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Epizode

• Using Pokémon Go to Map the World 28.05.2026 36min

  Maps have gotten much better over the past few decades. But they're still mostly two dimensional, and they struggle to keep up with a world that is always changing. Brian McClendon is the Chief Technology Officer of Niantic Spatial, a spinout of the company that makes Pokémon Go. Brian's problem is this: How do you build a three-dimensional map of the world that both robots and humans can use to find their way? In this episode, Brian explains:  What he learned building Google Earth  How Pokémon Go players helped build the foundation for robot navigation What it will take to teach AI to understand the physical world. Why GPS is so bad in cities   Why trees are such a big problem for digital mapmakers Connect with us: Follow Jacob Goldstein on LinkedIn, X and Instagram  Email us at problem@pushkin.fm  Follow Pushkin on Instagram, LinkedIn or X  Listen to Jacob’s other show, Business History  To listen to the show early and ad free, sign up for Pushkin+ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• The Company Where Everyone Has Their Own AI Agent 21.05.2026 40min

  Dan Shipper is the co-founder and CEO of Every, a company that publishes newsletters about AI, develops AI-related software, and helps other companies use AI. Dan has two problems. One, how do you build a company where almost everybody has their own AI agent? And two, how do you use AI as a tool to improve your writing, rather than as a replacement for writing? In this episode, Dan explains:  Why managing agents will be a core skill of the future Why AI agents won’t replace you anytime soon  How writers learn faster than AI models  How to give AI the social skills to work in group settings  How AI can help you better understand yourself Check out Every at their website: https://every.to/ Connect with us: Follow Jacob Goldstein on LinkedIn, X and Instagram  Email us at problem@pushkin.fm  Follow Pushkin on Instagram, LinkedIn or X  Listen to Jacob’s other show, Business History  To listen to the show early and ad free, sign up for Pushkin+ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Inventing a Better Apple 14.05.2026 33min

  The apples you can buy at the grocery store have gotten profoundly better over the past few decades. It’s a kind of everyday, hiding-in-plain sight innovation.  Kate Evans is an apple breeder and professor at Washington State University. Kate's problem is this: How do you invent a better apple? With her team, Kate has in fact invented a new kind of apple called the Sunflare. It’s arriving in stores in a few years. She also helped to invent the Cosmic Crisp, which is out already. In this episode, Kate explains:  Why grocery-store apples have gotten so much better Why some of the most delicious apples never make it into stores  Why it takes decades to invent a new kind of apple How much more we have to learn about apple genetics  How the apple industry is adapting to climate change  Connect with us: Follow Jacob Goldstein on LinkedIn, X and Instagram  Email us at problem@pushkin.fm  Follow Pushkin on Instagram, LinkedIn or X  Listen to Jacob’s other show, Business History  To listen to the show early and ad free, sign up for Pushkin+ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Building a Business on the Moon 07.05.2026 32min

  Rob Meyerson is the co-founder and CEO of Interlune. Rob's problem is this: How do you help build an economy on the moon? Eventually, Rob hopes Interlune will help build a moon base. For now, he is focused on bringing a gas called helium-3 back from the moon to sell on earth.  Earlier in his career, Rob was the president of Blue Origin, the rocket company founded by Jeff Bezos. In this episode, Rob explains:   Why reusable rockets are only the first step for going back to the moon What it's going to take to actually manufacture things in space How to build a business by sifting through moon dirt How nuclear fusion and quantum computing could rely on mining the moon  Connect with us: Follow Jacob Goldstein on LinkedIn, X and Instagram  Email us at problem@pushkin.fm  Follow Pushkin on Instagram, LinkedIn or X  Listen to Jacob’s other show, Business History  To listen to the show early and ad free, sign up for Pushkin+ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Building a Robot People Actually Want 30.04.2026 40min

  Aaron Edsinger left his job as director of robotics at Google to start a company called Hello Robot. Aaron’s problem is this: How do you build an affordable robot that people can use to solve real problems at home? The result is a robot that looks nothing like a person. In fact, it’s closer to a Roomba with an arm. In this episode, Aaron explains:   Why home robots have barely progressed since the Roomba Why simpler robots can be more useful than complex humanoids   Why the physical world is so much harder for AI than language How robot safety is fundamentally a physics problem Connect with us: Follow Jacob Goldstein on LinkedIn, X and Instagram  Email us at problem@pushkin.fm  Follow Pushkin on Instagram, LinkedIn or X  Listen to Jacob’s other show, Business History  To listen to the show early and ad free, sign up for Pushkin+ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Turning Waste Wood Into Buildings 23.04.2026 36min

  Ben Christensen is the co-founder and CEO of Cambium, the largest seller of salvaged wood in America. Ben's problem is this: How can we turn the trees that are falling to the ground all around us, into usable wood? In this episode, Ben explains:  Why so much wood goes unused  Why Cambium created demand before building the supply chain  How building a data layer across the fragmented lumber industry reduces waste Why salvaged wood can compete on price with conventional lumber The best mantra to use 80 miles into an ultramarathon  Connect with us: Follow Jacob Goldstein on LinkedIn, X and Instagram  Email us at problem@pushkin.fm  Follow Pushkin on Instagram, LinkedIn or X  Listen to Jacob’s other show, Business History  To listen to the show early and ad free, sign up for Pushkin+ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• The Great Fusion Debate: How Far Away Are We Really? 16.04.2026 42min

  Investors are pouring billions of dollars into nuclear fusion companies. The dream: transform human civilization (and power AI data centers) by providing cheap, abundant energy. But nobody’s figured out how to make it work yet. What will it take to make fusion work at scale – and how will the world be different if it does? To answer this question, Jacob recently hosted a conversation at SXSW between Greg Piefer of SHINE Technologies, Melanie Windridge of Fusion Energy Insights, and Luke Ward of investment firm Baillie Gifford.  In this episode, the guests explain:  The incredible promise of fusion What it will take to realize that promise How the AI boom and the demand for power is shaping the fusion industry Why having a ton of money flowing into the field is not necessarily a good thing Connect with us: Follow Jacob Goldstein on LinkedIn, X and Instagram  Email us at problem@pushkin.fm  Follow Pushkin on Instagram, LinkedIn and X  Listen to Jacob’s other show, Business History  To listen to the show early and ad free, sign up for Pushkin+ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• How SharkNinja Keeps Going Viral 09.04.2026 35min

  Mark Barrocas is the CEO of SharkNinja, a company that sells everything from vacuums, to blenders, to beauty products. Mark’s problem is this: How do you invent new products that people want to rave about on social media?  In this episode, Mark explains:  How SharkNinja finds product ideas The tradeoffs at the heart of product development How the Ninja Creami became a viral hit Why some products fail and others succeed.  Connect with us: Follow Jacob Goldstein on LinkedIn, X and Instagram  Email us at problem@pushkin.fm  Follow Pushkin on Instagram, LinkedIn or X  Listen to Jacob’s other show, Business History  To listen to the show early and ad free, sign up for Pushkin+ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Growing New Livers to Save Lives 19.03.2026 40min

  Michael Hufford is the co-founder and CEO of LyGenesis, a company working on a new treatment for end stage liver disease. Michael’s problem is this: How do grow a new liver inside the body of a sick patient? In this episode, Michael explains:  The liver's unique power of regeneration The organ transplant crisis and how regeneration can help  The science behind using lymph nodes to grow new organs The status of LyGenesis’ human trials The future of regenerative medicine  Learn more: Check out LyGenesis’ website Connect with us: Follow Jacob Goldstein on LinkedIn, X and Instagram  Email us at problem@pushkin.fm  Follow Pushkin on Instagram, LinkedIn or X  Listen to Jacob’s other show, Business History  To listen to the show early and ad free, sign up for Pushkin+ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Can the US Break China's Grip on Rare Earths? 12.03.2026 41min

  Rare earth elements are inside pretty much everything with an on-off switch: Phones, laptops, cars. Even missiles. And China controls the world’s supply of components made from rare earths. David Abraham is the author of the book “The Elements of Power: Gadgets, Guns, and the Struggle for a Sustainable Future in the Rare Metal Age.” David’s problem is this: What should the US do about China's chokehold on the rare earth supply chain? According to Abraham, the current US strategy could wind up costing billions of dollars without solving the problem. And he has a big idea for what we should do instead. In this episode, David explains: How China quietly built a monopoly on rare earth materials Why the 2010 Japan crisis was a preview of today's trade war China’s export restriction strategy  Why the problem goes deeper than billions in spending can solve Why electric vehicles are the key to reinvigorating the U.S. rare earth industry Learn more:  Find David at his website  Buy the Elements of Power Check out David’s article in the new Republic Connect with us: Follow Jacob Goldstein on LinkedIn, X and Instagram  Email us at problem@pushkin.fm  Follow Pushkin on Instagram, LinkedIn or X  Listen to Jacob’s other show, Business History  To listen to the show early and ad free, sign up for Pushkin+See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• How Quantum Computers Could Change the World 05.03.2026 40min

  Ben Bloom is the co-founder and CEO of Atom Computing, a company building quantum computers out of individual atoms. Ben’s problem is this: How do you build a quantum computer that is actually useful for everything from discovering new medicines to building better batteries?  In this episode, Ben explains:  The practical applications of quantum computers  Atom Computing’s approach using individual neutral atoms as qubits  The key engineering challenge of scaling while maintaining accuracy  The playbook for commercializing quantum computing Connect with us: Follow Jacob Goldstein on LinkedIn, X and Instagram  Email us at problem@pushkin.fm  Follow Pushkin on Instagram, LinkedIn or X  Listen to Jacob’s other show, (00:21:23) Business History To listen to the show early and ad free, sign up for Pushkin+ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Fighting Wildfires from Space 26.02.2026 48min

  Jonny Dyer is the founder and CEO of a satellite company called Muon Space. The company’s first big project is a satellite constellation called FireSat. Jonny’s problem is this: How do you  capture data from space to help manage wildfires around the world in near-real time?  In this episode, Jonny explains: How smartphone tech inspired smaller, cheaper satellites. Why fighting wildfires is still shockingly primitive. Why China does not distinguish between commercial and military satellites.  Why data centers in space might arrive by 2035. Connect with us: Follow Jacob Goldstein on LinkedIn, X and Instagram  Email us at problem@pushkin.fm  Follow Pushkin on Instagram, LinkedIn or X  Listen to Jacob’s other show, Business History  To listen to the show early and ad free, sign up for Pushkin+ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• The Killer We Refused to See 19.02.2026 39min

  After bacteria were discovered, it took scientists 200 years to figure out that they cause disease. If scientists had made the link sooner, hundreds of millions of lives could have been saved.  In his recent book So Very Small, Tom Levenson, a professor of science writing at MIT, tells the amazing story of germ theory, and argues that our worldview can prevent us from seeing what is right in front of us – even when lives are at stake.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• The Startup Run by AI Agents 12.02.2026 54min

  Evan Ratliff co-founded a publishing startup in 2011. Now he hosts a podcast called Shell Game. In the latest season of the show, Evan creates a company run by AI agents. The project is absurdly funny – Evan calls it an office satire – but it also illuminates the power and limits of AI agents.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Can AI Help Solve Alzheimer’s? 05.02.2026 33min

  Patrick Hsu is the co-founder of Arc Institute, which is integrating AI models and biological research. Patrick’s problem is this: How can you use AI to make biological research more efficient – and ultimately to find cures for Alzheimer’s and other complex diseases?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• The New Science of Preventing Heart Attacks 29.01.2026 32min

  In recent decades, medical research has fundamentally changed how we think about heart disease. This fresh understanding has opened up new ways to prevent heart attacks. Eric Topol is a cardiologist and the founder of the Scripps Research Translational Institute in San Diego. Eric’s problem is this: How can doctors use recent technological developments to do a better job at preventing heart attacks?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• From Solar Pumps to Everything: Building a Market from Scratch 22.01.2026 40min

  Samir Ibrahim is the co-founder and CEO of SunCulture. When he started the company, he thought he was solving a simple problem: How do you sell solar-powered pumps to help poor farmers irrigate their land? It turned out, he was working on something much bigger: How do you help poor farmers get richer, and create a giant new market from scratch?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Mass-Producing Stem Cells to Cure Disease 15.01.2026 34min

  Nabiha Saklayen is the co-founder and CEO of Cellino. Nabiha’s problem is this: How can you make personalized stem cell therapies quickly and cheaply? Induced pluripotent stem cells, or IPSCs, have shown tremendous promise as treatments for illnesses like Parkinson’s, leukemia, and heart disease. On today’s show, Nabiha explains why IPSC manufacturing is still mostly done by hand, how her background in physics and lasers led her into biology, and what it takes to try and build tiny, automated cell factories.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Building a Self-Driving Tractor to Change the Future of Food 18.12.2025 43min

  Please take our survey https://tinyurl.com/wyplistenersurvey about the show! Tell us what you want to hear, and what would make it better. Tim Bucher is a farmer, and the founder and CEO of Agtonomy. Tim's problem is this: How do you build an autonomous tractor that can work for specialty crops like grapes, olives, apples, and almonds? On today’s show, Tim explains what makes certain farming processes so difficult to automate, and how autonomy may soon change how we eat.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• We’re Going to Need a Better Boat 11.12.2025 35min

  Mitch Lee is the co-founder and CEO of Arc Boats. Mitch's problem is this: How do you build competitively priced electric boats?On today’s show, Mitch explains why water makes electrification so hard, the techno-economic puzzle of building giant battery packs, and how Arc’s high-end wake sport boat opened the door for a new generation of hybrid-electric tugboats.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.