Apr 20, 2026
Rebecca sits down with futurist Rebecca Ryan for a conversation about why and how small towns need to stop planning for the past and start envisioning multiple possible futures. They discuss the PHOEBE energy assessment, the three futures framework, and why traditional stakeholder-based visioning often fails. It's one of those episodes that both challenges how you think while also encouraging you to work in your strengths, build trust over polish, and remember that the future isn't something that just happens to us—we happen to it too.
About Rebecca:
Rebecca Ryan is a noted top 50 professional futurist, economist,
best-selling author and entrepreneur. She is the founder of NEXT
Generation Consulting through which she partners with government
leaders across the country. Looking a generation ahead, she
outlines strategies in urban planning, economic development and
workforce development to ensure communities are well equipped for
future trends and challenges. Rebecca is a graduate of Drake
University with a certificate in Strategic Foresight from
University of Houston; she is the Resident Futurist at the Alliance
for Innovation and on the Executive Committee of the global
Association of Professional Futurists.
In this episode, we cover:
How Rebecca Ryan became a professional futurist and why that career path even exists
The PHOEBE assessment and its four energy patterns: Visionary, Collaborator, Organizer, and Driver
Why most strategic plans are just last year's document with updated dates
The three futures framework: expectable, challenging, and visionary
Why trust is the invisible force multiplier that makes or breaks community work
Links + Resources Mentioned:
Keynotes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQcg7ED38gI
Substack: https://rebeccaryanfuturist.substack.com/
Training:
https://rebeccaryan.com/what-we-do/training/think-like-a-futurist
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@rebeccaryan620
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