Best Nerds Who Wait Podcasts (2025)

1
503: The Tiniest Laptops 1:03:56

2d ago1:03:56

1:03:56

Emily Lovell spoke with us about teaching how to contribute to open source, including her own experience creating the LilyTiny as a Master’s student and researching the impact as a PhD student. The LilyTiny work was done in conjunction with Leah Buechley (Embedded episode 382). See the paper The LilyTiny: A Case Study in Expanding Access to Electro…

1
1980s Parenting vs. Today: Why It’s So Much Harder Now | Twist Happy Hour Ep. 6 20:52

3d ago20:52

20:52

Is modern parenting just harder—or are we all just exhausted? In this episode, we chat about growing up in the 1980s vs. raising kids now. From screen time stress to online safety, catfishing, and constant pressure to “do it all,” we’re unpacking why today’s parents are overwhelmed... and maybe a little nostalgic for simpler times. Chapters 00:00 C…

1
Ease Up On Nathaniel Hawthorne 20:09

4d ago20:09

20:09

I talk about Nathaniel Hawthorne - I've been too harsh on him. Too harsh.By Joshua Snyder

1
Hotel Pet Peeves: Why Are Resort Fees Still a Thing? | Twist Happy Hour Ep. 5 20:37

10d ago20:37

20:37

From loose outlets to sky-high resort fees, we’re ranting about all the little things that drive us nuts at hotels. Whether it’s getting nickel-and-dimed or struggling to find a working USB port, we’re calling it out—cocktail in hand, of course. 🍸 Tune in for travel venting, a few laughs, and stories you’ll definitely relate to. 🔗 Subscribe for mor…

1
Cysts and Nomads 23:11

11d ago23:11

23:11

A lot of talk about the Wing Commander Movie - David Suchet is a NATIONAL TREASURE.By Joshua Snyder

1
502: Chat, J'ai Peté! 1:08:26

12d ago1:08:26

1:08:26

Chris and Elecia talk about Murderbot, LLMs (AI), bikes, control algorithms, and fancy math. The website with the ecology jobs is willdlabs.net from 501: inside the Armpit of Giraffe with Meredith Palmer and Akiba.. The algorithm Elecia mentioned was from Patent US7370713B1. The Control Bootcamp YouTube series is a great introduction to control sys…

1
Why The Witcher Is Better Than Superman | Twist Happy Hour Ep. 4 18:25

17d ago18:25

18:25

What makes The Witcher worth watching (besides Henry Cavill looking amazing in leather)? In this episode, we dig into the show’s storyline, how it compares to Game of Thrones, why it’s better than Superman, and whether comic book roots help or hurt it. Plus, what will it take to get Kate to FINALLY watch it so she and Keryn have something to talk a…

1
Nerd News and Grief 20:04

23d ago20:04

20:04

Nerd News and Grief.

1
Finally, Some Good News | Dire Wolves, Eurovision, & the Joshua Tree Win | Twist Happy Hour Ep. 3 18:42

24d ago18:42

18:42

Let’s face it: the news can feel like a nonstop doom scroll. But this week on Twist Happy Hour, we’re flipping the script and focusing entirely on the kind of good news stories that give us hope, make us laugh, or at least make us go, "Okay, maybe the world isn’t totally on fire." Grab your favorite drink—boozy or not—and settle in for Episode 3: a…

1
Murder, Mystery, & Hollywood | Natalie Wood Conspiracy Deep Dive | Twist Happy Hour | Episode 2 17:21

26d ago17:21

17:21

Was Natalie Wood’s death really an accident—or is there a darker Hollywood conspiracy still lurking beneath the surface? In this episode of Twist Happy Hour, we explore the mysterious drowning of Natalie Wood, the swirling theories around Robert Wagner and Christopher Walken, and how one of Hollywood’s most tragic deaths remains unsolved decades la…

1
Weirdest Guinness World Records (Yes, Someone Paddled a Pumpkin) | Twist Happy Hour | Episode 1 13:18

27d ago13:18

13:18

Discover the weirdest Guinness World Records ever set — from paddling giant pumpkins to sticking pencils in your beard. In this episode of Twist Happy Hour, we explore bizarre world records, odd personal goals, and why some of these records even exist. Grab your favorite cocktail and hang out with us as we chat about: Guinness World Records gone wi…

1
501: Inside the Armpit of a Giraffe 1:20:45

1M ago1:20:45

1:20:45

We spoke with ecologist Dr. Meredith Palmer and embedded engineer Akiba about lions, terror, and technology. Akiba works for FreakLabs.org on global conservation projects. We talked about their Boombox which Meredith uses to create experiments to map the landscape of fear in predator/prey relationships. While this may look like pranking animals wit…

1
500: Nerding Out About the Ducks 1:07:34

1M ago1:07:34

1:07:34

Komathi Sundaram spoke with us about her enthusiasm for tests and test automation. We talked about the different joys of testing vs. development, setting up CI servers, and different kinds of tests including unit, hardware-in-the-loop, and simulation. It may sound dry but we had a lot of fun. Komathi’s site is TheKomSea.com which hosts her blog as …

1
Blood Biopsies: Novel Screening for Cancer and Beyond 15:33

2M ago15:33

15:33

Cancer is notoriously challenging to detect early, which is a significant problem as early cancer detection saves lives. While there are many approaches to detect cancer early, too many cancers are detected too late. In today's episode of Beyond the Abstract, Derek and Dan discuss an important new approach to cancer detection called a blood biopsy,…

1
Alien Earth, Alien Vs Predator, 7-11 Donuts vs Krispy Kreme 26:14

2M ago26:14

26:14

Let's talk nerd news, the pitfalls of Panda Express, and medical dramas!

1
499: This Is Your Problem 50:51

2M ago50:51

50:51

We spoke with Janet Hansen about the world of professional costumery (with electronics) and becoming an artist. Janet’s business is Enlighted where you can find custom illuminated clothing as well as Janet’s ready-made art. Janet’s personal site is janethansen.com which is more focused on her artistic pursuits. Janet mentioned Seeed’s MSGEQ7. We ta…

1
498: To Consume Stickers 1:06:34

2M ago1:06:34

1:06:34

At the end of this week’s show, Elecia reads a Winnie the Pooh poem as Cookie Monster death metal. Before that, Chris and Elecia chat about mental health, journaling, personal projects, and listener questions. Please sign up for the Nordic Giveaway! You can also sign up for the Embedded newsletter. Maybe now with job postings? Elecia’s journaling n…

1
497: Everyone Likes Tiny 1:24:18

3M ago1:24:18

1:24:18

OpenMV has a new Kickstarter so CEO Kwabena Agyeman chatted with us about more powerful (and smaller!) programmable cameras. See OpenMV’s site for their existing cameras. See their (already funded!) kickstarter page for the super powerful N6 and the ridiculously small AE3. Note that OpenMV still is committed to open source. See their github if you …

1
Word of God: 6. Higher Powers 28:55

3M ago28:55

28:55

A dark, cold morning in February 2025. Hundreds are filing into the Museum of the Bible - evangelical leaders, gospel singers, and over 30 members of Congress including Speaker of the House Mike Johnson. They've gathered just three blocks from the US Capitol for an annual event of fervent prayer about what they see as America's most pressing proble…

1
Word of God: 5. Revelations 28:35

3M ago28:35

28:35

In April 2019, Dr Roberta Mazza receives an email from an academic in charge of Research at the Museum of the Bible which leads to the exposure of one of the most extraordinary breaches of trust in biblical scholarship. Through exclusive interviews, Ben Lewis reveals how the Museum of the Bible discovered that precious gospel fragments they had pur…

1
496: Beauty, Elegance, Consistency 59:56

3M ago59:56

59:56

Professor Shimon Schocken spoke with us about teaching computer science from NAND logic gates to arithmetic units, micro assembly, virtual machines, compilers, operating systems, and the Tetris games. We also talk about good design, good interfaces, and good tests. Shimon’s book is Elements of Computing Systems and the website with the course lectu…

1
Word of God: 4. You've Got Mail 28:45

3M ago28:45

28:45

Federal investigators uncover a shadowy scheme to smuggle ancient clay tablets into America. When customs officers in Memphis inspect a package labelled "tile samples" in January 2011, they discover something far more precious - delicate clay tablets covered in cuneiform, one of humanity's earliest forms of writing. Through exclusive interviews wit…

1
Word of God: 3. Holy Grail 28:54

4M ago28:54

28:54

A biblical scholar's dramatic last-minute announcement at a packed debate hints at a fragment that could rewrite history. On a winter's night in 2012, an extraordinary claim electrifies a university auditorium in North Carolina - the discovery of what could be the earliest known Christian text, written within decades of Jesus's life. Through exclus…

1
495: Shortcut the Difficulties of Reality 1:01:56

4M ago1:01:56

1:01:56

Professor Cindy Harnett spoke to us about new and different sensors and actuators, primarily designed for soft robotics and fabricated with relatively low cost materials. Cindy is a professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Louisville where she runs the Harnett Lab. The papers we discussed are here. You can find a longer…

1
Word of God: 2. Roberta Investigates 28:53

4M ago28:53

28:53

A threatening message leads a papyrologist into the shadowy world of online antiquities trading. On a September morning in 2017, Dr Roberta Mazza opens her WhatsApp to find menacing messages and warnings to "watch her back". How did a respected academic specialising in ancient texts find herself at the crossroads of biblical scholarship and antiqui…

1
Word of God: 1. In the Beginning Was the Word 28:53

4M ago28:53

28:53

In July 2017, Dr Jeff Kloha is preparing to start his dream job as Director of Collections at Washington DC's new Museum of the Bible when he discovers his new employer’s biggest donor has been caught up in a government investigation. The donor, Hobby Lobby, has been ordered to return 3,500 artefacts and pay a $3 million settlement. Through exclusi…

1
494: All Tech Is Wearable 1:15:56

4M ago1:15:56

1:15:56

Debra Ansell joined us to talk about finding friends and exchanging neat gifts, accidentally tricking people into making unmanufacutable boards, and happy, blinking lights. Debra is usually known by the moniker GeekMomProjects (also her website is geekmomprojects.com). She has been writing for Make Magazine. Debra won one of the SuperCon badge add-…

1
Word of God: Trailer 3:11

4M ago3:11

3:11

A billionaire family's mission to amass ancient biblical treasures leads to them getting caught up in an international web of looted artefacts, forgeries and criminal networks. Art sleuth Ben Lewis uncovers how the Green family - owners of America's Hobby Lobby craft stores - spent millions racing to gather biblical manuscripts and artefacts. Their…

1
Plaque Hacks: When it Comes to Statins, Consistency is Key 16:29

5M ago16:29

16:29

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of global mortality. Among the many risk factors for cardiovascular disease, it's long been known that high cholesterol increases the risk for heart attacks and stroke. In today's episode of Beyond the Abstract, Derek and Dan discuss two new papers that challenge commonly held beliefs about the way in whi…

1
493: Put the Peeps in the Chili Pot 1:20:33

5M ago1:20:33

1:20:33

Elecia and Chris talk with each other about the state of Chris’ mind, what makes an embedded developer stand out, “LEGO block” based design, unit tests, and astronomy. Whew! Elecia was recently on the Changelog podcast, talking about the world of embedded systems. Chris has been working with Micropython (we talked with Damien George about Micropyth…

1
Fire Update 9:01

5M ago9:01

9:01

Checking in about the fires - they're still on fire.

8M ago1:05:28

1:05:28

Chris and Elecia chat about simulated robots, portents in the sky, the futility of making plans, and grad school. A problem with mics led us to delay the show with Shimon Schoken from Nand2Tetris (co-author of Elements of The Elements of Computing Systems: Building a Modern Computer from First Principles). Look for that later in the year. Elecia is…

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