Best Andrew Maynard Podcasts (2025)

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Tech or Treat: A Haunted Futures Improv Special 23:37

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1d ago23:37

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 game “Futures Improv: Tech or Treat.” Fueled by AI-generated prompts, the duo riffs on haunted algorithms, mirrors that remember, and nightmare-mode neural interfaces. What ha…

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Finding the true history of words, with Ben Zimmer 26:52

2d ago26:52

26:52

1129. This week, we talk with Ben Zimmer about the linguistic detective work of antedating words — finding earlier usages than those published in dictionaries. We look at the surprising origins of "Ms.," "scallywag," and the baseball history of "jazz." Find Ben on his website: Benzimmer.com Vietnam Graffiti Project at Texas Tech's Vietnam Center: h…

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‘Ghost words’ and their history. Rules for ‘between’ and ‘among.’ Wilsoning. 14:02

4d ago14:02

14:02

1128. This week, in honor of Halloween, we look at “ghost words” and phrases, from “ghost runners” in baseball to “ghost forests” made by earthquakes. We also look at the difference between “between” and “among” for collective groups. Episodes mentioned in this episode: 734 - Ghost Words 1056 - How to be a ghostwriter, with Dan Gerstein 🔗 Share you…

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Atlas, Higher Education, and How We Really Feel About AI 1:30:04

5d ago1:30:04

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 curiosity to concern, they unpack why so many remain unaware of AI’s everyday presence and what this says about our collective future. The hosts explore the widening gap between t…

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The Dual Life of a CTO and CISO: Balancing Risk, Speed, and Innovation with Ben Wilcox 24:40

5d ago24:40

24:40

This week we sit down with Ben Wilcox, a tech leader who straddles two high-stakes worlds as both Chief Technology Officer and Chief Information Security Officer at ProArch. Ben shares how a teenage interest in “link lists” and web hosting turned into a 25-year career at the intersection of innovation and cybersecurity. We talk about what it really…

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How to be a ‘feisty freelancer,’ with Suzanne Bowness 28:09

9d ago28:09

28:09

1127. This week, we talk with Suzanne Bowness about creating a successful life as a writer. We look at high-value industries that are good targets for freelance work and the best job titles to pitch. Suzanne provides practical advice on tracking projects and follow-ups and explains why established freelancers should use their downtime to experiment…

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Shakespeare's ‘wherefore’ and other false friends. The language of fear. A Tom. 17:10

11d ago17:10

17:10

1126. This week, we look at words for fear and why "wherefore" doesn't mean what many people think it means. The false friends segment was written by Karen Lunde, a career writer and editor. These days, she designs websites for solo business owners who care about both words and visuals. Find her at chanterellemarketingstudio.com. 🔗 Share your famil…

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Sora, Slop, and the AI Economy: When ChatGPT Meets Walmart 1:16:35

12d ago1:16:35

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 and the Art of Being Human, the rise of OpenAI’s Sora 2video platform, and the surprising partnership between Walmart and ChatGPT that could reshape the economics of online re…

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AI Won’t Make You Dumber—Unless You Let It. The Truth About AI Intelligence, Impact, and Imagination with Kevin Surace 30:43

12d ago30:43

30:43

Two Kevins are better than one on this week’s That Tech Pod, as Kevin Albert and Laura sit down with Silicon Valley legend Kevin Surace, the inventor and entrepreneur, who helped shape everything from the first smartphone to the first digital assistant, decades before Siri or Alexa. Kevin S. shares stories from his time at General Magic, where he h…

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34. [Caribbean Echoes] Susannah Andrews: Jamaican Matriarch to Footy Legends and Mining Startups 39:41

16d ago39:41

39:41

What connects a VFL “Champion of the Colony” to a woman born enslaved in Jamaica? In 1919, Richmond footballer Vic Thorp won the league’s highest honour for the second time — the equivalent of today’s Brownlow Medal. But just a century earlier, his great-grandmother Susannah Andrews was enslaved in Jamaica, before gaining her freedom. This episode …

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Why Q needs U and how hieroglyphics created our alphabet, with Danny Bate 37:49

16d ago37:49

37:49

1125. This week, we talk with linguist and author Danny Bate about his book, "Why Q Needs U." We look at the ancient origins of our alphabet, tracing its conceptual leap from Egyptian hieroglyphs to symbols that represent sounds. Danny explains the "acrophonic principle" (one sound from a picture) and why the letter A was originally a consonant, no…

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The political, royal and obscene meanings of blue. The differences in ‘plumb’ and plum.’ 15:10

18d ago15:10

15:10

1124. This week, we look at blue idioms, including the political history of "blue states," the medical reason for being "blue in the face," and the astronomical reason for a "blue moon." Then, we look at the difference between 'plumb' (with a B), and 'plum' (without a B). 🔗 Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. 🔗 Watch my LinkedIn Learn…

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We Turned One - plus Liquid Media, Work Slop, and the Road Ahead 1:16:10

19d ago1:16:10

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 transactional—podcast. Sean and Andrew look back on 52+ weekly episodes that turned the studio into a “living laboratory,” where listeners pull up a chair to conversations spanning AI and AGI, s…

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Consulting: It’s All Fun and Games Until Someone Mentions Synergy with Jamie Bernard 20:46

19d ago20:46

20:46

Today on the pod, Laura and Kevin talk with Jamie Bernard, Vice President of Solutions Strategy and Head of Global Solutions at Valiantys, about what it really takes to turn technical capabilities into business results. Jamie has spent her career at the crossroads of product strategy, innovation, and AI enablement, helping companies move beyond buz…

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33. [Caribbean Echoes] Nellie Small: Queer Black Caribbean-Australian Icon 48:48

23d ago48:48

48:48

Who was the Caribbean-Australian cabaret star who could bring down the house — and come back at racism with a joke? "Come sit by me, we don’t eat people anymore." Nellie Small was born in Sydney in 1900, just before the White Australia policy was introduced. She became one of the country’s most beloved performers, famous for wearing men’s suits on …

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The fight for the modern dictionary, with Stefan Fatsis 32:52

23d ago32:52

32:52

1123. This week, we talk with author and self-described “word freak” Stefan Fatsis about his book "Unabridged." He shares his experience embedding at Merriam-Webster to become a lexicographer, sharing the contrast between the company's 1940s headquarters and the modern digital business. We look at the tension between updating old words (like the su…

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‘Math’ versus ‘maths’ and other British differences. ‘Spendthrift’ means what? 13:22

25d ago13:22

13:22

By Karen Lunde, Samantha Enslen, Mignon Fogarty

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AI and the Art of Being Human: How to Thrive with AI 1:13:16

26d ago1:13:16

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, hands‑on guide to thriving with AI while rediscovering what matters most. Together, they unpack where the idea came from, why they fast‑tracked the project, and how they co‑created…

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Help Wanted: Apply Within. The Future of Hiring with Indeed Flex’s James Terry 24:43

26d ago24:43

24:43

By Laura Milstein, Gabriela Schulte and Kevin Albert

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Why ‘Useless Etymology’ gives you super powers, with Jess Zafarris 33:23

1M ago33:23

33:23

1121. This week, we talk with Jess Zafarris about her book “Useless Etymology.” We look at three ways she says etymology gives you superpowers. We also look at the origins of simple words and learn why “girl” didn't always mean a female child, the unexpected historical figures behind “fedora” and “sideburns,” and why the word “outrage” has nothing …

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Can you use ‘epicenter’ for positive things? The etymology of ‘bro.’ Mukwonago, Oconomowoc. 16:34

1M ago16:34

16:34

1120. This week, we look at tricky uses of the word "epicenter" and how people feel about using it metaphorically. We also look at where the word “brother” came from and how it branched into “bro,” “boy,” and even “buddy.” The "brother" segment was written by Valerie Fridland, a professor of linguistics at the University of Nevada in Reno and the a…

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AI in Elementary Education: Teaching Tech to Our Youngest Learners 1:22:11

1M ago1:22:11

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 learning. Tara brings over 25 years of classroom experience and a passion for helping young learners build healthy technology habits from the very start. Together, they discuss th…

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Could AI Replace Developers? The Future of Engineering with Bit's Gilad Shoham 34:14

1M ago34:14

34:14

This week on That Tech Pod, Laura and Kevin are joined by Gilad Shoham, VP of Engineering at Bit, to talk about the future of AI-driven development, composable architecture, and the cyber risks that come with them. Gilad has spent his career at the intersection of startups, enterprise engineering, and open-source communities, and he brings a clear,…

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Adapting a classic: from words to watercolors, with K. Woodman-Maynard 24:40

1M ago24:40

24:40

1119. This week, we talk with illustrator and cartoonist K. Woodman-Maynard about her new graphic novel adaptation of "Tuck Everlasting." We look at the creative process of adapting a beloved book, including how she uses visual storytelling to convey emotion and meaning with watercolor and panel design. We also look at her approach to condensing th…

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32. [Caribbean Echoes] From slavery to anticolonialism: John Maynard and Tony Birch on Black and Indigenous boxing 46:19

1M ago46:19

46:19

What does boxing have to do with anticolonial politics? How did the sport become a space where Black and Indigenous fighters in Australia pushed back against racism and empire? From Peter Jackson to Jack Johnson, Marcus Garvey to Les “Ranji” Moody, this episode explores how Black and Indigenous fighters turned the ring into a stage for resistance a…

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31. [Caribbean Echoes] Peter Jackson: Boxing Champion and Innovator in Black Self-Representation 42:02

1M ago42:02

42:02

Did you know that the most famous Australian in the world in 1890 was from the Caribbean? Peter Jackson was born in St Croix in the Caribbean in the years after slavery was abolished. He arrived in Sydney as a teenager and got noticed when he single-handedly fought off seven in a brawl at Wynyard Square. He soon stepped into Sydney’s boxing rings a…

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30. History Lab is changing 3:33

1M ago3:33

3:33

History Lab is back—refreshed and reimagined. From now on, you’ll hear us in regular seasonal runs, dropping new episodes once or twice a fortnight over six to eight weeks. Each run will showcase a mix of formats: History Lab Originals – our signature investigative storytelling that digs into the gaps between us and the past. History Lab Studio – i…

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Dime idioms. ‘HoCo’ and syllable acronyms. Pulling a Trevor 14:48

1M ago14:48

14:48

1118. This week, we look at the origins of idioms related to the word "dime," like "turn on a dime" and "get off the dime." We also look at a special kind of acronym that uses syllables, and how words like "Nabisco," "SoHo," and "HoCo" were formed. The "dime" segment was written by Karen Lunde, a career writer and editor. These days, she designs we…

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Sloppy Clankers: Is This AI’s Frankenfood Moment? 1:02:46

1M ago1:02:46

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 conversation begins with Apple’s latest tech updates—live translation in AirPods and cinematic filmmaking features in the iPhone 17 Pro—before shifting gears into the growing online p…

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Why the Future of Tech Depends on Better Leadership with Uma Subramanian 24:51

1M ago24:51

24:51

This week Kevin and Laura sit down with Uma Subramanian, Founder and CEO of Limitless Leaders, Inc. Uma shares her journey from leading initiatives at Microsoft to building a global platform dedicated to helping tech professionals unlock their leadership potential. We explore what “limitless” leadership really means, the behaviors that often hold p…

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How algorithms are changing the meaning of words, with Adam Aleksic 14:04

1M ago14:04

14:04

1117. This week, we talk with Adam Aleksic, also known as the Etymology Nerd, about the ways algorithms are changing the meaning of words. We look at how words like "preppy" have evolved and how social media is accelerating language change. We also look at how different cultures "shout" online without using capital letters, the linguistic connectio…

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The pirate history of ‘scallywag.’ ‘Used to’ versus ‘use to.’ Cheese grits. 14:50

2M ago14:50

14:50

1116. This week, we clarify the origins of the word "Schnauzer" and why it may mean "snout," "growler," or "mustache." Then, in honor of Talk Like a Pirate Day, we look at the true origins of the word "scallywag," which, believe it or not, isn't from pirates but may be related to Shetland ponies. Then, we look at why we use both "used to" and "use …

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Futures Thinking: Foresight You Can Use 1:04:02

2M ago1:04:02

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 point: tech doesn’t fix congestion—or much else—without a systems view that includes people, policy, and behavior. From there, they unpack futures thinking as a mindset, not for…

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Marking Smarter Marketing Campaigns in a Tech-Driven World with Mike Maynard 28:53

2M ago28:53

28:53

This week, Laura and Kevin are joined by Mike Maynard, CEO and Managing Director of Napier, a B2B PR and marketing agency helping tech companies turn awareness into opportunities. Mike started his career as an electronics design engineer before moving into marketing, and that technical background still shapes how he builds and measures campaigns to…

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From clay tablets to the Gutenberg press, with Keith Houston 25:19

2M ago25:19

25:19

1115. This week, we talk with Keith Houston about his book, "The Book." We look at how writing technology evolved from clay tablets and bamboo slips to papyrus and paper. He shares some surprising facts, including why books are rectangles, how museums try to deacidify books, and how printing was once political. Keith Houston - Shadycharacters.co.uk…