What's Next In ... with Phil & Liora

A global pandemic, global warming, and potentially a global war. With the pressures of the world bearing down on our psyches everyday, Liora and Phil discuss ways to break the habit of doomscrolling, the benefits and dangers of the wellness economy, and what's next in managing our stresses in an ever-shifting world.

It is not a pretty picture right now if you're a first-time home buyer trying to break into the housing market. An entire generation is facing a shortage of supply, low-interest rates, and stiff competition. Is the dream of owning a house (or even a condo in a big city) becoming more and more a fantasy?

Discovery is just as much an art as it is a science, with chance, luck, and intuition playing a big role. Today, researchers are applying artificial intelligence and robotics to the very act of scientific discovery, hoping to speed up how long it takes to go from invention to impact. We talk about automating science, what this could mean for our society, and whether people will trust discoveries that were made by machines. 

Tight labour markets, retirements, and resignations are on everyone's mind these days. What's spurring this shift in so many people's career journeys? Is the Great Resignation a good thing or a bad thing? What can companies do to keep the talent they have? 

It's the daily word game that is taking the world by storm and the perfect 5 letter word to describe it is VIRAL. Today Liora and Phil chat about Wordle, why and how it got so popular, the benefits of mental puzzles, and what's next in these habits!

Jan 24, 2022. It's been a year since What's Next In... released its first episode. As we get back into it, Liora and Phil chat about new years resolutions, how effective (or ineffective) are they, and whether we need a refresh to the time-tested tradition of resolving to be better.

July 22, 2021. Talking to your parents about difficult and taboo topics can be awkward, it's even more so in traditional and conservative cultures. This week we speak with Archierose Natividad, co-host and executive producer of Filipino Fridays, a podcast dedicated to sharing Filipino stories and empowering millennial Filipinx to think critically about their culture, speak with older generations, and advocate for allyship among other BIPOC communities.

June 28. Sustainability has become another buzzword and it means a lot of different things to a lot of different people. Today we talk with Kelsea Walsh, a sustainability consultant at Stratos, about how she found herself in the world of sustainability and the work she does to help companies lower their environmental footprint. We also learn about her exciting work with The Green Link, a startup using AI to pull from publicly available sources to support sustainability goals.

June 21. "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Rather than tying youth to a job title, our guest this week JP Michel argues that we should be asking kids, "what challenge do you want to solve when you grow up?" This week on the pod we talk about the Challenge Mindset, a new way of thinking about career development for youth, and how we can apply this to our own lives. 

June 14. Technology is moving so fast that you no longer need to be a computer scientist and hardcore coder to use and create new digital tools. This week we chat with Jon Lo, a Forbes Top 30 Under 30 in Social Impact, about software as a service (SaaS) technology, automation, and the future of work.

June 7. Why do you do the things you do or make the choices you make? We all like to think our decisions are entirely within our control, that we are the masters of our fate. However, the emerging field of behavioral science is showing us that subconscious cues in our environment has a bigger role to play in how we make choices. This week, we speak with David Fanner, an expert in applied behavioral science about understanding how to influence human behavior and how this superpower can be used for good or evil. 

May 31. Inside your body right now is a universe with hundreds of thousands of microorganisms that live in your gut. They help break down food, regulate nutrients, and work together to make you healthy. Scientists are just starting to understand this miniature universe and this week on the pod we have Masha Taguer, a certified expert on the subject to tell us all about the gut microbiome and what it means for our everyday health.

May 25. The fast-paced world of digital marketing is something that impacts our daily lives but that we rarely ponder. There is an experiment behind every ad you see on Facebook and Instagram, constantly changing things to see what will keep you engaged. This week we spoke with Lawrence Quan, a digital marketing expert to talk about experimentation in work and in life, the risk and reward with experimentation, and the behaviour and impact of rapid digital experimentation on the internet. 

May 21, 2021. In this special episode, Phil announces that he will be running to become a Member of Parliament for the Green Party in Toronto-St.Paul for the next federal election! We dive into that impact he's seeking to make, the need to combat the threat of climate change and sustainably renew our society and economy , as well as what's next for the future of politics.

May 17. We hear about the front lines on the news, but few of us really know what it is like to be working in hospitals, homes, and rehab clinics during a global pandemic. This week on the pod we have Mitch Stewart, a rehabilitation nurse at the Ottawa General Hospital. Mitch shares with us a bit into what front-line workers have been seeing and feeling over the past year. It's a heavy one, but such an important topic to discuss. 

May 10, 2021. The world is a really big place. There are so many countries, perspectives, languages, and different kinds of work one can do all over the world. This week Liora and Phil speak with Laura Kreiling, a policy analyst at the OECD about how her international experiences in school and work have shaped her life.

May 3, 2021. When you think of a PhD I'm sure what comes to mind is a professor, an ivory tower, and a wool suit with elbow patches. There are more than 200,000 people with PhDs in Canada and this number is increasing every year with far fewer opportunities in academia. This week on the pod we have Val Chiykowski, a senior venture manager at Creative Destruction Lab, a science-based startup accelerator, to hear about transitioning out of academia and breaking out of the PhD mold.

May 27, 2021. Many could argue that the world we live in was built on capitalism and a drive to pursue profit above all else. There is a shift happening where some businesses are thinking about purpose rather than just profit. Some are asking questions about underlying problems in our society and how to fix them, as this is good business in and of itself. This week we're speaking with Nicole Cacal an expert in human-centered design and CEO of Forbes Ignite, a new social impact venture that looks at what it takes to be a changemaker and how to make solutions that are impactful and inclusive for everyone.

April 5, 2021. After taking the plunge into the world of podcasting, Phil & Liora reflect on why they decided to start the show, their learning along the way, the tools they use, and even a few surprises!

March 29, 2021. Despite an economy on lockdown, the markets are staying hot. Today there are so many ways to invest your money- robo-advisors, cryptocurrencies, and good old fashioned financial advisors at a brick and mortar bank. In this episode, Phil and Liora discuss how technologies have made it easier than ever to invest, how this will change behaviour, and whether this is a good thing for our society. Join them as they ask what's next in the future of investing your money?

March 22, 2021. As the pandemic has brought us indoors, there's been a mad scramble to find ways to stay active while confined to our homes. Companies like Pelaton and Strava have seen massive growth to meet this demand. Will it last in our post-pandemic world? Join Phil and Liora as they explore the trends around fitness tech, data and wearables, and the virtual fitness communities growing in place of physical ones.

March 15, 2021. Diversity and inclusion can, at times, feel like buzz words being thrown around. Despite an increasingly diverse population in Canada - leadership positions in society are still lagging behind. In this episode, Phil and Liora discuss what their definition of diversity is, what it means to be a first-generation Canadian, and their personal stories on how diversity has positively impacted their lives. Join them as they ask what's next in fostering an inclusive future?

March 8, 2021. Success is relative and as they say, the grass is always greener on the other side. In this week's episode, Phil and Liora reflect on their career journeys, on the advice they've been given along the way, and on the advice they give others who increasingly reach out. Join them as they ask, what's next in the career advice you'll share in your next coffee chat?

March 1, 2021. No one can escape getting older, no matter how much we try, time comes for us all. Demographically, the number of people past retirement age (65 years old) will only increase as more baby boomers get older and advances in medicine lengthen our lives. There is a huge gap to address the unique needs and wants of this generation with technology that is tailor-made for our golden years. Why is that? And what can we do to fix it? Join Phil and Liora as they ask, "what's next in the technology you'll be using at 85".

Feb 22, 2021. Everyone knows about entrepreneurship, but this episode is a discussion on entrepreneurship's less sexy cousin - intrapreneurship. Most people who work in established organizations have, at one point, questioned how things are done or have had a new idea on how to do things better. Intrapreneurship is the concept of starting new ideas and innovating from within. In this episode, Phil and Liora share their own experiences influencing innovation from the bottom up. Join them as they ask what's next in influencing innovation?

Feb 15, 2021. Diamonds and fancy cars were the status symbols of the past. Staple consumer goods would symbolize love, adventure, freedom, and exclusivity. But over time pesky Millenials have started valuing experiences more than physical goods. In this episode, Phil and Liora explore the shift from physical goods to experiences, from mass production to personalization, from being sold something to the feeling of discovering it for yourself. Tune in to learn about what's next in the staple status symbol that you'll be buying in the future.

Feb 8, 2021. What makes you happy? A question as old as time itself. In this episode, we deep dive into the science and behavior of happiness, the relativeness of happiness, and a reflection on what brings us joy in our own lives. Join Phil and Liora as they question longheld assumptions on happiness and ponder the future of being happy.

Feb 1, 2021. Social media has evolved from the wild west early days of MySpace to the politically polarizing spheres of Facebook, from the awkward pubescent MSN Messenger to the influencers of Instagram. In this episode, Phil and Liora talk about the intent behind connecting people and building virtual communities. They think about the crossroads we are faced with today and the different realities that social media could lead us towards.

Jan 25, 2021. Only accountants find taxes exciting (sorry not sorry, accountants). Well, that is until taxes can be used to fight climate change. Canada's "Price on Pollution" was announced to rise to $170/tonne by 2030, just 10 years away. Carbon taxes are many economists' favoured instrument to decarbonize our economies. Why is that and what does a higher carbon tax mean for you? Join Phil and Liora as they ask what's next in fighting climate change with behaviour?

Jan 18, 2021. We do this one thing almost daily, "Hello, my name is X and I do Y". We introduce ourselves to new colleagues, clients, strangers, acquaintances, future friends, and maybe lovers. After all, you can't redo a first impression. Why do we so often default to our job titles when there are so many other ways to introduce ourselves? In this episode, the first-ever, Phil and Liora thought they were recording a 2-minute teaser trailer to get listeners hooked. But instead, they ended up diving deep into introductions, what makes a name and the cultural and historical significance in a name, and the importance of identifying ourselves by our values instead of our titles. Join them as they ask what's next in the future of introducing ourselves?

A podcast about a rapidly changing world and how we can get ahead of it.