Best David Mendes Podcasts (2025)

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Conversations with Jonathan Young and Dominic Steavu 1:15:58

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3h ago1:15:58

1:15:58

What is it like to be an academic, talking about your legitimate research only to have it woven into a story of extraterrestrial interference in human history? This bonus episode features two conversations that Brandon and Toby had with experts featured on Ancient Aliens who aren’t ancient astronaut theorists! First, they talk with Jonathan Young, …

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What will Quantum Computing Change? 1:21:41

6d ago1:21:41

1:21:41

Quantum computing is often dismissed as a distant sci-fi future, but Ethereum OG John Lilic and Oxford physicist Stefano Gogioso argue the timeline is shrinking fast with roadmaps converging around 2030. In this episode, they break down the "woeful" state of quantum readiness in crypto, explaining how Shor's algorithm could eventually shatter the e…

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THE COST OF BEING SET APART | Matthew 26:6-13 | David Leon 34:38

4d ago34:38

34:38

By World Conquerors Through Jesus Christ Church Columbus, Ohio

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A SURRENDERED LIFE BUT REJECTED AT NAZARETH | Luke 23:34 | David Leon 51:12

4d ago51:12

51:12

By World Conquerors Through Jesus Christ Church Columbus, Ohio

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Aliens and Bigfoot with David Farrier 1:01:37

7d ago1:01:37

1:01:37

Let's finally just ask the big question: Just exactly how does Bigfoot fit into this whole doggone UFO thing? That's what we're answering once and for all in our exploration of the Ancient Aliens episode "Aliens and Bigfoot" (S4:E7). Luckily Toby and Brandon get help from journalist and documentarian David Farrier, creator of such wild and fascinat…

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DevConnect 2025: Inside The Biggest Ethereum Event in History 44:43

12d ago44:43

44:43

“DevConnect 2025 was about touching and feeling Ethereum IRL”Nathan Sexer, lead of the DevConnect 2025 and Events team at the Ethereum Foundation, gives a peek into the largest iteration of Devconnect ever, with 20,000 attendees, and why the team pivoted to a "World's Fair" format, creating tangible districts for DeFi and Privacy to let attendees t…

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Du doctorat à la MedTech : façonner son parcours avec Marc-André Hachey 1:01:34

8d ago1:01:34

1:01:34

Dans cet épisode sincère et éclairant d’Au-delà de la thèse avec Papa PhD, David Mendes reçoit Marc-André Hachey, ingénieur mécanique et ancien doctorant en micro-fabrication. Marc-André partage avec authenticité son cheminement académique, les réflexions qui l’ont conduit à quitter son doctorat, et comment il a trouvé un nouvel élan professionnel …

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Why is the SEC Concerned about Privacy now? 1:02:58

16d ago1:02:58

1:02:58

At DevConnect 2025, Sebastian and Friederike speak with Peter Van Valkenburgh about the rapidly evolving battle for digital rights. Peter challenges the industry's comfort with transparency, arguing that "transparency will destroy neutrality." He uses the history of SWIFT to illustrate how a once-neutral messaging system was captured by geopolitica…

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Mysteries of the Sphinx with Maggie Rahr 58:23

14d ago58:23

58:23

Ever notice that the Sphinx’s head is kind of small compared to its body? Unsurprisingly, the Ancient Astronaut Theorists are on top of it and so much more. Journalist Maggie Rahr joins Brandon and Toby to delve into The Mysteries of the Sphinx. That’s Season 9, Episode 2. Be amazed by the Blinking Eye of the Lord, intrigued by the theory that anci…

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The Mystery of Rudloe Manor 48:55

21d ago48:55

48:55

Giorgios Tsoukalos and Nick Pope go on a sort of disappointing field trip to Britain’s Area 51 and Brandon and Toby are right there with them in spirit. It’s Season 12, Episode 3, The Mystery of Rudloe Manor. We’ve got a stately British manor house sitting on an underground complex that might or might not have UFO stuff, a teenager who seems to hav…

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Mental Health, Motivation, and Meaning in the PhD Journey – With Dr. Agnieszka Piotrowska 33:21

23d ago33:21

33:21

Why do we really pursue a PhD—and what happens when the reason no longer feels valid? In this honest and powerful conversation, host David Mendes is joined by Dr. Agnieszka Piotrowska—founder of The Scholars Mentor—to unpack the psychological and emotional challenges PhD students face, especially those studying abroad. Drawing on her background in …

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Cosmos: The Linux of Blockchains? 55:06

22d ago55:06

55:06

Captured live at Cosmoverse 2025, this episode brings host Sebastian in conversation with Michael (better known as Cryptocito, Cosmos investor via Cito Ventures) and Magnus (@0xMagmar, Co-CEO Cosmos Labs). Against a backdrop of institutional gravitas, central banks mingling alongside Revolut executives, the conversation traces Cosmos' arc across fi…

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From NASA to Nexus: Turning Science Into Impact with Arnaud Stiepen 34:21

1M ago34:21

34:21

How do you turn a PhD in astrophysics into a career making science accessible to everyone? In this inspiring episode, Arnaud Stiepen - science communicator, TV host, and founder of Nexus by Arnaud Stiepen - joins David Mendes to share his journey from NASA collaborations to building a science-communication business. 💡 Topics include: Building a mea…

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Prototypes with Jack Brewer 52:59

28d ago52:59

52:59

Supposedly there was a period in pre-history where the planet was like Lord of the Rings. Can this be true? Toby and Brandon are joined by Jack Brewer to look into this. It turns out the answer is that, no, it is not true. But it’s not the destination, it’s the journey. We meet the giant Denisovans, the little Hobbits (not the going-on-a-quest type…

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Yield Basis: Disrupting Defi & Bitcoin Yield 1:00:05

1M ago1:00:05

1:00:05

Brian Fabian Crain and Michael Egorov, Curve Finance founder, discuss Curve's origins: solving inefficient DAI/USDC swaps after MakerDAO borrows by creating a DeFi AMM for stablecoins and LSTs. It hit 1M TVL with a bonding curve concentrating liquidity at 1:1, more effective for pegged assets than Uniswap. Features grew to include BTC wrappers, stE…

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L’avenir après les études supérieures – Table ronde d'ouverture J2R 2025 1:20:07

1M ago1:20:07

1:20:07

Dans cet épisode spécial enregistré en direct à l’UQAR lors des Journées de la relève en recherche 2025 de l’ACFAS, David Mendes anime la table ronde d’ouverture intitulée « L’avenir après les études supérieures : parcours inspirants ». Laissez-vous inspirer par les partages de cinq panélistes qui partagent leurs trajectoires professionnelles au-de…

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Star Children with Sarah Carradine 59:31

1M ago59:31

59:31

You ever run into a smart kid and think, hmm, probably a human/alien hybrid? If so, the Ancient Astronaut Theorists have some “facts” you can use at cocktail parties. Brandon and Toby are joined by Sarah Carradine to discuss The Star Children (Season 7, Episode 3). We meet a child who joined Mensa at age 2, which must have been awesome for him, alo…

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Lamina1: Building The Future of The Creator Economy 59:47

1M ago59:47

59:47

Sci-fi titan Neal Stephenson, whose Snow Crash coined the term 'metaverse' and Cryptonomicon, which foreshadowed crypto in 1999, joins Friederike to discuss his "hard sci-fi" method: building immersive, consistent worlds, not prophecy. He's now co-founder of Lamina1, aiming to restore Web1's ethos and give creators IP sovereignty with direct microp…

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From Executive to Passionpreneur – Career Reinvention with George Appling 46:24

2M ago46:24

46:24

What happens when a high-powered executive walks away from a billion-dollar corporate role to build a life of passion-driven ventures? In this episode of Beyond the Thesis with Papa PhD, David speaks with George Appling – former McKinsey partner turned “passionpreneur,” festival founder, and author of Don't Settle: A Pick-Your-Path Guide to Intenti…

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Mystery of Skinwalker Ranch with Erica Lukes: Part 2 38:05

1M ago38:05

38:05

We are back at Skinwalker Ranch, where there is apparently an interdimensional portal somewhere, or something like that. Regardless, Toby and Brandon are joined by Erica Lukes for part two of their examination of The Mystery of Skinwalker Ranch (Season 15, Episode 10). We have a perp line-up of wolves, Skinwalkers who can alter their own DNA and an…

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Is Blockchain Still a Revolution or Becoming Another Upgrade? Ep.621 1:15:34

2M ago1:15:34

1:15:34

As blockchain tech gets co-opted by legacy players for efficiency gains, has the revolution lost its edge? Crypto philosopher Paul Dylan-Ennis and Jito's Head of Governance, Dr. Nick Almond, join Friederike to probe this shift from 2017's visionary DAOs to today's Telegram-negotiated votes and whale capture. Rooted in philosophy and complex systems…

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Mystery of Skinwalker Ranch with Erica Lukes: Part 1 39:41

2M ago39:41

39:41

More like the Secrets of Glibtalker Ranch, amiright? We have giant wolves, poltergeists acting like 10-year-olds and quantum jiu jitsu. Fortunately, we are joined by Erika Lukes, an expert on Skinwalker Ranch who keeps Brandon and Toby sane as the Ancient Aliens and Skinwalker Ranch universes collide. And this is just Part 1 of our conversation abo…

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Brave: Building the Private User-Friendly Internet - Kyle Den Hartog 1:07:04

2M ago1:07:04

1:07:04

Brave has spent a decade building a privacy-first browser that empowers users with tools like ad-blocking and fingerprinting protection, now serving 100 million monthly active users. Security engineer Kyle Den Hartog joins Friederike to unpack the centralization traps in digital identity from email's spam-driven dominance to one-size-fits-all DeFi …

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Clarity vs Complexity - Branding for Researchers With Michael Dargie 40:05

2M ago40:05

40:05

What if your academic CV is working against you? This week on Beyond the Thesis with Papa PhD, creative strategist and branding expert Michael Dargie joins David Mendes to reframe how researchers can become memorable in non-academic spaces. Drawing from his new book Brandjitsu, Michael shares his unique approach to personal branding, designed for i…

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Noble: Solving Crypto's Liquidity Problem, One Chain at a Time - Jelena Djuric 41:26

2M ago41:26

41:26

In this episode, Sebastien is joined by Jelena Djuric, co-founder of Noble, a generic asset issuance chain built for the Cosmos ecosystem. Jelena shares her journey into crypto, which began with an interest in political science, leading her to discover Bitcoin's potential. She describes the origins of Noble, created to solve a critical need within …

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Pyramids of Antarctica 48:08

2M ago48:08

48:08

Brandon went to Antarctica, but didn't see any giant pyramids, under-ice Nazi cities, or even have his boat attacked by a squadron of laser-firing alien craft. That's not the Antarctica that the Ancient Astronaut Theorists hold dear to their hearts. Anyway, you get the picture. We're talking about the Pyramids of Antarctica on this week's More Like…

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Débuter en diplomatie scientifique - Sept profils de scientifiques en résidence à l'étranger 30:35

2M ago30:35

30:35

Dans cet épisode spécial d'Horizon PhD, je t’emmène à la rencontre de sept PhDs qui ont choisi une voie peu connue, mais pleine de sens : devenir scientifique en résidence dans une délégation du Québec à l’étranger. À Toronto, New York, Mexico, Rabat, Paris, Rome et à Séoul, ces jeunes scientifiques mettent leurs compétences au service de la diplom…

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Forbidden Bible with Pedro Mendes 55:09

2M ago55:09

55:09

Ah yes, the Book of Enoch. Where would Ancient Aliens be without it? It is a question for which there is no answer. Fortunately, Toby and Brandon are joined by podcast and radio documentarian Pedro Mendes, who studied early Christianity and has a lot of answers, most of which are “that is not correct.” We’ve got ancient Ethiopian bibles, an alien h…

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Benjamin Sarquis Peillard: Cap Labs – Insured Yield & the Future of Stablecoins 58:02

2M ago58:02

58:02

In this episode, Sebastien Couture is joined by Benjamin, the founder of CAP, a stablecoin protocol designed to provide insured yield. The protocol features two main products: CUSD, a digital dollar, and stCUSD, its staked, yield-bearing version. Yield is generated through an "allocation engine" where third-party operators borrow from the protocol'…

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Bending Time, Beating Burnout, and Building a Career You Love with Michelle Niemeyer 56:38

2M ago56:38

56:38

In this episode of Beyond the Thesis with Papa PhD, I talk with Michelle Niemeyer - speaker, coach, and former attorney - about how to stay sharp, productive, and joyful without burning out. After experiencing burnout herself during her legal career and facing a life-changing health diagnosis, Michelle developed The Art of Bending Time: a framework…

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Transdimensionals with Aimee Mann 50:58

2M ago50:58

50:58

Ayahuasca and aliens, two great tastes that go great together? Maybe. While they don’t take ayahuasca or see any aliens, Brandon, Toby, and musician Aimee Mann try to work through an episode that is light on UFOs, but heavy on tenuous thematic connections. Other topics include whether angels’ wings depicted in art would actually work anatomically, …

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From Burnout to Balance – Lexi Reid on Healing and Reinventing Your STEM Career 1:03:16

2M ago1:03:16

1:03:16

How do you go from scientist to science-informed coach helping women in STEM manage stress and avoid burnout? In this powerful episode of Beyond the Thesis with Papa PhD, I sit down with Lexi Reid - a former plant biologist and regulatory affairs specialist who found herself emotionally depleted after years in academia, government, and the medical …

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Mento: Onchain FX Markets - Decentralising World Currencies - Markus Franke 1:06:14

3M ago1:06:14

1:06:14

TradFi FX markets are slow, expensive and often lack liquidity for direct swaps between different world currencies, having to route through USD pairs. While crypto could technically solve pairing through AMM pools, those needed to be arbitraged in order to reflect TradFi rates. With 15 fully-backed stablecoins, Mento is building the largest FX infr…

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Magic of the Gods with Sabina Magliocco 58:28

3M ago58:28

58:28

Ever wonder what the academics on Ancient Aliens would say if they were given more than 20 seconds a clip? Well, wonder no more! Toby and Brandon are joined by Ancient Aliens subject matter expert Sabina Magliocco, from the University of British Columbia! They talk about the episode Magic of the Gods (Season 6, Episode 4) and what it’s like to be a…

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PhD to Industry – Navigating Career Growth & Mentorship with Katerina Thomas 1:03:27

3M ago1:03:27

1:03:27

What happens after you land your first job post-PhD? For many researchers, the transition from academia is just the beginning. In this episode of Beyond the Thesis with Papa PhD, Katerina Thomas joins David Mendes to explore how mentorship, self-awareness, and internal motivation shape the next stages of a PhD’s career journey. Drawing from her own…

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f(x) Protocol: Decentralized Yield-Bearing Stablecoin & 0-Liquidation Perp - Cyrille Brière 1:00:22

3M ago1:00:22

1:00:22

Without a doubt, the introduction of stablecoins has vastly increased overall crypto liquidity, adoption and real-world use cases as they offered a safe haven against the industry’s volatility, especially during bearmarkets. However, despite being extremely efficient, the main stablecoin actors (i.e. Circle & Tether) are centralised entities. Many …

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Euler: The DeFi Super App - Michael Bentley 1:00:01

3M ago1:00:01

1:00:01

Euler is a DeFi lending protocol built around the idea of permissionless modularity, enabling users to lend and borrow almost any crypto asset with flexible, permissionless pools, tailored to individual risk profiles. Moreover, Euler Vault Kit (EVK) and Ethereum Vault Connector (EVC) enable the creation of custom lending vaults which, in turn, can …

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Aliens and the Undead with Rekha Shankar 53:13

3M ago53:13

53:13

Are mummies, vampires and zombies extraterrestrials? Even the ancient astronaut theorists aren’t willing to go there, but it was time for a Halloween-themed show, so this is what they were left with. Fortunately, comedian and actor Rekha Shankar is here to help Toby and Brandon make sense of this mess. We have human sacrifices, King Tut, head bindi…

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Enseigner au Cégep - Indépendance, rigueur et épanouissement avec Mathieu Bélisle 1:17:31

3M ago1:17:31

1:17:31

Dans cet épisode d’Au-delà de la thèse avec Papa PhD, je reçois l’essayiste et professeur Mathieu Bélisle. Ensemble, nous revisitons son parcours universitaire marqué par des doutes, des abandons et une reconquête progressive du sens à travers l’enseignement collégial. Ce témoignage nuancé aborde la pression académique, la fatigue mentale en doctor…

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Alien Wars 40:12

3M ago40:12

40:12

Is Earth the site of a war between different species of aliens? Hard to know, but both a retired Canadian military official and the sixth man to walk on the moon have a strong feeling that it’s happening. Toby and Brandon take a look at The Alien Wars, which are apparently less noticeable than the ones we are used to. Also, why would anyone lead an…

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Finish Your PhD Faster and Healthier – Time Management & Mindset Shifts with Lucia Juarez 1:02:20

3M ago1:02:20

1:02:20

🎙️ This week on Beyond the Thesis with Papa PhD, Lucia Juarez, PhD, academic coach and creator of the SmartPhD system, joins us to talk about how PhD students can reclaim their time, boost academic confidence, and finish faster without sacrificing their wellbeing. Drawing from her own journey through burnout, motherhood, and academic overwhelm, Luc…

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Zama: FHE and The Holy Grail of Blockchain Privacy 56:12

3M ago56:12

56:12

Blockchains operate as a public ledger, ‘disclosing’ the entire transaction history and associated data to everyone. While verifiability and traceability are key traits, as blockchains gain global adoption, those very features hinder the process. Self custody, on-chain identities, corporate strategies, transaction history, private deals, all repres…

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Deadly Cults with Janet Varney: Part 2 36:26

3M ago36:26

36:26

Did you know there’s a computer intelligence named Spectra that orbits the Earth and communicates telepathically with Uri Geller? Well, we’re pretty sure there isn’t, and even less sure that it qualifies as a deadly cult, but we aren’t credentialed Ancient Astronaut Theorists, so take it with a grain of salt… Janet Varney is back with Brandon and T…

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Être déléguée générale du Québec à Munich avec Geneviève Rolland 40:22

3M ago40:22

40:22

Bienvenue dans ce nouvel épisode d’Horizon PhD! Dans cet épisode, nous partons à la rencontre de Geneviève Rolland, déléguée générale du Québec à Munich, pour mieux comprendre le rôle des scientifiques en résidence au sein des délégations du Québec à l’étranger. Au fil de l’entretien, Geneviève partage son expérience au sein du programme, explique …

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Season 7 Trailer - Beyond the Thesis With Papa PhD 1:28

3M ago1:28

1:28

🎓 Beyond the Thesis with Papa PhD is the podcast that helps researchers, graduate students, and PhDs explore career possibilities beyond academia. Hosted by David Mendes, each episode shares real stories of PhDs who have successfully transitioned into diverse roles across industry, government, communication, and entrepreneurship. With over 300 inte…

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Pareto: Customizable On-Chain Private Credit Marketplace - Matteo Pandolfi 1:08:21

4M ago1:08:21

1:08:21

Built primarily for institutional-grade clients, Pareto delivers customizable on-chain credit markets designed to expand DeFi liquidity and TradFi tokenization through structured yield strategies tailored to diverse risk profiles. Pareto allows its users to construct individualized credit lines in specific risk-ajusted tranches, with custom: intere…

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Deadly Cults with Janet Varney: Part 1 38:00

4M ago38:00

38:00

Was Snoopy a trickster god? And if so…who besides Brandon is part of the cult? We discuss this pressing question and so much more when Janet Varney returns to More Like Ancient Fail-iens to discuss the episode “Aliens and Deadly Cults.” We talk about whether highly evolved beings have sexual traits, Caligula as an early PhotoShopper and whether dog…

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Daring to Go Astray: Jillian Reilly Shares the Power of Self-Permission After Graduate School 59:19

4M ago59:19

59:19

Welcome back to Beyond the Thesis with Papa PhD! In this episode, host David Mendes sits down with Jillian Rilley – founder, writer, keynote speaker, and consultant whose decades of work focus on helping people navigate change and accelerate learning, especially in disruptive times. Drawing on her experiences across Africa, Asia, and Central Europe…

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MAKE IT MAKE SENSE | Job 1 | Pastor Dr. John Tyus 46:50

4M ago46:50

46:50

Join the World Conquerors family on a journey of restoration and reconciliation! We believe in the power of Jesus Christ to heal broken families and restore hearts back to him. Through inspiring messages, practical tools, and a supportive community, we'll equip you to: - Mend broken relationships with loved ones. - Break the cycle of hurt and find …

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Lagrange: ZK-Proving AI Alignment - Ismael Hishon-Rezaizadeh 56:51

4M ago56:51

56:51

In an age when AI models are becoming exponentially more sophisticated and powerful, how does one ensure that proper results are being generated and that the AI model functions in desired parameters? This pressing concern of AI alignment could be solved through cryptographic verification, using zero knowledge proofs. ZKPs not only allow for verifyi…