In this episode, I interview Dr. Jessica Wade who is a physicist and material scientist at Imperial College in London. We discuss her research on polymer organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) and talk about Raman spectroscopy.

Raman spectroscopy is a vibrational spectroscopy technique that studies the vibrations of molecules by shining a laser on them. This technique provides valuable information about the chemical composition and structure of materials. Dr. Wade also discusses her work on chiral materials, circular polarization, and chiral optical technologies.

She explains that chiral materials have a non-superimposable mirror image and can be used to emit and detect circularly polarized light. Additionally, she talks about the potential of room temperature solutions for quantum computing and the challenges and opportunities in the field of material science.

Alongside quantum science, we cover the importance of diversity in science and venture capital, the need for better collaboration between academia and business, and the role of policy in supporting innovation. We also discuss the work Dr Wade has done writing Wikipedia biographies for underrepresented scientists and the impact it has had.

Overall, the conversation highlights the potential of disruptive technologies and the importance of creating a more inclusive and supportive ecosystem for innovation.

Key Topics

00:00 Introduction to Dr. Jessica Wade and Raman Spectroscopy

02:09 Understanding Raman Spectroscopy and its Applications

06:32 Exploring Chiral Materials and Circular Polarization

12:38 The Potential of Room Temperature Solutions for Quantum Computing

38:10 Quantum Processing and Disruptive Technologies

39:06 The Power of Diversity in Science and Venture Capital

40:29 Innovation in Characterization and Materials

41:56 Quantum's Impact on Academia and Interdisciplinary Collaboration

44:44 Enhanced Conductivity and Unique Lighting Technology

56:56 Recognizing Underrepresented Scientists Through Wikipedia

01:07:44 Bridging the Gap Between Academia and Business

01:09:11 The Role of Policy in Supporting Innovation

In this episode, my guest is Dr. Rayyan Zafar, a scientist at Imperial College London who is researching how psychedelic therapy can be used to treat behavioral addictions such as gambling, alcoholism and opiate use.

We take a journey through the history of psychedelic research, talking about how they have been historically maligned and the potential that psychedelic therapy has for treating mental health disorders. Dr Zafar explains the role of Neuropsychopharmacology in studying the effects of drugs on the brain and how psychedelics work on the brain's neurochemistry. The conversation covers the classification of drugs, the addictiveness of different substances, and the safety profile of psychedelics compared to other drugs.

Dr. Zafar also highlights groundbreaking research on psychedelic therapy for treatment-resistant depression and the potential that they psychedelics have to revolutionise mental health treatment. By disrupting neurophysiological pathways associated with mental health disorders and introduce entropy in the brain, psychadelics can open a window of opportunity for relearning and adapting to better ways of thinking.

We talk about the Entropic Brain theory which outlines how psychedelics can put the brain into a state of greater plasticity so that established thought patterns can be remoulded and reset the brain in order to change the way we think. Research has shown that psychedelics are highly effective in dealing with treatment-resistant depression and addiction-related disorders.

We also talk about the commercial potential for the psychedelic pharmaceutical sector as well as the use of biomarkers, brain scanning, and AI to rive the selection of Psychotherapeutic packages and treatments. We finish by talking about how brain computer interfaces (BCIs) have the potential to revolutionize treatment delivery and improve diagnostics in psychiatry and addiction.

Key Topics

00:00 Introduction to Psychedelic Therapy

09:29 The Safety and Addictiveness of Psychedelics

28:10 The Neurochemistry of Psychedelics

35:44 The Future of Psychedelic Therapy

41:01 Psychedelics and the Brain: Disrupting Neurophysiological Pathways

45:19 Psychedelics in the Treatment of Mental Health Disorders

48:40 The Growing Psychedelic Pharmaceutical Sector

01:00:38 Advancements in Biomarkers, Brain Scanning, and AI

01:09:28 The Future of Treatment Delivery and Diagnostics: Brain Computer Interfaces

In Episode 4, my guest is Adeo Ressi, a legendary figure in the Silicon Valley tech industry and startup world. He is the co-founder and Chairman of the Founder Institute, an early-stage startup accelerator. He is also the founder and CEO of VC Lab, an accelerator for Venture Capital Firms.

He’s a good friend of Elon Musk's - they shared a house at University together and is incredibly well connected with Silicon Valley VC's, Investors, Entrepreneurs and other influential figures in the startup world.

In this episode, we start by talking about the upsides and downsides of public profile. We then talk about Adeo's early experiences and concerns about the world, including the Cold War and the power of centralized media. He explains how this led him to develop his first internet based business.

We get into his mission to transform the world of venture capital and startup investment, starting with his efforts to address the imbalance of power between investors and entrepreneurs. This led him to create The Funded, a site where entrepreneurs could rate venture capital investors. This helped to stamp out unethical practices in the Venture Capital industry.

His involvement with The Funded led to a realisation that many entrepreneurs needed help to develop venture-fundable businesses. He attacked this problem by creating the Founder Institute, a pre-seed startup accelerator. We discuss the challenges faced by startups and the venture capital industry and touch on the importance of technology and innovation in creating positive change and solving global problems.

The conversation then turns to how the friendship between Adeo and Elon Musk developed, their early entrepreneurial ventures, their shared vision for human colonization of Mars and how Adeo and Elon's collaboration led to the creation of SpaceX.

We then move to the sense of urgency that Adeo has in taking action to solve the world's problems - best summed up by the following excerpt from our conversation "We have to literally like burn the ships, burn the bridges, right? Salt the earth. We need to just take action. If the world's on fire, drop what you're doing and run and put it out".

We close by talking about how we can all make a difference by replacing our current practices with more sustainable alternatives.

Key Topics

00:00 Introduction to Adeo Ressi

08:03 The Power of Entrepreneurship and the Internet

29:01 The Creation of The Funded

37:02 The Power of Technology and Innovation in Creating Positive Change

52:45 The Friendship and Shared Vision of Evan Maindonald and Elon Musk

01:03:53 Urgency of Taking Action to Address Environmental Issues