The Deep End

Casey thinks of a sentence. A computer says it out loud, in a voice that sounds like his. Brain implants are beginning to turn thoughts into speech, bringing scientists closer to something that once seemed impossible.

Jules lost his voice. Then AI gave it back. Voice-cloning technology can now recreate voices for people who can no longer speak — raising a remarkable possibility: How much of a person can a synthetic voice restore?

Jules is losing his ability to talk. Now he faces a decision that could silence his natural voice for good. A voice carries more than words — emotion, identity, even a smile. As Jules weighs his choice, we explore what makes a voice so personal, and why letting it go can be so difficult.

Jules Rodriguez has always had a lot to say — as a dad, podcaster and stand-up comedian. As ALS takes away his ability to speak, we discover why voices are so deeply tied to who we are and what it’s like to face losing your own.

What if you lost your voice? Today, AI can recreate it, and brain implants can turn your thoughts into speech. This season of The Deep End: Talk to Me follows the people living through these vocal transformations — and asks what these remarkable technologies can teach us about why our voices matter at all.

Jon Nelson shares how he’s doing these days, now that his depression is gone. 

Several years after surgery, Jon and others have found relief. Here’s a look at what’s next for them and what’s next for deep brain stimulation research.

Jon details the intense stigma, shame and judgement that comes with depression and its treatments. Is there something different about changing our brains versus other body parts?

After surgery, Jon went through some big transformations. But his relief came with trade-offs.

Jon Nelson wasn’t scared of brain surgery. His worry about the procedure was the same amount of worry he had about getting his teeth cleaned — none. What happened next was surreal.