{"podcast":{"title":"Modem Futura","slug":"modem-futura-7035675","podcast_index_feed_id":7035675,"rss_url":"https://feeds.simplecast.com/3frRI0HN","website_url":"https://www.modemfutura.com","image_url":"https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/169edcc0-5263-448a-8854-8a95ee4ac52a/73f6a163-91f1-4370-9c73-9897d267cdb8/3000x3000/modem_futura_cover_v3.jpg?aid=rss_feed","author":"Sean Leahy, PhD","episode_count":98,"summary":"Modem Futura is your weekly guide to the future of science, technology, and society—where futures and foresight meets real-world impact. Hosts Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard—educators, futurists, and public scholars—dive into the breakthroughs and big questions shaping tomorrow: AI ethics, space exploration, climate tech, bio-engineering, digital media, STEM education, and the shifting future of work. In candid, banter-filled conversations with innovators, scholars, and storytellers, they unpack how emerging technologies influence human values, creativity, and culture—and what these trends mean for you today. Whether you’re curious about quantum computing, electric air taxis, or the sociology of robots, Modem Futura connects cutting-edge research with the narratives that drive innovation. Join us each week to explore possible, probable, and preferred futures, and discover practical insights for navigating an increasingly tech-driven world. Follow and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and be part of the conversation exploring what it will mean to be human in the future!","last_synced_at":"2026-07-25T08:19:54.878351+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/modem-futura-7035675"},"episode":{"title":"Synthetic Cells, Mirror Life, and the Future of Engineered Biology — with Emma Frow","slug":"synthetic-cells-mirror-life-and-the-future-of-engineered-biology-with-emma-frow","published_at":"2026-06-09T08:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/modem-futura-7035675/synthetic-cells-mirror-life-and-the-future-of-engineered-biology-with-emma-frow","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/modem-futura-7035675","url":"https://www.modemfutura.com","audio_url":"https://cdn.simplecast.com/media/audio/transcoded/fca32cee-ef4c-4b50-82e5-4c768318a8c1/018f87c3-4d42-4bc0-9d66-53873b51ec68/episodes/audio/group/fa295d92-b7d0-4ac9-b92f-236a5a915d51/group-item/cc89fbfa-6097-487b-a145-e8771676102c/128_default_tc.mp3?aid=rss_feed&feed=3frRI0HN","summary":"Synthetic biologist and governance researcher Emma Frow joins Modem Futura to explore what \"synthetic cells\" really are — from simple chemical bubbles to the unsettling prospect of self-replicating \"mirror life\" — and why the future of engineered biology depends less on what we can build than on the care with which we ask whether we should.","meta_description":"Synthetic biologist and governance researcher Emma Frow joins Modem Futura to explore what \"synthetic cells\" really are — from simple chemical bubbles to…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":3406,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/modem-futura-7035675/episodes/synthetic-cells-mirror-life-and-the-future-of-engineered-biology-with-emma-frow/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/modem-futura-7035675/synthetic-cells-mirror-life-and-the-future-of-engineered-biology-with-emma-frow.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}