/syndicate -- About The Startup Tank: YCombinator popularized the demo day. Shark Tank revolutionized the investor pitch. We take the best of both worlds combined with the Covid-fueled remote nature of everything to bring you The Startup Tank Demo Days presented by 4WARD.VC, the startup pitch fest where founders get to pitch to prospective investors, possible cofounders and the tech ecosystem as a whole. If you've ever wanted a chance to pitch your company or get in front of VCs and angel investors, now is your time to shine. About the host: Matt Ward is a serial entrepreneur & startup advisor, lead's 4WARD.VC's angel syndicate focused on early-stage climate and impact companies that move the world forward and Venture Partner with Climentum Capital dedicated to helping great startup founders change the world for the better through strategy, growth and fundraising support

Are you a climate or impact startup looking for funding? Are you an investor looking for interesting world-positive companies to invest in? Welcome to The Startup Tank presented by 4WARD.VC 4WARD.VC angel group, a special Swiss-focused startup pitch competition where founders pitch their project to our investor panel including the Swiss ICT Investor Club (SICTIC), Sparrow Ventures and Wingman as well as investors and VCs tuning in from across the globe. If you've ever wanted a chance to pitch your company or get in front of VCs and angel investors, now is your time to shine. Learn more and apply at thestartuptank.com -- Subscribe to The Startup Tank on your favorite podcasting platform of choice: Apple Podcast | Spotify | Youtube | Google Podcast | Stitcher | Anchor -- PRESENTING STARTUPS INCLUDE: Voltiris: Transforming greenhouses into renewable solar powerplants Potiio - Soft drink flavor, 30% less sugar - no artificial flavoring. Zario - Free yourself from your phone and get on with your life. Raush: Your travel recommendations bookable directly via social media Footsnap: Foot scanning to ensure online shoes shopping always fits Kapsly: An all-in-one startup services for equity platform Blue Salmon: Aquacultured sustainable Swiss salmon Investor Panelists: Thomas Ackermann - Director of SICTIC Antonia Albert - Investor at Wingman Ventures Claudius Stammbach - Investor at Sparrow Ventures About 4WARD.VC's Angel Syndicate: 4WARD.VC's angel group invests in mission-driven pre seed and seed stage startups moving the world forward by tackling big problems in the areas of commerce/ecommerce, platforms/marketplaces, consumer tech, fintech, cleantech & climate change, B2B/enterprise, hardware-as-a-service and of course software/SaaS. For more information on 4WARD.VC and our angel syndicate: 4WARD.VC/syndicate -- About The Startup Tank: YCombinator popularized the demo day. Shark Tank revolutionized the investor pitch. We take the best of both worlds combined with the Covid-fueled remote nature of everything to bring you The Startup Tank Demo Days presented by 4WARD.VC, the startup pitch fest where founders get to pitch to prospective investors, possible cofounders and the tech ecosystem as a whole. If you've ever wanted a chance to pitch your company or get in front of VCs and angel investors, now is your time to shine. About the host: Matt Ward is a serial entrepreneur & startup advisor, lead's 4WARD.VC's angel syndicate focused on early-stage climate and impact companies that move the world forward and Venture Partner with Climentum Capital dedicated to helping great startup founders change the world for the better through strategy, growth and fundraising support

Frans von der Dunk is a Professor of Space Law at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Director of Black Holes Consultancy, and is generally recognized as one of the world’s leading space law experts. Franz has served as an adviser to a number of governments, the European Commission, ESA, the United Nations, the OECD, various national space agencies, the Association of Space Explorers, the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, and a number of companies. He is Director Public Relations of the International Institute of Space Law (IISL), Member of the Board of the European Centre for Space Law (ECSL), and Member for the Netherlands in the International Law Association's (ILA) Committee on Space Law. He is also Member of the International Editorial Board of 'Space Policy' and many other long acronyms, incredibly important organizations and initiatives focused on space.In today's episode we discuss:- The issue of ownership and sovereignty in space- How regulation helps and hurts our the future of space- Why current space treaties are anything but adequate for space exploration- What you need to know about asteroid mining and space settlements- The brewing issues in space which could provoke war- Why solving the Kessler crisis NEEDS to be a top priority for space operators- Thoughts private enterprises role in space exploration- What Frans thinks about Trump's Space Force- The realities of extraterrestrial space life and the law- What technologies most worry Frans most- Why social media and data privacy are such big issues to contend with- The scary truth about cyber, and space

Frans von der Dunk is a Professor of Space Law at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Director of Black Holes Consultancy, and is generally recognized as one of the world's leading space law experts. [spreaker type=player resource="episode_id=42687557" width="100%" height="80px" theme="light" playlist="false" playlist-continuous="false" autoplay="false" live-autoplay="false" chapters-image="true" episode-image-position="right" hide-logo="true" hide-likes="false" hide-comments="false" hide-sharing="false" hide-download="true"]

Russell Gold (@russellgold) is an author and award-winning investigative journalist and energy reporter at The Wall Street Journal best known for covering the Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill. They were awarded the Gerald Loeb Award for best business story of the year and were finalists for the Pulitzer.He's the author of The Boom: How Fracking Ignited the American Energy Revolution and Changed the World and his new book, Superpower: One Man's Quest to Transform Energy tells the story of Michael Skelly, who helped created the wind energy industry in the US in a push for sustainability.In today's episode we discuss:- How to speed the transition to renewable energy- The pros and cons of fracking and why it has a bad rap- Why the energy industry is so fragmented in the US- What we need MOST to see renewables replace the grid- How batteries are holding back cleantech- The pros and cons of monopolies in public infrastructure- Why Silicon Valley doesn't invest much in energy- How one innovator can change the course of history and energy consumption- What we NEED to do to combat climate change- Why Andy thinks going public is the way to go- Thoughts on Elon, Tesla and the future of transportation- What will journalism look like in ten years- Are billionaire-owned media corporations a net positive

Russell Gold (@russellgold) is an author and award-winning investigative journalist and energy reporter at The Wall Street Journal best known for covering the Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill. [spreaker type=player resource="episode_id=42591194" width="100%" height="80px" theme="light" playlist="false" playlist-continuous="false" autoplay="false" live-autoplay="false" chapters-image="true" episode-image-position="right" hide-logo="true" hide-likes="false" hide-comments="false" hide-sharing="false" hide-download="true"]

Would you sell your life to save another?Special forces vet, Samantha Jones, is a lowly bodyguard for Ethan Anderson, the biotech billionaire who revolutionized life extension. But at least she’s got a job, unlike most, and won’t have to sell her organs to support her family. Sure, they’re poor, but she’s got death insurance, and a roof over her head. Life is livable...Until her daughter is kidnapped and sold for parts, and the ex-assassin snaps.Someone is going to pay.Grab the rest today FREE with an Audible trial:deathdonor.com

Would you sell your life to save another?Special forces vet, Samantha Jones, is a lowly bodyguard for Ethan Anderson, the biotech billionaire who revolutionized life extension. But at least she’s got a job, unlike most, and won’t have to sell her organs to support her family. Sure, they’re poor, but she’s got death insurance, and a roof over her head. Life is livable...Until her daughter is kidnapped and sold for parts, and the ex-assassin snaps.Someone is going to pay.Grab the rest today FREE with an Audible trial:deathdonor.com

Imagine Game of Thrones, but Neanderthals never died off: MORE INFORMATION AT: neanderthalking.comIt’s 1107, and the once-great Neanderthal empire is no more, laid waste by the dark Sapien king, Isaac, the same bastard who slaughtered the Thal queen’s young heirs. A brutal reversal of medieval power forged in blood and fueled by Sap ingenuity.But one babe escaped the mad king’s wrath.Raised the son of a simple Thal herder, Maralek’s a rough lad with the ferocious pride and temper of his ruined people, a scorn for rules and rulers, and less than a little creativity in his thick skull. In a word, your average Neanderthal.And life’s livable, until King Isaac resumes his bloodthirsty crusade, and Maralek’s forced into slaving shackles. Then, a rowdy caravan, a mysterious gypsy, a whispered prophecy… A whirlwind of devastation and war as his master is murdered, his fate unwoven, and his world ripped asunder in an epic battle to end all.Neanderthal King is a historic epic YA fantasy by renowned science fiction and fantasy author, Matt Ward, that features savage twists and darker secrets, raging kings and enslaved heirs, and an audaciously ambitious coming of age quest set in an alternative medieval Europe. If you love Brandon Sanderson, Ursula le Guin, or Robin Hobb, or explosive high and low fantasy classics like Lord of the Rings, the Kingkiller Chronicles, and the Earthsea Cycle, you’ll love this heroic historical tale.For more information, to purchase the complete audio adventure or to download the entire technothriller free with a free trial of Audible, visit neanderthalking.com--Want to follow along with Maralek's adventure? For a limited time, grab your FREE illustrated map of Tharkal and the six kingdoms of Sapdom by visiting mattwardwrites.com/map.--More information on the author at mattwardwrites.com.

Imagine Game of Thrones, but Neanderthals never died off: MORE INFORMATION AT: neanderthalking.comIt’s 1107, and the once-great Neanderthal empire is no more, laid waste by the dark Sapien king, Isaac, the same bastard who slaughtered the Thal queen’s young heirs. A brutal reversal of medieval power forged in blood and fueled by Sap ingenuity.But one babe escaped the mad king’s wrath.Raised the son of a simple Thal herder, Maralek’s a rough lad with the ferocious pride and temper of his ruined people, a scorn for rules and rulers, and less than a little creativity in his thick skull. In a word, your average Neanderthal.And life’s livable, until King Isaac resumes his bloodthirsty crusade, and Maralek’s forced into slaving shackles. Then, a rowdy caravan, a mysterious gypsy, a whispered prophecy… A whirlwind of devastation and war as his master is murdered, his fate unwoven, and his world ripped asunder in an epic battle to end all.Neanderthal King is a historic epic YA fantasy by renowned science fiction and fantasy author, Matt Ward, that features savage twists and darker secrets, raging kings and enslaved heirs, and an audaciously ambitious coming of age quest set in an alternative medieval Europe. If you love Brandon Sanderson, Ursula le Guin, or Robin Hobb, or explosive high and low fantasy classics like Lord of the Rings, the Kingkiller Chronicles, and the Earthsea Cycle, you’ll love this heroic historical tale.For more information, to purchase the complete audio adventure or to download the entire technothriller free with a free trial of Audible, visit neanderthalking.com--Want to follow along with Maralek's adventure? For a limited time, grab your FREE illustrated map of Tharkal and the six kingdoms of Sapdom by visiting mattwardwrites.com/map.--More information on the author at mattwardwrites.com.

Imagine Game of Thrones, but Neanderthals never died off: MORE INFORMATION AT: neanderthalking.comIt’s 1107, and the once-great Neanderthal empire is no more, laid waste by the dark Sapien king, Isaac, the same bastard who slaughtered the Thal queen’s young heirs. A brutal reversal of medieval power forged in blood and fueled by Sap ingenuity.But one babe escaped the mad king’s wrath.Raised the son of a simple Thal herder, Maralek’s a rough lad with the ferocious pride and temper of his ruined people, a scorn for rules and rulers, and less than a little creativity in his thick skull. In a word, your average Neanderthal.And life’s livable, until King Isaac resumes his bloodthirsty crusade, and Maralek’s forced into slaving shackles. Then, a rowdy caravan, a mysterious gypsy, a whispered prophecy… A whirlwind of devastation and war as his master is murdered, his fate unwoven, and his world ripped asunder in an epic battle to end all.Neanderthal King is a historic epic YA fantasy by renowned science fiction and fantasy author, Matt Ward, that features savage twists and darker secrets, raging kings and enslaved heirs, and an audaciously ambitious coming of age quest set in an alternative medieval Europe. If you love Brandon Sanderson, Ursula le Guin, or Robin Hobb, or explosive high and low fantasy classics like Lord of the Rings, the Kingkiller Chronicles, and the Earthsea Cycle, you’ll love this heroic historical tale.For more information, to purchase the complete audio adventure or to download the entire technothriller free with a free trial of Audible, visit neanderthalking.com--Want to follow along with Maralek's adventure? For a limited time, grab your FREE illustrated map of Tharkal and the six kingdoms of Sapdom by visiting mattwardwrites.com/map.--More information on the author at mattwardwrites.com.

Imagine Game of Thrones, but Neanderthals never died offIt’s 1107, and the once-great Neanderthal empire is no more, laid waste by the dark Sapien king, Isaac, the same bastard who slaughtered the Thal queen’s young heirs. A brutal reversal of medieval power forged in blood and fueled by Sap ingenuity.But one babe escaped the mad king’s wrath.Raised the son of a simple Thal herder, Maralek’s a rough lad with the ferocious pride and temper of his ruined people, a scorn for rules and rulers, and less than a little creativity in his thick skull. In a word, your average Neanderthal.And life’s livable, until King Isaac resumes his bloodthirsty crusade, and Maralek’s forced into slaving shackles. Then, a rowdy caravan, a mysterious gypsy, a whispered prophecy… A whirlwind of devastation and war as his master is murdered, his fate unwoven, and his world ripped asunder in an epic battle to end all.Neanderthal King is a historic epic YA fantasy by renowned science fiction and fantasy author, Matt Ward, that features savage twists and darker secrets, raging kings and enslaved heirs, and an audaciously ambitious coming of age quest set in an alternative medieval Europe. If you love Brandon Sanderson, Ursula le Guin, or Robin Hobb, or explosive high and low fantasy classics like Lord of the Rings, the Kingkiller Chronicles, and the Earthsea Cycle, you’ll love this heroic historical tale.For more information, to purchase the complete audio adventure or to download the entire technothriller free with a free trial of Audible, visit neanderthalking.com—Want to follow along with Maralek’s adventure? For a limited time, grab your FREE illustrated map of Tharkal and the six kingdoms of Sapdom by visiting mattwardwrites.com/map.—More information on the author at mattwardwrites.com.

Imagine Game of Thrones, but Neanderthals never died offIt’s 1107, and the once-great Neanderthal empire is no more, laid waste by the dark Sapien king, Isaac, the same bastard who slaughtered the Thal queen’s young heirs. A brutal reversal of medieval power forged in blood and fueled by Sap ingenuity.But one babe escaped the mad king’s wrath.Raised the son of a simple Thal herder, Maralek’s a rough lad with the ferocious pride and temper of his ruined people, a scorn for rules and rulers, and less than a little creativity in his thick skull. In a word, your average Neanderthal.And life’s livable, until King Isaac resumes his bloodthirsty crusade, and Maralek’s forced into slaving shackles. Then, a rowdy caravan, a mysterious gypsy, a whispered prophecy… A whirlwind of devastation and war as his master is murdered, his fate unwoven, and his world ripped asunder in an epic battle to end all.Neanderthal King is a historic epic YA fantasy by renowned science fiction and fantasy author, Matt Ward, that features savage twists and darker secrets, raging kings and enslaved heirs, and an audaciously ambitious coming of age quest set in an alternative medieval Europe. If you love Brandon Sanderson, Ursula le Guin, or Robin Hobb, or explosive high and low fantasy classics like Lord of the Rings, the Kingkiller Chronicles, and the Earthsea Cycle, you’ll love this heroic historical tale.For more information, to purchase the complete audio adventure or to download the entire technothriller free with a free trial of Audible, visit neanderthalking.com--Want to follow along with Maralek's adventure? For a limited time, grab your FREE illustrated map of Tharkal and the six kingdoms of Sapdom by visiting mattwardwrites.com/map.--More information on the author at mattwardwrites.com.

Imagine Game of Thrones, but Neanderthals never died offIt’s 1107, and the once-great Neanderthal empire is no more, laid waste by the dark Sapien king, Isaac, the same bastard who slaughtered the Thal queen’s young heirs. A brutal reversal of medieval power forged in blood and fueled by Sap ingenuity.But one babe escaped the mad king’s wrath.Raised the son of a simple Thal herder, Maralek’s a rough lad with the ferocious pride and temper of his ruined people, a scorn for rules and rulers, and less than a little creativity in his thick skull. In a word, your average Neanderthal.And life’s livable, until King Isaac resumes his bloodthirsty crusade, and Maralek’s forced into slaving shackles. Then, a rowdy caravan, a mysterious gypsy, a whispered prophecy… A whirlwind of devastation and war as his master is murdered, his fate unwoven, and his world ripped asunder in an epic battle to end all.Neanderthal King is a historic epic YA fantasy by renowned science fiction and fantasy author, Matt Ward, that features savage twists and darker secrets, raging kings and enslaved heirs, and an audaciously ambitious coming of age quest set in an alternative medieval Europe. If you love Brandon Sanderson, Ursula le Guin, or Robin Hobb, or explosive high and low fantasy classics like Lord of the Rings, the Kingkiller Chronicles, and the Earthsea Cycle, you’ll love this heroic historical tale.For more information, to purchase the complete audio adventure or to download the entire technothriller free with a free trial of Audible, visit neanderthalking.com--Want to follow along with Maralek's adventure? For a limited time, grab your FREE illustrated map of Tharkal and the six kingdoms of Sapdom by visiting mattwardwrites.com/map.--More information on the author at mattwardwrites.com.

Imagine Game of Thrones, but Neanderthals never died off.It’s 1107, and the once-great Neanderthal empire is no more, laid waste by the dark Sapien king, Isaac, the same bastard who slaughtered the Thal queen’s young heirs. A brutal reversal of medieval power forged in blood and fueled by Sap ingenuity.But one babe escaped the mad king’s wrath.Raised the son of a simple Thal herder, Maralek’s a rough lad with the ferocious pride and temper of his ruined people, a scorn for rules and rulers, and less than a little creativity in his thick skull. In a word, your average Neanderthal.And life’s livable, until King Isaac resumes his bloodthirsty crusade, and Maralek’s forced into slaving shackles. Then, a rowdy caravan, a mysterious gypsy, a whispered prophecy… A whirlwind of devastation and war as his master is murdered, his fate unwoven, and his world ripped asunder in an epic battle to end all.Neanderthal King is a historic epic YA fantasy by renowned science fiction and fantasy author, Matt Ward, that features savage twists and darker secrets, raging kings and enslaved heirs, and an audaciously ambitious coming of age quest set in an alternative medieval Europe. If you love Brandon Sanderson, Ursula le Guin, or Robin Hobb, or explosive high and low fantasy classics like Lord of the Rings, the Kingkiller Chronicles, and the Earthsea Cycle, you’ll love this heroic historical tale.For more information, to purchase the complete audio adventure or to download the entire technothriller free with a free trial of Audible, visit neanderthalking.com--Want to follow along with Maralek's adventure? For a limited time, grab your FREE illustrated map of Tharkal and the six kingdoms of Sapdom by visiting mattwardwrites.com/map.--More information on the author at mattwardwrites.com.

Dr. James Canton (@futureguru) is a renowned global futurist, social scientist, keynote presenter, author, and visionary business advisor. He is the CEO and Chairman of the Institute for Global Futures, a leading think tank he founded in 1990 that advises business, the Global Fortune 1000 (like IBM, GE, HP, Boeing, Intel and more) and many governments on future trends in innovation, financial services, health care, population, life sciences, energy, security, workforce, climate change, and globalization. In addition, James is a Senior Fellow at the Center for Research in Innovation at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management, on the advisory board of the Corporate Eco Forum and has advised three White House Administrations, the National Science Foundation and MIT’s Media Lab, Europe. Dr. Canton is the author of the following books:The Extreme Future: The Top Trends That Will Reshape the World in the 21st Century (2006)Future Smart: Managing the Game-Changing Trends That Will Transform Your World (2015)Technofutures: How Leading-Edge Technology Will Transform Business in the 21st Century (2004)And James is no stranger to media. He was named “the Digital Guru” by CNN and “Dr. Future” by Yahoo, is a commentator on CNN and has been featured on/in CNBC, Fox, PBS, ABC, Fortune, The Wall Street Journal, The Economist, Bloomberg Report, The New York Times, US News and World Report, CEO, CIO and CFO Magazines. And finally, Dr. Canton serves as Co-chairman of the Futures and Forecasting Track at Singularity University. In our wide-ranging conversation, we cover many things, including:- How the pace of technology acceleration is accelerating- The 5 most impactful areas of tech- How government surveillance and privacy as balanced in the future- Why James is optimistic about the future- The future of work, even including AI- How humanity needs to reinvent healthcare- What it is like working in a governmental think tank- Why quantum computing will change the world- How James advises government and corporations about change and the future- What James learned working at Apple Computer- How systems thinking changes can solve most of the world’s problems- Why our education system is broken and how to fix it

Dr. James Canton (@futureguru) is a renowned global futurist, social scientist, keynote presenter, author, and visionary business advisor. [spreaker type=player resource="episode_id=40365237" width="100%" height="80px" theme="light" playlist="false" playlist-continuous="false" autoplay="false" live-autoplay="false" chapters-image="true" episode-image-position="right" hide-logo="true" hide-likes="false" hide-comments="false" hide-sharing="false" hide-download="true"]

Geoff Ralston (@gralston) is the founder of Imagine K12, an education-focused vertical within the super successful startup accelerator YCombinator. Collectively, Y Combinator and Imagine K12 have backed over 100 education technology startups. In addition to his work with YC, Geoff’s a prolific angel investor, with over 80 portfolio companies and 18 exits to date.Prior to joining YC as a Partner, Geoff was the CEO of Lala Media, a music startup which was acquired by Apple for $80M in 2009. He also spent 9 years at Yahoo and was the Former Chief Product Officer a decade before the company became irrelevant.In our wide-ranging conversation, we cover many things, including:- The major problems with America’s education system- How startups and YC are working to redesign education- Is college still necessary?- How venture capitalists can make outsized differences in the world- Why education and healthcare as so expensive and slow to adapt- What angel investors need to know to avoid losing money- How Geoff thinks about industries and investment philosophies- Why Geoff started an edtech accelerator and merged with YCombinator- The reason Geoff is incredibly optimistic about biotech and AI- The ethical issues of education and access and how we can fix them- Why education NEEDS to be personalized- How to hone your craft and becoming worldclass- Which industries Geoff is most excited about

Geoff Ralston (@gralston) is the founder of Imagine K12, an education-focused vertical within the super successful startup accelerator YCombinator. [spreaker type=player resource="episode_id=41416867" width="100%" height="80px" theme="light" playlist="false" playlist-continuous="false" autoplay="false" live-autoplay="false" chapters-image="true" episode-image-position="right" hide-logo="true" hide-likes="false" hide-comments="false" hide-sharing="false" hide-download="true"]

Eric Ward(@AeroSigma) is the co-founder and CEO of both Odyne Space and Aten Engineering, two space tech startups with a ton of promise for the future. Eric is an experienced systems architect who sees growing the space industry as the next step to progressing humanity beyond the planet.At Odyne, Eric and the team are working on phase one: launch, and run a large scale nano and microsatellite launch program to allow more satellite tech companies easier access to space.Aten Engineering, on the other hand, deals with what to do once we get there and is an asteroid mining company to provide humanity with inexpensive access to the materials we need to become a space-faring civilization.Eric recently received a Master’s degree in Systems Design and Management from MIT, has published multiple technical documents on Systems Architecture and the Space Industry has been featured in Fast Company and co-founded the MIT New Space Age Conference.In our wide-ranging conversation, we cover many things, including:- The main hurdles holding humanity back from becoming a spacefaring civilization- Why now is the time for space tech startups- How politics and economics must evolve to suit space- The reason holds the key to space travel- Why we’re still a few years off from a moon or Mars colony- The big problem with propulsion for space sustainability- How economics will drive our current space race- The reason governments won’t play much of a role in space exploration- Eric’s thoughts on the ethics of space- The unique challenges space tech startups face- Political challenges associated with space travel- Why the pace of innovation is constantly accelerating- How AI will create a new breed of human

Eric Ward(@AeroSigma) is the co-founder and CEO of both Odyne Space and Aten Engineering, two space tech startups with a ton of promise for the future. [spreaker type=player resource="episode_id=41303415" width="100%" height="80px" theme="light" playlist="false" playlist-continuous="false" autoplay="false" live-autoplay="false" chapters-image="true" episode-image-position="right" hide-logo="true" hide-likes="false" hide-comments="false" hide-sharing="false" hide-download="true"]

Ashwin Seetharaman is molecular genetics and cell/developmental researcher at the University of Toronto focused on understanding life at its most fundamental level. [spreaker type=player resource="episode_id=41172522" width="100%" height="80px" theme="light" playlist="false" playlist-continuous="false" autoplay="false" live-autoplay="false" chapters-image="true" episode-image-position="right" hide-logo="true" hide-likes="false" hide-comments="false" hide-sharing="false" hide-download="true"]

Ashwin Seetharaman is molecular genetics and cell/developmental researcher at the University of Toronto focused on understanding life at its most fundamental level. He is currently focused on unraveling genetic interaction networks underlying human disease using the revolutionary CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing technology, ie examining and fighting rare diseases using gene editing. With over a decade of experience in leading scientific research, publishing research articles and presenting scientific findings at conferences, he has a talent for simplifying and communicating complex scientific data in a way that both experts in the field and a non-scientific audience can appreciate them. Ashwin spends much of his time thinking about the dynamics of the future and how this research will impact humanity, especially those unfamiliar with its profound effects. In addition to his research, Ashwin is also passionate about training people to communicate more powerfully and offers powerful tools and training at the highest quality to empower people to articulate their ideas and vision in a powerful and persuasive manner.In our wide-ranging conversation, we cover many things, including:- The future of CRISPR and genetic engineering- Why personalized medicine is closer than you would think- How CRISPR and gene drive technology can have a butterfly effect like unintended consequences- The problem and solution with causing and treating cancer- Why we need to discuss the ethical implications of genetic editing- The importance of DNA based edits and therapies to advance humanity- How to shift the public perception on future technologies- The reason humanity may evolve into multiple species- Ashwin’s thoughts on the ethics of great power- The reason Ashwin is cautious with CRISPR technology- How researchers are fighting and will likely eradicate malaria-carrying mosquitoes- Why research is now focused on systems vs individual genes- The importance of epigenetics in understanding biological processesWhy we may have a “cure” to aging on the horizon

Would you sell your life to save another?Special forces vet, Samantha Jones, is a lowly bodyguard for Ethan Anderson, the biotech billionaire who revolutionized life extension. But at least she’s got a job, unlike most, and won’t have to sell her organs to support her family. Sure, they’re poor, but she’s got death insurance, and a roof over her head. Life is livable...Until her daughter is kidnapped and sold for parts, and the ex-assassin snaps.Someone is going to pay.Grab the rest today FREE with an Audible trial:deathdonor.com

Would you sell your life to save another? Special forces vet, Samantha Jones, is a lowly bodyguard for Ethan Anderson, the biotech billionaire who revolutionized life extension. But at least she's got a job, unlike most, and won't have to sell her organs to support her family. Sure, they're poor, but she's got death insurance, and a roof over her head. Life is livable... Until her daughter is kidnapped and sold for parts, and the ex-assassin snaps. Someone is going to pay. Grab the rest today FREE with an Audible trial: deathdonor.com [spreaker type=player resource="episode_id=41038015" width="100%" height="200px" theme="light" playlist="false" playlist-continuous="false" autoplay="false" live-autoplay="false" chapters-image="true" episode-image-position="right" hide-logo="true" hide-likes="false" hide-comments="false" hide-sharing="false" hide-download="true"]

Would you sell your life to save another? [spreaker type=player resource="episode_id=40875336" width="100%" height="80px" theme="light" playlist="false" playlist-continuous="false" autoplay="false" live-autoplay="false" chapters-image="true" episode-image-position="right" hide-logo="true" hide-likes="false" hide-comments="false" hide-sharing="false" hide-download="true"]

Would you sell your life to save another?Special forces vet, Samantha Jones, is a lowly bodyguard for Ethan Anderson, the biotech billionaire who revolutionized life extension. But at least she’s got a job, unlike most, and won’t have to sell her organs to support her family. Sure, they’re poor, but she’s got death insurance, and a roof over her head. Life is livable…Until her daughter is kidnapped and sold for parts, and the ex-assassin snaps.Someone is going to pay.Grab the rest today FREE with an Audible trial:deathdonor.com

Would you sell your life to save another? [spreaker type=player resource="episode_id=40704493" width="100%" height="80px" theme="light" playlist="false" playlist-continuous="false" autoplay="false" live-autoplay="false" chapters-image="true" episode-image-position="right" hide-logo="true" hide-likes="false" hide-comments="false" hide-sharing="false" hide-download="true"]

Would you sell your life to save another?Special forces vet, Samantha Jones, is a lowly bodyguard for Ethan Anderson, the biotech billionaire who revolutionized life extension. But at least she’s got a job, unlike most, and won’t have to sell her organs to support her family. Sure, they’re poor, but she’s got death insurance, and a roof over her head. Life is livable...Until her daughter is kidnapped and sold for parts, and the ex-assassin snaps.Someone is going to pay.Grab the rest today FREE with an Audible trial:deathdonor.com

Would you sell your life to save another?Special forces vet, Samantha Jones, is a lowly bodyguard for Ethan Anderson, the biotech billionaire who revolutionized life extension. But at least she’s got a job, unlike most, and won’t have to sell her organs to support her family. Sure, they’re poor, but she’s got death insurance, and a roof over her head. Life is livable...Until her daughter is kidnapped and sold for parts, and the ex-assassin snaps.Someone is going to pay.Grab the rest today FREE with an Audible trial:deathdonor.com

Would you sell your life to save another? [spreaker type=player resource="episode_id=40560637" width="100%" height="80px" theme="light" playlist="false" playlist-continuous="false" autoplay="false" live-autoplay="false" chapters-image="true" episode-image-position="right" hide-logo="true" hide-likes="false" hide-comments="false" hide-sharing="false" hide-download="true"]

Would you sell your life to save another?Special forces vet, Samantha Jones, is a lowly bodyguard for Ethan Anderson, the biotech billionaire who revolutionized life extension. But at least she’s got a job, unlike most, and won’t have to sell her organs to support her family. Sure, they’re poor, but she’s got death insurance, and a roof over her head. Life is livable...Until her daughter is kidnapped and sold for parts, and the ex-assassin snaps.Someone is going to pay.Grab the rest today FREE with an Audible trial:deathdonor.com

Would you sell your life to save another? [spreaker type=player resource="episode_id=40365360" width="100%" height="80px" theme="light" playlist="false" playlist-continuous="false" autoplay="false" live-autoplay="false" chapters-image="true" episode-image-position="right" hide-logo="true" hide-likes="false" hide-comments="false" hide-sharing="false" hide-download="true"]

Ariel Garten (@ariel_garten) is the Founder of InteraXon, makers of Muse: the brain sensing headband. Muse is the award-winning headband that makes meditation easier. [spreaker type=player resource="episode_id=40154562" width="100%" height="80px" theme="light" playlist="false" playlist-continuous="false" autoplay="false" live-autoplay="false" chapters-image="true" episode-image-position="right" hide-logo="true" hide-likes="false" hide-comments="false" hide-sharing="false" hide-download="true"]

Ariel Garten (@ariel_garten) is the Founder of InteraXon, makers of Muse: the brain sensing headband. Muse is the award-winning headband that makes meditation easier. During guided exercises, Muse senses your brain activity and sends that information to your phone or tablet, giving you real time audio feedback… Ariel has researched at the Krembil Neuroscience Institute studying hippocampal neurogenesis, displayed work at the Art Gallery of Ontario, DeLeon White Gallery and opened Toronto Fashion Week. The intersections of these diverse interests have culminated into various lectures with topics such as “The Neuroscience of Aesthetics” and “The Neuroscience of Conflict”, featured on TVO’s Big Ideas. Referred to as the “Brain Guru”, Garten has also run a successful real estate business, spent time as the designer of a Canadian fashion boutique, and is a practicing psychotherapist. Garten regularly lectures at MIT, Singularity University and FutureMed. Her lecture on Ted.com has over 400k views and she gave this year’s opening keynote at Le Web (plus numerous times previously), Europe’s biggest tech conference. In our wide-ranging conversation, we cover many things, including:- The science of meditation and how it affects your brain- Why Ariel is passionate about neuroscience and its ability to evolve our species- How IoT and technical enhancements will shape humans of the future- The mental health problem we’re facing and how to overcome it- Why elite performers tend to be meditators- The ways to consciously control and hack your brain- How technological innovation will impact our evolution- What brain scientists are just starting to understand- The reason capitalist incentive structures drive many of our most pressing problems- What is really the future for wearables

Yotam Ariel (@yotamariel) is the Founder and CEO of Bluefield, a satellite change detection startup that was recent winner of Top 20 NewSpace Awards alongside SpaceX, Virgin Orbit and other innovative space startups. Bluefield use proprietary methane tracking micro-satellites & AI to provide actionable insights and valuable data for farmers maximizing crop yields, governments watching military behavior and much much more. Bluefield lies up nicely with Yotam’s previous startup Bennu Solar which mass produces affordable solar products for third world countries. Yotam likes the Morning Climate newsletter, for anyone interested. In our wide-ranging conversation, we cover many things, including:- How Yotam thinks see satellite space technology changing everyday life- The space tech convergence of small scale satellites- Why methane is the new carbon dioxide- The reason Yotam doesn’t look up to Elon Musk and Richard Branson- Why we are still a ways off from living in space- The 80/20 way to think about climate change- How complexity becomes commodity and creates innovation- Why Yotam spent 12 years in China and what he learned- The reason today’s entrepreneurs focus on profitable purpose- How to start a space tech startup today – and how much it costs

[spreaker type=player resource="episode_id=40154448" width="100%" height="80px" theme="light" playlist="false" playlist-continuous="false" autoplay="false" live-autoplay="false" chapters-image="true" episode-image-position="right" hide-logo="true" hide-likes="false" hide-comments="false" hide-sharing="false" hide-download="true"] Yotam Ariel (@yotamariel) is the Founder and CEO of Bluefield, a satellite change detection startup that was recent winner of Top 20 NewSpace Awards alongside SpaceX, Virgin Orbit and other innovative space startups.  

Fraser Cain (@fcain) is the founder of Universe Today, one of the most popular spaces and astronomy sites online with over 3 million space focused visitors a month. [spreaker type=player resource="episode_id=39985457" width="100%" height="80px" theme="light" playlist="false" playlist-continuous="false" autoplay="false" live-autoplay="false" chapters-image="true" episode-image-position="right" hide-logo="true" hide-likes="false" hide-comments="false" hide-sharing="false" hide-download="true"]

Fraser Cain (@fcain) is the founder of Universe Today, one of the most popular spaces and astronomy sites online with over 3 million space focused visitors a month. In addition to Universe Today, Fraser co-hosts Astronomy Cast, a fact-based weekly journey through the cosmos which offers discussions about astronomical topics ranging from planets to cosmology Fraser has been working in the software/Internet industry for the more than 15 years and was a partner in two software companies that are now traded publicly. He studied engineering at the University of British Columbia and has a degree in computer science. Visit Fraser’s site at Universe Today.In our wide-ranging conversation, we cover many things, including:- What’s been happening in space since the space race- How advances in reusable rockets, materials science and hardware have revolutionized the future of space- Why Fraser thinks Earth is far and away from the best place in the solar system to live- How the new space race may unfold and the political implications- The health problems associated with living in space and living in low gravity- Why asteroid mining and space manufacturing may hold humanity’s key to the stars- The changes in space technology since the space race- How space exploration may impact our evolution- Why Earth should be focused as only our home- Why space is a possible answer to our climate change and pollution problems- The reason the economics of space are starting to become viable- What is really the future for life in space- Why space is key to overcoming the existential risk

George Dvorsky (@dvorsky) is a Canadian futurist, science writer, and ethicist that has written and spoken extensively about the impacts of cutting-edge science and technology—particularly as they pertain to the improvement of human performance and experience. He is also a senior staff reporter at the popular tech blog Gizmodo, a contributing editor at io9 where he writes about science, culture, and futurism and blogs at sentientdevelopments.comGeorge is a founding member of the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies, he is Chair of the Board and is the founder and program director for its Rights of Non-Human Persons program. In addition, George is the co-founder and president of the Toronto Transhumanist Association and has served on the Board of Directors for Humanity+ for two terms.George's work has been featured in such publications as The Guardian, the BBC, CBC, Forbes, the New York Times, Slate, Radio Free Europe, and al-Jazeera. Outside of work, he is also an avid CrossFitter, an ancestral health enthusiast, and an accomplished music performer, composer, and recording engineer.In our wide-ranging conversation, we cover many things, including:- How life extension and longevity affect society and the technologies ending aging- The dangers of AI and problems with containment- Why consciousness is such a hard problem and what it means for all of us- How George's study of the past influences his views on the future- Why mutually assured destruction could become a thing again- The reason AI regulation is harder than it seems- Which technologies have George most excited today and why- Why tech ethics are so important going forward- What happens if and when we invent AGI- The problems and possibilities of exponential technology in today's world

George Dvorsky (@dvorsky) is a Canadian futurist, science writer, and ethicist that has written and spoken extensively about the impacts of cutting-edge science and technology—particularly as they pertain to the improvement of human performance and experience. [spreaker type=player resource="episode_id=39847889" width="100%" height="80px" theme="light" playlist="false" playlist-continuous="false" autoplay="false" live-autoplay="false" chapters-image="true" episode-image-position="right" hide-logo="true" hide-likes="false" hide-comments="false" hide-sharing="false" hide-download="true"]

Andrew Maynard (@2020science) is the Director of the Risk Innovation Lab at Arizona State University, a Professor in the School for the Future of Innovation in Society and the author of Films from the Future: The Technology and Morality of Sci-Fi Movies. Andrew's research focuses on risk innovation and the responsible development and use of emerging technologies. He is especially interested in effective approaches to developing socially responsive, responsible and beneficial technologies; understanding and responding to the technology and society dynamic; and effective science communication and engagement – particularly through social media.Andrew is widely published in the academic press and in public media and stretch from physics and nanotechnology to toxicology, risk perception, governance, and policy. He writes regularly for the journal Nature Nanotechnology and is a frequent contributor to The Conversation. He also directs and produces the YouTube science education channel “Risk Bites” and blogs at 2020science.org.Andrew’s science training is in nanoparticle analysis – and for many years he conducted and led research on aerosol exposure in occupational settings. In the early 2000’s he became increasingly involved in guiding US federal initiatives supporting nanotechnology research and development, and in addressing potential risks. In 2005 he became Chief Science Advisor for the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies (and later the Synthetic Biology Project) at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, and for five years helped inform national and global initiatives addressing the responsible development of nanotechnology. Over this period, he became increasingly interested in science communication and science policy and began working closely with academics, policymakers, industry, non-government organizations, and journalists, on science-informed decision making. This interest continued between 2010 - 2015 as Director of the University of Michigan Risk Science Center, and Chair of the Environmental Health Sciences Department. In 2015 he joined the faculty of the School for the Future of Innovation in Society at Arizona State University to continue his work and collaborations on socially responsible, responsible and beneficial research and development.In the course of his work, Andrew has testified before congressional committees, has served on National Academy panels, and has worked closely with organizations such as the World Economic Forum and the International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) that promote public-private partnerships.In our wide-ranging conversation, we cover many things, including:- The biggest risks to humanity's future- Why Andrew is excited and terrified about AI and synthetic biology- Which areas of technology are most susceptible to negative consequences- The reason Ex Machina is such a terrifying example of artificial intelligence- How we can use science fiction to ask deep philosophical questions about society- Why Andrew is that worried about the killer AI scenario- The big difference between corporations and universities when it comes to technological innovation- How Andrew thinks about risk and why it is different than most- Why man's reach exceeds his grasp and what to do about it- The reason Andrew is optimistic and pessimistic about the future- Why nanotechnology has disappointed to date and where we go from here- Is China or the US a more surveillance driven country?

Andrew Maynard (@2020science) is the Director of the Risk Innovation Lab at Arizona State University, a Professor in the School for the Future of Innovation in Society and the author of Films from the Future: The Technology and Morality of Sci-Fi Movies. [spreaker type=player resource="episode_id=39343831" width="100%" height="80px" theme="light" playlist="false" playlist-continuous="false" autoplay="false" live-autoplay="false" chapters-image="true" episode-image-position="right" hide-logo="true" hide-likes="false" hide-comments="false" hide-sharing="false" hide-download="true"]

Isaac Arthur (@isaac_a_arthur) is a physicist and futurist who runs popular YouTube channel Featured Science and Futurism with Isaac Arthur.Isaac’s popular channel has over 270k subscribers and 20M+ views and a legion of loyal, insightful fans, including his own sub-Reddit. Arthur covers a wide range of futurist and science fiction ideas including cyborgs, androids and artificial intelligence, the Fermi paradox and interstellar warfare, Dyson spheres and megascale engineering, quantum teleportation and faster-than-light travel—typically exploring hypothetical scenarios extending to the distant future.In our wide-ranging conversation, we cover many things, including:- The future of interplanetary travel- What you didn’t know about the Fermi paradox- How humanity will likely evolve as we explore space- The reason we probably won’t terraform planets and where we’ll live instead- Why material science and meta-materials may be the most important technology of this decade- The effects of genetic engineering on society- Two paths to free energy for all- The reason Isaac thinks we are close to a post-scarcity world- Why Isaac thinks cybernetics/mechanical human enhancement is more likely than gene editing- How Isaac build the top Science channel on Youtube- The reason manmade structures are the habitats of the future- How AI is likely to evolve and play out in society- Why our education system is failing and how we can fix it

Isaac Arthur (@isaac_a_arthur) is a physicist and futurist who runs popular YouTube channel Featured Science and Futurism with Isaac Arthur. [spreaker type=player resource="episode_id=36075852" width="100%" height="80px" theme="light" playlist="false" playlist-continuous="false" autoplay="false" live-autoplay="false" chapters-image="true" episode-image-position="right" hide-logo="true" hide-likes="false" hide-comments="false" hide-sharing="false" hide-download="true"]

Sam Watts (@vr_sam) is one of the foremost thinkers on VR and the Director of Immersive Technologies at MakeReal, a company that believes that immersive digital products are transforming the way we work, play and learn. MakeReal makes virtual reality experiences, augmented reality devices, collaborative ‘serious games’ and other tools that support new types of work, play and learning. Sam's passion for VR shows throughout his previous work with BBC, Channel 4, Sky, and PlayStation. He has 20+ years in software and game development and project management and now spends his days focused on creating the epic immersive experiences of the future.In our wide-ranging conversation, we cover many things, including:- How psychedelics started the virtual reality movement- Why dystopian VR is unlikely in Sam's opinion- What areas are advancing rapidly and causing VR's progress- The reason a single company probably won't own the VR market- Why immersive experiences change the equation for the entertainment of the future- The problem with consumer VR today and what needs to change to spur adoption- What is the experience escape velocity and why is it so important?- When we can expect to see consumer VR takeoff- The chicken and the egg problem of content and cost- Why 5G will drive adoption of VR- The reason the future is likely mixed reality

Majora Carter (@MajoraCarter) is an American urban revitalization strategist and broadcast producer/host from the South Bronx in New York whose career has spanned environment, economy, social mobility, and real estate development.Majora’s work has won major awards including a MacArthur ‘genius’ Grant, a Peabody Award, the Rudy Bruner Award Silver Medal, nine honorary doctorates, and is quoted on the walls of the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture: “Nobody should have to move out of their neighborhood to live in a better one.”In today’s episode we discuss:- Black Lives Matter and the big issue with housing inequality- Why owning communities is such a big part of improving them- Majora’s work with greenification and better urban areas- The role of investment in changing a city’s culture- What steps can the US take to righting past racial wrongs- Why the future of cities and urbanization is a bit more local- Which narratives around health and wealth contribute most to racial inequality- Why inner city brain drain makes everything all the worse- How to use triple bottom line businesses to better the world- What systemic racism looks like from a successful black woman’s perspective

Majora Carter (@MajoraCarter) is an American urban revitalization strategist and broadcast producer/host from the South Bronx in New York whose career has spanned environment, economy, social mobility, and real estate development. [spreaker type=player resource="episode_id=32377569" width="100%" height="80px" theme="light" playlist="false" playlist-continuous="false" autoplay="false" live-autoplay="false" chapters-image="true" episode-image-position="right" hide-logo="true" hide-likes="false" hide-comments="false" hide-sharing="false" hide-download="true"]

Charles Arthur (@CharlesArthur) is a former technology editor of the Guardian and the author of Cyber Wars: Hacks That Shocked the Business World covering some of the world's biggest cyber attacks. [spreaker type=player resource="episode_id=30786729" width="100%" height="80px" theme="light" playlist="false" playlist-continuous="false" autoplay="false" live-autoplay="false" chapters-image="true" episode-image-position="right" hide-logo="true" hide-likes="false" hide-comments="false" hide-sharing="false" hide-download="true"]  

Charles Arthur (@CharlesArthur) is a former technology editor of the Guardian and the author of Cyber Wars: Hacks That Shocked the Business World covering some of the world’s biggest cyber attacks. He also played a large role in the UK’s Free Our Data campaign to persuade the government to make non-personal government data available for free reuse.In today’s episode we discuss:- Thoughts on data-powered totalitarianism- A deeper dive into social media’s ability to influence us, and democracy- How data privacy and surveillance have changed in the last ten years- Why open-sourcing government data is a good thing- How mission-driven journalism both helps and hurts the world- A bold proposal to improve democratic outcomes- How to avoid heading towards 1984- Just how bad is the surveillance economy today- Which of the tech giants Charles is most worried about and why- Charles thoughts on COVID contact tracing

Byron Reese (@byronreese) is the CEO and publisher of Gigaom, an industry-leading technology research company. Byron’s also an award-winning author, speaker and futurist with a strong conviction that technology will help bring about a new golden age of humanity. Byron holds a number of technology patents and hosts two podcasts about artificial intelligence. He gives talks around the world about how technology is changing work, education, and culture to combined audiences well in excess of 100,000. His newest book, The Fourth Age: Smart Robots, Conscious Computers, and the Future of Humanity tackles the issues of artificial intelligence, robots, automation, and the future of work. Byron is also the author of Infinite Progress: How the Internet and Technology Will End Ignorance, Disease, Poverty, Hunger, and War. Bloomberg Businessweek credits Byron with having “quietly pioneered a new breed of media company.” The Financial Times of London reported that he “is typical of the new wave of internet entrepreneurs out to turn the economics of the media industry on its head.” Byron and his work have been featured in hundreds of news outlets, including New York Times, Washington Post, Entrepreneur Magazine, USA Today, Reader’s Digest, NPR, and the LA Times Magazine. “The biggest problems of tomorrow will not be a lack of jobs but a shortage of humans to take advantage of all of the opportunities technology will offer.” – byronreese.com In our wide-ranging conversation, we cover many things, including:- Why the world is fundamentally improving and Byron is an optimistic realist- How AI will transform the labor market and economy, leading to better jobs- The reason optimism and pessimism are incredibly important to humanity’s survival, and evolution- Why forecasting artificial general intelligence is just silly- Will AI become conscious- Why we’re entering a fourth era of humanity- The reason Byron is a little worried about the prospect of bioterrorism- How 25 years in the internet industry has evolved Byron’s view of the future- Why the news drives fear and separation among us- What to say to naysayers about technological progress- Why social media will ultimately be a net positive to society