Finding Genius Podcast

Dr. Sandrine Miller-Montgomery is the executive director of the UC San Diego Center for Microbiome Innovation and professor in the department of bioengineering whose aim is to understand and foster microbiome diversity and develop technologies that leverage the findings in the exploding field of microbiome research. For years, microbes have been generally viewed as bad for health and as things to get rid of, but a growing body of research is showing that the microbiome is actually essential for the development of our immune systems and our overall health. Dr. Miller-Montgomery delivers an intriguing overview of the role of the microbiome in everyday life, reminding us that for millions of years prior to humans showing up, the microbiome world was adapting, evolving, and developing an incredible diversity of bacteria, fungi, and viruses. She explains how the human immune system develops within the first three months of life and relies heavily upon the presence of microbes in the environment, and how shielding a child from the environment too much can actually result in illnesses and allergic reactions in adulthood. She also explains the type of work being done at the Center for Microbiome Innovation, where, rather than pinpoint a single focus on the microbiome and work in silos, over 130 scientists remain nimble in their research, sharing data, collaborating, and adapting their research to the evolution of our knowledge in the field. The team has ongoing studies looking at the relationship between the microbiome and aging, schizophrenia, depression, diet, and more. Dr. Miller-Montgomery is a wealth of information, explaining the ins and outs of all of the above, and discussing the potential for the microbiome to serve as a biomarker for diagnosing, preventing, and treating disease. Visit https://cmi.ucsd.edu/ to learn more.

Level Sleep is a company that was founded just over three years ago with the goal of doing something no other company in the world of sleep was doing: designing and distributing mattresses that accommodate the natural curves of the human body. Founder of Level Sleep, James J Abodeely, explains the two primary goals of product development at Level Sleep: spinal alignment and uniform low pressure. He explains that until now, these two features have essentially been at odds with one another, forcing consumers to sacrifice support in favor of pressure, or vice versa. The mattress they've designed provides people with just the right amount of each, providing both spinal alignment and low pressure where it's needed. Their product has undergone a 30-person sleep trial and has been market-tested with positive reviews and a majority of consumers being patients of chiropractors—people who understand the value of spinal alignment and the right amount of pressure in the right locations, and what it's like to deal with the chronic pain that can result from having neither. Abodeely discusses a number of topics, including the look, feel, and function of the mattress, how the recent revolution in online purchases of mattresses have led to a "been-in-a-box" model that's actually improved the long-term integrity of mattresses, the specific details of the results of the sleep trial testing their mattress, and their patent pending adjustable Snore Relief pillow that provides superior support for the neck, reducing snoring. Interested in learning more or getting one for yourself? Tune in and visit levelsleep.com

David Sax, author of The Revenge of Analog: Real Things and Why They Matter, provides a fascinating overview of the technology and how we yearn for the physical products of days recently gone by. David's book considers the new analog revival. In a world of digital technology, people are now craving much of what we've been told was obsolete. In a sort of reverse revolution, more and more independent bookstores are popping up in spite of e-books' supposed decimation of all things 'print,' record stores with real vinyl are rebounding in spite of our downloadable empire of digital music, and people are even beginning to write actual letters again—on paper, believe it or not. The Revenge of Analog: Real Things and Why They Matter reveals the hidden truth of our society—that people like things. David talks about his background and how an old turntable with real records intensified his interest in music, which got him thinking about technology, analog products, and our desire for the tangible things of the past. His curiosity about this stirred him to write his book, The Revenge of Analog. As David states, the world is physical, so it is only natural that we relate best to physical things that give us a deeper connection and appeal to all our senses. We love three dimensional, tangible items, and it should come as no surprise that we are yearning for the past in some ways. The historical tech guru explains why our current technology is leaving us feeling less enthused. He talks about his own personal connection to modern technology and how he tries to limit his exposure somewhat, in an attempt to really connect to family and friends without the technological interruptions. David discusses technology's rise to power in regard to its promise for making lives better, but as he states, technology is messy and is never really that Star Trek version we might have expected it could be. He says that our future is never really as we predict, and that skepticism of coming technologies is actually a smart behavior, that we should evaluate technology and understand how it works for us, and whether it is truly enhancing our lives in ways that are healthy and productive. Lastly, David talks about his upcoming book that takes a hard look at entrepreneurship. He discusses the reasons why people become entrepreneurs and how their goals motivate them to build and create.

Need answers that are buried in pages of data reports or countless spreadsheets and dashboards, but don't have the time to sift through it all? Do you need to know how a particular sales employee is doing, how a particular consumer uses a product, or how many versions of a particular product were sold last month? These are just a couple of examples of the pieces of information that can now be delivered to you within seconds; all you have to do is ask. The name of the product that's making this a reality and boasting the potential to revolutionize the B2B space is Aristotle, and it's been developed by the team at Bouquet. Adrien Schmidt, CEO of Bouquet, joins the podcast to discuss how they're developing AI algorithms that will quickly interpret voice commands, analyze the relevant data, and deliver a clear, accurate response in real time. This system acts as a virtual assistant for data analysis around the clock through whatever channel is most convenient for you, whether that's Siri, Alexa, Slack, Microsoft Teams, or any other instant messaging service you use. Schmidt explains that talking to Aristotle is just like talking to a colleague—there's no complicated log in process, little room for error, and no hold times associated with the recruitment of data analysts; simply ask your question and receive your answer within seconds. Schmidt discusses how this casual data usage will benefit the B2B space, improve business operations and customer service, and lower overhead expenses. Tune in to learn more about Aristotle's use cases, challenges to overcome, what stage they're at in development, and what to look for in the near future. Visit bouquet.ai for more information.

Although we know a lot more about the human genome now than we did prior to the start of the Human Genome Project almost two decades ago, countless questions remain, as do research opportunities. At the Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences at Newcastle University in the UK, Dr. Andreas Werner is carrying out research on noncoding RNA molecules, which comprise a significant percentage of the genome and have long been regarded as "junk" or "dark matter" elements of the genome. According to Dr. Werner and a growing body of research, noncoding RNA actually plays a significant role in the human body by helping to drive transcription, regulate the expression of proteins, and contribute to the evolution of organisms. He explains the extremely context-dependent nature of noncoding RNA especially as it relates to the expression of certain diseases, and offers an overall intriguing and informative conversation that takes an in-depth look at the science behind his research.

Rachel Hill, the founder of The Invisible Hypothyroidism (theinvisiblehypothyroidism.com), delivers an interesting overview of hypothyroidism and her personal journey back to good health. Hill is an award-winning thyroid patient advocate. She is a noted writer and author on the subject and has received a staggering six 2018 WEGO Health Award Nominations as well as many other accolades for her writing and her popular website. Speaking of the latter, The Invisible Hypothyroidism was cited by The National Academy of Hypothyroidism as one of the best thyroid advocacies contributing to thyroid awareness. Hill holds multiple certificates in her various areas of study and training, some of which include the following: Life Coaching and Motivational Speaking, Diet and Nutrition, and Reflexology as well. Hill talks about her background and her own personal struggles with hypothyroidism. After beginning a blog in which she shared her experiences, she became motivated to expand her work as a thyroid health advocate. Hill talks about the symptoms people might experience that could lead to a diagnosis. She shares her personal story, and the frustration she experienced during the years before her diagnosis. Hill's celebrated book, Be Your Own Thyroid Advocate: When You're Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired is a must-read for anyone who is seeking a comprehensive guide to thyroid issues. The book discusses in detail her path back to good health after being diagnosed with hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's. She covers all the basics and then some. Hill's book details information on medications, supplements, blood tests, mental health, emotional support, motivation, other valuable resources for learning, and so much more. Hill talks about the range in testing that indicates a hypothyroid diagnosis, and she stresses that even someone who is borderline could still have a significant amount of troubling symptoms that interfere with one's life. The thyroid expert stresses the importance of finding a doctor that understands thyroid issues well and is willing to work with you in a manner that is helpful. Hill talks about medications in detail and the pros and cons of trying other medications that may offer improvements over your current meds. She talks about the lingering issues of brain fog and gut health, and how everything is connected. Ultimately, Hill states that experimentation and research regarding nutrition, exercise, and vitamins, and making adjustments along the way, can help to improve your symptoms and overall health. Rachel's work can be found on her twitter (https://twitter.com/Invisible_Hypo), facebook (https://www.facebook.com/TheInvisibleHypothyroidism), instagram (https://instagram.com/TheInvisibleHypothyroidism) and website (https://www.theinvisiblehypothyroidism.com), as well as in her book: Be Your Own Thyroid Advocate (http://bit.ly/2G6NImd)

Erik Rind, the founder and CEO of ImagineBC, delivers an informative overview of blockchain and the new technology that is helping users control their data. As an experienced technology executive, Erik is passionate about the digital community and the technology tools that enhance it. Erik talks about the ImagineBC experience. In the ImagineBC community, users are able to have control over their personal information in ways they may not have imagined possible. The ImagineBC platform is built on blockchain security, and thus empowers people to shop how they want, safely and securely. Essentially, they are innovators in the space and as such, they aspire to do for blockchain what "You've got mail" did for the internet. Erik talks about his background as a technologist writing software in the HCM space (human capital management) such as payroll, HR, and benefits administration. Erik's love for history combined with his skill in software development was the foundation for his company, ImagineBC. After some initial doubts about the power of blockchain, then copious amounts of research, Erik came to the conclusion that blockchain's potential for peer to peer commerce was enormous, "game-changing," as he describes it. Erik talks about bitcoin and currency, but he stresses that ImagineBC is not a 'crypto play,' but is, in fact, a US dollar-based community. The technology expert talks about their upcoming launch, and where ImagineBC is in their launch process. He discusses some potential clients who are interested in the ImagineBC platform, and how they can get more bang for their buck in advertising leads. Erik explains their community and how they interact with information, and how ads can become targeted, precisely connecting with real leads that are worth the time to pursue. The technologist discusses some of their partners in the health field, and how data is utilized in a secure manner. As Erik recounts some companies betray the trust of their clients by selling their data, but ImagineBC seeks to help users control their personal information, to control how it is used, and be free to monetize it for their own benefit, not some big corporation's benefit. As the ImagineBC website touts, "The status quo says it's okay that Facebook and Google profit from your data. We say that money should go in your pocket."

Virtual assistants have come a long way in recent years, but they're still limited in the ability to interpret the spoken word and match objects with their corresponding descriptions with speed and accuracy. On today's episode, Adria Recasens from the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab discusses the research they're doing to create a system that can outperform Siri and Alexa in terms of correctly and quickly identifying objects based on spoken descriptions, allowing for our interactions with computers to be more like interactions with other humans who speak our language. Recasens discusses the use cases of this technology, which include higher and better-functioning robots or personal assistants, as well as image analysis in medicine. He also discusses the areas of research they plan to explore in the near future, which include teaching the system different languages and concepts. Press play to hear the full conversation, and visit https://www.csail.mit.edu/ to learn more.

Dr. Daniel Kammen, Professor of Energy & Society, Energy and Resources Group (ERG) and the Director, Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory (RAEL), provides an overview of the current state of energy around the globe and the changes that are happening rapidly. After completing his undergraduate studies at Cornell and then graduate studies at Harvard, where he received his Ph.D. in 1988, Dr. Kammen embarked on his long career in the energy field. His postdoctoral work at Caltech and Harvard led him to a position of professor and Chair of the Science, Technology and Environmental Policy at Princeton University in the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs from the early to late 90s. Notably, Dr. Kammen is the Class of 1935 Distinguished Professor of Energy at the University of California, Berkeley, and he holds additional appointments in the Energy and Resources Group, the Goldman School of Public Policy, as well as the Department of Nuclear Engineering. And in 2010, Dr. Kammen was honored to be named the first Environment and Climate Partnership for the Americas (ECPA) Fellow, tapped by former Secretary of State Hilary R. Clinton. Dr. Kammen discusses his background and training as a physicist and the steps that he took to reach his current area of study and development in the energy field. Upon seeing an ad seeking engineers for work in Central America, the young physicist convinced the group to include him as well, alongside the engineers, and thus his journey began on the path to energy studies—solar, wind, etc. Dr. Kammen discusses how energy is thought about by various governments, and how new technology and climate change issues are changing the game. He talks about how old utility models are giving way to newer models, and how solar and cleaner energy is leaping forward in the market. As he states, clean energy can make energy management and production actually easier while helping to reduce climate problems. Dr. Kammen details many of the current problems with energy in America. As he explains, regarding the US government, the current administration is still investing in antiquated energy sources, such as coal, that absolutely cannot be a part of our future, as modern society attempts to move to more sensible, climate-friendly energy sources. The energy expert talks about the future of clean energy in regard to transportation, etc. He talks about emissions, discussing the number of emissions that are created by not only the operation of cleaner energy vehicles but also in the manufacturing of them. As he states, electric vehicles use lighter materials, composite materials, that make them more favorable, with a smaller carbon footprint simply in manufacturing, thus tipping the scales in favor of electric over gas-powered, before consideration of the batteries (which most people think is the main issue). Dr. Kammen goes on to discuss lithium batteries and sources of lithium. He states that even with the lithium and recycling taken into account, the incredible benefits of using cleaner energy vehicles is clear. Dr. Kammen talks about the future of energy, greenhouse gases, and air quality, and how investing in new sources of energy is good for the environment, as well as the economy!

Bio: Dr. Trevor Cates is founder and owner of The Spa Dr. and author of the bestselling book Clean Skin From Within. She was the first woman licensed as a naturopathic doctor in California and currently lives in Park City, Utah where she helps patients from around the world achieve graceful aging and glowing skin. Dr. Cates is the host of The Spa Dr. weekly podcast and has her own PBS special, Younger Skin From Within. She believes the key to healthy skin is inner and outer nourishment with non-toxic ingredients. Dr. Cates' The Spa Dr. skin care and supplement lines are formulated with natural and organic ingredients designed to help you achieve the clean and natural path to confidence and beautiful skin. www.TheSpaDr.com Skin is the largest organ of the body, and it's also the most noticeable. As a result, it can be a serious source of embarrassment for people who have acute or chronic issues with their skin, such as eczema, acne, rosacea, or one of the other countless types of skin maladies out there. To avoid embarrassment, many people will just try to cover up the problem, brushing it off as nothing more than an inconvenience. But what many people don't realize it that skin health is an indicator of overall health, and skin issues almost always point to an underlying cause or process that's occurring within the body. As Dr. Trevor Cates puts it, "Skin is an outer reflection of what's going on inside the body, and oftentimes it's the first sign that something is out of balance in the body." As the founder and owner of The Spa Doctor, the first woman licensed as a naturopathic doctor in California, and author of Clean Skin from Within: The Spa Doctor's Two-Week Program to Glowing, Naturally Youthful Skin, Dr. Cates helps patients from around the world identify the root causes of their skin issues by letting the skin itself be the guiding diagnostic tool. Tune in to hear her discuss a variety of different skin conditions and what they can indicate about underlying illnesses and imbalances, the six root causes behind skin issues, the role of gut health in skin health, the psychological aspect of poor skin health, and a bit about her two-week program that's had great success for people around the world. Interested in reading her book or discovering what might be causing your skin issues? Take the free online quiz at theskinquiz.com. Visit book.thespadr.com to get a copy of her book—all you pay is shipping and handling.