Insights · May 28th, 2025
“At some point, we stopped dreaming. Not because we don’t care—but because we’re afraid to hope.” In this episode of the podcast Sense Making Conversations, Andrea Sampson is joined by futurist, author and Hope Engineer Nikolas Badminton for a conversation that reclaims something we’ve quietly abandoned: the belief that the future can be better—and that we have a role in building it.
Together, they unpack the silent weight of apathy, the exhaustion of cynicism, and the seductive illusion that motion equals progress—when in fact, what we need is direction. We break down a number of areas:
- Why “hope is not a strategy” misses the point—and what we lose when we believe it
- How hype cycles have replaced vision—and what it takes to dream responsibly
- The rise of the Hope Engineer—and how to become one in your life, your work, and your culture
This is not a feel-good conversation. It’s a courageous one. About what it means to lead in times of collapse, and how we find the strength to begin again. If you’ve stopped picturing the futures that excite you, this episode will remind you: we don’t wait for hope. We build it.
About Nikolas Badminton
Nikolas Badminton is the Chief Futurist & Hope Engineer at futurist.com. He’s a world-renowned futurist speaker, consultant, author, media producer, and executive advisor that has spoken to, and worked with, over 300 of the world’s most impactful organizations and governments.
He helps shape the visions that shape impactful organizations, trillion-dollar companies, progressive governments, and 800+ billion dollar investment funds.
Nikolas Badminton’s book Facing Our Futures: How Foresight, Futures Design and Strategy Creates Prosperity and Growth has been selected for 2023 J.P. Morgan Summer Reading List, and featured as the ‘Next Gen Pick’ to inform the next generation of thinkers that lead us into our futures.
Nikolas is currently writing his next book that provides guidance on applying hope theory with futures exploration
Please contact futurist speaker and consultant Nikolas Badminton to discuss your engagement.
