Danielle Newnham Podcast

Today’s guests is Dr Robert Langer – a chemical engineer, scientist, entrepreneur, inventor and the most cited engineer in history - specializing in the biotechnology fields of drug delivery systems and tissue engineering. He is also the co-founder of Moderna a pharmaceutical and biotechnology company that focuses on RNA therapeutics, primarily mRNA vaccines which was used globally for Covid-19.Bob Langer has received over 200 major awards– one of just four individuals to have received both the United States National Medal of Science and the United States National Medal of Technology and Innovation. He also received the 2002 Charles Stark Draper Prize, considered the equivalent of the Nobel Prize for engineers, and the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering, among many othersIn this conversation, we discuss how he fell in love with science, what discoveries led to his pioneering work in tissue engineering and drug delivery, and what it takes to positively impact billions of lives. We also touch on anti-vaxxers, what it’s like for scientists when misinformation rules social media and how rejection is par for the course for a scientist.I honestly think this is one of the most important conversations I have had on this podcast so please do enjoy.Bob Langer at MITDanielle on Twitter @daniellenewnham and  Instagram @daniellenewnham   / Newsletter   

Today’s guest is Sarah Hamburg – a cognitive neuroscientist and researcher currently working as a post-doctoral Neuromorphic AI Engineer in Developmental Robotics. Sarah is also a DeSci (decentralised science) advocate and organiser, heavily involved in the decentralised science (DeSci) space since early 2021. After working as a core member of an Open Science DAO, she published a letter in Nature to increase awareness of DeSci and was then commissioned to write a DeSci "explainer" article for a16z's Future magazine. In 2022 she cofounded a "web3" consultancy which worked with UK Aid on blockchain for International Development. In this conversation, Sarah and I discuss her work and research, what neuroscience and consciousness is, why neuromorphic computing is such an exciting field to be working in. We also bond over a shared suffering of a chronic pain condition called fibromyalgia and I open up about the time as a kid when I nearly drowned and what I saw during that near-death experience.This interview is a little bit different from most of the other ones I do but it was thoroughly enjoyable and I am so grateful to Sarah for exploring these truly fascinating topics together.I am sure you will enjoy it too!Sarah on Twitter / ResearchDanielle on Twitter @daniellenewnham and  Instagram @daniellenewnham   / Newsletter  Mentioned in this episode:The Case Against Reality: How Evolution Hid The Truth From Our Eyes by Donald D. HoffmanReframing Fibromyalgia by Sarah HamburgBrain Activity Detected in DyingA Guide to DeSci, The Latest Web3 Movement  in a16z Future magazineCall to Join the DeSci Movement in Nature

Today, my guest is Sir Ian Livingstone – games pioneer, entrepreneur and the bestselling author of the Fighting Fantasy book series.Widely regarded as one of the founding fathers of the UK games industry, Ian co-founded Games Workshop in 1975 with Steve Jackson, launching Dungeons & Dragons in Europe, Warhammer, White Dwarf, Citadel Miniatures, and the Games Workshop retail chain. Whilst he exited the company in 1991, he soon embarked on a hugely successful career in the video games industry. In 1995, he co-led the merger which created video games publisher Eidos  where he served as Executive Chairman, launching blockbuster titles such as Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, Deus Ex and Hitman.In this conversation, we discuss his brilliant book Dice Men – The Origin Story of Games Workshop, how games like Warhammer and Dungeons and Dragons came to be, the evolution of gaming and why he set up his own school – The Livingstone Academy.Ian Livingstone was awarded a Knighthood (becoming a Sir) in the 2022 New Year Honours for services to the online gaming industry.I thoroughly enjoyed talking to Ian and I am sure you will enjoy it too.---------------Sir Ian Livingstone Twitter / Fighting Fantasy / Games Workshop / Hiro Capital / Buy Dice Men here.Danielle on Twitter @daniellenewnham and  Instagram @daniellenewnham   / Newsletter  

Today’s guest is Dr Mohammad Al-Ubaydli – a physician, programmer and founder of Patients Know Best.In this conversation, we talk about Mohammad’s upbringing from his family being exiled from Bahrain in the 1970s, to his childhood spent in the Yemen desert, Syria and Beirut during a civil war.On top of that, Mohammad suffers from a one a million genetic immune deficiency called Hyper IgM Syndrome which, had it not been for his mother’s astute diligence would have probably cost him his life.A deep love of technology and medicine led Mohammad to study medicine in order to understand the complexity of our bodies but he was destined to start a company in the technology field where he could combine his experience and passion and have real impact.With over 3 million registered users, an integration with the NHS apps and plans for more countries using the Patients Know Best system, Mohammad talks me through how and why we should all have more agency over our healthcare.This is an extremely inspiring and informative episode which I am sure you will enjoy. Mohammad on Twitter / LinkedIn / Patients Know BestDanielle on Twitter @daniellenewnham and  Instagram @daniellenewnham   / Newsletter Books mentioned in this episode:Irrationality: The Enemy WithinSelling The Wheel: Choosing The Best Way To Sell For You, Your Company, Your CustomersChaos: The Amazing Science of the UnpredictableAlso, if you are looking to become a B Corp, Mohammad is happy to answer any questions he can help with over on LinkedIn. 

Today’s guest is Matthew Stafford – an investor and co-founder of 9 Others, a global community for founders, where once a month, ten entrepreneurs come together over dinner and help each other by answering this one question, “What keeps you up at night?”Matthew started 9 Others with Katie Lewis in 2011 and it’s now a global network of thousands of entrepreneurs in over 45+ cities around the world from London to Manchester, Karachi to Yemen.Matthew also works with startups, venture capital and angel investors, governments, NGOs and large corporations. He has invested in twenty three startups, and had two exits so far and he has written a book - Find Your 9 Others.In this wide-ranging conversation, we discuss what Matthew looks for in founders, why 9 Others is so special, the importance of having a network and what is keeping him up at night.Enjoy!------------Matthew on Twitter / 9 OthersFind Your 9 Others - buy the book here.Danielle on Twitter @daniellenewnham and  Instagram @daniellenewnham   / Newsletter  Books Matthew recommended on the showThe Education of a Value Investor by Guy SpierThe Laws of Human Nature by Robert GreeneUnreasonable Success and How to Achieve It by Richard Koch 

Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE is the co-founder of Stemettes, an award-winning social initiative focused on getting girls, young women and non-binary people excited about, and encouraged into STEM fields through mentoring, qualification academies and STEM clubs.But let’s go back a bit. Because to understand why Anne-Marie chose this path, you need to understand her life story. At age just 10 years-old, Anne-Marie got her GCSE’s in Maths and Computing –these are exams that are normally taken at age 16 here in the UK. By age 11, she had done her A levels (which are usually taken at 18) and by age 13, she had won a scholarship to study at John Hopkins University.At just 20 years of age, Anne-Marie had graduated from Oxford University with a Masters in Mathematics and Computer Science.Anne-Marie is also an author She’s In Ctrl: How Women Can Take Back Tech, she’s a seasoned speaker, a podcast host, a Trustee Of the Institute for the Future of Work, a TV presenter (Countdown), and Anne-Marie works with media companies like BBC and 20th Century Fox to ensure that we see more diverse tech role models on screen.She was also awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in 2017 for her work with young women and the STEM sector.Enjoy!----------------Dr Anne-Marie on Twitter /  Instagram /  Stemettes / She's In Ctrl  bookDanielle on Twitter @daniellenewnham and  Instagram @daniellenewnham   / Newsletter ----------------Photo credit: Sam & Simon PhotographyMentioned in this episode:Hedy Lamarr Documentary  Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr StoryGladys WestHidden Figures Book by Margot Lee Shetterly

Welcome to the Danielle Newnham Podcast where I interview tech founders and innovators to learn the inspiring, human stories behind the game-changing tech we use every day.I know I probably say this every series but Series 10 might be my most favourite yet and I really can’t wait to share it with you! Upcoming guests this series include Simon Peyton Jones – Engineering Fellow at Epic Games, previously researcher at Microsoft Research in Cambridge, and one of the designers behind the Haskell programming language. We also have Robert Langer - chemical engineer, scientist, entrepreneur and, inventor. Robert is the most cited engineer in history and is also a prolific entrepreneur, having founded more than 40 biotech companies including Moderna… which you may have heard of.We also have Sarah Hamburg (a neuroscientist working in neuro-inspired computing and AI), Ian Livingstone – video game pioneer and co-founder of Games Workshop which launched Dungeons & Dragons in Europe, and is behind the cult-like Warhammer game, among many others. I will also be talking to Mike Slade (strategic advisor to Steve Jobs), and Kate Zernike (a Pulitzer-Prize winning reporter and author of The Exceptions: Nancy Hopkins, MIT and the Fight For Women in Science, and many more.So, as always, if you want to be the first to hear these episodes - please do make sure you subscribe to the Danielle Newnham Podcast wherever you get your podcasts from and I look forward to sharing these inspiring conversations with you over the coming weeks.Enjoy. 

Hello and welcome to the Danielle Newnham podcast where I interview tech founders and innovators to learn the inspiring, human stories behind the game-changing tech we use every day.To see out Season 9, I thought I would do my second ever AMA. I do these because I want to be helpful and because I think it’s important for listeners to know me and understand where I am coming from and why I do the podcast. So I asked my listeners across social media for questions they would like me to answer and in this episode, I am going to do my best to answer as many of them as possible. I discuss addiction, networking, growing a startup and irrational fears!But before we start, there is one slight trigger warning – I do talk about death and alcoholism in my first answer so you may want to skip that part if you are listening to this with episode with children around.Let me know what you think and if you want to hear more AMA's!Danielle Twitter / Instagram / Newsletter Mentioned in this episode:Shellye Archambeau episode hereRichard Browning episode hereKevin Kelly episode hereColin Caffell's book: In Search of The Rainbow's End 

Today’s guest is Hana Walker Brown – Audio Documentary and Podcast Creator, a Composer, author and Creative Director.In this really open conversation, Hana discusses how ADHD has informed her career, the impact an adult diagnosis had on her life and we dig deep into her work researching CTE which if I say it right is Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy - a progressive and fatal brain disease associated with repeated traumatic brain injuries including concussions and repeated blows to the head.As you might imagine this is common with various athletes from rugby players to footballers and boxers but what you might not realise is how rarely it’s discussed or accepted, how hard it is to diagnose (unless the brains of sportspeople are donated post death) and how CTE and associated ailments such as dementia are affecting younger and younger players.Our conversation centres Hana’s book - A Delicate Game - which is out now in paperback but the story behind Hana’s journey with CTE started on a BMX track back in 2016 where she learned of the suicide of legendary BMX’er David Mirra and why it was most likely caused by CTE.Hana is a storyteller and an innovator, pushing the boundary of what she believes she can do and what she feels compelled to do, all whilst bringing stories of importance and heartbreak, in equal measure, to the masses so that we too can learn the plight of her protagonists.I learned a lot from Hana and I know you will too.Enjoy!Hana on Twitter / Instagram  / WebsiteBuy Hana's book A Delicate Game: Brain Injury, Sport and Sacrifice here.Danielle Twitter / Instagram / NewsletterImage of Hana: Liz Seabrook

Today’s guest is David Senra, ex-founder host of  Founders podcast – one of my favourite podcasts where each week, David devours a biography of a founder and shares his favourite lessons with the world, whether it’s Charlie Munger, Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos, Kobe Bryant, The Wright Brothers, Lucille Ball, Jay Z, Enzo Ferrari and many more!But David has a really interesting story himself and one we dive into today. We talk about his tough childhood and how his escape came through his obsession with books because it was within those pages where he found the role models he wanted and needed to inspire him on his way.We also discuss some key themes between the founders and innovators whose stories David has shared in the almost 300 episodes now from a self-styled delusion which helps them to ignore the naysayers and dream the impossible to the obsession which comes with a laser focus on what matters.There are lots of great stories and anecdotes as you can imagine from David but there are also some great lessons that he has learned about success on his personal journey and why he wants to build something he’s younger self would be proud of.Here is my conversation with David Senra.Enjoy!David's podcast Founders podcast / Twitter Danielle Twitter / Instagram / Newsletter Mentioned in this episode:Tim Urban post that David mentions in this episode Taming the Mammoth: Why You Should Stop Caring What Other People ThinkMy episode with Jimmy Soni here