PODCAST · science
Surface Tension
by Grant Hale & Sharad Doshi
Dedicated to making you more curious about the world we live in. From uncovering creators shaping our world to interviewing academics about the nature of society and science, we break beyond the surface level and aim to better you for it. surfacetensionpod.substack.com
Episodes
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Stay Curious! Why Does Ice Float?
Most things gets denser as they get colder. Why doesn’t ice? Let us know what you think, and follow us on Substack and Instagram. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit surfacetensionpod.substack.com
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#31 - Investing: What You Should Know About Money (W/ Jacob Swiney)
Listen in to learn about investing fundamentals! This episode is a primer and an introduction to the concepts that you should know moving forward. Thanks to our guest Jacob Swiney for helping us navigate the complicated terrain! Let us know what you think, and follow us on Substack and Instagram....
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Stay Curious! How Does the Internet Work?
Listen now (4 mins) | The internet can be likened to a massive game of note passing. Let us know what you think, and follow us on Substack and Instagram. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/surfacetensionpod/support. This is a public episode. If you would like to...
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#30 - Embracing the Absurd: The Meaning of Life, Pushing Boulders, and the Chain of Whys
In this episode, we explore Absurdism and its advocate Albert Camus, challenging the notion of life's meaning and embracing the inherent absurdity. We discuss how movies offer experiences beyond reality and analyze "Everything Everywhere All at Once" as an absurdist cinematic example.…
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#29 - Hatch: Reinventing Recruitment with AI, Nurturing College Startups, and Envisioning Change
Listen in to hear the cofounders of Hatch discuss the AI-powered resume screening platform that they've been building. We talked benefits of starting something in college, Hatch-specifics, our ability to change the world, advertising and generative AI. Hatch is now opening its doors to all…
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#28 - Jeff Erickson: Cracking the Code: GPA, Algorithms, Pedagogy, and Research
This week's episode features Jeff Erickson, a renowned mathematician and computer scientist that regularly teaches @ UIUC. Listen in to hear about his unorthodox upbringing, lessons learned from having a low GPA in undergrad, different ways to think about algorithms, his teaching philosophy…
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#27 - Rachel Switzky: Design Thinking's Place at the Table, Shaping the Siebel Center for Design
In this episode, we interview the director of the pound-for-pound most creative place on the University of Illinois' campus, the Siebel Center for Design (SCD). The director behind it's success is Rachel Switzky, whose deep past of design consulting, including 11 years at IDEO, the design...
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#26 - Nigel Bosch: The Metacognitive Frontier: Using AI To Learn More Effectively
In this episode, Nigel Bosch, an educational AI researcher from the University of Illinois, dives into interactive artificial intelligence (AI) and its potential to enhance students' metacognitive skills. Metacognition, the process of understanding and regulating one's own thinking, is one of the...
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#25 - Luke Clancy: Make Students Passionate Again, Creating, Religion and Exponential History
This week’s episode welcomes Luke Clancy, a community builder and founder of Illini Blockchain, as we delve into the intriguing topic of passion, or rather, the lack thereof, among college students. We also explore our current reality and the unique juncture in which we find ourselves. Together,...
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#24 - Chandra Chekuri: Working at Bell Labs, What are Algorithms, NP-Hard, Finding Questions
In this week’s episode, we interview Chandra Chekuri about algorithms, one of the most fundamental ideas that underpin our lives. And not just the ones that drive social media content but also the ones that solve all the meaningful problems around us. Tune in to hear about what it means to solve...
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#23 - The Next Chapter: Reflecting on College, Regrets, and our Future Predictions
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...
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#22 - Vikram Adve: Farm of the Future, AI Institutes, Center for Digital Agriculture
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! Let us know what you think, and...
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#21 - Ian Brown & Bart Wielgos: Liquid Rockets @ UIUC, Building A Rocket, Future of Space Exploration
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...
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#20 - Sam Schapiro: The Power of Personality - Unlocking the Big 5 Traits, Applying Them To Your Life
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...
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#19 - Dr. Mike Yao: East Meets West on TikTok, Data Privacy, Big Tech
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…
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#18 - Wade Fagen-Ulmschneider (Waf): Ask, Answer, Create
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...
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#17 - Ron Watkins: SHIELDing Illinois, Scaling COVID Testing Company From 1-1400 in 18 months
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...
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#16 - Structuring Your Thinking: A Practical Guide to Problem Solving and Decision Making
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...
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#15 - Gilbert Holder: Dark Matter, Dark Energy, Life as a Theoretical Physicist
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...
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#14 - Professor Rich Excell: How Banks Work, Silicon Valley Bank Explained
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 -...
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#13 - Madhav Aggarwal: The Art of Argument: Debate Applied to Your Life
In this episode, we interview Madhav Aggarwal, a skilled debater, to discuss the purpose of arguing, how to argue effectively in everyday life, and how to see disagreements as opportunities for growth. Madhav shares insights from his background in debate and provides practical tips on how to...
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#12 - Experimenting With How to Read - Why, What, When
This episode was recorded in two parts and documents an ongoing experiment, with the first half focusing on advice from Grant to Sharad on how to build reading into a habit, and the second half picking up a month later with what Sharad found most useful. To everyone that doesn't consistently read...
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#11 - Rohan Hirani: Behind the Mic - How to Podcast
Rohan Hirani from Recess and Grant share their experience starting a podcast and give a sneak peak into what goes on behind the scenes. Let us know what you think, and follow us on Substack and Instagram. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get...
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#10 - Jaylen Patel & Aryaman Sheth: Unlock The World - How To Travel: Solo, Post-College
Join us in exploring how to travel with friends who have different cultural backgrounds and travel experiences. Our guests include a college-aged international student and another friend who has studied abroad in Vienna. We'll share practical tips on how to plan a trip that suits everyone's...
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#9 - Jesse Grubbs of See You CD & Vinyl: Spinning Stories: Tales of Vinyl and Independent Retail
Join us for an engaging conversation with Jesse Grubs, the independent record store owner of See You CD & Vinyl. Hear about his journey from early vinyl experiences to owning his own store. We talk about the challenges of running an independent business, the importance of customer experience, and...
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#8 - Sylly: Dating in the Digital Age: "Matching" Apps, Attention Economy
We had the opportunity to interview Josh and Sathwik, the UIUC-based duo behind Sylly - a new dating app that is changing the online dating scene. Instead of simply matching people based on their preferences and interests, Sylly focuses on actually facilitating real-life dates. The app is…
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#7 - College Revisited: What We Wish We Knew Then: Finding Catalysts, Navigating School
Join us in this week's episode as we share our own experiences navigating college. From choosing our majors to discovering our passions, we'll take you through the ups and downs of our college journey. We'll discuss the role that professors, clubs, and experiences outside the classroom played in...
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#6 - Nolan Nemeroff & Jack Struthers: What is Bad For Your Health? Japanese Americana Influences, Building a Fashion Label
In this episode, we are joined by Jack and Nolan, the founders of Bad For Your Health, an in-house fashion label that draws inspiration from Japanese Americana. We discuss how they go about creating their unique clothing line, as well as how customer demand influences their design process. We…
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#5 - Dr. Mike Yao: Social Media Mechanisms: Algorithms, Monetization, Privacy, Best Practices
In this episode, Mike Yao joins us to discuss the effects of the social media business model on our lives and the world around us. We explore how the monetization of our data affects our privacy and how the algorithms that power social media platforms shape our online experiences. Mike also…
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#4 - Life's Routine: Purpose and Practice of Intellectual Giants
In this episode of Surface Tension, we discuss the purpose of routine, how to inject variety into your day and the daily practices of past intellectual giants. Let us know what you think, and follow us on Substack and Instagram. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with…
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#3 - There Are No Good Opinions: Even Numbers, Right-Handedness, Rotten Tomatoes
In this episode of Surface Tension, we discuss the systems and ideas that our opinions are rooted in, and how those have led to default right-handedness, love for even numbers, and trust in Rotten Tomatoes. Let us know what you think, and follow us on Substack and Instagram. This is a public...
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#2 - How To Slow Life Down: AI, the Slow Movement
In this episode of Surface Tension, we discuss the integration of artificial intelligence into humanlike tasks, the nuances that power the slow movement, and what it looks like to integrate decelerated processes in our lives. Timestamps(0:47) - Artificial Intelligence (QuillBot, OpenAI…
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#1 - J³: Circular Fashion and the Reality of Thrifting
For the first episode of Surface Tension, we brought in Josh Jay James, a friend, and innovator in circular fashion, to talk about all things thrift and what it means to buy into a second-hand economy. Let us know what you think, and follow us on Substack and Instagram. This is a public episode.…
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#0 - Introduction to Surface Tension
An introduction to what our (Grant and Sharad's) podcast aims to explore, dissect, and discuss. Let us know what you think, and follow us on Substack and Instagram. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Dedicated to making you more curious about the world we live in. From uncovering creators shaping our world to interviewing academics about the nature of society and science, we break beyond the surface level and aim to better you for it.
surfacetensionpod.substack.com
HOSTED BY
Grant Hale & Sharad Doshi
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Surface Tension have?
Surface Tension currently has 34 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Surface Tension about?
Dedicated to making you more curious about the world we live in. From uncovering creators shaping our world to interviewing academics about the nature of society and science, we break beyond the surface level and aim to better you for it. surfacetensionpod.substack.com
How often does Surface Tension release new episodes?
Surface Tension has 34 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Surface Tension?
You can listen to Surface Tension on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Surface Tension?
Surface Tension is created and hosted by Grant Hale & Sharad Doshi.
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