What if the future of our cities isn't flying cars—but better bicycles?

In the very first episode of the Alternate Futures: Beyond Fiction series, I sit down with designer, entrepreneur, and future thinker Jens Martin Skibsted to explore how thoughtful design can reshape the way we live, move, and build tomorrow's world.

As founder of Biomega, former Vice Chair of the World Economic Forum's Global Agenda Council on Design and Innovation, member of the Global Futures Council on Entrepreneurship, and a leading voice in sustainable mobility, Jens Martin has spent decades turning bold ideas into reality. From creating an entirely new category of designer bicycles to helping shape international conversations about innovation, entrepreneurship, and urban futures, his perspective bridges practical experience with long-term thinking.

Together we discuss what really happens inside the World Economic Forum's think tanks, why bicycles may have a far bigger role in the future than most people realise, how cities can become healthier and more liveable, why autonomous cars may not solve congestion after all, and how design thinking can help tackle some of society's biggest challenges. Along the way, Jens Martin also reflects on balancing career success with family, the surprising story behind Biomega, and why one of his few regrets is simply that he "didn't dance enough."

Yes there are still the Big Questions.

Books of his we discuss: Expand, Stretching the Future by Design

https://biomega.co/

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What if the street corner doomsayers turned out to be right?

Author and musician Wayne Faust and I explore the ideas behind his Calek's Tale trilogy—a compelling blend of post-apocalyptic science fiction, coming-of-age adventure, and philosophical exploration. Our conversation ranges from the double-edged sword of technology to cult psychology, the appeal of certainty in uncertain times, and the eternal tension between tradition and progress.

We also discuss why people follow charismatic leaders, whether society can ever put dangerous technologies "back in the box," and how science fiction allows us to ask difficult questions about the future before we are forced to live through the answers.

As usual, there are the Big Questions.

Books of his we discuss: The Calek's Tale trilogy

https://waynefaustauthor.com/

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What if the greatest threat posed by artificial intelligence isn't that machines become evil—but that they inherit humanity's flaws?

In this episode of Alternate Futures, I chat with Peter McAllister, engineer scientist turned technology manager , and author of The Code, a science fiction thriller that began as dystopian fiction and now feels uncomfortably close to current events. Drawing on decades of experience working at the intersection of technology, business, and people, Peter shares his thoughts on the promises and dangers of AI, automation, corporate decision-making, and humanity's tendency to embrace powerful technologies before fully understanding their consequences.

We discuss the AI boom, the disconnect between technology leaders and decision makers, the ethics of machine intelligence, and whether we may be creating the next intelligent species on Earth. We also explore nanotechnology, self-improving systems, unconscious bias in AI training, technological evolution, AI rights, and the possibility that our machine creations may one day judge us by the way we treated them.

Books of his we discuss: The Code: If your AI loses its mind, can it take meds?

https://www.petermcallisterauthor.com

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