Best Stanford Engineering Podcasts (2025)

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Stanford Decision Engineer Reveals the 3-Part Framework for Making Decisions with Clarity and Intention 1:00:56

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7d ago1:00:56

1:00:56

In this episode of Tradition Breakers, host Mary Moses sits down with Michelle Florendo — a Stanford-trained Decision Engineer, executive coach, and Filipino American mother of two — to unpack the exact 3-part framework she teaches leaders to make decisions with clarity, confidence, and intention. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by choices, stuck i…

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Not Speaking Your Truth Can Cost You Your Life 19:01

1d ago19:01

19:01

In this solo episode of Tradition Breakers, Mary tackles a pervasive issue in the AAPI community: the tendency to stifle our voices to keep the peace. Mary opens up about her own journey of learning to speak her truth and explores the high price we pay when we stay silent. We dive deep into the data, looking at why suicide is the leading cause of d…

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The future of ribosomes 34:40

5d ago34:40

34:40

Maria Barna is an authority on ribosomes – “life’s most ancient and spectacular molecular machines.” Ribosomes make proteins in the body. There can be a thousand different types of ribosomes in a single cell, she says, each with a specific job to do. But sometimes things go awry and ribosomes get “hijacked,” leading to disease. Barna studies these …

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Debugging the Dream: Going on a New Adventure and Finding Your Niche with Gio Benitez Torres 1:16:02

6d ago1:16:02

1:16:02

Here is the episode description without the embedded source tags: Episode Description In this episode of SHPE Out Loud, we sit down with Giordano "Gio" Benitez Torres, the North America Quality Coordinator at Lenovo. Gio takes us from his roots in Panama to his current role as a "computer detective," where he solves high-stakes engineering issues f…

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Best of: How to take waste out of wastewater 29:19

12d ago29:19

29:19

In October, chemical engineer Will Tarpeh was awarded a 2025 MacArthur “Genius Grant” in recognition of his pioneering work to turn wastewater into a source of valuable materials. Will envisions a future in which the concept of wastewater is obsolete, thanks to advances in recycling. A couple of years ago, we sat down to talk with him about this wo…

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"The Emergent Mind: How Intelligence Arises in People and Machines" | Jay McClelland 39:41

12d ago39:41

39:41

The AI revolution of the past few years is built on brain-inspired neural network models originally developed to study our own minds. The question is, what should we make of the fact that our own rich mental lives are built on the same foundations as the seemingly soulless chat-bots we now interact with on a daily basis? Our guest this week is Stan…

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From Parachute Kid to CEO: How Alice Kao Built One of SoCal's Largest Indoor Climbing Gyms and Redefined Leadership 52:06

15d ago52:06

52:06

In this deeply moving episode of Tradition Breakers, host, Mary Moses, sits down with Alice Kao — an Asian American woman who went from being a 12-year-old "parachute kid" raising herself in the U.S. to becoming the CEO of one of Southern California's largest indoor climbing gyms, Sender One. Alice opens up about the raw, often unseen journey behin…

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The future of digital markets 31:32

19d ago31:32

31:32

Gabriel Weintraub studies how digital markets evolve. In that regard, he says platforms like Amazon, Uber, and Airbnb have already disrupted multiple verticals through their use of data and digital technologies. Now, they face both the opportunity and the challenge of leveraging AI to further transform markets, while doing so in a responsible and a…

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Mixed, Queer & Becoming: Ingrid Hu Dahl on Healing Grief, Finding Belonging, and Leading with Humanity 50:22

17d ago50:22

50:22

In this powerful episode of Tradition Breakers, host Mary Moses sits down with Ingrid Hu Dahl, leadership coach, consultant, and author of the memoir, Sun Shining on Morning Snow, for an intimate conversation on identity, grief, belonging, and the evolution of "humane leadership." Born into an interracial household and navigating life as a mixed-ra…

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The Department of War Just Shot the Accountants and Opted for Speed 30:48

21d ago30:48

30:48

The Department of War Just Shot the Accountants and Opted for Speed by Steve BlankBy Steve Blank

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The future of immunotherapy 33:52

26d ago33:52

33:52

Biochemist Lingyin Li survived breast cancer at just 30 and now works to harness the human immune system to fight cancers that have long evaded treatment. T cells, she says, are powerful cancer killers, but they can be oblivious. She and her lab colleagues have discovered a masking enzyme that squelches the immune system’s “danger signals” and are …

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Could brain implants read our thoughts? | Erin Kunz 37:05

25d ago37:05

37:05

Imagine what it’s like to lose your ability to speak. You know what you want to say, but the connection between your brain and the muscles that form words is no longer functioning. For people with conditions like ALS, or who experience a severe stroke, this is a devastating reality. Today's guest is Erin Kunz, a postdoctoral researcher in the Neura…

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Everyone's Discounting. Does My Brand Have To?: How to Turn Black Friday Momentum into Long-Term Growth 19:37

29d ago19:37

19:37

Every founder feels the pressure this time of year. Ads everywhere. Deep discounts. Competing voices shouting "Do more! Sell more!" But does your brand really have to follow the same playbook? In this solo episode of Tradition Breakers, host Mary Moses — Fractional CMO for growing brands — shares how to approach Black Friday and Cyber Monday differ…

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The future of emerging technologies 31:46

1M ago31:46

31:46

On our 300th episode, Stanford Hoover Institution Director and former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice talks about her return to Stanford after years in government and the impact she sees rapidly advancing technologies having on democracy and public policy. She says the future demands greater collaboration among industry, academia, and gove…

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The countdown to our 300th episode 0:25

1M ago0:25

0:25

Tune in on Friday, November 7th to listen to our 300th episode with a very special guest. Connect With Us: Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything Website Connect with Russ >>> Threads / Bluesky / Mastodon Connect with School of Engineering >>>Twitter/X / Instagram / LinkedIn / Facebook Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.ads…

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Unlock the Power of Your Unconscious Mind: NLP Secrets for Rapid Transformation with Judy Tsuei 1:02:34

1M ago1:02:34

1:02:34

Have you ever achieved "success" on paper but still felt stuck or unfulfilled inside? In this episode of Tradition Breakers, host Mary Moses sits down with Judy Tsuei — a high-level mindset coach, former agency founder, and certified expert in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and Mental Emotional Release (MER) — to explore how rewiring the uncons…

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It only took 20 years, but the Strategic Management Society now Believes the Lean Startup is a Strategy 14:54

1M ago14:54

14:54

I’ve always thought of myself as a practitioner. In the startups I was part of, the only “strategy” were my marketing tactics on how to make the VP of Sales the richest person in the company. After I retired, I created Customer Development and co-created the Lean Startup as a simple methodology which codified founders best practices – in a language…

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Best of: The future of transparent tissue 29:02

1M ago29:02

29:02

About a year ago, a research team at Stanford Engineering led by Guosong Hong published a paper about their work to use a common food dye to make mouse skin transparent. Their findings made a big splash and have the potential to provide a range of benefits in health care. You can imagine that if we have the ability to see what’s going on under the …

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NeuroForecasting: how brain activity can predict stock prices or viral videos | Brian Knutson 40:19

1M ago40:19

40:19

Neuroscientists have spent the past few decades tracing the network of brain systems—some deep and emotional, and others more analytical and deliberate— that work together as we make tough choices like where to invest our money as well as more everyday decisions like which videos to watch online—or, for that matter, which podcast to listen to. You …

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Rewriting Your Money Story: Healing Inherited Survival Patterns with Meenadchi 50:02

1M ago50:02

50:02

What if the fear, guilt, or anxiety you feel about money… isn't actually yours? In this powerful episode of Tradition Breakers, somatic healing practitioner and TEDx speaker Meenadchi reveals how our money beliefs are shaped by inherited survival patterns — passed down through generations that had to fight, flee, and sacrifice to stay alive. We exp…

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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

2M 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

2M 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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Modern Dating & Relationships with Matchmaker, Cassindy Chao 53:17

2M ago53:17

53:17

What happens when a high-powered Goldman Sachs executive walks away from Wall Street to help people find love? In this episode of Tradition Breakers, host Mary Moses sits down with Cassindy Chao, a proud daughter of Asian immigrants who left a demanding finance career to become an elite matchmaker, author, and speaker. Blending ancient Chinese wisd…

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The future of topical vaccines 37:39

2M 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

2M 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

2M 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

2M 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

2M 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

2M 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

2M 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

2M 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

3M 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

3M 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

3M 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

3M ago5:44

5:44

Great founders shine in a crisis.By Steve Blank

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From Generational Trauma to Creative Freedom: Desire Lacap's Journey as a Filmmaker & Content Creator 50:08

3M ago50:08

50:08

In this episode of Tradition Breakers, we sit down with Desire Lacap, also known as @lacapturevisuals. She is a filmmaker, content creator, and director of photography for her production company, Lacap Productions. Raised in a Filipino household where careers in medicine were the expected path, Desire chose a different journey — one built on storyt…

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The future of allergies 37:56

3M 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

3M 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

3M 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

3M 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

3M 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

4M 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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The future of inequality 34:36

4M 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

4M 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…