Episodios

  • The Future is HOW – Best Of: HOW to Grow Your Future
    Jul 11 2025

    Today in The Future Is How: Frederik's Summer Best-of Special: "Growing Your Future"

    Welcome to a very special summer edition of The Future is How. Frederik wants to take you on a walk through a different kind of garden. This garden has rich soil made of powerful questions, strong trellises of trust, flowing channels of communication, and restorative greenhouses of rest. But it's also alive with the buzz of cross-pollinating bees, nourished by both sunshine and rain, enriched by compost that transforms challenges into growth, and tended by a community that understands how every element supports the whole.

    Over this past season of conversations, Frederik had the privilege of speaking with remarkable gardeners of the future - people who've mastered different aspects of this living ecosystem. Today, he shares their wisdom as we explore eleven essential elements in this garden of possibility.


    Today, we talk about:

    Welcome to the Garden - one small thing that could grow into something bigger

    The Soil of Questions - the richest soil is made up of the questions we ask

    The Trust Trellis - some plants need support to reach their full potential. In our garden, trust serves as the strongest trellis of all.

    The Communication Channels - the irrigation system that nourishes everything we're trying to grow.

    The Storytelling Sunshine - compelling narratives don't just entertain - they transform how we see ourselves and our possibilities.

    The Rest and Recovery Greenhouse - sleep and rest aren't empty spaces - they're specialized greenhouses where our most important growth actually happens.

    The Wellness Ecosystem - A thriving garden (and humans)requires attention to the health of the entire ecosystem.

    The Compost of Transformation - Personal transformation often requires composting old patterns to create rich soil for new growth.

    The Cross-Pollination Bees - cross-pollination between future thinking and design creates innovations we never could have imagined.

    The Connection Root Network - human connections create the invisible networks where our best futures can flourish.

    The Innovation & Inspiration Blooms – inspiration, an active force that transforms individuals and communities.

    The Beautiful Purpose That Blooms - beauty as the naturalexpression of purpose lived with intention.

    In this episode, we cover:

    Intro (03:14)

    The Soil of Questions The next big disruption will not be technological, but psychological." - MarcChampagne

    (06:47) The Trust Trellis "Kids are not luggage — they are human beings. The next generation doesn't need more control, they need more trust." - Esther Wojcicki

    (10:31) The Communication Channels "It's about connection, not perfection." - Matt Abrahams

    (14:13) The Storytelling Sunshine "Great storytelling is about making people feel." - Kalle Ryan

    (17:45) The Rest and Recovery Greenhouse "Quality vs. quantity: What matters most for unlocking better performance." - Dr. Els van der Helm

    (21:32) The Wellness Ecosystem "Destigmatizing mental health struggles through openness creates safety and trust." - Newton Cheng

    (25:25) The Compost of Transformation "Home is where I grow." - Angela Pferdt

    (29:22) The Cross-Pollination Bees "We need to develop a 'futurist' mindset and use our imagination to shape a better world." - Lisa Kay Solomon

    (32:53) The Connection Root Network "The surprising finding: connection's impact on longevity is stronger than almost any other factor." - Dr. Robert Waldinger

    (36:30) The Innovation & Inspiration Blooms "Inspiration is more than a feeling. It's an active force that fuels creativity, leadership and change." - Adam Galinsky

    (40:07) The Beautiful Purpose That Blooms "The future belongs to those who can create beauty in business and meaning in work." - Tim Leberecht

    (44:58) Your Future is HOW “HOW will you nourish your garden today? HOW will you plant seeds for tomorrow? HOW will you shape the future you want to see?” – Frederik Pferdt

    Music: Andreas Horchler

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    49 m
  • The Art of What Could Be | Francesco Ciccolella
    Jun 27 2025

    Today in The Future Is How: Francesco Ciccolella. His illustrations don’t just decorate the page– they challenge how we see the world. Francesco is a Vienna-based artist, illustrator, and designer whose work has appeared in The New York Times, The Guardian, The New Yorker, MIT Technology Review, and on the covers of books and ideas that have shaped our thinking. He also brought Frederik's ideas to life , through incredible sketches, including the one-line illustrations in Frederik's book What’s Next Is Now. Francesco's illustrations hold up a mirror to our culture–showing us not only what is, but what could be.

    Today, we talk about:

    • The Power of Visual Thinking

    • Making the complex visually accessible through empathy
    • The power of reduction
    Between the lines-Francesco´s book, a visual philosophy

    • Everyone Is an Artist (as long as we overcome our fears)

    • A well of inspiration—exploring world views and travelling


    Where to find Francesco Ciccolella:

    https://www.francescociccolella.com/

    Between The Lines The Book: https://www.francescociccolella.com/Between-The-Lines-Artist-s-Book

    Where to find Frederik G. Pferdt:
    NextLetter – ⁠https://www.frederikgpferdt.com/#nextletter⁠

    What's NextIs Now The Book: ⁠⁠https://www.whatsnextisnowthebook.com

    LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/fgpferdt/⁠⁠⁠
    YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/frederikgpferdt⁠⁠⁠
    Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/frederikgpferdt/⁠⁠⁠
    Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.frederikgpferdt.com/⁠⁠⁠

    In this episode, we cover:

    (00:00) Intro
    (03:13) Francesco's future bio: A space between words and images

    (05:45) Complexity in one image—empathy and the visual vocabulary
    (08:07) The viewer's shoes—a repertoire of different angles
    (09:01) Stripped to the essence—the Zen garden story and finding beauty in reduction
    (11:59) Creative challenges—quick pace and the flow mode
    (14:55) Between the lines—Francesco's book on dealing with mental health crises
    (17:34) Discovering the inner artist—it's about taking away the fear (or: there are no perfect lines)

    (21:03) A Mindstate Moment with Frederik
    (25:31) A three word-game-visual creativity from scratch

    (27:30) Finding inspiration—travelling, exploring world views, new paths

    (29:09) Provoking emotion—The illustrator's playbook


    Music: Andreas Horchler

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    32 m
  • How Trust Is The Future | Esther Wojcicki
    Jun 13 2025

    In this episode, we explore how trust shapes the future — in parenting, education, and leadership.

    Esther Wojcicki is known as "The godmother of Silicon Valley", a legendary educator, journalist, and author of How to Raise Successful People. She has taught thousands of students, raised three remarkable daughters (a CEO, a doctor, and a professor), and sparked a global movement with her TRICK philosophy: Trust, Respect, Independence, Collaboration, and Kindness.

    “Kids are not luggage — they are human beings,” Esther says. Her message is clear: the next generation doesn’t need more control, they need more trust.

    Together, we dive into:

    • Why respect and independence are key ingredients for raising changemakers

    • How 20% of time for personal projects (even in school!) unlocks creativity

    • What happens when we stop helicopter parenting — and start trusting

    • How TRICK can transform classrooms, companies, and even family dinners

    • Why children’s ideas might just change the world

    We also explore how TRICK applies not just to kids — but to how we lead, live, and even treat our parents.

    Plus: A “Mindstate Moment” to help you reflect and activate your own TRICK.


    Where to find Esther Wojcicki:

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heywoj/?hl=en


    Where to find Frederik G. Pferdt:
    NextLetter – ⁠https://www.frederikgpferdt.com/#nextletter⁠

    What'sNextIs Now The Book: ⁠⁠https://www.whatsnextisnowthebook.com

    LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/fgpferdt/⁠⁠⁠
    YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/frederikgpferdt⁠⁠⁠
    Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/frederikgpferdt/⁠⁠⁠
    Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.frederikgpferdt.com/⁠⁠⁠

    In this episode, we cover:

    (00:00) Intro
    (02:36) Esther's future bio: A world of respect and trust for children

    (05:53) A future with TRICK- Trust Respect Independence Collaboration Kindness
    (11:40) Balancing Structure and Freedom-Raising children today
    (15:07) Kid's shopping experience-building trust and independence
    (18:00) Kids are not luggage-what parents get wrong about children
    (19:51) Frederik on the road-let the kids do the travel planning
    (20:40) Worries and things we can do to shape our future

    (24:50) Belts for the homeless-how children's ideas help
    (26:36) Showing up for children with TRICK-empower education

    (29:53) A better school-play, take time, explore

    (33:09) In it together-Having patience, as kids and as parents

    (35:49) Lost kids-The Helicopter Parenting crisis

    (40:04) A Mindstate Moment with Frederik
    (42:47) TRICK for companies and leaders-mistakes and room for creativity

    (47:45) We are all children-what we can offer our parents through TRICK


    Music :Andreas Horchler


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    53 m
  • Time to Grow | Angela Pferdt
    Jun 2 2025

    In today’s episode of The Future is How, it's all about growth, from plants to the inner self. And we have a more than special guest: Angela Pferdt. Coming from a background in finance, today she is a Healing Artist, a Reiki Master, a Master Gardener, and she is Frederik's wife, in Frederik's words: one of his greatest teachers. Frederik and Angela spent decades together, building a home and raising three children. “Home is where I grow”, says Angela. This time The Future is How comes straight from Angela's and Frederik's home in the Santa Cruz Mountains, an exchange of experiences, thoughts, callings, insights, and more than that: their future, like a walk together we all can listen to.

    Today, we talk about:
    • The power of Reiki and how it helps to become more present

    • Plant based medicine and how psychedelics can help opening up and finding love and answers inside
    • Long standing myths on psychedelics
    • How gardening and personal growth are deeply interconnected

    • Finding patience and presence

    Where to find Angela Pferdt:
    ⁠https://www.santawoodz.com

    Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/santa_woodz/⁠⁠⁠

    Where to find Frederik G. Pferdt:
    NextLetter – ⁠https://www.frederikgpferdt.com/#nextletter⁠

    What's NextIs Now The Book: ⁠⁠https://www.whatsnextisnowthebook.com

    LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/fgpferdt/⁠⁠⁠
    YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/frederikgpferdt⁠⁠⁠
    Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/frederikgpferdt/⁠⁠⁠
    Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.frederikgpferdt.com/⁠⁠⁠


    In this episode, we cover:

    (00:00) Intro
    (02:57) Angela's future bio: Who Angela is becoming how she's building a future around Reiki, energy work and plant medicine, and becoming more present
    (05:50) Reiki and being present
    (07:17) How Reiki works
    (08:29) Angela's journey to Reiki
    (10:28) Energy & Healing & Well-being: Why people are coming to Angela's Reiki studio
    (13:05) The journey guide: Plant medicine and digging deeper solving crises
    (17:45) The integration phase: Life completely different, opening up, the answer inside, and love

    (20:53) Plant based medicine: Is it for me?
    (23:00) Time to grow: It begins in the soil

    (25:11) A Mindstate Moment with Frederik
    (28:14) Growth and Gardening: Nourishment, minds and communities

    (29:35) Psychedelic myths: Breaking addictions instead of creating addictions

    (32:06) It's not exclusively about trauma or seeing colors: Psychedelics can break patterns, accessing the unconscious

    (33:54) Patience and presence: How her children benefit from Angela's work

    (36:10) Words of encouragement: if you can imagine it, you can achieve it, if you can dream it, you can become it.



    Music: Andreas Horchler


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    39 m
  • How Asking Better Questions Unlocks Your Future | Marc Champagne
    May 16 2025

    In today’s episode of The Future is How, questions take center stage. Questions shape our futures much more than we believe in everyday life. Marc Champagne, author of “Personal Socrates” and podcast host of “Behind the Human” is a pioneer in mental fitness, who explores the practices of brilliant thinkers, visionaries, and high-impact performers. He trained thousands of professionals to gain clarity in momentsthat matter. The next big disruption, Marc believes, will not be technological, but psychological.


    In our conversation today, we talk about:
    • What if the future is more about asking the right questions than having answers
    • Navigating the between world of constant anxiousness
    • Being present, preparing for the future
    • The mental gym: Training your future-muscle
    • Career, calling and happiness
    • The right questions to ask yourself to shape your own future


    Where to find Marc Champagne:
    Website: ⁠https://www.mchampagne.com/
    Podcast: ⁠https://www.mchampagne.com/⁠
    LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-champagne-%F0%9F%A7%A0%F0%9F%92%AA-14767b17/
    YouTube:⁠https://www.youtube.com/@behindthehumanpodcast

    Where to find Frederik G. Pferdt:
    NextLetter – ⁠https://www.frederikgpferdt.com/#nextletter⁠

    What's Next Is Now The Book: ⁠⁠https://www.whatsnextisnowthebook.com

    LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/fgpferdt/⁠⁠⁠
    YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/frederikgpferdt⁠⁠⁠
    Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/frederikgpferdt/⁠⁠⁠
    Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.frederikgpferdt.com/⁠⁠⁠

    In this episode, we cover:
    (00:00) Intro
    (04:18) Marc´s future bio: A bridge from ancient wisdom to today´s challenges
    (07:15) More ease, more grace, more confidence: Navigating the anxious between-world
    (12:42) Being in the present, preparing for the future: What our minds need
    (15:29) The mental gym: The 30 second reset
    (20:24) Feeling alive: High performance beyond numbers
    (25:30) Career and calling: Happiness and meaning
    (27:28) The most powerful question: What am I pretending not to know?
    (31:55) What if it were possible: replacing doubt with optimism
    (34:24) Zen master lesson on ANT´s (Automatic Negative Thoughts): Are you certain?(36:39) A Mindstate Moment with Frederik
    (39:22) When you are stuck: What does your mind need most

    (41:30) Starting the day on your terms: Breathe


    Music: Andreas Horchler


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    45 m
  • How Words Whisper Into Our Tomorrow | Matt Abrahams
    May 2 2025

    In today’s episode of The Future is How, I explore the power of communication with Matt Abrahams—author, podcast host, communication coach, and lecturer in Strategic Communication at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business.
    Matt helps people become more confident and connected communicators, whether they’re on stage, in a meeting, or having a hard conversation with themselves.

    In our conversation today, we talk about the following topics:
    • Why asking the right questions is the Swiss army knife of communication
    • How improvisation can help us speak more authentically and adapt to change
    • The power of framing (and reframing) to influence thinking and outcomes
    • Why it’s about connection, not perfection
    • How rituals, self-talk, and reframing can help reduce public speaking anxiety
    • What it means to shape your future through the words you choose


    Where to find Matt Abrahams:
    • Website: ⁠https://mattabrahams.com⁠
    • Podcast: ⁠https://www.fastersmarter.io/⁠
    • Book: ⁠https://mattabrahams.com/books⁠
    • LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/abrahamsmatt/⁠
    • YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@ThinkFastTalkSmart


    Where to find Frederik G. Pferdt:
    • NextLetter – ⁠https://www.frederikgpferdt.com/#nextletter⁠

    • What's Next Is Now The Book: ⁠⁠https://www.whatsnextisnowthebook.com

    • LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/fgpferdt/⁠⁠⁠
    • YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/frederikgpferdt⁠⁠⁠
    • Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/frederikgpferdt/⁠⁠⁠
    • Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.frederikgpferdt.com/⁠⁠⁠


    In this episode, we cover:
    (00:00) Intro
    (02:12) Matt’s future bio: Contributing to a world of better understanding
    (04:54) Engagement is critical in communication
    (05:38) Sustained attention: the gold standard
    (06:28) Tools to foster engagement: physical, mental, linguistic
    (08:18) Why striving to be “right” can block real connection
    (09:54) The improvisation mindset
    (15:10) “Wrong name”: habits, improv games & communication skills
    (20:28) Heuristics and shortcuts—helpful but not enough
    (21:52) Why questions are your best communication tool
    (25:23) The power of framing and reframing
    (31:15) How language shapes the future we create
    (32:57) A Mindstate Moment with Frederik
    (38:02) Overcoming anxiety in public speaking with rituals and perspective
    (44:40) Self-talk and communicating with yourself


    Music: Andreas Horchler


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    49 m
  • The Future is HOW – Zukunftsgeist on the Road
    Apr 18 2025

    “Zukunftsgeist”—or Future Spirit—is not only the German title of Frederik’s book What’s Next Is Now. It became a living, breathing movement during his Zukunftsgeist Tour across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

    But this wasn’t your typical book tour.

    Instead of classical readings, Frederik invited people into a shared experience—to ignite their own future spirit. And it worked. The response was overwhelming: after each event, participants didn’t just ask for a signature—they leaned in, saying things like “I’m starting my future right now.”

    “I didn’t expect a book event to move me this deeply. It wasn’t just inspiring—it felt like a wake-up call from my future self.”

    “For the first time in a long time, I feel like I have permission to imagine a radically better future—and the tools to start today.”

    From intimate conversations to standing ovations, people across three countries wanted more than inspiration—they wanted transformation. And in this special episode of The Future is HOW, Frederik himself steps into the guest seat to share the stories, surprises, and soulful moments from this extraordinary journey.

    He’s interviewed by Andreas Horchler, the journalist, music composer behind the podcast theme, and producer of this very show. Recorded live in Frankfurt, they reflect on the power of presence, possibility, and what happens when optimism becomes contagious.

    In this episode:

    • 3:25 Future Bio: Frederik on leaving a legacy as an ambassador of possibility

    • 6:55 How to prepare body, mind, and spirit for a 19-city tour

    • 9:00 Voices from Frankfurt: What meeting Frederik meant to guests

    • 11:04 From moment to movement: Creating a new mindstate

    • 15:22 Charge the car, charge yourself: Finding strength on the road

    • 20:35 Staying fresh, curious, and open (yes, even with hotel snacks)

    • 21:55 Stories from the road—from 5am meditations to midnight rituals

    • 25:25 The Mindstate Moment

    • 32:12 Reflections on the first season of The Future is HOW

    • 34:27 No turning back—only forward


    • NextLetter – your 1:1 with your future

      A bi-weekly newsletter designed to help you meet your future—1 powerful question, 2 new perspectives, and 1 simple experiment to try. A pause. A spark. A next step.

    • Radikal Besser – Entfache den Zukunftsgeist, der in dir steckt!

      The German edition of What’s Next Is Now—a guide to activating your future spirit and living radically better.

    • What’s Next Is Now – the book

      Your future-ready mindstate to help you create what’s next—with tools, stories, and exercises.

    • The Future Is HOW – Podcast

      Explorations with creators, thinkers, and doers on how to shape the future from the inside out.

    • Are You Future Ready? Take the Test

      Discover how ready your inner world is to create what’s next.

    • Step Into What’s Next for You

      Whether you’re an individual or a team—start shaping your future today with Frederik’s keynotes, workshops, and transformative sessions.

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    37 m
  • How inspiration shapes our lives and drives our decisions | Adam Galinsky
    Mar 22 2025

    Inspiration is more than a feeling. Its´ an active force that fuels creativity, leadership and change. Today, Adam Galinsky joins me. Adam is an expert in Leadership, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Adam is a Professor of Leadership and Ethics at the Columbia Business School.

    Among his many publications, he co-authored "Friend and Foe", a book exploring the science behin collaboration and competition. His latest book is "Inspire-The Universal Path for Leading Yourself and Others". Here, Adam explores the science of inspiration, how to find it, to develop it, and to use it.

    In this episode, we talk about the origins and the power of inspiration.

    •The spark of inspiration-becoming more inspiring

    •Inspiration at the crossroads of creativity and usefulness

    •Inspiration? Listen to your children

    •Inspired travel

    •Wood and water: Natural inspiration

    •Variety helps

    •Different people, different times, different needs

    •Inspiration today, boredom tomorrow?

    •The Copenhagen lesson: Improvisation and embracing vulnerability

    •The mindstate moment by the ocean

    •The universal continuum: Vision Example Mentoring

    •The big picture energy: optimism counts

    •Inspiration is daily work

    •REIP: Reflect Emulate Intend Practice to become a more inspiring person tomorrow

    •Too much clam chowder? The power in making things more scarce

    •You can make things better: Look out for possibilities



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    48 m