PBS is delving into the question – how can we become the great ancestors the future needs us to be? The public broadcaster is set to air A Brief History Of The Future, a new six-part non-fiction documentary series that explores how re-thinking tomorrow can bring long-term change.
Written and directed by Andrew Morgan and hosted by futurist Ari Wallach, the series, according to the description, “challenges the dystopian framework embraced by popular culture by offering a refreshing take on the future exploring potential solutions to our existential threats. The program invites viewers to imagine a world that is full of discovery, hope, and possibility – inspiring each of us to understand our power to shape the future that future generations need us to so they can flourish.”
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Weaving together history, science and storytelling, each episode follows those who are working to solve our greatest challenges. Those featured in the docuseries include French President Emmanuel Macron, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, sailor Dame Ellen MacArthur, musician Grimes, architect Bjarke Ingels, climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe, legendary soccer player Kylian Mbappé, and more.
A Brief History of the Future will premiere Wednesdays, April 3 -May 8, 2024, at 9 p.m. ET on PBS (check local listings), PBS.org and the PBS App.
The docuseries is produced by Zach Morgan of Untold, Kathryn Murdoch and Ari Wallach’s Futurific Studios, and executive produced by Drake’s Emmy-winning DreamCrew, along with philanthropist Wendy Schmidt, Kathryn Murdoch and Wallach.
Descriptions and premiere dates for each of the six episodes:
“Beyond the Now”
Wednesday, April 3, 2024
Join Ari Wallach on his journey to seek the individuals and ideas that can shape a better, more sustainable future for each generation to build upon.
“Chaos & Complexity”
Wednesday, April 10, 2024
Why are many of us feeling overwhelmed and afraid in this historically transformational moment in time? Ari Wallach explores how it offers unprecedented possibilities for new and needed futures we can create together.
“Once Upon a Time”
Wednesday, April 17, 2024
How do stories shape the boundaries of belief about what is possible? Ari Wallach dives into the fundamental role storytelling plays in our lives and their potential to unleash the power of human imagination and creativity moving forward.
“Human”
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Ari Wallach investigates the human ability to increase empathy and compassion, what values we are instilling into artificial intelligence technologies, and creating a better world for human life to flourish on this planet.
“Together”
Wednesday, May 1, 2024
Throughout history, humans’ unique capacity for cooperation has set us apart. Ari Wallach explores the internal changes we enact that have the potential to impact those around us, our broader communities, and societies.
“Tomorrows”
Wednesday, May 8, 2024 at 9:00 p.m. ET
Ari Wallach examines the ways we often see the concept of the future, the crucial need to think much, much bigger about what could come next, and how we all have more personal agency than we realize.
Join Ari Wallach on his journey to seek the individuals and ideas that can shape a better, more sustainable future for each generation to build upon.
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