Modem Futura is a weekly futures podcast exploring the future of science, technology, and society — your guide to where foresight meets real-world impact. Hosts Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard — educators, futurists, and public scholars — dive into the breakthroughs and big questions shaping tomorrow: AI ethics, space exploration, climate tech, bio-engineering, digital media, STEM education, and the shifting future of work. In candid, banter-filled conversations with innovators, scholars, and storytellers, they unpack how emerging technologies influence human values, creativity, and culture — and what these trends mean for you today. Whether you're curious about quantum computing, synthetic biology, or the sociology of robots...
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Sep 29, 2026 · 1:04:29
What happens to the university when a machine can write the essay, pass the exam, and deliver the lecture? In this episode of Modem Futura, Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard are…
Sep 22, 2026 · 58:44
It has been a strange summer for AI, and this episode leans all the way into it. Sean and Andrew open with two small mysteries from their own desks: why an AI assistant keeps…
Sep 15, 2026 · 40:17
Sean and Andrew have moved to a home. In this mini-sode, Sean and Andrew record from a secret conference room at the Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State…
Sep 8, 2026 · 50:00
What if being unpredictable is something you have to be given permission for? Picking up a previous thread from the watermarking conversation (Episode 99), Sean Leahy and Andrew…
Sep 1, 2026 · 1:01:29
It's billionaire AI manifesto season, and this time the memo comes from Bill Gates. Sean and Andrew dig into Gates's August 2026 essay "The turbulent AI era is here. The choices…
Aug 25, 2026 · 49:26
Something is hiding in your words — and not even you can see it. This week, Sean and Andrew dig into the announcement that has the internet (and at least one of your hosts… it’s…
Aug 18, 2026 · 1:08:45
When the CEO of one of the world's largest technology companies publishes an essay declaring that "the future is for everyone," what is he actually saying — and who is he really…
Aug 11, 2026 · 1:02:38
What happens to your voice when a machine can write faster than you can think? This week, Sean and Andrew take on one of the most personal questions in the AI conversation: not…
Aug 4, 2026 · 36:14
What happens when a humanoid robot pulls up a chair in a high school classroom (or rather its torso is bolted to the table)? In this episode, Sean and Andrew dig into the story…
Jul 28, 2026 · 50:13
What happens when the hypothetical stops being hypothetical? This week, Sean and Andrew dig into the story that dominated the summer AI headlines: an advanced OpenAI model,…
Jul 24, 2026 · 25:09
What can a summer of television tell us about the futures we're imagining? In this lighter conclusion to our Summer Vibes edition, Sean and Andrew step out of the laboratory and…
Jul 21, 2026 · 31:54
A synthetic cell that feeds, grows, divides — and happens to look like a potato. This week Sean and Andrew open the summer season with SpudCell, a lab-built cell recently…
Jul 14, 2026 · 55:12
What happens when a government switches off an AI? In this Summer Vibes edition, Sean and Andrew finally dig into the saga they've been watching unfold for weeks: Anthropic's…
Jul 7, 2026 · 30:14
The summer reading list concludes — and takes some wonderfully unexpected turns. In part two of their annual tradition, Sean and Andrew trade the cyberpunk canon of part one for…
Jun 30, 2026 · 33:49
Summer in Tempe is hot, and so is the case for putting down your phone and picking up a book you actually own. In Part 1 of our annual Summer Reading List, Sean and Andrew trade…
Jun 23, 2026 · 1:17:42
Every year, the World Economic Forum releases its Top 10 Emerging Technologies list — and this year, Andrew shares his front-row history with it: he was in the room in Dubai back…
Jun 16, 2026 · 53:32
School's out, the studio's packed into boxes, and Modem Futura is officially on summer roadshow — broadcasting from Andrew's home studio with returning guest Jeff Abbott,…
Jun 9, 2026 · 56:46
What do we actually mean when we say we've made life in a lab? In this episode, Sean and Andrew welcome back ASU's Emma Frow — a researcher working at the rare intersection of…
Jun 2, 2026 · 44:19
We're back for another round of Futures Improv — the segment where an AI-generated scenario lands on the table and we improvise our way through what it might mean for the rest of…
May 26, 2026 · 41:04
A timed episode (they gave themselves 35 minutes — barely made it) becomes an excuse for two arguments stitched together. First, Sean and Andrew finally have it out over Andy…
May 19, 2026 · 1:02:32
What happens when the semester ends and you finally have a moment to look back at what just happened? In this episode, Sean and Andrew sit down for an honest, reflective…
May 12, 2026 · 58:14
When Richard Dawkins — the man who gave us The Selfish Gene and decades of rigorous scientific skepticism — published an essay declaring that Claude, an AI chatbot, might be…
May 5, 2026 · 51:58
Something has changed with Claude — not catastrophically, not visibly, just enough that the writers, researchers, and builders who'd come to rely on it have started to notice the…
Apr 28, 2026 · 1:00:21
A system that can win gold at the International Mathematical Olympiad but can't read an analog clock. A technology being adopted faster than almost anything in modern history,…
Apr 21, 2026 · 39:57
Anthropic's unreleased "Mythos" model surfaced thousands of zero-day vulnerabilities nobody had ever caught — some buried in trusted software for nearly three decades — and the…
Apr 14, 2026 · 47:57
For the first time since 1972, human beings have traveled to the vicinity of the moon — and on this episode of Modem Futura, Sean and Andrew sit with what that actually means.…
Apr 7, 2026 · 45:36
What if the future wasn't something that arrived all at once — but more like a series of waves, some barely visible on the horizon, others already crashing around your feet? In…
Mar 31, 2026 · 56:49
What if the biggest risk right now isn't moving too slowly — it's optimizing for a world that no longer exists? That's one of the central provocations in this episode, as Sean…
Mar 24, 2026 · 1:06:10
What does it mean for a civilization to truly master power — and what happens to human nature when scarcity is no longer an excuse? In this spring break edition of Modem Futura,…
Mar 17, 2026 · 1:03:03
Something is happening with AI that almost nobody is talking about — and the reason nobody's talking about it is because, by design, you can't see it. In this episode, Sean and…
Mar 10, 2026 · 1:04:12
What if thinking about the future isn't about predicting what will happen — but about mapping what could? In this episode of Modem Futura, Sean and Andrew dive deep into one of…
Mar 3, 2026 · 51:13
What happens when you dig through a box of old iPods and realize the tangled cables might be the least complicated thing you pull out? In this episode of Modem Futura, Sean and…
Feb 24, 2026 · 53:18
What does it actually look like to thrive — not just survive — in an era of rapid AI integration? In this episode, Sean and Andrew go behind the scenes on their sold out workshop…
Feb 17, 2026 · 1:02:33
In this episode of Modem Futura, Sean and Andrew explore Isaac Asimov's remarkably prescient 1951 short story "The Fun They Had," a brief, brilliant tale set in 2155 where two…
Feb 10, 2026 · 1:04:20
Something unexpected is happening in the world of software: it's becoming personal again. In this episode of Modem Futura, Sean and Andrew explore the rapidly expanding…
Feb 3, 2026 · 44:35
What do kids actually think about the future they're inheriting? In this special episode, Sean and Andrew are joined by an unexpected guest: Freddie Leahy, Sean's…
Jan 27, 2026 · 58:06
In this episode of Modem Futura , hosts Sean M. Leahy and Andrew Maynard dive deep into Pluribus , the provocative new Apple TV series from Vince Gilligan . Framed as an…
Jan 20, 2026 · 51:42
What does it mean to take the temperature of the world's anxieties? Each year, the World Economic Forum asks over a thousand experts across the globe to weigh what keeps them up…
Jan 13, 2026 · 50:22
In this playful yet deeply thoughtful episode of Modem Futura , hosts Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard lean into speculative fun while wrestling with some of the most serious…
Jan 6, 2026 · 1:36:00
In this episode of Modem Futura , Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard welcome ASU’s Clark Miller for a wide-ranging conversation on what it means to be techno-human —not biological…
Dec 30, 2025 · 56:51
To close out 2025 and tee up 2026, Sean Leahy and Dr. Andrew Maynard hit pause for a candid “year in review” conversation: what surprised them, what themes kept resurfacing, and…
Dec 23, 2025 · 46:37
In this end-of-year holiday episode of Modem Futura , hosts Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard take a rare pause from the usual existential weight of emerging technologies to reflect…
Dec 16, 2025 · 1:20:31
In this expansive and playful episode of Modem Futura , hosts Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard welcome back futurist, game designer, and author Rizwan Virk to explore the rapidly…
Dec 9, 2025 · 1:02:30
In this episode of Modem Futura , Sean and Andrew dive deep into the rising cultural tension between generative AI’s promise of instant production and the human need for…
Dec 2, 2025 · 1:06:54
In this toy-themed episode of Modem Futura , Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard start with an overnight stay aboard the USS Midway before segueing into the holiday toy season and a…
Nov 25, 2025 · 29:53
In this episode of Modem Futura , Sean and Andrew dive deep into the surprising story behind the new Apple TV logo and mnemonic —and why it matters in a world overrun by “AI…
Nov 18, 2025 · 53:44
In this episode of Modem Futura , Sean and Andrew explore one of the most urgent and complex questions of our time: Can AI meaningfully help humanity navigate climate change,…
Nov 11, 2025 · 1:08:05
In this mind-bending episode of Modem Futura , Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard dive deep into the metaverse—not as a corporate brand or sci-fi fantasy, but as a living, evolving…
Nov 4, 2025 · 1:04:31
Recorded while actually wearing Apple Vision Pro headsets, Sean and Andrew go hands‑on with spatial computing to test what it’s good for today—and what it might become tomorrow.…
Oct 31, 2025 · 23:37
It’s Halloween in the future — and things are getting weird. In this special Modem Futura mini-episode, Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard unleash a spooky edition of their improv…
Oct 28, 2025 · 1:30:04
In this episode Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard dive deep into how people really feel about AI—drawing on the latest Pew Research Center global survey of 25 countries. From…
Oct 21, 2025 · 1:16:35
In this episode of Modem Futura , Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard dive into a wide-ranging and characteristically lively discussion that spans the launch of Andrew’s new book AI…
Oct 14, 2025 · 1:16:10
We celebrate a full year of Modem Futura with an open, in‑studio debrief on what’s worked, what’s changed, and why we double‑down on being a relational —not…
Oct 7, 2025 · 1:13:16
This week, Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard welcome venture capitalist and AI Salon founder Jeffrey Abbott to launch the new book AI and the Art of Being Human —a practical,…
Sep 30, 2025 · 1:22:11
In this episode of Modem Futura , Sean and Andrew sit down with veteran educator Tara Menghini to explore how artificial intelligence is shaping the formative years of K–6…
Sep 23, 2025 · 1:02:46
In this lively milestone episode of Modem Futura , Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard dive into the strange cultural moment where AI hype collides with social backlash. The…
Sep 16, 2025 · 1:04:02
Stuck in traffic and daydreaming about an eVTOL escape, Sean and Andrew use “flying cars” (and a new Blackmagic URSA spatial camera that gobbles terabytes) to make a larger…
Sep 9, 2025 · 1:21:39
In this episode of Modem Futura , hosts Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard dive into Andrew’s book Films from the Future: The Technology and Morality of Sci-Fi Movies , and the course…
Sep 2, 2025 · 1:08:36
In this episode of Modem Futura , Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard take to the skies—literally exploring the promise and pitfalls of eVTOLs (electric vertical takeoff and landing…
Aug 26, 2025 · 1:15:23
Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard welcome ASU’s Punya Mishra back to unpack what “agentic AI” could—and shouldn’t—mean in education. After a nostalgic cold open on AOL’s September…
Aug 19, 2025 · 56:46
Summer-mode serendipity turns into a sharp tour of today’s tech hype and what actually matters. Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard open with the rapid-fire AI news cycle—GPT-5 rumors,…
Aug 12, 2025 · 1:12:27
In this wide‑ranging summer episode, Sean and Andrew begin with the strange calm of an almost‑empty university campus and ponder how AI‑assisted “digital twins” could let us…
Aug 5, 2025 · 1:13:51
What happens when living organisms become components of our machines—and our machines become partly alive? In fact – how do we tell when or if something is ALIVE? In this…
Jul 29, 2025 · 1:25:04
In this episode, Sean and Andrew dissect the newly released U.S. 2025 AI Action Plan , exploring its three pillars—accelerating innovation, building U.S. AI infrastructure, and…
Jul 22, 2025 · 1:23:29
In this “summer session” of Modem Futura , Sean is joined by the newly minted Dr. Rachna Mathur—artist, engineer, dancer, and Senior STEM Strategist at ASU Preparatory…
Jul 15, 2025 · 56:57
Episode 40 of Modem Futura is a true summer grab‑bag. Sean and Andrew kick things off a conversation that ricochets from popcorn flicks to philosophical deep dives. First up is a…
Jul 8, 2025 · 54:41
In this laid‑back summer installment, Sean and Andrew sweat it out in the studio to deliver a free‑flowing “potpourri” of future‑focused topics. They compare practical effects…
Jul 1, 2025 · 54:49
In this laid-back “summer reading list” edition of Modem Futura , Sean and Andrew swap stacks and playlists to prove that great ideas don’t always hide in weighty nonfiction…
Jun 24, 2025 · 1:31:49
In this episode of Modem Futura , Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard cover the World Economic Forum’s newly-released “Top 10 Emerging Technologies of 2025” report, unpacking what…
Jun 17, 2025 · 1:06:24
Fresh off a 10-day immersion at Osaka’s 2025 World Expo, returning guest Dr. Jamey Wetmore joins Sean and Andrew to unpack the spectacle, surprises, and sociotechnical…
Jun 10, 2025 · 58:23
Hosts Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard kick off this episode with a behind-the-scenes reveal: they’re now capturing each conversation in Apple’s easy-to-edit spatial video—and…
Jun 3, 2025 · 1:12:29
What does it really take to engineer life—and should we? In this wide-ranging conversation, Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard sit down with ASU colleague Dr. Emma Frow to unpack the…
May 27, 2025 · 1:25:32
In this lively round-table, hosts Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard sit down with renowned educational-technology scholar Dr. Punya Mishra to untangle the hype and hope around AI in…
May 20, 2025 · 59:16
Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard reunite after Sean’s trip to Lisbon’s Future Days conference to riff on everything from testing an Apple Vision Pro on an 11‑hour flight to the…
May 13, 2025 · 1:10:49
In this episode of Modem Futura , Sean L and Andrew M examine Apple TV+’s hit series Severance , using its mind-bending premise of surgically split consciousness to explore…
May 6, 2025 · 1:04:56
In this “student-takeover” episode, hosts Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard sit down with Arizona State University sophomores Caleb Lieberman and Bella Faria to explore what it’s…
Apr 29, 2025 · 1:01:21
In this deep dive of Modem Futura , Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard tackle the sensational claims surrounding the "de-extinction" of the dire wolf by Colossal Biosciences. Using…
Apr 22, 2025 · 1:23:53
In this lively, idea‑packed episode of Modem Futura , Sean and Andrew sit down with Taryn O’Neill—filmmaker, futurist, and impact storyteller—whose work bridges entertainment,…
Apr 15, 2025 · 1:14:16
In this episode of Modem Futura, co-hosts Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard sit down with special guest Dr. Jamey Wetmore, Associate Professor at Arizona State University and author…
Apr 8, 2025 · 1:12:49
In this episode, Sean and Andrew navigate the complex landscape of generative AI image tools, using the new OpenAI image generator and its Studio Ghibli–style outputs as a…
Apr 1, 2025 · 1:02:23
In this episode that features the shortest cold open to date, Sean face-plants the introduction hard with a good laugh. Sean and Andrew quickly shift into a deep dive on the…
Mar 25, 2025 · 1:09:44
Grab your flip flops and beach gear and join is us on this laid-back spring break episode, Sean and Andrew cover Apple’s latest hardware announcements, spotlighting the MacBook…
Mar 18, 2025 · 59:25
In this episode, Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard explore the impact of technology on everyday life and education. They discuss the rising costs and exaggerated hype surrounding…
Mar 11, 2025 · 1:07:58
In this insightful episode, Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard frame ways of thinking and processing the increased speed of technological change, examining the complexities of AI (and…
Mar 4, 2025 · 1:13:03
In this episode, Sean and Andrew dig into the intersection of photography and technology, focusing on the evolution of cameras, the impact of smartphones, and the rise of…
Feb 25, 2025 · 1:01:09
In this episode Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard discuss AI fatigue, the philosophical implications of technology, and the storytelling behind technological progress as they ponder…
Feb 18, 2025 · 1:08:41
Join Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard as they navigate the evolving landscape of technology and its influence on our personal and professional lives. The conversation addresses…
Feb 11, 2025 · 1:05:09
In this episode of Modem Futura , hosts Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard discuss the evolving landscape of AI and its implications for humanity. This episode highlights the…
Feb 4, 2025 · 1:10:02
Andrew Maynard, Sean Leahy, and special guest Mark Daly explore the rapid advancements in AI technology with a spotlight on OpenAI's 01 Pro model. They examine how AI is…
Jan 28, 2025 · 1:05:00
In this conversation, Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard discuss the rapid developments in AI technology, particularly focusing on the newly announced Stargate AI initiative. They…
Jan 21, 2025 · 1:12:10
In this engaging conversation, Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard explore the rapid developments in technology as we enter 2025. They discuss the implications of Artificial General…
Jan 14, 2025 · 1:18:01
Sean and Andrew are joined by Brunno Moretti (President of ADAS Solutions, Ascential Technologies) for a conversation that explores the current state and futures of autonomous…
Jan 7, 2025 · 1:16:45
In this engaging conversation with Sean and Andrew, Cady Coleman, a former NASA astronaut, shares her experiences and insights from her time in space, the importance of…
Dec 31, 2024 · 1:21:59
In this engaging conversation, Sean and Andrew are joined by Joe O'Rourke and Caitlin Roe to explore a variety of topics ranging from the new ChatGPT phone feature to significant…
Dec 24, 2024 · 54:32
In this lively and thought-provoking episode, Sean and Andrew team up with Ed Finn, Ruth Wylie, and Bob Beard from ASU’s Center for Science and the Imagination for a rapid-fire…
Dec 17, 2024 · 39:32
In this episode of Modum Futura Live, Sean and Andrew explore the concept of digital realities and simulated worlds. They discuss the technological advancements that have made…
Dec 10, 2024 · 1:03:22
In this episode of Modem Futura , Sean and Andrew dive into the concept of radical creativity, examining its definition, significance, and transformative potential for the…
Dec 3, 2024 · 1:10:10
In this engaging conversation, Sean, Andrew, and Ruth explore the themes of visualization, futures thinking, and the importance of agency in shaping personal and collective…
Nov 26, 2024 · 1:01:19
Sean and Andrew explore the challenges and limitations of AI reasoning, especially in large language models (LLMs). They discuss recent Apple research questioning LLMs' true…
Nov 19, 2024 · 1:07:02
Are we living a simulation? We get 'real' with the simulation hypothesis, exploring its implications on reality, consciousness, and ethics. The conversation with Riz covers…
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