Where you choose to live and work isn’t just about geography, it’s about your trajectory.
The landscape of opportunity is shifting right beneath our feet. It’s important to use strategic foresight to position yourself, your family and your company for an extraordinary future.
Today’s guest is Bradley Schurman, a demographic expert and co-creator of the Geography of Prosperity Index. He’s developed a rigorous new framework for understanding which communities are thriving, which are being left behind, and why it matters for all of us.
In this episode, we explore the 5 hidden forces that are quietly reshaping our cities, our businesses, and our everyday lives.
“I can tell you unequivocally that your zip code is the greatest predictor of your success in life” — Bradley Schurman
In This Episode, You Will Learn
- How to use the five dimensions of the Geography of Prosperity index as a diagnostic tool for your future.
- Why your zip code is unequivocally the greatest predictor of your financial success, health, and wellbeing.
- The crucial difference between looking at lagging economic indicators and practicing true, actionable foresight.
- How the global decline in population renewal and birth rates will force businesses to drastically rethink talent retention.
- Why AI is not going to take your job, but will instead eliminate redundant administrative tasks so you can focus on high level knowledge work.
- Plus much more…
What We Discuss:
- 0:00:00 – Episode Opener and Introduction to the Podcast – Bradley Schurman
- 0:01:04 – Welcome and Invitation to Connect
- 0:01:42 – What Is the Prosperity Index
- 0:03:50 – COVID Changed Cities
- 0:05:23 – Office to Housing Conversions
- 0:07:10 – Foresight Over Economics
- 0:07:58 – Climate Risk and Insurance Shock
- 0:10:13 – Five Metrics Explained
- 0:10:26 – Population Renewal Crisis
- 0:12:53 – Climate and Social Cohesion
- 0:13:51 – Automation and Knowledge Cities
- 0:18:49 – Governance and City Size
- 0:20:56 – Top Performing Smaller Cities
- 0:23:07 – Balanced Cities and Growth Strain
- 0:26:08 – Using the Index Personally
- 0:28:06 – Coastal Dystopia Warning
- 0:31:12 – Defining Your Prosperity
- 0:34:37 – Systems and Aging in Place
- 0:36:21 – Low Cost City Innovations
- 0:39:18 – Zip Code Predicts Success
- 0:40:31 – Pittsburgh Pivot Lessons
- 0:41:56 – Seize Every Opportunity
- 0:43:09 – Luck, Mentors And Rooms
- 0:45:25 – Perspective Shapes Destiny
- 0:47:24 – Beyond Creator Dreams
- 0:50:13 – Trades And Real Pathways
- 0:51:24 – AI Pain Then Pleasure
- 0:55:59 – Tech As Common Enemy
- 1:01:05 – Rethinking Where Companies Grow
- 1:05:55 – Remote Work And Tulsa’s Model
- 1:10:14 – Belonging, Customers And Retention
- 1:13:13 – Index Future And Global Expansion
- 1:15:41 – Rapid Fire – Your Edge And Where To Connect
About Bradley
Bradley Schurman is one of the world’s most compelling voices on demographic change — a strategist, author, and futurist who has spent his career decoding the forces quietly reshaping our economies, communities, and daily lives.
His first book, The Super Age: Decoding Our Demographic Destiny (HarperCollins), introduced a concept that has since reframed the global conversation on aging. Schurman argues that as more and more countries cross the threshold where at least 20 percent of their populations are over 65, the world faces a choice: treat demographic change as a crisis, or seize it as one of the greatest opportunities of our time. The book has been praised by economists, designers, business leaders, and policymakers alike, earning Bradley a reputation as one of the most incisive and readable thinkers working in this space.
His forthcoming book, The Geography of Prosperity: A New Map of the American Dream (MIT Press), takes that lens and turns it toward place — examining how geography, demographics, and economic opportunity intersect across America. As co-creator of the Geography of Prosperity Index, Bradley has developed a rigorous new framework for understanding which communities are thriving, which are being left behind, and why it matters for all of us.
Beyond his books, Bradley is the founder and CEO of Human Change, a global research and advisory firm helping public and private sector leaders navigate the challenges and harness the opportunities of demographic change. He is also the host of Population Next, a newsletter and podcast exploring the ideas and innovations driving our demographic future.
His work has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Newsweek, and he has appeared on NBC News and CBS News. He has advised national governments and addressed the world’s most influential forums, including the World Economic Forum and the OECD. He holds both undergraduate and master’s degrees from the School of Public Affairs at American University.
Show Notes
Connect with Bradley Schurman:
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