Machine Minds
Machine Minds - the minds behind the machines! This is the show where we dive deep into the intricate worlds of robotics, AI, and Hard Tech. In each episode, we bring you intimate conversations with the founders, investors, and trailblazers who are at the heart of these tech revolutions. We dig into their journeys, the challenges they've overcome, and the breakthroughs that are shaping our future. Join us as we explore how these machine minds are transforming the way we live, work, and understand our world.
Episodes
115 episodes
Bridging Hardware Innovation and Business Strategy in Robotics with Milt Walker
In this episode of Machine Minds, we look at what really happens when hardware innovation meets business strategy in robotics. Director of Business Development Milt Walker joins Greg to unpack how manufacturers, startups, and ecosystem p...
•
Episode 114
•
50:16
.png)
Building Deep Tech Ventures Through Strategic Capital with Oliver Mitchell
What does it take to guide a robotics startup from a napkin sketch to a $775 million exit? Oliver Mitchell, a venture capital partner at FF Venture Capital and author of "A Startup Field Guide in the Age of Robotics and AI" returns to Machine M...
•
Episode 113
•
50:03
%20Episode%20Artwork.png)
Episode 112 | Reinventing Construction with Autonomous Precision | Rishabh Aggarwal
Construction is one of the world’s most complex, risk-filled, and operationally fragmented industries — and also one of the last to benefit from automation. At Raise Robotics, CTO Rishabh Aggarwal is helping change that.From capturing d...
•
Episode 112
•
48:11
Episode 111 | The Coming Shift to Lightweight AI and Global Automation | Peter Haas
From satellite missions and drone startups to international development work in Haiti, Peter Haas has carved one of the most unconventional and globally minded paths in robotics. Today, he’s combining decades of experience across academia, entr...
•
Episode 111
•
47:41
Episode 110 | The New Era of Agile Warehouse Automation | Ayman Labib
From retrofitting automation into existing warehouses to redefining how fast robotics can be deployed, SIMPL Automation is pioneering a more flexible, less disruptive path toward warehouse transformation.In this episode, Ayman Labib, co-...
•
Episode 110
•
38:18
Episode 109 | The Operating System for Robots: InOrbit's AI-Powered Robot Orchestration
Florian shares his journey from cryptography researcher to big tech product leader — at companies like Microsoft, Adobe, and Facebook — and how that experience inspired him to tackle one of robotics’ biggest challenges: making robots work toget...
•
Episode 109
•
1:05:38
.png)
Episode 108 | Built for the Battlefield: Craitor’s Revolution in On-Demand Manufacturing
From printing parts in combat zones to creating a rugged, mobile printer that works on land, sea, and air — Crater’s mission is transforming logistics and supply chains for the military. Eric shares how the company was born from collaboration w...
•
Episode 108
•
53:57
Episode 107 | Autonomy at Bedrock: Building the Future from the Ground Up | Kevin Peterson
Kevin shares his 20-year journey from building self-driving cars and moon landers to leading autonomy at Waymo and now building machines that can literally move mountains. From lessons learned in scaling robotics startups to his philosophy on p...
•
Episode 107
•
56:54
Episode 106 | Trusted Counsel for Visionaries | Ryan Smith
Ryan and I dig into the legal backbone founders skip until it hurts—how to build an IP strategy that actually matches your business, when patents vs. trade secrets make sense, and why a “north star” patent plan should track where you’re going i...
•
Episode 106
•
45:11
Episode 105 | Inside the Mind of a Growth-Stage Investor | Manas Punhani
I sat down with Manas Punhani, Senior Associate at Woven Capital (Toyota’s growth fund), to dig into how growth investors judge traction, price risk, and help founders scale in industrial tech, robotics, and “physical AI.”We broke down w...
•
Episode 105
•
46:21
Episode 104 | AI & Automation Unlocking Materials Discovery | Joseph Krause
Episode 104 | AI & Automation Unlocking Materials Discovery | Joseph KrauseIn this episode of Machine Minds, I sit down with Joseph Krause, co-founder and CEO of Radical AI.We talk about Joseph’s path from Rice University an...
•
Episode 104
•
59:54
Episode 103 | Inside The Defense VC Boom | Nick Snoad
I sat down with Nick Snoad, VP at Marlinspike, to talk about the surge of capital into defense and dual-use tech—and how he actually evaluates teams, markets, and milestones at the earliest stages.What we get into:- Why dual-use...
•
Episode 103
•
39:11
Episode 102 | Active Physical Intelligence Unleashed | Tara Javidi & Sam Bigdeli
How do you get AI to seek the right data in the real world instead of drowning in all of it? In this episode, I sit down with Tara Javidi (UCSD professor and AI researcher) and Sam Bigdeli (repeat founder ...
•
Episode 102
•
56:20
Episode 101 | AI Powered Compliance = Faster Certification | Akshay Chalana
In this episode I sit down with Akshay Chalana, CEO & co‑founder of Saphira AI, to unpack how "TurboTax for robot compliance” can slash the time, cost, and confusion that stall hardware roll‑outs.We cover:- Why safety & ...
•
Episode 101
•
53:37
Episode 100 | Robots Built for People | Anthony Jules
We’ve officially hit Episode 100! 🎉 I sat down with Anthony Jules, co-founder & CEO of Robust AI, to unpack how Carter—the cart-shaped AMR that workers can literally steer—delivers a 60 % productivity bo...
•
Episode 100
•
55:51
Episode 99 | Unlock Human + Machine Potential | Zac Engler
In this conversation I sit down with Zac Engler, founder of Bodhi AI, to talk about turning generative-AI hype into practical wins for smaller companies—and why “shadow-AI” bans often backfire. We cover:The moment Zac rea...
•
Episode 99
•
49:58
Episode 98 | Flexible Robots Transform Warehouse Strategy | Andy Williams
In this episode I sit down with Andy Williams, EVP Sales – North America at Exotec, to unpack how a single “mobile AS/RS” platform is helping retailers, 3PLs and grocers keep pace with labor shortages and same-day delivery promises. ...
•
Episode 98
•
51:15
Episode 97 | Robots Tackle Harsh Worksites | James Emerick
In this episode I sit down with James Emerick, co-founder & CEO of Cosmic Robotics, to hear how his family’s four-generation construction roots and a detour into autonomous heavy equipment sparked a new kind of job-site robot. Cosmic’s firs...
•
Episode 97
•
47:01
Episode 96 | Empowerment Is the New Algorithm | Grace Kay Matelich
In this episode I sit down with Grace Kay Matelich, a philosopher-turned-operator who went from running Montana’s suicide-hotline to scaling AI data-ops at Invisible Technologies—and now to co-founding Bloomscroll, a “light-mirror” alternative ...
•
Episode 96
•
50:08
Episode 95 | Robots Replace Traditional Warehouses | Yegor Anchyshkin
In this episode I sat down with serial entrepreneur Yegor Anchyshkin, co‑founder & CEO of Instock, to break down why small‑ and mid‑size fulfillment sites need a radically different ASRS architecture. Yegor traced his journey from founding ...
•
Episode 95
•
54:43
Episode 94 | SVB: Powering Startup Success Stories | Julian Nash
In this episode, I sit down with Julian Nash, Managing Director at Silicon Valley Bank, to explore how SVB supports startups and the broader innovation economy. Julian shares insights into how SVB goes beyond traditional banking, providing crit...
•
Episode 94
•
48:13
Episode 93 | Humanoid Robots Built to Mesmerise | Leo Chen
In this episode, I spoke with Leo Chen, Director of US Operations at Engineered Arts. Leo took us on his personal journey—from a childhood fascination sparked by Star Wars to leading teams at groundbreaking robotics projects at Google and now E...
•
Episode 93
•
52:39
Episode 92 | Unlocking Potential in Traditional Industries | Neel Mehta
I had a great conversation with Neel Mehta, Partner at G2 Venture Partners, exploring how traditional industries like energy, logistics, and manufacturing are being transformed by technology and sustainability. Neel shared insights from his ear...
•
Episode 92
•
49:45
Episode 91 | AI to Design Better Clinical Trials | Patrick Leung
In this episode, I sat down with Patrick Leung, CTO at Faro Health, to talk about how they're using AI to tackle huge inefficiencies in clinical trial design. Patrick shared insights from his career—including key roles at Google and Two Sigma—a...
•
Episode 91
•
42:45
Episode 90 | Miniature Robotics in Medicine | Torrey Smith
In this episode, I spoke with Torrey Smith, co-founder of Endiatx, creators of Pillbot—a tiny robotic pill you swallow that swims around your stomach to perform medical exams without sedation or hospital visits. Torrey started his career in aer...
•
Episode 90
•
53:29
