Best Stanford Engineering Podcasts (2025)

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From Stanford to Startups: How a Structural Engineer Built an AI Workflow Engine 37:01

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5h ago37:01

37:01

In this conversation, Adam discusses his journey from civil engineering to Co-founding Nonlinear, an AI-driven workflow automation tool for the construction industry. He shares insights on the challenges of technology adoption in construction, the importance of mentorship, and the defining moments in his startup journey. Adam also provides an overv…

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Al Engineering 101 with Chip Huyen (Nvidia, Stanford, Netflix) 1:22:35

23m ago1:22:35

1:22:35

Chip Huyen is a core developer on Nvidia’s Nemo platform, a former AI researcher at Netflix, and taught machine learning at Stanford. She’s a two-time founder and the author of two widely read books on AI, including AI Engineering, which has been the most-read book on the O’Reilly platform since its launch. Unlike many AI commentators, Chip has bui…

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How Block is becoming the most AI-native enterprise in the world | Dhanji R. Prasanna 1:26:41

1h ago1:26:41

1:26:41

Dhanji R. Prasanna is the chief technology officer at Block (formerly Square), where he’s managed more than 4,000 engineers over the past two years. Under his leadership, Block has become one of the most AI-native large companies in the world. Before becoming CTO, Dhanji wrote an “AI manifesto” to CEO Jack Dorsey that sparked a company-wide transfo…

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#95 – What no one tells PhD applicants to US universities when they're preparing their applications (interviewed by Andrew Akbashev) 1:46:33

2d ago1:46:33

1:46:33

In this thorough conversation, I tell interviewer Andrew Akbashev everything I know about graduate admissions. My credentials are graduate admissions chair, associate dean for students, department chair, advisor to many successful applicants, and applicant myself. Please check out his YouTube channel here for a trove of information for young resear…

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The future of wound healing 33:50

2d ago33:50

33:50

Clinician-scientist Jill Helms is an expert on healing. Until about age 30, people heal easily, she says, but later on, not so well. Regenerative medicine suggests avenues for improvement, she promises. Her research focuses on understanding the physical and molecular processes of healing to design better therapies. One approach awakens “sleeper” st…

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How Awatif is Redefining Parametric Modeling? 26:03

16h ago26:03

26:03

In this conversation, Mayur Mistry interviews Mohamed Adil, the founder of Awatif, discussing his journey from structural engineering to software development. They explore the complexities of finite element analysis, the importance of understanding fundamentals in engineering, and the evolution of Awatif as a parametric modeling platform. Mohamed e…

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How to measure AI developer productivity in 2025 | Nicole Forsgren 1:07:48

4d ago1:07:48

1:07:48

Nicole Forsgren created the most widely used frameworks for measuring developer productivity—DORA and SPACE. She wrote the foundational book Accelerate and is about to release her newest book, Frictionless, a practical guide for helping teams move faster in the AI era. She’s currently Senior Director of Developer Intelligence at Google. We discuss:…

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The future of topical vaccines 37:39

9d ago37:39

37:39

Bioengineer Michael Fischbach studies alternative vaccine delivery methods, like self-administered creams with no needles, health professionals, or side effects. He teases a day when vaccines that don’t make you feel bad come in the mail in ketchup-style packets. Such innovations would greatly improve vaccine uptake, especially in developing countr…

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"Why Brains Need Friends: The Neuroscience of Social Connection" | Ben Rein 38:36

7d ago38:36

38:36

We are more isolated from one another than ever before — by our technology, by our political divides, and most of all, by our choices. This week on the show, we talk with neuroscientist Ben Rein about why this social isolation is terrible for our health — implicated in not only rising rates of mental illness, but also heart disease, dementia and mo…

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Figma’s CEO: Why AI makes design, craft, and quality the new moat for startups | Dylan Field 1:26:49

7d ago1:26:49

1:26:49

Dylan Field is co-founder and CEO of Figma, a beloved tool used by every modern product team. Founded in 2012, Figma has expanded from a single design tool to a comprehensive platform including FigJam, Slides, Dev Mode, and, most recently, Figma Make. After a $20 billion acquisition by Adobe fell through due to regulatory pushback, Dylan led the co…

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How to Sell to the Dept of War – The 2025 PEO Directory – Now with 500 more names 2:07

7d ago2:07

2:07

The October 2025 PEO Directory – Update 2.The Department of War (DoW) is one of the world’s largest organizations. If you’re a startup trying to figure out who to call on and how to navigate the system, it can be – to put it politely – challenging.By Steve Blank

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Building for Engineers, Not Investors: Why Billion-Dollar Valuations Aren’t Everything? 38:57

8d ago38:57

38:57

In this conversation, Aakash Prasad, CEO and co-founder of InspectMind AI, shares his journey from growing up in a family of engineers to becoming an entrepreneur in the tech-enabled engineering space. He discusses the importance of a beginner mindset, learning through experience, and the significance of perseverance in the face of challenges. Aaka…

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Digital Twins to Jobsite Robots: Orchestrating Humans + Machines 26:49

8d ago26:49

26:49

In this conversation, Igor Starkov shares his journey from immigrating to the United States to becoming a successful entrepreneur in the construction technology sector. He discusses the challenges and opportunities within the industry, emphasizing the importance of relationships and strategic decision-making. Igor also highlights the significance o…

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No Science, No Startups: The Innovation Engine We’re Switching Off 21:41

8d ago21:41

21:41

Tons of words have been written about the Trump Administrations war on Science in Universities. But few people have asked what, exactly, is science? How does it work? Who are the scientists? What do they do? And more importantly, why should anyone (outside of universities) care?By Steve Blank

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Inside Google's AI turnaround: The rise of AI Mode, strategy behind AI Overviews, and their vision for AI-powered search | Robby Stein (VP of Product, Google Search) 1:21:37

12d ago1:21:37

1:21:37

Robby Stein is VP of Product at Google, where he oversees the core products of Google Search—including the new AI Overviews, AI Mode, search ranking, Google Lens, and more. Previously, he led consumer products at Instagram, where he and his teams built Stories, Reels, Close Friends, and other key features now used by billions. — What you’ll learn: …

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Best of: The future of extreme climate events 32:46

17d ago32:46

32:46

As fall arrives, many regions experience dramatic weather shifts—think early frosts, storms, or unusual temperature swings. Last year, we sat down with Noah Diffenbaugh, an expert on climate change. We discussed the fact that extreme weather is becoming more frequent. Noah pointed out that there are still things we can do to mitigate the impacts of…

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First interview with Scale AI’s CEO: $14B Meta deal, what’s working in enterprise AI, and what frontier labs are building next | Jason Droege 1:24:01

18d ago1:24:01

1:24:01

Jason Droege is the CEO of Scale AI, a company that provides foundational training data to every major AI lab. He previously co-founded Scour with Travis Kalanick and built Uber Eats from idea to $20 billion in revenue. In this conversation, Jason shares lessons from getting sued for $250 billion, discovering restaurant economics by weighing sandwi…

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How CODiii Is Reinventing Architectural Compliance? 27:36

16d ago27:36

27:36

In this conversation, Dennis Dixon, CEO & Co-founder of OQULi, shares his journey from a passionate tech enthusiast to leading a company reimagining compliance in architecture through AI. He walks us through the emotional and strategic challenges of pivoting business models, how CODiii came to life, and why understanding real market needs is essent…

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Engineer in the House: Congresswoman Luz Rivas' Journey 36:34

15d ago36:34

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In this special episode, SHPE CEO Suzanna Valdez Wolfe sits down with Congresswoman Luz Rivas, an MIT-trained electrical engineer, non-profit founder, and the only Latina in Congress with a STEM background for an in-depth conversation about her remarkable journey. They discuss her path from the San Fernando Valley to the halls of Congress, explorin…

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How to find hidden growth opportunities in your product | Albert Cheng (Duolingo, Grammarly, Chess.com) 1:25:25

18d ago1:25:25

1:25:25

Albert Cheng has led growth at three of the world’s most successful consumer subscription companies: Duolingo, Grammarly, and Chess.com. A former Google product manager (and serious pianist!), Albert developed a unique approach to finding and scaling growth opportunities through rapid experimentation and deep user psychology. His teams run 1,000 ex…

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The future of the built environment 33:40

24d ago33:40

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Rishee Jain is an engineer and an expert in the built environment – the manmade structures of modern life. The future, Jain says, will be a place where everyone has a safe, comfortable place to live and work, and the built environment adapts in real time to our needs. Jain is now exploring cool roofs that reflect heat to lower indoor temperatures a…

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From doodles to Descartes: sketching and the human cognitive toolkit | Judith Fan 40:29

21d ago40:29

40:29

Before the written word — and possibly even before speech — humans have communicated through drawing. From crude scratches in the dirt or on cave walls to the arcane symbology of the laboratory whiteboard, our instinct for conveying our thoughts visually is pretty extraordinary. We see or understand something in the world, we build an idea in our m…

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Why Construction Procurement Is Broken — And How StructShare Fixes It? 29:59

23d ago29:59

29:59

In this conversation, Or Lakritz, CEO and Co-founder of StructShare, shares his journey from Israel to the forefront of construction technology. He opens up about the challenges of building a startup in one of the most complex and slow-moving industries, and how resilience, strategic thinking, and deep customer understanding helped him navigate tho…

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A 4-step framework for building delightful products | Nesrine Changuel (Spotify, Google, Skype) 1:24:22

26d ago1:24:22

1:24:22

Nesrine Changuel helped build Spotify, Google Chrome, and Google Meet. Her work has helped her discover the importance of emotional connection in building successful products. At Google, she served as a dedicated “delight PM,” a role specifically focused on making products more delightful. She recently published Product Delight, a book that provide…

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The future of the innovation economy 32:07

1M ago32:07

32:07

In a special Future of Everything podcast episode recorded live before a studio audience in New York, host Russ Altman talks to three authorities on the innovation economy. His guests – Fei-Fei Li, professor of computer science and co-director of the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI (HAI); Susan Athey, professor and authority on the economi…

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Why AI evals are the hottest new skill for product builders | Hamel Husain & Shreya Shankar (creators of the #1 eval course) 1:46:33

28d ago1:46:33

1:46:33

Hamel Husain and Shreya Shankar teach the world’s most popular course on AI evals and have trained over 2,000 PMs and engineers (including many teams at OpenAI and Anthropic). In this conversation, they demystify the process of developing effective evals, walk through real examples, and share practical techniques that’ll help you improve your AI pr…

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AI That Speeds Up Structural Design 29:35

30d ago29:35

29:35

In this conversation, Mayur Mistry hosts Zhihao Zhao and Robin Li, the Co-Founders of Genia, a generative AI platform for structural engineering. They discuss their backgrounds, the challenges faced in the structural engineering industry, and the need for innovative solutions like AI to streamline design processes. The conversation delves into the …

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From managing people to managing AI: The leadership skills everyone needs now | Julie Zhuo (Facebook VP, Sundial CEO, The Making of a Manager author) 1:36:24

1M ago1:36:24

1:36:24

Julie Zhuo is the former VP and Head of Design at Facebook (now Meta), author of the bestselling book The Making of a Manager, and co-founder of Sundial, an AI-powered data analysis company. Also, my first-ever podcast guest over 3 years ago! In our conversation, we discuss: 1. The three core manager skills that translate directly to managing AI ag…

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Best of: The future of ultrafast electronics 36:11

1M ago36:11

36:11

About a year ago we released an episode on the future of ultrafast electronics and it quickly became one of our most popular episodes on YouTube. We’re excited to re-share it with you today. Physicist Matthias Kling walks us through his study of photons and the things science can do with ultrafast pulses of x-rays. The knowledge he’s gaining could …

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What is psychosis? Navigating an altered reality | Jacob Ballon & Shannon Pagdon 46:07

1M ago46:07

46:07

Imagine if you couldn't distinguish between dreams and reality. If you couldn't tell whether what you were seeing or hearing was really there in front of you. What if you discovered you couldn't trust your own perceptions? Psychosis is something three out of every a hundred people will experience at some point in their lifetimes. But what exactly i…

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Why experts writing AI evals is creating the fastest-growing companies in history | Brendan Foody (CEO of Mercor) 1:06:39

1M ago1:06:39

1:06:39

Brendan Foody is the CEO and co-founder of Mercor, the fastest-growing company in history to go from $1M to $500M in revenue (in just 17 months!). At 22, he is also the youngest American unicorn founder ever. Mercor works with 6 of the Magnificent 7 and all top 5 AI labs to help them hire experts to create evaluations and training data that improve…

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When Sh!t Hits the Fan – Founders in a Crisis 5:44

1M ago5:44

5:44

Great founders shine in a crisis.By Steve Blank

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Culture, Grit, and Validation: What It Takes to Launch in Climate? 28:30

1M ago28:30

28:30

In this conversation, Matias Sigal, CEO of REplace, shares his entrepreneurial journey, emphasizing the importance of impact in business, particularly in the climate tech sector. He discusses the differences between the entrepreneurial ecosystems in Argentina and Israel, highlighting the networking opportunities in Tel Aviv. Matias elaborates on hi…

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The ultimate guide to AEO: How to get ChatGPT to recommend your product | Ethan Smith (Graphite) 1:11:55

1M ago1:11:55

1:11:55

Ethan Smith is the CEO of Graphite—the leading SEO growth agency—and my go-to expert on SEO. After 18 years of mastering traditional SEO, Ethan has been at the forefront of what is called AEO: answer engine optimization, or, more simply, getting your product to show up in ChatGPT/Claude/Gemini/Perplexity answers. He’s discovered that ChatGPT traffi…

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The future of allergies 37:56

1M ago37:56

37:56

Allergist Tina Sindher acknowledges that allergies may be affecting more people worldwide, influenced by a combination of factors such as environmental changes, modern lifestyles, urbanization, and evolving dietary habits. Prevention is playing catch-up, and promising new strategies include earlier food introduction than was popular only a few year…

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How To Sell to the Dept of War – The 2025 PEO Directory 9:36

1M ago9:36

9:36

How To Sell to the Dept of War – The 2025 PEO Directory by Steve BlankBy Steve Blank

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$46B of hard truths from Ben Horowitz: Why founders fail and why you need to run toward fear (a16z co-founder) 1:37:59

1M ago1:37:59

1:37:59

Ben Horowitz is the co-founder of Andreessen Horowitz, Silicon Valley’s largest and most influential venture capital firm, with over $46B in committed capital across multiple funds. He took Loudcloud public with just $2 million in revenue (dubbed “the IPO from hell”), sold it for $1.6 billion, and has backed companies from Facebook to Stripe to Air…

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Inside Protiv: Building a People-First Construction Platform 35:41

1M ago35:41

35:41

In this conversation, Michael Fortenberry, CEO and co-founder of Protiv, shares his journey from a construction background to launching a tech solution tailored for the industry. He emphasizes the power of mentorship, the impact of a strong company culture, and the urgent need for innovation to tackle labor shortages and improve efficiency. Michael…

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How AI is reshaping the product role | Oji and Ezinne Udezue 1:18:22

2M ago1:18:22

1:18:22

Ezinne and Oji Udezue have over 50 years of combined product leadership experience at Microsoft, Twitter, Atlassian, WP Engine, Typeform, and Calendly. They’ve witnessed every major shift in product management, and, despite their seniority, they’re taking beginner AI courses and learning from engineers half their age, and Oji is coding more now tha…

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The future of bone health 33:28

2M ago33:28

33:28

Endocrinologist Joy Wu says that osteoporosis can affect more than half of women and a quarter of men over 50 – often without symptoms until a fracture changes everything, leading to a loss of mobility and independence. Wu explains why bones weaken with age and how to strengthen them through exercise and smart medicine. Her lab is exploring innovat…

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"I Heard There Was a Secret Chord: Music as Medicine" | Daniel Levitin 45:59

2M ago45:59

45:59

Most of us can agree: music is awesome. Regardless of which songs speak to you, music probably plays an important role in your life. The question is, what makes music so powerful? Why does a particular combination of sounds and rhythms grab us and affect us in the way that it does? And is it true that music can help heal patients with Alzheimer's, …

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Why Most Construction Tech Fails—and How FieldProof Gets It Right? 41:41

2M ago41:41

41:41

In this conversation, Tyler Campbell, founder of FieldProof, shares his journey from working in his family's construction business to creating a platform that connects field workers with technology solutions. He discusses the challenges faced by construction tech startups, the importance of understanding market dynamics, and the need for structured…

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How we restructured Airtable’s entire org for AI | Howie Liu (co-founder and CEO) 1:40:41

2M ago1:40:41

1:40:41

Howie Liu is the co-founder and CEO of Airtable, the no-code platform valued at around $12 billion. After a viral tweet declared “Airtable is dead” based on incorrect data, Howie led a radical transformation: reorganizing the entire company around AI, becoming an “IC CEO” who codes daily, and achieving over $100 million in free cash flow. What you’…

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Best of: The future of reading 29:25

2M ago29:25

29:25

It’s still summer, but many children and teachers are back in school or preparing to return to the classroom. About a year ago, we sat down with Rebecca Silverman, a professor of education, to discuss the complex process of learning how to read. Professor Silverman unpacks the challenges of decoding and comprehension, two things that are vital for …

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How 80,000 companies build with AI: products as organisms, the death of org charts, and why agents will outnumber employees by 2026 | Asha Sharma (CVP of AI Platform at Microsoft) 57:11

2M ago57:11

57:11

Asha Sharma leads AI product strategy at Microsoft, where she works with thousands of companies building AI products and has unique visibility into what’s working (and what’s not) across more than 15,000 startups and enterprises. Before Microsoft, Asha was COO at Instacart, and VP of Product & Engineering at Meta, notably leading product for Messen…

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How AI Is Transforming Architecture: Rada Daleva on Design, Mentorship & Innovation 28:48

2M ago28:48

28:48

In this engaging conversation, Rada Daleva, project lead at Studio Tim Fu, shares her journey through architecture and the integration of AI in design. She discusses her proudest moments, the importance of mentorship, and offers valuable advice for aspiring architects. Rada also highlights the unique culture at Studio Tim Fu, the future of AI in ar…