Progress, Potential, and Possibilities

Send us Fan MailPharma has only explored a tiny fraction - less than one-tenth of one percent - of all possible drug-like molecules. So the question is: what happens when AI suddenly opens up the other 99.9%?Dr. Olga Nissan, Ph.D. is Vice President of Business Development at Evogene ( https://evogene.com/ ) where she leads pharmaceutical partnerships for the company's ChemPass AI generative chemistry platform - an advanced system designed to dramatically expand the searchable universe of drug-like molecules.With over 15 years of experience spanning biotech, pharma, and computational biology, Dr. Nissan operates at the intersection of science, strategy, and commercialization. Prior to Evogene, she was Co-Founder and CEO of Protica Bio, a precision oncology company focused on translating novel biological insights into therapeutic opportunities. Earlier in her career, she held scientific and operational roles at Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, as well as EcoPhage and BiomX, building expertise across microbiology, molecular biology, and translational R&D.Dr. Nissan has a strong track record of advancing technologies from early discovery through clinical and commercial partnerships, and of aligning cutting-edge innovation with the practical needs of pharmaceutical companies. She earned her Ph.D. and completed her postdoctoral training at the Weizmann Institute of Science.#DrugDiscovery #AIinPharma #GenerativeAI #Biotech #PharmaInnovation #ChemistryAI #MachineLearning #DrugDevelopment #PharmaceuticalIndustry #Bioinformatics #AIResearch #ChemPass #Evogene #ComputationalChemistry #FutureOfMedicine #DrugDesign #DeepLearning #HealthcareInnovation #BiotechNews #SciencePodcastSupport the show

Send us Fan MailWe used to think of DNA as something we read. Now we're starting to treat it like something we write - and that changes everything about how medicine gets made.Dr. Patrick Finn, Ph.D. is President and COO of Twist Bioscience ( https://www.twistbioscience.com/ ), a company that's helping turn biology into something you can engineer, iterate, and even industrialize. Dr. Finn has spent his entire career building the infrastructure layer of modern biotech - from sequencing and sample prep at Beckman Coulter and Invitrogen, to scaling commercial platforms at Agilent Technologies and now Twist.Dr. Finn also served as Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Enzymatics (recently acquired by QIAGEN), leading commercial activities for North America and Europe, delivering significant top line growth and expanding the base of business to business customers.So this isn't just a conversation about the future - it's about how the tools that make the future possible are actually built and deployed.On this episode we go beyond the buzzwords and dig into what it really means to “program biology”, and how close we actually are to designing medicines the way we design software.In addition to his role at Twist, Dr. Finn currently serves on the Scientific Advisory Board of Lasergen and previously served on the Scientific Advisory Board of Enzymatics. He holds a PhD in Nucleic Acid Chemistry from Southampton University and a BSc Hons in Chemistry from Heriot-Watt University.#SyntheticBiology #Biotech #DrugDiscovery #AIinHealthcare #ArtificialIntelligence #DNA #Genomics #Bioengineering #ProgrammableBiology #CRISPR #GeneTherapy #Biotechnology #LifeSciences #MachineLearning #AIResearch #PharmaInnovation #Biology #SciencePodcast #FutureOfMedicine #Biodesign #SyntheticDNA #GenomeSequencing #Bioeconomy #DeepTech #HealthTechSupport the show

Send us Fan MailWhat if saving a life isn't a single moment…but the beginning of thousands of future moments that only exist because someone chose to act?Today's guests are father-daughter duo Brad Newbury ( https://bradnewbury.com/ ) and Kiera Newbury ( https://kieranewbury.com/ ) - two voices at the intersection of emergency medicine, leadership, resilience, and human impact.Brad is a veteran Fire Captain and paramedic with nearly four decades on the front lines of emergency response. Over the course of his career, Brad has trained thousands of EMTs and paramedics around the world and built one of the pioneering online EMS education platforms through National Medical Education & Training Center Inc. ( NMETC -  https://nmetc.com/ ). Drawing from years of responding to crises, leading under pressure, and building businesses while serving in the firehouse, Brad recently authored the Amazon #1 bestseller The First Responder Advantage ( https://www.amazon.com/First-Responder-Advantage-Thriving-Business/dp/1967424837 ), a guide showing how the mindset and skills developed in emergency services can translate into entrepreneurship, leadership, and long-term impact.Joining Brad is his daughter Kiera, an EMT and emerging voice in emergency preparedness and public health advocacy. Together, Brad and Kiera co-authored The Saved Effect ( https://www.amazon.com/Saved-Effect-Stories-Reclaimed-Willing/dp/1637635923 ), a deeply human exploration of what happens after a life is saved - the ripple effects that extend into families, futures, communities, and generations. Through true stories of cardiac arrests, rescues, bystander CPR, and ordinary people stepping forward in extraordinary moments, the book asks a powerful question: What if the most important part of saving a life is everything that comes afterward?Together, Brad and Kiera bring a rare blend of frontline experience, leadership under pressure, entrepreneurship, public service, and deeply personal storytelling - all centered around one core belief: preparedness, courage, and the willingness to act can change the trajectory of countless lives.#FirstResponders #Paramedic #EMT #EmergencyMedicine #CPR #TheSavedEffect #BradNewbury #KieraNewbury #Firefighter #EMS #Healthcare #Preparedness #CardiacArrest #Leadership #Resilience #PublicHealth #MedicalStories #BystanderCPR #EmergencyResponse #LifeSaving #Podcast #HealthcareInnovation #MentalHealth #Trauma #EMSLeadershipSupport the show

Send us Fan MailFor decades, medicine focused on helping us live longer. Then came healthspan - helping us stay healthier longer. But what if the next frontier is something even deeper: joyspan… the quality, meaning, and fulfillment of the years we actually live?Today's conversation sits at the intersection of healthcare delivery, aging science, and one of the most important - and perhaps least discussed - questions in modern medicine:How do we help people not simply live longer… but live fulfilled lives?For decades, healthcare systems have largely measured success through clinical outcomes - lowering blood pressure, reducing hospitalizations, extending survival curves. But as populations age and chronic disease becomes increasingly intertwined with loneliness, purpose, financial security, cognition, and emotional well-being, a much broader picture of health is emerging.And that broader picture is exactly what we explore on this episode.Joining us is Dr. Sanjay Shetty, MD, President of CenterWell ( https://www.centerwell.com/ ) and a senior leader at Humana ( https://www.humana.com/ ). Dr. Shetty has one of the most fascinating and diverse backgrounds in modern healthcare - physician, radiologist, Harvard Medical School faculty member, Bain healthcare strategist, hospital system operator, value-based care leader, and now the executive overseeing one of America's largest senior-focused healthcare platforms spanning primary care, home health, pharmacy, and military health services.Under Dr. Shetty's leadership, CenterWell has increasingly focused on the idea that healthcare for older adults must move beyond episodic medicine and toward deeply integrated, personalized, and human-centered care.We're also joined by Dr. Kerry Burnight, Ph.D. ( https://drkerryburnight.com/ ) - gerontologist, educator, elder justice advocate, and author of the bestselling book Joyspan ( https://www.amazon.com/Joyspan-Science-Thriving-Lifes-Second/dp/1546007350 ). Dr. Burnight has spent decades studying aging not as decline, but as a stage of life that can be rich with purpose, connection, growth, and meaning. Her work challenges the fear-driven “anti-aging” narrative and introduces the concept of “joyspan” - the quality, vitality, and emotional richness of the years we live.Together, our guests bring two critically important perspectives:one from the operational front lines of transforming healthcare delivery for millions of seniors…and the other from the psychological, emotional, and social science of what actually makes later life meaningful.Part of today's discussion will center around a fascinating new CenterWell/Humana report titled Understanding Fulfillment for Older Adults: Definition and Impact ( https://assets.humana.com/is/content/humana/CenterWell%20Understanding%20Fulfillment%20in%20Older%20Adultspdf ), which examined more than 5,500 Americans over age 62 and attempted to quantify something medicine rarely measures directly: fulfillment.The findings are remarkable: that fulfillment in later life is influenced less by traditional clinical variables alone and more by factors like self-contentment, purpose, optimism, gratitude, emotional connection, and feeling appreciated by others.So on this episode, we ask:- Can healthcare systems measure fulfillment?- Should fulfillment become a clinical endpoint?- What happens when longevity medicine evolves from merely extending lifespan… to supporting joyspan?- And how do we redesign healthcare, communities, technologies, and even culture itself around what older adults actually value most?#Aging #Longevity #Healthspan #Joyspan #Fulfillment #CenterWell #Humana #SanjayShetty #KerryBurnight #HealthyAging #SeniorCare #FutureOfHealthcare #Gerontology #Loneliness #ValueBasedCare #HealthcareInnovation #PrecisionHealth #AgingWell #HealthcareTransformation #OlderAdults #LongevityScience #Purpose #Wellbeing #HomeHealthcare #PPPShowSupport the show

Send us Fan MailWhat if the future of medicine isn't about treating disease…but detecting it 20 years before symptoms ever appear? Dr. Julie Chen, MD is helping lead one of the newest precision-health companies trying to build that future.Dr. Julie Chen, MD is a physician operating at one of the most interesting intersections in modern medicine: rigorous clinical research, precision longevity medicine, integrative care, and the rapidly evolving world of AI-driven health optimization.Dr. Chen graduated Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Rochester before earning her M.D. with Distinction in Research and Alpha Omega Alpha honors from the university's School of Medicine. She went on to complete her internal medicine residency and later trained in integrative medicine under Andrew Weil at the University of Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine.Over the course of her career, Dr. Chen has conducted research and published work through institutions including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and University of Southern California.Dr. Chen has also become a prominent operational leader in the longevity industry, serving in executive medical roles at companies including Human Longevity, Inc., Vitagene, and now as Chief Medical Officer of Radence ( https://radence.com/ ) and Sidestep Health AI. She additionally serves as a Leadership Circle Advisor for the Buck Institute for Research on Aging.What makes Dr. Chen particularly compelling is that she has seen the longevity ecosystem from nearly every angle: academic medicine, FDA-level research, integrative clinical care, Silicon Valley health-tech, and AI-enabled prevention.In today's conversation, we'll explore where the science around longevity is genuinely promising, where the hype may be outrunning the evidence, how precision medicine is shifting toward early disease interception, and what responsible longevity medicine should actually look like in an era increasingly driven by consumer demand and social-media-driven health trends.#Longevity #Peptides #PrecisionMedicine #Healthspan #DrJulieChen #PreventiveMedicine #Biohacking #Aging #DiseaseInterception #GLP1 #LongevityMedicine #AIHealthcare #IntegrativeMedicine #HealthOptimization #HumanLongevity #FutureOfMedicine #MetabolicHealth #PreventiveHealth #Biotech #CraigVenter #Wearables #Biomarkers #Genomics #RadenceSupport the show

Send us Fan MailFor more than 30 years, small cell lung cancer has remained one of the most aggressive and difficult-to-treat cancers - marked by rapid progression, high relapse rates, and very few meaningful advances. But that may finally be starting to change.Today, we're joined by Dr. Angela Coxon, Ph.D., Vice President of Research and Development at Amgen ( https://www.amgen.com/ ), where she helps lead the development of next-generation therapies aimed at tackling exactly these kinds of challenges. Her work spans discovery research, translational medicine, and molecular oncology - bridging the gap between early scientific insight and real-world impact for patients.If you've been following the show, you may remember our conversation with Amgen's Dr. Ryan Potts, where we explored the emerging concept of Induced Proximity - the idea that instead of simply blocking biology, we can design drugs that bring components together to create entirely new functions. That idea is now playing out in the clinic through approaches like bispecific T-cell engagers, which physically link immune cells to cancer cells and force a targeted immune response - offering a new way to go after tumors that have historically been very hard to treat.Dr. Coxon earned her D. Phil in Molecular Biology from the University of Oxford and completed postdoctoral training in vascular biology at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital. She has built her career at the intersection of cutting-edge biology and strategic drug development, contributing to Amgen's pipeline in areas of significant unmet need, including lung cancer.#SmallCellLungCancer #SCLC #CancerBreakthrough #Immunotherapy #CancerResearch #Biotech #Amgen #DrugDevelopment #Oncology #CancerTreatment #BiTE #BispecificAntibodies #InducedProximity #PrecisionMedicine #ClinicalTrials #MedicalInnovation #FutureOfMedicine #LungCancerAwareness #TranslationalMedicine #Biology #SciencePodcast #HealthcareInnovation #CancerTherapy #Pharma #NextGenMedicineSupport the show

Send us Fan MailPsychedelic medicine is no longer fringe science - it's now part of White House policy discussions, FDA fast-track programs, and a rapidly emerging neuropsychiatric industry. But can these therapies truly become scalable standards of care?Eric So is Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Helus Pharma ( https://www.helus.com/ ), a company focused on developing next-generation serotonergic therapies for mental illness and advancing the broader field of psychedelic-assisted psychiatry. With a multidisciplinary background spanning science, law, finance, and entrepreneurship, Eric has spent his career building and scaling public and private companies across emerging sectors.Before launching Helus Pharma in 2019, Eric was involved with a number of high-growth ventures, including leadership roles at Globalive Technology and Therapix Biosciences Ltd., where he gained firsthand experience navigating the intersection of biotechnology innovation, regulation, and capital markets. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Cell Biology and Anatomy from McGill University before obtaining his law degree from University of Windsor.Today, Eric is helping shape conversations around how psychedelic medicines move from promising experimental therapies into scalable, evidence-based standards of care. His work comes at a pivotal moment for the field, as regulators, policymakers, clinicians, and industry leaders debate how to responsibly accelerate treatments for conditions such as depression, PTSD, addiction, and treatment-resistant mental illness - particularly for veterans and underserved patient populations. Following recent recognition of Helus Pharma in a White House discussion around psychedelic drug development and policy, Eric joins us to discuss the future of psychedelic medicine, the evolving regulatory landscape, and what it will take to translate scientific promise into real-world psychiatric care.#Psychedelics #MentalHealth #PsychedelicMedicine #Psychiatry #Neuroscience #Biotech #HelusPharma #EricSo #DepressionTreatment #PTSD #VeteransMentalHealth #PsychedelicTherapy #Neuroplasticity #PrecisionPsychiatry #FDA #DrugDevelopment #Ibogaine #Psilocybin #SerotonergicAgonists #FutureOfMedicine #Longevity #BrainHealth #Biotechnology #MentalHealthInnovation #HealthcareInnovationSupport the show

Send us Fan MailWhat if the next breakthrough cancer therapy can't be manufactured on Earth at all?In this episode, BioOrbit CEO Dr. Katie King explains how microgravity may unlock entirely new classes of medicines - from ultra-precise biologics to cancer therapies manufactured in orbit aboard future pharmaceutical factories in space.Dr. Katie King, Ph.D is a scientist, entrepreneur, and space-tech innovator working at the intersection of biotechnology, nanomedicine, and orbital manufacturing.Dr. King is the Co-Founder and CEO of BioOrbit ( https://www.bioorbit.space/ ), a pioneering company developing pharmaceutical manufacturing platforms in microgravity with the goal of revolutionizing cancer treatment. BioOrbit is focused on producing next-generation medicines in space - particularly highly structured biologics and crystallized therapeutics that may be difficult or impossible to manufacture optimally on Earth due to gravity-driven limitations. The company is preparing for a major in-orbit demonstration mission connected to the International Space Station and upcoming launch activity in 2026.Dr. King earned her Ph.D. in Nanomedicine and Chemistry from the University of Cambridge, where her research focused on self-assembling nanoparticle systems for biosensing and precision medicine applications in collaboration with AstraZeneca. Her work spans nanotechnology, drug delivery, materials science, and pharmaceutical engineering.Beyond the lab, Dr. King has built a remarkably interdisciplinary career. She trained as an officer cadet with the Royal Air Force, interned with NASA Goddard Space Flight Center on the Curiosity Rover's Sample Analysis at Mars program, studied at the International Space University, and has become a leading advocate for using space technology to benefit humanity on Earth.Dr. King is also a passionate science communicator and STEM advocate, serving as a Tech She Can Ambassador and helping inspire the next generation of women entering science and technology fields.Dr. King has been recognized as an Everywoman in Tech Innovator Award winner and one of Codex World's Top 50 Innovators - and today, she joins us to discuss one of the most fascinating frontiers in medicine: manufacturing pharmaceuticals in space.#SpacePharma #BioOrbit #KatieKing #SpaceMedicine #Microgravity #CancerResearch #Biotech #FutureOfMedicine #SpaceTech #OrbitalManufacturing #Nanomedicine #LongevityScience #ISS #DrugDiscovery #CancerTherapy #SpaceBiology #Pharmaceuticals #Innovation #DeepTech #ProgressPotentialPossibilitiesSupport the show

Send us Fan MailWhat if the biggest public health threat to attention, sleep, relationships, and mental health isn't a virus or a disease - but the device in your pocket?Dr. Nidhi Gupta, MD ( https://reconnect.expert/Dr-Nidhi-Gupta ) is a pediatric endocrinologist, TEDx speaker, researcher, entrepreneur, and one of the leading voices exploring the intersection of technology, health, and human connection in the digital age.Dr. Gupta is the Founder of the Phreedom Foundation, a nonprofit organization built around a simple but increasingly urgent mission: helping individuals, families, schools, and workplaces reclaim their time, attention, and sense of presence in a world dominated by screens and smart devices. Through coaching, retreats, school partnerships, and corporate workshops, she has helped spark a growing movement toward intentional living and healthier relationships with technology.Long before “screen addiction,” “digital burnout,” and “attention fragmentation” became mainstream concerns, Dr. Gupta was already raising alarms about the hidden physiological and psychological costs of our always-connected culture. Her research and clinical observations have linked excessive digital engagement to anxiety, sleep disorders, burnout, obesity, diminished focus, and increasing social disconnection - especially among children and adolescents.In parallel with her digital wellness work, Dr. Gupta is also the Founder of KAP Pediatric Endocrinology ( https://www.kapendocrine.com/ ), where she practices a direct-care model focused on personalized, unhurried medicine and deeper physician-patient relationships. She previously served as Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and completed her pediatric endocrinology fellowship at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science.Dr. Gupta is also the best-selling author of Calm the Noise ( https://www.amazon.com/Calm-Noise-Digital-Addiction-Generation-ebook/dp/B0FPBSTR55 ), a deeply personal and science-based guide to navigating modern life with greater clarity, balance, and intentionality.On this episode we explore the neuroscience and physiology of digital overuse, what screens are doing to our children and ourselves, the loneliness paradox of hyperconnectivity, the future of attention in the AI era, and how we can begin rebuilding healthier, more meaningful human lives in a world increasingly mediated by technology.#NidhiGupta #DigitalWellness #CalmTheNoise #ScreenAddiction #SmartphoneAddiction #MentalHealth #AttentionEconomy #DigitalDetox #Healthspan #BrainHealth #SleepHealth #Burnout #Parenting #ChildrenAndScreens #TechnologyAddiction #Longevity #Mindfulness #Focus #Neuroscience #Podcast #HealthPodcast #ScreenTime #Dopamine #DigitalBalance #WellnessSupport the show

Send us Fan MailEvery year, thousands of newborns suffer devastating brain injury during birth - and despite decades of research, there are still no approved drug therapies for Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE). But one biotech company believes it may finally have a solution.Dr. Howard Berman, Ph.D. is Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of ReAlta Life Sciences ( https://realtalifesciences.com/ ), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel therapies for severe inflammatory diseases.Dr. Berman brings a unique background spanning neuroscience, pharmacology, medical affairs, technology transfer, and biotech entrepreneurship. He earned his Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Neuroscience from Weill Cornell Medical College, where his research focused on pain and temperature processing in the human brain using functional MRI. Over the course of his career, he has held roles at Novartis, Eli Lilly and Company, and AbbVie, working across oncology, neuroscience, immunology, and business development.Dr. Berman later went on to found Coya Therapeutics, a company focused on regulatory T-cell biology and neurodegenerative disease, and has built a reputation for identifying and advancing novel therapeutic approaches at the intersection of science and translational medicine.Today, Dr. Berman is leading ReAlta at a particularly important moment for the company. ReAlta recently announced a $40 million financing round to support the continued development of its lead therapeutic candidate, pegtarazimod, for the treatment of Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy, or HIE.HIE is a devastating condition caused by a lack of oxygen and blood flow to the brain during or around the time of birth. It remains one of the leading causes of neonatal mortality and long-term neurological disability worldwide, often resulting in conditions such as cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and cognitive impairment. Despite decades of research, there are currently no approved drug therapies specifically targeting the underlying inflammatory injury associated with HIE.Pegtarazimod represents a novel approach. Derived from a naturally occurring viral peptide, the therapy is designed to modulate two major upstream drivers of inflammatory damage - the complement system and neutrophil-mediated inflammation. Rather than focusing on a single downstream pathway, the strategy aims to intervene earlier in the inflammatory cascade that contributes to ongoing brain injury following hypoxic events.The company's ongoing Phase 2 STAR trial is currently evaluating pegtarazimod in newborns with moderate to severe HIE undergoing therapeutic hypothermia, which remains the current standard of care.In this conversation, we discuss:- the biology and clinical burden of HIE,- why past therapeutic approaches have struggled,- the scientific origins of pegtarazimod,- how virus-derived peptides may open new approaches to immune modulation,- and what success could ultimately mean for neonatal medicine and inflammatory disease more broadly.#NeonatalCare #HIE #HypoxicIschemicEncephalopathy #BrainInjury #NewbornHealth #Biotech #Inflammation #Neuroscience #NICU #DrugDevelopment #Pharma #HealthcareInnovation #ComplementSystem #Immunology #RareDisease #ClinicalTrials #Pediatrics #MedicalInnovation #ReAlta #HowardBerman #FutureOfMedicine #PrecisionMedicine #Neuroprotection #LifeSciences #ProgressPotentialPossibilitiesSupport the show

Send us Fan MailOn any given night, more than 750,000 people are homeless in America - but that number doesn't even begin to tell the full story.Today's conversation sits at the intersection of advocacy, lived experience, and storytelling - because ending homelessness isn't just a policy challenge, it's a human one.Our first guest, Donald Whitehead Jr., is one of the leading voices in the fight to end homelessness in America. As Executive Director of the National Coalition for the Homeless ( https://nationalhomeless.org/ ), he brings more than 25 years of frontline and leadership experience across housing, recovery, and social services. But Donald's work is also deeply personal - having experienced homelessness and addiction himself, he now helps shape national policy, elevate lived voices, and push for a more equitable system rooted in dignity and justice.Joining him is Valerio Zanoli ( https://www.valeriozanoli.com/ ), an award-winning filmmaker and social entrepreneur who believes cinema can be a force for change. His latest documentary, HOMELESS ( https://homelessdocumentary.com/ ), goes beyond statistics to humanize the experience of homelessness - exploring the stories, dreams, and resilience of people too often overlooked. The film has already been featured at global forums and praised for its emotional depth and social impact ( https://buffalo8.com/project/homeless/ ).Together, they represent two powerful lenses on the same issue: one from the front lines of advocacy and systems change, the other from behind the camera - shaping how the world sees and understands homelessness.Let's Make a Difference Project - www.letsmakeadifference.info#Homelessness #HousingCrisis #EndHomelessness #SocialImpact #DocumentaryFilm #HousingFirst #PublicPolicy #AffordableHousing #MentalHealthAwareness #EconomicInequality #LasVegas #UrbanCrisis #NonprofitLeadership #StorytellingForChange #HumanStories #SocialJustice #Inequality #HomelessInAmerica #PolicyDebate #ImpactFilmSupport the show

Send us Fan MailThere's a hidden supply chain crisis happening in fine dining right now - and it's something as simple, and as essential, as chocolate.Brandon Olsen is a world-class chef and chocolatier known for blending high-end culinary artistry with bold, modern creativity. He trained at some of the most prestigious kitchens in the world, including The French Laundry under Thomas Keller, before becoming a standout force in Toronto's culinary scene.Brandon is the founder of CXBO Chocolates and co-founder of La Banane, where his visually striking and technically precise desserts - most famously the “Ziggy Stardust Disco Egg” - earned widespread acclaim.Now, Brandon is making a pivotal shift from chocolatier to chocolate maker. As co-founder of As We Do Chocolate Company ( https://aswedochocolates.com/ ), he is stepping upstream in the value chain - taking control of the full bean-to-bar process to reimagine how chocolate is designed, produced, and delivered for professional kitchens.Michael Held is a seasoned entrepreneur and capital strategist with nearly 35 years of experience building and scaling companies across industries. He is best known as the founder of LifeSpeak Inc., a digital mental health platform he grew from inception to approximately $50 million in annual recurring revenue before taking it public at a valuation of roughly half a billion dollars.With a background spanning law, management consulting, and high-growth technology ventures - including roles at Monitor Group and Borden Ladner Gervais LLP - Michael brings deep expertise in scaling operations, capital formation, and strategic growth.At As We Do Chocolate, Michael is focused on building the infrastructure and operational backbone required to create something rare in food: a scaled, chef-driven manufacturing platform designed to serve the evolving needs of North American hospitality.#ChocolateIndustry #BeanToBar #FoodSupplyChain #ChefLife #PastryChef #FoodInnovation #HospitalityIndustry #RestaurantBusiness #FoodTech #SupplyChainCrisis #CulinaryArts #GourmetDesserts #FineDining #Entrepreneurship #StartupStory #FoodManufacturing #MadeInNorthAmerica #LuxuryFood #ChocolateLovers #KitchenSecrets #BehindTheScenesFood #DisruptingIndustry #ScalingCraft #FoodBusiness #FutureOfFoodSupport the show

Send us Fan MailWhat if you could ship a nuclear power plant like a container - and run it for years without refueling?Josef Freundorfer is the CEO of Nuclea Energy ( https://www.nuclea.energy/ ), where he is leading the development of next-generation nuclear microreactors designed to bring reliable, zero-carbon power to some of the world's most challenging environments.An engineer by training, Josef brings hands-on experience across reactor design, fuel handling, and nuclear operations - having worked at Bruce Power and Candu Energy - combined with a strategic perspective shaped by his role as founder and president of Nuclear Potential Canada, where he has been an active voice in advancing nuclear innovation and public understanding.At Nuclea, Josef is spearheading the development of the Morpheus Reactor - a lead-cooled, graphite-moderated microreactor platform aimed at powering remote communities, mining operations, defense installations, and energy-intensive infrastructure like data centers.With a growing patent portfolio in nuclear plant design and a career spanning engineering, policy advocacy, and entrepreneurship, Josef sits at the intersection of technology, regulation, and market deployment - working to redefine how nuclear energy is built, deployed, and scaled in the 21st century.#nuclearenergy #microreactors #smallmodularreactors #SMR #advancednuclear #cleanenergy #energytransition #nuclearpower #HALEU #nextgenerationenergy #energydisruption #climatetech #deepphysics #energysecurity #AIinfrastructure #datacenters #miningenergy #offgridpower #leadcooledreactor #nuclearinnovation #canadanuclear #futureenergySupport the show

Send us Fan MailWe may be building something entirely new - a kind of digital nervous system for the planet, where satellites and AI are constantly sensing and interpreting what's happening on Earth.Sean Donegan is the Founder and CEO of Satelytics ( https://www.satelytics.com/ ), a pioneer in applying artificial intelligence to high-resolution satellite imagery to monitor and protect critical infrastructure at global scale. With more than three decades of experience in enterprise software and predictive analytics, Sean has built a career at the intersection of data, automation, and real-world industrial problem solving.Long before “GeoAI” became a buzzword, Sean recognized the potential of combining remote sensing with advanced analytics to deliver continuous, actionable intelligence across vast physical assets - pipelines, power grids, and water systems that were historically difficult to monitor in real time. Under his leadership, Satelytics has helped move satellite-based monitoring from experimental pilot programs into core operational systems, enabling energy and utility companies to detect methane leaks, identify environmental risks, and prevent costly infrastructure failures before they escalate.Sean is a serial entrepreneur who has founded or led four successful software companies. Prior to Satelytics, he spent 15 years as CEO of Westbrook Technologies, where he engineered one of the more dramatic turnarounds in enterprise software - transforming a struggling firm into a profitable global leader serving customers in more than 50 countries. Earlier, he developed predictive analytics platforms for the oil and gas sector through his firm Sean Allen LLC, laying the groundwork for the industrial AI applications he is advancing today.Known for his energetic leadership style and sharp wit, Sean combines deep technical insight with a practical understanding of how large industrial operators adopt new technologies. Today, he is at the forefront of a major shift in how the world's most critical infrastructure is monitored - where satellites, AI, and falling data costs are converging to make continuous, global surveillance not just possible, but essential.#GeoAI #SatelliteTechnology #ArtificialIntelligence #MethaneDetection #OilAndGas #EnergyInnovation #ClimateTech #RemoteSensing #SpaceTech #Infrastructure #Utilities #EnvironmentalMonitoring #DataAnalytics #PredictiveAnalytics #SmartInfrastructure #WildfirePrevention #TechPodcast #FutureOfAI #IndustrialAI #EarthObservationSupport the show

Send us Fan MailDoctors in North America are now prescribing something you can't buy at a pharmacy… and it's backed by a growing body of science. Jennie McCaffrey is the Vice President of Health & Education at the BC Parks Foundation ( https://bcparksfoundation.ca/ ), where she leads initiatives designed to connect people to nearby nature for the benefit of both human health and the planet.With a career spanning environmental education, behavior change, and large-scale community engagement, Jennie has worked across nonprofits, government, and industry to inspire action on biodiversity, climate, and public health. Her work has helped build movements around ambitious conservation goals like 25x25 and 30x30, while also translating those global targets into everyday human behaviors - getting people outside, active, and reconnected with nature.Before stepping into her current role, Jennie led education and engagement efforts at the Invasive Species Council of BC, where she scaled programs dramatically during a period of rapid organizational growth. She has also spent over a decade delivering hands-on environmental education through the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation and its WildBC program, empowering communities to better understand and protect the natural world.Jennie holds a Master's in Environmental Education and a Bachelor's in Conservation Biology from University of British Columbia, and she brings both scientific grounding and deep community experience to her mission: making nature a daily, accessible part of people's lives - and a cornerstone of healthier societies.#NatureAsMedicine #HealthyByNature #ParkPrescriptions #PaRx #PreventiveHealth #PublicHealthInnovation #MentalHealth #Longevity #BehaviorChange #EnvironmentalHealth #Biodiversity #ClimateAndHealth #OutdoorWellness #NatureTherapy #HealthcareInnovation #FutureOfHealth #PopulationHealth #WellnessStrategy #UrbanNature #HealthOptimization #BiohackingNature #Sustainability #BCParks #HumanPerformance #NatureConnectionSupport the show

Send us Fan MailToday on Progress, Potential And Possibilities, we explore a different kind of breakthrough in cognitive health - not a drug, not a device, but a simple daily practice that's quietly transforming lives.Our guest is Rob Liebreich, President and CEO of Goodwin Living ( https://goodwinliving.org/ ), an organization serving thousands of older adults across the Washington, D.C. region. Rob has spent more than two decades at the forefront of senior living and aging services - leading large-scale communities, building platforms to improve how families navigate care decisions, and working to fundamentally shift the narrative around aging from one of decline to one of purpose and possibility.But this story isn't just professional - it's deeply personal.When Rob's mother began experiencing cognitive decline, he refused to accept that deterioration was inevitable. Drawing on both his industry experience and a willingness to experiment, he developed a simple daily regimen - reading aloud, handwriting, and doing math - that helped her regain engagement, confidence, and independence.What began as a personal intervention evolved into StrongerMemory ( https://strongermemory.org/ ), a free, research-backed program now used by more than 60,000 seniors nationwide. Supported by emerging research from George Mason University, StrongerMemory is challenging conventional assumptions about what's possible in cognitive aging - and who gets access to meaningful care.At a time when memory care can cost thousands of dollars per month and pharmaceutical solutions remain limited, Rob's work raises a powerful question:What if one of the most effective tools for brain health isn't something you buy - but something you do, every day?#CognitiveDecline #Alzheimers #DementiaCare #BrainHealth #Neuroplasticity #AgingWell #Longevity #MemoryCare #SeniorLiving #HealthcareInnovation #PreventativeHealth #NonPharmacological #BrainTraining #MentalFitness #Caregiving #AgingPopulation #DigitalHealth #Healthspan #PodcastClips #FutureOfHealthcare #Wellness #CognitiveHealth #BrainExercises #StrongerMemory #Neuroscience #LongevityScience #HealthyAging #PublicHealthSupport the show

Send us Fan MailIn times of crisis, innovation doesn't slow down - it accelerates.Over the past several years, Ukraine has become globally recognized for its rapid advances in defense technology - particularly in drones and distributed manufacturing. But alongside that transformation, another revolution has been quietly taking shape: the future of medicine, built under extreme conditions.Today, we're exploring that frontier through the work of biodrook (https://biodrook.com/en) - a company developing 3D-printed, biodegradable bone implants designed to help the body regenerate itself.And joining me are three of the leaders building that vision.Denys Gurak is the Founder of biodrook and a longtime innovator at the intersection of technology, policy, and defense. Through his work at MITS Capital, he's been deeply involved in scaling Ukraine's defense-tech ecosystem and connecting it to global supply chains - bringing a systems-level perspective on how innovation happens under pressure.Kateryna Osetrova is Executive Director for Ukraine at biodrook, with a background spanning stem cells, exosome-based therapies, and regenerative medicine. She brings a deep understanding of how these technologies move from concept to clinical reality - and what it takes to deliver them to patients.Michael Pluzhnyk is biodrook's Chief Technology Officer, and is leading the engineering and production of these next-generation implants - translating cutting-edge materials science and 3D printing into real-world medical devices now being deployed in Ukraine.Together, they represent something rare: the convergence of vision, biology, and engineering - applied not in ideal conditions, but in one of the most challenging environments imaginable.So this is a conversation about more than just medical technology.It's about rebuilding the human body.It's about building systems that can operate under extreme stress.And ultimately, it's about what the future of medicine looks like when innovation is no longer optional - but necessary.biodrook Video - https://youtu.be/sK2Y_-A17MI?si=fliuc8oSgaqWxGIE#biotech #regenerativemedicine #3dprinting #bioprinting #medtech #futureofmedicine #healthcareinnovation #orthopedics #tissueengineering #biodegradable #startups #ukraine #innovation #science #technology #medicalbreakthrough #healthtech #longevity #deeptech #engineering #biomaterials #venturecapital #defensetech #futuretechSupport the show

Send us Fan MailToday's conversation sits at the intersection of one of the most ambitious - and most challenging - frontiers in modern medicine: regenerative cell therapy.For decades, the vision has been incredibly compelling - replace damaged or dying cells with healthy ones, and you could potentially restore function in diseases like macular degeneration, spinal cord injury, hearing loss, and even Type 1 diabetes. But while the science has advanced, the field has consistently run into a different kind of barrier: how do you actually manufacture living cells as consistent, scalable, affordable therapies?That's not just a biology problem - it's an engineering, manufacturing, and business problem.And it's one that today's guest has spent his entire career navigating.Brian Culley brings more than three decades of experience across the life sciences industry, spanning drug development, business development, and executive leadership. From early work in neuropharmacology at Neurocrine Biosciences, to technology transfer at University of California, San Diego, to building and leading public biotech companies like Mast Therapeutics, he's seen the industry from nearly every angle - science, capital markets, partnerships, and operations.Today, as CEO of Lineage Cell Therapeutics ( https://lineagecell.com/ ), Brian is applying that full spectrum of experience to one of the hardest problems in medicine: how to turn the promise of regenerative cell therapy into something that can actually reach patients at scale.Under his leadership, Lineage has taken a manufacturing-first approach - building an integrated platform designed to deliver high-quality, ‘off-the-shelf' cell therapies - and in the process has secured major partnerships with companies like Genentech and William Demant.Today, we're going to explore not just the promise of cell therapy - but what it really takes to make it real.#CellTherapy #RegenerativeMedicine #Biotech #StemCells #Longevity #FutureOfMedicine #HealthcareInnovation #Biotechnology #GeneTherapy #MedicalBreakthrough #DrugDevelopment #PrecisionMedicine #LifeSciences #Pharma #BiotechCEO #StartupBiotech #Innovation #SciencePodcast #Healthcare #AgingResearch #VisionRestoration #HearingLoss #SpinalCordInjury #Type1Diabetes #Genentech #LineageCellTherapeuticsSupport the show

Send us Fan MailImagine a device that can sense disease in real time… and treat it instantly. That's the promise of Bioelectronics.Dr. Robert Spoelgen, Ph.D. is Vice President and Head of Bioelectronics at Merck KGaA Darmstadt Germany ( https://www.emdgroup.com/en/the-future-transformation/healing-power-electronics.html ), where he leads one of the company's most forward-looking initiatives at the intersection of neuroscience, medical devices, and digital health. In this role, he founded and now drives Merck KGaA Darmstadt Germany's bioelectronics strategy, focused on developing implantable neurostimulation technologies - particularly selective peripheral nerve stimulation platforms - to treat chronic diseases and enable real-time patient monitoring.Dr. Spoelgen's work reflects a broader shift within pharma toward “beyond the pill” modalities, combining device-based therapies with data-driven insights. His team collaborates with medtech partners to develop precision neuromodulation approaches, including vagus nerve stimulation platforms aimed at conditions ranging from hypertension to inflammatory disease.Before launching bioelectronics at Merck KGaA Darmstadt Germany, Dr. Spoelgen led Technology Foresight & Scouting, where he helped identify and incubate new innovation domains including AI-driven drug discovery, liquid biopsy, neuromorphic systems, and synthetic biology. He was also a co-founder of Merck KGaA Darmstadt Germany's internal Business Builder unit, designed to create new ventures beyond the company's traditional portfolio.Earlier in his career, Dr. Spoelgen held executive and R&D leadership roles across biotech and med-tech, including serving as CEO of Anteis S.A. and leading medical device R&D at Merz Pharmaceuticals. His scientific foundation is in molecular neuroscience: he completed his PhD at the Max Delbrück Center and a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard Medical School under Brad Hyman, focusing on Alzheimer's disease and neurodegeneration.Dr. Spoelgen's early research - spanning amyloid biology, synaptic signaling, and neurogenesis - resulted in publications in leading journals such as Neuron, PNAS, and Journal of Neuroscience. This deep neuroscience background now informs his efforts to translate neural circuit insights into programmable therapeutic systems.#Bioelectronics #VagusNerve #Neurostimulation #FutureOfMedicine #DigitalHealth #PrecisionMedicine #Neuroscience #MedTech #HealthcareInnovation #Pharma #DrugDiscovery #Neurotechnology #ChronicDisease #Inflammation #AIinHealthcare #ClosedLoopSystems #Electroceuticals #MedicalDevices #Biotech #MerckKGaASupport the show

Send us Fan MailToday's conversation is part of a new series we're launching — ‘Past Forward: Lessons for the Next Century.' In this series, we examine pivotal moments, systems, and individuals from the past - not to relive them, but to better understand how they continue to shape the world we are building.  Because many of the defining forces of our time - globalized networks, technological escalation, public health crises, and the evolution of law enforcement - did not emerge in isolation. They evolved from earlier systems, earlier decisions, and earlier actors operating under very different constraints.Today's episode is titled: ‘The Architecture of a Drug Empire — and the Systems It Forced the World to Build.'Carlos Lehder is one of the central figures in the rise of the Medellín Cartel, and someone who played a key role in developing the logistics and infrastructure that helped transform the global cocaine trade. After decades of imprisonment, he has recently published a firsthand account of that era in his book, Life and Death of the Medellín Cartel ( https://www.amazon.com/DEATH-MEDELL%C3%8DN-CARTEL-CARLOS-LEHDER/dp/B0FDL8D66M/ ) a narrative that traces his journey from early criminal activity to the creation and evolution of one of the most consequential criminal networks in modern history.This conversation is not about glamorizing crime or revisiting mythology. It is about understanding systems - how they scale, how they collide with institutions, and how their consequences ripple across decades.Across this discussion, we explore themes that connect directly to many conversations we've had on this show - from the evolution of global law enforcement and emerging technologies, to drug policy, harm reduction, incarceration, and even healthcare behind bars.And ultimately, the goal is simple: to extract lessons. Lessons about innovation and unintended consequences. Lessons about policy and adaptation. And lessons that may help us better understand - and perhaps better navigate - the systems we are building for the future.#PastForward #ProgressPotentialPossibilities #CarlosLehder #MedellinCartel #PabloEscobar #DrugPolicy #WarOnDrugs #TrueCrime #Geopolitics #CriminalJustice #LawEnforcement #DEA #HistoryMatters #SystemsThinking #GlobalSecurity #OrganizedCrime #Innovation #PublicHealth #HarmReduction #FutureOfPolicing #AIandCrime #DrugEpidemic #ColdWarHistory #TransnationalCrime #PodcastSupport the show

Send us Fan MailWhat if a simple blood test could detect Alzheimer's years—maybe even decades—before symptoms ever appear?Mike Banville is the Chief Executive Officer of ALZpath ( https://alzpath.bio/ ), a company at the forefront of transforming how Alzheimer's disease is detected and monitored through cutting-edge blood-based diagnostics.Mike is a seasoned global executive with a track record of scaling businesses, driving operational transformation, and executing strategic growth through both organic expansion and acquisitions. Prior to ALZpath, he served as CEO of SSB - doubling revenue and shifting the business to a predominantly recurring revenue model.Earlier in his career, Mike spent over two decades at IHS Markit, where he held multiple senior leadership roles across strategy, sales, marketing, and global operations. There, he helped scale the Telecommunications, Media, and Technology division through acquisitions and product integration, while also leading global offshoring strategy and climate-focused market development initiatives.Mike has also led and turned around companies in digital health and athlete development, bringing a consistent focus on data, analytics, and scalable platforms.Now at ALZpath, Mike is applying that same operational and strategic expertise to one of the most urgent challenges in medicine - enabling earlier, more accessible detection of Alzheimer's disease through innovative biomarker technologies, like pTau217, helping accelerate research, improve clinical care, and ultimately impact millions of patients worldwide.#Alzheimers #AlzheimersDisease #Dementia #BrainHealth #Longevity #Biotech #HealthcareInnovation #Diagnostics #BloodTest #EarlyDetection #Neuroscience #Neurodegeneration #PrecisionMedicine #FutureOfMedicine #MedTech #Biomarkers #TauProtein #pTau217 #StartupCEO #BiotechCEO #HealthcarePodcast #MedicalBreakthrough #AgingResearch #CognitiveHealth #LifeSciencesSupport the show

Send us Fan MailThere's a revolution happening in pet health right now - where a simple stool sample can reveal disease risk, immune health, and even how long your dog might live.Dr. Bushra Schuitemaker, Ph.D. is a microbiologist, zoologist, and science leader working at the cutting edge of microbiome research, animal health, and nutrition. Dr. Schuitemaker serves as Head of Science and Research at BIOME9 ( https://biome9.com/ ), a leading platform for canine gut microbiome analysis, and Head of Microbiology at Pooch & Mutt ( https://www.poochandmutt.co.uk/ ), where she helps translate microbiome science into real-world products and interventions for pet health.Dr. Schuitemaker's work sits at the intersection of microbial ecology, bioinformatics, and machine learning, where she develops tools to decode the gut microbiome and turn complex data into actionable insights for veterinarians, pet owners, and the pet food industry. Her expertise spans metagenomics, metabolomics, and multi-omics integration, with a focus on identifying biomarkers that can drive precision health approaches in animals.Dr. Schuitemaker completed her Ph.D. in Zoology at the University of East Anglia, where she pioneered microbiome-based biomarkers of poultry gut health, and has also contributed to human health research, including microbiome and metabolomics studies in childhood obesity.A passionate advocate for “One Medicine” - the idea that human and animal health are deeply interconnected - Dr. Schuitemaker is also an active science communicator, collaborating across academia, industry, and policy to make microbiome science more impactful, inclusive, and accessible.#Microbiome #DogHealth #GutHealth #CanineMicrobiome #PetHealth #DogLongevity #VeterinaryScience #OneMedicine #OneHealth #PrecisionNutrition #Bioinformatics #MachineLearning #AnimalHealth #PetCare #DogsOfYouTube #DogWellness #HealthScience #FutureOfMedicine #LongevityScience #Metagenomics #Biome9 #PoochAndMutt #SciencePodcast #Biotech #AgingResearchSupport the show

Send us Fan MailWhat if most dogs aren't dying of old age - but from losing their ability to move?Dr. Laurie McCauley, DVM, DACVSMR, CCRT, CVA, CVC is a pioneer in veterinary rehabilitation and one of the most influential figures in canine sports medicine. With over two decades at the forefront of the field, she founded the first dedicated veterinary rehabilitation clinic in the United States and designed the world's first underwater treadmill specifically for dogs - innovations that helped transform how veterinarians approach mobility, recovery, and performance in animals.A board-certified specialist in Canine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, Dr. McCauley has trained thousands of veterinarians, physical therapists, and rehabilitation professionals around the world, and her work has played a central role in shaping modern standards of care.Dr. McCauley is the founder and instructional director of Optimum Pet Vitality ( https://optimumpetvitality.com/ ), an education platform focused on delivering evidence-based, practical training to veterinary professionals and pet owners alike, covering areas such as therapeutic exercise, laser therapy, and fascia-based treatments.In addition, Dr. McCauley is the owner of Red Tail Rehab, where she provides personalized, in-home rehabilitation care, helping animals improve mobility, reduce pain, and enhance quality of life.Dr. McCauley's career has been defined by a singular mission: to help animals move better, feel better, and ultimately live longer, healthier lives.#DogLongevity #PetHealth #CanineRehab #DogAging #VeterinaryMedicine #PetWellness #HealthyPets #DogHealth #LongevityScience #AnimalHealth #PetCareTips #SeniorDogs #CanineHealth #MobilityMatters #PetLongevity #VeterinaryRehabilitation #DogFitness #AgingResearch #BiohackingPets #HealthspanSupport the show

Send us Fan MailWhat if paralysis wasn't permanent—but just a biological system we haven't figured out how to reboot?Dr. Lior Shaltiel, Ph.D. is Chief Executive Officer of NurExone Biologic ( https://nurexone.com/ ), a biotech company pioneering a novel exosome-based platform aimed at repairing the central nervous system.Dr. Shaltiel brings a rare combination of deep scientific training and cross-border biotech leadership. He earned his Ph.D. in molecular pharmacology from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, where his research focused on ion channels and retinal biology - early work that connects directly to today's frontier in neuroregeneration.Before stepping into the CEO role, Dr. Shaltiel led R&D programs in advanced drug delivery systems, including liposome-based therapeutics, and worked in global biotech investment and partnerships. He's also the founder of the BioMed MBA program at Hebrew University of Jerusalem, helping train the next generation of biotech leaders.At NurExone, Dr. Shaltiel is advancing the company's ExoTherapy platform - leveraging extracellular vesicles to deliver targeted genetic payloads. Their lead program, ExoPTEN, is an intranasal exosome therapy designed to silence the PTEN gene and promote neuronal regeneration after spinal cord injury - an area where, to date, there are no approved treatments that restore lost function.#biotech #neuroscience #spinalcordinjury #regenerativemedicine #exosomes #stemcells #futureofmedicine #geneediting #biotechinnovation #medicalbreakthrough #neuroregeneration #sciencepodcast #healthtech #longevity #drugdiscovery #PTEN #RNAi #nextgenmedicine #biophysics #medtechSupport the show

Send us Fan MailWhat if the biggest barrier in healthcare today isn't science - but stigma?Eric Foster is Chief Commercial Officer at Ardelyx ( https://ardelyx.com/ ), a biopharmaceutical company where he leads global commercialization strategy for innovative therapies addressing high-burden gastrointestinal and cardiorenal diseases. A seasoned biotech executive with over two decades of experience, Eric has built and scaled high-performing commercial organizations across some of the industry's most complex and competitive markets.Prior to Ardelyx, Eric held senior leadership roles at Amgen and Horizon Therapeutics, where he led rare disease and specialty business units, overseeing product launches, market access, and global growth strategy. Earlier in his career, he spent over a decade at GSK and began in commercial roles at Johnson & Johnson.Eric is known for his expertise in rare disease commercialization, payer strategy, and building first-in-class market entry plans, with a strong focus on connecting patients to therapies and reducing barriers to care. He holds an MBA in Healthcare from Auburn University and a BA in Economics from the University of Georgia.#IBSC #GutHealth #WomensHealth #HealthcareInnovation #Biotech #PharmaMarketing #LPGA #WomensSports #DigitalHealth #PatientAwareness #ChronicIllness #HealthEducation #MedicalInnovation #HealthcareMarketing #BehaviorChange #HealthStigma #ChronicDisease #Biopharma #HealthPodcast #FutureOfHealthcareSupport the show

Send us Fan MailWhat if we could restore vision, communicate directly with the brain, and even extend human life—not with machines alone, but with living, engineered biology?Dr. Alan Mardinly, Ph.D. is the Chief Scientific Officer and Co-Founder of Science Corp. ( https://science.xyz/ ), a neurotechnology company developing next-generation brain interfaces and biohybrid neural implants aimed at restoring human function.Dr. Mardinly leads the company's biohybrid program, focused on combining genetically engineered cells with advanced optical hardware to create optogenetic therapies for vision restoration and new types of brain-machine interfaces.Dr. Mardinly has spent more than 15 years working at the intersection of neuroscience, genetics, and neural engineering. Dr. Mardinly earned his PhD in Neurobiology from Harvard University, where his research explored how experience and activity-dependent gene programs shape synaptic plasticity in inhibitory neurons—work that helped illuminate how neural circuits maintain stability while adapting to learning and sensory experience.Following Harvard, Dr. Mardinly conducted postdoctoral research at UC Berkeley, where he helped pioneer holographic optogenetics, a technology capable of stimulating specific neurons with extraordinary spatial and temporal precision.Dr. Mardinly later joined Neuralink, where he served as Director of Biology, leading teams focused on advancing brain-machine interface technologies. In 2021, Dr. Mardinly co-founded Science Corp., where he now works to translate cutting-edge neuroscience into therapeutic systems designed to restore vision and build the next generation of neural interfaces.#Neurotechnology  #BrainComputerInterface #Optogenetics #VisionRestoration #Biohybrid #ScienceCorp #Neuralink #FutureOfMedicine #BrainImplants #ArtificialVision #Neuroscience #Biotech #Longevity #LifeSupport #SyntheticBiology #HumanAugmentation #NextGenMedicine #DeepTech #Innovation #FutureOfHealthcareSupport the show

Send us Fan MailThere are over 9,000 rare diseases affecting 300 million people—and yet 90% of them have no approved treatment. Why?Craig Martin is the Founder and CEO of Orphan Therapeutics Accelerator ( https://www.orphantxl.com/ ), a pioneering nonprofit launched in 2024 to advance shelved therapies for ultra-rare diseases—bringing overlooked science back to life and guiding it through approval and into patients' hands through innovative development and commercialization pathways.With more than two decades at the intersection of biotech, digital health, and healthcare strategy, Craig has built a career around unlocking value in overlooked opportunities and tackling some of medicine's toughest challenges. He previously founded Rithm Health, where he has advised emerging biotech and health technology companies on strategy, growth, and stakeholder engagement.Craig also served as CEO of Global Genes, one of the world's leading rare disease patient advocacy organizations, where he reversed declining revenues, launched major new initiatives, and led a successful merger with RARE-X—expanding the organization's impact across the rare disease ecosystem.Earlier in his career, Craig spent over a decade leading Ogilvy | Feinstein Kean Healthcare, and held leadership roles at Ogilvy Consulting and Ruder Finn, advising global pharma, biotech, and health innovators.A graduate of Duke University, Craig brings a unique blend of strategic insight, policy awareness, and deep commitment to patients—focused on transforming how therapies for ultra-rare diseases are developed, financed, and delivered.#RareDisease #UltraRareDisease #Biotech #HealthcareInnovation #DrugDevelopment #GeneTherapy #OrphanDrugs #Pharma #MedicalInnovation #FutureOfMedicine #HealthTech #LifeSciences #BiotechInnovation #DrugDiscovery #PatientAccess #Healthcare #Medicine #Science #Innovation #NonprofitBiotech #RareDiseaseAwareness #GlobalHealthSupport the show

Send us Fan MailInside a fusion reactor, you're not just creating a star—you're building a machine that has to survive one. Temperatures hotter than the sun, relentless neutron bombardment… and materials that slowly destroy themselves from the inside out.Daniel Clark is a nuclear engineer and fusion energy expert working at the forefront of turning fusion from a scientific pursuit into a practical energy solution.Daniel is currently Director of Nuclear and Fuel Cycle Engineering at Type One Energy Group ( https://typeoneenergy.com/ ), where he leads critical efforts in breeder blanket and first wall design, as well as the tritium fuel cycle - core systems that will ultimately determine whether fusion reactors can operate sustainably at scale.Prior to joining the private sector, Daniel spent nearly eight years at the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science, where he managed the Fusion Materials Research Portfolio. During that time, he helped launch major national initiatives, including the Material Plasma Exposure eXperiment at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the INFUSE public-private partnership program, and the Fusion Prototypic Neutron Source.With degrees in nuclear engineering from Texas A&M University and University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Daniel brings a rare combination of deep technical expertise, federal policy insight, and commercialization experience—making him one of the key voices shaping the future of fusion energy.#FusionEnergy #NuclearFusion #CleanEnergy #FutureOfEnergy #EnergyInnovation #DeepTech #ClimateTech #Physics #NuclearEngineering #MaterialsScience #EnergyTransition #Tritium #SciencePodcast #TechPodcast #HardTech #Engineering #Innovation #FusionPower #StartupEnergy #BigScience #NextGenEnergy #AdvancedMaterials #EnergyFuture #BreakthroughScience #ClimateSolutionsSupport the show

Send us Fan MailWhat if the reason we haven't explored deep space isn't because we can't… but because our engines are fundamentally too slow?Richard Dinan is Founder and CEO of Pulsar Fusion ( https://pulsarfusion.com/ ) and one of the few entrepreneurs in the world not trying to bring fusion power to Earth… but to space.While most fusion startups are focused on powering cities, Richard is building engines designed to power spacecraft—fusion propulsion systems that could dramatically cut travel times to Mars, unlock missions to Saturn's moon Titan, and fundamentally reshape how we explore the solar system.Pulsar's flagship efforts—including its Dual Direct Fusion Drive and the Sunbird program—aim to combine high-thrust propulsion with onboard power generation, a combination that could enable entirely new classes of deep-space missions. The company is now working with the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority on advanced neutron shielding and activation modeling—critical challenges for making fusion viable and safe in space.Backed by the UK Space Agency and collaborating with the European Space Agency, Pulsar is positioning itself at the center of a new space race—one where the bottleneck isn't getting off Earth… but moving once you're already out there.On this episode we talk about why space might be the first place fusion actually works, what it takes to build engines that can survive neutron bombardment, and whether radically faster travel could open up the outer solar system within our lifetime.#fusionenergy #spacetechnology #spaceexploration #marsmission #deepspace #futureofspace #nuclearfusion #fusionpropulsion #spacex #nasa #spaceinnovation #aerospace #futuretech #pulsarfusion #richarddinan #sciencepodcast #techpodcast #engineering #physics #spacefuture #interplanetary #spaceindustry #nextgentech #hardtech #innovation #elonmusk #spaceeconomy #ukspace #europespace #austintechSupport the show

Send us Fan MailImagine treating back pain not with surgery, not with opioids—but by using your own stem cells to repair the damage at its source.Lance Alstodt is President, CEO, and Chairman of BioRestorative Therapies, Inc. ( https://biorestorative.com/ ), a publicly traded regenerative medicine company focused on developing stem cell-based therapies to treat highly prevalent conditions, including chronic lower back pain and metabolic disorders.With more than 25 years of experience across healthcare investment banking, medical technology, and company building, Lance brings a unique perspective at the intersection of science and capital markets. Prior to joining BioRestorative, he was the founder and CEO of MedVest Consulting, advising healthcare companies on growth strategy, M&A, and capital formation.Earlier in his career, Lance held senior leadership roles at firms including Leerink Partners, Oppenheimer & Co., Bank of America Merrill Lynch, and JPMorgan Chase & Co., where he specialized in healthcare and medical technology transactions.At BioRestorative, Lance is leading the development of innovative cell therapies such as BRTX-100, an autologous mesenchymal stem cell therapy currently in Phase 2 trials for chronic lumbar disc disease, aiming to offer a non-opioid, non-surgical solution to one of the most widespread causes of disability worldwide.#StemCells #RegenerativeMedicine #BackPainRelief #Biotech #HealthcareInnovation #MedicalBreakthrough #ChronicPain #BioTech #FutureOfMedicine #StemCellTherapy #DegenerativeDiscDisease #PainManagement #HealthTech #BiotechStocks #Longevity #MedicalInnovation #CellTherapy #NonSurgicalTreatment #OpioidCrisis #SciencePodcast #HealthcareRevolutionSupport the show

Send us Fan MailWhat if we could build a fusion reactor that runs continuously—without the instability issues that have plagued the field for years?Brian Berzin is the Co-Founder and CEO of Thea Energy ( https://thea.energy/ ), a next-generation fusion company focused on advancing stellarator technology—one of the most promising but historically underexplored approaches to magnetic confinement fusion.Brian brings a unique combination of deep technical and financial expertise, with a background spanning electrical engineering, venture capital, private equity, and investment banking. Prior to founding Thea Energy, Brian served as Vice President of Strategy at General Fusion, where he helped shape commercialization strategy and led engagement with global capital markets during a pivotal period for privately funded fusion.At Thea Energy, Brian is leading efforts to “end the sun's monopoly on fusion energy” by leveraging breakthroughs in high-temperature superconducting materials and advanced computational design to build more stable and scalable fusion systems. In 2023, the company was selected as one of a small group of awardees in the U.S. Department of Energy's milestone-based fusion development program.Brian holds dual degrees in Electrical Engineering and Finance from Lehigh University, reflecting the interdisciplinary mindset he now applies to one of the hardest engineering challenges in the world: making fusion power a commercial reality.#fusionenergy #fusion #cleanenergy #nuclearfusion #stellarator #tokamak #science #energy #futureofenergy #deeptech #climatechange #renewableenergy #hightech #engineering #superconductors #HTS #fusionpower #energytransition #cleantech #futuretech #startup #innovation #sciencepodcast #energyindependence #decarbonization #physics #bigideasSupport the show

Send us Fan MailWe're living through a golden age of rare disease breakthroughs—but for many patients, the hardest part begins after the drug is approved.Today we're joined by two leaders from the multinational biopharmaceutical company UCB ( https://www.ucb.com/ ) who are helping reshape how the rare disease community thinks about what happens after a therapy is approved—because for many families, approval is just the beginning of the journey.Dr. Kim Moran, Ph.D. is Senior Vice President and Head of U.S. Rare Diseases at UCB ( https://www.ucb-usa.com/UCB-in-the-U-S/U-S-Leadership-Team/Kim-Moran ). Dr. Moran leads the company's U.S. rare disease portfolio strategy and commercial organization, integrating clinical, regulatory, operational, and digital capabilities to bring therapies to patients with devastating and often ultra-rare conditions. Trained as a neuroscientist with a PhD from NYU and an Executive MBA from INSEAD, she has spent nearly two decades at UCB translating patient insights into real-world solutions—from epilepsy portfolio strategy to leading the recent FDA approvals and launches of two major rare disease assets. Dr. Moran is widely recognized for her leadership in the industry, including honors from the Healthcare Businesswomen's Association and Medical Marketing + Media, and she remains deeply focused on ensuring scientific breakthroughs actually translate into meaningful impact for patients and families.Brad Chapman is Head of U.S. Epilepsy and Rare Syndromes at UCB ( https://www.ucb-usa.com/UCB-in-the-U-S/U-S-Leadership-Team/Brad-Chapman ). Mr. Chapman oversees one of the deepest portfolios of anti-seizure therapies in the industry, including BRIVIACT, NAYZILAM, and FINTEPLA, while leading nationwide teams focused on connecting patients with both treatment and support systems. Over more than 15 years with UCB, Mr. Chapman has helped pioneer new go-to-market models in neurology that move decision-making closer to patients and providers, strengthen partnerships with the epilepsy community, and rethink how pharmaceutical organizations deliver value “beyond the pill.”Together, Dr. Moran and Mr. Chapman sit at the intersection of scientific innovation, patient access, and community infrastructure, and they're helping answer a critical question in rare disease: How do we make sure life-changing therapies actually reach—and work for—the patients who need them most?Important Episode Link - Caring for Adults with Rare Epilepsy -https://www.ucb-usa.com/sites/default/files/2024-06/UCBCAREBinder.pdf#RareDisease #UltraRareDisease #Epilepsy #CDKL5 #DravetSyndrome #RareEpilepsy #Biotech #Pharma #DrugDevelopment #PrecisionMedicine #Geroscience #HealthcareInnovation #PatientAccess #CaregiverSupport #MedicalInnovation #Neuroscience #MitochondrialDisease #TK2Deficiency #ClinicalTrials #LifeSciences #Biopharma #HealthPolicy #FutureOfMedicine #PatientCare #InnovationSupport the show

Send us Fan MailWhether it's a battlefield, a construction site, or a farm, the challenge is the same: how do you turn massive amounts of visual data into fast, accurate decisions? Increasingly, the answer is autonomous systems. transforming how we see the world—turning raw imagery into decisions at unprecedented speed.Bill Irby is CEO and Board Member of EagleNXT ( https://eaglenxt.com/ ), a leading provider of full-stack drone, sensor, and software solutions serving both commercial and government customers worldwide.Bill brings more than 25 years of leadership experience across the unmanned systems and defense technology landscape, spanning ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) platforms, communications systems, and advanced autonomy. Prior to EagleNXT, Bill held senior executive roles across some of the most important defense companies in the world, including serving as President of Reconnaissance Mission Systems at L3Harris Technologies, where he led a $1.5 billion portfolio supporting some of the U.S. military's most critical airborne intelligence platforms.Bill also served as Senior Vice President and General Manager of Unmanned Systems at Textron Systems, overseeing globally deployed UAV and unmanned maritime systems, and held multiple leadership roles at Northrop Grumman, focusing on C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) and tactical communications.Earlier in his career, Bill served as a Combat Engineer in the United States Marine Corps, leading missions across the globe.In addition to his operational leadership, Bill has played a key role in shaping the unmanned systems ecosystem serving as Chairman of the Board of AUVSI ( Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International - https://www.auvsi.org/ ), advocating for the safe integration and advancement of autonomous technologies.Bill is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, holds a master's degree from Johns Hopkins University, and completed executive education at Harvard Business School.#DefenseTech #DroneWarfare #AutonomousSystems #MilitaryDrones #ISR #ArtificialIntelligence #FutureOfWar #UncrewedSystems #Aerospace #NationalSecurity #Robotics #AI #MilitaryTechnology #Innovation #TechPodcast #EmergingTech #BattlefieldTechnology #Surveillance #Geopolitics #StartupDefenseSupport the show

Send us Fan MailPreventing transplant loss doesn't just save organs—it could eliminate hospitalizations, reduce lifelong medications, and transform millions of lives.Dr. Janine Gaiha-Rohrbach, Ph.D. is a globally recognized leader in immunology and medical strategy, currently serving as Head of Global Medical Immunology at Biogen ( https://www.biogen.com/ ). With a PhD in Immunology and Virology from the University Hospital of Berne and extensive postdoctoral research at the Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard, Dr. Gaiha-Rohrbach has dedicated her career to translating complex scientific advances into high-impact patient care.Throughout her career, Dr. Gaiha-Rohrbach has driven innovation across diverse therapeutic areas, including HIV, hepatitis, NASH, and specialized immunology, leading multiple new product launches and shaping global strategies to expand patient access.At Biogen, Dr. Gaiha-Rohrbach now focuses on advancing therapies in immunology with an emphasis on areas of high unmet need, including the evolving field of kidney transplantation.On today's episode, we'll explore the future of kidney transplant care, the limitations of current treatments for antibody-mediated rejection, and how emerging therapies targeting the immune system are poised to transform patient outcomes.#KidneyTransplant #TransplantInnovation #Biogen #Immunology #AntibodyMediatedRejection #AMR #CD38 #Felzartamab #OrganTransplant #HealthcareInnovation #Biotech #DrugDevelopment #PrecisionMedicine #Nephrology #ChronicKidneyDisease #MedicalBreakthrough #FutureOfMedicine #Immunotherapy #TransplantMedicine #LifeSavingScience #Podcast #HealthcarePodcast #BiotechPodcast #SciencePodcastSupport the show

Send us Fan MailPharma has spent decades building a graveyard of failed drugs — but hidden inside that data may be treatments that actually worked… for someone.Vin Singh is Founder and CEO of BullFrog AI ( https://bullfrogai.com/ ), a company working at the intersection of machine learning, causal modeling, and drug development.BullFrog is focused on a fundamental problem in biopharma — not just how to analyze increasingly large datasets, but how to extract meaningful cause-and-effect relationships from them. Their platform integrates data preparation, analysis, and network-based modeling to help research teams better understand biological mechanisms, identify patient subgroups, and improve clinical trial design.Vin brings a deep mix of technical, operational, and entrepreneurial experience to this challenge. Prior to founding BullFrog, he held leadership roles across the life sciences ecosystem, including serving as Global Director of the Cell Therapy Business at Thermo Fisher Scientific, where he oversaw services supporting clinical and commercial-stage therapies. He also founded and led Next Healthcare, a company focused on adult stem cell and skin cell banking, and was an early co-founder at MaxCyte, helping build foundational technologies in cell engineering.In addition to his operating roles, Vin has been active in the innovation ecosystem as a Mentor in Residence at Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures.Vin holds an MBA in Finance from Johns Hopkins University, a Master's in Biomedical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and a Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering from Rutgers University — a background that spans engineering, biology, and business.#CausalAI #DrugDevelopment #Biotech #ClinicalTrials #PrecisionMedicine #AIinHealthcare #PharmaInnovation #FailedDrugs #OncologyResearch #PancreaticCancer #FutureOfMedicine #MachineLearning #Biopharma #TranslationalMedicine #DigitalHealth #MedicalInnovation #DataScience #ClinicalResearch #AIinBiotech #HealthcareInnovationSupport the show

Send us Fan MailBone marrow transplants have always depended on finding the right donor at the right time. But what if bone marrow could be stored, shipped, and used on demand—just like a drug? That's exactly what Ossium Health is now showing in human clinical data.Kevin Caldwell is the Co-Founder, CEO, and President of Ossium Health ( https://ossiumhealth.com/ ), a clinical-stage bioengineering company pioneering off-the-shelf, cryopreserved bone marrow therapies derived from deceased organ donors.Under Kevin's leadership, Ossium has developed a novel platform designed to solve one of the most persistent challenges in transplantation medicine: timely access to compatible bone marrow for patients with life-threatening hematologic malignancies such as Acute Myeloid Leukemia. The company's approach enables on-demand delivery of viable marrow cells, bypassing the logistical and biological constraints of traditional donor matching and scheduling.Since its founding, Kevin has scaled Ossium from an early-stage startup into a clinical-stage company with a robust network of over 50 strategic partnerships across supply, clinical development, and commercial channels. He has led multiple financings and secured a landmark contract with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, validating Ossium's relevance to national health preparedness and biomanufacturing resilience.Most recently, Kevin has overseen the company's transition into human clinical validation, including first-in-human data from the PRESERVE I trial, real-world use cases in transplant rescue scenarios, and peer-reviewed publication of its GMP-based manufacturing platform and early outcomes.Prior to founding Ossium, Kevin was an Engagement Manager at McKinsey & Company, advising biotech and healthcare companies on strategy, M&A, and restructuring. Earlier, he worked in quantitative research at Bridgewater Associates. He holds degrees in Physics and Economics from MIT and a JD from Harvard Law School.#Biotech #BoneMarrowTransplant #StemCells #CancerTreatment #Leukemia #AML #CellTherapy #RegenerativeMedicine #Biotechnology #FutureOfMedicine #HealthcareInnovation #MedicalBreakthrough #Immunotherapy #TransplantMedicine #Cryopreservation #LongevityScience #Bioengineering #StartupScience #OnDemandMedicine #PrecisionMedicine #ClinicalTrials #Biopharma #DeepTech #LifeSciences #HealthcareDisruptionSupport the show

Send us Fan MailThere's an entire medical specialty, Physiatry, dedicated not to treating disease - but to helping patients regain their lives. And most people have never heard of it.Dr. Michael Yochelson is a Physiatrist and a nationally recognized leader in rehabilitation medicine and brain injury care ( https://shepherd.org/staff-directory/michael-yochelson/ ).Dr. Yochelson serves as the Chief Medical Officer at Shepherd Center, one of the top hospitals in the United States for spinal cord and brain injury rehabilitation. He is also an Adjunct Professor at Emory University School of Medicine ( https://med.emory.edu/directory/profile/?u=MYOCHEL ).Board-certified in both neurology and physical medicine & rehabilitation, Dr. Yochelson has spent decades at the forefront of helping patients recover from some of the most complex neurological injuries. Prior to Shepherd Center, he held major leadership roles at MedStar National Rehabilitation Network and Georgetown University, where he also founded and led a Brain Injury Medicine Fellowship program.Earlier in his career, Dr. Yochelson served for over a decade in the United States Navy, including leadership roles in neurology and rehabilitation medicine.In addition to his clinical and academic work, Dr. Yochelson serves on the Board of Governors of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation ( https://www.aapmr.org/ ), where he chairs the Inclusion and Engagement Committee, helping shape the future of a specialty dedicated not just to treating disease—but restoring function, independence, and quality of life.Important Episode Link - Understanding Spasticity: A Simple Guide to Symptoms, Treatment, and Getting Better - https://www.aapmr.org/resources/AAPMR_Spasticity_Patient_Journey.html#Physiatry #RehabilitationMedicine #AAPMR #Neurorehabilitation #BrainInjury #StrokeRecovery #SpinalCordInjury #Mobility #Function #QualityOfLife #Neuroplasticity #RecoveryScience #FutureOfMedicine #HealthcareInnovation #PatientRecovery #DisabilityCare #HumanPerformance #Longevity #MedicinePodcast #HealthPodcast #SciencePodcast #ClinicalInnovation #MedicalEducation #RestoreFunctionSupport the show

Send us Fan MailLyme disease affects hundreds of thousands of people every year—and yet we still struggle to diagnose it, treat it, and prevent it.David Walsey is a strategic biotech leader with more than two decades of experience helping public life sciences companies translate scientific innovation into market impact. As Executive Director of the Bay Area Lyme Foundation ( https://www.bayarealyme.org/ ), David leads national efforts to accelerate research, improve diagnostics, and expand access to effective treatments for Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses—an area of growing public health urgency.Prior to joining the Foundation, David served as Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs at MEI Pharma, where he oversaw corporate strategy, investor relations, and communications during a critical period for the company. His career spans leadership roles across the biotech ecosystem, including Alder Biopharmaceuticals, Optimer Pharmaceuticals, Sarepta Therapeutics, Arena Pharmaceuticals, and Maxim Pharmaceuticals, as well as strategic communications roles at agencies such as Real Chemistry (formerly W2O Group), The Ruth Group, and Noonan Russo.David began his professional journey as a practicing attorney in New York City, bringing a legal and financial lens to his later work in biotech leadership. He holds an LL.M. in Taxation from New York University School of Law, a J.D. from Brooklyn Law School, and a B.A. from Franklin and Marshall College.#LymeDisease #LymeVaccine #Pfizer #Biotech #VaccineScience #PublicHealth #TickBorneDisease #MedicalInnovation #Biotechnology #Healthcare #InfectiousDisease #ClinicalTrials #VLA15 #Pharma #DrugDevelopment #SciencePodcast #Longevity #Diagnostics #VenturePhilanthropy #BayAreaLyme #FutureOfMedicine #BioInnovation #HealthcareInnovation #MedicalResearchSupport the show

Send us Fan MailFor decades, male birth control has remained one of medicine's most elusive goals. Now, a new non-hormonal pill is entering human trials—and could finally change the balance of reproductive responsibilityAkash Bakshi is CEO and Co-Founder of YourChoice Therapeutics ( https://www.yourchoicetx.com/ ), a company working to develop the first hormone-free birth control pill for men.Akash's work sits at the intersection of biotechnology innovation, reproductive health, and social change. His team is advancing YCT-529, a first-in-class non-hormonal contraceptive currently in human clinical trials, designed to safely and reversibly suppress sperm production by targeting retinoic acid signaling.Before founding YourChoice, Akash held leadership roles across biotech and drug development, including serving as CEO of ANA Therapeutics, where he rapidly advanced a COVID-19 therapeutic into clinical trials and led the company through acquisition, as well as COO of NeuroBo Pharmaceuticals.Earlier in his career, Akash worked at University of California, Berkeley helping bridge early-stage science and commercialization—experience that clearly shaped his approach to translating breakthrough academic research into real-world therapies.At a time when contraceptive responsibility has largely fallen on women—and amid growing debates around reproductive rights—Akash and his team are trying to fundamentally reshape the landscape.#MaleBirthControl #BirthControlPillForMen #NonHormonalContraception #YCT529 #BiotechBreakthrough #FutureOfMedicine #ReproductiveHealth #MensHealth #WomensHealth #FertilityScience #PharmaInnovation #ClinicalTrials #BiotechStartups #HealthcareInnovation #EndUnintendedPregnancy #SciencePodcast #LongevityAndHealth #DrugDevelopment #MedicalBreakthrough #ContraceptionRevolution #FutureOfHealthcare #RARalpha #YourChoiceTherapeutics #BiotechCEO #HealthTech #PostRoeWorldSupport the show

Send us Fan MailThere's an animal that can rebuild its entire body structure in just a few days—and it might hold clues to a new kind of medicine.Eden Ben is CEO of Amorphical ( https://www.amorphical.com/ ), a pioneering biotech company out of Israel that's been quietly building a completely new approach to mineral-based therapeutics.Founded in 2004, Amorphical has developed a proprietary nano-formulation of amorphous calcium carbonate—what they call ACC—engineered using biomimicry principles inspired by how certain organisms naturally stabilize calcium in highly bioavailable forms.What makes this so interesting is that ACC behaves very differently from traditional crystalline calcium. It's dramatically more soluble, significantly more bioavailable, and appears to act not just as a supplement, but as a functional, bioactive material that can influence cellular and tissue-level processes.The company is leveraging this platform across a range of indications—from bone and metabolic diseases to inflammatory conditions—aiming to move beyond symptom management and toward addressing underlying biological mechanisms.Eden himself has had a fascinating journey with the company—from early business development and global market expansion, to leading clinical and product strategy, and now stepping into the CEO role to scale both the science and the business globally.#Biotech #Longevity #Geroscience #Calcium #Nanotechnology #Biomimicry #ExtracellularMatrix #CancerResearch #Inflammation #Osteoporosis #BoneHealth #FutureOfMedicine #LifeSciences #Biology #RegenerativeMedicine #HealthInnovation #StartupScience #DeepTech #MedicalBreakthrough #Podcast #SciencePodcast #IsraeliInnovation #NanoMedicine #AgingResearchSupport the show

Send us Fan MailWhat if AI didn't need massive data centers—and could think more like the human brain?Sean Hehir is the Chief Executive Officer of BrainChip ( https://brainchip.com/ ), a pioneer in neuromorphic computing and ultra-low-power artificial intelligence hardware designed for intelligent edge devices.At BrainChip, Sean oversees the commercialization of the company's Akida neuromorphic processor—an advanced AI chip inspired by the architecture of the human brain. Akida enables real-time machine learning and pattern recognition directly at the edge, dramatically reducing power consumption and latency compared to traditional cloud-based AI systems. The technology is now being explored for applications ranging from defense and autonomous systems to automotive sensing, robotics, and healthcare devices.Prior to joining BrainChip in 2021, Sean spent more than two decades in senior leadership roles across the enterprise computing and semiconductor ecosystem. Earlier in his career, Sean held several senior executive roles at Hewlett‑Packard, including Vice President of Strategic Alliances, where he managed some of the company's most important global partnerships with industry giants such as Microsoft, Intel, Cisco Systems, Oracle, and SAP.His earlier leadership experience also includes roles at Fusion‑io and Compaq, where he helped drive large-scale enterprise computing partnerships and global service provider strategies.Sean holds an MBA in Economics from Georgia State University and a Bachelor of Science in Business from University of Massachusetts Amherst.#AI #ArtificialIntelligence #NeuromorphicComputing #BrainInspiredAI #EdgeAI #FutureOfAI #AIHardware #TechInnovation #DefenseTech #AutonomousSystems #MachineLearning #DeepLearning #NextGenAI #QuantumComputing #Semiconductors #Robotics #SmartSensors #AIRevolution #EmergingTech #HealthcareAI #WearableTech #MilitaryTechnology #Innovation #FutureTech #PodcastSupport the show

Send us Fan MailNorberto Chaclin is Executive Vice President, Chief Research & Development Officer of Mondelēz International ( https://www.mondelezinternational.com/about-us/leadership/executive-team/norberto-chaclin/ ), a global snacking leader with 2025 net revenues of approximately $38.5 billion, driven by iconic brands such as Oreo, Ritz, LU, Clif Bar and Tate's Bake Shop biscuits and baked snacks, as well as Cadbury Dairy Milk, Milka and Toblerone chocolate. Norberto most recently served as the Company's Senior Vice President, R&D, Global Biscuits and Regional R&D partner for North America. Under his leadership, Mondelēz rolled out exciting innovations and renovations across some of its most iconic biscuit and baked snack brands. Previously, he led R&D for the Company's global gum and candy business. Before joining Mondelēz International, Norberto spent 18 years with PepsiCo in a series of progressively responsible roles spanning Frito-Lay North America, PepsiCo International, Global Beverages and Joint Ventures – ultimately leading R&D for PepsiCo North America Beverages and the Pepsi/Starbucks joint venture. An amateur chef and native of Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles, Norberto brings to the role a passion for culinary arts and traditions. He holds a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from Texas A&M University and a master's degree in business administration from Southern Methodist University. He serves on the Board of Torr FoodTech and on the Board of Trustees for IAFNS – Advancing Food and Nutrition Sciences.Important Episode Link Mondelēz International's State of Snacking reports - https://www.mondelezinternational.com/stateofsnacking/#FutureOfFood #FoodTech #Snacking #Mondelez #Oreo #Cadbury #Chocolate #FoodInnovation #CPG #FMCG #AI #PrecisionFermentation #Sustainability #HealthySnacks #FoodScience #ConsumerTrends #GenZ #SupplyChain #FoodFuture #InnovationSupport the show

Send us Fan MailModern warfare is changing—and it's not just about weapons anymore.The real battle may be logistics, and autonomous systems are about to transform how wars are fought and sustained.Brandon Florian is Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer of Grid Aero ( https://www.grid.aero/ ), a venture-backed aerospace and defense startup building low-cost, autonomous aircraft designed for long-range operations and resilient logistics.Brandon has spent more than two decades working at the intersection of aerospace engineering, national security strategy, and emerging defense technologies. His career spans engineering, business development, and technology scouting across both large defense primes and the startup ecosystem.Brandon began his career as a spacecraft engineer at General Dynamics working on space systems before moving into strategic roles at Northrop Grumman, where he focused on innovation, disruptive technology scouting, and growth strategy. He later joined Starburst Aerospace, one of the leading global accelerators for aerospace and defense startups, where he helped build international innovation programs—including collaborations between the U.S. Space Force and the UK Ministry of Defense.Brandon has also worked extensively in venture and startup ecosystems through Mandala Space Ventures and independent consulting, helping governments and corporations navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of defense innovation.Today at Grid Aero, Brandon is focused on a critical challenge shaping modern warfare: how to build resilient logistics networks capable of operating in contested environments using autonomy, distributed systems, and radically lower-cost platforms.With a background in aerospace engineering from UCLA and an MBA from Pepperdine, Brandon brings both technical depth and strategic insight into how emerging technologies—from autonomous aircraft to distributed supply networks—will shape the future of defense operations.#defensetech #militaryinnovation #futureofwar #autonomy #AI #nationalsecurity #military #aerospace #drones #logistics #warstrategy #china #taiwan #iran #pentagon #startups #innovation #technology #supplychain #geopoliticsSupport the show

Send us Fan MailAdam Molnar is Co-Founder, COO and Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at Neurable ( https://www.neurable.com/ ), a pioneering neurotechnology company developing real-time brain-computer interface systems that translate neural signals into actionable insights.Over the past decade, Adam and his team have been working at the frontier of non-invasive EEG-based brain-computer interfaces, building technology capable of measuring cognitive states such as workload, fatigue, and attention directly from brain activity. Neurable's platform has attracted over $40 million in funding and has led to collaborations with organizations including the U.S. Air Force, the Air Force Research Laboratory, and U.S. Army, where the technology is being evaluated for applications ranging from pilot training and human performance monitoring to the detection of blast-related mild traumatic brain injury.Adam leads the company's global strategic partnerships across both commercial and defense sectors, helping bring neurotechnology out of the lab and into real-world environments—from wearable computing platforms to operational military systems. His work sits at the intersection of AI, neuroscience, and human-machine teaming, exploring how brain data can improve safety, cognition, and performance in high-stakes environments.Beyond Neurable, Adam contributes to the global neurotechnology ecosystem through organizations like NeuroTechX and the Institute of Neuroethics, helping shape the future of neural data governance and ethical brain-computer interfaces. He has also been recognized as part of Forbes 30 Under 30 for his work in advancing consumer neurotechnology.Today we'll explore how brain-computer interfaces are moving beyond laboratories and into operational systems—from defense training environments to everyday wearable devices—and what it means when machines can finally begin to understand the human brain in real time.#neurotechnology #BCI #artificialintelligence #futuretech #wearables #braincomputerinterface #AI #defensetech #militaryinnovation #humanperformance #neuroscience #neuroethics #emergingtechnology #innovation #podcast #techtalk #longevity #healthtech #digitalhealth #futureofworkSupport the show

Send a textGreg Fallon is the CEO of Geminus AI ( https://www.geminus.ai/ ), a company developing real-time, physics-native artificial intelligence designed to operate complex industrial and energy systems. His work focuses on combining engineering simulation, machine learning, and physical laws to create AI systems that can reason about and optimize real-world infrastructure under uncertainty.Before founding Geminus AI, Greg held leadership roles at Autodesk and Ansys, two of the world's leading platforms for digital engineering and simulation. Across more than two decades in industrial technology, he has worked at the intersection of computational physics, engineering software, and AI.At Geminus AI, Greg and his team are building a new class of industrial intelligence platform that allows machines to model their own behavior and make operational decisions in real time—potentially transforming how critical infrastructure such as energy systems, manufacturing plants, and industrial networks are designed, operated, and optimized.#ArtificialIntelligence #IndustrialAI #EngineeringAI #PhysicsAI #EngineeringSuperintelligence #FutureOfAI #DigitalTwins #EnergyTechnology #InfrastructureInnovation #AIRevolution #TechnologyPodcast #EngineeringInnovation #DeepTech #FutureOfEngineering #AIForIndustrySupport the show

Send a textArtificial intelligence and robotics are rapidly transforming surgery. In this episode we explore the future of the operating room with Medtronic's vision for the AiBLE ecosystem and the newly cleared Stealth AXiS surgical platform — technologies designed to integrate surgical planning, navigation, robotics, and real-time intelligence into a single system.Vignesh Shetty is Vice President of AI and Product Development at Medtronic Cranial and Spine Therapies, where he leads the convergence of AI, Robotics, and R&D for the company's $6B Cranial and Spine portfolio, with objectives of moving beyond standalone devices to create intelligent procedural ecosystems to redefine the standard of care ( https://www.medtronic.com/en-us/index.html ).Leading a global team of 900+ across Software and R&D, Mr. Shetty bridges the gap between complex engineering and clinical reality, building AI-enabled platforms across robotics, imaging, planning and implants biologics to drive impact across Medtronic' 3Es -Efficiency: Streamlining surgical workflows through automation.Efficacy: Enhancing clinical precision with data-driven insights.Experience: Elevating the human element for both surgeons and patients.Prior to joining Medtronic, Mr. Shetty served as Senior Vice President and General Manager of Edison AI and Platform at GE Healthcare, where he led a team of 700+ engineers and product managers to deliver cutting-edge AI solutions for healthcare imaging, diagnostics, and workflow optimization.Mr. Shetty also previously spent 16 years holding diverse roles at Cisco. His career is marked by his passion for developing technical talent and empowering teams, which has resulted in double-digit growth across multiple revenue streams. Important Episode Links AiBLE™ Smart Ecosystem - https://www.medtronic.com/en-us/healthcare-professionals/specialties/spinal-cranial-orthopedic/therapies-procedures/technology-ai-driven-surgery/aible-smart-ecosystem.html Stealth AXiS™ Surgical System - https://www.medtronic.com/en-us/healthcare-professionals/specialties/spinal-cranial-orthopedic/therapies-procedures/technology-ai-driven-surgery/discover-the-stealth-axis-surgical-system.html#AIinMedicine #RoboticSurgery #FutureOfSurgery #MedTech #HealthcareInnovation #AISurgery #MedicalTechnology #SurgicalRobotics #DigitalHealth #FutureOfMedicine #SpineSurgery #AIHealthcare #MedicalInnovationSupport the show

Send a textDr. Javad Shabani, Ph.D. ( https://as.nyu.edu/faculty/javad-shabani.html ) is Professor of Physics; Director of the Center of Quantum Information Physics ( https://as.nyu.edu/departments/physics/research/center-for-quantum-information-physics.html ); Director of the NYU Quantum Institute; and member of the Affiliated Faculty, NYU-Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology Global Innovation and Research Institute ( https://www.nyu.edu/research/nyu-kaist.html ).Dr. Shabani's team of engineers is focused on building hybrid semiconductor–superconductor systems designed to make quantum bits — or qubits — more stable, scalable, and ultimately practical.Dr. Shabani's work ( https://wp.nyu.edu/shabanilab/ ) sits at the intersection of materials science, condensed matter physics, and quantum engineering — and could determine whether quantum computing becomes a transformative technology for medicine, materials discovery, cryptography, and beyond.Dr. Shabani received his Ph.D. from Princeton University in 2011. After two years of research on semiconductor-based qubits at Harvard University, he joined UC Santa Barbara. There, he worked closely with Microsoft research on hybrid semiconductors/superconductors heterostructures to study topological superconductivity. Dr. Shabani is also Co-Founder and CSO of QuantumMatter Inc. ( https://quantummatter.com/ ), a quantum hardware startup developing high-performance components that will power the next generation of quantum tech.#QuantumComputing #QuantumPhysics #QuantumTechnology #QuantumHardware #Majorana #TopologicalQubits #QuantumMaterials #QuantumDevices #QuantumSensing #QuantumCommunication #QuantumInternet #SuperconductingQubits #CondensedMatterPhysics #FutureOfComputing #NYUResearch #QuantumInnovationSupport the show

Send a textTara Austraat-Churik is a Partner at Blue Matter ( https://bluematterconsulting.com/ ), a strategic consulting firm serving the life sciences industry, bringing new approaches to consulting with original ideas that deliver a meaningful impact. Tara began her career as a counterterrorism intelligence analyst at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, where she prepared strategic assessments for senior policymakers, Cabinet officials, and members of the intelligence community. Trained in structured analytic tradecraft and foreign denial and deception, she worked in environments defined by incomplete information, high stakes, and institutional bias.Tar would later bring that analytical lens into the life sciences sector — first at IBM Watson Health during the early wave of AI in drug discovery, where she led major enterprise partnerships with global pharmaceutical companies. From there she went on to senior leadership roles at EY, advising C-suite leaders on R&D transformation, innovation ecosystems, and AI-driven operating model redesign.Tara has a robust background in consulting, which also includes roles at Booz Allen Hamilton, Navitas, WPP, and IBM. Today, as a Partner at Blue Matter, Tara is building the firm's first dedicated R&D strategy and transformation practice. Blue Matter has advised more than 320 biopharma clients — including 18 of the top 20 global pharmaceutical companies — and has supported more than 300 therapies across the molecule-to-market continuum.Tara holds a BA and MA from the University of Notre Dame and an MSc in Translational Medicine from the University of Edinburgh.#AIinPharma #DrugDiscovery #BiotechInnovation #PharmaR&D #ArtificialIntelligence #HealthcareAI #FutureOfScience #BiotechPodcast #RareDiseaseResearch #PharmaStrategy #HumanAI #ConsultingCareers #DrugDevelopment #LifeSciences #TechInHealthcareSupport the show

Send a textFor most of the history of computing, software systems were written by humans and—at least in theory—understood by humans.But with AI coding assistants now embedded in everyday development workflows, we may be entering an era where large portions of production software are generated, modified, and extended by machines.Pramin Pradeep is the Co-Founder and CEO of BotGauge ( https://www.botgauge.com/ ), an autonomous “QA-as-a-Solution“ company focused on using AI to improve software testing and observability in modern development environments.Pramin's background sits at the intersection of AI-driven development and quality assurance. Prior to founding BotGauge, he held product leadership roles at Sauce Labs, one of the leading platforms for automated testing and continuous quality in enterprise software. Earlier in his career he was a founding product leader at AutonomIQ, an AI-based low-code testing platform that was later acquired by Sauce Labs.Across these roles, Pramin has focused on a central challenge in modern software engineering: as development accelerates through automation and AI coding assistants like GitHub Copilot, Claude, and Gemini, organizations are increasingly deploying code that no single engineer fully understands.Pramin's work explores how this emerging layer of AI-generated logic—what some are calling “shadow code”—may introduce new security risks, operational blind spots, and governance challenges inside complex software systems.Today we'll talk about what happens when software systems start evolving faster than our ability to fully comprehend them.#AI #AICoding #ShadowCode #BotGauge #SoftwareSecurity #Cybersecurity #EnterpriseSoftware #AIgeneratedCode #RuntimeObservability #SoftwareTesting #CriticalInfrastructure #TechnicalDebt #AIrisks #TechLeadership #InnovationSupport the show

Send us Fan MailKabir Nath is Chief Executive Officer of Compass Pathways  ( https://compasspathways.com/ ), a biotechnology company pioneering evidence-based psychedelic innovation for serious mental health conditions.Kabir brings nearly three decades of leadership experience across the biopharmaceutical and medical device industries. Before joining Compass, he served as Senior Managing Director of Global Pharmaceuticals at Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., and previously as President and CEO of Otsuka's North America Pharmaceutical Business, where he led the development of therapies and digital solutions addressing complex mental health needs. Earlier in his career, he held senior leadership roles at Bristol Myers Squibb.Under Kabir's leadership, Compass has advanced COMP360 — a synthetic, proprietary formulation of psilocybin — through two pivotal Phase 3 trials in treatment-resistant depression. The program has demonstrated statistically significant and clinically meaningful reductions in depression severity, potentially positioning COMP360 to become the first FDA-approved psilocybin-based treatment.Kabir holds an MA from the University of Cambridge and an MBA from INSEAD.#PsychedelicMedicine #Psilocybin #DepressionTreatment #MentalHealthInnovation #CompassPathways #COMP360 #TreatmentResistantDepression #Biotech #Neuroscience #FutureOfPsychiatry #ClinicalTrials #MentalHealthResearch #PsychedelicTherapy #BiotechInterview #DrugDevelopmentSupport the show

Send a textLacey Stone is Chief Development Officer at USA for UNHCR ( https://www.unrefugees.org/about-us/ ), the U.S. partner of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees ( UNHCR - https://www.unhcr.org/ ), the UN Refugee Agency.UNHCR is a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights, and building better futures for refugees, forcibly displaced communities, and stateless people. It provides life-saving assistance (shelter, food, medical care) and works in over 130 countries to ensure safety and human rights, often deploying within 72 hours of a crisis.Lacey is a mission-driven leader with more than two decades of experience mobilizing partnerships, philanthropy, and storytelling to address some of the world's most urgent humanitarian challenges. In her role, she leads strategy across private philanthropy, corporate and foundation partnerships, and national engagement efforts that amplify refugee voices and generate critical support for displaced communities worldwide.Lacey's career spans influential leadership roles with organizations including UNICEF USA, PATH, and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, where she built cross-sector collaborations advancing global health, children's wellbeing, and humanitarian response.Today's conversation will also focus on the Building Better Futures ( https://www.unrefugees.org/building-better-futures/ ) initiative — a women-led philanthropic effort supporting higher-education scholarships for refugee women and girls — and the broader movement redefining who gives, who benefits, and how philanthropy can drive lasting systemic change.Lacey holds an M.A. in International Relations from Villanova University and dual B.A. degrees in International Relations and Rhetoric & Communication from the University of Pittsburgh.#LaceyStone #USAforUNHCR #UNHCR #BuildingBetterFutures#RefugeeEducation #WomenLed #InternationalWomensDay#GlobalHealth #Rwanda #HumanitarianLeadership #WomenSupportingWomen #Philanthropy #SystemsChange#RefugeeWomen #ProgressPotentialPossibilitiesSupport the show