Best Berkeley Engineering Podcasts (2024)

1
ESS 811: Engineering Transfer Center & Transfer Ambassadors 27:20

22h ago27:20

27:20

Students transferring to the College of Engineering face many changes. Among them, they must learn to navigate an entirely new college environment. To support these students, we asked Heidi Maqueos, program manager for transfer success initiatives in ESS, to tell us about two resources that are for transfer students, by transfer students: the Engin…

1
Patrick Linden: Dealguru $34M Acquisition, Southeast Asia Roll-Up Strategy & Match.asia M&A Marketplace - E459 35:31

16h ago35:31

35:31

Patrick Linden, Cofounder & Managing Partner of Match.Asia, and Jeremy Au discussed three main points: 1. Dealguru $34M Acquisition: Patrick shared his journey beginning from a small village in Germany to moving to Singapore and building iHipo, a platform to connect European students with opportunities in Southeast Asia. This early experience ignit…

1
Singapore: USA Civilian Nuclear Deal, Politicians vs. Technocrats & Allianz Insurance Acquiring NTUC Income with Shiyan Koh - E458 23:49

3d ago23:49

23:49

Shiyan Koh, Managing Partner of Hustle Fund, and Jeremy Au talked about three main points: 1. Allianz Insurance Acquiring NTUC Income: Jeremy and Shiyan dissected the business logic and new facts that have emerged, especially regarding the current competition and performance challenges facing NTUC Income. They addressed the confusing public commu…

1
Why I Joined Lucence: Personal Loss, Atomic Building & Being the Dumbest Person in the Room - E457 12:00

6d ago12:00

12:00

Jeremy Au listed the 3 reasons for joining Lucence, a startup leveraging next-generation sequencing AI for early cancer detection with a single blood test. He reflected on his teenage years grieving over a personal loss due to lymphoma. He contrasted the builder role with the job of a VC, with a different set of “atomic” work outcomes. He appreciat…

1
Jeremy Tan: Cambridge Engineer & Harvard MBA, Founding Tin Men Capital & Fatherhood Insights - E456 29:06

8d ago29:06

29:06

Jeremy Tan, Managing Partner and Cofounder of Tin Men Capital, and Jeremy Au talked about three main points: 1. Cambridge Engineer & Harvard MBA: Jeremy Tan shared his journey from a playful student to getting into a life-changing education at Cambridge. His early life goal of becoming a refinery chemical engineer shifted after a pivotal internship…

1
ESS 810: Discover entrepreneurship in engineering 15:48

8d ago15:48

15:48

Are you interested in someday making the leap from student to entrepreneur? This week, we are learning about the Sutardja Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology and its Student Innovation Fellows program. Engineering students Rachel Eizner and Claire Holland will give us pointers on signing up to be a fellow and ways you can engage with this pr…

1
China: Indonesia & Trump Tariffs, Manufacturing Dominance & Involution 内卷 & Education Labor Mismatch with Jianggan Li- E455 28:45

10d ago28:45

28:45

Jianggan Li, Founder & CEO of Momentum Works, and Jeremy Au talked about three main themes: 1. Indonesia & Trump Tariffs: Indonesia's new tariffs target imports like China-manufactured footwear, clothing, and ceramics to protect 65M local micro, small and medium enterprises employing 109M people. These trade barriers have negatively impacted local …

1
Algostorm: Algorithm Storm Social Manipulation, Trendjacking Botnets & Government Countermeasures - E454 24:21

13d ago24:21

24:21

Jeremy Au discussed the increasing intensity of "algostorms" - unpredictable social media “weather systems” driven by algorithms that prioritize engagement over truth. The Internet’s transition from human-centric, chronological forums to a volatile online environment where individuals are caught in fluctuating must-discuss trends manipulated by bot…

1
Founder Frauds, Startup Accounting Tricks (GMV, Revenue, Gross Margin, Contribution Margin) & Revenue Bundling & Valuation Multiples with Adriel Yong - E453 43:05

15d ago43:05

43:05

Adriel Yong, Head of Investments at Ascend Network, and Jeremy Au discussed three major topics: 1. Startup Accounting Tricks (GMV, Revenue, Gross Margin, Contribution Margin): Local VCs have often confused Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) with actual platform revenue, and gross margins with actual unit profitability. Startups have also split reporting…

1
ESS 809: Career Library 25:05

16d ago25:05

25:05

We don’t expect students to always know their post-graduation plans.You will spend the next two to four years learning about the many opportunities that await you after graduation. This week, we are delighted to have Kate Zuby, from Berkeley’s counseling & psychological services, here to introduce the Career Library — a resource that will help you …

1
Kamala vs. Trump USA Election, NTUC Income Insurance Privatization by Allianz & Indonesia D2C & Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG) - E452 23:17

17d ago23:17

23:17

Shiyan Koh, Managing Partner of Hustle Fund, and Jeremy Au talked about three main themes: 1. Kamala vs. Trump USA Election: Jeremy and Shiyan discussed Kamala Harris stepping into the presidential race, and speculated on her potential policy directions and how her leadership might influence relations with Asia. The excitement around her candidac…

1
BRAVE's Secret Learnings: Seeing The Future, High-Conviction Bets & Personal Narrative Mental Models - E451 10:55

20d ago10:55

10:55

Jeremy Au reflects on the most important insight that he learned from interviewing hundreds of tech leaders across the region. Every secret has a shelf life, as private information diffuses into the public markets and becomes known by everyone. Leaders who discern emerging patterns before they become common wisdom can take action and make high-conv…

1
Parin Mehta: Google & Airbnb GM Career, Tech Executive to Founder Coach & Leadership Advice - E450 36:27

22d ago36:27

36:27

Parin Mehta, Venture Partner & Board Member at Menyala, and Jeremy Au talked about three main points: 1. Google & Airbnb GM Career: Parin's journey began with his parents' migration from Uganda to the UK. Moving to Japan to teach English was a transformative experience that spurred his desire to return to Asia one day. He shared how he made the j…

1
ESS 808: Study abroad as a Berkeley Engineer 27:52

23d ago27:52

27:52

Berkeley Engineering students can study abroad! This week, ESS advisor Kendra Van Nyhuis and engineering student Simon Gonzalez share with us the amazing experience that awaits you studying abroad. You’ll learn when to start planning, some of the basic guidelines, and how students can fit a study abroad program into their degree timeline. Plus, Sim…

1
Vietnam: Putin Bamboo Strategy, Data Sovereignty & 49% Foreign Ownership Limit & Investment Landscape with Valerie Vu - E449 30:52

24d ago30:52

30:52

Valerie Vu, Founding Partner of Ansible Ventures, and Jeremy Au discussed three main themes: 1. Putin Bamboo Strategy: Vietnam’s “bamboo strategy” foreign policy involves maintaining strong roots while being flexible, which allows Vietnam to navigate relationships with global superpowers like the US, China, and Russia. Valerie highlighted that in l…

1
Don't Ask Stupid Questions vs. High Performer Learning & Humility - E448 12:36

27d ago12:36

12:36

Jeremy Au reflects on the transformative power of asking questions by sharing his personal career experiences. He reveals how an early experience in the army working for a boss who discouraged questions shaped his initial approach to leadership and masculinity. He had to face a pivotal internship experience where not asking questions nearly deraile…

1
Karl Mak: Viral Memes Founder, Price of Fame & Hepmil Media Evolution - E447 41:10

29d ago41:10

41:10

Karl Mak, Cofounder & CEO of Hepmil Media Group, and Jeremy Au talked about three main themes: 1. Viral Memes Founder: Karl shared the story of how SGAG was born out of boredom during his university days at Singapore Management University (SMU) where he and his co-founder Adrian spent time creating side businesses. The breakthrough came in 2012 whe…

1
Turning great science into impactful medicine: Lessons from Corey Goodman, Pioneer in Science and Venture Capital 1:21:13

29d ago1:21:13

1:21:13

Corey Goodman, Ph.D., is the managing partner of venBio, a venture capital firm he cofounded in 2011. venBio already has 7 FDA approved drugs on the market, saving and improving lives. Corey spent 25 years as Professor of Biology at Stanford University and Evan Rauch Chair of Neurobiology at U.C. Berkeley, where he was a HHMI Investigator, Head of …

1
ESS 807: Big Ideas @ Berkeley 37:06

1M ago37:06

37:06

You’ve come to Berkeley Engineering, so you can gain the knowledge needed to tackle the world’s most complex problems. This week I’m excited to introduce the Big Ideas @ Berkeley contest. Guests Phillip Dennny, Big Ideas director, and last year’s grand prize winner, Ashmita Kumar, will tell us more about the program, which provides training, networ…

1
Indonesia: 200% China Import Tariffs, Ransomware Attacks 282 Agencies & 27,000+ Government Apps Consolidation with Gita Sjahrir - E446 29:25

1M ago29:25

29:25

Gita Sjahrir, Head of Investment at BNI Ventures, and Jeremy Au discussed: 1. 200% China Import Tariffs: Jeremy and Gita explored Indonesia's recent imposition of up to 200% tariffs on Chinese imports like footwear, clothing, textiles, cosmetics, and ceramics. Indonesia's trade minister's remarks "I told my colleagues not to be afraid or hesitant. …

1
Lonelytech: Isolation Epidemic, Digital Companions & Manufacturing Pretend Empathy - E445 12:50

1M ago12:50

12:50

Jeremy Au examines the rise of 弱者営業 ("jaku-sha eigyō") "lonelytech" - the emerging AI companion industry. His observation of a man on a train openly interacting with an AI girlfriend highlights the rapidly increasing prevalence of digital companionship, e.g. Rosanna Ramos and Scott, who have formed intimate relationships with AI companions who offe…

1
Episode 36: Ari Morcos, DatologyAI: On leveraging data to democratize model training 1:34:19

1M ago1:34:19

1:34:19

Ari Morcos is the CEO of DatologyAI, which makes training deep learning models more performant and efficient by intervening on training data. He was at FAIR and DeepMind before that, where he worked on a variety of topics, including how training data leads to useful representations, lottery ticket hypothesis, and self-supervised learning. His work …

1
Roy Ang: Grab Executive to D2C Founder, Evo Commerce Consumer Secrets & Overcoming Pivot Challenges - E444 32:35

1M ago32:35

32:35

Roy Ang, CEO & Cofounder of Evo Commerce, and Jeremy Au talked about three main points: 1. Grab Executive to D2C Founder: Roy began his professional journey in banking but soon realized it wasn't his calling. After a year, he shifted to the tech media industry, landing a job at E27 through a bold cold call to Mohan Balani, E27’s founder. Roy thrive…

1
ESS 806: Are you in the right major? 13:41

1M ago13:41

13:41

Mark Asta, executive associate dean at the College of Engineering, joins us this week to discuss what students can do if they don’t feel like they are in the right major. You’ll learn where to find more information about each major, what opportunities are available once you graduate, and whom you can reach out to for support and encouragement. You’…

1
Singapore Port Traffic Jam From USA Tariffs & Middle East Conflict, Climate Change Creating Arctic Shipping Route & Trump 10% Global & 60% China Tariffs with Shiyan Koh - E443 23:35

1M ago23:35

23:35

Shiyan Koh, Managing Partner of Hustle Fund, and Jeremy Au talked about three main points: 1. Singapore Port Traffic Jam From USA Tariffs & Middle East Conflict: Shiyan and Jeremy examined the severe traffic congestion at Singapore's port, now at unprecedented levels. Yemen's Houthi rebel attacks on Red Sea commercial shipping (in support of the …

1
Mohan Belani: Founding e27 & Echelon, Media Business Myths & Angel & Orvel VC Investing Journey - E442 31:02

1M ago31:02

31:02

Mohan Belani, Cofounder & CEO of e27, and Jeremy Au talked about three main themes: 1. Founding e27 & Echelon: Mohan discussed his early career decisions as a computer engineering undergraduate with the NUS Overseas Colleges (NOC) program, failed founder and startup executive. He shared how he juggled his studies and his founding role in e27, often…

1
Crafting the future: Beyond 5G: Coreless ran and Mesh Connectivity, with Toktam Mahmoodi from King’s College London 17:50

1M ago17:50

17:50

Academic research traditionally focuses on intellectual curiosity and the search for the truth, while corporate research aims to help companies build and maintain competitive advantages and deliver profit. So how can these two worlds come together for mutual benefits? Toktam Mahmoodi, Professor of Communications Engineering and Director of the Cent…

1
Thomas Jeng: BCG Consultant to Aspire GM, Navigating Regional Fragmentation & Continuous Learning Self-Awareness - E441 34:52

1M ago34:52

34:52

Thomas Jeng, Singapore General Manager of Aspire, and Jeremy Au talked about three main themes: 1. BCG Consultant to Aspire GM: Thomas discussed his decision-making process at Georgetown University aiming to become a lawyer or diplomat, but switched to consulting at BCG where he worked on challenging projects like "delayering" cases. He recounted h…

1
Ess 805: Registration tips 23:50

1M ago23:50

23:50

Registration is right around the corner and we are sure you have questions about planning, the day of and what happens after. Mayra Rivera, associate director of advising and policy in Engineering Student Services joins us this week to give tips on the registration process and what to keep in mind once you’ve registered. For a transcript, please vi…

1
Thailand: Thaksin Lese-Majeste & PM Lawsuits, 2029 Super-Aged Population & D2C Consumer & VC Opportunities with Wing Vasiksiri - E440 36:48

1M ago36:48

36:48

Wing Vasiksiri, General Partner of WV, and Jeremy Au discussed three main themes: 1. Thaksin Lese-Majeste & PM Lawsuits: Recent legal events (Thailand's court delay in the verdict on dissolving the Kao Klai (Move Forward Party), Thaksin Shinawatra lawsuit and PM Srettha Thavisin cabinet hearing) contribute to political instability, affecting invest…

1
Cognitohazards: Suicide Social Contagion, 1982 Tylenol Poisonings & Extremist Self-Radicalization - E439 9:04

2M ago9:04

9:04

Jeremy Au delved into the concept of “cognitohazards” — information that causes harm upon comprehension. Introduced by the sci-fi novel "There is No Antimemetics Division," this definition helps encapsulate a new danger in modern society. Examples include the "Werther effect" where suicide becomes contagious due to social replication and mass media…

1
Sam Gibb: New Zealand Law to Southeast Asia VC, Regional Fintech Upside & Aspiring VC Partner Advice - E438 29:37

2M ago29:37

29:37

Sam Gibb, Managing Partner of Resolution Ventures, and Jeremy Au talked about three main themes: 1. New Zealand Law to Southeast Asia VC: Initially set on a legal career, Sam quickly realized it wasn't his calling after interning at a law firm. Sam transitioned to PwC, where he worked in the finance sector. In 2011, Sam relocated to Singapore to ta…

1
Pushing Boundaries: Abhishek Tripathi’s Experience with NASA, SpaceX, UC Berkeley and Startups 1:01:24

2M ago1:01:24

1:01:24

Abhishek Tripathi, is the Director of Mission operations of the Space Sciences Laboratory at the University of California, Berkeley. Abhi is also the Chair of the Air and Space track startups at Skydeck, which is UC Berkeley's startup accelerator program. For over two decades, Abhi has been at the forefront of human and robotic space exploration. A…

1
ESS 804: Connecting to Berkeley through mentorship 31:52

2M ago31:52

31:52

Our goal in Engineering Student Services is for each student to feel like they are successful and that they belong in Berkeley Engineering. This week we spoke with Marcia Breslin-Cantillana from ESS and current students Alisson Moreno, Zainab Alyosha, Simon Gonzalez, Cezar Carvajal to discuss how the Berkeley Mentorship Cohort gives students the op…

1
$3B Money Laundering Singapore Family Offices, Apple AI Integration & VC Fraud Maze with Shiyan Koh - E437 23:26

2M ago23:26

23:26

Shiyan Koh, Managing Partner of Hustle Fund, and Jeremy Au talked about three main themes: 1. $3B Money Laundering Family Offices: Jeremy and Shiyan highlighted recent fraud cases in Singapore involving Chinese nationals, focusing on a massive $3 billion scheme by a group of 10 individuals who set up five family offices. This prompted tighter reg…

1
Darwinian VC Evolution: Strategy Changes Due to Low Southeast Asia Fund Performance 0.4X vs. USA, India & China - E436 30:07

2M ago30:07

30:07

Adriel Yong, Head of Investments at Ascend Network, and Jeremy Au assessed Southeast Asia's low VC fund performance (median 0.4X returns vs. USA (1X) and India (1.3x). They discussed VCs shifting towards more realistic and localized investment strategies, while also taking into account growing geopolitical USA vs. China tensions with their resultin…

1
Tommaso Demarie: Quantum Computing Startup, PHD Academia to Founder & Michelin Mistake Ownership - E435 33:51

2M ago33:51

33:51

Tommaso Demarie, CEO & Cofounder of Entropica Labs, and Jeremy Au talked about three main themes: 1. Quantum Computing Startup: Tommaso shared his insights on quantum computing and its potential applications. He talked about his company, Entropica Labs, which focuses on developing software for quantum error correction, a crucial element in quantum …

1
ESS 803: ESS Programs Introduction 34:23

2M ago34:23

34:23

Marvin Lopez, the Director of Student Programs in Engineering Student Services (ESS), joins us this week to introduce the programming element of ESS. This includes the programs, resources and opportunities that support a student's success in four areas: wellness, academic, professional and leadership. Like Marvin says, "You can't spell success with…

1
Vietnam: New President Tô Lâm, South China Sea Island Building (692 Acres) & Coal Energy & Flight Price Jumps with Valerie Vu - E434 26:45

2M ago26:45

26:45

Valerie Vu, Founding Partner of Ansible Ventures, and Jeremy Au discussed three main themes: 1. New President Tô Lâm: Jeremy and Valerie discussed the recent stabilization efforts by the Vietnamese government amidst political and economic turbulence, with the election of the new president, Tô Lâm, who previously served as the Minister of Public Sec…

1
Bittersweet Goodbyes Before Raffles Junior College Demolition - E433 8:50

2M ago8:50

8:50

Jeremy Au reflects on his nostalgic visit to his alma mater Raffles Junior College before its demolition. He remembers his initial excitement of joining a new school, bitterness over a personal loss, and the processing of his grief over the next 2 decades. He also reconnected with former teenage classmates who are now fellow middle-aged adults, all…

1
Agung Saputra: Indonesia Pollution Crisis, 48 Million Tons of Food Waste (170kg Per Capita) & Surplus Marketplace App - E432 20:44

2M ago20:44

20:44

Agung Saputra, CEO & Founder of Surplus Indonesia, and Jeremy Au talked about three main themes: 1. Indonesia Pollution Crisis: Agung flagged that Indonesia is one the top 3 polluters in the world: #2 plastic polluter, #2 food wastage and #1 most air polluted city (Jakarta). He highlighted the lack of regulations and public awareness as major barri…

1
ESS 802: Financial aid 32:58

2M ago32:58

32:58

We know that financial aid has been more of a burden this year than in the past due to changes in the FAFSA. We were happy to invite Joseph Sell, Assistant Director, Financial Aid and Scholarships, to the podcast this week to discuss all things financial aid. We discuss deadlines, how to get support, where to find your most up-to-date information a…

1
Post-AI "Good Jobs", SGX & IDX Capital Market Challenges & USA VC vs. Southeast Asia Fund Performance with Shiyan Koh - E431 27:00

2M ago27:00

27:00

Shiyan Koh, Managing Partner of Hustle Fund, and Jeremy Au talked about three main themes: 1. USA VC vs. Southeast Asia Fund Performance: Bain’s 2023 private equity report shows that Southeast Asia's VC returns have been lower over the past decade, with median LP distributions of 0.4X for Southeast Asia, China 0.6X, Europe 0.7X, USA 1X and India …

1
Army Lessons: Might Makes Right, Camaraderie Humor & Sacrifice Crucible into Adulthood - E430 13:31

2M ago13:31

13:31

Jeremy reflects on his teenage military experience in the Singapore army across two years: 1. might makes right 2. camaraderie humor and 3. sacrifice as a crucible into adulthood. He details the transition from the implicit social norms of school into the military, where he learned that laws which codify right and wrong are actually backed by the u…

1
Fady Abdel-Nour: Antler Partner ($285M AUM) Outlook, Naspers & Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Learnings and India vs. China vs. Southeast Asia VC - E429 32:42

2M ago32:42

32:42

Fady Abdel-Nour, General Partner at Antler, and Jeremy Au, talked about three main themes: 1. Naspers & Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Learnings: Fady shared his career path, starting in investment banking during the peak financial markets of 2007. He then transitioned to Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, focusing on long-term and solution capital in…

1
Crafting the future : Laser processing and the accelerated discovery of materials properties, with Vassilia Zorba from Berkeley 21:20

2M ago21:20

21:20

Academic research traditionally focuses on intellectual curiosity and the search for the truth, while corporate research aims to help companies build and maintain competitive advantages and deliver profit. So how can these two worlds come together for mutual benefits? In this third episode, Vassilia Zorba, Group Leader for the Laser Technologies Gr…

1
ESS 801: Introduction to GBA & ESS advisers 34:50

2M ago34:50

34:50

Our first podcast episode of the summer is giving more information about Golden Bear Advising and introducing you to Engineering Student Services academic advising. We are excited to have Shareena Samson, the director of advising and policy in Engineering Student Services and ESS adviser Catherine Bouvier Dang. For a transcript, please visit the ES…

1
Singapore vs. USA Education Systems, WEIRD AI Teddy Bears & US Senate $32B AI Investment Bill with Shiyan Koh - E428 29:46

2M ago29:46

29:46

Shiyan Koh, Managing Partner of Hustle Fund, and Jeremy Au talked about three main themes: 1. Singapore vs. USA Education Systems: Jeremy and Shiyan discussed differences in structure, funding, and outcomes. In Singapore, the education system is centralized with high academic rigor, while in the USA, quality varies significantly due to local prop…

1
Success Habit: Creator Craftsmanship & Amplify Your Voice To Reach Millions - E427 11:30

3M ago11:30

11:30

Jeremy Au discusses the success habit of creating content, rather than consuming. He remembers the nervousness in launching the first podcast episode, his desire for deep, human-centric stories about tech leaders, and overcoming writer's block. He advises rising thought leaders to start with a topic they are passionate about, the importance of cons…

1
Huawei R&D Leadership, Public Sector Digital Transformation and Resilience with Hong-Eng Koh - E426 52:39

3M ago52:39

52:39

Jeremy Au collaborated with Huawei’s Global Chief Public Services Industry Scientist, Mr. Hong-Eng Koh, to discuss insights from the 2024 APAC Congress in Bangkok. They talked about three main themes: 1. Public Sector Digital Transformation: Mr. Hong-Eng Koh shared his journey from the Singapore Police Force to leading Huawei's global public sector…

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