Best Berkeley Engineering Podcasts (2025)

Lance Martin of LangChain joins High Signal to outline a new playbook for engineering in the AI era, where the ground is constantly shifting under the feet of builders. He explains how the exponential improvement of foundation models is forcing a complete rethink of how software is built, revealing why top products from Claude Code to Manus are in …

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We Were Right: Kaiser and Jeremy Reunite to Riff on the China Vibe Shift 54:07

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6d ago54:07

54:07

This week on Sinica, I welcome back Jeremy Goldkorn, co-founder of the show and my longtime co-host, to revisit the "vibe shift" we first discussed back in February. Seven months on, what we sensed then has fully borne out — there's been a measurable softening in American attitudes toward China, reflected not just in polling data but in media cover…

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Denise Jorgens (The University of Chicago) on Building Spaces That Inspire Shared Humanity 23:38

9h ago23:38

23:38

On today’s episode of the Illumination by Modern Campus podcast, podcast host Shauna Cox was joined by Denise Jorgens to discuss how intentional community design strengthens global citizenship and how shared intercultural experiences sustain belonging across cultures and generations.By Modern Campus

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Lizzi Lee on Involution, Overcapacity, and China's Economic Model 1:24:51

12d ago1:24:51

1:24:51

This week on Sinica, I chat with Lizzi Lee, a fellow on the Chinese economy at the Asia Society Policy Institute and one of the sharpest China analysts working today. We dig into the 4th Plenary Session of the 20th Party Congress and what it reveals about China's evolving growth model — particularly the much-discussed but often misunderstood push a…

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Episode 27: Q&A with Richard Carson, Yale University 14:44

14d ago14:44

14:44

Episode 27: Q&A with Dr. Richard Carson, Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Radiology & Biomedical Imaging, Yale UniversityIn partnership with IEEE Nuclear Plasma Sciences Society. IEEE Brain Podcast Series special episode with Dr. Richard Carson, Yale University, a renowned researcher in the field of Positron Emission Tomography (PET). Dr. Ca…

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It only took 20 years, but the Strategic Management Society now Believes the Lean Startup is a Strategy 14:54

3d ago14:54

14:54

I’ve always thought of myself as a practitioner. In the startups I was part of, the only “strategy” were my marketing tactics on how to make the VP of Sales the richest person in the company. After I retired, I created Customer Development and co-created the Lean Startup as a simple methodology which codified founders best practices – in a language…

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Lisa Rochman (MacEwan University) on The Engine Behind Nimble Continuing Education 25:21

7d ago25:21

25:21

On today’s episode of the Illumination by Modern Campus podcast, podcast host Shauna Cox was joined by Lisa Rochman to discuss how purpose-driven innovation and intelligent systems enable continuing education to stay agile and aligned with evolving learner and employer needs.By Modern Campus

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Foreign Affairs Editor Daniel Kurtz-Phelan on Shifting Views of China 1:05:08

18d ago1:05:08

1:05:08

This week on Sinica, I chat with Daniel Kurtz-Phelan, editor of Foreign Affairs, about how the journal has both shaped and reflected American discourse on China during a period of dramatic shifts in the relationship. We discuss his deliberate editorial choices to include heterodox voices, the changing nature of the supposed "consensus" on China pol…

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Episode 27: Why Your Data Team Doesn't Have a Seat at the Table (And How to Earn It) 41:35

19d ago41:35

41:35

Paras Doshi (Head of Data, Opendoor; former data leader at Amazon) joins High Signal to unpack the playbook for building an indispensable data function. He shares his experience tackling the classic scaling challenge of fragmented data at Opendoor, where rapid growth led to inconsistent metrics across the business, and turning the data function int…

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Gregory Balmir (Florida Atlantic University) on How Inclusive Messaging Builds Belonging and Engagement 9:44

14d ago9:44

9:44

On today’s episode of the Illumination by Modern Campus podcast, podcast host Shauna Cox was joined by Greg Balmir to discuss the importance of intentional inclusive language in student communication and how data-driven insights can transform messaging strategies in higher education.By Modern Campus

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The View from Behind Xi Jinping's Desk, with Jonathan Czin 1:19:43

27d ago1:19:43

1:19:43

This week on the Sinica Podcast, I speak with Jonathan Czin, the Michael H. Armacost Chair in Foreign Policy Studies and a fellow at the Brookings Institution’s John L. Thornton China Center. His new essay in Foreign Affairs, “China Against China: Xi Jinping Confronts the Downsides of Success,” challenges the dominant Western narrative of Xi Jinpin…

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Christie Schultz (University of Regina) on Expanding Access Through Flexible Learning 14:20

1M ago14:20

14:20

On today’s episode of the Illumination by Modern Campus podcast, podcast host Shauna Cox was joined by Christie Schultz to discuss how flexibility serves as a bridge to access in higher education and the role continuing education plays in supporting lifelong learning.By Modern Campus

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Episode 26: Gen AI's True Cost: Why Today's Wins Are Tomorrow's Debts 43:14

1M ago43:14

43:14

Vishnu Ram Venkataraman (Generative AI Executive & Entrepreneur; former AI Leader at Credit Karma and Intuit) joins High Signal to unpack the true cost of generative AI. Having scaled AI solutions impacting over 140 million users, Vishnu reveals why the ease of shipping Gen AI prototypes often masks significant operational and engineering debts, ch…

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How to Sell to the Dept of War – The 2025 PEO Directory – Now with 500 more names 2:07

23d ago2:07

2:07

The October 2025 PEO Directory – Update 2.The Department of War (DoW) is one of the world’s largest organizations. If you’re a startup trying to figure out who to call on and how to navigate the system, it can be – to put it politely – challenging.By Steve Blank

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No Science, No Startups: The Innovation Engine We’re Switching Off 21:41

23d ago21:41

21:41

Tons of words have been written about the Trump Administrations war on Science in Universities. But few people have asked what, exactly, is science? How does it work? Who are the scientists? What do they do? And more importantly, why should anyone (outside of universities) care?By Steve Blank

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Devin Purgason (Forsyth Technical Community College) on Why Enrollment is Just the Beginning of the Student Experience 23:35

1M ago23:35

23:35

On this episode, Devin Purgason, Associate Vice President of Student Experience, Marketing and Outreach, Forsyth Technical Community College, discusses how enrollment can become the start of a lifelong student journey and how technology removes friction to meet modern expectations.By Modern Campus

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Episode 25: How Data-Driven Growth Redefined a Media Giant 56:22

1M ago56:22

56:22

Sergey Fogelson (VP of Data Science, Televisa Univision) joins High Signal to reveal how the world’s largest Spanish-language media company built a sophisticated data engine from the ground up. This transformation fueled a tenfold expansion of its digital streaming business by redefining how the company connects with 300 million viewers worldwide. …

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The Symbolism of the Flying Tigers: Peking University's Wang Dong on the American Volunteer Group and its Historical and Diplomatic Usages 38:57

2M ago38:57

38:57

This week on Sinica, I chat with Peking University's Professor Wang Dong (王栋), an international relations scholar at the School of International Studies at Peking University, where he also serves as Deputy Director and Executive Director of the Office for Humanities and Social Sciences and the Institute for Global Cooperation and Understanding. Pro…

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Greg Pillar on Designing the Hidden Curriculum Out of Higher Ed 23:09

2M ago23:09

23:09

On today’s episode of the Illumination by Modern Campus podcast, podcast host Shauna Cox was joined by Greg Pillar to discuss how clear, consistent communication and intentionally designed processes remove hidden barriers and strengthen student trust and belonging.By Modern Campus

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Jasmine Sun on Silicon Valley through a Chinese Mirror 1:11:18

2M ago1:11:18

1:11:18

This week on Sinica, co-host Tianyu Fang makes his debut on the show to join me in interviewing his Stanford classmate and talented writer Jasmine Sun, who studies the anthropology of disruption. This summer, she took a trip to China with a group of friends with different levels of China experience, from people raised in the country to total novice…

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Jill Loop (PennWest California) on Turning First Steps Into Lifelong Success for Every Learner 14:47

2M ago14:47

14:47

On today’s episode of the Illumination by Modern Campus podcast, podcast host Shauna Cox was joined by Jill Loop to discuss how clearly defined next steps help admitted students feel supported and how personalized communication methods like texting strengthen engagement.By Modern Campus

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When Sh!t Hits the Fan – Founders in a Crisis 5:44

2M ago5:44

5:44

Great founders shine in a crisis.By Steve Blank

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Yascha Mounk on China and Western Liberalism 1:22:03

2M ago1:22:03

1:22:03

This week on the Sinica Podcast, I chat with well-known author and public intellectual Yascha Mounk about his recent fascination with China, his approach to learning about the country and learning Chinese, and his thoughts on how China fits into the current crisis of Western liberal democracy. 7:15 – Yascha’s experience of living in China and learn…

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Episode 24: Rebuilding an Airline for the 21st Century: LATAM's Data-Driven Transformation 49:56

2M ago49:56

49:56

Andrés Bucchi (Chief Data Officer, LATAM Airlines) joins High Signal to unpack how a century-old airline reinvented itself with data and AI—and how that transformation is unlocking value from fuel efficiency to fraud detection. LATAM has built a massive data operation, experimenting across everything from pricing to operations, while customers bene…

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How To Sell to the Dept of War – The 2025 PEO Directory 9:36

2M ago9:36

9:36

How To Sell to the Dept of War – The 2025 PEO Directory by Steve BlankBy Steve Blank

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Carola Weil (McGill University) on Addressing Canada’s Skills Gap with Innovative Learning Models 33:46

2M ago33:46

33:46

On today’s episode of the Illumination by Modern Campus podcast, podcast host Shauna Cox was joined by Carola Weil to discuss the mutual value exchange between continuing education and corporate partners, and the cultural, structural, and market challenges that complicate collaboration.By Modern Campus

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What Did the September 3 Parade Mean? 1:43:11

2M ago1:43:11

1:43:11

This week on Sinica, I speak first with retired Senior Colonel Zhou Bo, a frequent commentator on Chinese military and security affairs and a prolific writer now at the Center for International Security and Strategy at Tsinghua University, and with Rana Mitter of the Harvard Kennedy School and author of Forgotten Ally, a book about World War II in …

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Darren Cooke (University of California Berkeley) on Going From Campus to Career with an Entrepreneurial Mindset 19:58

2M ago19:58

19:58

On today’s episode of the Illumination by Modern Campus podcast, podcast host Shauna Cox was joined by Darren Cooke to discuss how entrepreneurship programs drive measurable ROI and why every student benefits from adopting an entrepreneurial mindset.By Modern Campus

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What Does China Want? The Authors of a New Paper Challenge the DC Consensus 1:29:32

3M ago1:29:32

1:29:32

This week on Sinica, I chat with Dave Kang (USC), Zenobia Chan (Georgetown), and Jackie Wong (American University in Sharjah, UAE) about their new paper in International Security titled "What Does China Want?" The paper, which has generated quite a bit of controversy, takes a data-driven approach to examine the claim that China seeks global hegemon…

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Episode 23: Why Most AI Agents Fail (and What It Takes to Reach Production) 51:17

3M ago51:17

51:17

Anu Bharadwaj (President, Atlassian) joins High Signal to unpack how humans and AI agents will work together across the enterprise, and how that shift could change the very nature of teamwork. Atlassian employees have already built thousands of agents across product, marketing, engineering, and HR teams, while customers like HarperCollins are cutti…

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Trump's India Tariff Tirade: A Gift to Beijing? With Evan Feigenbaum 1:03:36

3M ago1:03:36

1:03:36

This week on the Sinica Podcast, I welcome back Evan Feigenbaum, Vice President for Studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Evan served for many years as a State Department official, was the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia and Central Asia among his numerous positions in government, and was instrumental in buil…

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Amrit Ahluwalia (Western University) on Building Systems of Belonging for Lifelong Learners 39:35

3M ago39:35

39:35

On today’s episode of the Illumination by Modern Campus podcast, podcast host Shauna Cox was joined by Amrit Ahluwalia to discuss the critical shift from access to belonging and the redesign of orientation for adult learners.By Modern Campus

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The Engineering State and the Lawyerly Society: Dan Wang on his new book "Breakneck" 1:32:43

3M ago1:32:43

1:32:43

This week on Sinica, I'm delighted to be joined by Dan Wang, formerly of Gavekal Dragonomics and the Paul Tsai Law Center at Yale University, now with the Hoover Institute's History Lab. Dan's new book is Breakneck: China's Quest to Engineer the Future, and it's already one of the year's most talked-about books. In this conversation, we go beyond w…

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Episode 22: Why a Trillion Dollars of Market Cap Is Up for Grabs (and How AI Teams Will Win It) 46:50

3M ago46:50

46:50

Tomasz Tunguz (Theory Ventures) joins High Signal to unpack why a trillion dollars of market cap is up for grabs as AI reshapes enterprise software. He explains why workflows are now changing faster than packaged software can keep up, how “liquid software” is redefining CRM and marketing automation, and why background agents will require a new kind…

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Suze Guillaume (Miami Dade College) on Creating a Campus Culture of Connection and Support 29:50

3M ago29:50

29:50

On today’s episode of the Illumination by Modern Campus podcast, podcast host Shauna Cox was joined by Suze Guillaume to discuss the impact of early trust-building during orientation and the importance of humanizing communication to improve long-term student engagement.By Modern Campus

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Chinese and U.S. AI Applications in Public Administration: Lessons and Implications for Ukraine 1:18:46

3M ago1:18:46

1:18:46

Artificial intelligence has been a frequent topic on Sinica in recent years — but usually through the lens of the two countries that have produced the leading models and companies: the United States and China. We’ve covered generative AI, national strategies, governance frameworks, and the geopolitical implications of AI leadership. This webinar, b…

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Nuclear Weapons, Ukraine, and Great-Power Competition 1:12:49

3M ago1:12:49

1:12:49

Join me for a conversation with four fantastic panelists about nuclear safety and security issues brought on by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and more broadly on the state of nuclear security globally during this era of dramatic change. This program was made possible by the Ukrainian Platform for Contemporary China and the Center for Sla…

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Kassie Burkholder (NAIT) on Building a Smarter Future Through Digital Transformation 13:53

3M ago13:53

13:53

On today’s episode of the Illumination by Modern Campus podcast, podcast host Shauna Cox was joined by Kassie Burkholder to discuss the role of continuing education divisions in driving digital transformation through agility and labor market alignment, and the institutional barriers that hinder innovation across higher education.…

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The World AI Conference in Shanghai: Two tech veterans share their impressions 1:26:01

3M ago1:26:01

1:26:01

This week on Sinica, Paul Triolo of DGA Albright Stonebridge and tech investor Ryan Cunningham join to talk about their observations and insights from the World AI Conference (WAIC), held in July in Shanghai, and what it tells them about China's ambitions in the fast-moving world of artificial intelligence. Don't miss this one! 04:21 - Ryan on his …

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Episode 21: Why Great Data Still Leads to Bad Decisions (And How to Fix It) 50:38

3M ago50:38

50:38

Amy Edmondson (Harvard Business School) and Mike Luca (Johns Hopkins) join High Signal to unpack what actually drives good decisions in data‑rich organizations. Using contrasts like the Bay of Pigs vs. the Cuban Missile Crisis and product cases such as Airbnb’s work on measuring discrimination, they show how decision quality tracks conversation qua…

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Emily Logan (Kirkwood Community College) on When Responsiveness Meets Relevance 15:40

4M ago15:40

15:40

On today’s episode of the Illumination by Modern Campus podcast, podcast host Shauna Cox was joined by Emily Logan to discuss the erosion of trust in higher education and the need for greater agility, employer collaboration, and alignment with modern learner expectations.By Modern Campus

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Cathy Sandeen (California State University East Bay) on Leading Transformation Through Trust and Clarity 13:50

4M ago13:50

13:50

On today’s episode of the Illumination by Modern Campus podcast, podcast host Shauna Cox was joined by Cathy Sandeen to discuss the evolving academic portfolio and shifting campus culture toward online and remote learning.By Modern Campus

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Chinese Cooking Demystified: Chris Thomas and Stephanie Li visit Shaxi! 1:17:54

4M ago1:17:54

1:17:54

This week on Sinica: On my final two days in Shaxi in Yunnan, Chris Thomas and Stephanie Li, the hosts of the marvelous YouTube channel Chinese Cooking Demystified, joined me for some cooking and lots of chatting about food! We recorded this show together and focus our conversation on their heroic attempt at a taxonomy of different Chinese cuisines…

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Episode 20: Incentives, Accountability, and the Data Leader’s Dilemma 1:03:13

4M ago1:03:13

1:03:13

Daragh Sibley, Chief Algorithms Officer at Literati and former Director of Data Science at Stitch Fix, joins High Signal to unpack how machine-learning moves from slide-deck promise to bottom-line impact. He walks through his shift from academic research on how kids learn to read to owning inventory and personalization algorithms that decide which …

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Blind to Disruption – The CEOs Who Missed the Future 15:22

4M ago15:22

15:22

How did you go bankrupt?”Two ways. Gradually, then suddenly.”Ernest Hemingway, The Sun Also RisesEvery disruptive technology since the fire and the wheel have forced leaders to adapt or die. This post tells the story of what happened when 4,000 companies faced a disruptive technology and why only one survived.…

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Rod Lastra (CAUCE) on A New Path Forward for Canadian Continuing Education 29:42

4M ago29:42

29:42

On today’s episode of the Illumination by Modern Campus podcast, podcast host Shauna Cox was joined by Rod Lastra to discuss how a distinctly Canadian lens and foundational global movements like extension and UNESCO help shape the evolution and mission of university continuing education.By Modern Campus

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Adam Tooze Climbs the China Learning Curve 1:03:28

4M ago1:03:28

1:03:28

I'm in Shaxi, a wonderful little town in the Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, and I was joined here by the Columbia economic historian Adam Tooze, who shared his thoughts on what he sees happening on the ground in China. Adam's been in China for the last month and reflects on his experiences learning about the country — and even attempting the langu…

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Why Investors Don’t Care About Your Business 10:20

4M ago10:20

10:20

I’ve been having coffee with lots of frustrated founders (my students and others) bemoaning most VCs won’t even meet with them unless they have AI in their fundraising pitch. And the AI startups they see are getting valuations that appear nonsensical. These conversations brought back a sense of Déjà vu from the Dot Com bubble (at the turn of this c…

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Caleb Simmons (University of Arizona) on Using Data Partnerships to Better Understand Online Learners 24:45

4M ago24:45

24:45

On today’s episode of the Illumination by Modern Campus podcast, podcast host Shauna Cox was joined by Caleb Simmons to discuss how modern data partnerships and internal alignment are key to engaging and retaining today’s online learners.By Modern Campus