The Synthetic Minds podcast

The Synthetic Minds podcast

Welcome to the Synthetic Minds Podcast, a thought-provoking podcast where the boundary between the imagined and the real blurs as we traverse from Science Fiction to Science Reality. In each episode, we delve deep into the visionary worlds of science fiction writers, uncovering the profound insights these storytellers offer about our future. This isn't just about the art of science fiction; it's a journey to explore how these futuristic narratives can inform and shape our actual world in business and our personal lives. For more information, see https://thedigitalspeaker.com

Episodes

October 16, 2024 52 mins

If uploading your mind to a virtual world sounds like progress, what does that say about the future of being human? In this episode of Synthetic Minds, speculative fiction author and psychiatrist Grace Chan explores the moral complexities of emerging technologies like mind-uploading, virtual reality, and AI. Her novel Every Version of You imagines a world where consciousness can exist beyond the body—raising profound questions a...

Mark as Played

If you're ignoring speculative fiction, you're missing out on your company's future—and maybe its survival. Summary: In this episode of Synthetic Minds, S.B. Divya, a speculative fiction author and AI researcher, delves into the intersection of technology, ethics, and the future of humanity. Her works like Machinehood offer more than captivating narratives; they serve as strategic blueprints for businesses navigating...

Mark as Played

If you think you’re in control of your decisions, you might want to ask your AI assistant who’s really pulling the strings. Dr. Louis Rosenberg, a pioneer in virtual and augmented reality, warns that as AI becomes increasingly integrated into our lives, it threatens human autonomy. In a discussion on the Synthetic Minds podcast, Rosenberg explores how conversational AI can subtly influence human behavior, from steering consumer ...

Mark as Played

In episode nine of the “Synthetic Minds, podcast, we explore the complex relationship between digital rights, privacy, and technology with Cory Doctorow, a renowned science fiction author and digital rights activist. Doctorow delves into how privacy, once a fundamental right, has become a commodity in the digital age, traded by tech giants for profit. He discusses the growing influence of AI-driven surveillance and the erosion of...

Mark as Played

Can a science fiction author provide better business insights than your average consultant? In episode 8 of Synthetic Minds, renowned speculative fiction author Tobias Buckell reveals how his narratives can help business leaders anticipate and navigate future technological and societal shifts. Buckell’s works, such as "Arctic Rising," serve as powerful tools for exploring climate change and geopolitical challenges, off...

Mark as Played

Can science fiction storytellers predict and shape our future better than tech moguls? Brad Rochefort’s cinematic storytelling doesn’t just entertain—it provokes deep thought about our technological trajectory and its ethical implications. In the latest Synthetic Minds podcast, Brad discusses how his works, like "Zip Code" and "The Holdout," serve as blueprints for exploring futuristic concepts. Rochefort’s cr...

Mark as Played

Is technology a tool for progress or the ultimate mechanism for control? T.R. Napper's cyberpunk narratives might just have the unsettling answers we need.


In Episode Six of the Synthetic Minds podcast, T.R. Napper, a celebrated science fiction author, delves into the cyberpunk ethos, painting a dystopian vision of the future where technology wields power and surveillance.


Napper’s works, like "36 Streets,"...

Mark as Played

In episode five of the Synthetic Minds podcast, we merge the imaginative realms of science fiction with practical insights for today's business leaders. In this engaging discussion, I hosted Ruthanna Emrys, a celebrated author known for her unique reinterpretation of Lovecraftian lore with a modern twist.

Ruthanna shares how speculative fiction can serve as a powerful tool for exploring future technologies, ethical consideratio...

Mark as Played

Can science fiction really guide us in shaping the future of our businesses, or is it just a realm of fantastical tales? In the 4th episode of Synthetic Minds, I explore how science fiction can serve as a powerful tool for strategic foresight. My guest, Brenda Cooper, a celebrated author and technologist, shares her unique perspective on the intersection of technology and society. Brenda’s novels, like "Edge of Dark" and...

Mark as Played

The Synthetic Minds podcast moves from science fiction to science reality. It is a podcast that delves into the imaginative yet insightful visions of science fiction authors, revealing how their explorations of future technologies and societal shifts can inform and guide us in the present. In the latest episode of Synthetic Minds, I had the pleasure of hosting Peter Watts, an esteemed science fiction author known for his deep dive...

Mark as Played

In the dynamic landscape of the Synthetic Minds podcast, where science fiction converges with real-world technology and societal evolution, we delve into the intricate layers of futurism through the lens of celebrated narratives.

Today, we are thrilled to host Richard K. Morgan, the visionary behind the seminal cyberpunk novel and Netflix hit, "Altered Carbon." This work not only revolutionized the genre but also pushed ...

Mark as Played

Navigating technological change requires futures thinking, and science fiction can be a powerful tool, according to Karl Schroeder. The renowned author blends storytelling with foresight expertise, using narrative to explore emerging techs' societal impact. In the Synthetic Minds podcast, Schroeder delved into AI, mixed reality, blockchain economies, and governance challenges. He argues that narratives reveal unexpected intera...

Mark as Played

In the last episode of the Step into the Metaverse Podcast, I had a chat with John Gaeta, a creator, inventor and an Academy Award-winning designer best known for his work on the Matrix Trilogy, where he pioneered form-bending innovations such as "Bullet Time", “Virtual Cinema” and "Volumetric Capture" to envision human, hero and god-like moments. He was also involved in The Matrix Awakens from 2021 as Executive Creative Developmen...

Mark as Played

In this episode of the Step into the Metaverse Podcast, I had a chat with Tiffany Xingyu Wang, the Chief Marketing Officer at OpenWeb, a premium community engagement platform that serves 1000+ publishers and advertisers with 100M+ monthly active users. She was named a Forbes Most Entrepreneurial CMO, and the Most Innovative CMO by the CMO Club. She was previously the Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer at Spectrum Labs, a contextu...

Mark as Played

In this episode of the Step into the Metaverse Podcast, I chatted with the Founder and CEO of VERSES Labs, Gabriel René. VERSES is a spatial web software development group. He is the author of the #1 International Bestseller "The Spatial Web - How Web 3.0 Connects Humans, Machines, and AI to Transform the World" Gabriel is a technologist, entrepreneur, and author with a 25-year career in the technology, telecom and media industries...

Mark as Played

In this episode of The Step into the Metaverse Podcast, I interviewed the Co-Founder/Producer of Big Rock Creative (BRCvr), Athena Demos. BRCvr is an award-winning XR experience company creating groundbreaking experiences for global clients. Big Rock Creative won the Producer’s Guild Award for Innovation, the Aurea Award for creativity, the No Proscenium award for Best VR experience of 2020, and the Hermes' Platinum Award. With ove...

Mark as Played

In this episode of the Step into the Metaverse Podcast, I had a chat with Benjamin Bertram Goldman. He is a producer, filmmaker, and media entrepreneur featured in The NY Times, CNN, WIRED, MSNBC, HBO, TechCrunch, BBC, FUJI TV, and Metavision. He has been exploring the metaverse creatively and professionally for over 10 years, with a particular focus on the intersection of the metaverse and the emerging world of virtual production.

...

Mark as Played

In this episode of the Step into the Metaverse Podcast, I interviewed Bayan Towfiq, the Founder and CEO at Subspace, which is building a global private network for real-time applications and the new working-from-home reality as well as the metaverse. Subspace routes traffic over the world’s most highly available, ultra-low latency, global private network with a simple configuration change.

During the interview, we discussed the tec...

Mark as Played

In this episode of the Step into the Metaverse Podcast, I had a chat with Alec Lazarescu, the Vice President of Software Engineering at Savvas Learning Company. He also founded VerseTech Metaverse, an educational organization committed to growing conversations and thought leadership on applying emerging technologies, including AI, XR, VR, and AR, as well as blockchain, to the evolving concept of the metaverse. In addition, he runs ...

Mark as Played

In this episode of the Step into the Metaverse Podcast, I had a chat with Neil Trevett, the Vice President of Developer Ecosystems at NVIDIA, where he is responsible for enabling and encouraging advanced applications to use GPU acceleration. Neil is also serving as the elected President of the Khronos Group, where he created and chaired the OpenGL ES working group that defined the industry standard for 3D graphics on mobile devices...

Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    From Executive Producers Jennie Garth, Jana Kramer, Amy Robach, and T.J. Holmes. Did you think you met the love of your life and marry him, only to realize it was actually “thank you, next?" Did this jerk cheat on you and leave you feeling alone and hopeless? Don’t make the same mistake twice... Get it right THIS time! Is it time to find true love…again?! If you loved the Golden Bachelor, SILVER just might be your color. Older and wiser, 50 and Fabulous, and ready for a little sex in the city. Everyone has baggage, but you’re not bringing it on this trip. Second Times The Charm. I Do, Part Two. An iHeartRadio podcast...where finding love is the main objective.

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

    The Bobby Bones Show

    Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.

    The Joe Rogan Experience

    The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.

    24/7 News: The Latest

    Today’s Latest News In 4 Minutes. Updated Hourly.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.