The Futures Project Podcast cover art

The Futures Project Podcast

The Futures Project Podcast

Written by: Cathy Walker
Listen for free

About this listen

The future’s not what it used to be.


Welcome to The Futures Project Podcast. Join educator, futurist, writer, researcher and mum Cathy Walker as she invites guests to explore the world that awaits our young people.


Cathy has over 25 years’ of educational experience working with, and for the benefit of, young people and their families, listening actively, extracting learnings, identifying trends, validating experiences… and transforming this important information into programmes that enlighten, empower and enhance.


in each episode she welcomes expert guests from the worlds of education, sustainability, business, celebrity, media, and more. She explores what the future really looks like—for the next generation and for the rest of us. Expect real talk, fresh insight, and a reassuring take on the fast-changing world our young people are making their way in.


Because they are, after all, the ultimate futures project.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cathy Walker
Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Tracking 50,000 Teenagers: What We're Learning About Adolescent Mental Health
    Nov 3 2025

    Our guest this episode is Professor John Gallacher, professor of cognitive health at Oxford University and Director of BrainWaves, the UK's largest cohort study focused specifically on adolescent mental health.


    What makes this research remarkable isn't just its scale (30,000 16-year-olds, expanding to 50,000+ by 2026), but its fundamental approach: shifting from clinical intervention to population-level wellbeing.


    Key themes we explore:

    • Why BrainWaves focuses specifically on 16-year-olds and the vision for this lifetime study
    • The surprising parallel impact of social media use on both boys and girls
    • How the decisions we make in adolescence have lifetime consequences for our health and wealth futures
    • The straightforward equation: help everyone feel a bit better, and you reduce the proportion who need specialist help
    • Why presenting young people with evidence empowers them to make good choices
    • How BrainWaves is developing educational resources and teacher training
    • The multi-agency collaboration model that makes research at this scale possible
    • An important reminder: the vast majority of young people are not suffering from dire mental health issues


    John's belief that young people are agents, not passive victims, runs throughout our conversation. When given evidence rather than lectures, they make good choices.


    His advice for anyone worrying about the future? Love yourself.


    Find out more: brainwaveshub.org

    For more information about working with Cathy, visit cathywalkerconsulting.uk.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Show More Show Less
    36 mins
  • Applying to University : What Admissions Actually Look For (And How to Tailor Your Application)
    Oct 8 2025

    This time we're delighted to welcome Ishaaq Shafi, CEO and founder of ChatUniversity, who's using TikTok to revolutionise how young people approach university applications and super-curriculars.


    We talked about how he's making higher education access more democratic, what admissions tutors are actually looking for (spoiler: it's not always what you think), and why the traditional application process is crying out for disruption.


    Ishaaq shares the reality of navigating competitive applications processes, levelling the playing field, and how ChatUniversity is equipping students with genuine skills and confidence that can make a huge difference.


    Whether you're a prospective undergrduate navigating UCAS, an educator supporting young people through applications, parenting a teen who's starting to think about their future, or just interested in how the next generation is building the tools they need to navigate a rapidly changing world - this episode's for you.


    It's a conversation about access, equity, and what happens when someone decides the system needs shaking up - and then actually does something about it!


    To find out more about Chat University visit https://chatuniversity.co.uk/

    Ishaaq is also on Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chatuniversity


    And as ever, if you'd like to learn more about Cathy's work, you can reach her here or visit cathywalkerconsulting.uk.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Show More Show Less
    33 mins
  • Money, Mindset and Financial Education
    Sep 3 2025

    This episode, Cathy chats to Abigail Foster, Chartered Accountant and founder of Elent Finance, who's on a mission to demystify money for the next generation.


    Having worked with the Bank of England, HMRC, and Downing Street, plus global giants like Google and Goldman Sachs, Abigail brings serious credentials to her passion for financial education.


    In this episode, we explore what financial literacy really means for young people growing up in an uncertain economic landscape. Abigail shares insights from her new book "The Money Manual" and discusses why she believes we're failing our children when it comes to money education. From tax codes to first-time buying, ISAs to pensions, we cover the practical knowledge that should be taught in schools but isn't.


    We also look ahead: How will AI and technology reshape personal finance? What financial challenges will define the next generation? And if Abigail could redesign the UK's financial system from scratch, what would she change?


    Expect real talk about money anxiety, practical takeaways for parents and educators, and a reassuring take on helping people of all ages build financial confidence for whatever future awaits them.


    You can follow Abi on instagram here on LinkedIn here and you can buy her book, The Money Manual, here.


    And for more information about Cathy or The Futures Project Podcast, click here


    And, as ever, thank you for listening! If you have enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe and share 🙏✨


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Show More Show Less
    36 mins
No reviews yet