
The New Abnormal
#TheNewAbnormal podcast (which has over 250,000 downloads) focuses on understanding today and anticipating the future. Discussing these subjects via the viewpoints of my guests has led to some fascinating conversations with activists, creatives, writers, philosophers, strategists, psychologists, lecturers, futurists, etc. Re: my bio, I'm a strategist, author and speaker. My 1st book went to No1 in the business charts, whilst my 2nd was shortlisted for the 'Business Book of the Year' Awards. (The podcast partners with The Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies, a global leader in applying futures studies to solve strategic challenges, helping clients to be #FuturesReady.) So, we hope you enjoy listening to the series - which was set up during the early days of Covid, and is divided into Series One [2020-21] Two [2022] Three [2023] Four [2024] and Five [2025]. All rights reserved. #TheNewAbnormal podcast series © Sean Pillot de Chenecey 2020. Please note that it's currently on hold, as I literally don’t have the time to record any episodes at the moment, but it’ll return in late summer...
The New Abnormal
Stephen Hayward 'Does it feel like you're an extra in Black Mirror?'
Series One
In this episode of The New Abnormal, I interviewed Stephen Hayward, an anthropologist and historian.
After completing his PhD at the Royal College of Art, he's worked as a consultant on a number of exhibitions, and has been published widely on design history and theory.
For nearly twenty years, he's been responsible for the critical context element of MA design programmes at Central Saint Martins.
In this podcast, we debate widespread attempts to write history in real time and indeed what the quotes and icons of the future may be, as society looks back to the pandemic.
Along the way, we cover surveillance capitalism, social capital, critical thinking, progress & modernity, tech time vs real time, and a range of contemporary media narratives.
We also discuss why Stephen would like to write an updated version of Camus' The Plague, and, of course, remind ourselves of Bowie in 'The Man Who Fell to Earth'.
So, while I'm dying my hair orange and watching multiple TV's, you can enjoy your coffee while listening!