• Be More Pirate, Build the Future | Sam Conniff
    Oct 31 2025

    Today on The Future is HOW, Frederik sits down with Sam Conniff – bestselling author of Be More Pirate, social entrepreneur, and creator of Uncertainty Experts, the world’s first science-based immersive program designed to help people navigate change with courage and creativity.

    In this conversation, Frederik and Sam explore what it truly means to live and lead in uncertain times. They uncover how breaking rules can be an act of purpose, why discomfort is the birthplace of creativity, and how rewriting the stories we tell ourselves can unlock deeper connection and meaning.

    Sam shares his personal experiments around masculinity, courage, and vulnerability, revealing why the most radical thing we can do right now might be to stay open when everything feels unknown. Frederik connects this to the Future Ready Mindstate, showing how curiosity and courage can transform uncertainty into a creative force.

    By the end of the episode, you’ll see that uncertainty isn’t something to survive — it’s something to use.
    The only certainty is that there is uncertainty. The question is: what will you create from it?

    In This Episode:

    • Why breaking rules can lead to meaningful conversations and real innovation

    • How uncertainty is an experience to feel, not a problem to fix

    • Why creativity and conformity are natural opposites

    • The emotional science behind courage and change

      • How asking difficult questions opens new possibilities
      • Why children make the best pirates — and what that teaches us about the future

    • Chapters

    • 00:00 Intro
      02:32 Nail polish, masculinity, and social experiments
      08:27 Call to action: Be More Pirate
      13:46 Rulebreaker’s playbook: innovation in business and life
      21:01 Children are pirates: curiosity as courage
      22:25 Anything certain? Understanding uncertainty as an experience
      27:17 Built by change: uncertainty as our future coach
      38:49 Mindstate Moment: overcoming a rule responsibly
      43:07 Sam’s future bio: fear, hope, and making a difference
      47:08 A rule to break: stop holding on to one story
      48:53 Experiment: ask a difficult and necessary question


      Where to Find Sam Conniff:

      Website: samconniff.com
      The Uncertainty Toolkit (book): Pan Macmillan
      Be More Pirate (book): BeMorePirate.com


      Where to Find Frederik G. Pferdt
      NextLetter – ⁠⁠https://www.nextletter.frederikgpferdt.com⁠Book: whatsnextisnowthebook.com
      LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram | frederikgpferdt.com


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    53 mins
  • Becoming Future You | Suzy Welch
    Oct 17 2025

    The Future Is HOW with Suzy Welch.

    Suzy is a bestselling author, journalist, and educator — and one of the most authentic voices when it comes to leadership and purpose today.
    You may know her from Harvard Business Review, NBC’s Today Show, or through one of her bestselling books, including her latest, Becoming You.

    Most people spend their lives searching for their purpose.
    But as Dr. Frederik G. Pferdt often says, “What if purpose isn’t something you find — but something you feel, every day?”

    In this episode, Frederik and Suzy explore the concept of purpose — and how it shows up in real life and leadership.
    Suzy shares her Becoming You methodology, a powerful framework for uncovering purpose through values and aptitudes. Together, they discuss how purpose evolves through life’s changes, how values shape our relationships, and why purpose isn’t a destination, but a compass that keeps us aligned with what matters most.

    • Purpose is a compass you keep, not a finish line.

    • The Becoming You methodology for discovering your authentic purpose.

    • How values can shift over time, especially after major life events.

    • Why finding purpose is an iterative process of exploration and reflection.

    • The power of daily rituals — from prayer to walking your dog — to stay grounded.

    • Why it’s common to feel lost, and how that can lead to deeper growth.
    • How understanding your values strengthens both relationships and self-awareness.
    • Why teaching others often reinforces your own connection to purpose.

    • Where to find Suzy Welch:


    • 🌐 suzywelch.com
      📘 Becoming You: The Proven Method for Crafting Your Authentic Life and Career
      🎧 Becoming You Podcast


      Where to find Frederik G. Pferdt:

      📰 NextLetter — your Friday practice for shaping what’s next
      📖 What’s Next Is Now – The Book
      💼 LinkedIn
      ▶️ YouTube
      📸 Instagram
      🌐 frederikgpferdt.com

      🎵 Music by Andreas Horchler


      (00:00) Intro
      (03:01) Suzy’s future bio: Living the purpose
      (05:08) The methodology of Becoming You (for classes and couples)
      (08:30) Shared values: The story of a perfect match
      (10:49) Do values change? Formation and expression
      (13:16) Navigating purpose: The iterative journey
      (15:22) Purpose in everyday life
      (16:37) Lost and found: Finding purpose again
      (20:39) Mindstate Moment: Finding future purpose
      (22:56) The lightning round: Superpowers, reflections, compliments, and faith
      (26:15) The last question: Daily rituals — from prayer to walking the dog


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    30 mins
  • The Future Is How We Eat | Dalad Kambhu on Food, Creativity & Connection
    Oct 3 2025

    What if every meal could shape the future?

    In this episode of The Future Is HOW, I sit down with Michelin-starred chef Dalad Kambhu — a culinary trailblazer who has redefined Thai cuisine in Berlin. Born in Texas, raised in Bangkok, and shaped by New York’s creative energy, Dalad’s journey shows us that food is never just food. It’s imagination. It’s connection. It’s gratitude.

    Together, we explore how cooking can become a classroom for empathy, how rituals around the table can transform relationships, and why sustainability isn’t a trend in Thai cuisine — it’s a tradition. Dalad shares her vision of a future where food nourishes not only our bodies, but also our communities and our spirit.

    In this conversation, you’ll discover:

    • Why food is one of the most powerful acts of creativity.

    • How sharing meals can unlock empathy and belonging.

    • Simple gratitude practices that can transform your relationship with food.

    • Why local, sustainable ingredients are the future of global cuisine.

    • How young chefs can embrace their unique voices and rewrite culinary norms.

    This episode isn’t just about what’s on your plate — it’s about how every bite can be an act of future-making.


    Where to find Dalad Kambhu:

    https://www.instagram.com/daladk/?hl=en

    https://www.vogue.com/article/kin-dee-restaurant-berlin


    Where to find Frederik G. Pferdt:
    NextLetter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://nextletter.frederikgpferdt.com

    Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.frederikgpferdt.com/⁠⁠⁠

    What's NextIs Now The Book: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.whatsnextisnowthebook.com⁠

    LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/fgpferdt/⁠⁠⁠⁠

    YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/frederikgpferdt⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/frederikgpferdt/⁠⁠⁠⁠


    In this episode, we cover:

    (00:00) Intro
    (01:42) Local and sustainable: The Art of Culinary Imagination

    (10:36) Dalad's future bio: Paving the way for young Female, Asian, POC Chef's

    (12:24) Empowering Future Chefs: Starting to change collectively
    (14:09) Kitchen as classroom: Food teaches us about ourselves, our culture, our future

    (17:40) Sharing practice: Don't be afraid of new tastes, go local!
    (21:00) Dalad's calming rituals: Digital detox, tea, gratitude
    (25:14) Mindstate Moment: A future dinner

    (30:05) A future recipe: Fresh, plentiful, available to the world
    (31:23) Speed round: Flavors, freshness, sharing, cuisine culture and EINSTEIN
    (33:54) Closing remarks: Food is your future!

    Music: Andreas Horchler


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    36 mins
  • Be the Prompt: How AI Can Power the Future of Ideas | Jeremy Utley
    Sep 22 2025

    What happens when AI meets human creativity?

    In this episode, Frederik sits down with Jeremy Utley—adjunct professor at Stanford University, co-author of Ideaflow: The Only Business Metric That Matters, Thinkers50 Top Innovation Leader, host of Paint & Pipette: The Art & Science of Innovation, and co-host of Beyond the Prompt. Jeremy has taught nearly a million students worldwide, advises CEOs and startup founders, and is currently researching how individuals and organizations can accelerate their comfort and confidence in leveraging generative AI.

    Together, Frederik and Jeremy explore how AI can amplify—not replace—our creative capacities. They discuss why voice matters in AI interactions, how words shape agency, and why humans must take the role of initiator when engaging with AI. The conversation ranges from practical ideation exercises to the deeper implications of AI on identity, creativity, and education—always with the reminder that AI is a collaborator, not a substitute.

    • Creativity is a practice, not magic

    • AI as a collaborative partner

    • Using your voice with AI is a gamechanger

    • Humans as initiators in AI engagement

    • The power of words: shaping agency with language

      • Why generating bad ideas often leads to great ones
      • Inviting AI into daily tasks for better collaboration
    • Where to find Jeremy Utley:

      • Website: jeremyutley.com

      • Book: Ideaflow: The Only Business Metric That Matters

      • Podcast: Beyond the Prompt

      Where to find Frederik G. Pferdt:

      • Newsletter: NextLetter

      • Book: What’s Next Is Now

      • LinkedIn

      • YouTube

      • Instagram

      • Website


    • (00:00) Intro

    • (02:53) Jeremy’s future bio: prompting AI to ask the right questions

    • (10:14) Use your voice: showing up with your AI’s

    • (14:22) The advent of ChatGPT: a fertile time of exploration

    • (18:50) The Initiator: humans as self-hired agents beyond assignments

    • (24:51) Humans as initiators and executors with AI

    • (26:09) You are the prompt: how words matter (won’t, can’t, have to, want to)

    • (29:43) Bad idea brainstorms, wonder wanders, and ego in ideation with AI

    • (34:31) Mindstate Moment: powerful reflective prompts

    • (42:56) Speed round: what we get wrong with AI, education, habits to adapt, AI and intimate questions

    • (47:47) Closing remarks: Post-its and inviting AI into the moment

    Original music by Andreas Horchler


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    50 mins
  • The Future Sounds Within | Tyler Winick (Tahüm)
    Aug 22 2025

    Today on the show: Tyler Winick, is an explorer of self, a facilitator of deep inner work, and the creative force behind Tahüm, where his music guides people into presence and discovery. He’s also the co-creator of Garden of True Self, a framework for reconnecting to our truth and protecting our energy. As an artist and musician, he has just recently, hit his first million streams.

    In this episode, we explore the profound impact of music as a universal language that transcends borders and cultures. Discover how melodies and rhythms have the power to transform lives, foster connections, and inspire change. Join us as we delve into stories of personal and societal transformation through the universal language of music. Tune in to be moved and inspired by the transformative power of sound.

    Today, we talk about:

    Inner Work as a Path to future Freedom

    The Power of Music and Creativity

    The Garden of True Self

    Breathwork and Energy

    The Role of Intent and Empathy


    Where to find Tyler Winick:

    https://www.tylerwinick.com/

    https://www.tahum.co/


    Where to find Frederik G. Pferdt:
    NextLetter: ⁠https://www.frederikgpferdt.com/#nextletter⁠

    What's NextIs Now The Book: ⁠⁠https://www.whatsnextisnowthebook.com

    LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/fgpferdt/⁠⁠⁠
    YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/frederikgpferdt⁠⁠⁠
    Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/frederikgpferdt/⁠⁠⁠
    Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.frederikgpferdt.com/⁠⁠⁠

    In this episode, we cover:

    (00:00) Intro
    (02:45) Tyler's future bio: A letter to self

    (07:55) Origins & Inner Work

    (10:55) Out in the desert: The calling of Burning Man
    (17:36) Music as Inner Work

    (23:30) Stage fright and antidodes
    (27:12) I am enough: The Story of Tahüm
    (30:30) The garden of True Self

    (33:33) Energy Ceiling: A Daily Practice
    (36:08) How we show up: The Future of Inner Work & Sound
    (38:47) Mindstate Moment — Led by Tyler (Music by Tahüm)

    (53:50) Quick Questions - Visual Creativity from Scratch

    (59:14) One Seed to Plant: Get better at Feeling

    Music: Andreas Horchler & Tahüm


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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • The Future is HOW – Best Of: HOW to Grow Your Future
    Jul 11 2025

    Today in The Future Is How: Frederik's Summer Best-of Special: "Growing Your Future"

    Welcome to a very special summer edition of The Future is How. Frederik wants to take you on a walk through a different kind of garden. This garden has rich soil made of powerful questions, strong trellises of trust, flowing channels of communication, and restorative greenhouses of rest. But it's also alive with the buzz of cross-pollinating bees, nourished by both sunshine and rain, enriched by compost that transforms challenges into growth, and tended by a community that understands how every element supports the whole.

    Over this past season of conversations, Frederik had the privilege of speaking with remarkable gardeners of the future - people who've mastered different aspects of this living ecosystem. Today, he shares their wisdom as we explore eleven essential elements in this garden of possibility.


    Today, we talk about:

    Welcome to the Garden - one small thing that could grow into something bigger

    The Soil of Questions - the richest soil is made up of the questions we ask

    The Trust Trellis - some plants need support to reach their full potential. In our garden, trust serves as the strongest trellis of all.

    The Communication Channels - the irrigation system that nourishes everything we're trying to grow.

    The Storytelling Sunshine - compelling narratives don't just entertain - they transform how we see ourselves and our possibilities.

    The Rest and Recovery Greenhouse - sleep and rest aren't empty spaces - they're specialized greenhouses where our most important growth actually happens.

    The Wellness Ecosystem - A thriving garden (and humans)requires attention to the health of the entire ecosystem.

    The Compost of Transformation - Personal transformation often requires composting old patterns to create rich soil for new growth.

    The Cross-Pollination Bees - cross-pollination between future thinking and design creates innovations we never could have imagined.

    The Connection Root Network - human connections create the invisible networks where our best futures can flourish.

    The Innovation & Inspiration Blooms – inspiration, an active force that transforms individuals and communities.

    The Beautiful Purpose That Blooms - beauty as the naturalexpression of purpose lived with intention.

    In this episode, we cover:

    Intro (03:14)

    The Soil of Questions The next big disruption will not be technological, but psychological." - MarcChampagne

    (06:47) The Trust Trellis "Kids are not luggage — they are human beings. The next generation doesn't need more control, they need more trust." - Esther Wojcicki

    (10:31) The Communication Channels "It's about connection, not perfection." - Matt Abrahams

    (14:13) The Storytelling Sunshine "Great storytelling is about making people feel." - Kalle Ryan

    (17:45) The Rest and Recovery Greenhouse "Quality vs. quantity: What matters most for unlocking better performance." - Dr. Els van der Helm

    (21:32) The Wellness Ecosystem "Destigmatizing mental health struggles through openness creates safety and trust." - Newton Cheng

    (25:25) The Compost of Transformation "Home is where I grow." - Angela Pferdt

    (29:22) The Cross-Pollination Bees "We need to develop a 'futurist' mindset and use our imagination to shape a better world." - Lisa Kay Solomon

    (32:53) The Connection Root Network "The surprising finding: connection's impact on longevity is stronger than almost any other factor." - Dr. Robert Waldinger

    (36:30) The Innovation & Inspiration Blooms "Inspiration is more than a feeling. It's an active force that fuels creativity, leadership and change." - Adam Galinsky

    (40:07) The Beautiful Purpose That Blooms "The future belongs to those who can create beauty in business and meaning in work." - Tim Leberecht

    (44:58) Your Future is HOW “HOW will you nourish your garden today? HOW will you plant seeds for tomorrow? HOW will you shape the future you want to see?” – Frederik Pferdt

    Music: Andreas Horchler

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    49 mins
  • The Art of What Could Be | Francesco Ciccolella
    Jun 27 2025

    Today in The Future Is How: Francesco Ciccolella. His illustrations don’t just decorate the page– they challenge how we see the world. Francesco is a Vienna-based artist, illustrator, and designer whose work has appeared in The New York Times, The Guardian, The New Yorker, MIT Technology Review, and on the covers of books and ideas that have shaped our thinking. He also brought Frederik's ideas to life , through incredible sketches, including the one-line illustrations in Frederik's book What’s Next Is Now. Francesco's illustrations hold up a mirror to our culture–showing us not only what is, but what could be.

    Today, we talk about:

    • The Power of Visual Thinking

    • Making the complex visually accessible through empathy
    • The power of reduction
    Between the lines-Francesco´s book, a visual philosophy

    • Everyone Is an Artist (as long as we overcome our fears)

    • A well of inspiration—exploring world views and travelling


    Where to find Francesco Ciccolella:

    https://www.francescociccolella.com/

    Between The Lines The Book: https://www.francescociccolella.com/Between-The-Lines-Artist-s-Book

    Where to find Frederik G. Pferdt:
    NextLetter – ⁠https://www.frederikgpferdt.com/#nextletter⁠

    What's NextIs Now The Book: ⁠⁠https://www.whatsnextisnowthebook.com

    LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/fgpferdt/⁠⁠⁠
    YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/frederikgpferdt⁠⁠⁠
    Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/frederikgpferdt/⁠⁠⁠
    Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.frederikgpferdt.com/⁠⁠⁠

    In this episode, we cover:

    (00:00) Intro
    (03:13) Francesco's future bio: A space between words and images

    (05:45) Complexity in one image—empathy and the visual vocabulary
    (08:07) The viewer's shoes—a repertoire of different angles
    (09:01) Stripped to the essence—the Zen garden story and finding beauty in reduction
    (11:59) Creative challenges—quick pace and the flow mode
    (14:55) Between the lines—Francesco's book on dealing with mental health crises
    (17:34) Discovering the inner artist—it's about taking away the fear (or: there are no perfect lines)

    (21:03) A Mindstate Moment with Frederik
    (25:31) A three word-game-visual creativity from scratch

    (27:30) Finding inspiration—travelling, exploring world views, new paths

    (29:09) Provoking emotion—The illustrator's playbook


    Music: Andreas Horchler

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    32 mins
  • How Trust Is The Future | Esther Wojcicki
    Jun 13 2025

    In this episode, we explore how trust shapes the future — in parenting, education, and leadership.

    Esther Wojcicki is known as "The godmother of Silicon Valley", a legendary educator, journalist, and author of How to Raise Successful People. She has taught thousands of students, raised three remarkable daughters (a CEO, a doctor, and a professor), and sparked a global movement with her TRICK philosophy: Trust, Respect, Independence, Collaboration, and Kindness.

    “Kids are not luggage — they are human beings,” Esther says. Her message is clear: the next generation doesn’t need more control, they need more trust.

    Together, we dive into:

    • Why respect and independence are key ingredients for raising changemakers

    • How 20% of time for personal projects (even in school!) unlocks creativity

    • What happens when we stop helicopter parenting — and start trusting

    • How TRICK can transform classrooms, companies, and even family dinners

    • Why children’s ideas might just change the world

    We also explore how TRICK applies not just to kids — but to how we lead, live, and even treat our parents.

    Plus: A “Mindstate Moment” to help you reflect and activate your own TRICK.


    Where to find Esther Wojcicki:

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heywoj/?hl=en


    Where to find Frederik G. Pferdt:
    NextLetter – ⁠https://www.frederikgpferdt.com/#nextletter⁠

    What'sNextIs Now The Book: ⁠⁠https://www.whatsnextisnowthebook.com

    LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/fgpferdt/⁠⁠⁠
    YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/frederikgpferdt⁠⁠⁠
    Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/frederikgpferdt/⁠⁠⁠
    Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.frederikgpferdt.com/⁠⁠⁠

    In this episode, we cover:

    (00:00) Intro
    (02:36) Esther's future bio: A world of respect and trust for children

    (05:53) A future with TRICK- Trust Respect Independence Collaboration Kindness
    (11:40) Balancing Structure and Freedom-Raising children today
    (15:07) Kid's shopping experience-building trust and independence
    (18:00) Kids are not luggage-what parents get wrong about children
    (19:51) Frederik on the road-let the kids do the travel planning
    (20:40) Worries and things we can do to shape our future

    (24:50) Belts for the homeless-how children's ideas help
    (26:36) Showing up for children with TRICK-empower education

    (29:53) A better school-play, take time, explore

    (33:09) In it together-Having patience, as kids and as parents

    (35:49) Lost kids-The Helicopter Parenting crisis

    (40:04) A Mindstate Moment with Frederik
    (42:47) TRICK for companies and leaders-mistakes and room for creativity

    (47:45) We are all children-what we can offer our parents through TRICK


    Music :Andreas Horchler


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    53 mins