The Futures Project Podcast
The Futures Project Podcast
Podcast Description
The future’s not what it used to be. Welcome to The Futures Project Podcast. Join educators, futurists, writers, researchers, mums and friends Cathy Walker and Chloe Combi as they invite guests to explore the world that awaits our young people. Between them, Cathy and Chloe have over 30 years’ of educational experience working with, and for the benefit of, young people. They've conducted 10,000 hours of interviews and surveys with over 30,000 young people and hundreds of teachers, listening actively, extracting learnings, identifying trends, validating experiences… and transforming this important information into programmes that enlighten, empower and enhance. On The Futures Project Podcast. they welcome guests from the worlds of politics, sustainability, business, academia, celebrity, media, education and more. Tune in to hear them cover everything from the climate crisis to culture, music to money, society to sex, always looking for the realistic but also the reassuring take on the brave new world in which our children are making their way. Because they are, after all, the ultimate Futures Project. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
This podcast focuses on topics such as the climate crisis, education trends, social issues, and personal development, with episodes that examine subjects like social entrepreneurship, the role of AI in education, and cultural shifts affecting younger generations. Illustrative episode examples include discussions on the impact of TikTok on creativity and insights drawn from academic leadership experiences.
The future’s not what it used to be.
Welcome to The Futures Project Podcast. Join educator, futurist, writer, researcher and mum Cathy Walker as she invites guests to explore the world that awaits our young people.
Cathy has over 25 years’ of educational experience working with, and for the benefit of, young people and their families, listening actively, extracting learnings, identifying trends, validating experiences… and transforming this important information into programmes that enlighten, empower and enhance.
in each episode she welcomes expert guests from the worlds of education, sustainability, business, celebrity, media, and more. She explores what the future really looks like—for the next generation and for the rest of us. Expect real talk, fresh insight, and a reassuring take on the fast-changing world our young people are making their way in.
Because they are, after all, the ultimate futures project.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This Results Day Special episode comes to you mid-August, just as young people across the UK are preparing to open those all-important A-level and GCSE results envelopes.
Drawing on 25 years of supporting thousands of students and families through exam seasons, Cathy offers essential perspective and reassurance: whatever happens on results day, these outcomes are far from the be-all and end-all of any young person’s future.
This episode explores:
- why exam results don’t define who you are or who you’ll become
- the transferable skills that matter most in the 21st century workplace
- the fruit tree analogy – why not everyone ripens at the same time
- how to reframe disappointment and find different paths to success
- why the cyclical nature of life means there are always new opportunities ahead
The episode features a special retrospective of wisdom from previous Futures Project guests, including:
- Jas Schembri-Stothart (co-founder of Luna) on building supportive networks
- Dr Deborah Woodman & Dr Mike Farquhar on managing overwhelm and recognising your worth
- Even Briar (singer, actor, content creator) on staying present
- Dr Fran Harris (founder of 4GOOD) on maintaining optimism about the future
- Dr Cathy Rogers (TV presenter, academic and author of Future Vision) on the bright future young people can create
- Genelle Aldred (journalist, host and founder of Repeat That Again Please podcast & author of “Communicate for Change”) on the power of community
- Louis Hatchwell (Beast On A Bike) on focusing on the present
- Laura Jane Silverman (Head of LSE Generate) on channelling worry into positive action
For more information about Cathy’s work in education, futures and coaching, visit cathywalkerconsulting.uk
Follow Cathy on Instagram @educathy
And if you’ve enjoyed this episode, please like, share and subscribe to help us reach more people who might benefit from these conversations.
Sponsor Message:
This episode is brought to you by Eximus Education, an award-winning UK social enterprise on a mission to make high-impact tutoring affordable, accessible, and reliable for everyone – not just those who can afford it. At Eximus Education, they believe exam confidence starts long before results day. It’s built through personalised, expert-led tutoring that helps pupils master their subjects and believe in their abilities. Whether you’re preparing for GCSEs, A-levels, or simply looking to boost confidence, Eximus’s highly selective tutors work one-to-one and in small groups to unlock potential – backed by a 97% customer satisfaction rating.
Visit EximusEducation.com to book your free 30-minute trial lesson.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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