What's Your Problem?
iHeartPodcasts and Pushkin Industries
Every week on What's Your Problem?, former Planet Money host Jacob Goldstein talks with entrepreneurs and engineers tackling the biggest challenges at the forefront of technology. How do you make a trip to space as routine as a plane flight? How do you turn solar energy into clean fuel? How do you use AI to stop deadly infections before they spread? We hear a lot these days about how the world is getting worse. What's Your Problem? learns from the thinkers and doers trying to make our future better.
iHeartMedia is the exclusive podcast partner of Pushkin Industries.
iHeartMedia is the exclusive podcast partner of Pushkin Industries.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Sep 12, 2024 • 41min
Reinventing Mining to Power the World
Kurt House, co-founder and CEO of KoBold Metals, shares insights on revolutionizing the mining industry for the renewable energy transition. He discusses the enormous demand for essential metals like copper and lithium, and how AI and data science are pivotal in discovering these resources. Kurt recounts a significant copper discovery in Zambia, while balancing personal anecdotes from his family trips. He emphasizes the need for innovative exploration techniques and the importance of fostering a supportive culture in mining management.
Sep 5, 2024 • 35min
Inventing a Vaccine for Bees
Dalial Freitak and Annette Kleiser, co-founders of Dalan Animal Health, are pioneering the first vaccine for insects. They dive into the complexities of insect immunology and how maternal exposure to pathogens influences bee immunity. The discussion highlights their innovative oral vaccine for queen bees, aimed at combating the alarming decline in bee populations. They also explore broader implications for agriculture and even potential future applications for shrimp, emphasizing the critical role of bees in food security.
Aug 29, 2024 • 39min
A Better Way to Make the Chemicals in Everything
Sean Hunt, co-founder and CTO of Solugen, dives into sustainable chemical production without fossil fuels. He shares how his company innovates by using corn syrup for eco-friendly solutions, transforming the industry. The discussion highlights operational challenges and the push for specialty chemicals amidst market shifts. Hunt reveals insights on the competitive landscape and the impact of a new executive order promoting bio-manufactured chemicals. Additionally, he touches on the intriguing engineering behind customizing products for regional tastes.
Aug 8, 2024 • 44min
How Refrigeration Changed the World
Nicola Twilley, author of "Frostbite: How Refrigeration Changed Our Food, Our Planet, and Ourselves," dives into the transformative power of refrigeration. She highlights how this technology reshaped global diets and health, turning seasonal foods into year-round staples. Twilley discusses brewers as pioneers of refrigeration technology and reveals fascinating insights about maintaining freshness in produce like lettuce. She also touches on innovations like lipid coatings as a sustainable alternative to plastic, redefining freshness in the food industry.
Aug 1, 2024 • 39min
Detecting Deepfakes With AI
Ali Shahriyari, co-founder and CTO of Reality Defender, dives into the urgent issue of deepfake detection. He discusses real-life incidents of deepfake fraud, shedding light on their implications for banking and politics. The conversation highlights the technological intricacies of distinguishing real content from AI-generated fakes. Ali emphasizes the constant evolution needed in detection tools and raises ethical concerns about misinformation's impact on public trust. He also delves into how society's biases complicate our acceptance of information—real or not.
Jul 25, 2024 • 37min
Turning Old Cans Into Clean Energy
Peter Godart, co-founder of Found Energy, discusses using aluminum for clean energy. Topics include aluminum as a renewable energy source, challenges in aluminum recycling, transforming old cans into clean energy, and transitioning to sustainable energy. The podcast explores innovative ideas for energy solutions both on Earth and in space, emphasizing the potential environmental benefits of sustainable aluminum production.
Jul 18, 2024 • 41min
Moneyball, Soccer, and the Gap Between Analytics and the Real World
Sarah Rudd, CEO of src | ftbl, discusses applying Moneyball principles to soccer analytics, challenges in implementing data-driven insights in sports, and strategies for valuing players accurately. The podcast explores the complexities of analytics in soccer, innovations in soccer strategies, and the evolution of substitution tactics in matches.
Jul 11, 2024 • 42min
Using Computer Vision to See What Coaches Can’t
Jimmy Buffi, CEO of Reboot Motion, discusses using computer vision to assist MLB and NBA athletes. Topics include optimizing pitching movements, challenges in basketball shooting techniques, future of computer vision in sports analysis, and predicting human behavior for self-driving cars.
Jul 4, 2024 • 41min
Scanning Every Muscle to Help Olympians Get Stronger
Silvia Blemker, a professor and co-founder of Springbok Analytics, discusses using MRI scans and AI to assist elite athletes and those with muscle diseases. They talk about tailored training plans, muscle health optimization, and injury prevention. The episode explores the challenges of obtaining muscle data and revolutionizing athlete treatment through advanced scanning technology.
Jun 27, 2024 • 42min
Making Blood Vessels in a Factory
Laura Niklason, CEO of Humacyte, discusses creating blood vessels using human cells. Topics include decellularization, synthetic arteries, elastin in vessels, FDA approval, bypass procedures, lab-grown lungs, regenerative medicine tools, and cell intelligence in spare parts creation.
