The Future Lab with Lee Schneider

Join host Lee Schneider for an insightful discussion with poet, author, and library professional Sofía Aguilar as she she shares her journey through both indie and traditional publishing. She offers a candid look at the barriers in publishing and the importance of creating accessible literary communities. Whether you're interested in publishing pathways, library advocacy, or building inclusive literary spaces, this conversation offers valuable insights from someone working at the intersection of writing, community organizing, and information science.

Topics include: indie vs. traditional publishing, library resources, book challenges, literary festivals, the writing process, and the current state o...

In this conversation, host Lee Schneider explores the intersection of nature, storytelling, and climate change with Julie Carrick Dalton, author of The Last Beekeeper, and the upcoming novel The Forest Becomes Her.

Our discussion digs into how nature functions as a character in her work, the delicate balance between hope and realism when writing about catastrophic futures, and why she believes storytelling can inspire environmental action. Dalton shares her perspective on the importance of reconnecting with survival skills and food sources, while exploring how communities might adapt to a climate-changed world ten years after a major ecological...

In this conversation with Lee Schneider, Pat Walker discusses the importance of bookstores as community hubs and places of cultural culture.

Drawing from his experiences as a bookseller in Vroman's Bookstore in Pasadena, CA, Pat believes that the genre of science fiction/fantasy is more popular than it has been in the past. He's also a big fan of the classics.

Patrick has been at Vroman's long enough to witness a remarkable transformation: teenagers who first wandered through the bookstore doors years ago now return as adults, bringing their own children with them. These customers...

Richie Billing made a bold leap from a legal career to become an acclaimed fantasy writer and teacher. What makes his story inspiring? His unwavering commitment to empowering fellow writers. Richie is the author of Pariah’s Lament. His latest book is Together We Rise. Lee Schneider and Richie discuss the structure of Together We Rise, why the fight scenes were so realistic, and Richie’s deeper motivations for writing it. Richie gives excellent writing tips for anyone who wants to get started on their fantasy novel.

As the host of The Fantasy Writers’ Toolshed podcast and author...

As a kid, Carrie Firestone worried about poverty, environmental destruction, and war. But rather than letting that anxiety overwhelm her, she transformed it into something powerful action through teaching, storytelling, and civic engagement. Now, as a writer and community leader in Connecticut, she’s channeling that same energy into inspiring the next generation.   

Her novel The First Rule of Climate Club tackles the environmental challenges that young people face. Issues like food waste at school, idling cars in pickup lanes, fast fashion consumption, social exclusion, and leaders who won’t listen to fresh ideas. But Carrie’s...

In this conversation, Todd Medema discusses his debut novel HOW TO SURF A HURRICANE, exploring with host Lee Schneider the techniques of writing a solarpunk thriller and the role technology might have in addressing climate change. Todd emphasizes the importance of hope and human resilience in solarpunk narratives, contrasting this approach with the often dystopian views prevalent in other science fiction genres. The discussion also delves into the current state of science fiction writing and publishing.

Visit Todd's author website and check out the wiki with details about the characters and story. Learn more about his Solarpunk...

Step into the vibrant world of independent bookselling with this captivating episode of Future Lab. Host Lee Schneider sits down with Joey Puente, the passionate sci-fi and fantasy specialist at Diesel bookstore in Los Angeles' Brentwood neighborhood. With an impressive 20-year tenure at Diesel, Joey brings unparalleled expertise in connecting readers with their perfect next read.

This conversation explores the evolving landscape of science fiction and fantasy publishing, from the current "romantasy" boom driven by BookTok to the emergence of queer voices reshaping genre fiction. Joey shares insights into trending subgenres like LitRPG, how the shift from...

In today’s episode, host Lee Schneider sits down with Eiren Caffall, musician and author of the powerful climate fiction novel All the Water in the World.

Set in a flooded future New York City, Caffall’s debut novel tells an intimate family survival story that cuts through the overwhelming scope of climate catastrophe by focusing on how we protect each other when everything falls apart. Rather than relying on apocalyptic set pieces, she crafts what she calls a “bedtime story”—a hopeful narrative about resilience, community, and the human capacity to rebuild.

Join host Lee Schneider in this fascinating conversation about writing and activism as Aya De León discusses her unique approach to writing climate fiction, working in the genre of feminist heist novels. She emphasizes the importance of storytelling in addressing social justice issues, including climate change and racism, while also sharing insights into her writing process and productivity. De León advocates for empowering young readers and highlights the role of activism in her work. She also reflects on the current state of the literary industry and offers valuable advice for aspiring writers.

Aya shares candid in...

Join Lee Schneider as he speaks with debut author R.E. Kurz, whose fascinating journey into published paranormal fantasy is as twisty as her plot lines in her debut novel THE FALL OF LINDA WATERS. Discover how studies in biology and medieval studies shaped a story filled with nature spirits, realistic teenage drama, and a romance that doesn't shy away from the messy realities of growing up.

Whether you're a writer, a fantasy fan, or just curious about how medieval literature might influence modern storytelling, this conversation will leave you inspired to listen to your own creative...

In this conversation, Lee Schneider and Robin Sloan explore the joys of making things, the intersection of technology and creativity, and the evolving landscape of storytelling. They discuss the importance of kindness in fiction, the challenges posed by AI, and the value of offline creativity. Robin shares insights on his writing process, the significance of note-taking, and his reflections on the state of science fiction and fantasy today. Subscribe to Robin's newsletter on his website. 

Creators & Guests

Eleanor Keisman discusses her journey from writing a short story to creating her novella New Animal, exploring the themes of human-animal interaction and communication, climate change, and how non-human animals see the world we share with them.

We talk about the challenges of writing animal protagonists and the long shadow cast by American author Jack London in writing about the natural world. Keisman emphasizes the need for hope in storytelling and offers advice for aspiring writers navigating the publishing landscape.

Check out her blog on Substack: https://eleanorkeisman.substack.com

...

Sue Toth is a book editor and coach who specializes in romance, mystery, and thrillers. She keeps writers inspired, helps them work through writers' block, and helps their books be born into the world. 

I asked Sue about the special challenges of writing climate fiction, and she offered to have a conversation on the show about how her developmental editing work with thrillers could apply to climate fiction. 

Creators & Guests

Tory Stephens works at Grist Magazine as their climate fiction creative manager and uses storytelling to champion climate justice, and imagine green, clean, and just futures. He's going to tell us about a climate fiction contest, called Imagine 2200, that he says changed him and challenged him on a personal level. 

It also inspired thousands of writers to explore what it would be like to write hopeful fiction about the future.

Find out more about Imagine 2200.

Creators & Guests

The Future Lab tells the stories that shape the future. It’s where thriller, science fiction, climate fiction, and fantasy authors discuss how we shape the future with the stories we tell today.

If the interview coming up with Matt Gemmell has a theme, I’d say it is, when writing long-form fiction, don’t follow templates. Instead let intention guide you. 

Matt is the author of four books of fiction, including the popular KESTREL techo-thriller trilogy. He has also published four nonfiction books, and six collections of short stories about the supernatural. He’ll send you...

Welcome to the Future Lab with me, Lee Schneider.  This is the trailer before the trailer, the advance word, the beginning of the beginning, just tapping the mic to be sure everything works.  I'm excited about what we're going to be doing in this space, and I just had to tell you about it. 

Creators & Guests

Rachel Allen is the owner of Bolt from the Blue Copywriting. She describes her work as mixing the neuroscience of communication with the art of great writing to help businesses take the cap off their income, impact and influence. We’re going to talk about publishing your book and who you’ll need on your team to succeed at it.

Timestamps

[00:01:14] Skills in book editing.
[00:04:23] Consistency in longer form writing.
[00:07:09] Struggles of first-time authors.
[00:09:43] Importance of cover design.
[00:13:19] Self-publishing vs. traditional publishing.
[00:16:33] Enhancing chances of traditional publishing.
[00:20:03] Advising on genr...

JV Hilliard is the author of the multi-book Warminster Saga. Here's how he often introduces himself. 

“Born of steel, fire and black wind, J.V. Hilliard was raised as a highlander in the foothills of a once-great mountain chain on the confluence of the three mighty rivers that forged his realm’s wealth and power for generations. His father, a peasant twerg, toiled away in industries of honest labor and instilled in him a work ethic that would shape his destiny. His mother, a local healer, cared for his elders and his warrior uncle, who helped to raise...

In today’s episode, you’ll meet Karen Gershowitz, author ofTravel Mania: Stories of Wanderlust. 

In pursuit of a passion for travel, Karen has lost and gained friends and made a radical career change. She has visited remote areas of Indonesia on her own, and became a translator, though only fluent in English. We’ll hear about some of her memories with people she met around the world. 

When Karen started promoting her book, she had a few hundred Facebook friends and about 500 LinkedIn connections. Now, those numbers are in the thousands. She’ll tell us how she...

In today’s episode, you’ll meet Rod Faulkner, self-professed Blerd, (Black nerd) founder of The7thMatrix and host of EYE ON SCI-Fi Podcast. He’s a lifelong lover of science fiction and fantasy. 

Rod shares his enthusiasm for short-form science-fiction films. We discussed how a short-form film, with its time limitations, can be an exercise in creative constraints. 

The most unique and original science fiction and fantasy narratives, in my opinion, are being told by independent film makers in the short film space. I'm attracted to that medium is because they only have a few minu...

Brian Freeman discusses Creatorland, a professional networking platform designed for content creators in the 100 billion dollar creator economy. He explains that the platform was developed to address some of the drawbacks of LinkedIn for content creators that include a lack of focus on content creation. Freeman shared that his company started by interviewing creators early on in the development process, building direct relationships with them, and using their feedback to refine the platform. Creatorland’s early success came from focusing on opportunity, discovery, education, learning, and networking with peers.

Get info at https://creatorland.com.

Ex...

In this episode of the FutureX Podcast, host Lee Schneider interviews JJ Ramberg, co-creator of Goodpods, a platform designed to help podcast listeners discover new content and share recommendations with their friends. Ramberg and her brother Ken founded the platform to address the discovery problem in podcasting, where there is so much great content but few effective ways to find it. Goodpods aims to amplify word-of-mouth podcasting and connect producers with new audiences through user-generated content and community-driven promotion. The episode also touches on the importance of understanding your audience and seeking feedback when building a new platform or...

In today’s episode, you’ll meet Dr. Robert Eschmann, a writer, scholar, filmmaker, and educator from Chicago. He is an Associate Professor of Social Work and a member of the Data Science Institute at Columbia University, as well as a Faculty Associate at Harvard’s Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society. His new book, *When the Hood Comes Off: Racism and Resistance in the Digital Age* is a comprehensive study of how racism manifests online and it highlights the antiracist tactics rising to oppose racism.

Creators & Guests

In today’s episode, you’ll meet Laura Hartley, founder of an online school for change makers called Public Love Enterprises. She teaches people how to detox from capitalism, patriarchy, and supremacy culture. Her intention is to empower changemakers, activists, and entrepreneurs to radically reimagine the world, creating the conditions for social healing, collective thriving, and liberation.

Creators & Guests

Danielle Desir Corbett is an author, podcaster & podcast marketing coach. She hosts two podcasts,  Women of Color Podcasters and The Thought Card Podcast. She publishes Grants for Creators on Substack. And she’s the mother of a one year old child. And I’ve probably left something out!

We’re going to talk about how to manage multiple projects, and in keeping with the theme of this podcast, we’ll talk about how to build community for your projects — in Danielle’s case, building community around many projects. Closed-captioned video available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/x6Q92otB2gI

In today’s episode, you’ll meet Piet Terheyden, Co-Founder & CEO of Literal. Literal — the url is literal.club — is a platform to share books recommendations and reviews. Piet is also the creator & curator of Minimal Gallery, an online gallery showcasing the best web design. The gallery started as a way for him to save website designs that inspired him. He has a deep background in front end development and web design. 

Creators & Guests

In today’s episode, you’ll meet Alexandria Noel Butler, known as Lexi B. She is one of Silicon Valley’s most candid and prominent voices. In April 2017, Lexi B founded Sista Circle: Black Women in Tech, a community that supports Black women in tech companies and tech related professions. Sista Circle has partnered with organizations such as Phenomenally, Instagram, Youtube, Linkedin and Slack. 

We’re going to talk about building communities, checking privilege that involves race, gender, and knowledge, and why social change requires inner work. 

Creators & Guests

This week on the FutureX Podcast, you’ll meet Matt Gemmell, a writer of thriller, horror, and suspense novels. He lives in Edinburgh, Scotland with his wife Lauren, their son Calum, and a labradoodle named Whisky. Matt first tried his hand at writing stories when he was in his early teens. Writing had to wait for a while as he got a degree in Computing Science and then had a successful career as a software engineer for Apple and other companies. He also released software of his own. 

When it was time to try novel-writing again, Matt sta...

In today’s episode, you’ll meet Bernice Chao, an award-winning creative director, author, and public speaker. She is a co-founder of Asians in Advertising, a community with five thousand global members that strives to create opportunities for Asians in the advertising world and helps elevate Asians to higher leadership positions. Bernice is an adjunct marketing professor at LMU and the curator of TEDxCulverCity. In 2023, she was named Working Mother of the Year by an organization called She Runs It. In 2022 she was inducted into the American Advertising Federation Hall of Achievement
 
We talk about building community and r...

In today’s episode, you’ll meet Dr. Shaun M. Anderson, author of The Black Athlete Revolt: The Sport Justice Movement in the Age of BlackLivesMatter. It examines athlete activism before and after the BLM movement. Dr. Anderson is an award-winning professor at Loyola Marymount University. As a scholar, he examines how sport has influenced business, politics, and society. He is also the founder of CSR Global Consulting, which assists organizations with their social responsibility initiatives.

We talk about the role of Black athletes as social change agents and what it will take to bring a systemic chan...

Ever Gonzalez, a self-described filthy capitalist with a hippie heart. Ever is the Founder of OutlierHQ, a media and events company. He hosts the popular Outlier On Air podcast and runs Founders Weekend and the Outlier Podcast Festival. Ever has been pivoting his events from pandemic-times online events back to in-person events. 

He has a micro-event plan for you that makes that pivot easier for you. You’ll hear what you’ll get out of hosting a micro-event and also what you’ll get as a guest at one. You'll get a sense of the value of small...

We all consume media entertainment. How does that entertainment shape our perceptions of women and people of color?  In today's episode, you'll meet Dr. Nicole Haggard, who is an award-winning instructor, speaker, and published researcher with 16 years of study about the intersection of race and gender in American culture. In 2018, Nicole co-founded the Center for Intersectional Media and Entertainment — CIME — an organization dedicated to advancing representation.

CIME’s primary goal is to transform our collective relationship to the stories we are all watching. In conversation with Lee Schneider, Dr. Haggard discusses the data behind CIME’s ideas, how it us...