Surface Tension

Tune in to hear our reflections on four years of college: what we did right, what we did wrong, and how we would do it again if we had the chance. Steve Jobs once said, “You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards," and we're taking that to heart with this episode. If you're curious about where we’re headed and the things that are currently important to us, this is the one for you.

Shoutout to Carrie Kelleher, our #1 fan.

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This week's episode breaks down the cutting edge technology that will power our farms in the future. From autonomous robots to ground sensors to localized 5G networks, the farm of the future is an exciting place.

Check out the Center for Digital Agriculture here!

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In this episode, Bart Wielgos and Ian Brown discuss a variety of subjects pertaining to space travel and the Liquid Rocket Initiative (LRI) organization. They discuss the distinctions between liquid fuel and solid fuel rockets before explaining how the LRI was established with the initial purpose of cultivating gifted aerospace engineers. We discuss the concrete progress that the LRI made with initiatives like GRUNT, a straightforward rocket engine, a test stand, and the challenging Mark 117, before getting get into the future of space travel - including the potential for interplanetary travel and Mars colonization.

Follow what they're doing here

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In this episode, we talk to Sam Schapiro, a passionate student founder and a former personality researcher at the University of Illinois, about personality, the Big 5 Framework, making better decisions, Steve Jobs, and a possible application to our current educational system.

If you've ever wondered how you can better comprehend the people in your life or how to better construct a mental map for understanding yourself, this episode is for you.

High Quality Big 5 Test

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Listen to this episode to gain a better understanding of what drives global political tensions. In this episode, we bring Dr. Mike Yao back on the show to discuss the cultural differences that are making a difference in the "ban TikTok" debate, what governments at the highest strategic level could be considering, and how this filters down to all of us. Don't miss out!

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In this episode, we speak with Professor Wade Fagen-Ulmschneider. For those that are unfamiliar, he has built some of the most used websites on U of I's campus and several data visualizations that have ended up in various governors presentations. He is an incredibly engaging and creative individual, and everyone can learn something from him. Tune in to hear about his thought process on creating, his early interest in computers, and his advice on how to create.

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In this episode, we interview Ron Watkins, the Managing Director of SHIELD Illinois, to gain insights into his experience leading a vertically integrated COVID testing company. We discuss the genesis of SHIELD at UIUC, explore the company's future plans, and learn about Ron's latest mission to provide more equitable access to classes for public high schools.

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In this episode, we explore the power of structured thinking, which involves breaking down complex problems into smaller, more manageable components, and then analyzing each component systematically. We draw a parallel between structured thinking and the case interview process, which consulting firms use to assess candidates' problem-solving abilities.

We provide practical examples of how structured thinking can be applied to your personal life. Whether you're facing a difficult decision or trying to learn new information, we offer tips and tools to help you break down the problem and analyze each component systematically.

Join us as we discuss the benefits of using structured thinking, share personal experiences of how we've applied it to our own lives, and provide practical advice to help you become a more effective problem-solver and decision-maker.

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In this episode, we interview Professor Gilbert Holder, a theoretical astrophysicist at UIUC. We dive into the realities of life as a physicist, what dark matter and dark energy are, and why you should care. Tune in to expand your universe-view!

(1:30): Realities of Being in Physics

(15:07): Dark Matter

(27:26): Dark Energy

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In this episode, we interview Professor Rich Excell, a seasoned financial veteran and knowledgable resource on macroeconomics, to break down the most recent Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) news in a way that everyone can understand. We begin by discussing something that most people taken for granted - how a bank works and use that foundation to break down the SVB news into what it means for people and small business owners alike.

Rich’s Twitter, Substack, LinkedIn

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