Austin Next

Can the stories we tell shape the future we build? Devon Eriksen, author of "Theft of Fire" and now Dragon Award finalist, argues that science fiction isn't just entertainment; it's a catalyst for innovation and human progress. Our narratives can be beautiful and optimistic, inspiring us to build, or ugly and pessimistic, causing us to stagnate. It's time to choose.

Episode Highlights:
  • Role of Science Fiction in Shaping the Future
  • Symbiotic Relationship Between Science Fiction, Engineering, and Innovation
  • Changing Landscape of Publishing and Distribution
  • Tensions and Connections Between the Media, Artists, and Entrepreneurs
  • Asteroid Mining and the Space Industrial Revolution   
  • What's Next?
    • "What's next is a choice. Humanity has a choice between sabotaging this new wave of innovation with the political process or benefiting from it and inheriting the stars."

Devon Eriksen: Website, X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram
Theft of Fire, Theft of Fire Audiobook Kickstarter

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Austin Next Links: Website, X/Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn
Ecosystem Metacognition Substack

What is Austin Next?

Austin is building the new tech, cultural, and intellectual stack. The region is a living laboratory to answer a single question: How do you build a global innovation superpower?

Host Jason Scharf dissects innovation from the individual to the ecosystem. From the soundstage to the data center to the fab, we decode the mechanics of Austin's innovation ecosystem.

As Atoms, Bits, and Intelligence converge, we explore how Hard Tech scale, digital velocity, and creative density collide. This is an audit of the future. We map the physics of the flywheel so builders and investors can navigate the chaos.