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What the (Bio)Hack?! Podcast

Latest episodes

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Nov 20, 2023 • 1h 11min

Striving for a utopia of utopias with Allison Duettmann

Bronic's What the (Bio)Hack?! is a podcast to discover what the hack security means for biology. Our host interviews some of the world's mad scientists and rad hackers across deceivingly unrelated disciplines to uncover what the future holds and how we can design against crime.In this episode, we jump on a journey with our guest Allison Duettmann that started out as a cold call and got her leading the Foresight Institute as CEO  - an organisation founded in 1986 to pursue long-term futures today. But futures can be scary and often dystopian. Allison talks to us about Existential Hope scenarios instead, displacing the concept of catastrophic risk with utopian alternatives. We explore the power of cooperation and privacy-preserving technology development and debate on whether open or closed security building is more effective. Allison explains her belief in "swarming problem solving" and we discuss the promise of multi-polar Artificial Intelligence (AI) as security design of a better future. Tune in to discover how to attend Vision Weekend and how you can contribute to AI safety!
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Nov 7, 2023 • 1h 11min

Talent is fundamentally social with Arnaud Schenk

Arnaud Schenk, a tech lead and founder of the Polaris Fellowship, shares his unconventional journey from high school dropout to tech innovator. He emphasizes the social nature of talent and the impact of intentional relationships on personal success. Discussions range from the evolution of recruitment methods to the intersection of education and personal narrative. Arnaud introduces Polaris, a fellowship designed for the underestimated, advocating for innovative support structures in entrepreneurship. The conversation also touches on future societal visions and the adaptability required in startups.
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Aug 15, 2023 • 1h 22min

A Legal Lens on Hacking, Privacy, and Biotech with Prof. Scott Shapiro

Bronic's What the (Bio)Hack?! is a podcast to discover what the hack security means for biology. Our host interviews some of the world's mad scientists and rad hackers across deceivingly unrelated disciplines to uncover what the future holds and how we can design against crime.In this episode, we feature a thought-provoking conversation with Professor Scott Shapiro, a distinguished figure in the world of Law and Philosophy at Yale Law School. Get ready for an insightful exploration of the intricate relationship between security, biotechnology, and the ever-evolving legal landscape. From the historical origins of privacy regulations to the captivating evolution of internet security, Professor Shapiro provides a unique perspective, combining his legal expertise with a profound understanding of cybersecurity. Delve into the intriguing historical context of security, from ancient physical safeguards to the modern-day battle against digital threats. Discover the unexpected connection between youthful curiosity and hacking incidents, as we unravel the motivations behind these actions and explore strategies for prevention.But that's not all! Professor Shapiro sheds light on the fascinating intersection of law and technology, discussing the journey from overeducated boredom to a form of creative expression through hacking.  Join us for this engaging episode where we uncover the synergy between legal insights and cybersecurity expertise. 
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Aug 1, 2023 • 1h 15min

AI battles, the cyber mega-mesh, and security democratisation with Uri Bar-el

Bronic's What the (Bio)Hack?! is a podcast to discover what the hack security means for biology. Our host interviews some of the world's mad scientists and rad hackers across deceivingly unrelated disciplines to uncover what the future holds and how we can design against crime.In this episode, we have an insightful conversation with Uri Bar-el, a seasoned cybersecurity professional with extensive experience in leading and building cybersecurity practices across different sectors and regions, from insurance to banking on a global scale. Uri shares his thoughts on the next significant threat, which he identifies as artificial intelligence (AI). To defend against this looming threat, Uri proposes the creation of a new type of expert called the "Cyber-philosopher." This novel approach may lead to AI battles, pitting the forces of good against the forces of bad in the cybersecurity realm. Uri also discusses the idea of democratizing an industry that was previously deemed undemocratizable. He touches on the intricate mesh of technologies and practices within the cybersecurity domain, emphasizing the challenge of untangling and democratizing this rapidly expanding "mega-mesh," which now even includes fields like biotech. Throughout the episode, Uri shares his insights on how the cybersecurity industry needs to evolve and adapt to address the changing landscape of threats. Don't miss this thought-provoking discussion on the future of security and how we can design strategies to combat cybercrime effectively. Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of what lies ahead for the field of cybersecurity.
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Jul 20, 2023 • 1h 24min

Bioelectricity, Sentient Beings, and Proof of Humanity with Professor Michael Levin

Bronic's What the (Bio)Hack?! is a podcast to discover what the hack security means for biology. Our host interviews some of the world's mad scientists and rad hackers across deceivingly unrelated disciplines to uncover what the future holds and how we can design against crime.In this episode, we speak with Michael Levin, Professor of developmental and synthetic biology at Tufts University focusing on Morphological and behavioural information processing in living systems. Wondering what the heck that means?  Michael walks us through the concept of diverse intelligence evolving through morphogenesis: the ability of multicellular bodies to self-assemble, repair, and improvise novel solutions to anatomical goals. We explore what "agential" materials or materials with an agenda are and investigate the magic of bioelectricity. Michael shares his extraordinary research on chimeric frogolotls (Frog + Axolotl) and what they offer in the study of xenobots. We talk about bioelectricity, sentient beings, proof of humanity and more to understand what the future holds and how we can design against crime. 
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Jul 4, 2023 • 1h 33min

Science geek-out session with Professor George Church

Bronic's What the (Bio)Hack?! is a podcast to discover what the hack security means for biology. Our host interviews some of the world's mad scientists and rad hackers across deceivingly unrelated disciplines to uncover what the future holds and how we can design against crime.In this episode, we speak with George Church, Professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School and Professor of Health Sciences and Technology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). With an impressive background as a serial entrepreneur, having co-founded 46 companies and holding 156 patent publications, George gives us his perspectives on technology, entrepreneurship, and the future of communication. He talks to us about the importance of ethics, safety, security, and equitable costs in relation to transformative technologies for reading and writing three-dimensional and four-dimensional structures. We geek out on science and re-learn the word "future" to mean now; like the idea of recording sensory experiences directly through biological means  without the need for external devices. We talk about synaesthesia, gene therapy, super-cells, the connectome and more to understand what the future holds and how we can design against crime. 
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Jun 20, 2023 • 1h 24min

Biohacking and implantables with Amal Graafstra

Bronic's What the (Bio)Hack?! is a podcast to discover what the hack security means for biology. Our host interviews some of the world's mad scientists and rad hackers across deceivingly unrelated disciplines to uncover what the future holds and how we can design against crime.In this episode, we speak with Amal Graafstra, technologist, Author & Double RFID Implantee. We  delve into “biohacking” and the world of implantables. Back in 2005, he implanted an RFID chip in his hand to open doors and control his gadgets – talk about futuristic! But what exactly is biohacking? It's an umbrella term that encompasses a wide range of DIY and open-source hardware projects, from Arduino to RFID toys and beyond. Some may find the concept controversial, but there's no denying the fascinating possibilities it offers. We talk about these topics and more to understand what the future holds and how we can design against crime. Interested in finding out more about DangerousThings?https://forum.dangerousthings.com/Considering an implantable?https://vivokey.com/Amal's Tedx talk on Biohacking:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DxVWhFLI6EAmal's book on RFID Implants:https://www.amazon.co.uk/RFID-Toys-Projects-Entertainment-ExtremeTech/dp/0471771961

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