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Alternate Futures

Edwin Rydberg
Science Fiction
Artificial Intelligence
Writing
Kickstarter
Austin, Texas
Becoming Glitch
Self-Publishing
The Gunn Files
Conspiracy Theories
Ethics In Superhero Stories
Indie Publishing
Post-Civil War Era
Technology
Creative Writing
Aliens
Superhero Genre
Shattered Time
U.S. Elections
Supernatural Elements
Dystopian Literature

Alternate Futures is a podcast where speculative fiction meets real-world change. Join host Edwin H. Rydberg in deep-dive conversations with science fiction authors, futurists, and creative minds as they explore storytelling, emerging technologies, and humanity’s ever-shifting path forward. For writers, sci-fi enthusiasts, and future-curious thinkers alike.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes84Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Science FictionFiction

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Artwork for Alternate Futures

Latest Episodes

Indie sci-fi collective Darkly Lem — five authors writing under one unified pseudonym — discuss their Transmentation series and the broader Many Worlds shared-universe project. They outline a consequence-driven multiverse of interdimensional societie... more

Retired Royal Australian Air Force wing commander John R. Carlos talks with me about his debut novel Cryonic Dreams: Awakening and the real-world experiences that shaped its themes of control, surveillance, and ethical clarity. John shares insights f... more

Narrative Designer and video game developer Eira A Ekre joins me as we explore the deeper layers of narrative design, the immersive power of video games, and the growing role of machines in shaping how we think, create, and live. Our conversation abo... more

Applied science fiction collaborator and zoefuturism writer Stephen Oram joins me to explore how policy, technology, and evolving culture shape the futures we imagine. We chat about his work as a former UK Department for Education policy lead, and th... more

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Recent Guests

John R. Carlos
Speculative fiction author and former Royal Australian Air Force officer
Self-published author (Cryonic Dreams series)
Episode: 83. Cryonics, Geopolitics, and the Future of Humanity, with John R. Carlos
Eira A. Ekre
Swedish writer and narrative designer
Might and Delight
Episode: 82. Who Controls the Narrative—Us or Machines? with Eira A Ekre
Stephen Oram
Author, proponent of Zoe Futurism and applied science fiction
Author; Zoe Futurism advocate
Episode: 81. Zoefuturism, Symbiotic Worlds, and Applied Science Fiction with Stephen Oram
David Polfeldt
Swedish multidisciplinary creative and founder of Lil Factory
Lil Factory
Episode: 80. Visionary Publishing, Sentient Machines, and Interdimensional Mysteries with David Polfeldt
Alistair Conwell
Freelance writer with postgraduate degrees in psychology and business communication, born in India and raised in Australia.
Episode: 79. Subconscious Secrets, Power Dynamics, and Spiritual Sound, with Alistair Conwell
Gareth Morgan
A former police officer and current academic and author
Academia and Author
Episode: 78. Diversity in Policing, Tech Encroachment, and Societal Shifts, with GS Morgan
DL Young
David is a Pushcart Prize nominee and winner of the Independent Press Award.
Episode: 76. Interstellar Intrigue, AI Overlords, and Space Operas, with DL Young
Michael Bianco
A writer and engineer with a passion for speculative fiction and thriller genres.
Agritech Insights
Episode: 75. Global Thrills and Ancient Mysteries with Michael Bianco
Paul Yantus
Technology entrepreneur turned science fiction author
Episode: 74. Black Holes, Back Surgery, and Bestsellers with Paul Yantus

Host

Edwin Rydberg
Host of Alternate Futures

Chart Rankings

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

83. Cryonics, Geopolitics, and the Future of Humanity, with John R. Carlos
Q: How long did it take you to put together the story then? And when did you decide you were going to publish it?
He explains the process of developing Cryonic Dreams through mind maps, a three-stage drafting approach, and eventually splitting the work into a trilogy with a hybrid publishing path and ongoing world-building materials on his website.
83. Cryonics, Geopolitics, and the Future of Humanity, with John R. Carlos
Q: But you've got a 42-year career serving in a lot of places. How did you go into that direction, and what's some of the most interesting places you've visited?
The guest describes a long military career in administration and logistics, deployments in the Middle East and Sudan, and how those experiences informed his writing and worldview.
81. Zoefuturism, Symbiotic Worlds, and Applied Science Fiction with Stephen Oram
Q: Do you think machine intelligence might be the future for our world?
The guest argues machines won't simply take over; instead, a cooperative human-machine future is more likely, with intelligent systems handling complex tasks while humans steer direction and purpose.
78. Diversity in Policing, Tech Encroachment, and Societal Shifts, with GS Morgan
Q: What do you think about the ongoing corporate and government relations?
There's a significant concern around the intertwining of corporate power and government, which can lead to manipulation and control of public opinion.
78. Diversity in Policing, Tech Encroachment, and Societal Shifts, with GS Morgan
Q: What future do you see for the average person in that world?
The portrayal suggests they may become semi-mindless drones enthralled to technology, indicating a slow loss of humanity and the encroachment of technological augmentation.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Alternate Futures

What is Alternate Futures about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on speculative fiction, technology, and society, featuring conversations with authors and thinkers who blend imaginative storytelling with real-world trends. Episodes frequently explore AI, future geopolitics, publishing in the AI era, and how narrative design and science fiction can illuminate ethical questions about technology, culture, and humanity. A standout pattern is the mix of deep-dive writer interviews—often tied to current tech themes or policy implications—and discussions about publishing, education, and the evolving landscape for indie and design-led storytelling. Listeners may appreciate thoughtful takes on where tech and culture are headed, grounded in practical insights from authors who straddle creative cr... more

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These podcasts share a similar audience with Alternate Futures:

1. The Daily

How many episodes of Alternate Futures are there?

Alternate Futures launched 5 years ago and published 84 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Alternate Futures?

Recent guests on Alternate Futures include:

1. John R. Carlos
2. Eira A. Ekre
3. Stephen Oram
4. David Polfeldt
5. Alistair Conwell
6. Gareth Morgan
7. DL Young
8. Michael Bianco

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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