Best Bridges And Bytes Podcasts (2025)

1
From Quiet Quitting to Loud Living 9:57

4h ago9:57

9:57

In this episode of Byte-Sized L&D, hosts Donna and Yakov discuss the concept of "quiet quitting" and propose a new approach called "loud living" for learning and development (L&D) professionals. This involves setting clear boundaries, being transparent about work needs, and focusing on quality rather than quantity, ultimately leading to improved wo…

1
Grokking, Generalization Collapse, and the Dynamics of Training Deep Neural Networks with Charles Martin - #734 1:25:21

3d ago1:25:21

1:25:21

Today, we're joined by Charles Martin, founder of Calculation Consulting, to discuss Weight Watcher, an open-source tool for analyzing and improving Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) based on principles from theoretical physics. We explore the foundations of the Heavy-Tailed Self-Regularization (HTSR) theory that underpins it, which combines random matri…

1
BHT Bytes – Cutting Care: How Federal Cuts Threaten Mental Health Across America – Episode 381 24:14

3h ago24:14

24:14

Federal funding cuts aren’t just trimming budgets, they’re dismantling the lifelines millions depend on. In this episode of BHT Bytes, hosts Peter Fenger and Sharlee Dixon unpack the sweeping rollback of public health funding led by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under the Trump administration. With a proposed $12 billion in cuts, i…

1
The Privacy Paradox 12:40

1d ago12:40

12:40

Donna and Yakov explore the cultural shift around privacy and authenticity in the digital age. They discuss how constant sharing has blurred lines between visibility and genuine connection, impacting personal and professional lives. They emphasize the value of maintaining privacy, discerning what to share, and nurturing genuine relationships over c…

1
Google I/O 2025 Special Edition - #733 26:21

10d ago26:21

26:21

Today, I’m excited to share a special crossover edition of the podcast recorded live from Google I/O 2025! In this episode, I join Shawn Wang aka Swyx from the Latent Space Podcast, to interview Logan Kilpatrick and Shrestha Basu Mallick, PMs at Google DeepMind working on AI Studio and the Gemini API, along with Kwindla Kramer, CEO of Daily and cre…

1
Brushstrokes of Resilience: How Free Arts Heals Through Creativity & Connection with Matt Sandoval – Episode 380 40:38

7d ago40:38

40:38

Art is the doorway, mentorship is the key, and together, they unlock resilience. In this episode, Sharlee Dixon is joined by Matt Sandoval, CEO of Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona, an organization transforming trauma into resilience through the healing power of art and mentoring relationships. With more than 15 years of experience in nonpro…

1
How the Skills Catch-22 is Bleeding Your Business 11:53

8d ago11:53

11:53

Organizations face a paradox: they need skilled talent but deprioritize training. As technology evolves, companies struggle to find specific skills, highlighting the need to develop talent internally. Success stories like Amazon and AT&T show high returns on investment in upskilling programs. Convincing executives requires demonstrating tangible bu…

1
How to Prevent Middle Manager Burnout 21:58

12d ago21:58

21:58

Middle manager burnout is a critical issue affecting organizations, with alarming statistics showing high risk and active burnout among managers. Factors include structural pressures, lack of training, and understaffed teams. HR can combat this through data-driven prediction, resilience training, and supportive cultures. Successful interventions im…

1
RAG Risks: Why Retrieval-Augmented LLMs are Not Safer with Sebastian Gehrmann - #732 57:09

17d ago57:09

57:09

Today, we're joined by Sebastian Gehrmann, head of responsible AI in the Office of the CTO at Bloomberg, to discuss AI safety in retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) systems and generative AI in high-stakes domains like financial services. We explore how RAG, contrary to some expectations, can inadvertently degrade model safety. We cover examples o…

1
The Hunger Beneath: Food, Trauma & the Journey Back to Wholeness with Jillian Acosta, RD, LDN – Episode 379 36:50

14d ago36:50

36:50

We don’t just eat to nourish our bodies—we eat to soothe, to cope, to connect. True healing begins when we ask: what is the hunger really for? In this episode, Sharlee Dixon sits down with Jillian Acosta, a registered dietitian who specializes in functional medicine, the psychology of eating, and trauma-informed care. Jillian is the founder of The …

1
Bridging Gen Z’s Path from Campus to Corporate 13:33

15d ago13:33

13:33

In this episode of Byte Sized L&D, hosts Donna and Yakov discuss the challenges and opportunities in integrating recent graduates into the workforce. They highlight a disconnect between graduates' skills and workplace expectations, partly due to missed opportunities during remote learning. Emphasizing the need for comprehensive onboarding, feedback…

1
”Rethinking College Math: Balancing Tradition with Practical Career Skills” 11:06

19d ago11:06

11:06

Donna and Yakov explore the relevance of teaching advanced math and physics in college, questioning their practical application in most careers. They discuss the traditional view that these subjects build critical thinking and problem-solving skills, but acknowledge the opportunity costs. Alternatives like statistics and data science are proposed f…

1
From Prompts to Policies: How RL Builds Better AI Agents with Mahesh Sathiamoorthy - #731 1:01:25

25d ago1:01:25

1:01:25

Today, we're joined by Mahesh Sathiamoorthy, co-founder and CEO of Bespoke Labs, to discuss how reinforcement learning (RL) is reshaping the way we build custom agents on top of foundation models. Mahesh highlights the crucial role of data curation, evaluation, and error analysis in model performance, and explains why RL offers a more robust altern…

1
From Burnout to Breakthrough: Rethinking Mental Health in Education with Brandy Samuell – Episode 378 38:55

21d ago38:55

38:55

Every educator is a first responder to student behavior, let’s make sure they’re equipped to respond with confidence. In this episode, Dr. Graham Taylor speaks with Brandy Samuell, a seasoned educator with over 30 years of experience spanning the classroom, district leadership, and crisis response. From teacher to assistant superintendent, Brandy h…

1
Time Bankruptcy in the Corporate Learning 9:45

27d ago9:45

9:45

Donna and Yakov discuss the pressing issue of time constraints affecting learning and development (L&D) initiatives in workplaces. Research shows time, not interest, is the main barrier. They advocate for embedding learning in daily workflows, emphasizing experiences and immediate value. They highlight the need for learning to adapt to diverse, gen…

1
The Question Is the Bridge: How Curiosity Connects Us with Topaz Adizes – Episode 377 40:42

27d ago40:42

40:42

The quality of your life is shaped by the quality of your questions. In this episode, Sharlee Dixon sits down with Topaz Adizes, an Emmy Award-winning writer, director, and experience design architect. Topaz is the founder and executive director of The Skin Deep, a studio known for its powerful explorations of human connection. A Sundance and Skoll…

1
Is Burnout Really Just Loneliness in Disguise 8:41

1M ago8:41

8:41

In the latest episode of Innovation Pulse, hosts Donna and Yakov explore the concept that burnout may stem more from disconnection than overwork. They discuss how fostering genuine connections and empathy at work can combat burnout effectively, citing examples from companies like Brightpath Solutions and Helix Innovations, which saw improved employ…

1
Beyond Backup: Financing the Future of Data Centers 22:03

1M ago22:03

22:03

In this episode, host Ryan Karlin engages in a compelling conversation with Adam Brown, Senior Manager of Sales at Caterpillar Financial. They delve into the financial intricacies of the data center industry, highlighting key challenges such as extended lead times for grid connectivity and significant capital investments. Email us: [email protected]…

1
How OpenAI Builds AI Agents That Think and Act with Josh Tobin - #730 1:07:27

1M ago1:07:27

1:07:27

Today, we're joined by Josh Tobin, member of technical staff at OpenAI, to discuss the company’s approach to building AI agents. We cover OpenAI's three agentic offerings—Deep Research for comprehensive web research, Operator for website navigation, and Codex CLI for local code execution. We explore OpenAI’s shift from simple LLM workflows to reaso…

1
When Bad Bosses Happen to Good Teams 11:44

1M ago11:44

11:44

Donna and Yakov discuss the pervasive issue of toxic management, revealing that over 50% of workers leave jobs to escape bad bosses. They highlight six main factors contributing to toxic leadership, the financial and emotional costs, and strategies for employees and managers to improve or escape such environments. Effective management requires cont…

1
Anniversary Special: Navigating the Roots of Suppressed Emotions with Bronwyn Schweigerdt, LMFT – Episode 376 45:23

1M ago45:23

45:23

In celebration of our fifth anniversary, we’re re-releasing one of our favorite episodes from the past year. Anger isn't the enemy—it's a warning light, signaling that something deeper needs attention. When we validate and express it constructively, we unlock empathy, self-awareness, and stronger relationships. In this episode, Dr. Graham Taylor sp…

1
The Art of Delegation 12:06

1M ago12:06

12:06

Donna and Yakov discuss the importance of delegation for leadership and development in organizations. Effective delegation increases revenue, addresses business challenges, and fosters team growth. Common barriers include leaders' reluctance to let go and fear of becoming less valuable. L&D professionals can help by promoting delegation as a core c…

1
Anniversary Special: Improvising Healing—Psychotherapy as Jazz, Not Jargon with Ross Ellenhorn – Episode 375 45:15

1M ago45:15

45:15

We don’t need more treatment manuals—we need more musicians. In this episode, Dr. Graham Taylor is joined by Ross Ellenhorn, a pioneering voice in mental health and addiction recovery. As the founder and CEO of Ellenhorn—the nation's most comprehensive community integration program—Ross has spent his career helping individuals heal and thrive withi…

1
Anniversary Special: Bridging Ancient Wisdom with Modern Mental Health Solutions with Dr. Ishan Shivanand – Episode 374 40:58

1M ago40:58

40:58

In celebration of our fifth anniversary, we’re re-releasing one of our favorite episodes from the past year. In this episode, Dr. Graham Taylor sits down with Dr. Ishan Shivanand. Ishan is a distinguished mental health researcher and professor specializing in non-pharmaceutical, non-invasive meditative modalities. As the Founder of Yoga of Immortal…

1
CTIBench: Evaluating LLMs in Cyber Threat Intelligence with Nidhi Rastogi - #729 56:18

1M ago56:18

56:18

Today, we're joined by Nidhi Rastogi, assistant professor at Rochester Institute of Technology to discuss Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI), focusing on her recent project CTIBench—a benchmark for evaluating LLMs on real-world CTI tasks. Nidhi explains the evolution of AI in cybersecurity, from rule-based systems to LLMs that accelerate analysis by p…

1
Anniversary Special: The Joy-Success Cycle with Kevin Surace – Episode 373 45:08

1M ago45:08

45:08

Joy isn’t found — it’s built, one choice at a time. In this episode, Sharlee Dixon sits down with Kevin Surace. Kevin is a Silicon Valley innovator, serial entrepreneur, and CEO, known as the father of the Virtual Assistant. With 94 worldwide patents, Kevin has led pioneering work in technology, including the first cellular data smartphone and huma…

1
Anniversary Special: Grandiose vs. Vulnerable Narcissism with Keith Campbell, PhD – Episode 372 37:55

1M ago37:55

37:55

In celebration of our fifth anniversary, we’re re-releasing one of our favorite episodes from the past year. In this episode, we dive into the intricate world of narcissism, examining how both grandiose and vulnerable traits influence self-esteem, relationships, and the impact of social media on these behaviors. Dr. Graham Taylor is joined by Dr. K…

1
Vacation Isn’t Enough - Busting Burnout Myths 8:35

1M ago8:35

8:35

Donna and Yakov discuss burnout myths in the workplace, emphasizing that a simple vacation or passion for work isn't enough to prevent burnout. They advocate for daily well-being practices like short breaks and setting boundaries. Myths about hustle culture and stress are debunked, highlighting the importance of sustainable self-care and recovery f…

1
GitHub remote first approach - what can we learn from it? 12:55

1M ago12:55

12:55

The episode of Byte-sized L&D with hosts Donna and Yakov Lasker explores remote work dynamics, focusing on GitHub's pioneering remote-first approach. GitHub emphasizes asynchronous communication, inclusive culture, and results over presence. They effectively use tools, cultural norms, and intentional connection points to maintain collaboration and …

1
Generative Benchmarking with Kelly Hong - #728 54:17

2M ago54:17

54:17

In this episode, Kelly Hong, a researcher at Chroma, joins us to discuss "Generative Benchmarking," a novel approach to evaluating retrieval systems, like RAG applications, using synthetic data. Kelly explains how traditional benchmarks like MTEB fail to represent real-world query patterns and how embedding models that perform well on public benchm…

1
BHT Bytes – Between the Headline & the Heart: How We Respond to the News – Episode 371 20:11

2M ago20:11

20:11

The news shapes our feelings more than our opinions—don’t let it choose your mood. In this episode of BHT Bytes, hosts Peter Fenger and Sharlee Dixon unpack something we all wrestle with: our relationship with the news. In a world flooded with headlines designed to spark outrage and steal our focus, it’s easy to feel emotionally hijacked without ev…

1
7 Phrases that make giving feedback easier 12:28

2M ago12:28

12:28

In this episode of Byte-sized L&D, hosts Donna and Yakov discuss effective feedback strategies, introducing seven impactful phrases to enhance feedback delivery. These include "This is a great start," "I noticed," "At the same time," "Even more," and "Based on the data points I have." They emphasize the importance of language in facilitating constr…

1
Debate Skills as Leadership Development 32:32

2M ago32:32

32:32

Debating techniques can significantly enhance leadership skills by fostering strategic thinking and effective communication. Yakov Lasker emphasizes how skills such as framing issues, understanding hard and soft lines, model-building, and first principles thinking transform leaders' decision-making and team alignment. Effective leaders prioritize i…

1
When Words Don’t Work: Art, Access, & the Fight Against Stigma with Manami Yamamoto, LMFT – Episode 370 32:14

2M ago32:14

32:14

Healing doesn’t start with a diagnosis—it starts with feeling safe enough to be seen. In this episode, Sharlee Dixon sits down with Manami Yamamoto, MA, LMFT, a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and the Founder of Blue Humming Therapy—a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting holistic mental health within diverse communities. With a comp…

1
Exploring the Biology of LLMs with Circuit Tracing with Emmanuel Ameisen - #727 1:34:06

2M ago1:34:06

1:34:06

In this episode, Emmanuel Ameisen, a research engineer at Anthropic, returns to discuss two recent papers: "Circuit Tracing: Revealing Language Model Computational Graphs" and "On the Biology of a Large Language Model." Emmanuel explains how his team developed mechanistic interpretability methods to understand the internal workings of Claude by rep…

1
To Quit or Not to Quit - Navigating Burnout in the Workplace 11:56

2M ago11:56

11:56

Donna and Yakov Lasker discuss burnout on their podcast "Byte-Sized L&D," exploring whether quitting is the right solution. They introduce the Areas of Worklife model, encompassing workload, control, reward, community, fairness, and values. Evaluating these areas can help identify changes to improve work conditions or indicate when it's time to lea…

1
How University Students Use AI - Anthropic research 13:30

2M ago13:30

13:30

The CoLeague Experience - Explore, learn, Share In a discussion on "Byte-Sized L&D," hosts Donna and Yakov Lasker explore a study analyzing how university students use AI systems like Claude AI in academia. The study reveals STEM students, particularly in Computer Science, dominate AI interactions. Students employ AI for various tasks using four in…

1
Clinicians Series: Practicing Curiosity Without Judgment – The Gentle Power Behind Growth with Jon Steele, LMFT – Episode 369 44:36

2M ago44:36

44:36

Curiosity calms what judgment clenches. In this episode of the Clinicians Series, Dr. Graham Taylor speaks with Jon Steele, LMFT—a licensed marriage and family therapist who specializes in working with high performers, including athletes and professionals navigating intense pressure. Drawing from his own experience as a former collegiate athlete, J…

1
Teaching LLMs to Self-Reflect with Reinforcement Learning with Maohao Shen - #726 51:45

2M ago51:45

51:45

Today, we're joined by Maohao Shen, PhD student at MIT to discuss his paper, “Satori: Reinforcement Learning with Chain-of-Action-Thought Enhances LLM Reasoning via Autoregressive Search.” We dig into how Satori leverages reinforcement learning to improve language model reasoning—enabling model self-reflection, self-correction, and exploration of a…

1
Listen, Learn, Innovate - How Podcasts Are Reshaping Technical Knowledge 11:27

2M ago11:27

11:27

Donna and Yakov discuss how tech professionals leverage podcasts as effective learning tools. They share personal experiences where podcasts provided insights into complex tech concepts like Retrieval-Augmented Generation and vector embeddings, which they later applied successfully at work. They emphasize podcasts' role in filling knowledge gaps du…

1
Emma Keith (National Theatre) on NT Live, remote audiences, experimentation, learning, thinking about value, leadership, and the importance of pilots 56:27

2M ago56:27

56:27

A great chat with the National Theatre's outgoing Managing Director - Digital, Emma Keith. We talked about how digital practice has developed at the NT and how that differs from other performing arts organisations. The history of the NT Live programme, and the importance of pilots and testing ideas. The hidden value of digital infrastructure, remot…

1
The Musk Mirage - Why ’Hardcore’ Leadership is Harming Business 12:45

2M ago12:45

12:45

Yakov Lasker critiques the glorification of ruthless management exemplified by Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter (now X), which inspired similar harsh tactics across tech companies. Lasker argues this approach breeds fear, stifles innovation, and harms long-term success. He advocates for empathetic leadership, highlighting successful examples like Sa…

1
Clinicians Series: Daoism & Ancient Wisdom – Reproductive Health, Vitality & Balance with Michelle Oravitz – Episode 368 36:43

2M ago36:43

36:43

Nature holds the key to balance—when we align with it, vitality follows. In this episode, Dr. Graham Taylor sits down with Michelle Oravitz, founder of The Wholesome Lotus. Michelle began her career as an architect but found her true calling in alternative medicine after acupuncture transformed her health and well-being. Inspired by this personal s…

1
Waymo's Foundation Model for Autonomous Driving with Drago Anguelov - #725 1:09:07

2M ago1:09:07

1:09:07

Today, we're joined by Drago Anguelov, head of AI foundations at Waymo, for a deep dive into the role of foundation models in autonomous driving. Drago shares how Waymo is leveraging large-scale machine learning, including vision-language models and generative AI techniques to improve perception, planning, and simulation for its self-driving vehicl…

1
Company Culture as the most powerful marketing tool 9:32

2M ago9:32

9:32

In this episode of Byte-sized L&D, the hosts explore how internal company culture serves as a powerful marketing tool. They discuss the significance of employee engagement, internal marketing strategies, and the impact of company culture on customer perception. The conversation highlights actionable steps for improving workplace culture, emphasizin…

1
Self-organizing teams - does it work? 14:06

2M ago14:06

14:06

The Byte-Sized L&D podcast explores self-organizing teams in IT, discussing their roots in Agile and Lean methodologies. Such teams, known for autonomy and creative problem-solving, face challenges like coordination and accountability. Success requires trust, servant leadership, and a supportive culture. Companies like Spotify, Amazon, and Netflix …

1
Aging, Mood & Memory: The Powerful Role of Neuropeptides with Dr. Jennifer Garrison – Episode 367 35:05

2M ago35:05

35:05

Your brain isn’t just wired—it’s mapped biochemically, and those signals may hold the key to longevity. In this episode, Dr. Graham Taylor sits down with Dr. Jennifer Garrison, a leading researcher at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging and an adjunct assistant professor of gerontology. Dr. Garrison’s groundbreaking work focuses on neuropeptid…

1
Dynamic Token Merging for Efficient Byte-level Language Models with Julie Kallini - #724 50:32

3M ago50:32

50:32

Today, we're joined by Julie Kallini, PhD student at Stanford University to discuss her recent papers, “MrT5: Dynamic Token Merging for Efficient Byte-level Language Models” and “Mission: Impossible Language Models.” For the MrT5 paper, we explore the importance and failings of tokenization in large language models—including inefficient compression…

1
Agile is not what you thought - Manifesto explained 15:11

3M ago15:11

15:11

Two speakers discuss frustrations with Agile methodology, highlighting how it often devolves into excessive meetings and rigid processes, termed "Agile Theatre." They emphasize that true Agile prioritizes values over procedures, focusing on effective delivery and collaboration. The conversation underscores the importance of understanding Agile's co…

1
What is Servant Leadership? 12:08

3M ago12:08

12:08

Servant leadership emphasizes serving teams rather than exercising authority, contrasting traditional hierarchical approaches. Rooted in ancient teachings and popularized by Robert K. Greenleaf, it highlights empathy, listening, and stewardship. Companies like Starbucks and Nordstrom illustrate its success in promoting employee growth and innovatio…

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