Going in Blind with Zach Tidwell
Going in Blind with Zach Tidwell
Podcast Description
Curiosity is currency. It’s been an ever-present force in my life, carrying me to my highest highs and through my lowest lows. I’ve always needed to know how things work, but as I’ve grown older the lens of that wonder has widened. Going in Blind is a vessel for exploring that curiosity together.So join me as I dive into all of it— from speaking with builders, thought leaders and revolutionaries, to discussing stories of hard-earned accolades and harder-learned lessons each week.New episodes drop every Monday, along with the first Friday of each month.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast explores themes of curiosity, personal growth, resilience, and diverse human experiences. Episodes have included discussions with individuals from journalism, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and nonprofit sectors, addressing topics like creative pursuits, overcoming adversity, and the therapeutic aspects of outdoor activities.
Cultivate your curiosity. It’s one of the most undervalued currencies we have.
Going in Blind is where Zach Tidwell sits down with scientists, military operators, entrepreneurs, athletes, authors, researchers, and people with extraordinary stories to explore the ideas, experiences, and perspectives that shape their lives.
Every conversation is an opportunity to see the world through someone else’s eyes—not that Zach will be able to see it; he’s completely blind. But his own experiences, from serving in the Marines to skiing, rock climbing, whitewater kayaking, entrepreneurship, and competing in martial arts without sight, have given him a unique perspective from which to explore the lives and ideas of his guests.
Pablos Holman is a hacker, inventor, and venture capitalist bringing science fiction to life via deep tech—both through his own work, and his firm, Deep Future. He’s worked on everything from robots that can hack your wi-fi and read the credit cards in your pocket, to nuclear energy, and building jet engine powered quadcopters in the early days of Blue Origin with Jeff Bezos.
Topics covered include how software is used to model everything in the world, why it’s time to galvanize our brightest minds to work on physical technology instead of digital technology, why humans struggle with free time, the impacts of society’s lack of communities, how energy causes wars and what we got wrong about nuclear energy, why San Francisco and Silicone Valley are so important to engineers, and more.
Timestamps
00:00 Introduction: How A Hacker Helped Build Blue Origin
03:59 The Creative Value of Hacker Thinking
08:08 From Software to Physical Industries: The Next Frontier
12:08 Industries Beyond Software: The Need for Deep Tech
16:04 The Democratization of Knowledge and AI
19:58 The Impact of Moving Away from Community on Personal Well-being
25:01 The Role of Travel and Cultural Exposure in Building Perspectives
29:37 The Potential of AI to Free Up Human Time
40:03 Energy Demand and the Potential of Nuclear Reactors
44:10 The Evolution of Human Purpose and Work
45:12 The Myth of Renewable Energy and the Reality of Energy Needs
45:42 The Value of Helping Others and Community
49:59 The History and Future of Nuclear Energy
50:29 Vulnerability and Authenticity in Success
52:00 Failures and Lessons in Innovation
53:00 The Ongoing Journey of Personal and Technological Growth
54:59 Deep Tech Innovations and Their Role in Solving Global Challenges
59:58 The Frontiers of Science: Understanding the Unknown
01:04:59 The Role of AI and Data in Accelerating Scientific Discovery
01:10:00 Building a Community of Deep Tech Innovators
01:14:55 The Importance of Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration
01:19:49 The Future of Energy: Scaling Up Nuclear and Other Technologies
01:24:53 The Potential of Small Modular Reactors and Underground Nuclear Plants
01:29:55 Addressing Nuclear Waste and Safety Concerns
01:35:12 The Role of Energy in Geopolitics and Global Stability
01:39:54 The Exciting Future of Scientific and Technological Breakthroughs
01:45:01 The Power of Curiosity and Continuous Learning
01:50:01 Closing Remarks:
The Path to a Better Future You can find Pablos and his endeavors here: deepfuture.tech
Want To Know More About Zach If you’re new to the show and haven’t heard his incredible story, go back and listen to the show’s trailer, or visit Zach’s website at zachtidwell.com, where you can also reach out to have him speak at your company or event.
Website and mailing list: https://zachtidwell.com
Disclaimer
This podcast’s information is provided for general reference and was obtained from publicly accessible sources. The Podcast Collaborative neither produces nor verifies the content, accuracy, or suitability of this podcast. Views and opinions belong solely to the podcast creators and guests.
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