Send us a text

Most companies say they care about engagement — but decades of data show those engagement scores barely move. Meanwhile, burnout has become a global epidemic.

In this episode of FUTUREPROOF., we sit down with Mark C. Crowley, bestselling author of Lead from the Heart and the new book The Power of Employee Well-Being, to explore why the billion-dollar engagement industry has failed workers — and what science says actually drives performance.

Crowley argues that engagement is a symptom, not a cause — and that well-being, not busyness, is the real engine of productivity. He shares evidence-backed ways leaders can track and improve well-being, hold managers accountable for the human side of leadership, and create workplaces where people genuinely thrive.

We discuss:

• Why engagement surveys don’t work (and what to measure instead)
• How well-being directly impacts innovation and retention
• What post-pandemic workforces really want from leadership
• The neuroscience of motivation and connection at work
• How to lead with authenticity without losing authority

If you’ve ever wondered why “perks” don’t fix burnout, or what the next era of human-centered leadership looks like, this episode will make you rethink what it means to truly lead people.

Send us a text

What if luck isn’t random — but designed?

In this episode of FUTUREPROOF., we sit down with Judd Kessler, Wharton economist and author of Lucky by Design, to explore how hidden markets quietly decide who gets what — from job interviews and college spots to concert tickets, dating matches, and even organ transplants.

Kessler argues that what looks like “good fortune” is often the result of understanding — and leveraging — the invisible systems that govern access to opportunity. Whether it’s the algorithms behind dating apps, the psychology of lotteries and waitlists, or the structure of modern hiring, he reveals how we can all become more intentional “designers of luck.”

We discuss:

• How hidden markets shape everything from careers to healthcare
• Why “fairness” isn’t as equal as it looks — and how to spot the trade-offs
• The economics of lotteries, rankings, and “first come, first served” systems
• Why second choices sometimes lead to the best outcomes
• How behavioral design can make opportunity more equitable — or more rigged
• What it means to be “lucky by design” in an algorithmic world

Whether you’re a leader trying to create fairer systems, or an individual looking to navigate them more wisely, this episode reveals the unseen structures that quietly shape your chances — and how to work with them instead of against them.

Send us a text

Cars have long been sold as the ultimate symbol of freedom. But what if they’ve trapped us instead? In this episode of FUTUREPROOF., we sit down with Arthur Kay, urban designer and coauthor of Roadkill: Unveiling the True Cost of Our Toxic Relationship with Cars.

Kay argues that America’s car dependency is more than a climate issue—it’s a system of financial, political, and social control that burdens working and middle-class families, strains local economies, and limits real choice. Together, we explore:

• Why cars drive hidden costs in housing, taxes, and debt
• How car-centric cities hollow out communities and opportunities
• The global lessons America can learn from more walkable, resilient urban models
• A realistic blueprint for building cities that prioritize people, not vehicles

This conversation goes far beyond traffic jams and tailpipe emissions—it’s about the future of freedom, equity, and the way we design our lives.