Best Substrate Podcasts (2025)

1
From Racks to Roots: Vertical Facility Design, Irrigation & Substrate Synergy with PIPP Horticulture | Ep 21 1:03:30

14d ago1:03:30

1:03:30

Send us a text In Episode 21 of the GroShow Podcast, host Riley Jones is joined by Grodan Crop Specialist Jon Jirikovec and Anders Peterson and Michael Williamson from PIPP Horticulture for part two of a special mini-series with the Cultivation Elevated podcast. If you caught part one on Cultivation Elevated, you’ll recognize today’s guests — and t…

1
The Perfect Substrate for AGI, with Replit CEO Amjad Masad 1:01:16

23d ago1:01:16

1:01:16

In this episode of The Cognitive Revolution, Amjad Masad , founder and CEO of Replit, discusses the fast-paced growth of Replit, the concept of 'vibe coding', and the challenges and opportunities in the rapidly evolving AI-assisted coding space. He shares insights into Replit's competitive advantages, known as 'moats', and how they maintain their l…

1
The Decade of May 15-22, 2025: Google's 50X AI Growth & Transformation with Logan Kilpatrick 1:24:02

1d ago1:24:02

1:24:02

Logan Kilpatrick from Google DeepMind returns for his fifth appearance to discuss Google’s transformation from "sleeping giant" to AI powerhouse, sharing insights from his year at the company as AI usage grew 50 times to 500 trillion tokens per month. He examines Google’s strengths, including superior compute infrastructure, frontier models like Ge…

1
a16z on Protecting Little Tech: The Techno-Optimist AI Policy Agenda with Matt Perault, Head of AI Policy 1:03:40

4d ago1:03:40

1:03:40

In this episode, Matt Perault, Head of AI Policy at a16z, discusses their approach to AI regulation focused on protecting "little tech" startups from regulatory capture that could entrench big tech incumbents. The conversation covers a16z's core principle of regulating harmful AI use rather than the development process, exploring key policy initiat…

1
Don't Make Mirror Life: Synthetic Biologist Kate Adamala on Risks & Responsibility 2:03:21

6d ago2:03:21

2:03:21

In this episode of The Cognitive Revolution, University of Minnesota Professor of Genetics and Synthetic Biologist, Kate Adamala, offers insights into synthetic biology and its potential implications for humanity. The discussion begins with an overview of synthetic biology and its goal to expand the chemical repertoire of life. Adamala delves into …

1
[AUDIO only] Office Hours LIVE Ep 138: Inside Certified Cultivators: Family Roots, Teamwork 1:02:20

8d ago1:02:20

1:02:20

In this episode, host Cian is joined by Director of Applied Technology Jason Van Leuven for a look into the world of cultivation, featuring special guests Tyler Snell and Adam Redding from Certified Cultivators in Ohio. Certified Cultivators stands out as a third-generation family business that impressively transformed an auto parts facility into a…

1
What did Google's AI Co-Scientist "Discover"? The Human Scientists' POV, from the Podovirus podcast 1:14:14

9d ago1:14:14

1:14:14

We're following up on our recent episode on Google's AI Co-Scientist with a special crossover episode from the Podovirus podcast. Hosts Dr Jessica Sacher and Dr Joe Campbell speak with José Penadés and Tiago Costa, scientists at Imperial College London who made a surprising discovery that Google's AI Co-Scientist later put forward as a hypothesis e…

1
Mechanistic Interpretability: Philosophy, Practice & Progress with Goodfire's Dan Balsam & Tom McGrath 1:52:52

16d ago1:52:52

1:52:52

In this episode, Daniel Balsam and Tom McGrath, at Goodfire, discuss the future of mechanistic interpretability in AI models. They explore the fundamental inputs like models, compute, and algorithms, and emphasize the importance of a rich empirical approach to understanding how models work. Balsam and McGrath provide insights into ongoing projects …

1
[AUDIO only] Office Hours LIVE Ep 137: From Brewery Talks to Retrofits: Sacramento’s Powrhouse 56:32

22d ago56:32

56:32

In episode 137, we bring you something truly special as we kick off "Powr Talk," a new reality mini-series where real commercial cultivators make data-driven, in-the-moment decisions—no scripts, no sets, just the authentic, behind-the-scenes life inside a working grow. This week, hosts Cian and Jason are joined by Kevin Crouch and Sergio Picazo fro…

1
Episode 148: 15,000 Clones a Year — Cannabis Propagation with Connor Ockfen 49:10

23d ago49:10

49:10

📝 Episode Highlights: Connor’s journey from greenhouse grower to propagation leader Scaling propagation: key infrastructure and protocols Hormonal treatments and substrate selection for optimal rooting Managing cultivar libraries and mother plant health IPM and environmental control strategies tailored for veg Writing and refining SOPs for complian…

1
The RAISE Act: Minimum Standards for Frontier AI Development, with NY Assembly Member Alex Bores 1:43:36

25d ago1:43:36

1:43:36

In this episode, New York State Assembly Member Alex Bores discusses the RAISE Act, a proposed bill aimed at regulating frontier AI models with basic safety protocols. He explains his background in technology, his motivations for the bill, and the legislative process. He emphasizes the importance of having clear safety protocols, third-party audits…

1
Gemini Robotics – AI for the Physical World, with Keerthana Gopalakrishnan and Ted Xiao of Google DeepMind 1:47:38

28d ago1:47:38

1:47:38

In this engaging episode of the Cognitive Revolution, host Nathan Labenz welcomes guests Keerthana Gopalakrishnan and Ted Xiao to revisit significant advancements in robotics over the past year. Key themes discussed include the proliferation of new robotics companies, the emergence of humanoid robots, and the development of sophisticated foundation…

1
Titans: Neural Long-Term Memory for LLMs, with author Ali Behrouz 2:11:25

30d ago2:11:25

2:11:25

In this episode of The Cognitive Revolution, Ali Behrouz, a PhD student at Cornell University, delves into his research on enhancing memory mechanisms in large language models through his latest paper titled Titans. Behrouz discusses the limitations of current models in maintaining long-term coherence and introduces the concept of a neural network …

1
Luma Labs' Diffusion Revolution: from Dream Machine to Multimodal Worldsim - Amit Jain, Jiaming Song 1:19:32

1M ago1:19:32

1:19:32

In this episode of the Cognitive Revolution podcast, the host Nathan Labenz welcomes Amit Jain, CEO and Jiaming Song, Chief Scientist at Luma Labs, alongside co-host Stephen Parker. The conversation delves into the latest advancements and products from Luma Labs, makers of the Dream Machine, including cutting-edge models and features like camera mo…

1
[AUDIO only] Office Hours LIVE Ep 136: Designing Future-Proof Facilities, Climate, Airflow, and Data Tips 59:05

1M ago59:05

59:05

In this week’s episode, host Cian and resident expert Jason are joined by Anders Peterson, Director of Horticulture at PIPP Horticulture. If you’ve ever marveled at wall-to-wall multi-tier canopies in a grow room, chances are PIPP had a hand in it—and Anders has been at the center of that evolution. Anders kicks things off by sharing his journey, f…

1
OpenAI's Identity Crisis: History, Culture & Non-Profit Control with ex-employee Steven Adler 2:03:13

1M ago2:03:13

2:03:13

In this episode, former OpenAI research scientist Steven Adler discusses his insights on OpenAI's transition through various phases, including its growth, internal culture shifts, and the contentious move from nonprofit to for-profit. The conversation delves into the initial days of OpenAI's development of GPT-3 and GPT-4, the cultural and ethical …

1
AI Control: Using Untrusted Systems Safely with Buck Shlegeris of Redwood Research, from the 80,000 Hours Podcast 2:29:21

1M ago2:29:21

2:29:21

In this episode, we share a fascinating conversation from the 80,000 Hours Podcast between Rob Wiblin and Buck Shlegeris, CEO of Redwood Research. Buck dives deep into the emerging field of AI Control strategies for safely working with powerful AIs even if they’re not fully aligned. They explore innovative techniques like always-on auditing, honeyp…

1
Blueprint for AI Armageddon: Josh Clymer Imagines AI Takeover, from the Audio Tokens Podcast 2:02:05

1M ago2:02:05

2:02:05

In this episode of the Cognitive Revolution, an AI-narrated version of Joshua Clymer's story on how AI might take over in two years is presented. The episode is based on Josh's appearance on the Audio Tokens podcast with Lukas Peterson. Joshua Clymer, a technical AI safety researcher at Redwood Research, shares a fictional yet plausible AI scenario…

1
Episode 147: The Chemistry of Survival: Plant Stress Responses with Dr. Michael Gutensohn 1:22:45

1M ago1:22:45

1:22:45

In this episode of the Cannabis Cultivation and Science Podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Michael Gutensohn, an expert in plant physiology and secondary metabolism, to explore the intricate relationship between environmental stress and the production of secondary metabolites in cannabis. We discuss how various abiotic stressors—such as light intensity, …

1
Fiverr Goes All-In on AI: Empowering Creators, Not Replacing Them, with Micha Kaufman, CEO of Fiverr 1:43:05

2M ago1:43:05

1:43:05

In this episode of The Cognitive Revolution, host Nathan Labenz speaks with Micha Kaufman, founder and CEO of Fiverr, about the company's new AI suite called Fiverr Go. Kaufman shares his unique values-based approach to AI implementation, which aims to empower human creators rather than replace them in the freelance marketplace. The conversation ex…

1
Securing Superintelligence: National Security, Espionage & AI Control with Jeremie & Edouard Harris 2:09:51

2M ago2:09:51

2:09:51

In this thought-provoking episode of The Cognitive Revolution, host Nathan Labenz speaks with Jeremy and Edouard Harris, founders of Gladstone AI and authors of "America's Superintelligence Project." The conversation explores a critical dilemma facing US policymakers: balancing the race to develop advanced AI ahead of China against the risks of los…

1
Is OpenAI's o3 AGI? Zvi Mowshowitz on Early AI Takeoff, the Mechanize launch, Live Players, & Why p(doom) is Rising 3:08:19

2M ago3:08:19

3:08:19

In this episode of the Cognitive Revolution podcast, the host Nathan Labenz is joined for the record 9th time by Zvi Mowshowitz to discuss the state of AI advancements, focusing on recent developments such as OpenAI's O3 model and its implications for AGI and recursive self-improvement. They delve into the capabilities and limitations of current AI…

1
AI News Crossover: A Candid Chat with Liron Shapira of Doom Debates 2:29:35

2M ago2:29:35

2:29:35

In this crossover episode of The Cognitive Revolution, Nathan Labenz joins Liron Shapira of Doom Debates, for a wide-ranging news and analysis discussion about recent AI developments. The conversation covers significant topics including GPT-4o image generation's implications for designers and businesses like Waymark, debates around learning to code…

1
Helen Toner: OpenAI Reflections, Adaptation Buffers, and AI in Warfare 1:29:35

2M ago1:29:35

1:29:35

In this thought-provoking conversation, Helen Toner, Director of Strategy at the Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET), discusses her perspectives on AI development, regulation, and international competition. Toner shares insights from her time on OpenAI's board, clarifying that reports about a "Q*" breakthrough influencing the board's…

1
Is a US-China Thucydides Trap Unavoidable? With David C. Kang from the ChinaTalk Podcast 1:39:16

2M ago1:39:16

1:39:16

In this crossover episode from the China Talk podcast, Nathan Labenz shares a thought-provoking conversation between Jordan Schneider, Ilari Michaela, and Professor David C. Kang that challenges conventional Western perspectives on East Asian international relations. Professor Kang argues that studying East Asian history on its own terms reveals a …

1
New in Nature: Google Agents Beat Human Doctors, Make Scientific Discoveries – With Vivek Natarajan and Anil Palepu 1:27:57

2M ago1:27:57

1:27:57

In this episode, Nathan Labenz speaks with Vivek Natarajan and Anil Palepu from Google DeepMind about their groundbreaking work on AMIE (Articulate Medical Intelligence Explorer) and Co-Scientist. The conversation reveals how these AI systems are already outperforming human physicians in diagnostic accuracy and treatment recommendations, with AMIE …

1
Episode 146: Logan Labs, Soil Testing, & Nitrogen Management with Bryant Mason 1:33:57

2M ago1:33:57

1:33:57

Welcome to the Cannabis Cultivation and Science podcast, I'm your host Tad Hussey of KIS Organics. This is the podcast where we discuss the cutting edge of growing from a science based perspective and draw on top experts from around the industry to share their wisdom and knowledge. My guest this week is Bryant Mason. I’ve had Bryant on the podcast …

1
Scaling "Thinking": Gemini 2.5 Tech Lead Jack Rae on Reasoning, Long Context, & the Path to AGI 1:16:28

2M ago1:16:28

1:16:28

In this illuminating episode of The Cognitive Revolution, host Nathan Labenz speaks with Jack Rae, principal research scientist at Google DeepMind and technical lead on Google's thinking and inference time scaling work. They explore the technical breakthroughs behind Google's Gemini 2.5 Pro model, discussing why reasoning techniques are suddenly wo…

1
Reward Hacking by Reasoning Models & Loss of Control Scenarios w/ Jeffrey Ladish of Palisade Research, from FLI Podcast 1:32:17

2M ago1:32:17

1:32:17

On this cross-post episode, Jeffrey Ladish discusses the rapid pace of AI progress and the risks of losing control over powerful systems. We explore why AIs can be both smart and dumb, the challenges of creating honest AIs, and scenarios where AI could turn against us. Additionally, we delve into Palisade's new study on how reasoning models can che…

1
The Foundation of a Healthy Crop: Getting Substrate Saturation and Rooting-In Right with Jon Jirikovec | Ep 20 54:54

2M ago54:54

54:54

Send us a text In Episode 20 of the GroShow Podcast, host Riley Jones welcomes Grodan Crop Specialist Jon Jirikovec for a deep dive into one of the most important (and often underestimated) parts of a successful grow: initial substrate saturation and rooting strategy. From troubleshooting dry-back issues to dialing in daily irrigations, Jon shares …

1
Shortwave Rides the Tidal Wave: Inbox Agents, Hyper-Growth & Hiring AI Managers, with CEO Andrew Lee 1:51:39

3M ago1:51:39

1:51:39

In this episode of the Cognitive Revolution podcast, Andrew Lee, founder and CEO of Shortwave, returns to discuss the rapid advancements in AI over the past year and how they have significantly improved Shortwave, an AI email assistant. Andrew shares insights into the exponential growth of Shortwave's revenue and the enhanced capabilities of their …

1
Code Context is King: Augment’s AI Assistant for Professional Software Engineers, with Guy Gur-Ari 1:25:44

3M ago1:25:44

1:25:44

In this episode of the Cognitive Revolution, Guy Gur-Ari, Co-Founder and Chief Scientist at Augment, explores the transformative impact of AI on the software industry. Highlighting Augment's unique approach, Gur-Ari discusses the challenges and solutions associated with integrating AI into large codebases, the nuances of maintaining context in AI-d…

1
Episode 145: Practical Greenhouse Management Advice with Jared Ferguson 51:04

3M ago51:04

51:04

Before starting the podcast, I wanted to share about an exciting new conference that we are hosting in conjunction with Collective Elevation in Bozeman, Montana. I’ve been talking to Suzanne Wainwright Evans about hosting a conference for years, and Adam at Collective graciously offered to open up his doors and let us host it on his property. The e…

1
Unlocking Cells' Secrets: Diffusion, Deconvolution, & Discovery with Siyu He, author of Squidiff & CORAL 1:46:17

3M ago1:46:17

1:46:17

In this episode of the Cognitive Revolution, we hear from Siyu He, a postdoc at Stanford specializing in biomedical data science. Siyu discusses the implications and methods behind their recent AI-driven biological research papers, Squidiff and CORAL. The conversation explores the use of AI models to analyze complex cellular systems and disease mec…

1
a16z on AI Voices: Call Centers, Coaches, and Companions with Olivia Moore & Anish Acharya 1:07:35

3M ago1:07:35

1:07:35

In this episode of The Cognitive Revolution, host Nathan Labenz speaks with Andreessen Horowitz partners Olivia Moore and Anish Acharya about the rapid evolution of voice AI technology and its real-world applications. The conversation explores how multimodal models, reduced latency, and improved emotional intelligence are enabling more natural voic…

1
Agency over AI? Allan Dafoe on Technological Determinism & DeepMind's Safety Plans, from 80000 Hours 3:02:28

3M ago3:02:28

3:02:28

Join us in a deep dive with Allan Dafoe, Director of Frontier Safety and Governance at Google DeepMind. Allan sheds light on the challenges of evaluating AI capabilities, structural risks, and the future of AI governance. Discover how AI technologies can transform sectors like education, healthcare, and sustainability, alongside the potential risks…

1
[AUDIO only] Office Hours LIVE Ep 135: Troubleshooting Irrigation and Substrate Issues 57:40

3M ago57:40

57:40

Welcome to Episode 135 of Office Hours LIVE, where cultivation knowledge meets practical application! Today, we're exploring the critical relationship between environment and irrigation for superior plant development. Host Cian is joined by cultivation experts Jason and Seth, ready to tackle your most challenging questions in real time. On today's …

1
China's Tech Tightrope: Power, Regulation, and the AI Race with Angela Zhang 1:31:56

3M ago1:31:56

1:31:56

In this intriguing episode, Professor Angela Zhang discusses the complex landscape of China's technology sector and regulation. The conversation explores China's approach to AI, the evolution of its tech giants, and the interplay between government and private enterprises. Zhang emphasizes the importance of firsthand experience in understanding Chi…

1
Historic AI Developments & the Emerging Shape of Superintelligence, from the Consistently Candid Podcast 1:57:36

3M ago1:57:36

1:57:36

In this episode, we discuss the significant advancements and challenges in the field of artificial intelligence over the past year. From breakthroughs in reinforcement learning to unexpected behaviors in fine-tuned models, we cover a wide range of topics that are shaping the AI landscape. Key discussions include the rapid progress of reasoning mode…

1
[AUDIO only] Office Hours LIVE Ep 134: Integrated HVAC Systems with Willy Stober 1:03:57

3M ago1:03:57

1:03:57

This episode explores the science and engineering behind optimal climate control for indoor plant cultivation. We're joined by special guest Willy Stober from Stober Engineering, alongside our expert hosts Cian, Jason, and Seth. Willy shares exclusive insights from his groundbreaking PG&E-funded research study examining energy consumption patterns …

1
Frontier Models for Frontier Science with Professor Derya Unutmaz, Immunologist & ChatGPT Pro Grantee 1:32:34

3M ago1:32:34

1:32:34

In this episode of The Cognitive Revolution, Professor Derya Unutmaz, a biomedical scientist and human immunologist at the Jackson Laboratory, discusses his groundbreaking research in aging and cancer immunotherapy. As a ChatGPT Pro grant awardee, Derya provides insights into the integration of AI with biomedical sciences, emphasizing how advanced …

1
Optimizing Cannabis Cultivation: Pheno-Hunting, Irrigation & Lighting with Plant Nerd | Ep 19 56:45

3M ago56:45

56:45

Send us a text In episode 19 of the GroShow Podcast, host Riley Jones sits down with Jared Toogood of Plant Nerd to break down the techniques helping growers fine-tune their operations. From advanced lighting strategies to precision irrigation and pheno-hunting for elite genetics, this episode is packed with actionable insights. Jared shares how re…

1
US-China Relations: History, Culture, and AI Competition, with Noah Smith, from Econ 102 1:09:49

3M ago1:09:49

1:09:49

In this episode, the host Nathan Labenz and economist Noah Smith delve into the complexities of U.S.-China relations, the motivations behind the United States' export controls and the broader geopolitical tensions. The discussion covers the perceived threats posed by China's technological advancements, especially in AI, and the implications for glo…

1
[AUDIO only] Office Hours LIVE Ep 133: Navigating Irrigation and Dryback Challenges 57:25

4M ago57:25

57:25

In this episode, our resident experts, Cian and Jason, explore common cultivation challenges, offering insights and strategies to enhance your grow operations. From debating vegging in place versus dedicated veg rooms to exploring solutions for persistent pest issues like thrips, they cover a wide range of topics crucial for cultivators. They also …

1
The Adversarial Mind: Defeating AI Defenses with Nicholas Carlini of Google DeepMind 2:39:38

4M ago2:39:38

2:39:38

In this episode, security researcher Nicholas Carlini of Google DeepMind delves into his extensive work on adversarial machine learning and cybersecurity. He discusses his pioneering contributions, which include developing attacks that have challenged the defenses of image classifiers and exploring the robustness of neural networks. Carlini details…

1
Episode 144: Pest Management Tips and Tricks with Saul Alba 1:11:20

4M ago1:11:20

1:11:20

Saul began his agriculture work in vineyard and winery operations on the Central California coast. After deciding to focus his career on crop protection he moved north where he managed IPM programs at Monterey Mushroom Company and Jacobs Farm/Del Cabo. This work led to a position as IPM Manager at Harborside Farms where he directed their bio-intens…

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Substrate Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen