Trailblazers with Walter Isaacson

Beer is one of the world's oldest beverages. But for a long time, there was little that could be done to control the brewing process. With the advent of thermometry, however, brewing was standardized. 

Temperature control helped make beer taste even better. That's where we've seen the most innovation over the past two hundred years.​ And as you can tell from the sheer volume of different beer on the shelves today, that innovation has continued at a rapid pace.​​ 

In this episode of Trailblazers, hear from beer historian James Sumner, Mattihas Ebner, the International Brand Ambassador for Bavaria's famous Weihenstephan Brewery, Ken Grossman, the founder of Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Sam Calagione, the founder of Dogfish Head Brewery, and IntelligentX's Hew Leith.

Walter Isaacson and guests engage in a fast-paced discussion on the history of Formula One, featuring stories from drivers, technicians and the scientists behind the auto industry’s biggest breakthroughs.

Finding love has evolved as we have. In this episode, we take a look back at the way we find, attract and pursue lifelong partnerships. It’s time to get in your feelings, as we explore how technology is disrupting the very nature of our nature.

Exercise is essential to increasing our lifespan, health and mood. With recent technological advancements, there's no need to leave the comfort of your living room to feel the burn. On the latest episode of Trailblazers, we weigh all the different options available to someone looking to take their workout somewhere new.

The toy industry has a long history, but only really became a technology-heavy omnipresence since the 1970s. In this episode, see how toy manufacturers have adapted digital – or not – to win the battle for children’s attention.

Walter Isaacson asks: how did we go from inventing fire to the Instant Pot? How much different is cooking from its genesis tens of thousands of years ago? And just what does a microwave have to do with weaponry?

What do we mean when we talk about wellness, and why do people want it so badly? In this episode, we dive deep into this sometimes-nebulous field, talking to practitioners who spend their time helping people become well.

From the blackboard to bots, technology has made inroads into classrooms all over the world. Where will the next innovation in education come from? We take you to the head of the class in this episode.

Throughout the world and throughout history, you can find evidence of cultures enjoying cold desserts—precursors to the ice cream we love today. The desire to keep food cold led to the creation of European wine slushies in 1558 and to the transportation of ice from New England to the Caribbean in 1806. 

Soon enough, advances in production, serving and shipping methods made ice cream popular and more readily available throughout the United States. Through Prohibition, war and beyond, enterprising people continued to innovate with new flavors, mix-ins and ice cream making machines. 

Now, a new generation of entrepreneurs are helping ensure there’s an ice cream for everyone to enjoy. Get the scoop on this episode of Trailblazers. 

Featuring Jeri Quinzio, Judy Herrell, Ben Cohen, Ben Van Leeuwen and Ryan Pandya. 

The human obsession with meat has never wavered from prehistoric times until now. However, this food once reserved for the rich and powerful has led to global problems of an unprecedented scope and has exacerbated climate change in a way that few other industries have. Finding a way to break our reliance on animal-based meat is one of the top challenges of the day, and Trailblazers is taking a deep look into some of the leading candidates for our next protein of choice.