Episodes

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 ...

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...

In today’s episode of The Future is How, it's all about growth, from plants to the inner self. And we have a more than special guest: Angela Pferdt. Coming from a background in finance, today she is a Healing Artist, a Reiki Master, a Master Gardener, and she is Frederik's wife, in Frederik's words: one of his greatest teachers. Frederik and Angela spent decades together, building a home and raising three children. “Home is where I grow”, says Angela. This time The Future is How comes straight f...

In today’s episode of The Future is How, questions take center stage. Questions shape our futures much more than we believe in everyday life. Marc Champagne, author of “Personal Socrates” and podcast host of “Behind the Human” is a pioneer in mental fitness, who explores the practices of brilliant thinkers, visionaries, and high-impact performers. He trained thousands of professionals to gain clarity in momentsthat matter. The next big disruption, Marc believes, will not be technological, but ps...

In today’s episode of The Future is How, I explore the power of communication with Matt Abrahams—author, podcast host, communication coach, and lecturer in Strategic Communication at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business. Matt helps people become more confident and connected communicators, whether they’re on stage, in a meeting, or having a hard conversation with themselves. In our conversation today, we talk about the following topics: • Why asking the right questions is the Swiss army knife ...

“Zukunftsgeist”—or Future Spirit—is not only the German title of Frederik’s book What’s Next Is Now. It became a living, breathing movement during his Zukunftsgeist Tour across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. But this wasn’t your typical book tour. Instead of classical readings, Frederik invited people into a shared experience—to ignite their own future spirit. And it worked. The response was overwhelming: after each event, participants didn’t just ask for a signature—they leaned in, saying...

In today’s episode of The Future is How, I sit down with my friend and former colleague, Newton Cheng, the Director of Health and Performance at Google. Newton is passionate about guiding leaders through skillful conversations on mental health—a topic he's deeply familiar with. After experiencing burnout, Newton took a mental health leave from his role at Google. Upon his return, he openly shared his journey instead of concealing it behind the term "sabbatical." In our discussion, we explore t...

In today’s episode of The Future is How, futurist Lisa Kay Solomon joins me. Lisa is a designer in residence at the Stanford d.school. Lisa focuses on bridging the disciplines of futures and design thinking, creating experiences like “Vote by Design: Presidential Edition” and "The Future’s Happening" to help students learn and practice the skills they don’t yet know they need. At the d.school, she teaches classes such as Inventing the Future, where students imagine, debate, and analyze the 50-ye...

In today’s episode of The Future is How, I explore the topics of relationships and happiness with Dr. Robert Waldinger. He is a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development at Massachusetts General Hospital, and co-founder of the Lifespan Research Foundation. He is also a Zen priest and co-author of the book, The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness. In our conversation today, we talk about the follow...

In this exciting episode of The Future is How, I am joined by Dr. Els van der Helm, a leading sleep neuroscientist and adjunct professor at IE Business School. Dr. Els is a trusted advisor to CEOs and organizations worldwide, helping them unlock better performance through improved sleep and well-being. In our conversation today, we do a deep dive into the science of sleep and its transformative effects on your life and work and discuss the following topics: • Why skipping sleep won’t boost prod...

How do you envision the future—yours, ours, and the planet’s? Join me, Frederik Pferdt, in the first episode of The Future Is How, as I sit down with Tim Leberecht, the founder of the House of Beautiful Business, to explore how beauty can inspire connection, reimagine the future, and help us live more meaningful lives. Together, we discuss why it’s time to value all life—including AI—and how moving beyond human-centeredness can address some of our biggest challenges. In our conversation today, ...