Best Stanford Engineering Podcasts (2025)

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The future of topical vaccines 37:39

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3d 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

4d 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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How to Sell to the Dept of War – The 2025 PEO Directory – Now with 500 more names 2:07

5d 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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No Science, No Startups: The Innovation Engine We’re Switching Off 21:41

5d 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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Best of: The future of extreme climate events 32:46

10d 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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Engineer in the House: Congresswoman Luz Rivas' Journey 36:34

12d ago36:34

36:34

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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The future of the built environment 33:40

17d ago33:40

33:40

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

18d 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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The future of the innovation economy 32:07

24d 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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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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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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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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The future of bone health 33:28

1M 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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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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Finding Your Familia: Juan Yarala on the Power of Community and Giving Back 37:40

2M ago37:40

37:40

In this episode, we sit down with Juan Yarala, a freshman electrical engineering student who shares his inspiring journey from Bogotá, Colombia, to the University of Florida. Juan opens up about the hurdles he faced due to his immigration status and the moment he feared his dream of higher education might be out of reach. He explains how finding hi…

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On Dystopia, Fearing the Future and Political Imagination 1:17:43

2M ago1:17:43

1:17:43

This week, the Anti-Dystopians talks to an expert in dystopia! Matthew Cole is a scholar of political theory and an Assistant Professor of Humanities and Social Sciences Binghamton University. His book “Fear the Future: Dystopia and Political Imagination in the 20th century” explores the history of dystopian thinking and why so many dystopian books…

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The future of inequality 34:36

2M ago34:36

34:36

Sociologist David Grusky argues that all the usual debilitating debates about inequality can be sidestepped if we focus on the worst forms – those rooted in cronyism, racism, and nepotism – that everyone can agree are nothing more than a pernicious transfer of income or wealth from the powerless to the powerful. To fight this “worst form” of inequa…

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How we learn to read (and why some struggle): what neuroscience teaches us about a transformative human technology | Bruce McCandliss 39:18

2M ago39:18

39:18

In this episode, we explore the fascinating neuroscience behind how children learn to read with Bruce McCandliss, director of the Stanford Educational Neuroscience Initiative. Key topics include: • How our brains "recycle" visual and language circuits to create reading expertise • The crucial threshold when reading shifts from effortful to automati…

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The future of cancer neuroscience 31:13

2M ago31:13

31:13

Neurologist Michelle Monje studies the close relationship between cancer and the nervous system, particularly in an aggressive brain cancer that often strikes in childhood. Her research shows that the cancer cells are electrically integrated into the brain itself and these connections actually help the cancer to grow. Monje and collaborators have n…

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Kelp, Seagrass, Crabs, and Conservation along California's Coastline with Dr. Brent Hughes, Sonoma State University Professor & Marine Biologist 59:53

2M ago59:53

59:53

Send us a text Dr. Brent Hughes takes us on a fascinating journey through California's coastal ecosystems, revealing the unexpected ways sea otters transform their environments. As an Associate Professor at Sonoma State University with a background spanning from the center of landlocked Kansas to the rugged Pacific coast, Hughes brings unique persp…

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From lawless spaces to true liberty: rethinking AI's role in society 1:38:37

2M ago1:38:37

1:38:37

Welcome back to Generally Intelligent! We’re excited to relaunch our podcast—still featuring thoughtful conversations on building AI, but now with an expanded lens on its economic, societal, political, and human impacts. Matt Boulos leads policy and safety at Imbue, where he shapes the responsible development of AI coding tools that make software c…

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#94 – The best SciComm is unfiltered: Darren interviewed by Univ. of Rochester colleague Jeff Koslofsky 54:45

2M ago54:45

54:45

Since arriving in my role at the University of Rochester, I've developed a great collaboration with Jeff Koslofsky, Senior Marketing Strategist at the U Rochester Medical Center. Here, he asked me about my own particular brand of scientific communication, which eschews production flourishes in favor of honesty. (At least that's what I tell myself. …

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Best of: The future of coastal erosion 29:34

2M ago29:34

29:34

It’s summertime, and for many of us that means a recreational trip to the beach or coast. Worldwide, billions of people live year-round near a coastline, and these settings can be responsible for everything from buffering storms and preventing sea-level rise to fishing, flourishing tourism, and trade. For all these reasons, the acceleration of coas…

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Turning Trash into Treasure: How the US-based Non-Profit Long Way Home with its Hero School are Transforming Guatemalan Communities 58:00

2M ago58:00

58:00

Send us a text What if the trash polluting our environment could be transformed into schools, homes, and opportunities? In San Juan Comalapa, Guatemala, that's what's happening thanks to Matt Panaitz and Long Way Home. 20 years ago, Matt was a Peace Corps volunteer stationed in this predominantly Mayan community nestled in Guatemala's Western Highl…

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Why voices light us up—but leave the autistic brain in the dark | Dan Abrams 31:51

2M ago31:51

31:51

Recognizing a familiar voice is one of the brain’s earliest social feats. But what are the brain circuits that let a newborn pick out mom in a crowded nursery? How do they change as kids turn toward friends and the wider world? And what are we learning about why this instinct fails to develop in the autistic brain? This week, host Nicholas Weiler j…

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The future of plant chemistry 31:21

3M ago31:21

31:21

Chemical engineer Beth Sattely studies the intricate chemistry of plant life. Plants are more than food, she says: They are living chemical factories churning out molecules that help plants do everything from adapting to climate change to fighting infections – or even producing valuable new cancer drugs. Lately, Sattely’s lab is working on ways to …

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# 58 Maya Doueihi - Project Manager WhatsApp / Growing up in Beirut and being political / News Anchor for Dad (Age 5) / "Never Give Up" 1:02:16

3M ago1:02:16

1:02:16

I'm your host Gary Nowak and what a wonderful conversation I had with my guest Maya Doueihy. Maya brought so much energy, passion and beautiful perspective to her career and I know you'll enjoy it. Career Background: Grew up in Beirut, Lebanon Studied at the Lebanese American University studying International Relations and affairs Worked as a proje…

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Breaking Barriers: Genevieve Gandara on Caltech, Stanford, and Advocating in STEM 42:38

3M ago42:38

42:38

In this episode of SHPE Out Loud, Genevieve Gandara, a mechanical engineering student at Caltech soon heading to Stanford, shares her inspiring journey in STEM. From robotics teams in her school years to navigating the rigorous academics at Caltech, Genevieve opens up about the importance of community, resilience, and advocacy. She discusses confro…

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David Topping on the Grand Canyon Prototype Experiments, Disequilibrium Transport, and Hysteresis 1:02:18

3M ago1:02:18

1:02:18

Dr. David Topping is a Research Hydrologist with the US Geological Survey. He did his undergrad at MIT, a masters and Phd at the University of Washington and has published >100 well cited peer review publications. Dr Topping has worked with the USGS for >30 years but for the last 18 or so have been with the Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Cent…

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The future of parent-child bonding 33:55

3M ago33:55

33:55

Biologist Lauren O’Connell studies poisonous frogs, but not just the toxins that make them dangerous. She also studies the neuroscience of their complex parenting. She’s learned that tadpoles recognize their mothers by smell and do a “begging dance” when hungry, and that the frogs produce a protein that protects them from their own poisonous chemis…

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Every Second Breath Project-Stories from the Frontlines: Emmy-Award Winning Filmmakers Cynthia Abbott & Andrea Leland from Petaluma, CA 58:57

3M ago58:57

58:57

Send us a text Storytelling has the power to transform how we see our oceans and inspire meaningful action. Two visionary filmmakers, Cynthia Abbott and Andrea Leland, join us to share how they're using documentary filmmaking to spotlight both the crisis facing our marine environments and the everyday heroes working to save them. Their Emmy-winning…

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#93 – Chemical & biological engineering at a National Lab: leadership, communication, & commercialization 44:46

3M ago44:46

44:46

I sat down with Brian H. Davison, PhD, Chief Scientist of Systems Biology & Biotechnology in the Biosciences Division of Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Center for Bioenergy Innovation. Brian is a graduate of the University of Rochester and Caltech and candidate for President of the American Institute for Chemical Engineering (AIChE). Brian d…

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Famous & Gravy: Cosmic Marketer and the Meaning of Life | Stephen Hawking 1:01:31

3M ago1:01:31

1:01:31

In this special crossover episode, we’re doing something a little different. From Our Neurons to Yours host Nicholas joins producer Michael Osborne to co-host his podcast Famous and Gravy for a lively conversation about the extraordinary life and mind of Stephen Hawking. Hawking, one of the most renowned scientists of our time, lived with ALS for m…

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Blind to Disruption – The CEOs Who Missed the Future 15:22

3M ago15:22

15:22

How did you go bankrupt?”Two ways. Gradually, then suddenly.”Ernest Hemingway, The Sun Also RisesEvery disruptive technology since the fire and the wheel have forced leaders to adapt or die. This post tells the story of what happened when 4,000 companies faced a disruptive technology and why only one survived.…

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Best of: How the grid is becoming more human-centric 29:07

3M ago29:07

29:07

We’re in the midst of summer and we know that power outages can happen more frequently during this season due to higher temperatures and an increased demand for electricity. A couple years ago we sat down with Ram Rajagopal, an expert in the future of electrical power. He shared a few ways our existing system of massive power plants is slowly but s…

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Beyond the UN Ocean Conference: A Captain's Call to Action - Captain Paul Watson, from Paris 58:54

3M ago58:54

58:54

Send us a text Captain Paul Watson speaks with us from Paris about his experiences at the UN Ocean Conference, meetings with global leaders including President Macron, and his continued ocean conservation efforts after his release from a Greenland prison. • The UN Ocean Conference yielded a major victory with 64 countries ratifying the High Seas Tr…

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#67 Adam Mowl - Marine (Afghanistan) / Cyber Security / High Morale Compass / Fear the Beard 1:05:36

3M ago1:05:36

1:05:36

I'm your host Gary Nowak and I am honored to have as a guest a young man who has served our country with 5 years in the military. Adam Mowl is a self proclaimed Renaissance man with a great foundation for life and very strong character. Career Background: Served at a Marine for 5 years and spent 1 year in Afghanistan tracking high value targets Sin…

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Redefining the Plan: Angelica Gonzales on Switching Majors and Staying Focused 34:36

3M ago34:36

34:36

In this episode of SHPE Out Loud, we meet Angelica Gonzales, a SHPE Scholar and mechanical engineering student at Ventura College. Angelica shares how she’s balancing her studies, leadership roles, and work while preparing to transfer to a four-year university. As a first-generation college student, she talks about what drives her, the support she’…

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The future of AI and the law 35:43

3M ago35:43

35:43

Law professor Daniel Ho says that the law is ripe for AI innovation, but a lot is at stake. Naive application of AI can lead to rampant hallucinations in over 80 percent of legal queries, so much research remains to be done in the field. Ho tells how California counties recently used AI to find and redact racist property covenants from their laws—a…

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Rising Human-Generated Noise Impacts Marine Life (worse if deep sea mining, offshore drilling, & windmills get green lit) We Talk with Michael Stocker, Ocean Conservation Research Founder/Director 1:01:49

3M ago1:01:49

1:01:49

Send us a text The ocean isn't silent—it's a symphony of natural sounds that marine life depends on for survival. But human-generated noise pollution is drowning out this essential communication network with potentially devastating consequences. Michael takes us deep into the world of marine bioacoustics, revealing how political decisions directly …

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Why Investors Don’t Care About Your Business 10:20

3M ago10:20

10:20

I’ve been having coffee with lots of frustrated founders (my students and others) bemoaning most VCs won’t even meet with them unless they have AI in their fundraising pitch. And the AI startups they see are getting valuations that appear nonsensical. These conversations brought back a sense of Déjà vu from the Dot Com bubble (at the turn of this c…