184 episodes

Flash Forward is a show about possible (and not so possible) future scenarios. What would the warranty on a sex robot look like? How would diplomacy work if we couldn’t lie? Could there ever be a fecal transplant black market? (Complicated, it wouldn’t, and yes, respectively, in case you’re curious.) Hosted and produced by award winning science journalist Rose Eveleth, each episode combines audio drama and journalism to go deep on potential tomorrows, and uncovers what those futures might really be like. The future is going to be weird, so let's get ready for it together.

Flash Forward Rose Eveleth

    • Science
    • 4.7 • 1.5K Ratings

Flash Forward is a show about possible (and not so possible) future scenarios. What would the warranty on a sex robot look like? How would diplomacy work if we couldn’t lie? Could there ever be a fecal transplant black market? (Complicated, it wouldn’t, and yes, respectively, in case you’re curious.) Hosted and produced by award winning science journalist Rose Eveleth, each episode combines audio drama and journalism to go deep on potential tomorrows, and uncovers what those futures might really be like. The future is going to be weird, so let's get ready for it together.

    1. HOPE

    1. HOPE

    Welcome to the end of Flash Forward. This is the first episode in our three-part show finale! How do you have hope for the future?

    • 35 min
    2. PRECIPICE

    2. PRECIPICE

    Why does it always feel like we’re on the verge of something — great or terrible? And how do we resist the pull, the lull, and the stress of the void?

    • 39 min
    3. PUPATION

    3. PUPATION

    This is the very last episode of the show ever. And on it we tackle the big, BIG question: how do you change the world?

    • 28 min
    1. Welcome to Vanguard Estates

    1. Welcome to Vanguard Estates

    If you want to leave him there, go to episode 2: Stay at Vanguard.
    If you want to take your dad home, go to episode 3: Bring Him Home.

    Vanguard Estates is a production of Flash Forward. The story was written by me, Rose Eveleth; edited by Ace Tilton Radcliffe and Georgia Wyatt; and produced by Ozzy Llinas Goodman. The sound design is by Mischa Stanton and music is by Ilan Blanck. 
    The voice actors for Welcome to Vanguard Estates are:

    Marcus Jones -- Keith Houston


    Imani Jones -- Shara Kirby 

    Robot #1 -- Ashley Kellem


    Amy -- Chelsey B Coombs 

    Vanguard Estates Representative -- Aiya Islam 

    Missy -- Anjali Kunapaneni 

    Robot # 2 -- Brett Tubbs 

    NPR Host -- Sandhya Dirks 


    An earlier version of Vanguard Estates was originally performed live for Pop-Up Magazine. 
    You can also play through a web version of the story at flashforwardpod.com/vanguard, which features really cool illustrations by Mattie Lubchansky. 
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 8 min
    2. Stay at Vanguard

    2. Stay at Vanguard

    If you want to keep checking in on him with Drop In, go to episode 6: Use Drop-In.
    If you want to disable Drop In, go to episode 7: Disable Drop-In.

    Vanguard Estates is a production of Flash Forward. The story was written by me, Rose Eveleth; edited by Ace Tilton Radcliffe and Georgia Wyatt; and produced by Ozzy Llinas Goodman. The sound design is by Mischa Stanton and music is by Ilan Blanck. 
    The voice actors for Welcome to Vanguard Estates are:

    Marcus Jones -- Keith Houston


    Imani Jones -- Shara Kirby 

    Robot #1 -- Ashley Kellem


    Amy -- Chelsey B Coombs 

    Vanguard Estates Representative -- Aiya Islam 

    Missy -- Anjali Kunapaneni 

    Robot # 2 -- Brett Tubbs 

    NPR Host -- Sandhya Dirks 


    An earlier version of Vanguard Estates was originally performed live for Pop-Up Magazine. 
    You can also play through a web version of the story at flashforwardpod.com/vanguard, which features really cool illustrations by Mattie Lubchansky.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 3 min
    3. Bring Him Home

    3. Bring Him Home

    If you want to get in a home robot, go to episode 4: Buy A Home Robot.
    If you want to try to go without the robot, go to episode 5: Call Him More.

    Vanguard Estates is a production of Flash Forward. The story was written by me, Rose Eveleth; edited by Ace Tilton Radcliffe and Georgia Wyatt; and produced by Ozzy Llinas Goodman. The sound design is by Mischa Stanton and music is by Ilan Blanck. 
    The voice actors for Welcome to Vanguard Estates are:

    Marcus Jones -- Keith Houston


    Imani Jones -- Shara Kirby 

    Robot #1 -- Ashley Kellem


    Amy -- Chelsey B Coombs 

    Vanguard Estates Representative -- Aiya Islam 

    Missy -- Anjali Kunapaneni 

    Robot # 2 -- Brett Tubbs 

    NPR Host -- Sandhya Dirks 


    An earlier version of Vanguard Estates was originally performed live for Pop-Up Magazine. 
    You can also play through a web version of the story at flashforwardpod.com/vanguard, which features really cool illustrations by Mattie Lubchansky.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 3 min

Customer Reviews

4.7 out of 5
1.5K Ratings

1.5K Ratings

PR 3672 ,

Vanguard Estates

This is very thought provoking. Well worth the wait. I listened to them all and all endings make you think. Thank you!

VietSchlong ,

Bio-Leninist Affirmative Action

Typical race baiting, pro trans agenda pushers

Kevin Finn ,

Thought-provoking and at times frustrating futurism

I enjoy this exploration of possible futures and the author clearly invests a lot of time and energy to create a great show. I also find the approach frustratingly uneven at times - sometimes the author dives very deep on a narrow aspect of an issue, but leaves significant questions unexplored or unasked. Either way, consider my thoughts provoked.
From an editorial perspective - I've disliked most of the music used on this show, and I don't understand the ongoing focus on "seasons" of the show.

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