[Summary (mostly) courtesy of Riverside's AI: In this conversation, Ben and the trend forecaster and writer Sean Monahan discuss his insights on cultural shifts, the art of trend forecasting, and the impact of environment on creativity. Sean reflects on the concept of the 'vibe shift' (a term he coi...

[Summary (mostly) courtesy of Riverside's AI: In this conversation, Ben and the trend forecaster and writer Sean Monahan discuss his insights on cultural shifts, the art of trend forecasting, and the impact of environment on creativity. Sean reflects on the concept of the 'vibe shift' (a term he coined in 2021 ) and how trends manifest over time. The episode touches among many other things on the complexities of public sector employment, the role of Silicon Valley, and the challenges of balancing writing with consulting work. Monahan emphasizes the importance of being observant and attentive to the world around us to identify patterns and predict future trends. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Sean Monahan and Trend Forecasting 04:03 The Art of Trend Forecasting 08:17 Cultural Cycles and the Pendulum Effect 12:10 The Role of Environment in Trend Recognition 16:25 Manifesting Trends and Chaos Magic 19:59 The Limits of Production and Color Forecasting 22:44 Sources of Inspiration and Inputs for Forecasting 24:00 The Role of Social Media in Modern Discourse 27:10 Public Sector Employment and Economic Challenges 30:00 The Impact of Federal Bureaucracy on Local Economies 34:06 Historical Lessons from Bureaucratic Changes 39:02 The Future of Silicon Valley and Libertarianism 44:10 Writing as a Vocation and Creative Process