Share

What's Next with Philip Meissner
Using AI to Save Water: Why Farmers Matter Most
We’re panicking about AI’s water use and missing the real problem.
Jairo Trad, co-founder and CEO of Kilimo, explains why farmers sit at the center of the global water crisis, and how AI, used the right way, can dramatically reduce water waste at scale.
Speaking with Philip Meissner, Jairo shares how Kilimo delivers AI-driven irrigation advice by simple text messages, without sensors or hardware, and why incentives matter more than regulation.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- Why 70–90% of global water use happens in agriculture, not data centers
- How AI without sensors helps farmers know exactly when to irrigate
- Why paying farmers to save water finally makes large-scale change possible
- How companies now invest in water security near their own facilities
- What a future looks like where water is no longer the limiting factor
This is a clear, pragmatic conversation about fixing water systems — not with guilt or panic, but with smarter incentives that actually work.
👉 Watch now to see why the path to water security starts on farms, not in server rooms.
Timestamps:
00:58 Why farmers drive climate impact
01:43 Agriculture vs AI water use
03:29 How much water farming really uses
04:09 The water problem no one fixes
06:351 How AI improves farm irrigation
07:51 What farmers gain from water tech
08:07 A farmer story: less water, better yields
09:45 Paying farmers to save water
13:12 Why climate must make business sense
15:01 How pricing fixes water problems
16:33 Where the biggest water savings are
18:07 What blocks water innovation
19:40 Rethinking the global water system
21:43 The thinker who inspired Jairo
23:51 Why entrepreneurs embrace pain
25:44 Scaling without losing judgment
28:04 Confidence vs ego in leadership
29:02 Building teams that challenge leaders
31:26 A future with water security
32:37 Why Jairo stays optimistic
Connect with Philip Meissner:
Connect with Jairo Trad:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ingjairotrad/
Explore Kilimo:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/agrokilimo
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/kilimo-agtech/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/agrokilimo
"What’s Next with Philip Meissner“
A journey through our future life and work, and the place to discover your next favorite strategy and innovation. With global perspectives and fresh thinking, brought to you by some of the most exciting thinkers, builders, and leaders across the globe. Philip Meissner hosts fantastic guests and speakers, who share their journeys and knowledge in the most authentic and deep-dive style – to guide you through our world of tomorrow. From economy to science, from tech policy to AI in a fast-changing world. Subscribe right now wherever you get your podcast!
#WaterCrisis #AgTech #AIForGood #SustainableAgriculture #WaterSecurity #ClimateTech #SmartIrrigation #FutureOfFarming #WaterInnovation #AIInAgriculture #ClimateSolutions #WaterManagement #Sustainability #FoodSecurity #ClimateAction
More episodes
View all episodes

Highlights: AI Is Ready. We Aren’t: The Race to Build the Guardrails with Tiffany Wang
08:00|We’ve curated a 7-minute segment packed with insights on why we’re getting AI trust wrong, the risks of moving faster than our guardrails, and what responsible AI adoption means for the world we’re building for the next generation.Listen to the full episode now!Youtube: https://youtu.be/TYlSClrTGJgApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ai-is-ready-we-arent-the-race-to-build-the/id1793306908?i=1000788387176Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/551kUO09F9YJGPUjwvrrpl?si=WBxtmQllTpqsjKDzQ7Pnbw"What’s Next with Philip Meissner“A journey through our future life and work, and the place to discover your next favorite strategy and innovation. With global perspectives and fresh thinking, brought to you by some of the most exciting thinkers, builders, and leaders across the globe. Philip Meissner hosts fantastic guests and speakers, who share their journeys and knowledge in the most authentic and deep-dive style – to guide you through our world of tomorrow. From economy to science, from tech policy to AI in a fast-changing world. Subscribe right now wherever you get your podcast! Join our mailing list: www.philipmeissner.com/whatsnext to stay updated on the latest trends
42. AI Is Ready. We Aren’t: The Race to Build the Guardrails with Tiffany Wang
37:28||Season 1, Ep. 42AI is getting more capable by the day. Our ability to know when to trust it isn’t keeping up.In this episode, Tiffany Xingyu Wang, author of the forthcoming The Trust Code and a longtime leader in digital trust and online safety, joins Philip Meissner to explore one of the defining challenges of the AI era: not whether we should trust AI, but what we should trust it with.Tiffany shares why:Our instincts can mislead us. Generative AI sounds confident, helpful, and remarkably human, making the signals we normally use to judge trust less reliable.Both too much and too little trust are dangerous. Overtrust creates risk, while undertrust can stall innovation. The answer is learning to calibrate trust.AI capability is outpacing its guardrails. Organizations are adopting AI faster than they are building the accountability and safeguards needed to use it responsibly.Human judgment must remain in the loop. As AI takes on more tasks and decisions, critical thinking and human agency become more important, not less.Tune in for a timely conversation about AI, trust, guardrails, and how to stay in control as intelligent systems become part of everyday life. Timestamps:00:00 Intro00:40 Why Trust Is AI’s Biggest Challenge02:27 What Does It Mean to Trust AI?08:38 Overtrusting vs. Undertrusting AI13:38 Why Tiffany Wang Wrote The Trust Code17:35 How to Calibrate Trust in AI22:07 Three Questions Leaders Should Ask24:59 How to Use AI Responsibly31:18 Lessons From a Career in Tech35:40 Reasons for Optimism About AIConnect with Tiffany Xingyu Wang:linkedin.com/in/tiffanyxingyuwangWhat’s Next is a podcast exploring how technology, innovation, and global systems are shaping the future.Hosted by Philip Meissner, each episode features conversations with global leaders, builders, and thinkers working at the forefront of change.🔗 Connect with Philip Meissner:https://www.philipmeissner.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/pmeissner/🎧 Listen on:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1KFVD3ozuUQiQozO381J5C?si=e2eb5967f84648e8Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whats-next-with-philip-meissner/id1793306908"What’s Next with Philip Meissner"A journey through our future life and work, and the place to discover your next favorite strategy and innovation. With global perspectives and fresh thinking, brought to you by some of the most exciting thinkers, builders, and leaders across the globe. Philip Meissner hosts fantastic guests and speakers, who share their journeys and knowledge in the most authentic and deep-dive style – to guide you through our world of tomorrow. From economy to science, from tech policy to AI in a fast-changing world. Subscribe right now wherever you get your podcast!Subscribe for more conversations on AI, emerging technologies, and global leadership.#AITrust #ArtificialIntelligence #AIGuardrails #ResponsibleAI #AIRisk #AIGovernance #GenerativeAI #AISafety #TrustInAI #HumanCenteredAI #AIEthics #AILeadership #FutureOfAI #HumanJudgment #TheTrustCode
Highlights: Parag Khanna On The End of Choosing Sides and How The Global Order Is Changing
07:44|We’ve curated a 7-minute segment packed with insights on why smart countries refuse to choose sides, the three forces shaping global power, and how dramatic demographic shifts could reshape the world in the decades ahead.Listen to the full episode now!Youtube: https://youtu.be/FQYXWuWxxR8Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/parag-khanna-on-the-end-of-choosing-sides-and/id1793306908?i=1000785652931Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6VgWy5yyUKK5jy6PASBx8c?si=GtTm5L-NQxmUs_6cnoSDNg "What’s Next with Philip Meissner“A journey through our future life and work, and the place to discover your next favorite strategy and innovation. With global perspectives and fresh thinking, brought to you by some of the most exciting thinkers, builders, and leaders across the globe. Philip Meissner hosts fantastic guests and speakers, who share their journeys and knowledge in the most authentic and deep-dive style – to guide you through our world of tomorrow. From economy to science, from tech policy to AI in a fast-changing world. Subscribe right now wherever you get your podcast! Join our mailing list: www.philipmeissner.com/whatsnext to stay updated on the latest trends
41. Parag Khanna On The End of Choosing Sides and How The Global Order Is Changing
30:44||Season 1, Ep. 41The world is no longer choosing between superpowers and that is changing who holds global power.Geopolitical strategist and AlphaGeo founder Parag Khanna explains why the old US-vs.-China view of the world is breaking down and how middle powers, migration, technology, and the competition for talent are reshaping the global order.In this episode, discover:Why smart countries refuse to pick sides and instead build relationships with multiple powers.How the “geopolitical marketplace” works, giving countries more options and bargaining power.Why attracting young, talented people may be one of the strongest indicators of a country’s future success.How migration and digital nomad visas are turning talent into a global competition.Why being young, skilled, and mobile creates unprecedented opportunities to choose where and how you build your future.Watch the full conversation to understand the new rules of global power and how to navigate a world that refuses to pick sides.Timestamps:00:00 Intro00:50 The Rise of Middle Powers02:22 The End of Superpower Dominance04:36 Rethinking Global Alliances06:09 The Geopolitical Marketplace07:46 The New Tech Divide10:32 Navigating the New Global Order11:49 The Demographic Divide14:32 The Future of Migration16:09 The Global Race for Talent19:16 Competing for Skilled Workers22:12 Where Should Young Talent Go?23:33 The Most Underrated City25:54 How to Predict the Future27:55 Where to Move Next29:06 Reasons for OptimismConnect with Parag Khanna:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drparagkhannaWebsite: https://www.paragkhanna.com/What’s Next is a podcast exploring how technology, innovation, and global systems are shaping the future.Hosted by Philip Meissner, each episode features conversations with global leaders, builders, and thinkers working at the forefront of change.🔗 Connect with Philip Meissner:https://www.philipmeissner.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/pmeissner/🎧 Listen on:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1KFVD3ozuUQiQozO381J5C?si=e2eb5967f84648e8Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whats-next-with-philip-meissner/id1793306908"What’s Next with Philip Meissner"A journey through our future life and work, and the place to discover your next favorite strategy and innovation. With global perspectives and fresh thinking, brought to you by some of the most exciting thinkers, builders, and leaders across the globe. Philip Meissner hosts fantastic guests and speakers, who share their journeys and knowledge in the most authentic and deep-dive style – to guide you through our world of tomorrow. From economy to science, from tech policy to AI in a fast-changing world. Subscribe right now wherever you get your podcast!Subscribe for more conversations on AI, emerging technologies, and global leadership.#ParagKhanna #Geopolitics #MiddlePowers #GlobalPower #MultipolarWorld #GlobalOrder #USChina #MultiAlignment #GlobalMigration #FutureOfWork #DigitalNomads #GlobalTalent #Demographics #Geotechnology #FutureTrends
Highlights: Christian Busch on Why Some People Create Their Own Luck (and Others Don't)
07:08|We’ve curated a 7-minute segment packed with powerful insights on turning setbacks into opportunities, overcoming bad luck, and creating the conditions for more serendipity in life and work.Listen to the full episode now!Youtube: https://youtu.be/UHndzK-Vih4Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/christian-busch-on-why-some-people-create-their-own/id1793306908?i=1000782092370 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5kYcWfd6aeeKVDVL39joh0?si=bty_dWqoRdizUAFlfO0rZw"What’s Next with Philip Meissner“A journey through our future life and work, and the place to discover your next favorite strategy and innovation. With global perspectives and fresh thinking, brought to you by some of the most exciting thinkers, builders, and leaders across the globe. Philip Meissner hosts fantastic guests and speakers, who share their journeys and knowledge in the most authentic and deep-dive style – to guide you through our world of tomorrow. From economy to science, from tech policy to AI in a fast-changing world. Subscribe right now wherever you get your podcast!Join our mailing list: www.philipmeissner.com/whatsnext to stay updated on the latest trends
40. Christian Busch on Why Some People Create Their Own Luck (and Others Don't)
29:15||Season 1, Ep. 40What if luck wasn't random but a skill you could develop?In this fascinating conversation, Christian Busch, bestselling author of The Serendipity Mindset and professor at USC Marshall School of Business, explains the science behind creating your own luck. Drawing on years of research, he reveals why some people consistently uncover more opportunities and how you can do the same.In this episode, you'll learn:Why luck is more within your control than you think.How serendipity helps create unexpected breakthroughs.The habits that make successful people seem "luckier."Simple ways to recognize and act on opportunities every day.If you're ready to stop waiting for luck and start creating it, this episode is for you.Watch now, and don't forget to like, subscribe, and share if you found it valuable.Timestamps:00:00 Intro00:38 Is Success Just Luck?01:09 Luck vs. Serendipity 02:14 The Science of Serendipity 03:35 How to Train Your Luck 05:43 Making Better Decisions 08:32 Why People Miss Opportunities 10:43 Leadership and Serendipity 12:28 Does Culture Shape Luck? 13:37 AI and Human Creativity 15:00 Can You Prevent Bad Luck? 17:32 Focus on What You Can Control19:30 Choosing the Right Environment 21:44 How Serendipity Shaped His Life 22:42 Turning Setbacks Into Opportunities 2520 What's Next in Serendipity Research? 26:50 Optimistism About the Future Connect with Christian Busch:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/christianwbuschWebsite: www.theserendipitymindset.comTED Talk: go.ted.com/christianbuschWhat’s Next is a podcast exploring how technology, innovation, and global systems are shaping the future.Hosted by Philip Meissner, each episode features conversations with global leaders, builders, and thinkers working at the forefront of change.🔗 Connect with Philip Meissner:https://www.philipmeissner.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/pmeissner/🎧 Listen on:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1KFVD3ozuUQiQozO381J5C?si=e2eb5967f84648e8Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whats-next-with-philip-meissner/id1793306908"What’s Next with Philip Meissner"A journey through our future life and work, and the place to discover your next favorite strategy and innovation. With global perspectives and fresh thinking, brought to you by some of the most exciting thinkers, builders, and leaders across the globe. Philip Meissner hosts fantastic guests and speakers, who share their journeys and knowledge in the most authentic and deep-dive style – to guide you through our world of tomorrow. From economy to science, from tech policy to AI in a fast-changing world. Subscribe right now wherever you get your podcast!Subscribe for more conversations on AI, emerging technologies, and global leadership.#ChristianBusch #TheSerendipityMindset #Serendipity #ScienceOfLuck #LuckIsASkill #CreateYourOwnLuck #OpportunityMindset #BehavioralScience #Psychology #PersonalGrowth #Innovation #CareerGrowth #Mindset #Success #Podcast
Highlights: The Payment Revolution: Why Stablecoins Matter
08:33|We've curated a 7-minute segment exploring the biggest business opportunities in stablecoins and the future of global payments.Listen to the full episode now!Youtube: https://youtu.be/xkPJb_qSdLYApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-payment-revolution-why-stablecoins-matter/id1793306908?i=1000778633674 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0dFXtWvRTQ8EOLoIc5E7Ll?si=3m47NQtQQGSEDm8fc3HMBA "What’s Next with Philip Meissner“A journey through our future life and work, and the place to discover your next favorite strategy and innovation. With global perspectives and fresh thinking, brought to you by some of the most exciting thinkers, builders, and leaders across the globe. Philip Meissner hosts fantastic guests and speakers, who share their journeys and knowledge in the most authentic and deep-dive style – to guide you through our world of tomorrow. From economy to science, from tech policy to AI in a fast-changing world. Subscribe right now wherever you get your podcast!Join our mailing list: www.philipmeissner.com/whatsnext to stay updated on the latest trends
39. The Payment Revolution: Why Stablecoins Matter
39:58||Season 1, Ep. 39The way money moves around the world is changing, and it could transform banking, business, and the global economy.In this episode, Chuck Okpalugo, former Product Leader at Paxos, author of The Stablecoin Blueprint, and co-founder of a B2B payments startup, explains how a new type of digital dollar is making cross-border payments faster, cheaper, and more efficient, and why it could reshape the future of finance.You'll learn:Why moving money across borders is still so slow and expensiveHow digital dollars are changing global paymentsWhy companies like Tether and Circle have become major playersWhat this means for banks, governments, and entrepreneursWhere the biggest opportunities in the next generation of finance are emergingWhether you're an entrepreneur, investor, or simply curious about the future of money, this episode will help you understand one of the biggest shifts happening in global finance today.Subscribe for more conversations with world-leading experts shaping the future of business, technology, AI, and the global economy.Timestamps:00:00 Intro00:59 What Is a Stablecoin?06:03 Biggest Stablecoin Misconceptions08:24 Tether vs Circle14:35 How Stablecoins Change Banking20:21 Biggest Business Opportunities26:38 Stablecoins and Global Power28:23 Reactions from Other Countries31:46 The Future of Finance36:11 Chuck's Journey into Stablecoins38:31 Why AI Makes Chuck Optimistic Connect with Chuck Okpalugo:linkedin.com/in/chuk-okpalugoWhat’s Next is a podcast exploring how technology, innovation, and global systems are shaping the future.Hosted by Philip Meissner, each episode features conversations with global leaders, builders, and thinkers working at the forefront of change.🔗 Connect with Philip Meissner:https://www.philipmeissner.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/pmeissner/🎧 Listen on:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1KFVD3ozuUQiQozO381J5C?si=e2eb5967f84648e8Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whats-next-with-philip-meissner/id1793306908"What’s Next with Philip Meissner“A journey through our future life and work, and the place to discover your next favorite strategy and innovation. With global perspectives and fresh thinking, brought to you by some of the most exciting thinkers, builders, and leaders across the globe. Philip Meissner hosts fantastic guests and speakers, who share their journeys and knowledge in the most authentic and deep-dive style – to guide you through our world of tomorrow. From economy to science, from tech policy to AI in a fast-changing world. Subscribe right now wherever you get your podcast!Subscribe for more conversations on AI, emerging technologies, and global leadership.#Stablecoins #DigitalDollar #FutureOfMoney #Fintech #Blockchain #GlobalPayments #CrossBorderPayments #DigitalFinance #Banking #FinancialInnovation #Crypto #Web3 #Payments #Business #Finance
Highlights: McKinsey CTO Kate Smaje: AI Won't Transform Your Business. This Will.
07:25|We've curated a 7-minute segment revealing why most AI transformations fail, why AI strategy is the wrong starting point, and what the world's leading companies do differently.Listen to the full episode now!Youtube: https://youtu.be/j8rz1NC7dG8Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mckinsey-cto-kate-smaje-ai-wont-transform-your-business/id1793306908?i=1000776692890Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5wkKueZNCAA2rrwfwqP5NM?si=UiufhkcUT4WStJpDIh2iXw "What’s Next with Philip Meissner“A journey through our future life and work, and the place to discover your next favorite strategy and innovation. With global perspectives and fresh thinking, brought to you by some of the most exciting thinkers, builders, and leaders across the globe. Philip Meissner hosts fantastic guests and speakers, who share their journeys and knowledge in the most authentic and deep-dive style – to guide you through our world of tomorrow. From economy to science, from tech policy to AI in a fast-changing world. Subscribe right now wherever you get your podcast!Join our mailing list: www.philipmeissner.com/whatsnext to stay updated on the latest trends