171. Futures Building with Ilana Lipsett

The Opposite of Small Talk

The anticipation of turning the page of the calendar to a new year can also open our minds up to what our future, in this case 2025, can hold. Today’s guest, a professional futurist, encourages us to imagine our futures and not just for ourselves, but also for our communities. Ilana Lipsett, is a participatory futures design strategist, who has professionally worked with cities, real estate developers, international aid organizations, and creative communities around the globe in community engagement and development. Our conversation with Ilana included how to make imaging the future feel less abstract and more tangible, strategies we can incorporate in future building, and how looking towards possible futures can help with the stress and anxiety felt in the present.

For additional resources for this episode, please visit:

1 - Imaginable (lots of great techniques for futures thinking at a personal as well as collective level)

2 - Community as the difference between life and death

3 - Basics of nervous system regulation and futures thinking

Guest’s Website: Ilana Lipsett | Participatory & Regenerative Design | Futures Thinking

TALK BIG QUESTIONS

Use these prompts to have the opposite of small talk in real life.

• Were you aware of a futurist and what that entails prior to this episode?

• Have you struggled in the past to envision a 5-year or 10-year future plan for yourself?

• Following this episode do you think you’re more open to imaging potential futures? If so, what are some of the possibilities you come up with?

Work with Danielle: If you are ready to start working with a life coach or just want to learn more about the impact that coaching can have in your life, visit Danielle's website at www.daniellemccombs.com and schedule a complimentary exploratory session.

Work with Kristy: You can work with Kristy one-on-one or hire her to speak with your team to improve workplace communication. Visit Kristy’s website at www.kristyolinger.com and find her work journal at Work Journal — Kristy Olinger.