2025-07-17 06:05:54
Join us for an insightful conversation with Misha Byrne, a fellow for leadership with Singularity University, known for his diverse background applying neuroscience to the world of work. Misha's extensive experience includes roles as head of consulting for Future Academy X, editor for NeuroPower, and work with the Queensland Brain Institute on cognitive genetics. He discusses how his academic journey in neuroscience and psychology, initially a placeholder, became a fascinating exploration of the brain, ultimately aligning perfectly with his current endeavors.
In this episode, Misha delves into:
The Power of Social Neuroscience: He explains that social neuroscience, his particular interest, challenges the traditional "Newtonian mechanical view" of human performance. Instead, it emphasizes that humans are inherently social creatures and the brain is an open system, constantly influenced by our environment and interactions. This perspective offers crucial insights into team performance, culture, leadership, resilience, adaptability, and innovation mindsets.
Redefining Leadership in the AI Era: Misha defines leadership as the ability to bring people together around purposeful outcomes, balancing individual and community needs, and creating an environment that elicits the best in each person. He stresses the critical importance of intentionality and self-awareness for leaders, especially in a rapidly changing world, arguing that leaders must be "self-authoring" and anchor their leadership in core values.
Navigating the Empathy Gap: A significant concern Misha highlights is the "empathy gap" emerging from increased screen time. He notes that analytical tasks performed on screens can draw blood flow away from empathy systems in the brain, potentially leading to increased transactionality and distance within teams. He expresses hope that future consumer neurotech will help build self-awareness and keep technology in service of human connection.
The Future of Teams (2035): Misha envisions future teams as fractional, dynamic, and rapidly changing. As automation trivializes many operational tasks, human collaboration will shift towards sensing the outside world, making judgment calls based on values, and resolving complex edge cases. Teams will likely consist of adaptable generalists who can quickly "swarm" around high-purpose tasks, fostering high-performance teaming in as little as an hour, rather than a months-long journey. He emphasizes leveraging social neuroscience to rapidly build trust and belonging by addressing universal human needs like psychological safety.
Understanding and Expanding Mindspan: Drawing on concepts from Dr. Tiffany Vora, Misha introduces "Mindspan" as a crucial complement to lifespan and health span. Mindspan focuses on preserving, extending, and expanding the beloved aspects of one's own mind—the unique human consciousness and wisdom. He encourages intentionality in curating one's cognition and continuously growing one's perspective of self and the world.
Actionable Advice for Aspiring Leaders: Misha offers two core practices: leading self through observation, awareness, and understanding how to show up in "good shape", and leading others with humility, by directly asking team members what they need to achieve their potential and listening deeply for themes.
Discover how these insights can empower you to lead effectively in an exponentially changing world and cultivate a future rich with purposeful connection and expanded human potential.
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2o2U2kwlX0LxcLqv2ahDfu
Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/possible-futures-podcast/id1819868908
Connect with Singularity University:
Website: http://su.org
Blog: https://su.org/blog/
News: http://singularityhub.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/singularityu
Twitter: https://twitter.com/singularityu
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/singularity-university
About Singularity University:
Singularity is the leader in educating, inspiring, and empowering leaders to imagine and create breakthroughs powered by exponential technologies.
We transform the way people and organizations think about exponential technology and the future, and enable them to create and accelerate initiatives that will deliver business value and positively impact people and the planet.
Singularity University
http://www.youtube.com/user/SingularityU
2025-07-09 19:32:17
In this conversation, Gary A. Bolles and Andra Keay explore the evolution of robotics, its impact on society, and the future of work. They discuss the early influences that shaped Andra's career, the growth of robotics in Silicon Valley, and the ethical considerations surrounding the development of robots. The conversation also touches on the potential futures of robotics, including its integration into daily life and agriculture, the dynamics of job displacement, and the importance of establishing guardrails for responsible robotics development.
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2o2U2kwlX0LxcLqv2ahDfu
Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/possible-futures-podcast/id1819868908
Connect with Singularity University:
Website: http://su.org
Blog: https://su.org/blog/
News: http://singularityhub.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/singularityu
Twitter: https://twitter.com/singularityu
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/singularity-university
About Singularity University:
Singularity is the leader in educating, inspiring, and empowering leaders to imagine and create breakthroughs powered by exponential technologies.
We transform the way people and organizations think about exponential technology and the future, and enable them to create and accelerate initiatives that will deliver business value and positively impact people and the planet.
Singularity University
http://www.youtube.com/user/SingularityU
2025-07-02 22:43:40
In this insightful episode, host Gary A. Bolles welcomes Kyle Hermans, Singularity University's Fellow for Purpose and CEO of Be Courageous. They dive deep into the concept of purpose in a world of exponential change, marked by "great resets" like the global pandemic and the "AI tsunami".
Kyle, who has conducted over 2,500 sessions with leaders globally. driven by a "five whys mentality" and a vast imagination, his non-linear career arc was always shaped by profound questions. A pivotal "lightning bolt" moment revealed his life's purpose: that "creativity is courage," leading him to help others choose between building their lives through fear or courage. Kyle emphasizes that deep purpose often emerges from "conflicted places" and "very hard struggles," not just ideal circumstances. His process for finding purpose involves reflecting on life's highs and lows to find meaning and gain "agency".
The conversation extends to organizational purpose in an era of constant disruption. Kyle asserts that many modern disruptions are a "failure of imagination," as humans fail to anticipate possibilities. He highlights how "modern tools" like AI are increasingly accessible, enabling rapid adoption of new solutions and challenging fundamental societal beliefs. For organizations, the future is a "blank canvas," necessitating big, different thinking anchored in purpose. Kyle offers practical examples for cultivating purpose, such as Patagonia's practice of starting meetings by asking, "How did we serve and impact the earth today?" or placing an "empty customer chair" at the table.A significant focus is placed on generational differences in the workforce. Kyle notes that younger generations are "wide for different things," with meaning and purpose often ranking higher than traditional career incentives or money. They seek organizations that "stand for something" and offer psychologically safe environments where their voices are heard and creativity embraced.
Regarding AI and purpose, Kyle's company integrates AI as a "team member" named FID (short for Infinity). While AI excels at synthesizing information and articulating ideas, Kyle currently observes its limitation in generating novel, profound "why" reasoning about things that don't yet exist. He raises a fascinating question: What if we started "programming" AI with a sense of purpose beyond just functional tasks?. Looking to the future (2045-2050), Kyle believes the only constants will be "love and courage," as humans, intrinsically wired for fear, will continually need courage to navigate relentless change.For listeners seeking to explore their own purpose, Kyle offers a free resource on his website, including a 10-minute video and downloadable toolkit.
https://bcrgs.com/
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2o2U2kwlX0LxcLqv2ahDfu
Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/possible-futures-podcast/id1819868908
Connect with Singularity University:
Website: http://su.org
Blog: https://su.org/blog/
News: http://singularityhub.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/singularityu
Twitter: https://twitter.com/singularityu
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/singularity-university
About Singularity University:
Singularity is the leader in educating, inspiring, and empowering leaders to imagine and create breakthroughs powered by exponential technologies.
We transform the way people and organizations think about exponential technology and the future, and enable them to create and accelerate initiatives that will deliver business value and positively impact people and the planet.
Singularity University
http://www.youtube.com/user/SingularityU
2025-06-25 19:50:16
In this episode of Possible Futures, I talk with Jaya Baloo. One of the most respected voices in cybersecurity and quantum strategy about the invisible architecture that keeps our digital lives safe… and why it’s all at risk.
Jaya has spent over two decades protecting some of the world’s most critical infrastructure — from leading security at major European telecoms to helping steer billion-euro quantum initiatives for the European Union. Today, she’s a global advisor on how to navigate the looming intersection of cybersecurity, AI, and quantum computing.
In this conversation, we pull back the curtain on what “lawful surveillance” really means… how quantum computing could break the encryption we all rely on… and why the biggest vulnerability might not be technological… but human.
Because when it comes to cybersecurity, it’s not just the algorithms that matter. It’s our willingness or unwillingness to change.
Jaya helps us understand what’s coming and what leaders, policymakers, and everyday users can do right now to prepare. We cover deepfakes, digital trust, AI-assisted attacks, and the steps we can all take to defend our future.
Whether you’re a technologist, an executive, or just someone trying to keep your data safe, this episode will challenge the way you think about digital security and remind you why our future resilience depends as much on people as it does on code.
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2o2U2kwlX0LxcLqv2ahDfu
Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/possible-futures-podcast/id1819868908
Connect with Singularity University:
Website: http://su.org
Blog: https://su.org/blog/
News: http://singularityhub.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/singularityu
Twitter: https://twitter.com/singularityu
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/singularity-university
About Singularity University:
Singularity is the leader in educating, inspiring, and empowering leaders to imagine and create breakthroughs powered by exponential technologies.
We transform the way people and organizations think about exponential technology and the future, and enable them to create and accelerate initiatives that will deliver business value and positively impact people and the planet.
Singularity University
http://www.youtube.com/user/SingularityU
2025-06-25 06:30:30
Join us for an exclusive 1-hour conversation with Dr. Eriona Hysolli, the visionary scientist bridging de-extinction technology and the future of human reproduction. Recognized by Time100 Next for her groundbreaking work reviving the woolly mammoth, Dr. Hysolli brings a unique perspective to reproductive biotechnology that you won't find anywhere else.
In this informal Q&A session, we'll explore how cutting-edge technologies originally developed for species conservation are now revolutionizing human fertility treatments. Dr. Hysolli will share insights on:
- The latest breakthroughs in synthetic embryos and artificial wombs
- How in vitro gametogenesis could transform infertility treatment
- Lessons from mammoth de-extinction that apply to human reproductive health
- The intersection of genome engineering and fertility solutions
- Near-term commercial applications in reproductive biotechnology
Drawing from her pioneering work at Yale, George Church's lab at Harvard, and as Head of Biological Sciences at Colossal Biosciences, Dr. Hysolli offers a rare glimpse into technologies that could redefine human reproduction within the next decade.
The session will feature a moderated discussion followed by audience Q&A. Whether you're an investor, entrepreneur, healthcare professional, or simply fascinated by the future of fertility, this conversation will provide essential insights into one of biotechnology's most promising frontiers.
Subscribe: http://bit.ly/1Wq6gwm
Connect with Singularity University:
Website: http://su.org
Podcast: https://www.su.org/podcasts
Blog: https://su.org/blog/
News: http://singularityhub.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/singularityu
Twitter: https://twitter.com/singularityu
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/singularity-university
About Singularity University:
Singularity is the leader in educating, inspiring, and empowering leaders to imagine and create breakthroughs powered by exponential technologies.
We transform the way people and organizations think about exponential technology and the future, and enable them to create and accelerate initiatives that will deliver business value and positively impact people and the planet.
Singularity University
http://www.youtube.com/user/SingularityU
2025-06-21 03:29:26
Biotech isn’t a vertical. It’s a foundation.
And according to Dr. Tiffany Vora, it will be as revolutionary in the next decade as artificial intelligence is today.
In this episode of Possible Futures, Tiffany joins host Gary Bolles to explore how biology is becoming programmable, why we need to shift our thinking from lifespan to healthspan, and what it means to thrive in ecosystems we design — on Earth or off it.
Together, they dive into:
CRISPR, RNA therapies, and gene editing breakthroughs
Why aging may actually be a treatable disease
How space exploration helps us solve Earth’s biggest problems
The moral, political, and emotional stakes of biotech access
What a 120-year life might look and feel like
Tiffany’s work spans cancer research, computational biology, biotech startups, and space innovation — and in this conversation, she brings clarity to the science and urgency to the questions. Whether you're a policymaker, parent, or just biotech-curious, this episode will change how you think about the future of life.
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2o2U2kwlX0LxcLqv2ahDfu
Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/possible-futures-podcast/id1819868908
Connect with Singularity University:
Website: http://su.org
Blog: https://su.org/blog/
News: http://singularityhub.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/singularityu
Twitter: https://twitter.com/singularityu
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/singularity-university
About Singularity University:
Singularity is the leader in educating, inspiring, and empowering leaders to imagine and create breakthroughs powered by exponential technologies.
We transform the way people and organizations think about exponential technology and the future, and enable them to create and accelerate initiatives that will deliver business value and positively impact people and the planet.
Singularity University
http://www.youtube.com/user/SingularityU
