#224 | Predictions Of The Future From The Past

12/30/21 • 25 min

As a general rule, people are very bad at predicting the future.

In this episode, we'll take a look at some predictions of the future from the past, looking at what people thought our "today" would be like, the times they got it wrong, the times they got it eerily correct, and we'll also look at some predictions about what the future holds for future generations.

Why there was never a great need to "predict" the future until recently
A Roman born in 100BC being transported 1,000 years into their future
The prediction of Robert Malthus in 1798 about population
Paul Ehrlich's 1968 prediction: "The Population Bomb"
John Maynard Keynes's 1930 prediction about a reduced working week
Predictions from 1900 about what cities would look like: flying cars, roofs, driving ships
The Millennium Bug prediction
The man who could predict the future: Nikolas Tesla
Tesla predicting self-driving cars
Tesla predicting video calling
Tesla incorrectly predicting fashion choices
Tesla predicting an increasing expenditure on scientific discovery vs. war
Predictions today about our future: cancer, multi-planetary, metaverse
The terrible predictions top 3: computers, silent films & everything being invented

Full interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/predictions-of-future

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Keywords: Learn English, vocabulary, lessons, idioms, aprende inglés, idiomas, aprender inglês, apprendre l'anglais, imparare l’inglese, ingilizce öğren,英語を習う, تعلم الإنجليزية

As a general rule, people are very bad at predicting the future.

Why there was never a great need to "predict" the future until recently
A Roman born in 100BC being transported 1,000 years into their future
The prediction of Robert Malthus in 1798 about population
Paul Ehrlich's 1968 prediction: "The Population Bomb"
John Maynard Keynes's 1930 prediction about a reduced working week
Predictions from 1900 about what cities would look like: flying cars, roofs, driving ships
The Millennium Bug prediction
The man who could predict the future: Nikolas Tesla
Tesla predicting self-driving cars
Tesla predicting video calling
Tesla incorrectly predicting fashion choices
Tesla predicting an increasing expenditure on scientific discovery vs. war
Predictions today about our future: cancer, multi-planetary, metaverse
The terrible predictions top 3: computers, silent films & everything being invented

Full interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/predictions-of-future

---

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✨ 5 Powerful Tips for Learning English with Podcasts (Faster & Effectively!) [YouTube]

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Previous Episode

#222 | John Dillinger - American Bank Robber

He was the most famous bank robber in American history and is still thought of as a Robin Hood-type figure in popular culture.

Learn about how John Dillinger went from a quiet life to becoming America's Public Enemy Number One, and how the law finally caught up with him.

The early life of John Dillinger: a naughty but not inherently bad boy
Moving out of the city to stay out of trouble
Being arrested for car theft and joining the navy
Briefly getting his life back on track
Meeting Ed Singleton and planning his first robbery
The robbery that went wrong and subsequent arrest
Being advised badly and going to prison for 9 years
"I will be the meanest bastard you ever saw when I get out of here"
Learning how to rob banks while in prison
Being released from prison and returning to a life of crime
Being arrested again and then rescued by friends from prison
Going on the run and starting the bank-robbing spree
Being arrested (again) and breaking out of prison by making a fake gun
Being chased by the FBI
Making front-page news
Growing a moustache, dyeing his hair, then having plastic surgery
Being betrayed by Anna Sage
The final cinema trip of John Dillinger
The legacy of John Dillinger

Full interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/john-dillinger

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Next Episode

#226 | The Amazing Life Of Ray Charles

His early life was full of tragedy and misfortune, but Ray Charles never let this get in his way.

In this episode, we'll learn about how Ray Charles overcame adversity to become one of the most loved musicians in American history.

The early life of Ray Charles: born to a teenage mother in an institutionally racist country
Ray Charles: "Even compared to other blacks we were on the bottom of the ladder looking up at everyone else. Nothing below us except the ground"
The death of Ray Chales' younger brother
Going blind and being sent to a school for the blind
Learning to play the piano (while blind)
The death of his mother and moving to Jacksonville
Trying to make ends meet playing music
Copying the style of Nat King Cole
Deciding to move to Seattle
Making a name for himself in Seattle and meeting Quincy Jones
Getting his first record deal & "I Got A Woman"
Ray Charles' style: a combination of blues, jazz & gospel
Why Ray Charles was unpopular with many pastors
Ray Charles as an excellent businessman
Where his confidence comes from - “you’re blind, you ain’t stupid”
Battling his heroin addiction
Ray Charles and women
Later life and legacy