Best Automata Podcasts (2025)

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Nier Replicant, Episode 14: Memor[y] feat. Michael Higham 1:38:17

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22d ago1:38:17

1:38:17

Remember how we said Nier Replicant had a new ending added to it? We decided to save it for the last. Well, almost. We still have the external media episode after this. Michael Higham returns for the final gameplay episode of our Nier season in which we go back and play Replicant's Ending E, discuss how it connects both Nier games in new surprising…

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Nier Automata, Episode 11: Omnes Una Manet No[x] 1:24:56

1M ago1:24:56

1:24:56

All roads lead to Ending E. In our Nier Automata finale we talk about the final endings, Devola and Popola's big hero moment, and prepare to go back to Nier Replicant for one final showdown.Enjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us on Bluesky:Normandy FM: @normandyfmEric: @seamoosiKen: @shepardcdr…

1
Nier Automata, Episode 10: [W]ish You Were Here 49:33

2M ago49:33

49:33

Before we head to the end of Nier Automata, we have to go check up on an old friend. It's the Emil episode as we talk about the game's secret boss and all it implies about the state of the world.Enjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us on Bluesky:Normandy FM: @normandyfmEric: @seamoosiKen: @shepardcdr…

1
Nier Automata, Episode 9: [V]iolent Ends feat. Diego Argüello 1:44:59

2M ago1:44:59

1:44:59

It is getting worse for our android heroes as we keep going through Route C. Diego Argüello returns to talk about A2 learning to care and 9S falling into madness. Enjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us on Bluesky:Normandy FM: @normandyfmEric: @seamoosiKen: @shepardcdrDiego: @diegoarguello…

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Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors: The Secret Sauce of Modern Tech (From Graphics to Google) 18:06

2M ago18:06

18:06

This episode outlines Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors in Linear Algebra. We highlight the practical uses of these abstract topics.By AmCan Tech

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Decoding Language: The Power of Context-Free Grammars in Computing 17:07

2M ago17:07

17:07

This bonus episode explores what context-free grammars are in automata theorem.By AmCan Tech

1
Demystifying Automata Theory: From Finite Machines to Regular Languages 1:03:36

2M ago1:03:36

1:03:36

This deep dive offers comprehensive overview of automata theory and formal languages. They begin by introducing finite automata (FA), including Deterministic Finite Automata (DFA) and Non-deterministic Finite Automata (NFA), alongside fundamental concepts like alphabets, strings, and languages, and their associated operations.…

1
Nier Automata, Episode 8: Confl[u]ence of Worlds feat. Natalie Checo 1:18:45

3M ago1:18:45

1:18:45

The reigning guest champ Natalie Checo returns after a long hiatus as we talk about the beginning of Nier Automata's Route C. We talk about passing the torch to the final playable character, unpack the surprisingly timely themes of Automata, and somehow find a way to talk about KPop Demon Hunters. Enjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://p…

1
Nier Automata, Episode 7: [T]ake Two feat. Moises Taveras and Sam Greszes 1:59:38

3M ago1:59:38

1:59:38

We did all of Route A over again...as 9S. This episode covers the broad strokes of Nier Automata's Route B, so if you haven't played through the whole thing, come back later. Moises Taveras returns alongside first-time guest Sam Greszes as we talk about 9S, the reveals of his hacking abilities, and wonder what the **** those asterisks are. Enjoy th…

101
The Evolution of Lungs 48:24

3M ago48:24

48:24

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the evolution of lungs and of the first breaths, which can be traced back 400 million years to when animal life spread from rock pools and swamps onto land, as some fish found an evolutionary advantage in getting their oxygen from air rather than water. Breathing with lungs may have started with fish filling their mo…

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Nier Automata, Episode 6: Become A[s] Gods feat. Sam Greer 1:43:41

4M ago1:43:41

1:43:41

We finished Nier Automata. The credits rolled, so it's over. Right? Riiiiiight?Nah. We finished Route A and returning guest Sam Greer joins us to talk about Automata's first closing chapter. Enjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us on BlueskyNormandy FM: @normandyfmEric: @seamoosiKen: @shepardcdrSam: @sammgr…

1
Nier Automata, Episode 5: Simulac[r]a 42:23

4M ago42:23

42:23

This episode we close the book on Adam and his attempts to roleplay humanity. We head down to the Copied City and pontificate on Nier's vision of synthetics trying to figure out what humanity was all about long after the humans are gone from this world.Enjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us on BlueskyNorma…

1
Nier Automata, Episode 4: May [Q] Think 56:17

5M ago56:17

56:17

As 2B and 9S explore more of Nier Automata's desolate world, we find new ways that robots try to imitate humanity and speculate about what it all means.Enjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us on Bluesky:Normandy FM: @normandyfmEric: @seamoosiKen: @shepardcdrBy Normandy FM

1
Lise Meitner 57:22

5M ago57:22

57:22

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the decisive role of one of the great 20th Century physicists in solving the question of nuclear fission. It is said that Meitner (1878-1968) made this breakthrough over Christmas 1938 while she was sitting on a log in Sweden during a snowy walk with her nephew Otto Frisch (1904-79). Both were Jewish-Austrian refugee…

1
Secrets Hidden in PDF Pages 17:50

5M ago17:50

17:50

In this episode, we explore a novel method for distributed steganography using PDF files. The technique involves splitting a secret message using secret sharing algorithms and embedding the parts into PDFs by manipulating their internal structure—specifically through hidden pages. We discuss how this approach makes the embedded data virtually invis…

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PAX East Video Game Tinder III Panel feat. Anya Combs, Jenna Stoeber, Michael Higham, Asa GreenRiver 1:00:59

5M ago1:00:59

1:00:59

Another PAX East, another Video Game Tinder panel. Well, until they stop letting us make fools of ourselves. This year we're joined by Michael Higham, Jenna Stoeber, Asa GreenRiver, and returning swiper Anya Combs as we swipe left and right on fake dating profiles for real video game characters. We've also included a Google Slides link of the prese…

1
Pollination 50:10

7M ago50:10

50:10

Since plants have to mate and produce offspring while rooted to the spot, they have to be pollinated – by wind, water, or animals – most commonly insects. They use a surprising array of tricks to attract pollinators: striking colours, iridescent light effects, and enticing scents, to name but a few. Insects, on the other hand, do not seek to pollin…

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Finite Automata - What you need to know 26:13

7M ago26:13

26:13

Automata theory: it's a computational model study, focusing on finite automata (DFA and NFA) and push-down automata (PDA). The course explores regular languages, their properties and proofs of non-regularity using concepts like the pumping lemma and Myhill-Nerode theorem. Foundational mathematical concepts such as set theory, sequences, relations, …

1
Shamir's Secret: A PayPal Near-Disaster 8:21

7M ago8:21

8:21

This account recounts a nightmarish incident at PayPal where a flawed implementation of Shamir Secret Sharing, a cryptographic technique for distributing a secret key among multiple parties, nearly caused a catastrophic system failure. The author, a PayPal engineer, explains the process of Shamir Secret Sharing and how he implemented it to improve …

1
SLAP and FLOP: Apple Silicon Speculative Execution Attacks 15:33

7M ago15:33

15:33

SLAP and FLOP are two new speculative execution attacks targeting Apple's M-series chips. SLAP exploits the Load Address Predictor (LAP) to leak data by predicting incorrect memory addresses, while FLOP leverages the Load Value Predictor (LVP) to predict incorrect data values. Both attacks allow unauthorized access to sensitive information from web…

1
Subaru Starlink Security Flaw 10:51

8M ago10:51

10:51

Security researchers discovered and exploited a vulnerability in Subaru's Starlink connected car system. This flaw allowed unauthorized access to sensitive data, including vehicle location history, and control over features like door locks. The vulnerability stemmed from weaknesses in the Starlink admin panel, which was accessible using readily ava…

1
Hash Tables: Theory, Implementation, and Universal Hashing 16:14

8M ago16:14

16:14

In this episode, we explore hash tables, a data structure designed for efficient insertion, deletion, and searching of data using keys. The document contrasts direct addressing with hashing, highlighting the space efficiency of hash tables when dealing with large key universes. It discusses collision resolution techniques like chaining and open add…

1
Suffix Trees: Construction, Properties, and Applications 9:53

8M ago9:53

9:53

Today, we are exploring suffix trees, a data structure used for solving string problems.We begin with basic definitions related to strings and alphabets, then introduces suffix trees as compressed tries containing all suffixes of a given text. Applications include substring searching, finding repeated substrings, and data compression. The discussio…

1
Disjoint Sets: Data Structures and Algorithms 12:09

9M ago12:09

12:09

We discuss disjoint sets, also known as union-find data structures. Disjoint sets maintain collections of elements partitioned into non-overlapping sets, each with a representative element. Key operations include Make-Set (creating a new set), Find-Set (locating a set's representative), and Union (merging two sets). Different representations are ex…

1
B-Tree Data Structure: Search, Insertion, and Deletion 17:53

9M ago17:53

17:53

Jump in and discover the B-tree data structure, a fundamental tool for processing queries on one-dimensional data stored on disk. We explain how B-trees efficiently support range reporting, successor/predecessor searches, insertion, and deletion operations.By AmCan Tech

1
Nier: Automata, Episode 3: A Walk in the [P]ark 44:42

9M ago44:42

44:42

As we make our way through Nier Automata's post-apocalyptic world, we stumble upon an amusement park. Here we find some interesting wrinkles in how Automata frames its android vs. machine war and ponder if it succeeds in some of the ways we felt The Last of Us didn't. Enjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us…

1
Slime Moulds 51:30

9M ago51:30

51:30

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss slime mould, a basic organism that grows on logs, cowpats and compost heaps. Scientists have found difficult to categorise slime mould: in 1868, the biologist Thomas Huxley asked: ‘Is this a plant, or is it an animal? Is it both or is it neither?’ and there is a great deal scientists still don’t know about it. But de…

1
BioBit - Vigilance 55:04

9M ago55:04

55:04

BioWare has been hit with layoffs and reassignments as it pivots to Mass Effect 5, and that includes veteran talent that helped make the Dragon Age series what it is today. Ken and Eric sit down to try and figure out what it all means, ponder the future of the studio, and look toward our upcoming Veilguard season.Follow us on Bluesky:Normandy FM: @…

1
Tries: Data Structures for String Processing 15:45

9M ago15:45

15:45

A Trie, also known as a prefix tree, is a specialized tree-based data structure primarily used for efficiently storing and retrieving strings. Unlike traditional search trees where a node stores the entire key, each node in a trie represents a prefix shared by all its descendants. This unique structure facilitates fast search, insertion, and deleti…

1
Topological Sort and Strongly Connected Components 14:04

9M ago14:04

14:04

This podcast reviews key concepts related to Depth First Search (DFS) algorithm and its application in topological sorting and finding strongly connected components in graphs.By AmCan Tech

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The Habitability of Planets 52:50

10M ago52:50

52:50

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss some of the great unanswered questions in science: how and where did life on Earth begin, what did it need to thrive and could it be found elsewhere? Charles Darwin speculated that we might look for the cradle of life here in 'some warm little pond'; more recently the focus moved to ocean depths, while new observatio…

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The Last MOLMF 1:20:23

10M ago1:20:23

1:20:23

Hey all, thanks for joining us along this journey for the last 9 years. We stared Men Of Low Moral Fiber when I was 30 years old and I just turned 39, so all of my 30s were consumed with recording MOLMF episodes, editing them, publishing, planning, scheduling, and playing the actual MOLMF games. It was exhausting and exhilarating and I'll never for…

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QuickSort and Order Selection 14:08

10M ago14:08

14:08

This episode focuses on QuickSort, a divide-and-conquer sorting algorithm, comparing it to MergeSort, and analyzing its average and worst-case time complexities. It then explains the order selection problem, which involves finding the kth smallest element in a dataset, presenting several algorithms with varying time complexities and practical consi…

1
Recurrence Equations and Asymptotic Notation 19:30

10M ago19:30

19:30

This episodes presents methods for solving recurrence equations, which are crucial for analyzing the time complexity of recursive algorithms. It introduces asymptotic notations (Big O, Big Omega, Big Theta, little o, little omega) to describe the growth of functions. The lecture then explores several techniques for solving recurrences, including th…

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The Antikythera Mechanism 50:35

11M ago50:35

50:35

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the 2000-year-old device which transformed our understanding of astronomy in ancient Greece. In 1900 a group of sponge divers found the wreck of a ship off the coast of the Greek island of Antikythera. Among the items salvaged was a corroded bronze object, the purpose of which was not at first clear. It turned out to…

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BioBit: Dragon Age: The Veilguard Spoilercast feat. Ash Parrish and James Whitbrook 2:14:52

11M ago2:14:52

2:14:52

Now that folks are rolling credits on Dragon Age: The Veilguard, we wanted to take some time to break down our spoiler-filled overarching thoughts. Ken and Eric are joined by returning guests Ash Parrish and James Whitbrook as we talk about Rook, the ending, Varric, Solas, and all the other big reveals in The Veilguard. Think of it as an appetizer …

1
Physics and Computer Science 12:31

11M ago12:31

12:31

The 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to John Hopfield and Geoffrey Hinton for their foundational work on artificial neural networks (ANNs). The award citation highlights their contributions to machine learning, linking ANNs to concepts in physics, such as spin models and statistical mechanics. Hopfield's research focused on recurrent network…

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Nier Automata, Episode 2: M[o]del Behavior 1:17:37

11M ago1:17:37

1:17:37

It's time to head back down to Earth as we learn more about what's happened in the world of Nier since the events of Replicant. This episode we talk the beginnings of the connections between games, how Automata uses UI for storytelling, and how we're feeling about the game's genre-blending. Enjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.…

1
Combinatorics: Counting and Permutations 20:42

11M ago20:42

20:42

This episode focuses on fundamental counting principles. It covers the product rule, sum rule, and subtraction rule for counting the number of ways to perform tasks that can be broken down into subtasks. Additionally, it explores the pigeonhole principle, counting in two different ways, and the relationship between permutations and combinations.…

1
Unlocking the Secrets of Sentential Logic 13:38

11M ago13:38

13:38

Dive into the fascinating world of sentential logic! In this episode, we explore the foundations of propositional logic, the art of constructing truth tables, and how logical connectives like "and," "or," and "not" shape our reasoning. Whether you're a philosophy enthusiast, a math lover, or just curious about how we break down complex arguments in…

1
Introduction to Graph Theory 19:44

11M ago19:44

19:44

This episode explores key concepts in graph theory, starting with fundamental definitions of graphs, vertices, and edges. The text then examines the handshake lemma and related theorems that deal with the relationship between vertex degrees and the number of edges in a graph.By AmCan Tech

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Ep 90: Thank Goodness You're Here! - Unexpected Body Horror and Goop 1:26:46

12M ago1:26:46

1:26:46

This game is a delight. Hope you get a chance to check it out. Plus there aren't really any spoilers so feel free to listen then play it—it's only 3-4 hours anyway. Enjoy! After some bonding and bff-ing Corri and Ben finally get to talking about the game (10:00) before talking about the actual development shortly after and eventually getting the ga…

1
BioBit: Dragon Age: The Veilguard Review 1:54:39

1y ago1:54:39

1:54:39

Oh, hey. Don't know if y'all heard but a little game called Dragon Age: The Veilguard is out on October 31. Ken and Eric both got review copies for the game, and so we had to come together for a (spoiler-free, except for what BioWare has already talked about) review. We talk Rook, the party, the game's limited carry over from previous games, and th…

1
Wormholes 1:00:56

12M ago1:00:56

1:00:56

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the tantalising idea that there are shortcuts between distant galaxies, somewhere out there in the universe. The idea emerged in the context of Einstein's theories and the challenge has been not so much to prove their unlikely existence as to show why they ought to be impossible. The universe would have to folded bac…

1
Nier Automata, Episode 1 - This Ca[n] Continue 52:44

1y ago52:44

52:44

We're back in the trenches of Nier, but things look a little different this time. It's time to start Nier Automata and unpack the apparent genre shift between the sequel and Replicant, 2B and 9S' dynamic, and how much better the game feels to play.Enjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us on Twitter:Normandy …

1
BioBit: We Played Dragon Age: The Veilguard 1:12:06

1y ago1:12:06

1:12:06

The boys got to go hands-on with Dragon Age: The Veilguard and talked with some of the developers at BioWare. In this BioBit, we talk about the many hours we got to play, our feelings on Rook, the action RPG pivot, the state of Dragon Age, and what the next two months mean for BioWare. Enjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/n…

1
Ep 89: What The Golf? - This dumb game about golf is actually saying something 46:51

1y ago46:51

46:51

What the Golf!? If you like golf, you'll like this game. If you don't like golf, you'll LOVE this game. Seriously though, this game was great. Hope you get a chance to check it out! Thanks for subscribing to MOLMF! We really do appreciate you! If you enjoyed this episode please go rate and review it on iTunes or wherever else you're listening to it…

1
Nier Replicant, Episode 13 - You Can (Not) Re[M]ake feat. Alex Donaldson 1:16:51

1y ago1:16:51

1:16:51

We finally finished Nier Replicant (until Ending E, which we'll be covering at the very end of the Nier season). It took us a lot longer than it was supposed to, but Alex Donaldson is here to help us unpack endings C and D as we finally prepare to head into Nier Automata.Enjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow…

1
MOLMF Book Club: Nier Automata Pt.3 1:24:43

1y ago1:24:43

1:24:43

Welcome back to the MOLMF Book Club! Jason and Jim are back for their third and final book club episode all about the many playthroughs of Nier Automata. Hope you've enjoyed our first MOLMF Book Club. Hoping we'll be back at it again in soon with another limited series for ya. Thanks for subscribing to MOLMF! We really do appreciate you! If you enj…

1
Episode 14 14:24

1y ago14:24

14:24

Cara finally finds out where she is,By Tony Warner