You might be wondering, why start a podcast? After all, everyone seems to have one these days. So, why bother tuning in to ours?
The idea for The Future View Podcast came to me when I’d have conversations with people I met through work, conferences, or chance encounters. These weren’t just casual chats—these individuals had captivating stories, innovative ideas, and fresh perspectives that I felt needed to be shared.
Whether they were developing new technology, sharing unique experiences, or challenging the status quo, I knew these conversations were worth capturing. As a podcast fan, I saw this as the perfect medium to share these insights with others.
About two years ago, we began recording, starting with conversations with people I knew. But soon, I found myself connecting with new people, diving into their worlds of thought and innovation. Then, something magical started to happen when we began exploring these topics in depth. The Future View Podcast allows us to get beyond surface-level conversation, uncovering the “why” behind groundbreaking ideas, innovations, and fresh approaches across various fields like technology, education, and animal health innovation.
It’s not just the new things they’re doing—it’s the reason behind them that makes it all so compelling.
So now we’re about to launch season 3 of The Future View Podcast, and I’ve been reflecting on all the great episodes we’ve had so far, and the stories that really stood out to me over the years.
Season one, episode eight with Canadian meteorologist Johanna Wagstaff, stands out as a great discussion on science communication. Johanna's use of storytelling inspired me. She shared how, after transitioning from a science background to the newsroom, she struggled with the shift in communication styles. In science, explanations are detailed and build from research to methodology to results—often burying the key takeaway. In contrast, newsrooms start with the headline, grabbing attention by leading with the result.
She shared the story behind her innovative podcast, where forecasting and storytelling intersect, an exceptional showcasing of how storytelling can be effectively applied in areas you might not expect.
‘Every forecast is a story, you have to find that story. And if you stick to that storyline, there's a beginning, there's a middle and the end, and you have to make people care in some way.’
‘We know climate change is happening right now. But often it's happening at a pace that you don't realise until you take a step back and you're able to look at the big picture. So I wanted a device to transport people to that moment when all of the change had happened before a young girl in the future - the year 2050, where that was her reality.’
Another memorable episode was with animal welfare scientist and vet, Michael Patching. We discussed how education and effective communication can significantly improve animal welfare in the developing world, especially in slaughter practices.
‘When we actually change something, it's not about making sure that we've got the right science or that we've done the right research. That’s important of course, but if we're not able to then communicate that to people that are actually working in the area, then it's kind of pointless having the science’
Season two, episode seven with scientist Andria Beal also stands out. We discussed Andria’s groundbreaking work using epigenetic markers to assess ageing and health in veterinary practice and how this could revolutionise the animal health industry.
‘Ageing is the number one predictor of disease. How can we study the ageing process to understand how disease develops? I thought that would be a really powerful tool for increasing how long our pets can live - better understanding that ageing process and how to slow it down. The same as what they're doing in humans.’
‘And I was able to design an even better path to an age test for dogs and cats that would also be affordable. That is a big component - if it's not affordable, no one's going to pay to use it. And so that technology just goes to waste. And I hate to see that. And that's another reason why I started looking at creating my own lab and commercialising research. Because I was seeing all this great technology being published, but hardly any of it gets actually used.’
These are just a few of the fascinating stories we've shared so far, and I’m so looking forward to sharing the new conversations I’ve had in the making of this new season. Here are some topics we’ll be diving into:
- CPD, simulation, and skills development
- New business models and doing the right thing
- Mountain bike coaching and adult learning
- Vet student teaching with technology
- Positive psychology and wellbeing in practice
- Presenting on stage ...and more.
Through looking at this list, you might be wondering—how does mountain biking fit into an animal health podcast? So, without spoiling too much, let me pull a story from the episode that fascinated me and drew strong comparisons to how I think about adult learning.
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In this episode, Andy Barlow tells a story of when he was working with team GB at the world championships in Fort William, Scotland, with a total of 26 athletes spanning from junior level to senior level. Andy’s job was to help each rider in a competition they attended - what lines to take, how to shave off a few seconds, and so on. The communication Andy had with each group was drastically different, with the junior team having more involvement, and the senior team having seemingly no interest in what advice Andy had to offer - or at least he thought. But by tapping into how each rider engaged in story and information, he was able to tailor the way he communicated with them. This resulted in Andy’s messages being delivered clearly, quickly and as effectively as possible.
‘What the senior group responded really well to was line choice. And even more than that, data. If I could show them a different line on video, or even just draw a line on a photograph. And I could quantify it. That was massive to them. ‘Go here, it saves you half a second. We just timed so-and-so go through the section. He was a second quicker than anyone else doing this.’ Boom, they're hooked.’
The lesson here? Whether in sports or education, effective communication requires adapting your approach to fit your audience.
As we gear up for the release of season 3, I’m more excited than ever to continue sharing these thought-provoking conversations. Each episode offers a unique glimpse into innovation, learning, and personal growth across a wide range of fields. Whether it’s science, animal welfare, or even mountain bike coaching, the common thread is always the powerful exchange of ideas and the importance of communication and story.
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To listen to any of our previous episodes you can listen on our website https://www.trimblegroup.io/resources or through your preferred streaming platform.
I can’t wait for you to tune in and explore these stories with us.
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