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
Mar 7, 2024 • 33min
The High-Stakes Quest to Reinvent Cement
This podcast delves into the challenge of producing carbon-free cement at scale, highlighting the innovative use of electrochemistry to revolutionize the construction industry. It explores the journey of developing a new kind of cement, the environmental impact of traditional cement production, and the drive for technological advancement in reducing carbon emissions.
Feb 29, 2024 • 35min
How a Battery-Powered Stove Could Electrify America
Learn how a battery-powered stove could revolutionize home cooking with high-power demands, induction technology, and grid electricity sales. Dive into challenges of transitioning away from gas stoves and integrating power storage solutions for efficient energy consumption. Explore past projects, failures, and ambitious innovations in this intriguing podcast episode.
Feb 22, 2024 • 36min
3D Printing a Better Rocket
A unique approach to manufacturing rockets using 3D printing, with a vision of sending a rocket and printer to Mars. The podcast explores the challenges and successes of launching rockets, optimizing rocket design, and envisioning a self-sustaining civilization on Mars. Features insights on revolutionizing rocket production, navigating rocket launch challenges, and exploring writing, rocket systems, and Jeff Bezos' patience.
7 snips
Feb 15, 2024 • 40min
Using AI to Help Doctors Save Lives
Suchi Saria, founder and CEO of Bayesian Health, and a professor at Johns Hopkins, discusses using AI to detect hospital patients at risk of complications. Challenges of integrating AI in healthcare, building trust in real-time information, and potential impact on healthcare market. Building an AI model for sepsis detection and the importance of detailed data. Potential impact of software in detecting sepsis and bed sores. Exploring AI applications and user experience. The need for AI to solve people problems.
Feb 8, 2024 • 26min
Making Dam Good Hydropower
Gia Schneider, co-founder and CEO of Natel Energy, discusses the challenges of generating hydroelectric power without damaging the ecosystem. She explores the negative impact of dams and turbines on rivers and aquatic life, and the importance of fish-friendly turbines. Schneider also talks about current projects, the concept of restoration hydro, and the future of clean energy.
4 snips
Feb 1, 2024 • 35min
Using AI to Build Better Robots
Peter Chen, Co-founder and CEO of Covariant, discusses the integration of AI in robotics and the challenges it faces. They explore the limitations of traditional robots and the role of AI in solving complex problems. The podcast also touches on building robot arms for business, the significance of ImageNet, robots in warehouse operations, AI models for robot arms, optimizing kitchens, GPT's impact, and transitioning from academia to industry.
Jan 25, 2024 • 29min
Teaching Computers to See
Fei Fei Li, a Stanford computer scientist and former chief scientist of AI/ML at Google Cloud, discusses how she built the ImageNet database, the challenges of downloading internet images, and her ambition to create machines that can collaborate with humans.
5 snips
Jan 18, 2024 • 32min
Using Oil-Industry Tech to Create Clean Energy
Tim Latimer, CEO and co-founder of Fervo Energy, is using oil-industry tech to create clean geothermal energy. They discuss technological innovations in the oil and gas industry, relocating headquarters, successful geothermal projects, exploring renewable energy benefits, and working on an oil rig.
12 snips
Dec 28, 2023 • 24min
Understanding Obesity and Alzheimer’s via Epigenomics
Manolis Kellis, a professor of Computer Science at MIT, discusses the cellular mechanisms of disease and interventions for maintaining health. The podcast explores genomics and epigenomics, delving into genetic associations with obesity. It also touches on challenges and triumphs of small business owners, the importance of personalized medicine, and the significance of small businesses in the economy.
Dec 21, 2023 • 24min
Reinventing the Restaurant
Chef Anthony Strong shares his journey of opening a new kind of restaurant, Pasta Supply Co, specializing in pasta and eliminating tipping. He discusses the importance of maximizing table time, power dynamics in restaurants, challenges of cooking in a van, and opinions on angel hair pasta.
