floating questions

Wen Tong is an imaging engineer and (aspiring) colorist — his job is to make sure what you see on screen is exactly what the director intended. Turns out, that's almost impossible. Two people literally cannot see the same color.I went into this conversation expecting to learn about color science, and I did — but we ended up somewhere I didn't expect. We talked about:Why working in total darkness actually ruins a colorist's perception — you'd think the oppositeThe moment his first film looked beautiful on his laptop and terrible in the theater, and how that one experience pulled him into a career very few people know ofGiving up computer science for art — "in a traditional Chinese mindset, that's insane""Fun is always the thing that will make you do things. If things are not fun, it's hard to do for long."Wen lives in New York and is still building the skills to tell the story he hasn't written yet. He's in no rush.wentongcolor.com

In this episode of Floating Questions, we sit down with Mason Grimshaw, an MIT alum and mission-driven data scientist driving critical progress at the intersection of environmental conservation and indigenous empowerment in the age of AI. We explore how his work, life, and community view intertwine to thread a journey that spans from the Rosebud Sioux Reservation to the cutting edge of geospatial modeling.Parenthood and the Probabilistic Worldview: How Mason applied a "process over results" mindset to navigate the challenges of raising a family while completing his degrees at MIT.Language as Ancient Code: How the Lakota language uses redundant information—such as encoding kinship and physical direction—to ensure the integrity of oral histories, functioning much like modern error-correction technology.Building the "Pocket Botanist": How indigenous youth at the AI camp use computer vision and Docker to preserve traditional knowledge of medicinal plants in the Black Hills.Indigenous Data Sovereignty: The critical need for tribes to maintain sovereign control over their cultural resources to prevent models from training on sensitive data without community permission.Geospatial AI for the Earth: Using "Clay," a foundation model for the earth, to transform satellite imagery into semantic data for tracking whale migration and deforestation.In our rush to build the future, how should we handle the delicacy of history, memory, and wisdom?

You might have heard of Amine Bennouna from a previous episode (here)  – from the Math Olympiad in Morocco to an MIT PhD and now a Professor at Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management. Recently, he has been thinking deeply about a critical question: Do we actually need more data for AI? In this episode, Amine discusses the idea that data is the "fossil fuel" of AI , and we have largely burned through the easy reserves. He believes the next frontier isn't about scale, but about quality – knowing exactly which "soil samples" to collect before building the subway line, rather than just feeding the model the entire map.We dive deep into his research on optimal decision-making under uncertainty in relation to data, but we don't stay in the theory. We also wade into the messy, human incentives that shape our world: The Tenure Game: Why the academic pressure to publish volume is killing "moonshot" research – and why we need more people willing to be misunderstood (like Geoffrey Hinton) to make real breakthroughs. The Data Marketplace: A future where we stop giving our data away for free and start treating it like the currency it is. The Crisis of Busyness: Why our generation is wealthier but often less happy , and how "optimizing" your life is meaningless if you don't know the objective function.This conversation is an invitation to pause and ask: Are we collecting the right information, or just more of it?

For the final episode of 2025, we are joined by a guest who embodies the spirit of exploration: Eric Wang. By day, Eric works in private equity in New York City, managing commercial real estate deals on Wall Street. On weekends, he trades his spreadsheets for a chef's knife, running 81 Eats – a supper club and pop-up series featuring "Chinese-inspired comfort food." From growing up in Shanghai and attending boarding school in the US at age 12, to training at Wharton and a top-tier French culinary school, Eric is turning the journey inward. We discuss how he balances a high-pressure finance career with the grounding nature of cooking, his solitude during the pandemic in Tokyo, and his personal philosophy rooted in nature ("touch grass" to feel alive) and gathering people together.

Today on Floating Questions, we sat down with Shaka Mitchell - Aspen Institute Civil Society Fellow, Senior Fellow at the American Federation for Children, constitutional law lecturer, long-distance runner, creator of the Come Together Music Project, and father of three. Shaka has spent decades building bipartisan coalitions in education and civil discourse, guided by humility, principled thinking, and a deep commitment to humanizing others. In this conversation, we explore:Music as a bridge: why “every memory has a soundtrack” and how sharing a song helps people humanize each other before hard political conversations Values, faith & principled living: “to give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift,” and why humility matters when advocating for what you believe School choice & civic engagement: how diverse motivations still build coalitions, and the tension between plural school options and the demands placed on parentsAI in the classroom: how AI can support learning and where it can’t replace teachers, plus emerging policy questions as AI enters educationShaka shares stories from his coalition-building work, his family, and his faith - offering a grounded look at how people with very different backgrounds and beliefs can still learn from one another.You can also follow his work and thoughts here https://shakamitchell.substack.com/

Timothy Chen’s story isn’t your typical Silicon Valley success arc. He didn’t start as a hotshot coder - Microsoft once slotted him into the IT track, nothing more. Yet he went on to become a member of the Apache Software Foundation, contribute to open-source projects like Kafka and Mesos (the one-time rival to Kubernetes), and now runs Essence VC, where he backs infrastructure founders with a hands-on approach. In this episode, we talk about: The underdog mindset that turned rejection into reinvention. How working in dysfunctional and even toxic environments taught him what builds a great startup.The messy reality of politics and consensus-building in open source - and why, contrary to myth, it’s the trust circle, not the crowd, that makes progress happen. How he’s building the fund he wished existed when he was a founder. A thrilling story of Mesos vs. Kubernetes - and how arrogance, not tech, killed the former. This conversation blends the human and the technical - a reflection on what it means to build trust, whether in code or in capital.

In this episode, we sit down with Julia Morton - a writer, art curator, fashion designer, early YouTuber, and author of a Substack chronicling how artists are experimenting with AI (https://aiplusart.substack.com). We chatted how Julia views art as a time capsule for a species going from analog to cyber, why AI-aided films can feel more personal (smaller crews, fewer gatekeepers), and how new tools surface new voices the way photography once did. We also wade into the thorny stuff: ownership and consent, documenting “transformative” use, and why we keep calling AI “them.” Julia shares a story about her husband’s implanted device - and how merging with machines can literally change how we feel. If you’re tired of doomscroll takes, this conversation sits in the nuance: fear and possibility, creativity and execution, and the old question beneath every new medium - what, exactly, makes art human?

In this episode, we are joined by Joshua Pulsifer - narrative designer and co-director at Zipit! Games, an indie studio in New York. Joshua and his partner Ben are building The Wide Open Sky is Running Out of Catfish, a story-driven photography game set on the back of a giant flying catfish. Beneath its playful exterior lies a meditation on memory, friendship, and the impermanence of life. We dive into a super fun journey exploring: whether video games are a good storytelling medium, what creates powerful emotional arcs, and why we need to take video games seriously as art. Along the way, we also confront death - both as a universal fear and as a source of connection and meaning. It’s an episode about creativity, mortality, and the stories we play that shape who we are.Socials: @zipit_games

Data breaks. AI models go crazy. Downstream teams scramble to put out the fire.In this episode, I talk with Chad Sanderson, CEO and co-founder of Gable - a startup rebuilding data quality and governance from the ground up. We dive into the “shift left” philosophy: why upstream engineers must own their data outputs, how data contracts create accountability in AI systems, and what it takes to drive real cultural change across an organization.We also zoom out into Chad’s journey - from martial arts and journalism to leading data teams at Microsoft and Convoy. Along the way, we unpack why upstream ownership unlocks downstream speed, why the future of AI depends on mapping data flows end to end, and how a mission rooted in truth and transparency ties it all together!A must-listen for anyone navigating the messy intersection of product velocity, data integrity, and organizational scale - the foundation needed to truly unlock AI’s potential.https://www.gable.ai/https://dataproducts.substack.com/

How do you measure whether an education policy is actually working?In this episode, I talk with Stephanie Franklin, Deputy Associate Commissioner of Strategy and Analytics at one of the largest education agencies in the U.S.We dive into the grounding yet complex role data plays in education - how student outcomes are tracked, how metrics are built to drive accountability, and the delicate balance between actionable insight and student privacy, in a world of emerging tech.From evaluating classroom initiatives to exploring why education is inherently data-driven, this conversation unpacks the challenge of measuring what matters - and why great policy still hinges on effective execution.If you’ve ever wondered how governments gauge success in education - or why it’s so difficult - this episode is for you!

In this episode, we sit down with Sean Chen - a former data scientist at Google and one of the first AI product managers at Walmart/Sam’s Club - to unpack his whirlwind journey through tech and startups. Sean reveals how VC pressure can steer or stall your vision, and how he and his co-founder built “Shelfer,” a voice-driven inventory app for SMB retailers, in just two days on London’s shop floors. We also break down the most realistic agent-AI use cases (of course, how could we miss the buzzword), dive into authentic content creation (and handle criticism like a game), and explore why scrappiness often trumps perfectionism. Tune in for a candid conversation about hustling, pivoting, and staying true to yourself in the fast-moving world of entrepreneurship.

From a hacker's perspective, what are some of the most overlooked - yet critical - problems in tech?In this episode, Clarence Chio shares his journey from giving DEFCON talks on adversarial AI before it was cool, to building two startups at the intersection of risk management and AI. We dive into his experiences hacking alongside white, red, and black hats in an abandoned warehouse near the Kremlin, to the quiet evolution of vendor management, and how the meaning of "work" is evolving as tech modularizes knowledge and labor.Clarence also reflects on what it takes to scale companies without letting ego lead, why a little delusion might be necessary for persistence, and why letting go can be the hardest - and most essential - leadership lesson.If you've ever wondered where hacking, humility, and the future of work collide, this conversation is for you.

Floating Questions welcomes Ashish Ranjan Jha - former AI lead at Revolut, author of Fight Fraud with Machine Learning, and now founder of Nativ.In this episode, we trace Ashish’s journey across three continents and a range of roles - from customizing LSTMs for interpretability before it was cool, to scaling fraud and identity verification AI systems at Revolut, to founding Nativ, a startup helping businesses go global through seamless localization. You’ll also hear some unexpected gems - from catching fraud rings to validating early product ideas in manga .We also explore immigration challenges, the hurdles of building in agri-tech, and Ashish’s philosophy of making just enough plans while staying tuned in to his inner voice.

Floating Questions welcomes Matt LeMay, a product leader, musician, and author of two books: Impact First Product Teams and Product Management in Practice. With experience at Spotify, Mailchimp, Bitly, and beyond, Matt shares his thoughts on navigating ethical dilemmas in big tech, driving real impact in product teams, and the essential traits of a great product manager.Beyond work, we dive into his love for music, how therapy shaped his leadership, and the experiences that have shaped his approach to product management. Join us for a candid conversation on personal growth, career evolution, and finding balance in an ever-changing world.Check out his latest book - Impact First Product Teams HERE

Floating Questions welcomes Nivedita Gaur, whose extraordinary journey spans from India's Space Applications Centre to shaping the future of augmented reality (AR) as a Silicon Architect at Meta, where she contributed to the cutting-edge Orion AR glasses.In this episode, we delve into not only her remarkable achievements but also her passion for empowering women to forge their own paths. Nivedita also shares moving stories of her family's support, the generational friction she navigated, and the pivotal encouragement of male allies - from her father’s fight against tradition, to a stranger’s nudge toward space college, and her partner’s unwavering support of her dreams.Through her lens, we explore the delicate dance of separating from family, standing firmly on our own, and reconnecting stronger than ever.Tune in for a rich conversation about ambition, resilience, and the quiet power of empathy that binds it all together.

What is even fairness in AI? Is there such a thing as too much diversity in AI output? Should AI reflect the world as it is, or the world we wish it to be? In this episode of Floating Questions, Brian Hsu, a Senior Responsible AI Engineer at LinkedIn, takes us into the heart of responsible AI, sharing his journey from grad school stardom to the trenches of building fair and impactful machine learning systems with interesting tales. We also delve into why Brian chose to forgo a PhD at top-tier institutions like Stanford, and his reflections on the type of talents of AI needed in practice. This conversation is part technical, part philosophical, and wholly human. Tune in and decide for yourself: how can we really program ethics into the machines of tomorrow?

In this episode of Floating Questions, we sit down with Amine Bennouna, a postdoctoral researcher at MIT and soon-to-be professor at the Kellogg School of Management. We explore his childhood in Morocco and how competing in the International Mathematical Olympiad inspired him to co-found Math&Maroc, an NGO dedicated to unlocking the scientific potential of Moroccan youth, one equation at a time. Amine also delves into his research focus area in artificial intelligence (AI), discussing the challenges of interpretability and robustness in data-driven decisions, and how to navigate uncertain and unstable environments with smarter algorithms. Beyond academia, we discuss the cultural warmth and community spirit of Morocco, his motivations for becoming a professor, and the teaching principles he operates by to make learning accessible and empower students to believe in their potential.

In this episode of Floating Questions, we sit down with Daniel Kofman, a serial entrepreneur who co-founded a solar panel company and started a defense technology startup recently, with a lifelong fascination for defense technology - rooted in his mother’s passion for martial arts. Daniel shares insights on the largest challenges in solar deployment, his ethical approach to choosing the defense technology he works on, tales from securing funding, and methods for identifying trustworthy investors. Together, we explore the intriguing inconsistencies and consistencies in all of us: the push and pull between seeking certainty and unpredictability, risk and safety, and how, in any given moment, a person’s values often reflect across all areas of their life.Tune in for an exploration of ethics, innovation, and the dualities we all navigate, with Daniel’s unique perspective as our guide.A special note: today (release date) is my mom's birthday, and sending her all my best wishes.

In this episode of Floating Questions, we sit down with Shane Weisberg, an MIT graduate, hiking in the woods and dabbling in creative writing. Our conversation delves into Shane’s passion for sci-fi and fantasy, his thoughts on emotional vulnerability in sharing his work. We also touch on the classic debate of separating the art from the artist.On a different note, Shane shares why he initially joined Major League Baseball (MLB) and what ultimately led him to leave the world of sports analytics. From there, we explore the complexity of climate policy, with Shane offering insights from his work in environmental consulting for the U.S. government. We discuss the assumptions behind policy models, the real-world challenges of implementing change, and the delicate balance between politics, economics, and the future of climate action.Tune in for an eclectic discussion that blends creativity, baseball, environmental policy, and the quest for meaning in both personal and professional realms.

Dive into our debut episode of "Floating Questions" where we explore the intersections of data science, social enterprise, and personal history with Tristan Aubert. From his early years moving across continents to spearheading data initiatives in Kenya’s largest forestry social enterprise, Tristan shares how his diverse background and passion for mission-oriented work shape his approach to technology and environmentalism. Discover the challenges and triumphs of integrating data science with real-world impacts, and how personal experiences can define professional paths. Join us on this enlightening journey, and don’t forget to subscribe if you enjoy floating with us!