Best Scheffer Podcasts (2025)

1
#25 Stanford-Trained Electrical Engineer “Reverse Engineering the Brain” - Dr. Louis Scheffer 59:42

8d ago59:42

59:42

Free Neurotech Newsletter: https://neurotechnologynews.beehiiv.com/subscribe Key Moments: 0:00 Introduction 1:12 Journey from Electrical Engineering to Neuroscience 6:45 Initial Interest in Neuroscience 8:16 What is connectomics? 11:45 Parallels Between Microchip Design and Neuroscience 14:22 Probabilistic Reconstruction in Connectomics 19:46 Neuro…

1
Alt-Pop Band OK Go Bubbles With Shifting Perspective 33:16

5d ago33:16

33:16

The melodic power pop band OK Go, as much a visual art ensemble as they are a rock band, has just released its first new album in over a decade. It’s called And The Adjacent Possible, and it’s full of relatively small songs with some really big ideas. It also means there are some new entries into the catalog of how-did-they-do-that videos that OK G…

1
Brooklyn Rider, Cross-Pollinating Chamber Music for 20 Years, and Counting 42:42

9d ago42:42

42:42

The string quartet known as Brooklyn Rider features the usual two violins, viola and cello. And that’s about all that’s usual with this band. Over the past two decades they have played with Yo Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble, Mexican singer Magos Herrera, Irish fiddler Martin Hayes, and banjo wiz Bela Fleck. They’ve commissioned a bunch of new pie…

1
Kentucky Singer/Songwriter S.G. Goodman Passes Down Stories in Song 36:13

12d ago36:13

36:13

Kentucky-based singer and songwriter S. G. Goodman blends a deeply-rooted Americana sound with indie rock and sharply observed tales of life, love and loss. Her songs acknowledge the poverty, violence, and homophobia of the region while celebrating its beauty and the strength to be found in family, friends, and storytelling. Her new album, Planting…

1
Brooklyn Bhangra Party With Red Baraat, In-Studio 37:59

16d ago37:59

37:59

The brass and dhol-led party band Red Baraat began as a Punjabi wedding band here in New York, but for the past 15 years they’ve brought their raucous energetic dance sound to everyone through a series of well-received albums and their memorable live shows. Drummer and bandleader Sunny Jain, infused the band with the sounds of his upbringing: music…

1
Songwriter/Guitarist Jill Sobule Keeps Moving on 'Nostalgic' Record (From the Archives) 31:29

19d ago31:29

31:29

Denver-born songwriter, guitarist, singer, activist, and performer Jill Sobule, is possibly best-known because of her breakthrough hit of “I Kissed a Girl” (pre-dating Katy Perry by more a decade), and “Supermodel,” the anthem from the film Clueless. In her over seven albums, the troubadour has "mused on topics such as the death penalty, anorexia, …

1
The Haunted Atmospheric Guitar of WIlliam Tyler Unspools Time 42:30

23d ago42:30

42:30

Since releasing his first solo album in 2010, William Tyler has become associated with the so-called cosmic country style – his music has tended to be expansive, atmospheric, clearly rooted in Americana but with an experimental edge. Now comes Tyler’s new record, Time Indefinite – an album that might, paradoxically, be his most modern or avant-gard…

1
#24 Decoding Brain Signals, Neuromorphic Computing, MEMS w/ NeuroEngineer Dr. Akshay Ananthakrishnan 54:53

23d ago54:53

54:53

Free Neurotech Newsletter: https://neurotechnologynews.beehiiv.com/subscribe Key Moments: 0:00 Introduction 4:36 Initial Interest in Neurotechnology 7:34 Exploring Diverse Fields of Interest: Neuromorphic Computing, Brain-Machine Interface, Heliostat Fields, Military Applications 10:51 MEMS 14:52 Bio-compatiblity and Bio-mimetic Systems in Neurotec…

1
Jlin's Percussive-Driven, Math-Loving, Adventurous Electronic Music, In-Studio 36:35

26d ago36:35

36:35

The artist, producer, and educator Jlin, born Jerrilynn Patton, first came out of the electronic dance music scene – specifically, the Chicago style of house music known as footwork. But she’s also become a sought-after composer, and one of her works was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Her collaborators include Icelandic pop star Bjork, composer…

1
Chicago-Based Composer Macie Stewart Makes Music Out of the Spaces In-Between 36:43

1M ago36:43

36:43

Macie Stewart is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, and composer who’s been a key player in the Chicago music scene, and a go-to collaborator for her string arrangements for pop stars like SZA, or playing with leading improvisers like Makaya McCraven or touring with Japanese Breakfast. Her current project is an album called When Distance Is Blue, ful…

1
A New York Evening with Anoushka Shankar 46:07

1M ago46:07

46:07

Because she is the daughter of Ravi Shankar, perhaps the most famous Indian classical musician of the past century, Anoushka Shankar is associated with that style of music. But though she plays the sitar, and does indeed play Indian ragas in the style of her illustrious dad, she has also drawn on jazz, flamenco, various world and electronic music t…

1
Fiddlers Mark and Maggie O’Connor Connect Chamber Music and Bluegrass, In-Studio 38:26

1M ago38:26

38:26

The fiddler Mark O’Connor is probably best known for his million-selling Appalachian Waltz project – a kind of chamber/folk album with famed cellist Yo Yo Ma and bassist Edgar Meyer. Mark has also written string quartets, concertos, and orchestral pieces – and they all come from the same place as his solo fiddle sets – everything is rooted in the s…

1
#23 Neurotech Startup Writing Algos to Track Biomarkers- Connectome's Dr Rufus Mitchell-Heggs 36:29

1M ago36:29

36:29

Free Neurotech Newsletter: https://neurotechnologynews.beehiiv.com/subscribe Key Moments: 0:00 Introduction 3:02 Founding Story: Connectome Health 6:15 Inspiration for Company Name: Connectome Health 8:12 fNIRS Overview and Connectome’s Modality Agnostic Strategy 10:23 Hardware 11:26 Key Brain Metrics 13:16 Goal to Move into NeuroDiagnostics 13:59 …

1
Revisiting Mike Peters of The Alarm, In-Studio (Archives) 37:03

1M ago37:03

37:03

Since 1981, Welsh musician Mike Peters has been the voice of the hit-making British band The Alarm. After the band split up in 1991, Peters wrote and released solo work, before reconstituting The Alarm in 2000, (Wikipedia.) Since being diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia in 2005 (he is also co-founder of the Love Hope Strength Foundation), Mike …

1
King Hannah's Fuzzy-Jangly Charged Romanticism, In-Studio 41:27

1M ago41:27

41:27

King Hannah is an indie-rock duo from Liverpool consisting of singer and songwriter Hannah Merrick and guitarist Craig Whittle. Their latest album, Big Swimmer, seems to be the result of Merrick’s observations after touring around the United States, where it wasn’t the big cities or expansive vistas that inspired her songs, but the little moments a…

1
#22 YC Startup Building a Foundation Model for the Brain - Piramidal AI Co-Founder Kris Pahuja 19:21

1M ago19:21

19:21

Free Neurotech Newsletter: https://neurotechnologynews.beehiiv.com/subscribe Key Moments: 0:00 Introduction: University, First Startup, Corporate Experience 2:44 Initial Interest in AI and Neuroscience 4:24 Founding Story of Piramidal 5:49 Y Combinator: Learnings and Experiences 7:35 Product: Foundation Model for the Brain 9:47 Competitive Landscap…

1
Ancient-to-Future Hot Psychedelic Gnawa Blues from Bab L' Bluz, In-Studio 36:17

2M ago36:17

36:17

Bab L’ Bluz is a French-Moroccan band playing a distinctive band of rock, one that’s built on the sounds of North and West African music, and on the Blues. The band was born from the dream of propelling Guembri (the Gnawa's guitar) on the international music scene of contemporary music, and has expanded to include electric mandole and electric riba…

1
Marlon Williams Connects With His Maori Roots, In-Studio 25:36

2M ago25:36

25:36

Aotearoa singer/songwriter Marlon Williams’(Kāi Tahu, Ngāi Tai) is a singer and songwriter from Lyttleton, New Zealand. He’s spent this past decade creating a personal blend of country, indie, and folk music; and he’s been an actor, and makes an appearance in the film A Star Is Born. But his new album is something different – maybe not musically, b…

1
Immersion and SUSS: Rhythm and Synths Meet Ambient Country, In-Studio 40:56

2M ago40:56

40:56

Immersion consists of the husband and wife team of Colin Newman, who you may know from the veteran English rock band Wire, and Malka Spigel from the band Minimal Compact. And Nanocluster is the name of a series of collaborations between the Immersion and various guests (Laetitia Sadier, German post-rock duo Tarwater, electronic musicians Ulrich Sch…

1
All the Flavors of the Rainbow of Cello by Peter Gregson, In-Studio 42:10

2M ago42:10

42:10

The British cellist, producer, and composer Peter Gregson has collaborated with some of the biggest names in contemporary music, including Max Richter, Gabriel Prokofiev and Jóhann Jóhannsson. His own work includes soundtracks for film and TV, electroacoustic works, and a series of string quartets. Daringly, he has also “recomposed” J.S. Bach’s six…

1
Tabla Master Zakir Hussain and Santoor Player Rahul Sharma, In-Studio 42:47

2M ago42:47

42:47

The Indian-born tabla player and composer, teacher, and advocate Zakir Hussain, son of Ustad Alla Rahka, who passed away in December of 2024, wasn’t just a virtuoso improviser - he was one of the world’s exceptional percussionists, working in many genres, and was the world’s preeminent tabla master. Zakir Hussain enjoyed the different challenges th…

1
Seun Kuti and Egypt 80 Ignite an Afrobeat Dance Party, In-Studio 44:06

2M ago44:06

44:06

The Nigerian singer, songwriter and bandleader and Seun Kuti keeps alive the Afrobeat tradition founded by his legendary father, Fela Kuti, back in the 1970s. In fact, when Fela died in 1997, it was Seun, his youngest son, who took over the band, now called Egypt 80. Like his late father, Seun Kuti takes on topics like government corruption and cor…

1
#21 Reach Neuro: Spinal Stimulation to Restore Movement In Upper Limb Post-Stroke - CEO Marc Powell 31:37

2M ago31:37

31:37

Free Neurotech Newsletter: https://neurotechnologynews.beehiiv.com/subscribe Key Moments: 0:00 Introduction 3:17 Initial Interest in Neuroscience 4:50 Origin Story of Reach Neuro 6:16 Reach Neuro’s Avantis Platform 11:12 Reach Neuro Competitors 14:40 Navigating FDA Regulations and Breakthrough Device Designation 19:02 Research Tools and Product Dev…

1
The Punchy Groove of Baroque Ensemble Ruckus, In-Studio 34:28

2M ago34:28

34:28

New York-based Ruckus is an early music ensemble that plays with the energy of a rock band. Most early music groups feature instruments like the harpsichord and the viola da gamba, and Ruckus does too, but you’ll also hear synthesizer, guitar, bassoon, bass, and near Eastern frame drums. And on their new album, The Edinburgh Rollick, they focus on …

1
CocoRosie's Theatrical Baroque Electro-Pop, In-Studio 53:27

2M ago53:27

53:27

CocoRosie -the band founded by the sisters Sierra and Bianca Casady – blends elements of pop, freak folk and electronic music into a distinctly personal, idiosyncratic sound. The sisters use their voices, electronics, and found sounds – usually the sounds of toys – to make songs that can be whimsical, provocative, haunted, beautiful - sometimes all…

1
The Quartet Sissoko-Segal-Parisien-Peirani Wanders Across Cultures and Genres 33:20

3M ago33:20

33:20

In 2010, we first fell under the spell of an extraordinary duo: Ballaké Sissoko, master of the West African harp or kora, and Vincent Segal, the French cellist. After a couple of albums together they added another duo, accordion virtuoso Vincent Peirani and sax player Emile Parisien, and that quartet has released an album called Les Egarés – thos…

1
Harpist Ashley Jackson Takes Us To The Water 29:08

3M ago29:08

29:08

Harpist, soloist, collaborator (Harlem Chamber Players), educator, and arranger Ashley Jackson’s brand new album is called Take Me To The Water. In the American spiritual tradition, water is a powerful metaphor for freedom and for moving from this life to the next. Jackson’s record takes listeners on a watery journey through works by Debussy, the j…

1
Rafiq Bhatia and Chris Pattishall Sculpt Electroacoustic Works, In-Studio 41:16

3M ago41:16

41:16

New York composer and guitarist Rafiq Bhatia is part of the art rock band Son Lux, the experimental trio best-known for scoring the film Everything Everywhere All At Once. His new EP – his first new solo project in 5 years - features pianist and improviser Chris Pattishall and is called Each Dream, A Melting Door. In their electro-acoustic songs, R…

1
Berlin-Based Techno/Electro-Musician Jan Blomqvist Considers Silence and Connectivity 30:10

3M ago30:10

30:10

Jan Blomqvist is part of the legendary electronic music scene in Berlin – but he’s also a singer and producer, so his take on techno and house music is more song-oriented than many of his fellow DJs. One thing that sets Blomqvist apart is that he makes music in the studio with an eye towards live performance, earning him a description of “concert t…

1
Aukai's Electroacoustic Music for a Timeless State (Archives) 26:57

3M ago26:57

26:57

German producer & multi-instrumentalist Aukai, aka Markus Sieber, grew up in the former East Germany, but his travels have taken him through Latin America, and he is now based in Colorado. "Aukai" is a Hawaiian term for a seafaring traveler, and on 2018 record, Branches of Sun, he has captured a certain nomadic wanderlust which might connect a list…

1
Songs By Ken Pomeroy to Not Feel Alone, In-Studio 34:39

3M ago34:39

34:39

With her clever guitar playing and powerful stories, Oklahoma-based Cherokee singer and songwriter Ken Pomeroy draws on brutal honesty and the songwriting skills she has honed since she was 11 years old. She’s already found herself on the big screen and small when her song “Wall of Death” made its way onto the Twisters soundtrack, while Hulu’s Rese…

1
Kinan Azmeh and CityBand Mix East and West, In-Studio 39:13

3M ago39:13

39:13

Syrian clarinetist and composer Kinan Azmeh has been based here in New York for many years. His music is an organic mix of East and West, of classical composition, jazzy improvisation, and Near Eastern music traditions. He’s played with the Silk Road Ensemble and lots of other groups large and small, but the one we see him with most often is his Ar…

1
The War And Treaty Blends Country, Soul, and the Blues, In-Studio 39:39

3M ago39:39

39:39

The War And Treaty is built around the husband and wife team of Michael and Tanya Trotter, who’ve spent the past decade honing their own, often jubilant blend of country and soul. Their new album is called Plus One, and features touches of jazz, bluegrass, blues, even a nod or two to hip hop. There are some songs involving whiskey, a few nods to Ra…

1
Third Coast Percussion Plays New Work by Zakir Hussain, In-Studio 40:56

4M ago40:56

40:56

Third Coast Percussion is a Grammy-winning classical quartet based in Chicago. They’re all composers themselves, but they’ve also worked with a wide variety of other composers, including Philip Glass and the late great tabla player Zakir Hussain. Their new EP, Murmurs In Time, features Zakir’s work of that name, and he was supposed to join Third Co…

1
The Warmth and Soulful Groove of Sachal Vasandani, In-Studio 32:49

4M ago32:49

32:49

The singer Sachal Vasandani has become known for his distinctive takes on jazz standards, and for his wide ranging covers, from Bob Dylan to Billie Eilish. But Sachal is also a songwriter himself, and his new album, Best Life Now, is largely a collection of original songs musing on stories of sensuality, heartbreak, and other love struggles. Sachal…

1
Singer-Songwriter Victoria Canal, In-Studio 35:08

4M ago35:08

35:08

Spanish singer and songwriter Victoria Canal mixes pop styles, from bangers to weighty tunes with thoughtful, often probing, occasionally flirty lyrics, which revolve around her own complicated identity. She won two of Britain’s prestigious Ivor Novello Awards, famously sang with Coldplay at last year’s Glastonbury Festival, and had released a pair…

1
#20 Non-Invasive Neurostimulation for Sleep: Neurovalens CEO Jason McKeown 51:21

4M ago51:21

51:21

Free Neurotech Newsletter: https://neurotechnologynews.beehiiv.com/subscribe Key Moments: 0:00 Introduction 3:23 Initial Interest in Neuroscience/Neurotechnology 5:10 Neurovalens: Background, Timeline, Origins 7:52 Clinical Trials: Insomnia, Anxiety, Obesity, PTSD, Diabetes 8:40 Neurostimulation: Type and Target 10:40 Exploring Various Treatment Ty…

1
The Resilience, Wisdom, and Hope in Brother Ali's Hip Hop, In-Studio 36:06

4M ago36:06

36:06

The rapper and songwriter Brother Ali has been releasing his distinctive brand of hip hop since the turn of the century – music that combines pointed social commentary, nerdy music references, and the veteran producer Ant’s maximalist, often playful beats. Brother Ali’s brand new LP is called Satisfied Soul, and on it, there is wisdom, self-reflect…

1
Intertwining Melodies From American Rock Band, Horsegirl 27:33

4M ago27:33

27:33

The band Horsegirl is three best friends from Chicago who began playing together while still in high school. But their 2022 debut album, Versions of Modern Performance, showed a band that already had a distinctive sound that showed that DIY didn’t necessarily mean simple. With two of the three musicians now attending NYU, the band has moved here to…

1
Sam Amidon Recasts and Expands Folk Songs, In-Studio 33:38

4M ago33:38

33:38

Sam Amidon is a folk fiddler, multi-instrumentalist, and singer from New England who now lives in Old England. He's become known for his inventive and often surprising arrangements of folk songs from both sides of the Atlantic. But he’s also someone who refuses to stay in his lane. So you could call his new album, Salt River, a collection of folk s…

1
Afrobeat From Amayo Blends Nigerian Heritage and Kung Fu Teachings, In-Studio 33:56

4M ago33:56

33:56

Amayo is the Nigerian-born, Atlanta-based singer and songwriter who was the longtime front-person for the band Antibalas. Now out on his own, Amayo continues to create his own distinctive take on the Afrobeat sound pioneered in the 1970s by the legendary Fela Kuti. But Amayo’s songwriting and his live performances are also deeply affected by his lo…

1
Cellist Abel Selaocoe On Finding Things That Bind Us Together 35:46

4M ago35:46

35:46

The South African-born, UK-based cellist Abel Selaocoe doesn’t really cross musical boundaries – he ignores them entirely. He’ll play Bach cello suites, but he also writes music that draws on the throat singing and instinctive vocalizations of his South African heritage, as well as works with electronics, cello preparations, and site-specific sound…

1
The Band Wunderhorse, Very Raw, No Frills, In-Studio 26:48

4M ago26:48

26:48

The English band Wunderhorse now have two albums under that name, although the first of them, 2022’s Cub, was essentially a solo album by vocalist and songwriter Jacob Slater. Their latest, called Midas, came out this past fall to rave reviews and is very much a portrait of a band who can capture a visceral feeling in their recorded music that is "…

1
Richard Reed Parry's 'Quiet River of Dust' (Archives) 41:14

5M ago41:14

41:14

Richard Reed Parry is perhaps best known as the really tall, really redheaded guy playing half a dozen instruments in the Grammy-winning band Arcade Fire. But he’s also a founder of the instrumental group Bell Orchestre, and a composer of contemporary classical music. In 2018, he visited the studio with a new project called Quiet River of Dust, and…

1
South African Guitarist Derek Gripper Translates Kora and J.S. Bach, In-Studio 34:39

5M ago34:39

34:39

South African guitar virtuoso Derek Gripper plays music originally meant for the 21 stringed lute-harp, the kora, on his 6-string Segovia-styled guitar and does it so well that the world’s leading guitarists and kora players keep wondering how one even does that. His original music is informed by kora master Toumani Diabaté, Malian singer-songwrite…

1
#19 Building a Non-Invasive BCI/Neurotech Startup at 23: Synaptrix Co-Founder Aryan Govil 38:04

5M ago38:04

38:04

Free Neurotech Newsletter: https://neurotechnologynews.beehiiv.com/subscribe Key Moments 0:00 Introduction 2:22 Initial Interest in Neuroscience/Neurotech 4:17 Background and Origins of Synaptrix 6:15 Development of Neuralis Product 7:10 Benefits of Building a Product “In-House” 8:54 In-House Lab Build Out 10:41 Moving Quickly Through Regulatory St…

1
Enhanced Chamber Music by W4RP Trio and LIKWUID, In-Studio 41:34

5M ago41:34

41:34

Hip hop and classical music come together in the hybrid chamber music of W4RP Trio. The new record, featuring the spoken word artist DJ LiKWUiD, is called Sermon of the MatriarK and it is a celebration of powerful female characters in the African diaspora. But it’s also a celebration of the ways in which artists can move freely across genre lines –…

1
Violinist and Bandleader Jenny Scheinman Stretches Out At Play 44:42

5M ago44:42

44:42

Violinist, composer, and bandleader Jenny Scheinman is a familiar figure to jazz fans, having played for years with Bill Frisell, Allison Miller, and many others. But jazz is just one part of her music. In her own albums and in her work with musicians from Lou Reed to Lucinda Williams to Jason Moran, Scheinman incorporates a wide range of American …

1
#18 Stealth Neurotech CEO, Dr. Lothar Krinke: Previously w/ Newronika, Welcony, Medtronic, McKinsey 33:49

5M ago33:49

33:49

Please note this episode was recorded when Dr. Krinke was still in his former position as of CEO at Newronika. Key Moments 0:00 Introduction 5:01 Initial Interest in Neuroscience 7:04 Newronika: Background and Origins 9:11 Closed Loop Deep Brain Stimulation Methodology 12:39 Does Closed Loop DBS Pose Additional Risks? 15:20 Newronika WebBioBank 17:…

1
Sax Player and Bandleader Lakecia Benjamin Imagines What's Possible 30:33

5M ago30:33

30:33

Sax player, MC, and bandleader Lakecia Benjamin grew up playing salsa and merengue in Washington Heights. She counts jazz greats Terri Lyne Carrington, Gary Bartz, and Clark Terry among her mentors; and her list of collaborators includes Missy Elliott, Stevie Wonder, Lil Wayne, Dianne Reeves, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Brandee Younger, and Jazzmeia Horn…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Scheffer Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen