Stylus Future Thinking

In this episode, we join Stylus’ Annie Corser, senior editor of Pop Culture & Media, and Julia Errens, senior Pop Culture correspondent, to discuss the key trends and insights within AI that emerged from this year’s SXSW festival (March 8-16).

In this episode, we join Consumer Attitudes trends researcher, Nienke Creemers, and founder of wellness lifestyle brand Thy.self, Chloé Pierre, in discussing the growing appeal of ‘soft living’ – a movement where people seek fulfilment beyond their career and financial accomplishments. Our conversation delves into the origins of this trend, the resistance it encounters from older generations and various communities, and strategies for brands to adapt to consumers' growing interest in adopting a slower-paced lifestyle.

In this episode, we delve into some of the key themes and exciting products that caught our attention at CES 2024 in Las Vegas (January 9-12). From ground-breaking AI advancements to impressive displays of emerging technologies, CES 2024 showcased the future of consumer electronics. Our Consumer Attitudes team talk about the main themes they observed – such as the widespread presence of artificial intelligence and its integration with mobility, building trust in technology, and the importance of brands addressing sustainability and larger global issues.

On this episode we look ahead to 2024 and explore some of the key trends that Stylus experts think every brand needs to know about next year. We speak to four Stylus experts – across Consumer Attitudes, Technology, Fashion, and Food & Beverage – about the reports they produced for Stylus's annual Look Ahead series. In the Look Ahead, Stylus reveals 30 emerging trends that take in changing consumer motivations, global marketplace shifts, and nascent innovation across multiple industries, and draw out the key actionable insights that will inform your business decisions in the next 12 months and beyond.

In this episode, we talk to Alexander Alich – founder and director of the FoxFire Institute of Shamanic Studies, and a doctoral researcher looking into the experiences and practices of western shamanic practitioners. Alexander discusses the increasing rise of shamanism (now the fastest-growing religion in the UK), and how this burgeoning spiritual interest may stem from current concerns around eco-anxiety and a need to reconnect with the natural world. Also joining us is Emilia Morano-Williams, Stylus’ senior trends editor for Consumer Attitudes and Technology, to explore key insights emerging from our recent report, Redefining Faith: Spirituality’s Next Chapter.

In this episode, we talk to Flex Chapman, co-creator of Krause House – a DAO (decentralised autonomous organisation) with a dream of buying an NBA sports team. Flex discusses Krause House’s ambitious mission to disrupt the traditional and exclusive sports ownership model through sales of social and non-fungible tokens – finally giving power back to the basketball fan community, and bringing the first ever fan-governed team to the NBA. Also joining us is Mandy Saven, Stylus’ Content Director, to discuss the key insights emerging from our latest report, The New Sports-Leisure Landscape.

In this episode, we talk to Mark Barlet, founder of AbleGamers, a US non-profit dedicated to improving accessibility in the video game space. Mark discusses the challenges and opportunities of combating social isolation through play, and offers brands advice on amplifying the call for greater accessibility across all industries. Also joining us are Stylus’s senior editor of Pop Culture & Media, Annie Corser, and head of Product Design, Dewi Pinatih, to discuss our latest Macro Trend series of reports, Disability Futures.

In this episode, we talk to Alanna Roazzi-Laforet, founder of Decrypt Studios – a production studio dedicated to bringing artists, designers and thinkers to the metaverse. Also joining us are Stylus’ Annie Corser, senior editor of Pop Culture & Media, and Julia Errens, senior Pop Culture correspondent, to discuss the key trends and insights that emerged from this year’s SXSW festival (March 10-19).

In this episode, we talk to Anna Blakney, assistant professor at the University of British Columbia in the Michael Smith Laboratories and School of Biomedical Engineering. Anna runs a lab developing next-gen RNA vaccines and therapies, and we discuss her work and the future of personalised medicine. Also joining us is Emilia Morano-Williams, Stylus’s senior editor of Consumer Attitudes and Technology, to talk through the latest medtech innovations.

In this episode, we’re joined by Michael Clinton, author and former president of Hearst Magazines. Michael discusses his book Roar, a blueprint for taking your life in a new direction post-50, and what businesses need to know about the needs and ambitions of modern Gen X and Boomer consumers. Also joining us is Katie Baron, content director at Stylus, to bring us up to speed on the key trends that will impact retail and brand comms in 2023.

In this episode, we’re joined by Damian Bradfield, co-founder and chief creative officer of global file-sharing platform WeTransfer. He discusses the brand’s work with artists and creatives, as well as its current research – the Ideas Report and the Emerging Creative Hubs Index – that shines a light on trends driving the creator economy. The episode also features Emily Gordon-Smith, Stylus’ content director and sustainability lead, exploring the key looks and trends from this year’s Fashion Week shows.

Jon Alexander, co-founder of the New Citizenship Project, joins the podcast to discuss his book, Citizens: Why the Key to Fixing Everything is All of Us. It argues that humans are collaborative, creative, caring citizens by nature, and brands and governments need to stop treating us as simple consumers. Lisa Payne, Stylus’ head of Beauty, also joins to talk about the latest innovations in the beauty sector.

Ben Downing, global managing director of ethical media strategic partnerships at Havas Media Group, discusses the latest Havas Meaningful Brands report, and how companies can help consumers struggling with the global impact of the cost-of-living crisis. Marian Berelowitz, US senior editor at Stylus, also joins us to talk about the current state of diversity and inclusion in advertising and media.

Journalist and author Dorian Lynskey joins Future Thinking to talk about his podcast series Origin Story, in which he explores the meaning behind key political and cultural terminology – including ‘woke’. And Julia Errens, Stylus’s Pop Culture & Media editor, discusses the upcoming Barbie movie.

Molly Baker, founder and chief executive of US marketing agency Indie Consulting, discusses key marketing necessities every brand needs to understand to drive growth in a post-Covid world. We also explore the Innovation of the Week and The Next Big Opportunity with Stylus experts.

Jess Northend, policy lead at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, joins Future Thinking to explore innovations that are changing the world – from AI to biotech to crypto – and how brands and organisations can keep up with the pace of change. We also explore the Innovation of the Week and the Next Big Opportunity with Stylus experts.

Future Thinking was in Austin, Texas last week for the annual SXSW festival, where we spoke with brands including extended reality (XR) specialists Spatial, wireless tech giant Qualcomm, and the Human Rights Foundations, and a host of start-ups showcasing their innovations at the SXSW Creative Expo. Also featuring insights on key SXSW trends from Stylus experts.

Benedict Evans, independent analyst, and former partner at US venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, joins us to discuss the state of tech in 2022 – covering everything from crypto and privacy to the metaverse and beyond. We also explore the Innovation of the Week and the Next Big Opportunity with Stylus experts.

Donna Dozier Gordon, head of inclusion & diversity at H&M, joins us to discuss the retail brand’s diversity and inclusion (D&I) work, why it makes both ethical and commercial sense, and how socially conscious Gen Z consumers are reshaping the cultural landscape. We also explore the Innovation of the Week and the Next Big Opportunity with Stylus experts.

Bruce Daisley, ex-VP EMEA at Twitter – now host of the business podcast Eat Sleep Work Repeat and author of The Joy of Work – joins us to discuss the future of the workplace post-pandemic. We also explore the Innovation of the Week and The Next Big Opportunity with Stylus experts.