In this episode of The Future With Friends, Simon Waller is joined by leadership expert and good friend Anton van der Walt for a heartfelt conversation about immigration, belonging, and the future of cultural integration.

Anton shares a beautifully written and deeply personal scenario set in 2042. It explores the journey of an immigrant family navigating the complexities of settling in a new country - the challenges they face, the strengths they bring, and the emotional resilience required along the way. It’s a story that reminds us that true belonging isn’t achieved through assimilation or automation, but through time, empathy, and mutual understanding.

Simon and Anton’s conversation weaves through themes of identity, community, and the value of shared experience. They reflect on their parallel journeys in podcasting, the role of technology in fostering connection, and the limitations of a hyper-efficient approach to integration.

It’s a thoughtful discussion on the immigrant experience - one that asks us to slow down, listen more deeply, and recognise the cultural richness that emerges when we make space for difference.

At its heart, this episode is about the power of stories - and the kind of understanding that only comes from sitting down and truly hearing one another, friend to friend.

GUEST: Anton van der Walt