Today, I'm excited to welcome Amy Molk on the podcast. Amy is the Founder and CEO of Beanstalk.co, a technology company revolutionizing the way early childhood education is delivered. On the episode, we discuss the future of EdTech, principles of decision-making, and maintaining a mindset of doing the right thing. We also chat about the journey of an entrepreneur as well as trends in virtual reality, and how it can serve as a catalyst for technological innovation in education.

Today, I'm excited to welcome Dr. Shailesh Date to the podcast. Dr. Date is the CEO of the Laboratory for Research in Complex Systems, a research institute based in Menlo Park focused on complex systems research and venture-building, including research and ventures aimed at tackling the COVID-19 pandemic. He is also the head of Global Viral, an SF-based organization and leader in global research focused on pandemics, with the mission of combating the spread of infectious diseases and dedicated to pandemic prevention and monitoring the transmission of novel viruses globally. Dr. Date is an epidemiologist by trade and a leading expert on infectious diseases. On the episode, we discuss strategies to combat the COVID-19 pandemic globally and our continued fight to control the spread of infectious disease. We also talk about the trajectory of the pandemic, the path for vaccine distribution, and other areas of pandemic research. As we start to see progress in vaccinations across the country and make our way out of the COVID-19 crisis, we discuss the road forward, as well as the infrastructure needed for pandemic preparedness and to prevent potential future pandemics. We discuss Sample.Exchange, a new software venture that we've launched, and a spinout of the Laboratory for Research in Complex Systems, based here in Menlo Park. Sample.Exchange serves as a tech-enabled platform to aid the rapid development of urgently needed vaccines for novel viruses, including the COVID-19 vaccine. The platform will serve as part of key infrastructure needed to ensure pandemic preparedness and prevention of global outbreaks. Thanks for tuning in, we hope you enjoy!

(We apologize that some of the audio is removed for some parts involving the ventures we're building and research we're conducting around pandemics, as we can't disclose some of the info due to confidentiality agreements!)

I'm thrilled to welcome Rob Biederman to the podcast. Rob is the CEO and Co-Founder of Catalant Technologies, an enterprise software company based in Boston, as well as a seed investor in companies like ArtLifting, Dexai Robotics, and MedRhythms. He previously worked in investing at Bain Capital and Goldman Sachs. Rob is a fellow Princeton alum and received his MBA from Harvard Business School. On the episode, we chat about emerging areas in early-stage technology, principles of effective leadership, and the entrepreneurial mindset. We also discuss the future of work, TeleFitness, and the importance of strategy & alignment in business. We also chat about authenticity, company-building, and the process of creating something genuinely new. We hope you enjoy.

Today, I'm excited to welcome Professor Mike Kosterlitz to the podcast. Professor Kosterlitz won the 2016 Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on topological phase transitions and exotic states of matter. He is a very close family friend by way of my Dad, who is his longtime colleague and lunch buddy. They talk physics over lunch every week, and I sometimes am lucky enough to join in, which is always an honor and a delight. On today's episode, we dive into his Nobel Prize-winning work with David Thouless, and how physics research can be similar to rock climbing. We discuss topics in applied math and using topology for describing phase transitions in two-dimensional materials, and in the pursuit of the theory of everything. We also explore the frontier of quantum computing, emerging technologies, and various trends in our world. During our conversation, we also talk about creativity, resilience, and the human condition. We hope you enjoy.

Today, I'm very excited to welcome Russell Bogue, an old friend of mine, who's currently a JD candidate at Yale Law School. Russell is one of the most mature and thoughtful individuals I know. And it was awesome to catch up on with him while discussing everything from trends in data privacy, to the key principles that we believe should guide decision-making and productivity. We hope you enjoy, and thanks for listening.

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Hey everyone, I'm Daniel Ling, and welcome to Absolute Value, the podcast about the frontier of technology, the trends that are shaping our world, and the essential principles that help us live happier, healthier, and more productive lives.